WELCOME 2025 - We're back for more fun and quilting inspirations!

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This is a post written by Lorrie Ryther Hall.  Lorrie writes articles about quilting for the beeline and we decided to add them to the blog.  So, check back each month for more fun articles.  


 WELCOME 2025 - We're back for more fun and quilting inspirations!










How's it going everyone? Are you back into your normal routine. At my guild meetings, there was the least amount of show and tell ever was displayed. Why? Well, most gave the things they made away during the holidays. Or, tired after the holidays. Hopefully you are finding inspiration to have some quilting fun. The other day I was asked, "What are you working on now?"  I have so many projects that I am working on and want to finish in the next few weeks. I have my list of priorities and have checked off one and half of two. I just love making that check mark - such satisfaction. Do you also feel the same way. Sometimes I just don't know where to begin, what block to use, and which project to work on. What are you working on or are you stuck with what to begin next. Over the holidays and in January, my guilds either shared fabric as a game with the challenge to make something; started the same block to share with others and with the same background fabric; gave fabric to make charity walker bags; or gave challenge fabric with some insulated batting. AND now the big decision as to what block to use in my projects. I am probably going to make blocks into hot pads and into pillows. Which brings me to this article.




We have gone over several different units that go into making a block, to include flying geese, four and nine patch squares, half and quarter square triangles, ect. Those units can be used to make blocks such as double four patch, bow tie, broken dishes, pinwheels, and churn dash to name a few. The units can be used as the base for stars, log cabins and other blocks. Other units that make popular blocks that we have not discussed are curves, fans and stars which will be covered in upcoming articles. 




Yes, that is the next line of articles; different uses of units in blocks and other blocks that use those units or blocks that stand alone with other units. Here is a list of ten oldest quilt patterns which will be used as the base for the articles during the next few months. Those include:





1. Crazy guilt. This is supposedly the oldest quilt pattern. It uses embroidery and embellishments. Trivia - Evidence shows that the first ever quilt is on the shoulder of an ivory statue of an Egyptian pharaoh in a British museum and textiles resembling crazy quilt designs were found in Egyptian tombs and European courts, pre 17th century. Appearance of the quilt resembles what we would call a modern quilt; shows that time repeats.

I am currently repairing my son-in-law's great grandmother's crazy quilt that she made by hand. His mother wanted as near the original as possible; therefore, I rebinded by hand about 3/4 of the quilt, and then where there are holes or the seams are apart, I am doing embroidery to fix with matching floss. It is differently made; sheet as backing, a smaller wool blanket as batting, and crazy quilt on top hand pieced to another foundation sheet. Then it has vines, french notes, astricks, blanket stitches and fly stitchs embroideried on the top. The top and batting is tied with small satin ribbons, then layed on top of the backing sheet and binded by the wrap around method. A lot of crazy quilts have lace, beads, jewels, charms, buttons and other embellishments. All types of embroidery stitches are used in crazy quilts. Most are made by using a foundation fabric like muslin. Take a piece of fabric, lay right side down on foundation fabric, stitch and press open. Add more fabric pieces using the same method of a fabric piece right side down on top of already sewn fabric, press open, and then add another piece of fabric on top, right sides together, of the last fabric piece; like making a patchwork. Then add embellishments. 

Here are a couple of pics of the quilt I am repairing.








The other oldest quilt patterns are:
2. Rose of Sharon - Whig Rose: an applique quilt that will be discussed later.
3. LeMoyne Star (8 pointed): will be addressed with star quilts.
4. Friendship quilt: subject for March.
5. Nine patch: already discussed but will probably be in next months article.
6. Pinwheel: address in more detail when talking about disappearing blocks. Also can do using HST. 
7. Log Cabin: will be addressed in the future along with a Pineapple block.
8. Dresdan Plate: will be explored in the future along with the Fan block.
9. Sun Bonnet Sue: a fun applique block
10. Hexagon Flowers: (yo-yo's) a new technique (Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt)
11. Cathedral Window: not as old but a curved technique




Basically, we will take the units we have explored and see if and how they are incorporated in the above blocks. Hopefully this is agreeable to everyone. If not, please let me know. I am always open to suggestions. Next month we will look into Friendship quilts and different blocks used. In the meantime, have fun and enjoy quilting. I would love to see what you are working on. I can be reached at lartaurus@aol.com.

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