PRAIRIE PATH CLASS SAMPLE #1

In my ongoing efforts to clean, organize, and label the items in my sewing (quilt) room; I recently discovered a tub of four quilt tops that I had used as samples in a 1994 Prairie Path workshop that I taught.  

I have decided that they deserve to be quilted and finished because of the fabrics they contain.  For me, the explosion of wonderful new fabrics of the 1980s and early 1990s were some of the best ever.  

This is the first of the group to be finished.

THE STATS:  Prairie Path Class Sample #1, 1994 - 2025, 39" x 39", Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

Prior to 1980, in rural areas we had to resort to J. C. Penny's mezzanine floor for maybe 10 bolts of 100% cotton fabrics suitable for quilting.  Then, in the early 1980s, quilt stores began popping up in the metro areas.  I remember one trip to Denver early on, when my husband and kids dropped me off at "Quilts and Other Comforts" while they went to Elitch Gardens amusement park. I had 2 full hours alone with pure joy looking at fabric.  The employees were so friendly, understanding, helpful while I walked around fondling their fabric!!

This is the original 'Prairie Path' quilt that I made in 1987.

 

WINDROWER

I've made another row quilt; this time using twelve of my favorite 3" blocks.  No pattern as I just design as I go.

THE STATS:  Windrower, 2025, 27" x 33", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

 Growing up, we had a longhair dachshund that was definitely a house dog.  But, when no one was home; she would go with my dad to farm for the day.  Her favorite activity was to follow the windrower up and down the acreage with those short, little legs.  She would come home in need of a bath and ready for a nap.  Some days I feel like I have followed a windrower by foot all day, too.   

Not familiar with the term, "windrow" or "swath" --- my old dependable 1956 edition of Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary says "a row, or strip"; and by extension, a windrower is the farm machine that does the job of cutting and raking up a row of hay to dry before being baled, etc.

In honor of "Rebound", our infamous, smart, funny, not afraid of anything dog; here is my row quilt called "Windrower".

BIRD CONDO

Twenty years ago, each of our grandchildren made and painted a bird house with the help of their Papa.  These have always hung in the cherry tree outside my sewing room window.  I always know that Spring is on its way when the birds start to show up to stake out their individual real estate.  

It also signals me to make a Spring-type quilt.  I found in my stash scraps of this birdie fabric.  It took several small pieces to sew together the border for my "Bird Condo" quilt, but it seemed appropriate.

THE STATS:  Bird Condo, 2025, 33" x 33", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

LOOSE CHANGE

This quilt was inspired by a wool 'Penny Rug' that I made several years ago.  However, this quilt is made from small pieces of cotton fabrics from previous quilts.

THE STATS:  Loose Change, 2025, 33" x 33", Machine pieced, Machine applique, Machine quilted.

Wool Penny Rug, 2011

GREEN ACRES

 A revisit to an old favorite --- a half log-cabin variation on point, but with a color palette that I'm not always comfortable using.

STATS:  Green Acres, 2025, 29" x 29", Paper Pieced, Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted.

CIRCLE THE WAGONS

The men in my family actually came west first in 1876, not in a covered wagon, but by train and stage coach.  However, I often think about the women who came west  traveling with their families and belongings by covered wagons.  They endured  long, unending distances often by foot adapting to the weather; taking care of their children; plus feeding the wagon train, all in unusual circumstances.  To have rest at night, the wagons would be circled to provide for some protection of the families and animals.  Their endurance was unbelievable; and unfortunately, some did not survive the arduous trip.  

There is something satisfying about making a quilt design that you woke up in the middle of the night thinking about ----  then to transfer that thought to paper and patterns including the seam allowances of pieces that match a 90 degree angle to a 60 degree angle, etc.  Next for me there is the dilemma of selecting fabric from the scrap bins to supplement the design without purchasing any new fabric.  My problem is always to have enough of one fabric to complete the pattern.  In the case of this quilt, I had to change my choices more than once, but I'm pleased and satisfied with the result!!

