A Sentimental Quilter

Liberty Stars Mini Quilt

2026-06-05T15:28:28.479-05:00

Here are the blocks I chose for the July 4, 2026 Patriotic Sew Along: Stars and flags to make a Liberty Stars Quilt.

I know how much my quilty fans love working on projects made with red, white and blue fabrics! Please join me in making my Liberty Stars quilt to celebrate America250 in July 2026.

The patterns for the little blocks to make the quilt can be found in my Facebook group files (Kathleen Tracy Quilts) and you'll also find the directions on my website Country Lane Quilts. Wish me luck (and a little extra time for myself) as I attempt to sew along with you this month. The pattern includes suggestions for a few different little quilts and I hope to make more than one using these blocks.

You'll find the pattern in my Facebook group files. There's also a file on my website with the directions you can download. Have fun! Stop by my Etsy shop to see a few more little patriotic quilt patterns.

- Kathy

Mini Patriotic Quilt Sew Along

2026-06-04T12:18:45.353-05:00

Well, it seems I just can't go for very long without starting a new sew along . . . I'm starting a new project for this coming July and the American Semiquincentennial. As most of you have probably heard, the U. S. will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Quilting has played a big role in American history and those of you who are familiar with my books will appreciate this suggestion for making a quilt to celebrate our country's history.

I'll be making a patriotic quilt with little stars and I'd love for you to join me. It's a surprise! I'll give you the pattern on Friday, June 5 in my Facebook group and I'll also put it up on my website. I thought I'd see if we can finish a small red, white and blue quilt by July 4 and have a little patriotic parade in the FB group. This has been on my mind for awhile and over the past few weeks I came up with a few fun ideas but time is a little scarce for me right now so a large quilt is not practical. I decided to go with something small and simple so I can actually finish it in time. I'm sure many of you also have other projects planned. But, if you're in my Facebook group, I'd love for you to join us in the sew along and make something.

Are you thinking of making something else in red, white and blue? I've got a few "patriotic" themed quilts in my books and Etsy shop you might enjoy sewing. Here are a few -

Patriotic Stars quilt in my Schoolgirl Sampler book. This little quilt was made by Sue Bennett, "patriotic quilter extraordinaire".

Martha Washington Star quilt

Mini Heart Flag quilt. (See Etsy)

American Crossroads

Civil War Stars

Union Stars

Forties Pinwheels

Dolley Madison Star

Sew along with me! Let's get the celebration started . . .

You'll find the new pattern for a sweet little patriotic quilt in my Facebook group and also on my website on Friday, June 5. (See links above.)

MORE Tiny houses

2026-03-29T12:40:00.004-05:00

I promised I would show you more cute little house quilts made by some members of my Facebook group Kathleen Tracy Quilts -

By Mary Jo Tuttle

By Needle and Pitchfork

by Susan Earle

by Christine Connell

by Darlene Du Moulin

by Lisette Moreno

by Denise Dozier Towers

by Sue Rider Esparza

by Sue Smith

By Juanita Vivas

by Rebecca Manifold

by Barb Plath

by Debra Wortman

by Debbie Gatchell Kennagh

by Danielle Willockx

by Yoshiko Suzuki

by Mickey Studevent

by Lu Hare

by Linda Snyder

by Patty Avery Cole

by Joyce Caruso

By Cathy Roy

by Lorraine Varley

by Stefnie Braun

by Teresa Stang

What a wonderful collection of amazing quilts! So many different patterns and colors. Thank you all again for participating in this spur of the moment sew along and for inspiring the heck out of us. Now I have to get off the computer and finish putting the borders on mine.

The pattern for these tiny houses is on my website under Make a Mini in March. I'll keep it up for another month or so but it's always wise to download the pattern and print it out or save it so you have it when I change the page and delete the file.

-Kathy

abby Kennel

Tiny Houses

2026-03-23T12:01:00.000-05:00

These little 3" houses were so much fun to make. If you haven't joined in my spring sew along yet - Make a Mini in March - there's still time. You'll find instructions for three little 3" blocks in the FB group files. Use one or all of the blocks to make your quilt. Scrappy is preferred! I've also uploaded the directions to my website if you're not on FB - www.countrylanequilts.com Click on the tab at the top of the home page and it will take you to the download page.

