Square Dancing...

Brynwood Needleworks - Chenille Four-Patch Detail

I started assembling my chenille four-patch quilt over the weekend. I'd hoped to have a finished top to share, but I miscalculated. I went back to my first quilt to see where I went wrong, and apparently, I can't count. lol

Brynwood Needleworks - Chenille Four-Patch In Progress

 

I have over half the quilt assembled, however, I need more four-patch blocks. While I have the more of the fabric, it's all in the darker shades that I didn't use here. Adding only the darkest shades to the balance of my blocks would make the quilt shade from light to dark, which I don't want. 

 

I'm going to wait until next Tuesday, when I go back to Menasha for Sit & Sew to purchase more of the lighter flannel. Then, I'll assemble the rest of the blocks and complete my quilt top. I'm going to set this aside for now, and will share my completed quilt after it's done. I guess I'll be working on the applique' pieces for my Wooly Critters quilt the rest of this week.

 

Fun And Games...

Brynwood Needleworks - Four-Patch Blocks From Primitive Gatherings' "Farmhouse Gatherings" Fabrics

 

We had a fun and busy weekend. On Saturday, I sat down for a few hours and pieced the four-patch blocks that will be sewn into my simple Chenille Four-Patch lap quilt.

On Sunday, Handsome and I attended a farm toy show in a nearby town. Our friend and neighbor, Shelly had a booth, and of course, I had to purchase one of her pieces. I'm going to share what I bought another day. (Hint: It has a compass on it!) It was good for Handsome to get out and walk a little more than he can here at home, and he really did get some exercise for his new knee. 

The weather is getting warmer, too, and we already have birds returning to the farm. Red-wing blackbirds, robins, and sandhill cranes are the first to show up, and their calls fill the air. It's great to see them back again, too.

I spent the afternoon reading a book that a friend is publishing. It's a wonderful piece, and I was in happy tears by the end. I'll tell you more about that when I have permission, but it was a perfect way to finish the day.

Off to take Handsome to physical therapy this morning, and then I'll be back to the studio this afternoon. I'll see you again on Wednesday, as Tag is here tomorrow. 

**I'd like to remind you about the sale going on in my shop right now, too. You need the code that I'm only sharing with my blog and Facebook friends. Just click HERE and use the code: BWANNIVERSARY for 20% off. Thanks for looking! See you Wednesday.

 

My Rotary Cutter Is Smokin'...

Brynwood Needleworks - Primitive Gatherings "Farmhouse Gatherings" Flannels

 

I began the day taking Handsome to physical therapy. When we got home, I had an order to make for shipping today. By then, it was dinner time (a tasty homemade quiche), leaving me a little time to cut flannel squares for my four-patch quilt project.

I need one hundred 4.5" squares, total, so I'm nearly finished. I'll be cutting the chenille squares to 8.5" today, and then I'll begin assembly. You know the drill. Coffee first. Cutting and sewing later.

In Case You're Wondering What's Next...

Brynwood Needleworks - Wooly Critters Pattern by Brandywine Design

 

Can you believe that I was almost a little sad to have completed my butterfly? I actually was a bit melancholy. But, on to the next UFO, and this one will be fun, too!

 

I have the dark border fabric chosen, and just need to pull the wools I'll be using all around that border. After I get back home from taking Handsome to physical therapy, I'm going to choose the colors I want to use, based on the colors I chose for the completed blocks. Then, I'll set up the parts and pieces in anticipation of stitching them all to the ground fabric. It'll be nice to sit at random moments and slow stitch the last parts of this quilt.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Primitive Gatherings Flannels for a Chenille Four-Patch Quilt

 

Sit & Sew with the Primitive Gatherings' ladies is March 17th this month. In January, I was telling them about my favorite quick quilt pattern called a Chenille Four-Patch quilt. It was actually the first "real" pieced quilt I ever made, and it's still my favorite. It's soft and snuggly and perfect for a quick power nap in the afternoon.

 

It just happened that the day I talked about it, Lisa B. had given each of us a Farmhouse Gatherings flannel pack that was custom cut for her shop. I think they're comparable to half size layer cake cuts. (6.5" x 10"). These fabrics are wonderfully soft, and would be just the thing I'd choose to make an updated nap quilt. Before I left town, I stopped at the shop and chose the backing fabric to coordinate with the fabrics we were given.

So, before I go to our March Sit & Sew I want to put together a new Farmhouse Gatherings Chenille Four-Patch. It won't take long at all to assemble, and I'll only do a criss-cross of straight line quilting to finish it. 

These are the projects I'd like to move to the "Complete" pile this month. At this rate, I may even be able to add another project, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. First things first.

NOTE: Thank you so much to everyone who left a comment on yesterday's post. I promise I'll reply to every one of you. You were all so wonderful to me about my butterfly. I'm truly humbled and grateful that you all cared to leave a note for me. Be sure to check back on yesterday's comments page by tonight to read my replies to your messages. xoxo