Bowl Heat Protectors or Pot Holders

      In the past couple of months I have seen several microwave potholders made by friends.  I decided that I wanted to make a few and did a search on YouTube.  I found a great video lesson from fashiontopping.  Of the 3 sizes shown, I made 2 of the 10" smaller size offered.

 

I found them easy to make and plan to make more.  I have already given one away. 

I started with 2 - 10" squares of fabric and  2 - 10" squares of  100% cotton batting. 

Layer a piece of fabric with each piece of batting and do simple quilting to hold the layers together.

Sew the darts for the size chosen. 

15 " x 15 " size bowl holders: I used 1 " across and 3 " down for the darts
12 " x 12 " size bowl holders: I used 1 " across and 2 1/2 " down for the darts
10 " x 10 " size bowl holders: I used 1 " across and 2 " down for the darts.

Place right sides together and sew around, leaving an opening to turn inside out. 

After topstitching around the edge, it is finished. 

Star Hot Pad and More

     I  luckily happened upon YouTube video directions by Crouton Crafts for this star hot pad.

I used a muslin base 8 ½” sq. fabric and marked the lines that he folds.  Then I marked the guide lines which from the center measure 1 ½”, ¾”, ¾”, and ¾” in each of the 8 directions.

A fat quarter of each fabric is plenty.   For the center fabric cut 5 squares 3”.  Next are 8 squares 3 ½”, 8 squares 4”, and 8 squares 4 ½”. 

They are folded into Prairie Points with the folds meeting in the center.  

Instead of sewing the prairie points down, I used water soluble glue stick then sewed the last round.

Next you quilt in the ditch (between the folds) from one edge all the way across the middle to the other edge so it only takes 4 quilting lines.

Front

 

Back stitching

I need to add backing and binding.  Not sure it needs batting.  I might quilt the backing to batting before adding.  Thinking this print will look good on the back. I promise to share a photo when it is finished.

These are so easy and beautiful, I plan to make more for gifts. 

You can find almost anything on the internet and I also found directions for a larger star pad.  I have not tried it yet.

Jacquelynne is offering a free BOM.  Info for the first block came out today.  It looks like fun.   It is not too late to sign up.  You can check it out here - http://jacquelynnesteves.com/sew-sweet-simplicity-free-block-of-the-month/

Sandwiched CelticSolstice

      Today I finally pulled out my Celtic Solstice top from last year’s Bonnie Hunter Mystery.   I sandwiched in sections on my craft table.  That is easier than crawling on the floor.  I pieced mine Queen size and changed the border.

Next step is planning the quilting.  Instead of using an overall FMQ motif, I would like to have a special motif to fit the design.  However, the design is so busy, an overall motif may be best.  I have not found what I want to do yet. 

I also am thinking about thread color for the quilting.  My choice will depend on the quilting.

     Bonnie has posted the fabric colors and yardage for this year’s mystery quilt.  The first clue will be posted the Friday after Thanksgiving.  Want to join in?  You can find out more here.

Seminole Quilt Progress

     Wednesday several members of our SQG worked on the Seminole blocks.  This has been a joint effort.  A couple of ladies took home the last of the applique blocks to finish stitching. I brought home all the other blocks and today sewed together as much as I could.  I'm loving it!

The applique blocks were a UFO and this was a fun way to incorporate them.

In the afternoon I finished quilting a small quilt that someone else started.

A Little Progress on a UFO

      Since my last post, I have taught a beginning quilting class at Creative Sewing (no photos) and finished a cute little bat for Halloween. 

Instead of sewing or quilting, most of my time has been spent on errands or with family and company.

     Today I finally pulled out the giant made-fabric hexagon UFO  

and sewed 30 flying geese from made-fabric base units.  These are planned for a border.

   Not sure about the corners.

  I need 64 geese units.  The pieces are ready to be sewn. 

I am marking the diagonal line on the back of the squares and an offset diagonal line which creates 128 bonus HSTs.  No idea yet on how I want to use the bonus HSTs but I'm sure I will.

    Tuesday morning is GCQ guild meeting and Wednesday SQG meets so my home projects will wait for afternoons or Thursday. 

Hope you enjoy a few minutes sewing or quilting daily !

          Elizabeth

Playing with a Variety of Blocks

     Several members of SQG have been working on Seminole strips at our bimonthly meetings.  Here is a sample layout with some Indian applique blocks. 

Beverley has made 6 more and I have made 2 more

 so at our next meeting we will be ready to work on the applique blocks, cut setting triangles and start sewing the top together. 

A few days ago I pulled orange scraps that already had fusible web on them and created 2 jack-o-lanterns.  Today I quilted them for Halloween mugrugs. 

About a week ago Bonnie Hunter shared a link for a free paper-pieced jack-o-lantern.  I pieced one and added a border.  Today I quilted it for a Halloween flag (small wall-hanging). 

Missouri Star Quilts has shared a video online for making a “Disappearing Pinwheel Block”.  I bought 2 orphan pinwheel blocks in the boutique at the ACPQG show so I could play.  Here are the blocks before. 

You cut the block into 9 equal sections. 

Then rotate most of the pieces and you can make option 1 

. . . Or option 2 

. . . Or option 3. 

These are my 2 blocks now.

Happy Quilting!

Beginner Quilting Class

     This afternoon I taught Quilting 101 at Jo-Ann Fabrics for a couple of great students.
Barbara has pieced quilts before but especially wanted to learn to make HST (half-square triangles).  Here are her block units on the design wall.

Here is her finished block.

Here are Christine's block units.

Here is her finished block.

I look forward to seeing more blocks made by these ladies and enough for a quilt top. They did a terrific job and their blocks look super.

Halloween Decorations

    I have spent the past several days making Halloween boots to decorate chair legs.  They are for family.  The pattern is McCalls M6623 which shows a chair with a different boot on each leg of the chair. 

  I have made 4 different pairs thinking they can put 2 on each of 4 chairs or mix them and put 4 on 2 chairs.

 

Sewing the fun fur was a MESS. 

Because these are only for decoration, I ignored some best sewing practices to make cutting easier.  I paid attention to grain but not nap.  I don’t think anyone will care except that I know.

When I give these, I will try to get a photo of them on some chairs. 

I enjoyed making the Halloween costumes for my granddaughters and the decorations, but now I am ready to get back to quilting.

Machine Embroidery and Costume

     It has been almost a week since my last post.  I have been busy but not ready to post about what I was working on.

     While I had the embroidery module out, I decided to do more.   I don't do enough to be a pro.  I embroidered 6 towels that will be gifts.  Two of the designs are machine cross-stitch.  They each have about 20 thread color changes so count the time for stitching and changing thread, a towel took at least 1 hour.  The end product looks good so I guess it was worth the time. 

 The others are regular machine embroidery but also had many thread color changes.

    Today I have been working on the second granddaughter's Halloween costume.  She wants to be a mermaid.  I used a McCalls pattern and I had to make a major adjustment for the skirt length so she won't be walking on it.  All that is left to do is sew in the zipper.

It also has a cute crown. I found some sew-on jewels at JoAnn Fabrics.  They are great accents.