I did put some of my houses together into a small top but haven't had much time to decide on a border. I still need to play around a bit.

So many pretty border fabrics to choose from! Which is your favorite?

I know that some of you who follow my blog are not on Facebook or Instagram so I asked my FB group if I could share some of their photos for a little inspiration. I'm so glad everyone did their own thing and came up with some really creative ideas. This is just a sampling - there are many more so I'll post more photos later this week.

Made by Robin McGuire

Made by Pauline Mead

Made by Karen Hoffman

Made by Donna Day

Made by Becky Schneider

Made by Pauline Sauvage

Made by Kathy Mulkin

Made by Lauren Skaug Hook

Made by Julia DeMaria

Made by Denise Schofield

Made by Karan LaLonde

Made by Shiela Shasta

Thanks to everyone in the group for letting me share your photos. They are all truly inspiring. Please don't worry if I didn't post yours yet - there will be more to come later in the week . . . .

And now that you've been appropriately inspired - Warning: Once you try making one of these little houses you won't be able to stop . . . .

- Kathy

Make a Mini in March!

2026-03-13T11:13:00.000-05:00

Make a Mini in March! How cute are these little 3" house blocks?? The March doldrums were getting me down so of course I stepped up and did what I needed to do - I started a new little sew along in my Facebook group. Call me crazy. It seems like it's been a long time since I sat down to sew something and this is exactly what I needed to do.

Take some time during the rest of the month to make a little quilt with me. Use your scraps. Choose a setting. Play around with color and design and let's see what you can come up with.

You'll find instructions for three little 3" blocks in the FB group files - Make a Mini in March. Use one or all of the blocks to make your quilt. Scrappy is preferred! I've also uploaded the directions to my website if you are not on FB - www.countrylanequilts.com

If you're following me on Instagram or in my FB group, I can't wait to see what you make! Use the hashtag #makeaminiinmarch for your photos.

Have a fun weekend sewing away the March doldrums. Once you try making one of these little houses you won't be able to stop . . . .

- Kathy

Happy Valentine's Day

2026-02-14T08:45:00.000-06:00

"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." - Mother Teresa

Have a wonderful day!

Step 2 of My Valentine Mini Quilt Sew Along

2026-01-26T08:48:00.002-06:00

If you joined me in making lots of little four patches last week for my Valentine's Day sew along, this week we'll put them together into larger blocks and finish the quilt. The directions are in my Facebook group files. If you're not on FB, go to my website later today and find the directions and download from there.

Here goes -

This is a basic Irish Chain block and you'll make four of them using two different background fabrics. The directions will tell you how to cut the pieces and put them together.

How cute is this?? There are lots of tiny pieces to sew so be patient with yourself. Take your time and pin all the intersections before sewing. It takes a little extra effort but your blocks will come out nicer. I also always press my seams open between the units for less bulk. The heart in the center is optional.

As far as I got yesterday. The challenge will be to try to finish this little one by February 14.

💗💗💗

Four-Patch Valentine's Day Sew Along

2026-01-19T08:51:00.001-06:00

Are you ready for a little winter fun?? There's a new sew along in my Facebook group using simple four-patch blocks to make a sweet little quilt for Valentine's Day. I'll also put directions up on my website in a .pdf file for you to download later today.

Step one is pretty simple - cut some 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" squares and make a bunch of little four-patch blocks using pink, red and light reproduction fabrics. I'll post Step 2 next week.

Put a little love in your heart.

💗💗💗

Merry Christmas to All

2025-12-24T08:14:00.002-06:00

Snow is always at the top of my Christmas list but Santa has not been listening to me lately . . . .

Do you have Christmas family traditions? This morning I got up early to put together the star of our traditional Christmas Eve dinner - Christmas Lasagna. This tradition began years ago when I decided to include on the holiday menu a few international dishes like Swedish Meatballs, Pierogis, Sweet and Sour Cabbage, Baklava (bakery bought). Eggrolls as an appetizer. It was a lot of fun to do this and the one tradition that really stuck was the lasagna. It now makes an appearance every Christmas. When my daughter was a vegetarian I began making it with spinach instead of meat and now that has become our main Christmas dish. The family probably wouldn't miss ham or turkey but they'd cry if I didn't make lasagna every year.

