My First Quilt is Made of all Squares

This is my first quilt

In the early 80's we moved to Burlington, Iowa, it's in the southeastern corner of the state on the Mississippi River and yes, I learned how to spell Mississippi.

I had done some blocks, some pillows and then I saw in the paper a class being hosted by the local quilt group. I remember it being expensive and how I agonized over it for days. but, finally signed up.

The teacher was "Liz Porter" at the time she worked for one of the magazines, Better Homes maybe, but is was a wonderful day and I learned so much.

It was a color class which meant nothing to me at the time, looking at the quilt today I didn't get the whole idea. Liz brought letters to add to each quilt to identify, I used my initials.

Hand quilting was so relaxing to me, I had no frame, just a dining room table, pinned it very well and quilted. I checked out library books on how to do everything. The quality of books we have now is crazy different from then.

I was approached to join the quilt group after the class. I think I was a rarity in the group a "new" member. I remember being laughed at when they saw my round corners on the quilt. I love these corners.This is my quilt, I curl up under it daily, it's washed all the time and it's just over 35 years old. It's never looked better to me.

And, if you are in the group in Burlington, IA. I'd love to hear from you ! ! 
My e-mail - thequiltladies@gmail.com

The Quilt Ladies Store

Beth is the Author of The Quilt Ladies Book Collection and Little Quilt Ladies Pattern Series 

The Quilt Ladies Store - HERE,  

Fish Taco's Quilt Ladies Kitchen

When Husband brings home a recipe from work.....

Well, after he talked it up, way too much. I tried it.

Fish Taco's

1/2 Cup Greek Yogurt

1/2 cup light Mayonnaise

1/4 cup chopped Fresh cilantro

1 oz package of taco seasoning mix

1 pound Tilapia, or other firm fish cut in chucks

2 Tbs. olive oil

2 Tbs. of lemon juice, bottle or fresh

1 package whole grain taco shells.

Mix together, sour cream, mayonnaise, cilantro and 1 1/2 tablespoons of the seasoning in a small bowl.

Combine tilapia, olive oil, lemon juice and rest of seasoning mix,

Coat fish with seasoning

 Cook, stir over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes per side. or until fish flakes with fork.

Fill taco shells with fish mixture,

Top with, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream mixture

Or as I like it. Salad, chips and fish.

The Quilt Ladies Store

Beth is the Author of The Quilt Ladies Book Collection

and Little Quilt Ladies Pattern Series 

The Quilt Ladies Home Page

Valentine's Red Table Topper Quilt Pattern for YOU !

A Quilter's Valentine
Let's make a little Quilt ! 20" x 22"

You will need 9, 4-Patch blocks

Cut 36 squares - 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

Sew together to form 4-patch blocks

Lay them out and like color placement.

Cut 6 Dark - 4 1/2" x 1 1/2"  

Sew into 3 Rows

Cut 4 - 2 1/2"x 1 1/2" 

Cut 6 - 2 1/2"x 4 1/2

Sew into 2 Rows

Sew all Rows together to form center of quilt

Cut 2 Dark - 2 1/2" x 16 1/2" 

Cut 2 Red - 2 1/2 x 16 1/2" 

Sew to the sides

Cut 2 Red - 2 1/2" x 22 1/2 

Sew to the top and bottom

Cut binding 88" x 2 1/4"

   

I'm going to TRY and do machine quilting on this, it's gong to be my TRY !

I'll share ! 

The Quilt Ladies NOW on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop HERE for YOU

The Quilt Ladies Home Page

I am the Author of The Quilt Ladies Book Collection

and Little Quilt Ladies Quilt Patterns

Today is My Birthday

I'm going to indulge myself today !

Husband and I

My favorite walk on the beach

Love and Hugs with Grand's 

and their baby blankets  

Left Pattern - Right Pattern

My Rose Garden

My Quilts

And, my wonderful Quilt Ladies Book Collection !

I'm hoping for a year of happiness, health and more quilts. 

The Quilt Ladies Store

Beth is the Author of The Quilt Ladies Book Collection and Little Quilt Ladies Pattern Series 

The Quilt Ladies Store - HERE,  

This Quilt is NOT Finished....BUT

I hate to say, but, I use this quilt and it's not finished...

I even put the binding on it, 

because it fits a table I have and having it on it makes me happy.
It measures about 40" x 40" 

It's machine pieced 

and Not hand quilted YET ! 
Some day??? Maybe??

I'm showing the back, it's been washed a number of times, use a 1/4" seam allowance always, you never know what your quilts will be doing for you.

Beth is the Author of The Quilt Ladies Book Collection and Little Quilt Ladies Pattern Series The Quilt Ladies Store

My Mom's Lap Quilt

This is the Lap quilt I made my Mom a few years ago.

It's a square about 50" x 50" 

Machine pieced 

And Hand Quilted

The Quilt Ladies Store

Beth is the Author of The Quilt Ladies Book Collection and Little Quilt Ladies Pattern Series 

How to do my Piecing of a Quilt Triangle

I recently posted a picture of one of my quilt blocks on Facebook and the talk turned to points on triangles. I thought I'd share how I do my triangles with you.  2012 Block of the Month starts next week and there will be triangles !

As I always say, "No one who receives a quilt or sleeps under one, will care, 
if a few points are cut off !" So, relax

 The triangle. Just like the square if you are not ready to purchase a rotary cutter and mat. You will need to make a freezer paper pattern.  How to do Square's HERE

Take the FINISHED size of the square you want and add 7/8 of an inch.
example:
for a finished size 2 inch square you will cut your fabric 2 7/8" x 2 7/8"
for a finished size 3 inch square you will cut your fabric 3 7/8" x 3 7/8"
for a finished size 4 inch square you will cut your fabric 4 7/8" x 4 7/8"

And so on, either make you freezer paper pattern or up with a rotary cutter and ruler.

I've used a 3 inch FINISHED Square cut 3 7/8" x 3 7/8"

A light and a dark.

On the Wrong side of the light fabric draw a line from corner to corner.

This is the cutting line NOT sewing line

On your sewing machine sew a straight seam, 1/4" from the line.

Turn and do the same thing on the other side.

(when I have many to sew, I do chain piecing, one right after another, not stopping the machine until all finished and then turn and do the other side)

If NEW do them one at a time.

Cut on the drawn Cutting line.

You have 2 triangles

Open them up and 2 triangles

Press your seam to the dark fabric and trim the end tail off.

This is your finished triangle


GIVE IT A TRY.... IT'S NOT HARD.

Pieced together a triangle to a block

Added this as a strip to another piece.  Pin as much as you need, check as you pin to make sure

you have the 1/4 seam allowance.   At this time if you like you could draw on your sewing line, lightly with a pencil. 

Press the fabric to one side, usually to the dark fabric

The point. 

The Quilt Ladies NOW on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop HERE for YOU

The Quilt Ladies Home Page

I am the Author of The Quilt Ladies Book Collection

and Little Quilt Ladies Quilt Patterns