German Memory Quilts!

A Few of My Favorite Things...
When I was a young teen I got a used sewing machine for Christmas.  I enjoyed making my own clothes, but I soon discovered something I loved even more...quilting!  Grandma Zetta taught me how to put a quilt on a quilting frame, but I was pretty much self taught when it came to patchwork.  My first patchwork quilt consisted of wonky rows of roughly rectangular blocks made from the scraps of fabric Grandma Patta gave me.  My boyfriend George was thrilled with his Christmas quilt...so thrilled that he's still around...even though that quilt is long gone.  He supported my quilting habit and took pictures of many of my creations.  Today I found the scrapbook of quilts that I made while we were stationed in West Germany.  It was so much fun to see the patterns that I designed myself.  Being far from home I was influenced by the symbols and culture of my adopted country.  My skills were far from professional, but I spent many a long winter's night sketching and piecing together my German Memory Quilts.

Germany 1977 to 1981

Memory Quilts 

I  regret that I never made one of these quilts for myself.

They were gifts, or sold to American servicemen's wives to earn extra money.

My favorite...loved the colors.

This quilt was made for one of George's officer friends.

It was a farewell gift when he went back to the States.

Some Favorite Blocks...

Represents the coffee mill I bought at a flea market in Bremen.

Oh, how I loved the sight of windmills.

The block on the right is my favorite nutcracker.

Wooden shoes were also worn by old German farmers.

A Dutch design...Northern Germany was so close to the Netherlands.

Gingerbread Heart from the Christmas Markets.

Hansel and Gretel Bears.

Cuckoo Clocks!  And really ugly German wallpaper.

I could never understand the popularity of that wallpaper.

A cute little Dutch miss...and more little birds.

So many memories!  I am so grateful that George took pictures of my quilts.  Even though it's been more than 30 years...it seems like only yesterday.

Halloween Table Runner...and a Giveaway!

Rag Quilt Runner Tutorial

Finished Size 14" x 55"

Yesterday I showed you the rag quilt I made from bandannas.  Today I will give you the instructions on how to make a Halloween table runner like the one in the picture.  If you stay 'til the end of class, I will tell you how you can win the finished runner or a kit to make your own!

Seven coordinating fat quarters or 1/4 " yard cuts.

Warm and Natural quilt batting.  I always buy remnants for projects.

It comes in different widths, but I would buy 2/3 yrd of 44-45" width.

Cut four 8"x 9" blocks from each fabric for a total of 14 double-sided blocks.

Cut fourteen 7"x 8"  blocks of batting.

Sandwich the batting between the fabric blocks.

Pin across the corners, rather than diagonally.

Quilt each block by sewing an "X" diagonally from corner to corner.

Lay out your 14 finished blocks in two rows and arrange them in a way that pleases you.

The blocks will be sewn so the seam is on the top of the quilt.  The back will be smooth.

1/2" Seam Allowance

This is how the front of the runner looks when it is all pieced together.

In this photo I am sewing all around the outside edge of the runner 1/2" from the edge.

With a pair of sharp scissors clip all the seams about 1/2" apart, taking care not to cut the stitches.

The clipping may (will) make your hand tired, so take your time!

When the runner is washed and dried, the seams will fray and fluff.

I gave the runner a good shake, then put it in the washer for a rinse and spin.

Then it was put in the dryer for a tumble with a bath towel.

The Finished Runner!

Now for the goodies.  I have two prizes for the giveaway.  The first lucky winner will receive the Halloween Runner.  The second...even luckier...winner will receive the blocks and batting and instructions to make your own!  In each prize the fabrics are identical.  I love Halloween fabric...especially the vintage styles.

How to Enter

• Drawing is open to Zetta's Aprons followers.  If you are not yet a follower, click on the link on the right of the page (or at the very top) and follow the easy instructions.
• Leave a comment in "Comments" saying you follow Zetta's Aprons.
• Winners will be randomly picked from those leaving comments.
• Two winners will be chosen.  1st for the runner, 2nd for the kit.
• Drawing ends midnight, Sunday September 25.
• Winners will be posted sometime Monday morning.
•  Be sure to check back to see if you've won.

Good luck, friends!  I am having so much fun this Fall!  I hope you all will make the most of living today.

Bedspring Jack-o'-Lantern

A Dog For All Seasons...Jack's Bandannas

Jack's Bandannas

Today I just wanted to take a few minutes to tell you a little about Jack.  This beautiful, kind, patient Golden Retriever was our family's best friend.  He is missed every single day.  His loss is felt like the passing of a cloud over the sun on an otherwise bright, beautiful morning.  But the cloud passes, the sun reappears...and with it so many happy memories.  This story is about Jack's bandannas.

"Jack Frost" wearing a Christmas bandanna.

A lot of dogs wear bandannas tied jauntily around their necks.  Something about them seems to give a dog more personality.  Jack loved his bandannas.  His ears would perk up when he saw a fresh one in my hand.  Plumy tail a'wagging, he sat, and watched me fold and roll the colorful scarf and tie it artfully over the top of his collar.  Then he pranced about as if to say,  "What a handsome dog I am!"  And he was.

In addition to the classic red and blue, Jack owned bandannas for every season and occasion.  With each bandanna came a nick-name to go along with it.

• Christmas...Jack Frost.
• Halloween...Jack o' Lantern, Jack Skellington, or Captain Jack Sparrow (if he was a pirate).
• Valentines...Jack of Hearts.
• Easter...Jack Rabbit.
• Western...Black Jack, Jackalope.
• Hippie...Jumpin' Jack Flash...he's got gas, gas, gas!
• Patriotic...Union Jack.

The list could go on and on...he had so many.  So many, in fact, that a few weeks ago I decided to clean out the drawer in my laundry room where we stored his scarves, toys and winter boots.  There were dozens of those colorful bandannas accumulated in the ten years he lived with our family.  There were even some made for Jack by a little neighbor girl's grandmother who lived in another state!  Tears filled my eyes and I knew then I could not throw them out.  I had a better idea.  George's birthday was approaching.  The loss of Jack has been very hard on him.  So I told him I would make him a rag quilt from the bandannas.



Jack's Bandanna Quilt

It's not fancy, but it's fun.  Rag quilts are the easiest quilts to make if you are learning to sew.  Each block is quilted separately before putting the quilt together, so no quilting frame is needed.  The blocks are the same front and back and the seams are all on the outside.  The seams are clipped and allowed to fray and fluff.  Rag quilts get softer and cosier with each washing.  

In a day or two, I will show you how to make a Halloween table runner using the rag quilt method.

Hope you have a great day.  It's another beautiful morning in Utah.  The mountains are just starting to turn color in the higher elevations. Trix colors...raspberry red, lemon yellow, and orange orange!