Wednesday, September 23, 2009

I Can't Make Just One

I made one for Amandajean in my Sew Connected virtual quilting bee, but once you get started, one is not enough. I was inspired by my little house for her and by her inspiration quilt. I made these to celebrate two commissions completed!
They're all free pieced. Each one unique. I want to keep mine simple and let the shapes and the fabric take center stage. I'd love this to be a bed sized quilt. I don't think that's going to be a problem.
If you've never made free pieced houses before, Tonya, of Lazy Gal Quilting is the queen and her tutorial for 'wonky' and 'wacky' houses will teach you everything you need to know. (Look in her sidebar under houses.)
Here is a mini tutorial for one way that I do a little house. Cut a square for the body of the house and a rectangle for the roof. Sizes aren't that important, but you might want your roof to extend over the sides of the house so keep that in mind. Cut pieces of background fabric the same width as your house. Cut two squares of background fabric the same width of the roof piece. For example, if the rectangle is 2" wide, cut 2" squares.
Sew the background pieces to each side of the house and place the squares on the roof rectangle as shown, sew diagonally from the centers to the outside corners.
Cut off the outer triangles leaving a quarter inch seam.
Press the background triangles up and you've got a roof!
Add some background fabric and sew the roof to the body of the house and you're done. With the basics of Tonya's instructions you can add doors, windows, tilt the roof, add chimneys...the sky is the limit. I bet you can't make just one!
For those of you who asked...this is the commission spiderweb quilt. It's 63 x 95 and will be used primarily as a tablecloth. It's going to a lovely home, one of those houses that you might find in Country Living magazine. The house has exposed wood beams and is filled with unique, beautiful antique furniture and country decor. My client chose the fabrics to coordinate perfectly with her room. It's going to be beautiful in her house. My favorite part is the scrappy binding.

47 comments:

Audrie said...

Since I saw Amy's (Park City Girl) little house block, I've been thinking about the little houses all day!! I think I need to make one too :) The spiderweb quilt is gorgeous!

Poppyprint said...

Congratulations on all that real estate! You'll have a queen-sized neighborhood in no time. And, congrats on completing such a large commission, too. As always, beautiful work. -Krista

Angie said...

I just made a little house for our bee, and I wish that I'd seen yours. I don't tend to do things the easy way without help!

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Your cluster of houses are so fresh and appealing. I love how you have hung them along your window so you can enjoy them.

I bet your client is thrilled with her quilt - the colours are so rich and festive.

MightyMom said...

loooks quite Christmassy to me

Unknown said...

They are just delicious - I saw Amandajean's post too and checked out the quilt that was at the show on flickr - it's lovely - it may be a use for some of the building stack of scraps in the corner basket - looking forward to seeing the finished top

Shari said...

The spiderweb quilt is just lovely... I really like it. Your client will too.

And the little houses are so cute! And apparently addictive... have fun and happy sewing!!

Goosey said...

Those houses are lovely, can't wait to have a go at them. The quilt you have made is wonderful too, very inspiring.

Quilts on Bastings said...

I just love your little houses - it is going to be a wonderful quilt.

Abby and Stephanie said...

At first glance I thought those darling little houses were curtains! What a gorgeous spiderweb quilt. Love the rich reds.

Jessica said...

those little house blocks are adorable...and seeing as you have such a good start you'll be finished with a bed size in no time...

the spiderweb quilt is gorgeous!!

Unknown said...

Tonya's free pieced houses are terrific. That is what I used when making my wonky houses for Jane's Halloween Swap. They were a lot of fun to make and I couldn't stop. The spider web quilt is just fantastic, I love it and I am sure they will cherish it. You did a great job!

Patty said...

The house blocks are just too cute!

shellysquilts said...

These little houses are very, very cute! Have fun!

Unknown said...

those house blocks are stuck in my head too! They look lovely all hanging above the window. Wouldn't they make cute cafe curtains?

I can just picture the spiderweb quilt in a house in Country Living, or an old English cottage. It's beautiful, I'm sure it will a treasured family possession.

Laura said...

The houses are very cute. And yay for rewarding yourself for completing your other work!

Thimbleanna said...

Ohmygosh! I love your houses -- they are just too cute! And thanks for all the info -- I'm in a little group that is just getting ready to start these houses!

MichelleB said...

The house blocks are just darling! I love them. Love that red spiderweb quilt, too. Stunning.

allsewnup said...

