Hugs from Helen: Love Thy Neighbour quilt

yesterday was dark and dreary in Hobart, wet, wild and windy also… perfect quilting weather so I delved into my stash – I had a quilt wanting for my lovely neighbour who has recently moved into a nursing home… not too big, not too heavy, warm and snuggly to make her room feel more homely…

We always have fabric that we no longer love, or was a gift or prize (in my case) that possibly isn't our favourite anymore… I know I have ‘lots’ of this type of fabric, not my first choice but perfect for someone out there…So I just had to make it work..as I had no shops open nearby.

I chose to recreate a quilt I’d made in a swap group years ago, it still sits on my lounge chair and has worn well. It wasn't a pattern or a class so to speak we just made it as a group from memory. So I took a close look to remember how I made it and off I went.. with a few little changes…

And as I had my trusty phone nearby I took some quick snaps and thought you might like to delve into your stash and make one along with me… whether for a neighbour, a friend or just a fresh lap quilt for the winter…

So, I chose a colourway with darks and mediums… I only had four prints but you can use as many as you like, then you just need a contrast or plain for the ‘sashing’

From your plain or contrast fabric cut enough squares 6 1/2” x 6 1/2” to the size you want your quilt to be. Mine is five rows of seven blocks = 35 squares to cut.then from your coloured fabrics cut 70 various squares 5 1/2” x 5 1/2”

on the back of every coloured square mark with a ceramic or marking pencil diagonally from corner to corner

then using a ruler draw another line 1/2” from the centre line.

place a square right sides together onto one corner of your 6 1/2” plain square with two raw edges even. Stitch down the centre line. Just keep feeding them through (chain piecing) until you have completed half of your plain squares.

then go back to the beginning of your string and stitch down the second line which is 1/2” closer to the corner than the centre line.

press and then use your ruler and cutter to cut in between each stitch line – this will leave a 1/4” seam allowance on each piece.

take to the ironing board and press each unit open. Press directly outwards from the seam – it is a bias seam so you don’t want to stretch them out of shape.

You will end up with a half square triangle unit and a half unit thingy (not sure what to call it?).

put your half square triangles aside and take the other thingy units back to the machine. Repeat the first step with the other half of your coloured squares.

And that’s about as far as I got yesterday before a great band at the local pub called to me!

I will be back with part two shortly… in the meantime have a play with your layouts and if necessary (I have run out of the 1/2m lemon sashing) find another fabric to use as a border…see how they look when you put them together? a great criss cross lattice look.

btw, for those who will ask – this fabric was from Laura Ashley’s ‘Melrose’ collection and was gifted to me as a prize (not sure which show?) by Quilting Treasures in about 2009… see, don’t throw anything out ,it will one day be perfect for that Love Thy Neighbour quilt.

hugs for today

Helen