Crazy Shortcut Quilts

Crazy Shortcut Quilts by Marguerita McManus & Sarah Raffuse has been very influential, in my QAYG journey. This book illustrates:

• A great method for joining QAYG blocks
• A very innovative, assembly line method for constructing the quilt blocks. If you have a few of you working this assembly line, together, the quilt is done in no time. 

I have chosen to disregard the heavy use of decorative stitches that the book employs, simply because they aren't my style. Saying all that, I highly recommend this book.

The following quilts are all made using this method, with patterns from the book.  As you can see the lattice or joining strips are very much part of the design..... I will be addressing that later, because I like having more options.




Pattern:Sweet Sixteen (2007)

I off set the blocks, just for a change.

For my great nephew Julian

Pattern: Asian Inspiration (2008)

I made this quilt totally out of flannels, except for the joining strips and the binding. This quilt was  barely out of the dryer, when my oldest daughter, Sara, left with it under her arm.

Quilting detail...again with the spirals.

Pattern: Fossil Fern (2007)

This was a group effort (BLOCKHEADS).  We made enough blocks for two quilts, this being the smaller one.  Both were auctioned off, for charity.

Pattern: Think Pink (2007)

I made enough for two quilts again, one for charity and one for my lovely, great niece Madison.



More QAYG ...and with Circles

By the time I made this quilt in 2007, I was beginning to be an old pro at joining the squares. I made this quilt for my beautiful niece, Alarissa's 16th birthday......as she unwrapped it our eyes met, and she said in wonder "You made this for me?" I was a happy quilter then..... another one of my quilts was going to be loved. There I go...sappy again.

 

As my fascination with circles, started to grow, I was determined to conquer them. I have a few favourite methods for circles, as well.....I'll save that for another day

The squares for the quilt back are just random....I didn't bother planning to much....I like surprises.

 

My Love Affair with QAYG continued....

This next QAYG quilt was inspired by the book quick and easy Quilts by Jenni Dobson ( Liberated Log Cabin). I went a little crazy and learned a lot along the way. Joining squares, that size, definitely has it's moments.  For  awhile, I thought I would never finish it. However, the minute I did, my youngest hugged and loved it, you know what that means, it went home with her. She has since moved to Montreal...so far away...it makes me happy she has it with her. Sorry, we quilters can be so sappy!

 

Since I was still fooling around with circles, at the time, I plunked a few, on the center blocks....I'm not sure they really add anything to the overall design.

 

The truly amazing thing about making this quilt, is how liberating it really is. You can even cut into the fabric, you are afraid of using...I know you all have a few of those...because you only have to cut a strip or two.  I didn't plan ahead. One strip at a time...without to much thinking.

My plan is to document all of my QAYG quilts and then illustrate my favourite methods.  Even though I have a long arm quilter I still love QAYG!!!