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Monday, December 14, 2015

GGS Twist Blog Hop... You Are Here!

GREAT GRANNY SQUARE TWIST?!?

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Do you remember when the Great Granny Square book by Lori Holt came out?
This is about a twin sized quilt.
I think it looks like confetti!
I think I had used a Kate Spain jelly roll and a few extra coordinating fabrics for the 
border.




I fell in love  with the method of making this block that Lori came up with.

I was completely addicted to GGS's!

I love the original borders that Lori Holt comes up with too!

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The book has several variations of the block including different sizes.
Every single one of them is as cute as can be!

So... when Fat Quarter Shop said they were going to do a revival of 
GGS... but we were to add a little twist of our own to the block...
it sounded like fun to me!



After making my large quilt 
I had a group of fabrics already cut for a "someday" project...
so it looked like it was time to use them!
My little variation is a flipped corner to the second round out from the center.
Did that make sense? 






I stayed with a smaller quilt that I could hang up on my wall of small quilts.
This one is 37 x 37.


Can you see here how it frames the center square?
The center square is larger than the squares that surround it.

That represents my family in the center and my children's young families
circling around me. 


It was a lot of fun to make, so I thought I would continue the
fun by doing  spiral quilting on the wall hanging... since 
"the circle continues"... metaphorically, right?



It was the first time I tried spiral quilting.


Here is another photo before I got the binding finished.
(it was a rainy day... and I wasn't sure I would have a chance 
at a good photo later)

Fat Quarter Shop has a video to share with you on the GGS Twist here...



Please go over to the Fat Quarter Shop blog, Jolly Jabber to see all the blogs 
on the hop today... and for the entire week!

Oh, and  how about a book giveaway?
Just leave a comment telling me something you remember about your great granny 
(or grandma) at Christmas. 

I will draw a winners name randomly on  Friday evening, at the end of the blog hop!

Have fun with the hop!

62 friends stopped by to chat:

Unknown said...

Loved my Grandma Hamiltons pancakes, miss her

Anonymous said...

My Grandmother made excellent fudge and always made certain our dog would have a piece!

paulette said...

Both sets of grandparents died before my parents started their family so I never knew them...BUT I'm sure my grandmothers MUST have been quilters! It got to be in the genes! :o))
Thanks for the chance!
Paulette

krislovesfabric said...

I love the shadow effect of your "flip"...makes it look like a totally different block! I didn't have the pleasure of knowing my GGs but my son was able to spend a lot of time with my Grandma...(his GG) and one of the favorite memories of mine was baking Christmas cookies - I rolled and cut and baked...they did the decorating together. We just lost her this year, so no decorating but still many great memories.

Loris said...

Love your Grandmother Gardens and their variations!
My Grannie was a hard worker all her life and the sweetest of all the women I have known. She had kind of a hard life and I don't think I ever heard her complain. I loved spending time with her. She crocheted and helped me finish my very first quilt. What sweet memories! Thanks for asking :-)

Needled Mom said...

Beautiful!! I loved doing the original GG quilt and have always thought about doing another one.

My grandmother was my inspiration in being kind to everyone. She was blessed with so many friends.

Glyn said...

My grandma had a way with words & said interesting statements such as: "The salt is free", which my brother always piped in "How much is the pepper?" I'm guessing she was implying the salt came out quickly. Even years after her passing we get a chuckle out of her colorful words!

Hildy said...

I love your quilt and the 'twist' you've made.
I remember that I visit my granny when she was already 92 yo and still she made me Apfelstrudel. She was a really good cook:-)

Lori Holt said...

I LOVE your twist on my great granny block Sinta!
Isn't it amazing what a difference one little change can make?
And I love the spiral quilting too:)
xx
Lori

Gill said...

My granny was a cheesemaker!
Great quilt!

Anonymous said...

My grandma lived next door, she was a great cook and had a huge garden. She taught me how to sew, embroider, and crochet. Your quilt is lovely!

