I don’t usually post to far ahead, but right now I need to give myself a little extra time. So, I’m sharing this quilt pattern with you over the next week, one part at a time, three total. Life gets overwhelming busy, and I’m learning I don’t have to be everything or do everything.
Check back every few days, save the posts as we go, and maybe even pull out some fabric and make it. Sometimes you just need to forget the long list of things you SHOULD be doing and make a quilt instead!
Floating Squares quilt pattern throw – 34″ x 34″
Block ONE – You will make 8 of this block
The Quilt Ladies Floating Squares Quilt
Cutting for 8 Blocks
Cut 32 Scrap Colors – 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″
Cut 16 Burgundy – 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″
Cut 8 Burgundy – 1 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
Sew 1 Burgundy – 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″
on 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″
Use 1/4″ Seam Allowance
Press to Burgundy
Add another 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ to side, sew
and again Press to Burgundy
Do 2 of this unit for each block
Add 1 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ Sew and
Press to Burgundy
Sew second unit to bottom and press to Burgundy
You will have 8 of these blocks
Beginning Anew
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They are NOT this size any MORE,
they are young men now and this was one of their/my favorite things to do, watch TV in Grandma and Grandpa’s bed, and sleeping under Grandma’s quilts.
Of course they had to pick a quilt, a show to watch, they would arrange pillows to have the perfect angle to watch and it’s strange it was always about nap time when this all happened ?? Grandparents rule !
The quilt they are sleeping under is the first hankie quilt I ever made, it’s very simple, hankies lined with muslin, straight sashing and borders, and I tied it. I still have and use this quilt, last time it was washing I had to do a lot of repair, the hankies did not wear very well and it’s getting old too!
This is the quilt our Grand’s were sleeping under. It’s made using old hankies that I backed with muslin, I always do this, they seem to need the extra support. Then just simple strips and squares in the corners and I tied it. This quilt is from our time in Nebraska and it has double batting in it and it’s a use it quilt. It changed a bit but Here is my hankie quilt pattern for you to make
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RE-post from 2018 YOU asked for !
I’m on the second go of doing my office/art room over and I think this time, I got it ! ! From the painted walls, my wonderful studio table and NOW my drop leaf table ! ! Of course lots of drawings and lots of research….I love project research ! Finished table is here and I love it.
With all the research done and three different options, I talk with Husband, it’s become an almost presentation. You know…..he’s the builder and THANK goodness he doesn’t roll his eyes at me anymore ! !
That being said, doesn’t mean he’s not going to change things a bit. First idea was just to purchase a 1950″s drop leaf, cut, fix to wall, he wanted nothing of that. I had though 2″ x 2″ legs and he wanted it to match my studio table, easy give. I wanted shelves, to get EVERYTHING off the floor in this room. Well…just about everything. My plans
The leaf legs out of 1 x 4
All put together and ready for paint
With drying time being an issue here in Florida, I moved the table into the house for painting.
Added legs on first, hinges on top and bottom of each. A piano hinge was used for the drop leaf and fitted over the legs and was fasten down from underneath.
Letting it cure for a bit and I will show it all soon. First question…..YES, you can do both sides. I didn’t want that, I just want to put I sewing machine on the top and pull it out when I need it. NEXT, I would like a fireplace in the living room….the planning has already began.
Here is my library and office, I LOVE it and spend many hours sewing and writing here. The complete story is HERE for you to see, and yes, it’s already change, art on the desk, on the wall and it’s all about ME !
Thank you for supporting my Etsy shop and my Quilt Ladies Book nothing is possible without your purchases, Beth
I posted Husbands fishing quilt block the other day, HERE
We have a culture here in our family of NOT giving up our quilts and here is how I fixed Husband’s fish quilt.
This quilt I didn’t patch, it’s was easier to stitch the seams.
If you do need to make pieces, here is my tutorial.
Laying out each place to repair
Pinned it really good
And used applique stitches, by hand.
They were pretty much on seams, fabric becoming weak? I think from YEARS of use.
AND let me add…PLEASE press your seams to ONE side, DO NOT press open as you would making clothes. I know it’s a thing now to press open, but DON’T you will only weaken the threads and seam.
Thank you for asking and here is the rest of my first quilts story. First post and you wanted more! My updated post.
My great – great grandmother was a master quilter, and her quilt lives on today with me. I, too, decided to try my hand at quilting, and boy did I learn some hilarious lessons along the way.
I signed up for a quilting class because I loved quilts and had attended some estate auctions in Burlington, Iowa and I couldn’t afford any.(1980’s) I had sewn my own clothes for years and I am pretty good with directions.
