Scrappy Jelly Roll Log Cabin Quilt

 Being unique is better than being perfect. 

Hey there from Nannyland,

When I pieced this quilt top last summer, I called it my "Quick Quarantine Quilt," because I was cloistered in Nannyland with a mild case of covid.  I actually felt fine, so I was happy to take on this fun jelly roll log cabin quilt block project that I had been wanting to conquer for a long time. 

You can read on my post how I used several tutorials to narrow my process down and I really love how this quilt turned out.  My plan is to make several more with this delightful and simple pattern, and whittle down my significant jelly roll stash.  

        

I still can't believe how much I love the colors in this quilt, since this was my least favorite jelly roll in my stash when I picked it for my first attempt at this pattern.  It had much more subdued hues than my usual bright palette and I thought it might turn out blah.  I learned something from this exercise...I shouldn't limit myself to my "go to" palette all the time.  Branching out and experimenting with color is very satisfying.  

I took my quilt top to my favorite LQS for some beautiful quilting in a lovely swirly pattern. I'm having things quilted a little denser these days, as is the trend now, but I still like to keep my quilts soft and cuddly for my recipients.  

This quilt lives on the ottoman at the end of my bed in my master bedroom for now.  I'm planning to make the Accuquilt Go Quilt-a-long House bed runner when I get a chance and this quilt will find a new home.  It's funny, but I can't bear to give it away yet.  I just really love those colors!

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit. 

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Quick Quarantine Quilt - Jelly Roll Log Cabin

Quilting is painting with needles. 

Hey there from Nannyland,

What do you do when you have a little touch of Covid and you're stranded at home for a spell? In my case, the answer was easy. I used the excuse to chill in my craft room for a ton of guiltless hours coming up with a solution to a perplexing dilemma I've had for awhile.  I tested positive on my birthday, the last day of May, and have to admit, it wasn't the best present I've ever received. But a prescription to sequesterer myself for days amid all my creative paraphernalia is always the one that draws me in, no matter what my malady. 

            

It didn't take long for me to figure out something to amuse me.  I have loads of jelly rolls in my stash and I struggle with finding patterns that make a  2 1/2 inch strip look chichi.  I had plenty of time to  ponder how to combine jelly rolls with my favorite classic quilt block, the log cabin. 

I knew my experiment might not turn out perfectly owing to my limited math skills, so I chose some jelly roll strips from a roll that had fabrics that were not my favorite colors, just in case I really messed up.  I soon realized that expanding my tried and true bright color palette by using a softer one was not as "blah" as I thought it would be.  I actually love the restful colors in my final quilt.

Cutting the strips for the block might seem very straight forward, but there is some precision and math involved when using jelly roll strips and there are lots of different lengths to cut.  Because I wanted my quilt scrappy,  I combined three or four patterns from books, the internet and YouTube and ended up with the one I thought would give me the best results. Here is a tutorial from Jordan Fabrics that really helped me. She has a free downloadable pattern. 

                             

I used the EQ8 program on my computer to lay out my quilt and it provided me with feedback on yardage, block design and border details.  It really helps to have a map in front of me when I'm embarking on a quilt journey. This program  has saved me countless hours of stress by keeping me focused and charting my progress. 

My quilt top was blissfully completed during the week of my confinement and is aptly named  "Quick Quarantine Quilt." Now that I have a system, I can whip up a snazzy jelly roll quilt in a jiffy and work on purging my stash in the bargain. 

My hubby and I have both  recovered very well from our Covid, which turned out to be no more than a slight case of the sniffles due to our two vaccines and two boosters.  With a new false sense of hybrid immunity, I have been happy to take off my mask and live like a normal human being again. It will be fun to take my quilt top to my LQS for quilting and meet my fellow quilters face-to-face!

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Fruity Quilt - Benartex Jelly Roll

There's a great satisfaction in seeing a thing take shape and form under one's hands, 
especially if they are made from oddments into something worth while.

Hey there from Nannyland,

Deciding what to do with my colossal jelly roll stash has always been a quilty conundrum for me   I know there are tons of fabulous patterns, but my dilemma is deciding which one to choose. My new Electric Quilt 8 has been a welcome solution to this quandary. I'm just learning to use it, but it's fairly user friendly and I'm having such fun playing and coming up with all sorts of quilt designs and ideas.  This quilt was easy to lay out and sew up in a jiffy with this cute Benartex fruit themed fabric.

 

I think it auditions well on my  queen-sized guest room bed but I'm saving it for a gift for a friend who likes to cuddle up and watch TV in the evening.

Striped binding is my go-to favorite because I love the crisp look stripes give to almost every pattern and theme. 

My husband is a sweetie and is always willing to help me photograph my quilts, even though it can be grueling on his arms.  This is what happened when I asked him to show me the back.  Gotta love em.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Two Quilts and a Little Eye Surgery

 We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

 

Hey there from Nannyland,

Some people love to keep their holiday decorations up until after New Years Day and beyond, so they can  keep the magic of the season alive.  Some prefer to put things away to make room for the shiny new year.  I lean toward the latter.  To the shock and horror of some of my friends, my Christmas decorations are already neatly boxed and put away, and my home is its cozy, Hallmark-less self again.  This year I have another reason for efficiently putting things in order.  I will be having eye surgery for a macular pucker in a few days and will have to have a little restful time to recover.   

I had cataract surgery a few months ago and was happy to find that I could see well enough after each surgery to do some crafting (a few minutes at a time.)  I recently got two quilts back from the quilter and I will be thrilled if I can quietly bind them during my convalescence. Fingers crossed...we'll see how that goes.  This quilt block is called Chimney Sweep and I used an Accuquilt Go die to cut the block shapes, sashing and corner stones.  The fabric is Lori Holtz from Riley Blake. 

I used a Benartex jelly roll to create this colorful fruit patterned quilt.   It's part of a huge stash of jelly rolls I've been trying shrink. 

 

I'll let you know if the "binding with one good eye" thing works out.  If so, I'll happily have two finished quilts to post in a couple of weeks!  And  I'll start the new year viewing the world in a whole new light...literally.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.  

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Rockin' a Jelly Roll Quilt - Benartex Sunny Days Fabric

Hi everyone, 

Jelly rolls are so yummy and satisfying...both the edible and the fabric kind!  I made this fast and easy baby quilt, measuring 36" x 36", with a gorgeous Benartex  Jelly Roll.   

The roll contained 42 2 1/2" strips of  the Benartex "Sunny Days" collection. I downloaded a free easy-to-follow pattern after I watched  this Fat Quarter Shop YouTube  video.

I love the bright sunny patterns and colors in this collection.  But most of all, I love having so many different fabrics to sew into one happy scrappy quilt.  

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something fabulous.

Nancy