Jodi - usairdoll said...

Your quilt is beautiful! My grandma Honeycutt lived in a different state from us so we didn't see them often. I do have a hand tied quilt she made for me that I still have today.

Thanks for a chance to win.

usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

PamKittyMorning said...

Super cute, love your variation!

Anonymous said...

I didn't know any of my great grandparents, but both of my grandmothers were feisty funny ladies. One thought it was hilarious to do the dead man's float face down in the pool (she was in her 70s!). The other was less than 5 feet tall and cooked like crazy! Thanks- love your quilt! Sarah: crjandsbj(at)netzero(dot)com

Anonymous said...

My Grandma Grace was a quilter who influenced my mom who influenced me who influenced my daughter who is a fabulous quilter! My Grandma Grace loved Christmas and would play Christmas music for us on the piano! Pickett.ka@ Juno.com

Laura said...

I remember my paternal grandmother as being such a go-getter: she could out walk me when I was a teenager (even though she was only 4'10") , she had so much energy, she made the most incredible pickles and always cooked up a storm whenever we came to visit! Something that made me sad was that I didn't find out until after she passed away that she did some quilting with her seven sisters when she was young: how I would have loved to have picked her brain! The upside is that I have a surviving quilt: tied and it appears that a heavy wool blanket was used for batting: it weighs a ton! It was probably needed when they lived in the Canadian plains: the winters are frigid in that area!!

Esther G said...

My grandma always put a red candle in the middle of an angel food cake and we'd sing happy birthday to Jesus after the big meal.

gayle said...

I remember Grandma grinding cranberries and oranges for a relish she made for big family holiday gatherings. I wish I had written down her recipe...

Tracie said...

My Grandma Angie didn't know how to crochet so she was impressed that I could at a young age. And she encouraged me by buying me yarn! We went spent Christmas Eve with her and Grandpa, and it was magical with all her handcrafted decorations: Christmas trees made from netting, Christmas stockings embellished with ribbons and braids, and a stuffed Santa doll waiting to be hugged. My husband was shocked that I have such happy memories when he saw how kitchy (ugly homemade) everything was, but it was special to us.

Merry Karma said...

My grandmother was an excellent seamstress, knitter, spinner, weaver and cook. I don't think I could ever fill her shoes. Sadly, I only met her once before she died, but she passed on her traditions to my mother, and who in turn, shared them with us. My favorite Christmas tradition was going to church Christmas Eve and coming back home to a reading of Baby Jesus' birth from the Bible.

Anonymous said...

OH MY STARS! My Grandmother was a stitcher of all kinds! She loved to quilt and liked to show others how to quilt as well! No wonder I'm a stitcher too! Thank You for a sweet Giveaway! MERRY CHRISTMAS! msstitcher1214@gmail.com

susan said...

My Grandmother was from Norway and traveled to Canada to marry. She was a tailor by trade and she was blessed with a beautiful voice. She sang as she worked, as she sewed and as she rocked me to sleep. I loved her very much. It seemed very fitting that when she passed away all seven of her grandchildren sang her a lullaby.

claire ross said...

I remember staying at my granny 's house at the weekends and warming out pyjamas on the hearth in front of the fire as there was no central heating in the house. We had an electric blanket and bundles of flannel sheets to keep us warm x
Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com

crazy quilter said...

My grandmother always loved Christmas she was always so excited to open her gifts. As a child her parents both died when she was quite young and she grew up in an orphans home. Her first name was Jimmie so she always got a gift for a boy instead of a girl. She said there was. Boy at the orphanage that had a name people took as a girl so they always exchanged with each other so each got something appropriate for their gender. I miss my grandmother every single day.

DebrafromMD said...

The thing I remember most about my great grandmother was that she started trying to marry me off as soon as I turned sixteen. I was not ready to even consider marriage at that age, but she kept pushing. I think she wanted more grand babies.

Bec said...

