Quilts made from other designers’ patterns
I made a lot of quilts and used a lot of published patterns before I began designing my own. Now-a-days I rarely get a chance to use other peoples patterns!
Here’s a scrapbook of some quilts (and a few other items) I made that aren’t my own designs.
These aren’t all the quilts I’ve made. I only thought to keep a journal after I had made quite a number of them. I consider most of these learning projects. When I became more accomplished, I took on greater projects. I designed some quilts, and then moved on to bag designs.
New York Beauty
February 2008
My sister-in-law needed a quilted wallhanging to give as a gift to their friends, to go along with a quilt rack that my brother had made in his woodworking shop. I had this one almost finished, and I was willing to part with it. The ‘New York Beauty’ block reminds me of the crown of the Statue of Liberty, but curiously, I think the quilt block is actually older than that famous gift of the French to the Americans. This one was quilted by Tim Bobier of The Marsh Store, and I finished binding it in Feb. 2008.
Pennies from Heaven Quilt
May 2007
Practically every evening my Labrador Retriever Hershey insists that I walk her in a clover field near our home. The sun shines right at us from the west as we walk in those purple and green fields which are aflutter with bugs and butterflies. That’s the inspiration for the design of this quilt. The name of the quilt occurred to me on one of those quiet thoughtful walks. We often forget that the “pennies from heaven”, the little wonders of life like butterflies and sunshine and good company are much more important that our worldly pursuits. The central sun motif was created at a local guild class for the New York Beauty block taught by Judith Elder-McCartney of Design Concepts in Seaforth. Not wanting to complete an entire quilt using this method, I designed to suit myself around the sun. The three dimensional dragon fly figures are taken form the book Folded Flowers by Kumiko Sudo. Machine Quilted by Mary Anne Charlton, hand beaded by Heather Campbell both of Strathroy.
Roosters & Sunflowers
February 2007
Here is one of those ‘stalled projects’ that finally got completed. I really liked these roosters when I bought them on a guild ‘shop hop’ from some store up north. This was a paper-pieced and applique wallhanging designed by Kathy Love of Love Quilt Patterns. I had the thing pieced and sitting in the back of my closet for about four years (!). I had left it there because I wanted to do a nice job on the quilting, but there were just so many other projects on the go. Priorities, priorities. I had actually approached a couple of people to hand quilt it for me, but there were no takers. It got to the point where I needed chickens, I must have chickens, so off it went to the machine quilter! Tim Bobier of The Marsh Store did a nice job with it.
Washington Cherry Basket
November 2006
Designed by American Quilter Nancy Rink and featured in Quilt Works Today Oct/Nov 2003. A study in value in red and white this quilt’s toile fabric ties the design together. I love toile and the colour red. I also have an attraction to 2 colour quilts. Machine quilted by Tim Bobier of The Marsh Store in Coldstream, Ontario.
Lone Star and Stripes
October 2006
This vibrant wall hanging was inspired by the pattern of Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins of Piece O’Cake designs. Their quilt used fusible appliqué in the corners making an easily completed piece. The quilt was featured on the cover of American Patchwork and Quilting Aug. 2003 issue. I decided to do the flowers using a three-dimensional look that had been taught in a Huron Perth Quilter’s Guild workshop by Renske Helmuth of Moorefild Ontario. I also used a design for the secondary flower from the book by Kumiko Sudo entitled Folded Flowers. My idea with the 3D look was that it would be less time consuming than regular needle turn appliqué. Not true! The appliqué in the project was completed during 2 years worth of camping trips to Restoule Provincial Park and a retreat to the Ottawa area. Hand quilted by myself with shadow quilting and a leaf motif in the stars diamond.
The Sweatshop Boys Project
July 2006
Pattern, Crazy for Flannel from Fons and Porters Love of Quilting, Jan/Feb, 2005. This is a simple flannel rag patch quilt that I made with my 3 nephews when they came for a weekend sleepover. Each had a sewing machine and worked away at the sewing – something none of them had ever tried before. Sometimes they had to wait for the next piece and during this break they watched our extensive collection of old Rocky and Bullwinkle videos.
