DebbieWendt's Blog

Monday was the reveal of my Rail Fence Challenge. Imagination Renovation of a Rail Fence block. I decided to make my rail fence blocks with a background between each color and by turning them on point I got a zigzag that runs down the length of the quilt. Lightening!! While I was making the quilt, I kept thinking about the saying “Lightening never strikes the same place twice” So, I’m calling this quilt “Never Strikes Twice”. As simple as this block is to piece, the complexity comes in the color placement and arrangement. I LOVE it! Plus, I had a blast making it!

Take a look at the blocks close up!

In order to get the lightening to run the entire length of the quilt, I needed pieced side triangles to complete the strike. I made a strip pieced unit of Color 1 – Background – Color 2. I used a tool I got years ago from Kaye England that are called Rulers for a Cause, now Good Measure rulers. I used her Half Square ruler to cut the side pieced triangles. Technically, it need a quarter square piece to keep the straight of grain on the outside of the triangle. BUT, the half square worked for the pieced triangles I needed. Yes I have a biased cut on the outside edge. I will be careful when piecing, not to stretch it!! The two photos below are the two pieced triangles needed. One for the top and the other for the bottom. It worked nicely!

#1- A Rail Fence turned on point can have a NEW look!

#2 – Sometimes a bias edge of a triangle is on the outside edge. This worked for this quilt. I would make a habit of doing it this way. Remember the challenge Imagination Renovation…I used what I had to make it work in this situation with the strip pieced units I sewed.

Oh, this will be a new pattern this summer! I’ll let you know when it is available on my website.

in quilting,

Debbie

For me getting to Maine is a short hour + drive. At the bottom tip of Maine, New Hampshire sneaks in there. Or I should say at the top tip of MA, NH sneaks in there and then you cross over into Maine. And…..LOBSTER! I love the seafood, small towns along the coast and beautiful views. Plus my new favorite show is Maine Cabin Masters!! Love the scenery!

This week’s Maine block was designed by Susan at QuiltFabrication you can fine the block HERE!

in quilting,

Debbie

Here we go to New Jersey! This wonderful block was made by Becca over at Pretty Piney. Click on New Jersey to find this week’s block. Enjoy!

in quilting,

Debbie

I’m not sure where Tuesdays go these days, but I seem to miss them. HA! I can think of loads of excuses but I won’t bore you with them. Tuesday is gone, so I’ll focus on giving you my Tuesday tips on Wednesday this week. Two weeks in a row, NO I will not make this a thing, if I can help it!

I posted over on Instagram (@debbiewendtquilting) for Sneak Peek #1 of the Inspiration Renovation Challenge for March of the Rail Fence Block. As I stated on Instagram, a Rail Fence Block is typically one of the first blocks we teach beginner quilters. WHY? Well, it is typically 3 or 4 simple straight pieces. The pieces are usually rectangles and it is a great way to test your 1/4″ seam allowances. They are also good to practice sewing straight seams, use good pressing techniques and quick success of block construction!! Accuracy does matter in quilting! We want all our blocks to fit together easily to end up with a “square” quilt. Not square as in shape (although some quilts can certainly be square) but square in that the edges are at right angles to each other. Sure, there are often variations, but most quilts have square corners. And so I have gone down a rabbit hole…….back to my post of the Sneak Peek….see below. Some days my designing happens on paper.

I’m excited about this simple little block and I hope you’ll follow me over on Instagram for another sneak peek next Monday and the reveal on March 29th.

#1 – Simple blocks can make stunning quilts. Not every quilt needs to be difficult!!!

Pointing out one of my favorite simple designs. Equidistant. This pattern is in my patterns section of my website and can be found HERE. This quilt has a different look depending on the fabrics you choose. The cover is in blues/teals and tans/browns and one of my samples is in brights with a gray background. Different look of the same design….and a simple 9-patch block!!

#2 – A change in color can really change the way a quilt looks. You don’t have to make it just like the pattern!

in quilting,

Debbie

Here we are in New England once again, right next door in Connecticut. Kate Colleran of Seams Like A Dream designed this week’s block. We have dear friends in Connecticut and we love visiting them at the shore! I, personally have had fun exploring unique towns and seeing beautiful old homes. You can find Kate’s block HERE. ENJOY!

in quilting,

Debbie

This week’s two tips comes to you a day late. With a guild lecture yesterday, THANK YOU Village Squares in New York!! and a hubby with a replaced hip, it got away from me. I love sharing my Egyptian Tentmakers’ Applique pieces with quilters. Yesterday I was “at” Village Squares Quilt Guild in Westchester, New York and tomorrow I will be “at” Oregon Coastal Quilters guild in South Beach, Oregon. I love how Zoom has allowed me to continue lecturing for guilds when I couldn’t be there in person. Are you in a quilt guild? I find it is a great way to meet and hang out with like minded people, quilters! With Zoom coming into play last year when travel was discouraged, it opened up a platform to continue meeting and sharing.

#1 – Join a quilt guild! They share the love of quilting, have speakers with trunk shows sharing the many aspects of quilting. Plus every one I have been a part of or visited is doing wonderful comfort/charity work for their community.