I remember my granny always having a big grin on her face when she watched presents being opened. :)

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

My gram always made me new flannel pj's for Christmas... so snuggly! Love your spiral quilting!

sophie said...

Sadly, I never knew any of my grandparents, so no Christmas granny memories from me.

OhioLori said...

Never knew my grandma's...my momma died before I was 2yrs old...and my dad & his family..and my mom's mom too..didn't want me. I hope my Grankiddo's are storing lote of Heart Memories about times we are sharing, and will tell their Kiddo's.

MERRY CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS!

Beth said...

My grandmother who lived in Iowa always sent a package of goodies for Christmas. My mom would put the box under the tree, and our dog Duchess would guard it, even sleeping in front of it. I'm sure it smelled delicious.

GranChris said...

My Grandma liked to eat, really she liked to eat. She taught me to quilt and to bake, cook and live. We made potato donuts and cinnamon rolls for Christmas. She used potatoes in her rolls so they were awesome.

Aunt TC said...

I didn't know my great-grandmothers as they were deceased before my birth. I do remember both grandmothers. My maternal grandmother lived in the country, baked everything on a wood burning stove. I loved to visit her as she always had homemade bread and butter ready for us to eat and perhaps some wild strawberries which she picked in a field. She loved having company stop by and loved keeping busy. She taught me how to crochet. And she loved to read and would send me to the library to choose several new books for her. I think of her often.
Howlandquilt (@) gmail.com. Thanks for asking.

KathleenD said...

I never met any of my great grandparents. I do remember my Grandmother Duffy knitting lovely hats & sweaters for me and my sister though. She was a very quiet, reserved woman with wavy, dark hair. I actually remember her quoting "Robbie Burns" to me. When I was older, I found out that she was referring to Scotland's Poet Laureate, Robert Burns!

Susan said...

My granny taught me to crochet (she was also a quilter but I didn't learn that as a child) and the first project I ever made was a Granny Square afghan! Love your variation, by the way!!

candy said...

Growing up I only had one grandmother and she passed away when I was 11. She loved Christmas and would save all year so that she had money to buy her grandchildren presents. She came to our house on Christmas Eve to spend the night with a trunk full of presents. I must get my love of Christmas from her!

Dody said...

My grandma lived to be 104 ,and live by herself and cared for for herself until she died. She only had one lung,one was taken out due to tuberculosis. She was a stickler for detail in her sewing,cleaning and cooking. I remember summer and holidays at her house was always fun and adventurous. She also liked to fish. She could tell some fish tales. Lol!
Dmac5958ataoldotcom

mangozz said...

My grandmother always made us a new pair of pajamas every Christmas. I knew I could count on wearing new pjs to bed Christmas eve. I miss her so much. chocolatewiskers@aol.com

Josie McRazie said...

I only knew one of my grandparents. My Grandma Conner! She was my Mom's Mom. She was the mother of TEN and grandmother of 30!! At Christmas we gathered at her house and prayer was a giant circle around her whole house! I don't remember much as I was just about 6 when she passed! But she was a crafter and she sewed and crocheted and cooked and gardened clear up to the end!

Mary Ann said...

My grandma Mary was in a nursing when I was a teenager which was 30 miles from where we lived. I would drive my mom and younger brothers and sisters to see her every Sunday and all holidays. Whenever I think about that, it brings back wonderful memories.

Karrie said...

My Grandma made everyone quilts for Christmaa! Not everyone, for every year, but I remember when I got my favorite yellow flannel that smelled like cedar wood. (Even though I guess you aren't supposed to keep your fabric supply in a cedar wood closet) thanks for the chance to win!!

Ksmith8@emich.edu

mumbird3 said...

My grandmother bought the Featherweight that I sew on today back in the early 1940s (and it was second hand from someone she knew!) - each Christmas she would send rather unusual gifts! My favorite was the bright orange chantilly lace cocktail dress that she sent when I was pregnant (it was huge --not a maternity dress just enormous! we joked that if we got a couple poles we would have a tent!) I think she meant me to alter it - it was one of the funniest gifts I ever received!