Love in the Cabin
June 2006
Handquilted. I’ve been working on this one for some time, dragging it along on vacations in the woods, and handquilting it in front of the tv every so often. It was the perfect wedding gift for Ginnie and Nate. I finished it just a couple of weeks after they came back from their honeymoon. So much for deadlines. Oh well, they didn’t complain — to me, at least.
Feathered Log Cabin
March 2006
I had wanted to try my hand at machine quilting feather plumes for some time and this unfinished quilt top was the medium I choose to practise on. The stitching was done in a lightweight monofilament thread to hide the inevitable errors. I followed instructions for machine quilting from the book Machine Quilting, A Primer of Techniques by Sue Nickels. The quilt was washed upon completion to provide an old fashioned, slightly shrunken look.
We Three Kings
December 2005
From Quilters Newsletter Magazine, Quilt It for Christmas, 2005 by Dilys Fronks. Each year this magazine offers a new appliqué silhouette Christmas project from this designer. Note that you get two images, one positive and one the negative image. Quick and easy to complete. Keep one and give the other away.
Home for the Harvest
September 2005
By Nancy Smith and Lynda Milligan of Possibilities Publishing. Fusible web with buttonhole stitching. Honestly this was a tedious project with all the buttonhole stitching. Some day someone will invent a fusible web that really works.
Strawberry Runner
July 2005
Strawberry Garden, Another penny rug, this time by Pat Sloan & Co., design by Anna Weber. The pattern showed a lovely hand dyed pink/red felted wool for the strawberries. I couldn’t find anything like this anywhere. It would be nice if the odd store devoted some space to that sort of product.
Hare Affair Wallhanging
July 2005
Designed by The Rabbit Factory. I used three types of appliqué to complete this attractive little bunny, needleturn, fusible and pocket appliqué.
Mad About Plaid
May 2005
From the Book of the same name by Debbie Bacon, publisher That Patchwork Place. The technique used to make this quilt was taught to our guild by our program director Susan Christie. This is a great way to use up scrap. finished with a piano key border and machine quilted on my Pfaff home sewing machine.
Snowflakes
February 2005
Designed by Eileen Bahring Sullivan. Each snowflake took 6 hours to complete. A mammoth job but nice results. I added a few sparkly seed beads to the snowflakes and gave this table topper to my Mom for Christmas.
Candy Corn Ring
October 2004
An autumn penny rug which is quick to make by Pat Sloan in Fons and Porter’s Love of Quilting Sept/Oct 2003 edition.
Paul’s University Quilt
September 2004
My son Paul went off to University in 2004 and I sent along this quilt especially made to fit his residence bed. Done in civil war type prints it has a manly feel to it. Machine quilted by Mary Anne Charlton.
Teapot Table Topper
August 2004
Here’s a bigger project by Robb’n Graves Designs. The company has also developed a similar project for dog and for cat lovers.
Star Light Star Bright Tote
April 2004
Designed by The Button Bush with button and embroidery embellishment and fusible appliqué. A super simple bag to put together with lots of country appeal.
A Garden of Hearts
March 2004
Designed by Sandy Bonsib with the pattern from the book Potting Shed Patchwork published by That Patchwork Place. The Huron Perth Quilters Guild produced this quilt in reds and whites as a charity quilt for The Quilt Project in Stratford, Ont. to raise money for breast cancer. The guild quilt was entitled Hearts A Glow. Each guild member contributed a block – mine was second from the left in the second row. Embroidered on the block background are the words “love true, love strong” I think of my choir friend Raija who recently began her radiation and chemo treatments.
Rising Sun Wallhanging
March 2004
Designer Carol Gilham Jones. From the book, Americas Printed Fabrics 1770 – 1890 by Barbara Brackman. Who 
hasn’t been attracted to the New York Beauty block? A nice small project to satisfy you need to make a New York Beauty Quilt. Beginners, be forewarned that this kind of work may be a year or two into your future. Machine quilted on my Pfaff home sewing machine.