My First Quilt
Now, I’m not one to toot my own horn, but I’m pretty crafty. I’ve tackled painting, crochet, and embroidery with relative ease. Always purchasing the worse house in the best area.
Quilting, however, was a whole different ballgame. I mean, how hard could it be to sew a bunch of squares together? Very, it turns out. I spent hours measuring, marking(in the days before a cutter and mat), cutting, and sewing, only to discover that my seams were wonky, my corners uneven, and my quilt resembled something a drunk toddler might produce. After multiple seam rips and profanity-laden outbursts, I finally managed to sew together a passable quilt top. Or I thought.
Frist thing learned, choose Your Fabric Carefully. If there’s one thing I learned from my quilt making experiment, it’s that not all fabric is created equal. I have made the mistake of using cheap, flimsy cotton on a quilt, and boy did I regret it. The fabric pulled, puckered, and frayed at the slightest touch. Lesson learned: always invest in high-quality 100% cotton and my rule is purchase at the price you can afford. Your future self will thank you. I started my quilt with a clear vision of what I wanted it to look like: it was a class we all came with square cut and share. Yes, I took a class with VERY seasoned quilters and they were terrible in their not welcoming someone new. But I had paid the fee, it was a national teacher, I was young and dumb, I had a babysitter for the day and was determined to learn to quilt. And…my quilt is pretty good, if I do say so. Well…I thought, I am not giving up and attended 3 weeks later a (their) quilt guild meeting. Not knowing that corner should be square, my were curved, I hand quilted with huge stitches and laughed at, because my binding was quilted down. I was crushed, but I made a quilt, my quilt may not have been a work of art, but it was cozy and functional, and that was enough. And, I still use it to this day. I think of those days, not with found memories but with look what I do now !
Despite my initial struggles, I found myself drawn to quilting like a moth to a flame. There was something therapeutic about the rhythmic, repetitive motions of cutting, sewing, and pressing. I find myself lost in a sea of colors and patterns, my worries and stress melting away.
Whenever I wrap myself up in one of my handmade quilts, I’m reminded the time, the cutting the sewing the pieces of fabric to create something beautiful
So, if you’re feeling like a quilt, get one of my pattern books, grab some fabric, thread, and a sense of humor, and join me in the wacky, wonderful world of quilting. Who knows what hilarious lessons you’ll learn along the way! I love things with a beginning, middle and end.
I love the untold stories in every stitch, stories of long nights by lamplight, scraps saved from worn-out dresses, and hands that stitched with love, patience, and often necessity. I don’t purchase many things anymore, but I do purchase quilts. I love browsing a flea market, a local antique shop, buying an old quilt isn’t just shopping—it’s adopting a piece of someone’s history.
A Few of My to Do’s when purchasing an old Quilt
UNFOLD the quilt onto a flat surface, IF on floor ASK. At one estate sale the estate clerks, didn’t like this…I have NO idea, probably not a quilt people?!? But I asked and opened the quilt (on to the bed) and I did a bit of a lesson for them, fabric quality, stitches, binding, and batting.
Turn it over and do the same thing to the back. Again, estate sale estate clerks, didn’t like this. I did it anyway. I wanted to say…ladies please read the person, read the room. There is NO one else was not one else just them, and me?!?
All quilts at estate sales will be fading, discoloration and normal wear, they were used.
Look for stains, dry rot or brittle fabric means that is cracks when handled. Give the quilt a sniff too, a storage musty smell can be hard to remove and a smoke smell I always walk away from, it doesn’t come out. “If you’re determined to rescue a quilt with a mild odor, know that careful airing, baking soda treatments, or professional textile cleaning may help—but don’t expect miracles with heavy smoke, smoker or mildew.”
Workmanship and materials, old 100% cotton, feed sacks, wool, or silk all have a place in quilting. Is the quilt hand stitched, machine stitched, how quilted, I always seem to go for hand stitched. Hand stitched, small stitches, holding all layers together.
Pattern and design matter too, especially if you’re collecting. Some patterns—like the Double Wedding Ring, Grandmother’s Flower Garden, or Log Cabin—are more sought after by collectors.
Buy what you love! If a quirky, one-of-a-kind scrap quilt makes your heart happy, that’s more important than following what’s “valuable” on paper.
Color choices can also hint at the quilt’s age. Browns, indigos, and turkey reds often point to the late 1800s, while pastels came into fashion in the 1930s.
How will you use this quilt, or will you? “Will it live on your bed, hang on a wall, be folded on a bench, or tucked away in a collection?”
Look for Repairs and Damage Beyond Wear Check for old repairs, new patches, or even color-mismatched fabrics. Some repairs are charming and part of the quilt’s story, but others may have been poorly done or with materials that won’t age well. Look along seams and in high-wear areas like edges and corners.
