Tag: scrappy-quilt

Experimenting with EQ8

November 12, 2024

Now that Yellowstone’s new season has begun, several iterations inspired by Beth Dutton’s infamous quilt have shown up in my social media feeds. It’s essentially an alternating 9-patch block design set on point in a red, black and gray color scheme. I saw quilts in 6″, 8″ and 9″ finished block sizes with numerous layouts in all sorts of different sizes. Intrigued, I booted up EQ8 to see what I could come up with. Note: this is not a tutorial or pattern. I merely wanted to highlight what’s possible with EQ8 and share.

I wanted a throw size quilt that would use up my scraps (mostly leftover jelly rolls) for the 9-patch blocks. I prefer the floating look that a thin border provides, so that’s why I added a 1-1/2″ finished border before binding. Always remember: you are the boss of your own quilt. Make a quilt the way you like it!

Meet Rustic Retreat II (55″ x 64″ based on 6″ finished blocks)

Here are the essential components needed to make the quilt pictured above:
(42) 6-1/2″ red & black 9-patch blocks
(30) 6-1/2″ grey squares
(22) grey side setting triangles
(4) grey corner setting triangles
(6) 2″ x WOF grey strips for border
(7) 2-1/2″ x WOF grey strips for binding

The way you make the 9-patch blocks will depend on if you’re using up scraps or cutting yardage. Since this is based on 6″ finished blocks, your 9-patch components will be made from 2-1/2″ squares and/or strips.

Very loose fabric requirements (calculated by EQ8):
Black – scraps or yardage – about 1 yard
Red – scraps or yardage – about 1 yard
Grey – 2-1/2 yards
You will also need about 3.5 yards of backing fabric and a twin size package of quilt batting.

This quilt is essentially a simple alternating 9-patch design that is set on point. If you’ve made one or two quilts, you can make this one. There are numerous YouTube videos that describe the “set on point” process in great detail. Missouri Star, A Quilting Life and Fat Quarter Shop YouTube videos are good places to start. Here’s a blog post you might also find helpful from Diary of a Quilter.

You will also need to figure how to cut your setting and corner triangles. American Patchwork and Quilting has a reference chart you can download for free.

Being able to take a basic design that inspires me and customize it to meet my needs and preferences is one of the reasons I love using EQ8. Yes, I still have to do some math to figure cut sizes and how to put it all together, but I’m willing to do that. It’s a real confidence booster when the project you’ve created turns out exactly how you envisioned.

Playing the waiting game

February 9, 2024

On Tuesday morning, I officially applied for retirement. A short while later, I received a document outlining additional tasks I needed to do in order to complete my retirement application package. It took some time, but everything has now been submitted. I’ve done everything on my end. Now, as with our health insurance, we wait while everything goes through the prescribed processes. Unfortunately, at this stage, there’s no tracking mechanism in place for me to follow the status online. I’ll actually have to call and speak to a rep to find out where we are in the process – or wait for the mailed document. Maddening. Quilting keeps me focused on other things while I wait.

Yesterday, Sadie & I participated in the Middle Georgia Shop Hop. It took nearly 2 hours to reach our first stop off I-75 with all the traffic getting out of Atlanta. The shops were really busy. A number of vans were taking shop hoppers to the venues this year. Three of the shops were so crowded, I didn’t even look around. I merely had my passport stamped, purchased my blocks and left.

Of course, we made the obligatory pit stop at Buc-cee’s in Fort Valley before heading across the state to the shops along I-85. Around 3:30 p.m., I turned in our completed passport to Hometown Quilt Shop – we were the first completed passport to be turned in! 

Today, I helped a friend spray baste her first quilt and learn how to do straight line quilting using a walking foot. She finished quilting her top right as we needed to pack up and vacate our space at the library so the next group could use it. Perfect timing! She’s going to trim her quilt and make the binding this week. If she’s brave, she’ll try to attach it. I’ll guide her through machine stitching it down and joining the binding ends next Friday.

My CraftLAB kiddos will be stitching with me on Saturday afternoon to complete their cross body bags. I’ve already advised them that the next project will be to work on their blocks for the kid’s exhibit at the June quilt show. Speaking of which, I’d best get started on quilting my own entry.