Easy recipe - Sauce, cooked lasagna noodles, a bag of frozen spinach sauteed with garlic, shredded mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese mixed with a beaten egg and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Place a bit of sauce in bottom of lasagna pan. Then, layer one at a time - noodles, spinach, ricotta cheese, mozzarella, sauce. Layer each ingredient twice, except for noodles - end with a layer of noodles on top. Then top with mozzarella cheese and more sauce. Yes, I find that Prego is just as good as the sauce my mom used to make from scratch and I copied for years. I often spice it up if I feel like it. My sister the cook likes to use Italian sausage in hers. With everything else I have to do or worry about around Christmastime, the last thing I need to do is make my own sauce or feel bad about myself if I don't. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas! And all good wishes for the New Year!

-Kathy

Pre-Thanksgiving Jitters

2025-11-25T12:23:00.000-06:00

I hope you're all taking a little time for yourself during a busy pre-holiday week. Not much sewing going on lately. I get Thanksgiving jitters around this time every year just thinking about everything I have to do - shopping, baking, cooking, cleaning - to make sure everything turns out great. It always does so I don't know what I worry about. The food is always superb and the company behaves well. If the house and table isn't perfect, Ehh.

For the last few years I've gotten a lot better at saying "Oh well" if a curve ball gets thrown at me. Except for the time a couple of years ago when I let the dog out right after Thanksgiving dinner without checking to see if the gate to the backyard was closed after dark. It wasn't. She spotted a skunk in the far corner, then chased after it like her life and the lives of her family depended on it. We both got skunked as I ran after her and tried to scoop her away. I had to leave the party to run upstairs and take a shower with Dawn dish soap. I left my husband with the de-skunking of the dog part.

Yeah, I can laugh about it now . . . . I even bought a tiny skunk ornament for the tree that Christmas so we'd remember. So you can see why I still get a bit stressed.

Anyway, I always make sure I take some silent time for gratitude during this week as I prepare, to keep the calm feelings going forward. And, if it gets to be too much on the actual day (have you watched The Bear, LOL??) I steal myself away from the crowd and retreat upstairs for 15 minutes while I leave the post-dinner cleanup to others. Shh, don't tell anyone. So far no one's noticed and I'd hate to have to give that up . . . .

Garden Quilt Show

2025-11-08T08:50:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I spent some time at the Fine Art of Fiber show at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Lots of pretty quilts in a beautiful (indoor) garden setting. I usually go every year but missed last year for some reason.

Two things I love: walking around outside in my favorite season and looking at some lovely quilts.

Lots of pretty, colorful quilts and lovely fall surroundings. I was disappointed that there were not many traditional quilts displayed (my style) but they were all beautiful nonetheless. This quilt below, a Lori Holt design made by Lydia Hoelle, was my favorite.

This sweater reminded me of the quilt.

Still a few flowers blooming here and there.

Some parts of the garden were blocked off because they were setting up a winter light show that starts later next week. One of my favorite parts is always the waterfall. It was closed though, so here are a few photos of what it looked like in years past.

It was a perfect fall day and the colors of the leaves were just beautiful.

The weather forecast originally called for rain but it turned out to be a beautiful day. If you're in the Chicago area, the Botanic Garden is always worth a trip. The show runs through Sunday, Nov. 9.

-Kathy

Darting Birds Quilt for Fall

2025-10-06T10:46:00.002-05:00

I love this block!! Have you started making them yet?

I decided to make 9 blocks and set them randomly to look like - what else? - birds darting to and fro.

Then a few days ago I had some time to begin the quilting stage. Simple stitches for a simple but busy quilt. I opted for no border, just binding.

A very simple finish.

Fall Mini Quilt - Darting Birds

2025-09-20T09:48:00.002-05:00

I hope you'll join me in making a sweet little fall quilt using the "Darting Birds" block. Isn't it cute? In all my years of sewing, this is a block I've never made before, can you believe it?