Confirm it’s a Quilt (Not a Comforter or Blanket!) It sounds silly, but at some estate sales, things get labeled “quilt” when they’re actually mass-produced bedspreads or blankets. Look for the traditional quilt layers: a pieced or appliquéd top, a middle layer of batting, and a backing—all held together with quilting stitches.
Trust yourself, if the price feels too high for the condition, or if you’re getting a bad vibe from the sale, it’s okay to walk away. There will always be another quilt. And sometimes the hunt is half the fun.
Bring cash if you’re at a smaller estate sale, and don’t be afraid to negotiate a little—especially if you’re buying multiple quilts or if the sale is winding down for the day.
If you’re shopping online, don’t be shy about asking for close-up photos of both the front and back. A seller who knows their quilts should expect questions.
I know my drum beats different than others. And, that’s just fine with me. With being silence I don’t have to share your drum beat, thoughts or goals.
My tap dancing to please everyone else has stopped. My silence is not acceptance, it’s usually fury and most others are not worth my anger. Anger harms me more than them, truthfully it exhausts me, I give myself the gift of quiet, peace and kindness to myself. Age has added years and a whole lot more perspective.
So, when you see my doings, (art, photos, quilts),
it’s my drum beat. My Book
Even My Style has Changed
Thank you for supporting my Etsy shop and my Quilt Ladies Book
This wedding ring yellow quilt and photo has taken out it’s own life on my Pinterest feed and I 100% wish I had purchased it years ago ! I photographed it and left it hanging?!?! What was I thinking? I took this photo at “The Antique Mall” in McKinney, TX, I think around 2019
I have been out for a bit. Quilting has always been one of the places I go when life feels steady and good. But lately, life hasn’t felt steady. Husband’s health has changed again, and the recovery road has shaken me to my core.
And if I’m honest, I’m tired. Not just “I need a nap” tired… but the kind that sits a little deeper and a little harder. I’ve still been showing up here and there. A post, a picture, a thought, on Facebook and instagram. But behind the scenes, things are quieter than usual. And I think it has to be.
Because here’s what I’m learning:
Not every season is for creating.
Some seasons are for holding things together.
Some days, sew a seam or two, or sit with a piece of fabric in my lap, draw a few quilt block and think about what they might make.
And that still counts.
Are you thinking about retirement ?
Or already retired? Do it with Laughter, Love and in this book NO Money talk, it’s all about YOU !
You have to find fun, excitement, and joy in your days. 40 years to achieve the retirement goal, and now you are not happy, you don’t know what to do all day? YOU need a plan.
Husband and I retired early, he was 57, and I was 55. Most people hear us say our ages and they ask, “What do you do all day?” VERY, very rarely do they ask, “How do you afford it?” This book has NO money talk, it’s all about happiness. Now in Print and eBook ! !
To me that is hilarious: before retirement you plan financially, you plan the date, but you don’t take time to figure out what you want to do for 20-30 years of retirement. I have seen it now for five years. How to Survive Retirement
Everyone thinks that you magically know how to retire. YOU DON’T but my book will help you think through what you need and what you want for YOUR life. No money talk, this is all ideas to make your 20-30 years of retirement what you want and need it to be for years of joy. Retirement is talked about just as going off to college is.
There are just four things you need to expect in retirement:
1. We are all going to die 2. Stop fearing change 3 .Stop living in the past 4. Be easy on yourself These four things may not need to be said, but please think about them. #1 is one that can help you get up, get started and do what you want. #2 is fearing change, you will and need to change. #3 past is the past let it go. #4 take care of yourself and be kind to yourself.
Here in my book, laugh, read and find your passions by staying connected, keeping your mind active, embracing slow living, and finding your community can help you thrive in retirement.
But ultimately, the key to surviving retirement with joy is to find what works for you and your unique situation. Whether it’s quilting, travel, volunteering, family or something entirely different, find what brings you happiness and purpose, and go for it!
PLEASE retire happy! “If you are unhappy….us other old people don’t want to be around you.”
Author information:
My name is Beth Ann Strub, sixty eight years old, retired and living in central Florida, about 20 minutes from the white sandy beaches we all love and right on a golf course, which I have never played on, but it’s pretty. I was born and raised in Iowa and have lived in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and now in Florida. I am a quilt designer, book written, I love to swim, cook/eat and family is my joy.
The Quilt Ladies Floating Squares Quilt
Sew 1 Burgundy – 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ 
Press to Burgundy
Add another 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ to side, sew 
Add 1 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ Sew and 
Press to Burgundy
Sew second unit to bottom and press to Burgundy
You will have 8 of these blocks
