Crosswise quilt

Crosswise quilt

The Churn Dash block is a perfect quilt block for using nickel squares of fabric.  It's a nine patch block and a 5" square can be used in the middle of the block without being cut down.  Many patterns have you cut your 5" charms to 4 1/2".  To me, this defeats the purpose a little but is necessary if you are using squares with half square triangles made from 5" squares, for example. 

With the Churn Dash block, the center stays at 5", the half square triangles are 4 1/2" and the remaining two patch block is 4 1/2" X 5"!!  This means that you can make two half square triangles blocks from two 5" squares and two of the two patch blocks from two 5" squares.

Why am I talking about Churn Dash blocks?  My Crosswise quilt is made from them.  However, I used a different color placement than the traditional block and actually created a Greek Cross block unbeknownst to me at the time that I was messing around with the pieces of the block.  Whatever you call the block, I'll be doing more variations of it because the nickel squares are perfect for it!

Nickel Argyle quilt

Nickel Argyle quilt

My Nickel Argyle quilt is my attempt at creating a masculine quilt.  I plan to have it quilted with straight lines using black thread to create the look of the traditional argyle sweaters and socks.  I once again used only fabrics from my fabric stash.  I chose red, brown and cream fabrics simply because I like the color combination.  I used varying shades of each color limited only by what I had available in my stash.

Only two different four patch blocks were used to make this quilt.  They were made from nickel squares and set on point.

On a different note, check out L&R Designs for a chance to win a copy of Jennifer Chiaverini's new book entitled "The Wedding Quilt".  You have until Nov. 27th to enter.





Roll of Nickels quilt



Roll of Nickels quilt

Roll of Nickels is another quilt made from my stash of homespun fabrics.  The tan background fabric is also homespun fabric.  All of the plaids and checks are nickel (5") squares.  I used the disappearing nine patch construction method on this quilt.  Can you see it?

Here's how it went- 

Step 1-Make a 9 patch

Step 2- Cut in fourths

Step 3- Rotate sections

Step 4- Sew sections together

I added strips to one long side and one short side to finish the sashing.

Nickel Crosses quilt

Nickel Crosses quilt

My Nickel Crosses quilt is made from my stash of homespun fabric.  I love the mixture of plaids and checks and the graphic quality created by their colors. I used 143 nickel squares and will use another 3 1/2 yards of fabric for the backing and binding. Yippee! 

This quilt took more thinking and planning than most of the scrappy quilts I have made.  I laid out the whole top before I sewed anything.  Just couldn't figure out a better way to create the look that I wanted.  I did however sew it together as nine patch blocks for the most part.  By constructing it this way I avoided having to join long rows of squares and was actually finishing 3 rows all at once!

Chevrony quilt

Have a stack of fat quarters that you would like to use? My Chevrony quilt is the perfect project for using fat quarters.  It uses sixteen! The inspiration for this quilt is the floral fabric in the center of the quilt.  I had a fat quarter of it and two coordinating fabrics that I wanted to use.  One coordinate didn't work out but I pulled the other fabrics from my stash with the exception of another fat quarter of the inspiration fabric and one of the coordinates and 3/8 yard of the bright green fabric. I only needed the additional fabric to get the effect I wanted.

Each stripe uses one fat quarter of fabric.  Each fat quarter is cut into twelve nickel (5") squares.  Two squares are then made into two half square triangle blocks and sewn together to make the zigzag or chevron pattern.  This is how one chevron block gets sewn together-

This is one quilt I will likely make several times because it is fast and easy and uses lots of fat quarters.  I can hardly wait to see what a different set of fabrics will look like!

Twist and Turn quilt

Only 25 days until my birthday and the end of this Double Nickel Quilt Challenge and what a challenge it has been!  Even though I have used fabric from my stash for every quilt, I still have more fabric that needs to be used.  But now, I have lots of ideas about how to use it.  By December 9, 2011, my 55th birthday, I will have shown readers of this blog 55 ways to use 5" fabric squares in their quilting.

Here is idea #48 made entirely from half square triangle blocks, my Twist and Turn quilt-

  

Twist and Turn is a two color quilt made from scraps of red fabric with the cream fabric in the center of the quilt being the same for all the blocks.  A different cream fabric is used in the blocks of the outer border. I could have used scraps of cream fabric but I didn't have any left! Yay!  They have all been used in other projects shown on this blog.  So maybe I am making at least a small dent in my fabric stash.

Two variations of the same block are used-

The fabric placement is what makes them look so different.  In the first one, the background is white and the swirly design is red.  In the second block, the background is red and the swirly design is white.  Doesn't even look like the same block, at first glance anyway. I really like the way the two blocks work together in this quilt and create several secondary patterns. The outside border of half square triangles set askew adds to the "twisting and turning".

This quilt has not been quilted yet.  It's getting too close to the holidays to have many more quilts quilted.

Twister templates

I have been wanting to use the Lil' Twister tool for quite some time because it is made especially for nickel (5") squares of fabric.  I decided to follow the pattern that came with the tool and make a doll quilt for my granddaughters.  I chose some nickel squares in shades of pink that I did not care much about just in case I messed it up.  It was actually quite easy!  These photos show the steps-

Sew nickel squares together and add border. Position the Lil' Twister on fabric as instructed and cut out new squares.  Second photo shows fabric after new squares have been cut.

                          Sew new squares back together and get pinwheels, border and all!

And if you want to be really thrifty,  you can make a miniature with the left over fabric. 

Just cut 2 1/2" squares from the uncut areas like shown in this photo-

Then follow the same process of sewing the squares together and adding a border.  To cut your new squares, there is an Itty Bitty Twister tool creates 1 1/2" pinwheels as shown in the miniature above.



                            Here's what the tools look like- 





 




The original Twister tool is made for a 10" square of fabric.  Check out Linda's Twister quilt here.  I love it!

To and Fro quilt

This is my first time joining the Bloggers’ Quilt Festival hosted by Amy’s Creative Side.

To and Fro is another quilt made using fabric entirely from my stash.  Each block starts with a nickel (5") square of fabric.  The square gets cut on the diagonal and a strip of fabric is inserted.  It's really a quick, fun way to use a lot of fabric scraps up.  Here's what a block looks like-

Just alternate the blocks in rows to get the zigzag effect and add some strips between the rows.

No pieced back for this one. It is a kid size quilt, just a width of fabric wide. I think this bright swirly fabric of orange, red, yellow and green is the perfect choice for the backing and binding.

Linda used a Spiral Path pantograph and variegated thread to machine quilt this quilt. Check out her post to see a better photo of the quilting.