Your spider quilt is stunning and the little houses are making me smile, they're sooo cute!

;o)
Carolyn*

jenn said...

This post is fantastic!!! Oh my love love love your spiderweb. I can see that perfectly in a "Country Living House!"
That was my favorite mag for a long long time!
The house tutorial- well that is just too much! Little houses are all the rage, so this is perfect.
Thank you!
jenn

Anina said...

Cute! I think I need a little houses quilt myself. And it's my month at SC3. Hmmm....
The spiderweb quilt is stunning!

beth said...

everything is wonderful...houses, spiderwebs...you've been busy!

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

I love your little houses, they also look great as curtains!!
Thank you for the great tutorial!

Twisted Quilts said...

I love making houses and I love yours. You do yours a bit different that I do. Your method is very interesting. I think I will try it. Thanks for the idea.

Jodi Nelson said...

These houses are popping up everywhere! We're going to have quite the neighborhood in blog land! LOL. LOVE your houses and a great little tutorial! LOL Your word verification is rent!

em's scrapbag said...

I have loved AmandaJean's block since I first saw it. You have a done a wonderful job making many. I just might have to make a few myself. In my spare time. hee hee.

Julie @ Jaybird Quilts said...

you sound like potato chips.. i can't eat just one.. and now i'm hungry!!

HMaas said...

You are so right and I probably wouldn't be able to make just one - must hold off on trying this until my current quilt is finished.

Nina Lise@Mrs Moen said...

The spiderweb quilt is fabulous, and the houses very cute. My frist thought was: what fun and creative curtains!

Sherri said...

I have to make some little houses! Yours are great! Thanks for the tutorial and link!

Julie said...

Thanks for sharing your commission piece. I hope you will send the link when it makes its debut in Home and Garden. That reminds me that a recent Pottery Barn catalog had several quilts that looked ALOT like some of your modern work. I really love seeing how interconnected ideas flow. Your ideas are out in the forefront, for sure.

lej619 said...

heck with making a quilt right now I like the "housees" as a curtains!!!
lol

Nanette Merrill said...

As always you inspire me. I feel the same way about houses! Love the spider web.

Donnelly said...

I love how your little houses on their wood hangers make a perfect curtain. I love how you can see the seams from the back. I could see these used as a curtain, just the way you have them hanging. Thank you so much for your inspiration. You make me think outside of the box, and that is good!
Have a great day.

Jessica said...

The houses are terrific! I really love the photos too...how they make the perfect curtain.

The spiderweb quilt is gorgeous, too.

sewtakeahike said...

Hi Jacquie! Wow! You're really getting a lot done. I'm loving those little wonky houses, I've had Tonya's instructions for them sitting on my desk for a while now. One day I'll get to them. Beautiful spiderweb quilt, love the red/black. Oh, and congratulations on your two finishes and on winning Sheree's giveaway!

bekhy said...

ack. all that work for a tablecloth. okay. now i really really hope you charged a lot of money :) yay for finishing the 2 commission quilts and love those cute little houses; i definitely like them more with lots of space around; looking at gwen's work i wasn't too sold on wonky houses but this version is pretty inspirational. thanks!

Marit said...

Your houses are super cute! Have to give them a try sometime... I love the spiderweb, too. It is a bit "grown up" and very interesting colors and fabrics. You did a great job! And I love the way you quilted it, too. I have one in the making, but there haven't been much progress on it for a long time. Happy sewing, Jacquie!

Rebekah said...

adorable blocks! Thanks for posting the tutorial

Anonymous said...

I love the spider web quilt, it is beautiful! The houses are so fun, I love making wonky blocks.

Melissa Lemmons said...

I actually love them as curtains, though I am sure they will make a wonderful quilt as well.

The spiderweb quilt is great. I have stalled out somewhat on my spiderweb. It just seems to take so long to make a block. It doesn't feel like it will ever be done.

Stephanie D said...

Love that commission quilt--it's very striking!

The houses are so cute--just as they are!

claire said...

wonderfull blog

lmbhume said...

the houses make a great valance!! would be wonderful in a family room.

Amanda Jean said...

i don't think anyone could make just one little house, either. yours look amazing! and congrats on the spiderweb finish.

Tonya Ricucci said...

your houses are so much fun. I'm not the queen - Gwen Marston is. I'm more like the court jester. congrats on the spider web finish!

lisa said...

WOW! Those are very lovely curtains. Hope I can make too for my house.

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