To continue the idea of sharing… Over on Instagram the group of designers who had the Snowball Fight Challenge is moving to a new block this month. Innovation Renovation is looking at a simple blocks and coming up with some new ideas using said blocks. The block for March is RAIL FENCE! A favorite when learning to quilt. I think almost every beginner sampler uses this block. A Rail Fence is defined as a block with three or more rails. Monday was our Fabric Pull. I’ll show you mine below. I’m excited about working with some Kaffe Fassett Fat quarter fabrics I had in my stash and a gray background!

Hmmmmmm, wonder what I’m making??? I already have a plan and will be sharing the process each Monday remaining in March. Check out my Instagram page for my process photos. My post on Monday shared the other designers’ pages so you can follow along. Please take a minute to follow me on Instagram. As I believe I’ve said, Instagram is a new place I am sharing my quilting journey and I’d love to have you along for the shares. (@debbiewendtquilting) Oh, Instagram isn’t new, but new for me. <grin>

To change the subject a bit, have you tried a pressing clapper? One of the girls in my guild, (Hi Diane S.), shared hers at a Getaway a couple years ago. Wonderful to get those seams to lay flat without standing and pressing forever. So, I called my dad and BAM! He made me not one, but two!! I think I’m in love! I have always been a steam presser as I like nice flat seams. I think will take some time to remember to use it on each seam. (It does slow down my process time, but results is great flat seams.) Here are the gorgeous ones my Dad made for me!!

The dark wood is from Belize and the other is oak. Heavy and great! The oak for shorter seams and the longer one for block seams. As I mentioned, they are new to me and I’ve only used them a few times. I’ll have to report back, but I love the results so far. These wooden clappers along with the wool pad I have on my ironing board are super!

#2 – A wool ironing pad helps to pull the heat through your fabric (seams). The wooden clapper holds the heat/steam!

The Great Board behind my ironing board is from TNT Quilt Boards by Tracy and Tim Kennedy, no affiliate, a happy customer. They are here in Massachusetts.

in quilting,

Debbie

Here we go… to OHIO! Applique Quilts and More designed the Ohio block. You can find it HERE. Back when I was traveling to quilt shows, I spent many hours driving through Ohio. I usually came in at the top, going through Cleveland and cutting right down the middle of the state to Cincinnati and crossing the Ohio River into Kentucky. It was always a thrill to see the Great American Ballpark (Cincinnati Red’s baseball stadium) in Cinci and know I was a day closer to the next state!

in quilting,

Debbie

March brings the promise of Spring! Snow still covers all of my yard but I know the warmer weather is coming. Are you ready for some bright, flowers? I hopped on my Instagram page (debbiewendtquilting) yesterday and shared one of my favorite spring influenced quilts, Flowers in the Valley! I was inspired to post by several other designers for an Easter/spring sale. Check out the quilt below. I have Flowers in the Valley on sale this month use SPRING21 to receive a 21% discount on the pattern. Spring 2021, I’m looking forward to flowers here in the Blackstone Valley!

Flowers in the Valley was made using 1930’s Reproduction fabrics. I love the sweet colors and simplicity of the fabric designs. The white background helps to set off all the colors. The flowers in this quilt are so simple to make. I have the flower points ending further in from the seam. A great way to not loose your points in my block design! Sometimes when blocks have points ending at the 1/4″ seam, “they like to hide in the seam line“. I heard Kaye England use that expression years ago “they are shy and like to hide“. I love it and use it often.

#1- Flowers in the Valley flower points are set in further from the seam line…on purpose! If working with points that touch the seam line, be mindful of the points. I have been known to sew a narrower seam to not “loose” the points. Encourage them to come out from the seams…stand and be proud!

Flowers in the Valley is under patterns on my website. You can find it HERE.

I realize I’ve referenced Instagram in this post. I’m working on increasing my photos and showing more of my work as it happens. I’d love to have you follow me! Last month we had a Snowball Fight (snowball block challenge). Thank goodness we had snow HAHAHA!! This month we are changing the block and have a new challenge. I’m not sure if I can share the block yet, so on the 8th, I’ll post the fabrics I’ve chosen and the block. Plus, I’ll report back here with the block and my fabrics!

March is known as National Quilting Month. Are you planning anything special. The 20th is National Quilting Day! I hope you will share the love and beauty of quilting with your friends and family. Speaking of sharing…The Global Quilt Connection has a new website. You can find my teacher listing there. It is a great resource for quilt guilds and anyone wanting to take quilting classes. My website is almost ready for adding my new Zoom classes that will be open for signups. I have been teaching and lecturing for guild via Zoom. Are you in a guild? Checkout my offerings over on Global Quilt Connection or my website!

Happy March! and tip #2 – Do something fun for yourself to expand and explore your love of quilting!

in quilting,

Debbie

Lets head to the mountains! This week we go to Colorado. A favorite of mine, because growing up in Missouri we headed to Colorado to go skiing most winters. A long drive across Kansas and into Colorado then, BAM!! The Rocky Mountains! Several family trips and then school trips and even chaperone trips when I was teaching… ALL to go snow skiing in Colorado. Enjoy the block by Catherine at Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio. You can find the block HERE.

in quilting,

Debbie