You'll find the pattern in my Facebook group files and also on my website. You can make your quilt with 6 or 9 blocks, add sashing, borders or whatever. There's even instructions to make a 3" block if you're feeling adventurous and want to go smaller. Have fun with them and arrange the "little birds" in different formations to give your quilt a sense of movement. Hope you all have a great weekend!

-Kath

Fall Mini Quilt Sew Along

2025-09-15T09:58:00.001-05:00

If you love playing around with your reproduction fabrics (and especially scraps), I hope you'll join me in my Fall Mini Quilt Sew Along beginning this coming Friday, Sept 19. I'll post the directions to make a sweet little block and you'll find them in the Facebook group files that morning. I'll also post directions on my website www.countrylanequits.com

We'll be making a simple quilt using some of your favorite fall colored fabric scraps. And, believe it or not, it's a block I've never made before. So pick through your fabric scraps this week and come up with a few background lights as well as two medium or dark prints for each block. The more the merrier. The quilt I designed is comprised of six blocks but you may not be able to stop at six so pull out some extra fabrics and maybe you'll enjoy making a few more. I always make a few extra blocks anyway just so I can play around with different colors. Scrappy little quilts are such fun to make!

September

2025-09-03T09:17:00.004-05:00

It's September. The temperatures are a little cooler than they've been for a long time. The flowers in the garden may be fading but quilts endure, bringing lasting comfort.

Scissors Love

2025-08-27T09:16:00.004-05:00

I love cute little scissors. I have a few pairs of "good" ones that are excellent but they're also kind of plain and boring. My favorite scissors are always the pretty ones that I like to use in display photos. I use them when I sew too but I really think a cute pair of scissors adds a sweet little touch to a photo. And using pretty scissors always makes me smile as I'm hand quilting.

Collecting different kinds of novelty scissors is fun. Lately, it's become one of my favorite go-to Christmas or birthday gift items. "What do you want, Mom?" Me: "Just go to Etsy and buy me some pretty scissors, please." So, yes, Etsy has a ton of cute scissors. I'm often surprised. I've seen some cute ones on eBay and Amazon too. Mostly decorative and not very expensive. Cute to look at and use.

The little heart scissors are made by Kelmscott Designs (The Love Scissors, I believe). I found them on Etsy. Other shops may carry them as well. I have a 3.75" pair and then a couple of years ago my daughter bought me that tiny pair. So that makes 2 heart scissors . . . . a good start to a little collection.

It's just plain fun to use different scissors every now and then.

These particular scissors went missing awhile ago. I couldn't remember the last time I used them. Or even saw them. Where the heck did I put them?? I checked and they made an appearance in an Instagram photo sometime in 2019 LOL. Hadn't seen them since. I simply forgot where I put them. (Imagine a quilter doing that, haha.) So, for a few weeks I was obsessed with finding them. Looked in every nook and cranny in my sewing room, in storage cabinets, under the sofa cushions, even behind the sofa (in case I got frustrated while hand quilting and threw them). I looked Everywhere in the house. Every day. Asked my husband if he happened to see a little black box with a pair of fancy scissors inside. I asked him Several times. Did he happen to throw the box away by mistake?? He gave me that look.

Then, for some strange reason, one day I thought of asking him to remove a heavy desk drawer and look behind it. Voila! The box with the cute little scissors inside had fallen and then became wedged behind the drawer. Glad that's been resolved but now I have to find another special place to store them so I don't lose them again. You know how that goes. I have to hide them so no one else uses them. You'd think a drawer would be a safe place, LOL. Also, if I remember correctly (!), I was on a scissors kick around then and bought another pair of fancy scissors and now I can't seem to find those either . . . Oh well. (No, they're not behind the drawer. I already checked.)

Anyone seen these??

I bring out a different pair every few weeks or so and keep them on my sewing table. Then, if I have something to show in a photo, I'll admit I like to strategically place my pretty scissors in the picture. Adds a cute little focal point. Looks like I could use a few more pairs. . . . Just for the pictures, of course . . . .

