Colorado State Flag (No. 3)

Sarah holding her finished Colorado flag quilt top at show and share with South Florida Modern Quilt Guild

One of my earliest quilt ideas was to make a Colorado State flag since I am a native Coloradan. I drafted something on my graph paper and started construction in 2016. Not knowing what I was doing with sewing curves, I got frustrated and gave up.

As I mention on my About page, I discovered the South Florida Modern Quilt Guild through Instagram because I saw Latifah Saafir was in the area. I attended her trunk show on a Friday night where she previewed her class for her Pickled Beets pattern.

Cover of Latifah Saafir's Pickled Beets pattern

I’ve always been a little bit of rebel not wanting to make or follow a pattern, but I could “see” my Colorado State flag idea in this quilt. In the class I learned how to foundation paper piece, a skill I use all the time now.

This quilt was started in August 2017 but I bought my fabric in 2016. By the time I wanted to finish there was a change in the Kona red that is visible in the finished top (see picture) and has frustrated me ever since. I have the backing fabric and plan to piece it, but it is one of my two WIPs that I have right now. One day I will finish this one!

The Details

  • Finished size: TBD
  • Fabric front: Kona White, Red, & Blue
  • Fabric back: Erin Michael for Moda – Alpine
  • Binding: TBD
  • Batting: TBD
  • Thread: TBD

Althea’s Quilt (No. 2)

A purple, white, grey and pink modern equilateral triangle quilt.

I naively decided to tackle a 60-degree equilateral triangle design for my second quilt. Althea’s quilt was also for a special birthday girl and finished almost a year after my first quilt, in May of 2015. This quilt, however, was made on my own sewing machine! I purchased a Janome DC2014 in January of 2015 and this was my first completed quilt on it.

I tried several different layouts with the triangles before I sewed them together, and ultimately decided on the heart. As you can see here I do not have a design wall, but a design floor.

This quilt also doesn’t have a label, but it is still with the original owner and I plan on adding one next time I am home (Tanja and Matt – I am coming to put a label on!).

Here is a picture of the back. I used Alison Glass Ex Libris in pink.

The Details

  • Finished size: I don’t remember, I’ll have to ask!
  • Fabric front: Kona cotton
  • Fabric back: Alison Glass Ex Libris in pink
  • Binding: I don’t remember but it is a black and white stripe
  • Batting: Probably Warm & Natural

Aria’s Quilt (No. 1)

A pink and black patchwork baby quilt, with pops of orange.

We all have one, our very first quilt. Despite not having any known quilters in my family, it was something I always wanted to try. Aria, the granddaughter of a close friend at the time, was about to turn one and figured I would dive in!

I created a Pinterest board the year before, saving images of modern quilts I liked. I researched on the internet what supplies I needed and bought fabrics to match her bedroom colors. This was a very last-minute decision so I borrowed a friend’s sewing machine and kitchen island for 3-days to complete the task (thanks, Basia!). As expected for my very first quilt, I knew nothing. I did a stippling quilt design, with the feed dogs up! I hadn’t heard of a walking foot and I didn’t do a very good job squaring it up.

The most important lesson of all, is to put a label on your quilts. Sadly, I think this quilt ended up at a thrift store or in the trash so I will never see it again. I can only hope that someone has found it and is loving it as intended.

The Details

  • Finished size: Baby size
  • Fabric front: Novelty prints
  • Fabric back: Novelty print
  • Binding: Polka dots
  • Batting: Warm & Natural