Seeing Spots

I finally started my DQS9 project; my partner hasn't posted much-- maybe once or twice-- but I think she will like this!  My partner has a lot of bright colors in her favorites, and almost everything she seems to love is on a white background.  

Personally, I've been obsessed about dots lately.  I even consider stashing every time I see a dot I like.  Today I bought 17 dot prints.  Don't judge me.

I used the die-cutter at Quilting Adventures to cut four circles from twelve prints.  Then, I laid them out when I got home.  They're stuck on with spray adhesive; I didn't want to mess with fusible this time around.  Last time I had a hard time stitching through the fusibles.  Of course, I won't do hand stitching this time, but it was nice to skip the extra step and cost of iron-on fusible.

Geometric Pillow Cover

I finished this quilted pillow cover today.  There were so many problems with this!  My machine was having some tension problems, and so on the underside of the quilting there were loops-- the stitches weren't taught and the bobbin thread knots were visible on top.  I adjusted tension to no avail, and finally pulled off the throat plate of my machine.  Lo and behold, there was practically a whole pillow stuffed in there (including in the bobbin mechanism)!  After cleaning that out, my quilting looked perfect.

Somehow, when trimming, my quilted section was always 1/8" larger than I thought.  I would trim meticulously in an attempt to make it square, only to measure and find an extra 1/8" in there (I felt like I was in the house on Ash Tree Lane).

Finally, after the whole thing was just about done, I noticed an inch long gash-- yes, gash-- in the front of the pillow.  I have no idea how it got there; it could have been there, it could have gotten there during my aforementioned trimming session, who knows?  At any rate, after I got over the urge to give up, I used tweezers to put some fusible interfacing in there, and I just ironed it down.  Hopefully that will hold up.

The pillow has an envelope style back and is about 17" square.  I used a King Tut variegated thread for the quilting, which is just straight lines spaced 1" apart-- not wonky, just good old evenly spaced lines.  I did increase my stitch length to 4.0 for the quilting; longer stitches makes for nicer quilting!

It was very difficult to photograph this pillow.  I have a red couch-- I'm talking about red.  It was very difficult to get a decent photo, and even then I had to edit them quite a lot to make them acceptable. This was the only decent picture of the bunch, and it's terrible!  I'm going to have to practice photographing items inside the house.  Tips?

Jem, Scout, Atticus, and Dill

50 years ago today marks the publication date of the timeless American classic, To Kill a Mockingbird.  You can read all about the history of the novel here at NPR.

Thank you, Harper Lee!  You gave us one of the most wonderful stories ever written.  I hope daily that I will find a box with chewing gum, or a pocket watch, a ball of twine, or soap figurines in a knot hole in a tree outside my house.  I can't see a wardrobe closet without calling it a chiffarobe-- and wanting to chop it up for firewood.  I never see camellias without wanting to chop off the flower heads.  In the oppressive heat of summer, I can't help but feel like "a soft teacake with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum."

If you haven't read it, read it.  If you read it a long time ago, read it.  If you reread it every year, read it.  Then come back and tell me all about your favorite part.

Windows

St. Mary's Squares
Originally uploaded by Todd Klassy
Here's some inspiration for my next quilting project, which will remain a secret. I'll give you the only hint my mom ever gave me about secrets: windows. You can view a gallery of inspiration here.

Sea Glass

Today I hand-stitched 252 inches of binding.  My hands are feeling a bit gnarled.  But, I finished the Sea Glass quilt, just in time for the heat wave coming next week.  I slaved myself over the binding for hours today just so that Lesly could see it before she hops a plane to Berlin.

The finished quilt measures 60"x66" and is made entirely of half-square triangles.  I used my tried and true method to get gorgeous half-square triangles.  All you have to do is cut squares 7/8" larger than your finished size, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner, stack, and sew 1/4" from either side of the line.  When you cut it in half, you'll have two perfect half-square triangles!

My inspiration for this project comes from this quilt.  I loved the purple-brown solid she used and the collection of vibrant blues and turquoise prints.  When I saw it I knew immediately that I had to work with that color palette!  I must admit-- I pretty much copied her quilt but I don't feel terribly bad about it.

This quilt is stuffed with bamboo batting, which is soft and silky and easy to sew.  Of course, bamboo fibers also attach to everything, so this quilt is covered in fuzz.  I didn't have any single pieces large enough for this quilt, so I stitched to large scraps together.  You can't even notice in the quilting!

I quilted this in a grid pattern following the seam lines.  The quilting lines are 1/4" from the vertical and horizontal seams, but there is only one line for each seam.  After I quilted the vertical grid, I started having problems with fabric pushing and puckering, so I decided to stop after one set each of horizontal and vertical lines.

I used a green variegated thread (King Tut #923) on top and a yellow 50 wt thread in the bobbin (Wonderfil KT403).  The top thread looks gorgeous and the bobbin thread blends beautifully with the background.  The only problem is that I can see the knots from the top thread on the back.  Anyone know how to solve this problem?