Mom’s Sofa Quilt
March 2004
From Nap Time by Kelly Corbridge from McCalls Quick Quilts, March 2001 edition. I have made this quilt several times in a fish, teddy bear and kiddy motif. I gave this one to my Mother. Mom doesn’t come from a quilting heritage and thus uses her quilt to “protect her new sofa from UV rays”. When not doing UV sentry duty the quilt simply covers the seat of the new sofa so that the sofa is protected from dirt. Ugh!Lesson 1. Make sure the recipient of your quilting gift has some idea of what you are giving them. Lesson 2: Moms can get away with anything. Hand quilted by myself.
Cat’s Cradle Quilt
February 2004
From McCall’s Quick Quilts, Jan. 2001 edition. Pattern entitled I’ll Fly Home For Christmas by Joy Hoffman. I hand quilted this while recuperating over a 6 week period from double bunion surgery. Fussy cut cats in a Debbie Mumm fabric…
Love Never Melts
February 2004
A cute penny rug designed by Sew Unique Creations. I bought an old wool blazer at the local thrift shop and felted it (washed it numerous times in hot water and dried it in the dryer) for the patterned wool. Do be careful with purchased wool off the bolt. The dye in it very often runs horribly.
Australian Leaf
September 2003
From Australian Patchwork and Quilting, vol.8 No. 2. I thought I’d do this quilt in brighter colours than the browns and yellows used in the example with flashes of colour added to the leaf borders. The border fabric shows leaves on water. I was very pleased with the outcome of this top and had it machine quilted with swirls representing wind, or water movement. I changed the corner block tipping the leaves with the same slashed border.
Country Nites Jacket
September 2003
Here’s a scrappy country jacket I’ve made that gets a lot of use and doesn’t look too bulky. Country Nites Jacket by A Little More Effect Inc. (10736-124 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5M 0H1). Pattern #0520. The one pattern gives you sizes 8 to 24. I made mine a size bigger than usual to fit sweaters underneath.
Cottage Flower
June 2003
A Thimbleberries design. The border fabric was the inspiration for this quilt (although the border fabric was purchased with stack and wrack in mind). The quilt was machine quilted by Patterson Quilters in Wabash with a varigated thread (beige, red, blue) and on the burgundy backing was visually very pleasing.It was also shown at the New Millenium Quilt Show, Walterloo in June ’03.
Uncle Robert’s 9 Patch Chain (Top Only)
June 2003
Designed by Robert Callaham from Chatham. A Queen-sized quilt from McCalls Magazine. For donation to the Frosy Frolic Bazaar at Strathroy United Church. Brouwer’s Fabrics donated the materials, I pieced it and Loretta Harris organized the hand quilters. Lots of community spirit is in this project.
Renske Helmuth Workshop Quilt
June 2003
Renske came to our guild to teach a workshop. An accomplished quilter and teacher, her class was well received by guild members. Renske is affiliated with Mennonite Relief Fund in the Kitchener/Waterloo area. I would recommend her to any guild for her teaching and trunk show/ lecture. As well as the three dimensional flowers done in fabric, Renske instructed us on how to create pansies using wired variegated silk ribbon. I am still trying to find a supplier for that ribbon!
Sunshine and Shadow
March 2003
A Reversible Quilt. Made up of scrap bag materials with the addition of the beige marbled fabric used as setting strips and for the sunshine portion of the light side. This quilt was sold at the Strathroy United Church Talent Auction Apr. 6 ’03 to Doris Robotham of Strathroy for $125. This pattern would make a fabulous Christmas quilt.
Pinwheel Table Topper
March 2003
From McCalls Quick Quilts, Winter 1997 by Kelly Corbridge. This was a nice small piece to do some hand quilting on. It covers the ring on my dining room table.
Irish Chain
February 2003
From Start Quilting 2nd Edition by Alex Anderson, CT publishing. A simple beauty. Hand quilted by myself.
