Sudoku Quilt

My husband really likes sudoku puzzles, so when I saw a pattern for a sudoku quilt, I really wanted to make one.  The pattern is called "Quilter's Sudoku" and says "Quick Quilts" on the bottom (I'm pretty sure it came in the mail with a magazine invoice).

I chose nine colors, assigned each a number from 1-9 and cut nine squares of each one.  Then my husband had to solve the sudoku puzzle on the pattern.  From there it was very easy to assemble, making nine different nine-patches and sashing them with very thin strips of black.  I just stitched in the ditch to quilt this.  I used a white batting, and there was a lot of bearding happening (which was very noticeable on the black backing!).  Next time I'd use black batting, but I didn't really know there was such a thing at the time.  

I like to spend a little extra time if I can and use leftover fabrics (or a block) on the back like this:

Sorry for the lousy picture--it had been folded in the cabinet right before this photo.

I have been labeling my quilts and made sort of a 'key' to the puzzle on this one:  colors 1-9 left to right, top to bottom.  

I made this quilt in 2011.  It measures about 39" square.  It currently hangs on the living room wall.

Verna's Verna Quilt

When the Verna line by Kate Spain for Moda line came out in 2009, it was the turning point of my fabric buying.  Up until that point, I would only purchase fabric for a particular project I had in mind.  When this line came out, I think I bought as much of it as I could--besides being beautiful fabric, it had an awesome name!  It was the first of many beautiful fabric lines designed by Kate Spain; I love them all, so of course I had to buy them all!  I guess that's when I became a 'real' quilter.  I now have a huge, out-of-control stash and am always on the lookout for more.  Which I feel I can justify since I'm sewing more, right???

Here's my first Verna quilt--I call it 'Verna's Verna Quilt'.  It measures 42" x 42".

I finished this in 2010 and it is one of my favorites.  

The pattern is also by Kate Spain and includes a pattern for a bag.

Nature's Notebook

I bought the fabric for this quilt about five years ago (Nature's Notebook by April Cornell for Moda), and I see I downloaded the pattern in early 2008 (1 Charm Plus--looks like I got it from the Moda site, but I don't see it there now).  I used the charm pack to make what I guess you'd call a 'six patch' in the center, added two borders, and then it sat in my closet.  I didn't really feel it was quite finished (or large enough).  

Over the next few years I picked up a few pieces of fabric from the line  and tucked them away for that day when I was ready to tackle this project.  That day finally came this past spring!  At that point I was more interested in getting this done rather than finding the 'perfect' finish.  I just added the plain outer border, layered it and did my own quilting.  I started with simple outlining in the center, but as I went along I became more adventurous with spirals in the corner blocks and swirls on the rest.  It's not perfect by any means, but it is much improved over some of my earlier work.

It measures 43" square.  A hanging sleeve was added and it now hangs on the wall of my bedroom.