Fabrics used include a bunch of random prints I found at my LQS, some Alexander Henry, some Kaffe Fassett, and two Lantern Bloom prints (Tile Mosaic in turquoise and citron), as well as a beautiful brown Kona cotton.  The quilt is backed with citron Tile Mosaic from the Lantern Bloom collection and bound with the same Kona brown from the front.

Overall, I'd say it's gorgeous.  It definitely has some flaws-- my quilting hasn't reached the quality level that I desire, but that can only change with practice.  As the ladies at the LQS say, "better finished than perfect."  Except my binding is perfect.  For the record.

Prairie Chic

I've done it.  I've finally finished Alison's bee blocks.  In case you were wondering, her month was May.  I feel awful.

Alison sent us all several prints from Denyse Schmidt's recent fabric line, Hope Valley.

The fabrics themselves are so soft and thick, and they cut like butter!  The request was to make a block made of 36 2" finished patches.  She sent plenty of fabric; I was going to sew three blocks to make up for being late, but I figured I'd better just send back the scraps instead of holding this fabric hostage.

After I finished putting this task off-- you know, for months-- these blocks came together very quickly.  Much more quickly than I originally expected.  Alison asked that we press the seams open; this was the most time consuming part.

My blocks followed two color schemes-- pink and blue, and yellow, green, and blue.  That's how the fabrics grouped themselves in my eyes, and so that's how I sewed them.  It seems that everyone else is pretty much thinking the same way!

I hope Alison likes these blocks; I've made her wait long enough.   At least I got them finished before she had her baby.  If you can grow a baby faster than I can make two quilt blocks... well, that's saying something.

Quilted Hex Needlebook

It seems that everyone has taken The Process Pledge.  This pledge basically states that pledgers will share and discuss their process of creation, rather than just their finished products.

Usually I do talk about my process and share photos of what's in progress.  In some cases, however, I just don't feel like doing all that work to share the process-- I'd rather enjoy it!  Agree or disagree?

I finished my quilted needlebook last night.  I used a few different prints from Jessica Levitt's line Timber.  These calm colors and botanic prints have been calling to me for a while, so I decided to answer.

The patchwork cover is made of 3" paper pieced hexagons.  The book, unfolded, is about 8"x10".  In order to get this size, I needed to piece together 11 hexagons.

I quilted 1/4" inside the edge of each hexagon.  I don't like to stitch over or do heavy backstitching on quilting, so instead I pulled my bobbin thread up to the top at each starting point.  Doing this allowed me to bury the thread tails when finished, creating a nice, clean quilting motif.

After quilting I trimmed the hexagon edges to make an 8"x10" rectangle.  Then, I attached binding as I normally would, making sure to get perfectly mitered corners.  For this size quilt I only needed to cut one binding strip-- how easy!

This needlebook is really just a tiny quilt folded in half, with needles stuck into it.  I chose to make it this way, rather than with pages because of a needlebook that Amy has.  Hers doesn't have pages and I love it, so I chose that form for my needlebook.

Now I've got cute on-the-go storage for my needles!  This project was so quick and easy, I can see myself making several more as gifts or for swaps.  My only regret is that I didn't put a Jennifer Can Quilt tag on it.  Ah, well-- next time!

P.S.  This is what I was using to store my needles before; a scrap of batting with fabric stuck to it.  Sad.

Summertime...

...and the living is easy!  I've already been to the beach!  Now I'm home and there are a million unfinished projects staring me in the face.  Want to see the list?

• Sea Glass Quilt
• baste
• quilt
• bind
• May ISQ bee block
• piece
• mail
• June ISQ bee block
• piece
• mail
• DQS 9 needlebook
• piece
• quilt
• bind

The worst of it is that the bee blocks aren't even that complicated; I've just been putting it off for who knows what reason.  I'm posting this list so that someone can hold me accountable for these items.  Go ahead, hold me accountable!

Humility Blocks

Remember this quilt?  And the messed up blocks?  Well...

Thankfully I noticed this when piecing rows together and was able to fix it, unlike last time.   The quilt top is now pieced and error free!

Joy in the New Year

I finished!  I finished all my goals for the new year!  Only six months late!  I'm so thankful to be done with all these projects-- some of them had been hanging around forever.  Now I've only got one unfinished object, and that's really more of a work in progress.  Yay!

Updated List

• Black Eyed Susan
• finish top
• quilt
• make binding
• bind
• Go Navy T-Shirt Quilt
• make top
• drop off for quilting
• make binding
• bind
• French Braid Quilt
• quilt
• make binding
• bind
• Alexander Henry Cars Quilt
• quilt
• bind
• Ugly Eye Spy Quilt
• quilt
• make binding
• bind
• Brick Road
• bind

Yellow Bricks

I did it!  I finally finished this quilt-- you know, the one that I started January 18, 2009.

As discussed in the previous post, I was big time inspired by The Silly BooDilly to make this quilt.  She made some extremely bold, graphic mini quilts that really grabbed me!