Despite all the pretty scissors, my absolute Favorite practical scissors are the ones with a serrated edge. My blue and green scissors you see here are by Karen Kay Buckley - called Perfect Scissors - and they have a micro-serrated edge. The purple ones are made by KAI. They are just what the name says - PERFECT in every way. They're especially terrific to use for applique.

Happy shopping!

-Kathy

Leftover or Orphan Blocks

2025-08-19T08:44:00.000-05:00

What do you do with your leftover quilt blocks? If you ever have any, that is. Whenever I make a quilt I usually make a few extra blocks to play around with the setting. Sometimes, as I'm sewing the blocks together, I'm not happy with one or two blocks that just don't fit in with the others. So having a set of different colored blocks to substitute allows me to play around as I set them in the quilt. It's fun to sort through them and come up with different ways they can be used.

That little nine-patch mug quilt in the photo above was made because I was playing around with 1" squares one day to see how difficult it would be to piece something using really small squares. Turns out, not too difficult so I made a bunch. But 1" was small enough and I wouldn't want to go any smaller. I kept the little blocks and then one day turned them into a tiny quilt. I still have a few left over but haven't decided what to do with them. Yet!

Some quilters call these orphan blocks and sometimes those little extra blocks can be used in a whole different quilt. How about a sampler quilt? If they're not all the same size, sew a tiny border around the smaller blocks to make them fit in with the others. Jane Stickle did this when she created her famous quilt.

I remade many of my early wonky Dear Jane blocks because I knew if I didn't they would bother me when the quilt was put together. But some of those blocks are salvageable and perhaps I'll make a DJ runner someday.

I've got more than one version of that yellow star . . . Each more wonkier than the next, haha. Third time was a charm.

I know quite a few of you used leftover half-square triangles to make the border for your Schoolgirl Sampler quilt. Some of you who have read the book know that my sampler quilt idea was begun when I looked through my pile of extra/leftover blocks and found that many of them were the same size - 4" x 4". And Schoolgirl Sampler was born!

Be creative when using your leftover blocks. They make great pincushions or bowl fillers. Coasters or mug mats. Or, how about using them in a different sewing project - like a bag or tote? Table runner? Find a pretty fabric for a runner and use the blocks as accents on either side.

Showcase a single pretty block with some borders.

Leftover star from Scrappy Stars sew along.

That pink friendship star block was too small but I loved it and wanted to include it in the quilt so I pieced a tiny border around it to make it fit.

Have fun playing around with your leftovers!

Hand Quilting - Getting Started

2025-08-13T09:52:00.001-05:00

How many of you hand quilt some (or all) of your small quilts? For awhile it seemed to be somewhat of a dying art. But now I'm hearing that there's been a surge in popularity and quilters are being drawn to hand piecing and slow stitching. And I'm always happy to see quilters pick up a needle and thimble and try it. Hand quilting a small quilt is a great way to get started. While hand quilting a large quilt can take a really long time, quilting a small quilt can be done quickly and is just as rewarding. I hear people say they don't have the patience for it but I've found that the patience needed actually comes from the focus and attention paid while you're doing it. Enter the small quilt with simple stitches.

Simple stitches are perfect for hand quilting small quilts. Sometimes you don't need to do much quilting at all to give a primitive, childlike look to a piece. And they don't necessarily need to be perfect. Take a look at antique quilts and see that the stitches are almost never perfect. Some are, but I love the ones that are not quite exact so you get a sense of the human effort that was involved. The average quilter from long ago was not always making her quilts to purposely enter them in quilt shows.

Hand quilting doesn't have to be fancy and there are no rules that say you have to be an expert and your stitches have to be perfect before you do it. I do it for fun and relaxation and because I love the look.

I've been asked about the thread and needles I use for hand quilting. I have to stress that everyone is different. And so what works for me may not be right for you. You have to try a few things to see what works best. But here's some things that might help -

* I like YLI hand quilting thread in light brown. Sometimes hard to find. Try eBay, Etsy or Red Rock Threads. Or the YLI company. Cotton thread is best. Look for one that's coated with a glaze that allows the thread to withstand the stress of being pulled stitch after stitch without shredding.

