Preparing for Appliqué Border

     This morning I am preparing the last components for the appliqué border to be added to my Day Bee mystery quilt.  My favorite method uses freezer paper templates and liquid starch.  I iron at least 2 layers of freezer paper together and cut out the templates, which are then ironed to the wrong side of the fabric.  About ¼” is allowed for turning the fabric under and the pieces are cut out.  Then I use a q-tip to apply liquid starch to the edge.  While it is still damp, I turn the edge over the template and iron it dry.   The template can then be removed and the piece ironed flat.  Since I need 24 of the same leaf, I could have cut a template from no-melt Mylar, but then I could have only worked on one leaf at a time.

 

For circles I ran a long running stitch around the edge with a single thread – similar to making a yo-yo.  I starched the edge and pulled the thread to create a smooth circle.  I ironed it dry, removed the thread and template, and ironed it flat again.

I like the look of neat turned edges much better than fusible raw edge appliqué.  To attach the pieces I use a narrow blanket stitch with matching or blending thread color. 

Journal Covers for Back to School

      If you know a young person starting back to school, you may be interested in making some special journal covers.  They are so cute I want one for myself.   

Jennifer Paganelli’s design at All People Quilt  . . .

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/projects-ideas/bags-pillows/covered-journals_1.html

. . . inspired Stitched in Color’s scrap pieced journal covers.

http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2012/08/tutorial-journal-covers.html

When I saw them on her blog, I decided to make one.  The cover is made so that it can be removed and washed.  Instead of just piecing the top, I quilted 2 layers together to hide all the raw edges and seams.  I did not add batting because I did not want it too thick. 

Lap Trip Around World Finished

     I sewed the binding on this afternoon to finish the lap size Trip Around the World quilt for my church group.   All the top fabric was donated except the gold.  I was able to use fabric from my stash for the backing.

For the center panel I used a walking foot to quilt a diagonal grid.  For the border I practiced a free-motion oak style leaf.

I am happy to have this one finished but I still have too many UFOs.  I hope to finish several more before I start on a new project. 

Border Ideas

     I worked a little in EQ to try out appliquéd border ideas to add on the Day Bee mystery quilt.

I first tried a curved vine. 
 My sister suggested a straight stem and flowers.   Here are a couple of variations I've created.
All 4 corners is probably too much,

but I think 2 corners is not enough.

I’m still looking for an idea I love.

Mystery Top Together

   Wow!  For a long time I have wanted a blue and white quilt so now I almost do.  I feel great having sewn the last strip of HSTs together and the whole Day Bee mystery top together.   Some how I miscounted and had to sew about a dozen more HSTs today to have enough to finish the border.  I knew from the beginning that the design had a lot of pieces.  I’m glad I challenged myself and tackled this project, but I am also very glad the top is complete.  I do like the rectangular shape better than the original square.  It currently measures 48 by 70”. 

 The outer HST border needs a stabling strip before quilting so I may add a light and then dark plain border.  All the piecing should be the star and not the quilting so the quilting design should be simple.  I will have to give that more thought.   I’m just glad the top is done.

Mystery Quilt Reshaping

     On this quiet Sunday afternoon I’m sewing and making progress on the Day Bee mystery quilt.   Since I decided to make it a rectangle instead of a square, I have made 2 more large squares. 

To have enough strips for all the sashing, I needed to sew another strip set.  When you sew 18 -1 ½” strips together in a strip set, you can understand that it is IMPORTANT to sew accurate ¼” seams. I managed well enough.

Now I’m working on the extra 64 – 1½” HSTs that are needed for the outer framing.  I am especially thankful for the HST paper that Lari suggested.  We ordered it through her from www.quiltime.com .  It is accurate and easy to tear off. 

Back to Work on Mystery

     After Tuesday Day Bee meeting I was motivated to get back to work on the mystery quilt project.   Jean showed her lovely top.

When we started, our leader gave us the directions for a 3 by 3 layout or 2 by 2.  Some time ago I had 4 large blocks pieced for the 2 by 2 layout but have decided to make my quilt 2 by 3 so I needed 2 more.  I have made good progress. As you can see in the photo, the top 2 are the new additions.

I have the strip sections pieced.  They just aren't added. 
It is interesting how different Jean's and mine look. The directions gave us the option of using a pieced unit in the center of the stars which I have done.

       Since it is nearing football season, I decided my granddaughters needed team outfits.  I hope they will fit. 

 I found free directions for the 3 tiered dress at http://scatteredthoughtsofasahm.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-sew-tiered-pillowcase-style.html

The free diaper cover pattern and directions are at http://www.babyvilleboutique.com/home .

Crumbs and Free-Motion Quilting

     I arrived home today from a short visit in the mountains with my sister and her husband.  I enjoyed visiting her guild again.  Months back I led a crumb piecing party for the guild and I got to see a couple of crumb quilts that have been made since.  Many ladies donated blocks they made at the crumb party and Irene put them together.  Another member added the border and a member quilted it.  They plan to have it for sale at their fall quilt show.  I love how Irene used scrappy sashing to join the crumb blocks.  

     My sister was also finishing the free-motion quilting on a large quilt for her guild show.  She usually does not quilt large quilts.  She has done a great job on this one.  I love all the variety in the quilting.  I hope you can see some of the different motifs. 

 

Her guild is Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild.  Check out what will be going on at their show.  You can still enter a quilt.    http://www.ashequilters.org/2012-quilt-fair-information.html 

It should be a pretty time of year to visit the mountains and take in the quilt show. 
Friday, September 14th: 10 AM to 6 PM  Saturday, September 15th:  10 AM to 4 PM
Location: Jefferson Station,  20 East Ashe Street,  West Jefferson, NC

Trip Around the World

       Yesterday after church I decided to sew some on another comfort / charity quilt top that I started about a month ago.  I’m using 3 ½” strips of 8 fabrics to make a simple “Trip Around the World” quilt.  All except the gold were donated fabrics.  I sewed 4 strip sets and pieced 4 sections Bargello style then filled in with the joining strips.  I did add an extra strip across the top and bottom to make it more rectangular.  Without a border it will finish at 45” by 57”. 

Finished Comfort Quilt

    I am working on quilting and finishing my stack of comfort / charity quilts before I work on a project of my own.  Today I finished adding the binding on a manly one for my church group.  I used the walking foot to do some straight line quilting and then decided to add some free-motion wavy lines in between and in the middle of the bars. I like the combination. I did not take a close up photo of the quilting.

    Now is also the time to register quilts and other craft entries for the state fair and that got done.  I don’t have several to enter like I have had some years.  I also took time to get a couple of quilts ready to enter into my sister’s guild (Ashe County Piecemakers)  http://www.ashequilters.org/  show in September.  I still need to sew a label and hanging sleeve on one.

Comfort Quilt Quilting

I have at least 4 comfort / charity tops waiting to be quilted.  The past couple of days I quilted a child's comfort quilt for my guild.

 It started as a cheater panel.  I cut out the blocks, added sashing and cornerstones and a border.  I used a walking foot to stitch-in-the-ditch for the sashing and around the border.  I did free-motion quilting in the blocks thinking about the picture in each block.  For the center block which is crazy pieced I did a heart and echoed it several times. .