Thursday, July 31, 2014

Plan for Strings and Scraps

      While I was out of town I enjoyed some leisure time sewing and came home with 36 string blocks that will finish at 6”.   Yesterday I started wondering how to use them.  At first I thought of using them as a quilt border.

Or maybe use them to make larger block units.


     Then I remembered a quilt in Bonnie Hunter’s book String Fling which she named “Wild Child”.   I worked in EQ and now have a plan for my string blocks - not necessarily the border colors. 
 I made 6 more so that I now have 42 which is all the string units I will need for a queen size bed quilt 84 by 96” with simple borders.
I made enough scrappy HSTs to piece one block.  Victoria F. Wolfe calls the block an “Anvil”.
 I will need to make 420 HST units to complete the 42 anvil blocks which will be a good leader/ender project. I'm in no rush to finish but it is great to have a plan for them.  I have plenty of other UFOs I need to work on.

As I trimmed up my string blocks, I put the scraps aside for pet bed stuffing along with scraps of batting.

I have finished one such pet bed.  That is a much better use than throwing them in the trash.




Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Beginning Sewer and String Piecing

      I arrived home to find part of my street being paved 
and my home AC not cooling, but my trip was great.  I enjoyed spending time with my granddaughters and found time to give the older one a couple of sewing lessons. 


First she practiced stitching following a stripe on printed fabric.  Then she made a sundress for a doll.  It required 5 seams.  I ran the foot control most of the time.  She used a pattern to cut out the pieces, marked the armhole, sewed the seams and inserted the ribbon in the neck casing.


    When I had my own time and was not needed to take care of the girls, I enjoyed some string piecing.  The blocks have not been trimmed yet but I made 36 blocks that will finish at 6”.  I have plenty of strings left to make more. 

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Not Much Sewing Going On

       Within the next hour I will be headed to spend some more time with my lovely granddaughters 

 and family so may not post much for the next week.  Not much sewing or quilting has gone on this past week in preparing for my trip.  The made-fabric hexagons are on hold as well as other quilting projects.
 I have decided not to use the 3 part hexagons with the made-fabric hexagons because they took the eye away. I’m not sure what else I will add.
The older granddaughter has requested a sewing lesson so I hope we can find the time and I plan to share photos.    

    Enjoy the last part of your summer and hope you can find some time to sew or quilt!

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Finishing Up Projects

    I put aside the made-fabric project and hexagons to finish up some other projects.  This morning I finished the quilting and binding on a child's comfort quilt for GCQ.  

    I also sandwiched a twin size UFO that was a mystery quilt more than 6 years ago with Devine Quilters. 

 I am practicing a pine cone and pine needle motif that I would like to use if I feel comfortable with the design.  I found them on Lori's blog where she has tutorials.  I don't want them for a holiday theme so I need to adapt them a little.  I still need to figure out how I want to be continuous and move to the next motif.

   I have at least 2 more small projects that might take precedence and get quilted before the pine cones but that will only give me more time to practice. 



Thursday, July 10, 2014

Quilts to Inspire

     So far this has been a busy week.  Tuesday GCQuilters held our general meeting a week earlier than normal schedule to accommodate the church.  As the program six members did demos.  I did a demo for the Maverick Star (aka Wonky Star).


 You can find Bonnie Hunter’s directions with this link.  You can see her latest Maverick Star quilt in her current header.  It is fabulous!
There are several designers with similar stars who call their design Wonky Stars.  You can see one of those designers at her blog- Fresh Lemon Quilts   
    At the general meeting there was some wonderful Show 'N Tell.  
Linda pieced this beauty from 1" finished squares.  She did not sew strip sets.  She said never again but she has a beauty.

Verity finished this UFO from a Georgia Bonesteel workshop years ago.  It was also fabulous!

This is Vicki's class sample for the QSC Fall Retreat.
 You can find out more at the QSC website.
  
    Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild fundraiser quilt for this year is on display and I love it. 

You can find information on how to buy tickets with this link- Ashe Quilters.


Hope these lovely quilts inspire you to get sewing and quilting.

   

Monday, July 7, 2014

More Play with "Made-Fabric" Hexagons


     I have made some progress today on the “made-fabric” hexagon design but I am trying to decide which I like best or whether I need a different plan.
# 1


# 2 


# 3


Want to give me some input?  Leave a comment. 

Homestead Quilt Class

    Saturday was the 4th and final JoAnn Fabrics class for the Homestead quilt.  This is Betty’s quilt top all together. 

Here is her backing.  

I helped her get it sandwiched and we discussed quilting and other finishing techniques before class ended.

Denise has many blocks made and wants to make her quilt much larger so she is continuing to add blocks. 

   Both ladies will have lovely quilts when finished. 

*Update*  Here is my Homestead quilt finished.  I pulled fabric from my stash for my sample quilt.




Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Scrap Play and "Made-Fabric"

      Bonnie Hunter is on Quilt Cam and I am sewing crumbs to create “made-fabric” using Victoria Findlay Wolfe’s technique.   Joan contributed a large piece of made-fabric which has been added to mine. 

I used my new huge hexagon template with 5” finished sides to cute hexagons. 

I will live with this a few days during the 4th holiday while I decide about background. 





I saved the parts that were trimmed away.  I did remove slivers so there won't be so many seams and tiny pieces.  







         I have been busy this week getting my house ready for company.  I did find time to put a simple border on this simple bargello quilt top.  I think it will make a good beginner bargello class for a small quilt that finishes 45 by 60” so it will fit a crib size batting.  


I also finished a comfort quilt top.  The components have been one of my “leader/ender projects.  I tried to use up all the pieces of these fabrics so I added the border of squares.  I still have a few of one fabric but they will go into my box of 3 ½” squares. 


Company (granddaughters and family) will arrive tomorrow so I will not be sewing for a few days.  


I am enjoying watching the baby birds in my airplane plant.  I can see 4 heads.  I am afraid to water the plant so it is suffering.

Hope you enjoy the July 4th holiday.