* There is no CORRECT needle to use for hand quilting. Because everyone is different, what is comfortable for me to use may not be right for you. The needle you use can make a huge difference. It should be one you can handle and thread easily or your quilting adventures will be disappointing and frustrating. You will need to select the needle you feel most comfortable using and should try several to see which one fits YOU. Don't give up on quilting until you try several different needle sizes and brands. I often use a different needle depending on the fabric used in the project I am quilting or how my hands are feeling that day.

* Some quilters prefer short needles, some prefer long, thin needles. Small Between needles are always difficult for me. But that's what you hear most quilters say they use. I've been happy with this size 9 by Richard Hemming lately. Not too short. Or John James Gold 'n Glide needles. Or I'll use a longer sharp needle on other days if my hands are feeling kind of stiff or the backing fabric I'm using is starched or stiffer than usual. Clover Milliners' Gold Eye are good. Bohin is a trusted brand. So is Tulip. There are lots of different needles out there to try. check your local quilt shop if you get confused. Packages of needles are pretty cheap so get a few and try them out. Some come in packages of assorted sizes. You may have to practice to see what you're comfortable using.

My quilting improved when I began to use a longer, thinner needle instead of the tiny needle other quilters told me I should be using. I found I could also load more stitches on the needle and my hand did not tire as rapidly. Know what? The Quilt Police won't even know what needle you're using. My advice: pick a needle that is easiest for you to use. The right needle for you is the one that will allow you to quilt without frustration or pain. Do what makes quilting enjoyable for you.

* Some fabrics are more difficult to quilt through so you may want to try a sharper needle if you have trouble. Starched blocks make hand quilting more difficult too. I try to make sure my backing fabric is soft and not too stiff. Makes it easier on my hands. John James Gold 'n Glide needles work great for me. This is a big reason I do not starch my blocks. Yes, you may get a crisper look to your piecing but it's harder to quilt through.

* Cotton batting always works best for me. Quilters Dream Cotton "Request" is my favorite right now for an antique look in small quilts. Polyester batting is easier to quilt through but gives a "puffy" look. Flannel seems too flat for me but it's another popular option quilters recommend. If you buy the Quilters Dream cotton, careful - Quilters Dream Cotton "Select" is a little thicker so better for larger quilts.

* I mark my quilting lines with a washable marker. Then just stitch on the lines.

I like the Clover brand. Blue ink pens for marking light fabrics and white ink for dark fabrics. You can see the blue lines drawn in the triangles that I then stitched along. The ink from these Clover pens comes out with a cold, damp cloth rubbed across the lines. I've found that cold water is best as warm or hot water might heat set the lines and make the ink a little more difficult to remove. Always test on a scrap first and follow instructions on the product you're using. Do NOT press with a hot iron.

There's also a product called Tiger Tape that comes on a roll. You set it on the places you wish to quilt instead of marking a line. Then stitch along the tape which has lines and markings to follow to help your stitches come out straight and evenly spaced. Even now I will sometimes place masking tape across a block and follow along the edge with my stiches so I get a straight line.

I really enjoyed hand quilting parts of my Schoolgirl Sampler. Simple stitches worked well for this one. Take it one block at time . . . .

If you've tried and given up, Remember, it may not be YOU - it could be the needle, fabric or batting you're using.

I would love to say I hand quilt all of my quilts but, like many of you, who has the time?? So I do my best and enjoy putting in some simple stitches on my small quilts. Nothing fancy, just enough to give the quilt a little bit of dimension. Hand quilting should be a pleasant, relaxing venture. And it may take awhile to find your rhythm so try different tools to see what makes it most comfortable. Practice! Here's an idea - When I first started quilting I practiced on pre-printed fabric panels. I layered them with batting and backing and just followed the lines on the design. That way I didn't feel like I was ruining a nice quilt I'd pieced if I made a mistake or my stitches were a little wonky.

I'm far from being an expert on hand quilting, but think about some of my suggestions or ask around at your local shop or guild. Look up some hand quilting videos on YouTube. And then, go ahead, mark your quilt and get started! Hand quilting is fun. It's well worth the effort. But you won't really know until you try.

