Cathedral Windows

 One of the things I love about teaching classes is watching the students fabric choices come to life. Saturday's Modern Cathedral Windows Pillow class was no exception. We had quite a variety of ideas and color combos. Dianne's looked like stained glass!

 Charlotte chose soft calicos, so hers had an antique feel to them.

 So pretty!

 Kay and her mom Lisa worked together to learn this technique...they made a good team and really enjoyed the class. This one is Kay's, Lisa has plans to make hers to match her living room.

 Karen had a happy mistake (she forgot a window) and might use it in the center of her pillow.

 She used the same fabric behind, which shows up in the melons, as she used for the windows. I love this take on it!

 Using the black and white to frame her deeply hued windows will make this a stand out pillow! Lyn was already talking about her next project!

Evelyn had some cute fussy cut squares for some of her windows. I love the variety of colors she chose to shine through them.

Karen brought some traditional blocks with her that she purchased at a thrift store. I forgot to take pictures of all of them, but I do have one that she gifted me which I will photograph later and share tomorrow. We were all fascinated with the size and variety of fabrics that were used.

They seemed to enjoy my demo on making them the traditional way too, though we all agreed we preferred the more modern approach since it is much more time friendly. 

Cathedral Windows...traditional style

I will be teaching a modern version of the Cathedral Windows block in an upcoming class so I wanted to try the traditional method as well. That way I can show the traditional method during my class.

 Making them the traditional way involves a lot of hand sewing, which I am not opposed to, but seem to have trouble finding the time to do it. You start out by folding a large square, folding and folding until it's not large anymore. Then you sew those together.  I have been working on this sample off and on for about a month. I don't want it completely finished, as I want to be able to show the different aspects of making it, but I do need to sew in a couple more windows before the class on Sept. 22.

Happy Friday!

Another way.....and a cottage finish!

 I sewed with my friend, Debbie,  yesterday, so spent some time cutting and pressing squares to make some Cathedral Window blocks the traditional way. I wanted to try that method too, so I can show the difference when I teach it. It took a long time to press them. I think I will machine stitch them together and then hand stitch down the curves. I haven't decided for sure yet. Since I want to get them finished in the near future...and we all saw how the hand sewn hexie project is coming along, I think I should probably use my machine. They are still cut and pressed the traditional way...

I also sewed my Windmill blocks together from the swap last summer. I had decided to tilt my blocks to give them an extra spin, and that's as far as I got. They have been aging nicely, so went together just fine. I'm not sure if I should put a border on or finish as is. I will take a pic later!

Debbie showed me her finished Cottage quilt. She is part of the group of friends that I meet with and do swaps, and round robins with. I was one of her swap partners on this swap, so lots of my blocks are in her quilt. Here is my finished Cottage quilt.

Have lots to do today, so better get busy!

Lovin' it!

 I got both of the Cathedral Window pillows finished on Tuesday. The great thing about these blocks is that you can just keep making them and sewing them together to make any size pillow or quilt that you want!

 I made envelope backs for both of them, as I like to be able to take the pillows out and wash the covers if necessary.

I really like it with the pillow inside!

Yesterday I spent some time quilting the Potato Chip quilt. I have it about half finished now. No pix yet.

Cathedral Windows

I have loved this block for years and am really happy to finally be working on a project using it. I want to teach a class making this version of the cathedral windows block, so I am making pillows. That way my students can try out this method without committing to a whole quilt. If they love making it, they can always make a larger runner or quilt.  I cut out the squares to make a different version and started sewing them together yesterday. Hopefully I will make more progress on it today.

Are you sewing today?

Sewing and shopping

My assistant and I were working on the Cathedral Window blocks yesterday when friend called and asked if I wanted to go to Seams to Be Quilt Shoppe in Plattsmouth. I haven't been there in ages, so I jumped at the chance. I am replenishing my stash of batiks because I have very little left in usable pieces, and they have a wonderful stock of batiks.

The one under the rest goes from light green to dark green all in one piece...so I had to have that one. And the rest...I just liked.

I plan on finishing the cathedral windows project today if all goes well. What are you working on?

Kid's Camp and Windows

 The girls struck a pose with their quilts in progress today during Kid's Quilt Camp. We will finish them today...I hope!

I have been wanting to try making Cathedral Window blocks for some time, actually years if the truth be known. I started this project on Tuesday. I haven't gotten much done after kids camp this week except relaxing, but I hope to work on them again soon. I love them so far.

I painted the legs to the hassock last night...gave them two coats of deep brown. Hopefully this will inprove them!