I have completed the first quilt top, and have purchased the fabrics for the next two quilt tops.

Below are some photos of putting the first quilt top together.

My father loved to research The War Between The States (The Civil War).  He had a Wheeler and Wilson sewing machine from 1862, but I couldn't use it for this piecing.  Instead I used my own oldest machine, a Singer model VS2 from 1891, and the Singer model 15-91 from 1952 that my dad had given me.

 1891 Singer model Vs2

 

1952 Singer model 15-91

Piecing strips.

Laying out the design. I will be writing up the design pattern soon. (c) 2015 laeom

The finished top - it is sized to fit a single Army cot.

 Seaming the backing.

 Layering the backing, batting, and top, to be pinned.

 Placing the quilt in my 29-inch Hinterberg Designs Quilt Hoop / Stand for hand quilting.

 I will be hand-quilting each square.

I made the first chicken pincushion to keep me company while I quilt.  If you'd like to make a chicken pincushion for yourself,  I used this pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Company. And Sally from TreadleOn posted a pattern on her blog for a Funky Fowl Pincushion block, which can be used for the main two squares for a chicken pincushion.  Thanks Sally!