-Kathy

Try This Easy Quilting Design

2025-08-09T09:08:00.000-05:00

I fell in love with Orange Peels when I made this quilt for my book Remembering Adelia. That was a long time ago but I honestly think many of the quilts we make with reproduction fabrics stand up to the test of time, don't you? I will never get tired of them, no matter how old they are. Certain patterns are just timeless.

This was such a fun quilt to make and really good practice for hand applique with the simple shapes. Here's an entertaining link if you're interested in the history of this pattern. Some historians say it dates back to the American Revolution.

I used that peel pattern as a quilting design on the Pink Patches quilt in my book, The Civil War Sewing Circle.

You can easily make a template in a peel shape for your quilting design and mark the top with a washable marker. You might even find a peel stencil. Instead of using a stencil or making my own from template plastic, here's what I did:

I marked the center of the block and then traced around a small bowl with a water soluble marking pen to make a half circle on one side. (Experiment with a bowl or plate that has the right arc that fits your block.) Then I turned the quilt and used the bowl again to trace intersecting half circles around each side of the block. Better than a template because you can do it easily with any size block, large or small - just find the right bowl with a nice arc. Here's a sample square:

Then turn the block and mark on the other two sides with half circles the same way.

The half circles intersect and you get this peel design when you mark each side of the block with an arc.

Then, just quilt on the lines and dampen or wash the quilt gently to remove all traces of the marking pen. It was easy to do this on a small quilt and it turned out very nice, I think. I'm not sure I'd try it on a larger quilt unless I had a lot of time. You can also mark circles between the blocks to get the same Orange Peel design but doing it this way gave me a little more control as I was working on each block. I especially like the way it looks on the plain blocks where the stitches stand out a little more.

Oh, and if you haven't tried it yet, my favorite quilting thread is YLI quilting thread. Not sure if it's still available in this color but I'm very partial to the light brown as it gives a nice antique look when stitched on both light and dark fabrics.

Next week I'll try to reprise my tips on hand quilting for those of you just starting out.

Enjoy your weekend! I'm already thinking of fall . . . . Still much too hot here in Chicagoland.

Summertime Quilts

2025-07-23T15:01:00.003-05:00

Checking in LATE for July. I haven't posted in awhile but here's my excuse: it always takes me so long to take and upload photos and then think of something clever to write. I get busy with family stuff and gardening and then I get lazy. And all I want to do is pick up a good book and stay inside when it's as hot as it's been here in Chicagoland.

It seems like July is always red, white and blue month for many quilters. I do love the look of quilts made with red, white and blue fabrics plus stars. And I am always on the lookout for some pretty prints that combine both red and blue. Especially those with a reproduction theme.

Here's a little tour of some of my favorite July quilts.

Martha Washington Stars quilt.

Civil War Stars

Little Heart Flag quilt.

Dolley Madison Star quilts

Patriotic Stars Row Quilt using blocks from the Schoolgirl Sampler book. (Quilt made by Sue Bennett so not really mine per se but I love it so much and it's in my book so it's sort of mine. Right, Sue? LOL)

Earlier in the month in my Facebook group we had a Patriotic Pincushion Parade for July 4. First time in a really long time. It's always fun to see what everyone comes up with.

I'm hoping to blog a little more often in the coming months. Maybe even try another little sew along in September. So bookmark my blog if you can and check back. We'll see what happens. You can visit my Etsy shop for patterns for some of these quilts and pins. It's not too late to make a RWB quilt or pin for July!

Kathy

Monthly Challenge Quilts

2025-05-09T13:15:00.002-05:00

Those of you who joined in my KT Monthly Quilt challenge late last year or earlier this year - we're resuming the challenges in my Facebook group. We took a little detour to do the Civil War Mini quilt during April. But there are lots of quilters in my FB group who want to continue to challenge themselves to make one of my quilts each month. So we'll do that on a monthly basis as long as there's some interest.

Here's how it works: Each month, pick a quilt from one of patterns in my books (or check out my Etsy shop) and work on it a little bit each week for the next month. No pressure, just fun.

Join me on May to start or finish another of these little quilts. Or maybe a large one? I'll be happy to give you a nudge each week to keep going and get it finished. I might even finish something myself!

