Found this quilt photo at the Spring Water Designs blog. It was made by Dawn Burchett from civil war fabrics.

The layout is almost like the Gathered Over Time quilt that I mentioned in a previous post, which gave me the idea to set my 9-patch blocks on point with alternate plain squares.

I just love the appliqué border that Dawn added to her quilt, and I think I’ll add one to mine as well. It will add a pretty touch to an otherwise plain quilt.

I sewed together the small pile of mismatched 9-patch blocks I found. Now  I have this pretty, little pillow. This side has browns and greens, the other side has the brighter, yellow and blue blocks. I can flip it over as the mood strikes. I have already sewn it right sides together, and just need to find some stuffing.

I'm tickled to have found a use for some blocks that have been sitting in a pile for 5 or 6 years at least.

Today I’ve been playing with these odd 9-patch blocks I have from old swaps. I’m going to make pillows out of them for the sofa.  I’m using the light greens, grays, yellows and browns. It look very “fall-ish.”  The blocks are actually looking nice together. :)

I’m also playing with several 6” bow-tie blocks I have from swaps. I’ve already used lots for a baby blanket for Cami. I may make pillows for my bed out of these.

I have all the strip sets sewn and sliced. I’ll sew for a bit longer and get at least 2 of the 4 stacks done tonight. I forgot all about the July set, the last 2 colors, Americana Red and Blue. I haven’t even prewashed them yet.  I’ll wash, dry and slice them in the morning, then bring them to sew into blocks at quilt group. I want these blocks done! I may never sew another 9-patch block again.

I’ve been looking at quilt patterns to use with all these 9-patches. I’ve found one I like at Gathered Over Time by Julie Hendrickson. I love the way the small blocks look like floating diamonds. This quilt was made with shirtings as the background. Mine are all cream muslin.

No sewing at all  yesterday. I did go into the sewing room and look around longingly, though. Today’s plan is to sew a few strip sets, and at least one set of 9-patches.

I’ve noticed that there are a lot of 9-patch block swaps online. I’ve been in several, and have kicking out blocks down to a science. My most essential tool (after the rotary cutter) for cutting the 2 1/2” strips is my Shape Cut Ruler by June Tailor. This approximately 15” square of plastic has slits at 1/2 inch intervals. You lay the ruler on the fabric and slice a foot of fabric at a time. Incredible time-saver. Plus, since you don’t move the ruler at all, the cuts are more accurate.

I’ll post more photos soon…

Whew!  1:00 a.m. but I got a set of 9-patches done.  I got called to work today so I was late getting started. I had “pick your own” blue, and celery all sliced so those are the two I did even though they don’t go together.

Tomorrow I'll sew strip sets for lavender, and hopefully the "pick your own" pink. It's driving me crazy that I did the blue before the lavender that goes to the celery.

Afternoon update: Leaf and Daffodil 9-patches sewn and ironed. Yay me!

Yesterday, I finished the "Roses are Red" set of 10 blocks, which completes the February swap. I also sewed the "Celery Green" strips into sets, and sliced the "Daffodil" yellows strips into 2 1/2" units. I now have all the fabric except "Americana Red and Blue" cut into 2 1/2" x 42" strips, and I have the "Celery" strips sewed together. I have the Daffodil, Leaf Green and "Your Choice" Blue sub-cut into 2 1/2" units.

Today's plan is to wash, iron and slice the Americana Red and Blue fabric, and at least, sew the Daffodil and Leaf Green units into finished 9-patches. If I do one 2-color set a day, I'll be done Friday, which is just in time to swap them at our group meeting Saturday.

I'm working on more 9-patches today for a swap with the Faith Quilters Group. We began swapping sets of 20 blocks a month last July. I mostly kept up until November when my son was injured and in the hospital. The ladies kindly did my December and January blocks for me, but I haven't sewed at all since. (It hasn't helped that I haven't had even a penny to buy fabric, either.)

The year-long swap ended in July, so I really need to get these done! Last week I finally was at last able to buy the rose red fabric to go with the brown I already had for February's Roses and Chocolates theme. (I can't believe I didn't have a bit of red in my stash!) I also bought the yellow I needed to go with the leaf green I already had for March's Daffodils theme. I already had the Lavender and Celery for April in my stash, so that was enough fabric to get me rolling.

Buying, washing, ironing, and slicing fabric is really helping to get me out of my sewing funk. I've been making 9-patches all weekend. I'm anxious to get them out of the way so I can get back to some of the old projects I had going last year. I don't even remember what I have pending so it'll be like Christmas when I get to dig through the boxes and bags of works-in-progress (WIP's). I can tell I'm really on the road to quilting recovery because I could hardly wait to get to the fabric store yesterday to buy the last of the fabric I needed for the 9-patches: Peach and Turquoise for June, and Americana Red and Blue for July.

Found Online...

This Raggy Chenille Purse from