THE STATS:  Circle The Wagons, 2025, 28" x 28", Paper Pieced, Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted

COLOR PLAY

While geometry is my primary inspiration for quilts, I equally enjoy playing with colors.  In this quilt, I'm reverting back to my 11-year-old self back in my grandmother's sewing room by playing with colored squares of fabric.

 When I've been working on other projects, I have been stockpiling 2 inch (1 1/2 inch finished) squares.  Now is the time to do something with them.  

There have been questions about how I do most of my work on just an old 1958 adjustable ironing board.  Guess I wouldn't know how to function any other way - it's easy for me to just swivel from layout/pressing to my machine.  I do have an old dresser to the left that I use for rotary cutting then lay them on the flannel board on the edge of my ironing board.  Simple is sometimes best!

THE STATS:  Color Play, 2025, 29" x 29", Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted. Number nerd report - 328 1 1/2" squares

ARCHITECTURAL JUXTAPOSITION

I've mentioned before that as a youth I wanted to become an architect; and was told that girls didn't do that in the 1950s.  I wasn't particularly prone to buck the system in those days; so I said okay, I'll do something else.  No regrets here; as the observation of architecture and structures continues to be a pleasant part of my everyday life and travels, a great avocation.  I especially enjoy the juxtaposition of the old and the new, plus the regal with the mundane.  What ties it all together is usually the geometry involved.   Quiltmaking is a great extension of that theory for me.

So, in this quilt I juxtapose a log cabin variation with an architectural triangle.  The  inspiration is from two buildings located in our town.

THE STATS:  Architectural Juxtaposition, 2024, 33" x 33", Paper Pieced, Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted, Ninety-three 3-inch blocks.

It's always interesting to me to see the pattern develop when the body design intersects with the border.

A very enjoyable project to make and photograph for my final 2024 project.

May your 2025 be full of creative endeavors.

STAR PATH

I've had this design in my head for some time, and thought it would be perfect for the Minnick and Simpson new "Grand Haven" fabrics.  My quilts are usually scrappy in nature, but occasionally I splurge on several pieces of a collection. 

I have had questions about the fact that I don't purchase a pattern for my quilts. Reasons:   #1  Basically, I'm just too frugal in all aspects of my life.  #2  A commercial pattern, to me, takes the fun out of it; as I don't want to see the finished result pictured.  I like the journey to see how it turns out (good or bad).  #3  I enjoy trying to figure out how simple geometric units can be arranged to develop secondary patterns.  

I begin my process with a piece of graph paper, and start by drawing a simple geometric unit or a traditional block.  Then, I just repeat and rearrange units until I achieve my perceived goal of the finished project.  I consider ease of construction; the importance of light, medium, and dark values; then the choice of different fabric motifs. Then, I enjoy drafting out my individual patterns and figuring yardage requirements (I'm a bit of a simple math nerd).  I am always open to changes of the original idea along the way.

This is part of my original graph paper drawing for this project.

THE STATS:  Star Path, 2024, 28" x 28", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted, fussy-cut.

BOOK OF FOLLY

I have been intrigued for some time with paper junk journals; always wondering if I could transfer some of the methods into fabric.  One of the construction methods was the idea of "slot and tab".  It was time for a new learning experience, so here we are ---

FRONT COVER WITH BELT FASTENER

THE STATS:  Book of Folly, 2024, 6" x 6", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine embroidery, Hand pieced, Cotton and wool, 12 book pages including the two covers.

The pages -- WARNING -- picture overload ----

BACK COVER

The buckle on the belt fastener was from my grandmother's button box, and all fabrics were from my scrap bins.

I don't have the patience or words left to explain the "slot and tab" method.  If interested, you can google it!  I enjoyed making the pages; but, at times found this construction method using fabric cumbersome and/or confusing.  This project, for me,  was probably a "one and done" experiment.  However, I like the finished project!