Dreaming of Red White and Blue

So many quilters are sharing their patriotic and red/white/blue quilts as we’re heading up to July 4th … lots of gorgeous patriotic quilts out there in blogland!  Lots of inspiration for sure.

I’ve made just two quilts that could be considered patriotic or red/white/blue … two blue and white log cabins with red centers. 

This one was the “big boy quilt” that I made for T#1 about 9 years ago … it looks like this photo was taken before I began quilting it.This was taken before I thought to take many pictures, not only to document the process but to have a memento of the quilt.  The secondary design (the windowpane effect) was purely accidental … isn’t it awesome how that happens? 

2 years ago I used the leftover blue strips from that quilt as well as some blue strips that didn’t get used when making T#3’s “big boy quilt” and some leftover white strips from other projects to make a blue and white log cabin that I kept.

Neither one of these would be what I would consider true RWB quilts, but I certainly have a list of some RWB and patriotic quilts that I’d like to make some day.  Pinterest has been an invaluable source for inspiration … and it’s led me to these quilts.

As most of you know, I’m a huge fan of English Paper Piecing (EPP), so I’d like to stitch up a hexagon flag quilt like this:  Source: http://goodwivesco.blogspot.com/

I just love this gorgeous scrappy flag:Source: https://www.etsy.com/listing/53095727/american-flag-quilt-wall-hanging

And isn’t this one fabulous?Alas, when I clicked on the original pin, I was led to an invalid page.    The pinner credited www.redroosterquilts.com.

I love the addition of the cheddar in this one:Source: http://littlequilts.blogspot.com/2014/04/quilts-remembered.html

I haven’t found a Minick and Simpson quilt yet that I don’t just love (I’ve got fabric all kitted up to work on Nantucket at retreat next month) … this one is no exception (although I’d choose some richer, less pastel blues … just sayin’).Source: http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/6963/--HURRAH-QUILT-PATTERN-.htm#

And I’d like to make Missouri Star Quilt Co.’s tumbler flag quilt (I’d probably choose a few scrappy neutrals instead of the solid white):Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRq3ocwXztk

Who knows if I’ll ever get any (let alone all) of those quilts made … after all, I have so so many other quilts on that same to-make list!  So many quilts, so little time.

And now back to our regular programming … I was able to get the inner border on DD’s chevron quilt Wednesday afternoon.  I had hoped to get both borders on … after all they’re just strips of fabric.  But I learned (the hard way, as is so often the case for me – sigh) that there really is no way to avoid getting down on my hands and knees when trying to measure the width and length of a large queen-sized quilt.  I’d like to blame the fact that I only got 3 hours of sleep Tuesday night (Insomnia, you are not my friend!), but I’m not sure that is entirely true. 

Today the outer border should go on fairly quickly as there are no triangle tips to worry about lopping off.  I’d like to think that I could start basting all the layers together, but I think hoping to have everything pressed and trimmed and ready to baste would be a more realistic expectation.  Maybe I’ll be able to take a few quilting stitches Friday evening?

Speaking of lopping off triangle tips, I saw this on Facebook and had to share it:It’s been the story of my life with this chevron quilt. 

We’re getting a break from the hot weather we’ve been having … the high yesterday was 75 … it’s going to warm a few degrees over the next 2-3 days … a big change of pace from our typical July 4th weather (hot and stormy).

Wishing you all a happy 4th of July!

Kathy