It's so much fun to make simple little things . . . . Check out some quilts you may like to make by visiting my Instagram page or previous blog posts. And see Kathleen Tracy Quilts on Facebook groups for more details.

Civil War Mini Row Quilt - Finishing Up

2025-03-31T09:41:00.001-05:00

It took me a few days to go through most of my Civil War/reproduction fabrics to select the borders but I think I chose the right ones for this quilt.

Set your blocks in five rows of four blocks and add a one-inch sashing in between (cut 1 1/2" strips). The borders should be cut 2 1/2" wide.

You'll find the complete finishing directions in the Facebook group files and also up on my website. Take your time and find some border fabrics that match the colors in your quilt top. Remember that it's a busy quilt with very scrappy blocks so maybe try to find a border that isn't too busy and doesn't compete with those blocks. Don't hesitate to set it aside and come back to it if nothing speaks to you right away. It will all work out. If you don't care for the mismatched borders like mine, select your own setting. Add corner squares or maybe you don't even need to have a border on it. Lots of antique quilts were made without borders. Good luck! I had a lot of fun with this one so thanks for participating. It's been so much fun to see your enthusiasm and your beautiful blocks in the Facebook group. We'll have to do it again someday.

Civil War Mini Quilt - Block #5

2025-03-28T09:19:00.001-05:00

Here's Block # 5 for my Civil War Mini Quilt sew along - Churn Dash

You'll find the instructions in my Facebook group files or on my website. Click on the top tab for the Sew Along page.

Sew the four blocks into a row. We'll be making a mini row quilt with 5 rows of these tiny blocks. These little ones take some patience but if you slow down, cut accurately and then sew with a scant 1/4" seam you should have no trouble.

This is the last block for the quilt. I need to finish my top and so I'll give you the finishing directions for the entire quilt on Monday, March 31. Hope you had fun with these tiny blocks and combing through all of your Civil War scraps! I sure did. Thanks for participating.

Have a good weekend!

Civil War Mini Quilt Sew Along - Block #4

2025-03-21T14:43:00.000-05:00

Here's Block # 4 for my Civil War Mini Quilt sew along - Friendship Star

You'll find the instructions in my Facebook group files or on my website. Click on the top tab for the Sew Along page.

Aren't they cute? And they're a lot of fun to make. Despite the tiny half-square triangles, LOL. But after the block I gave you a couple of weeks ago you should be used to them. Just take your time and cut accurately. If you have problems with your blocks coming up short, try sewing a scant 1/4" seam and then when you cut your pieces, place your ruler marking on top of the fabric like so:

If I'm cutting 1 1/2" strips then the ruler marking for 1 1/2" (dashed line) should be placed on top of the fabric on the left side. If the dashed line is off the fabric and on the mat then your strip will be short of the required measurement.

Some people in the FB group were not aware of this and using their cutting mat instead of a ruler to measure the pieces. The mat markings can be inconsistent so a ruler is a better option. I always like to use a non-slip ruler. This one in the photo is the Olfa Frosted. With these tiny blocks, accuracy is important and you don't want to chance that your fabric will slide around as you cut.

Also, make sure you choose fabrics with enough contrast between your HSTs and the background so the pieces don't all blend into the background. And, you'll want to use a darker fabric for the star points to make them shine!

Sew the blocks into a row. We'll be making a mini row quilt with 5 rows of these tiny blocks.

Block #5 (the last block) will be posted on Friday, March 28 along with finishing directions.

Have a good weekend!

Civil War Mini Quilt Sew Along - Block 3

2025-03-15T13:22:00.000-05:00

Here's Block #3 of our Civil War Mini Quilt Sew Along - 3" x 3" Nine Patch.

Small nine-patch blocks are a favorite of mine. Nice and easy, using 1 1/2" cut squares. Switch up the light and dark background squares if you like or make them all scrappy. This is going to be a mini row quilt with five rows of four blocks. Make four nine-patch blocks for setting in the row quilt this week. You'll find the instructions in my Facebook group files or on my website. Click on the top tab for the Sew Along page.

Have fun! Two more blocks to go! Block # 4 will be posted on Friday, March 21.