Friday, November 28, 2014

Playing with Made-Fabric

        While I am trying to decide what type of border to add next to my hexagon quilt,
   I spent time playing with made-fabric for another quilt border. 

Thinking that I wanted to create some free-formed nine patches, first I made-fabric by sewing together neutral strips of various widths.


Then I cut out 10.5” squares and layered them with whole 10.5” squares. Next I sliced twice, shuffled and sewed them back together.


Next I stacked and sliced again. 


Then shuffled and sewed.  I trimmed these to 6.5” squares.

I sewed together pieces that had been trimmed off to create more squares.

Here is the border on the top. 



      The center star was made using a technique called “fast-and-easy made-fabric” from Victoria Findlay Wolfe’s book 15 Minutes of Play: Improvisational Quilts on page 44. 

This top is about 48" by 54" so it is a good size for small lap or baby quilt and not too large for a wall-hanging.  
Hope you find 15 minutes or more to play with fabric. 


Sunday, November 23, 2014

Update on Projects

     As the holiday season begins with Thanksgiving this week and Christmas close behind, I am distracted by events and my work on quilting projects may be more erratic.  I took the time to finish piecing another child’s comfort quilt top.  It used all scraps.  Some irregular, some standard size cuts like 3 ½ squares and 2 ½” strips. I just sewed what I knew would make a 12” finished block.
 I actually have 4 more squares left which will be the start of another top. 


    I also enjoyed some time working on my made-fabric hexagon top. ( Check out the work of Victoria Findlay Wolfe.) I added a breaker border, round of made-fabric flying geese and another breaker border.  I want this quilt to be full or queen size so it needs a couple more rounds.  I am still searching or considering what new technique to try for the next round. 


     Friday after Thanksgiving is the special day if you are looking forward to seeing how Bonnie Hunter’s mystery quilt for this year will start.  I hope to find a few minutes to sew or quilt each day even if I don’t find time to post. 

Enjoy a wonderful day of Thanksgiving!



Wednesday, November 19, 2014

“Pennant Love” Quilt

     Today was very cold so it was the perfect day to stay inside and sew and quilt all day.  I just need to add the binding and my lap size class sample of “Pennant Love” will be complete.

This will be a 4 day class in February for JoAnn Fabrics.  I wanted to quilt with the walking foot since the class is mostly for beginners.   Marking the design for quilting was helpful. It did not take long. 


    I also finished piecing a child’s comfort quilt top. 
A while back Bonnie Hunter was making similar ones on Quilt Cam (July 30,2014) - the link also has  the video.  She called hers “Carolina Chain”.  I pieced light and dark 6” finished blocks using 2 ½” squares and 2 ½ by 4 ½” rectangles.
  I really like the on-point setting and these are great easy blocks for using scraps. I have a collection of pieces cut up into 2 ½” squares and 2 ½ by 4 ½” rectangles so this block was perfect.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Finishing Projects

    This afternoon I added binding to 2 small comfort quilts that I quilted recently.

This one is a cute panel for a child.            
           

I enjoyed practicing some FM feather plumes in the squares.


I also added a simple purple border to the Seminole top that SQG has been working on.  It should be ready to sandwich and quilt.

   Hope you make time to sew!

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Students' Quilting

    The past few days I have been busy teaching and helping others learn to quilt so instead of showing my work, I have some students’ work to show off. 

Martha took my FMQ class and has been practicing a lot on her own.  I believe this Carpenter’s Wheel is her 4th quilt. 


She is practicing FM feathers. 


Peggy took my FMQ class Thursday at Creative Sewing.  After class she went home, continued practicing and sent me this photo.  She will be stitching feathers before long. 


Friday evening in JoAnn Fabrics Quilting 101 class, 2 new quilters made these “Hole in the Barn Door” blocks.  Hopefully they will continue making blocks and soon have enough for a small quilt top. 

                               Cindy


                                 Mara

   I plan to do some of my own today after chores.
Spend a few minutes piecing or quilting!




Tuesday, November 11, 2014

One Big Accomplishment

     I enjoyed several days with family and granddaughters but came home with a mild stomach bug.  I don’t feel 100% yet so I’ve not tackled much.  I did manage to finish the binding on my Celtic Solstice quilt from Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery last fall,

… just in time for her new one to start Friday, Nov. 28th.  I added a row to her small size to make this queen size quilt and made a different border. 

   This Saturday, Nov. 15th from 2 to 3.  I’ll be teaching a JoAnn Fabrics Try Me class on machine applique.  This Christmas stocking is the sample. 

Today I made a quick mug rug sample for a JoAnn Fabrics Try Me class which is offered in January and February.   


     Wednesday is the SQG meeting.  Thursday I will be teaching a Free-Motion Quilting (FMQ) class at Creative Sewing, West Columbia, so most of the week I will be busy.

       Thank You, Veterans !



Monday, November 3, 2014

Update on Projects in Progress

  I thought I would share where the work is on several projects.  I have finished 2 star pads and plan to make more.


You can check out check out this post with more details about where to find the directions.  I did quilt the largest star outline.  

The Seminole top is together and waiting for the next meeting of SQG.

   The Friday after Thanksgiving Bonnie Hunter will post the first step of her new mystery quilt.  I finally got busy quilting my Celtic Solstice quilt from the last mystery.  All except the borders are quilted. 

When I was trying to decide how to quilt it, I looked at some online.  I did not like the look of ones with an overall quilting design so I planned FM point-to-point designs.  I hope you can see a little in the next 2 photos but the thread does not contrast greatly.  



I had a few problems with thick seams so my quilting will not win any awards but I like it better than an overall pattern.