Jayne said...

My Grandma Meroney always baked pies!! They were so tasty!

lalaluu said...

My grandmother once gave me towels for Christmas, and thoughtfully, she included a bar of soap, too!

sisylyn2 said...

My grandmother was a tiny French woman who quilted by hand and always had 2 queen size quilting frames set up in her tiny living room. She didn't own a sewing machine or a television set. I was 10 years old before I knew a person could quilt with a machine.
Nancy
gandn74@ymail.com

Michele said...

Grandma's tamales have always been our family's Christmas Eve staple. She's no longer with us, but we carry on the tradition of Christmas Eve tamales, and fondly remember our dear Grandma.

Cheryl said...

I don't have many memories of my grandmother, or Babchi as we called her. She only spoke Polish so I never really had many conversations with her which is so sad. She had a very hard life, raising 6 children by herself after her husband died young. She was a fabulous cook and baker who never really used a recipe. I wish I had a treasured keepsake from her but I don't. My father's mom passed right after I was born so I never met her. I made sure my kids were very close to my mom and have many, many wonderful memories with her. I have always wanted to quilt in a spiral but never have. Love the look and your quilt!

Cheryl said...

One of my favorite memories of my Grandmother at Christmas was her "gravy" as she called it. Her parent immigrated from Sicily and it was a red sauce (tomato sauce) with at least 3 different meats. It was food full of love.

I love your quilt you made, the spiral quilting is the perfect finish for it!

Dorothy said...

I remember my grandma (I am named after her) for her laugh and hugs. She was a true pioneer woman that ruled her family with a loving, firm hand, but us grandkids knew she loved us and would do anything for us. She owned a restaurant and I loved going there, we would always get ice cream!
Your "twist" is beautiful, and I love you story that goes with it.

Litamora's Quilt & Design said...

I've ordered my pellon to make these circle blocks, and so excited to make this table runner! Love it! Love your gorgeous quilt!

Danette said...

My Grandma had numerous grandkids, but she bought a gift for each of us. Such as a Monopoly game, Life game, doll, teddy bear or whatever. She really didn't have the money to do this, either. Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

Grandma said...

My Grandma made the best blackberry jam. She did not get to come to my wedding. so, a few months after the wedding, we went to see her. when she heard that we were coming, she went out picked some blackberries and me and my husband some blackberry jam!
patsystitch@gvtc.com

Linda CC said...

Grandma was a short lady and we always told her how much we loved her. Also miss her and her hugs. She was the crafty one, tried to teach us to sew & crochet. But she never quilted. At Christmas there was always a large spread of Italian food for dinner, we still do this today. Instead of turkey we go Italian.

Susan said...

My grandmother made delicious clotted cream and we would eat it with Summer cherries at Christmas (Australia + Summer= Christmas!)

Kathryn said...

I like your twist a lot. My grandmother was quite ill when I was old enough to know her. Still she was known as a great quilter in her younger years.

Lorraine Isaac said...

My Grandma was a quiet woman who loved to cook, she loved having us sleep over, She was a nurse when she met my Grandad and they had one child when they came to Canada, on their declaration forms they had $50.00 each, she always made Christmas cake that was kept in the cellar, thanks for the give a way, Lorraine Isaac

Lisa England said...

My great grandmother on my mom's side was a farm woman. I remember visiting her at the farm house where she would always offer you something to eat. I was very young but I do remember her white hair and cat's eye glasses and she always wore a "house dress".

Thimbleanna said...

Very Sweet Sinta -- I love all the symbolism too!

crazy quilter said...

Sure love your variation on this one. Thanks for the change to win a copy of the book!

Sallie said...

My grandma made the best green beans for Christmas Dinner!

gigi said...

My Grandma always made the best cakes. Like Lady Baltimore cakes. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

my grandma just turned 101 years old. what a blessing!

Andee said...

Thanks for the chance@