Monday, August 29, 2011

UFO # 7 Swirls Finished


     The year long challenge for the Greater Columbia Quilters has been wonderful for me because I am finally getting some of my many UFO’s finished and it feels great.  The quilting is finished and the binding is on my swirls wallhanging.  For the background quilting I used the free-motion Echo Shortcut from Leah Day  (  day-257-echo-shortcut  ) .  I found it very easy and I think it is the perfect design to go with the swirls.  Sorry the black on black stitching does not show up well in the photo. 

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Quilting UFO Swirls

  
      I sandwiched the swirls and started free-motion quilting using a coordinating thread in each area. I am satisfied with most of  the quilting and any wobbles will just have to stay.


     I am still thinking about the filler design to be used on the black. Leah Day has many great free-motion fillers.  If you have not visited her website, you should.  Free-motion quilting project

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Problem with Reds


      Today I had trouble again with reds running after it has been pieced into a quilt project.  I always pre-wash my fabrics before they are used, thinking that will prevent the problems.  I was reminded AGAIN that some reds require more treatment to stop them from running.    In my swirl project from Cara Gulati’s workshop, we used glue sticks and freezer paper as part of the appliqué technique.  After I machine appliquéd the parts together, I had to dampen the fabric to release the freezer paper from the glue.   When I did, spots of red ran.  

 I quickly dissolved about a tablespoon of Oxi Clean in ¼ cup of water, got some Shout Color Catchers and put a little on each area where the red ran.   I think it took out most.  I still have to appliqué the swirls to the background and quilt.  Then I will try to gently wash the whole thing with Color Catchers in the water to make sure the chemicals are out.  Have another suggestion?

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

UFO Work and Charity Sew Day

     Monday afternoon I finally pulled out another UFO to work on.  I had sewn 2 swirls from Cara Gulati's workshop in 2009 and had the freezer paper pattern drawn for the last swirl.  I had to rack my brain and examine the completed part to figure out what I needed to do.  Her technique uses freezer paper, glue stick and machine applique. A light box is also very useful for placement to match up the freezer paper pattern pieces.  Next I need to pick a background fabric and applique the swirls to that.  It feels good to have finished the swirls finally. 

   I also pieced 3 more sets of positive and negative batik blocks.  I think that makes enough for the quilt. 
  This morning was charity sew day for GCQ.  We had a great group and got a lot done.  Several ladies did not stay for lunch but 11 did.  I don't have any photos of the group or work.   When I got home, I pulled out a small church lap quilt top and quilted it.  It went very quickly.


Sunday, August 21, 2011

UNsewing is a Pain

      I was on a roll with step 3 of the mystery or so I thought.  I had stitched and cut apart 150 half-square triangle units (3 ½ pages).

Then I sewed page 4, turned it over and saw the right side of the light fabric.  WRONG!  The right sides should have been together.  I did not want to waste the fabric so I spent some time this afternoon with my seam ripper.   It wasn’t too bad.   Page 4 is NOW together correctly.  I only have 2 more full pages to sew and cut apart.
Break Time !

Friday, August 19, 2011

Part 3 of Day Bee Mystery


       Today I finally worked on part 3 which I have had for 2 months.  We need to make 576 or 300  1 ½” half square triangle units (depending on the finished size we want.  I’m working on the smaller.)  Our leader Lari suggested triangle paper which we purchased from www.quiltime.com.  So far it has been fairly simple to use and the finished half square triangles are accurate.  You lay out the 2 fabrics right sides together, pin the paper on top and stitch on all the lines.  Arrows direct you for a continuous stitching line.  Then cut on all the solid lines, pull off the paper and you have a bunch of half square triangle units. 



     I have pieced together my 12 fan blocks.  

I was going to stop there and just quilt it.  36" by 48" would be a good size for someone.  Then I thought if I added a few borders it could be twin size.  I played with EQ and this is one idea.  
 The fabrics are not correct but I hope you can get the idea.  This example would finish 54 by 78"  It won't get finished until I decide what size I want to make. 

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Fantastic Fans


      After spending the morning on a variety of tasks, I spent the afternoon working on my fantastic fans from Charlotte Angotti’s class yesterday.  I found a darker green to use for the semicircle.   In the beginning I used a different background fabric for every other square.  Then I decided I liked the look of having the diagonal path with the same color background so I adjusted the placement of the squares I had already appliquéd.  I am using a machine blanket stitch.   I find this block design to be very easy.  

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Guild Tuesday


       Today was the monthly meeting for GCQ and our guest was Charlotte Angotti.   http://charlotteangotti.com/ She presented beautiful quilts along with hilarious stories of her experiences.  After lunch, she taught her techniques for making fans.   Here are 2 blocks that I worked on.  I still need to appliqué the fans to the background fabric.   The photo shows 2 that I am considering and a lime green semicircle.  I pulled from my stash but would like the lime to be darker. 
    After guild, I finished piecing the scrappy bargello columns for a charity quilt.  My church quilting group has been asked to make quilts for the new VA hospice area.  With several borders added perhaps this pieced bargello would be a nice center for a hospital bed quilt. 

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Scrappy Bargello and Mug Rug

  An aunt will be celebrating her 94th birthday Monday.  Instead of a regular card I made a mug rug and wrote a note on the back. The angel is fusible applique.

This was sew day for our church quilt group and I worked on a scrappy bargello.  You may remember when I spent days cutting 2 1/2" strips from odd shaped pieces.  Two weeks ago I sewed 2 identical strip sets and today I started cutting and resewing.  The seams of each set are pressed in opposite directions so seams nest and I am not pinning.  This is as far as I got. 



Monday, August 8, 2011

NC Crumb Blocks


    Today I spent most of the day in doctor’s offices – my yearly physical and then with my mom so no sewing got done.  Sunday I finished up a new jumper for my granddaughter who I plan to visit starting Thursday.  Tuesday is Day Bee at my home so since I am hosting I do not expect to get any sewing done.  My only chance this week will be Wednesday which is sew day for my church group.
     Remember the crumb party her guild had last Tuesday.  Some of the ladies enjoyed crumb so much they have planned another crumb party.  My sister put all the first batch of  blocks together with variety of colored sashing.  She sent a photo today.  It is LOVELY even though you can't see the edges in this photo.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Fabulous Use of Crumbs

      Since I arrived home from my NC visit I have not unpacked my sewing/quilting supplies.  I did enjoy working on the crumb blocks with the ladies.  Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild has small quilts hanging this month at the New River State Park educational building.  It is a very nice exhibit if you get to the area. 
 
The guild is planning for their quilt show Sept. 16th – 17th.  Check out the guild website:
 
      This morning while reading some of my favorite blogs, I found some wonderful pages with fabulous photos of scrap quilts.  I LOVE the designs and use of color in Anna Williams quilts.  Check some of them out here :     http://www.straw.com/equilters/annawilliams/index.html 

You also might enjoy seeing this old blog entry of Tonya’s with her crumb blocks framed Anna Williams style.

It motivates me to pull out more of my scraps and start piecing. 
Vicki, if you still don’t want to use your triangle scraps, send them along and I think I can find a use for them.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

NC Crumb Sewing Party

    Today was the Crumb Sewing Party for the NC Ashe Quilters.  We had a great crowd of sewers, fun and food.

The guild had a big tub of scraps and ladies brought more. 

We finished at least 60 -  6 1/2" blocks which will go into a chartiy quilt.  I forgot to take a photo of the logcabin blocks.  Here are star and heart blocks. For me sewing crumb blocks is very freeing.  No worry about points matching.