So, I decided to make my own.  All these fabrics are Kaffe Fassett prints (I'm pretty sure).  I used two different prints, in two colorways each.  This mini is quilted in one direction with straight lines about a quarter inch apart.  The thread used is a dark red King Tut variegated thread.

I'm sure you know, this quilt was on my Joyeaux Noel, or Joy in the New Year list.  Like so many of my quilts, this one stalled in the binding attachment stage.  I just didn't want to sew it on!  Once I finally did, it stalled for several months in the hand-finishing stage.

I finished it this weekend while Josh was playing some disc golf in Albemarle County, outside of Charlottesville.  Of course, the picnic area was deserted (save for me) and I kept getting creeped out by random nature noises and the occasional grounds maintenance worker.  At one point I developed a plan about how to use my embroidery scissors as a weapon.  Hilariously enough, Josh suggested the same plan when he came to check on me!

I haven't decided on where or how to hang it.  Framed or not?  In the bathroom, above the bed, or somewhere in the living room?  Suggestions?

Neon Houses

My Modify Tradition Swap quilt is finished and out the door.  I mailed it on Thursday; hopefully it has already arrived (because I'm revealing it right now)!

This quilt measures 13.5"x13.5" and is constructed of four paper-pieced house blocks.  Fabrics used include a selection of batiks and Kona cotton solids.  I machine quilted this quilt in an orange peel (also known as pumpkin seeds) pattern over each block.

After a binding mishap (cutting it too small, attaching it, realizing it was too small, and ripping it off), I hand-finished the binding in one short sitting.  The corners are perfect, if I do say so myself.

To create my label I used the Electric Quilt Co. printable fabric in premium cotton lawn.  I first used a word processor to design my label.  Then, I printed it on printable fabric and cut the label in one long strip.  Finally, I pinned the label into the corner of the quilt and trimmed it down to a proper size.  I attached it when I finished the binding.

Sunday Stack

Half-square triangles-- 108 to be exact.  I love stacking up cut fabrics and seeing the color patterns that emerge.  These look a bit like stained glass, don't you think?

Reasons to EQ - #1

I finished my Modify Tradition swap quilt top!  It's very cute, and I knew right away that it deserved a cute quilting motif.  But what motif?  Diagonal lines didn't seem quite right and neither did stitching in the ditch (Which ditch?  There's a million!).

Luckily I've got Electric Quilt 7.  Did you know that you can print quilting stencils with this program?  It's so easy!  All you have to do is search through the stencils (they're in the blocks library) and add your choice to your project sketchbook.  Then, drop it into the appropriate layer of your quilt.  The program will size the stencil as necessary!

I decided on an orange peel pattern and printed four copies of the stencil.  Just cut them out and use spray adhesive to attach them to the quilt.  Then, stitch along the quilting lines.  Go as fast or as slow as you are comfortable.

Once you've finished quilting, carefully rip off the paper.  Use your fingernail to hold down the stitches and gently rip away the edge of the paper.  If you pull some stitches up, just tug on either side of the stitch and it should go right back.

After you peel all the paper away, you may have some tiny specks caught in the seam.  Use tweezers to pull them out.  Voila, you are done, and you have perfect quilting!

Swap Progress

Something is happening with my Modify Tradition swap quilt.  You know there's a swap going on, right?

I've paper pieced these blocks with templates from EQ7.  I have to say, the program is amazing!  The block I chose (from what seemed like hundreds of blocks) isn't even intended to be paper pieced.  However, the program allows you to print any block in foundation piecing format.  It will even section and number the pieces for you!

My swap partner likes house blocks, and I've always wanted to try them, so I decided to go for it.  I went through several virtual mutations in layout and eventually settled on some kind of combination of all of them.

The blocks are about 6.5" square and I think they are super cute!  I love the fabrics I chose.  Originally I had picked a pink Kona solid, but decided to use a bit of pink dotted batik from my stash instead.  I'm glad I did; these pink houses are adorable.  The background is a natural colored Kona solid, and the roof is also another Kona solid.  I don't really pay attention to the colors; maybe I should get one of those whacked out color cards.  Or just check the bolts when I buy.

Look, Mom!

Today my friend Jenny came over to play.  We stuffed our faces, saw a dead possum, and I taught her how to make a quilt!  Well, sort of.  I taught her how to make a quilt block.  A Sawtooth Star to be exact!

We dug into the old stash (which is really just large pieces of fabric leftover from finished projects, since you guys know I don't stash) and chose some cute fabrics, including some Amy Butler and a nice batik.  I showed Jenny how to use the rotary cutter and grid ruler, and I also taught her about 1/4" seams and pressing seams between steps.

 

The whole thing is only 4.5" square.  What a tiny block for a first-timer!  She did a great job, and I was quite proud of my teaching, too (I should be good at that, though, right?).   Next time I'm going to have to teach her how to do binding.

Here's Jenny and her finished quilt.  Don't you love this picture?  She looks pleased as punch!  Actually, Jenny looks like this pretty much all the time, except when she's really furious.  She's the happiest, smiliest person I know.