Today's the Day!

Today is the day I turn 55 and end my Double Nickel Quilt Challenge.  What a hectic year it has been!  Wondering where I ended up? I made 48 quilts, 13 of which still need to be quilted. Throughout the posts of this blog, you will find more than 55 ways to use 5" squares of fabric also known as nickel squares or charm squares.  I hope you can find inspiration here to make your own nickel quilt.

My Flower Garden is the last quilt of my challenge. It's not finished but here it is on my design wall.

I finally decided that I like this layout the best.  Where the white of the design wall is showing through is where I will use a background fabric that I don't have yet.  I hope to find it today as I am going to lunch with my quilting friends and then off to visit two new quilt shops in our area.

Here are some additional designs for using nickel squares that I am playing around with-

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Starting Saturday, December 10th through Dec. 17th, join in on the Blog Hop Party hosted by Quilting Gallery in celebration of their 4th anniversary. There will be give-aways and lots of sites to visit.  Tell all your friends too.

I'll be giving away 5 FREE patterns (the ones on my website) To be entered in the drawing, leave a comment on this post giving me the number of the design above that you think I should work on next.  Make sure I have an email address for you so I can send you a pattern if you are chosen.  All winners will be chosen at random.

Crosses and Dots quilt



Crosses and Dots quilt

My Crosses and Dots quilt is another quilt from my Nickel Nine Patch series of nickel quilts.  I call it Crosses and Dots because it reminds me of the old saying, "Be sure to dot your i's and cross your t's".
The blocks are nine patch blocks made from nickel (5") squares or 5" wide strips of fabric.  In this block, I prefer to use a 5" strip down the center of the block if I have the fabric available though three 5" squares sewn together works also.  I used both methods in this quilt depending on what fabric I had available for each block.

Using nine 5" charm squares makes a nine patch block that finishes at 13 1/2".  The large size means you don't have to make alot of blocks to make a quilt.  I have used many variations of nickel nine patch blocks throughout this challenge. I use just 20 blocks for a lap size quilt that's 54" X 68".  Crosses and Dots has only 12 blocks but with the added sashing and cornerstones is actually 4 1/2" longer and wider than if I had made 20 blocks and used no sashing!

On another note, this challenge ends on December 9th, my 55th birthday.  If you are wondering if I completed the challenge, the answer is YES!!  On this blog, you will find 55 ways to use 5" (nickel) squares of fabric in your quilting after my next post.  Stay tuned, there will also be a give-away posted on December 9th.

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.