A Quilter’s Garden
September 2002
Here’s a block of the month project you have probably run into at shows in practically every area of North America. The colours attracted me. Designed by Lynette Jenson of Thimbleberries and hand quilted by The Strathroy United Church Quilters.
Pineapple Quilt
August 2002
Designed by Loretta Smith (Pineapple Quilt: A Piece of Cake), from the book Homegrown Quilts. Made in Joan Robinson’s class at Cotton by Post in Ailsa Craig; lap size (48×71″) with Chinese fabrics. Given to Mutti when she was in hospital with pneumonia.
Confetti Quilt
June 2002
Designer Jan Bahr, American Patchwork and Quilting June 2002. This quilt was made as a fundraiser for The Strathroy United Church and purchased by one of the staff. The quilt was hanging in a public place on display. Unfortunately it was vandalized before the staff member got it home by someone with a indelible black marker. Lesson 1. Hang your quilts out of reach of children.Lesson 2. Have insurance. Hand quilted by The Strathroy United Church Quilters.
Prairie Meadow
May 2002
From Australian Patchwork and Quilting Vol 8 #10. This quilt just looks so nice. My friend Sue Wales, who has a funkier colour palette in her head, helped pick out colours. I have tried to give this quilt away twice but so far no takers. Perhaps I’m meant to keep it…
Town and Country
April 2002
Center panel from a Debbie Mumm design. I started this one as an exercise in drafting copying the centre panel from a photo and I just kept drafting and adding to it. The finished wall hanging (59×59″) also showed at the Millenium Quilt Show in 2003, then hung in my office at 47 Front St. Strathroy for many years.Windmill is pieced and applique; lighthouse is paper pieced. Lots of fun just to build on a central idea!
Trees and Barns
April 2002
Another Wall-hanging. Paper pieced central blocks with log cabin surrounding them. This little quilt was taught to my sister in law Kathy and I by Shirley Bobier way before she dreamed of owning a quilting store.
ABC Bunnies
March 2002
Insights: I bought what I thought was enough fabric for borders and backing – but bunny fabric does run one way so the borders had to be fussy cut leaving not enought fabric for backing. I stil have enough border fabric for another Bunny Quilt – I’ll just have to buy the ABC panel. Don’t prewash ABC they don’t shrink square. There are plenty of panel prints that would suit this style of quilt.
Snowmen
March 2002
Four Snowmen, wall-hanging. From a Debbie Mumm pattern. Each snowman has a different expression showing a full range of emotions. This one comes out every winter for our wall.
Snowflake Stars
November 2001
This is another quilt inspired by border fabric, in this case a pretty print with “Silent Night” music printed upon it. There were some months spent collecting snow fabric.
Whole Cloth Halloween
October 2001
A Debbie Mumm Print I machine quilted. This project was more work than expected.Future: Should get some embellishments – buttons, etc. – to spruce it up. This is one of those decorations that comes out every year.
Formal Garden Quilt
January 2000
After not quilting for about 5 years I tackled this quilt which I had cut out but never put together. With little past experience behind me this was a challenge with about 3000 pieces. I picked something easier after doing this one.Not a good colour for a home with a brown labrador retriever and a long-hair cat! I chose a darker quilt for the bed and made it a couple of years later (see Cottage Flower).
Lost in the Cornfield
December 1998
Designer Kris Kerringan from Fons and Porter’s, For the Love of Quilting, Sept/Oct 2000 edition. This quilt remains one of my favourite fall wall quilts. Perky little chickens pecking up button corn in the fields. Machine quilted on my Pfaff home sewing machine.
Sampler Block Quilt
June 1987
This quilt was constructed using Georgia Bonesteel’s Lap Quilting method and was the second quilt I made (about 1987). It is hand-quilted and the top was machine pieced using dressmaking fabrics from my scrap bag.
Lots of beautifully done projects! . I especially like the 3000 piece bed quilt, egads! Didn’t know you also had a brown lab, who must love Harry too…????????
Yes, Hershey was her name. She was a sweetie.