Scrap Management

     When I am at my home away from home in between painting, spending time with granddaughters or free time, I like to work on scrap management. One type is sewing crumbs together into “made fabric”. I am working on rainbow pieces for a future quilt.  Here is some purple “made fabric”. 

Second type of scrap management is cutting down fabric pieces less than a fat quarter.  I cut strips to 6 ½”, 4 ½”, 3 ½” and 2 ½”.  Strips less than 2 ½” become strings.  Too short to be a string pieces are grouped as crumbs.

I also finished a couple of painting projects during this visit. The bathroom cabinets have a new coat of paint.  Here is a photo of work in progress   

 

 and after.

Enjoy some time sewing and quilting!

Saturday Morning Finish

   I just finished machine sewing the binding on my “Star Gazing” quilt. You can find the free pattern for the lap size quilt on Craftsy. On this post I wrote some about it.

I enjoyed this pattern to learn a new technique for sewing multiple HSTs and stitching on some new free-motion quilting motifs.  I used repetitive lines in half the light diamonds and echoing spirals in the other.  I stitched an S-curve feather in the darker diamonds and meandering on the print because I did not think the design would show up well.

    Now I can work on finishing another project. 

Enjoy some time sewing and quilting!

Piecing and Quilting

      I am frequently inspired by what Wanda is working on that she shares on her blog http://Exuberantcolor.blogspot.com   In 2014 she shared a photo of a lovely scrappy quilt that inspired me.  I decided to make some blocks and cut sets to use for leader/ender work.  Then I could not wait and began sewing on some. Here are 22 sets sewn.  I don't know what Wanda calls them. I'll call them "Rails". 

 When I am ready to put them in the quilt, I plan to mix them all up and not place pairs together.  You can check out Wanda’s here and her description. 

Below is one set of blocks.  For a set of 2 blocks use 2 contrasting WOF 2 ½” strips cut into 4 – 8” sections of each.  Take one of each and cut them lengthwise in half into 2 pieces 1 ¼” by 8”.  The 2 narrow strips are pieced between the 3 wider strips of the opposite fabric to form a block. 

     I recently spent a day quilting on the "Star Gazing" quilt which is now half complete.  I decided to try out a couple of different motifs for texture.  I used a pattern of lines in half and swirls in the other half of the light areas.  

They make fairly dense quilting so the quilting on the dark areas will need to match in density. 

Enjoy some time sewing and quilting!

Mug Rugs

    I wanted a quick gift so pulled fall strips and pieced the mug rug background.  Then I used fusible applique for a couple of leaves and acorns.  It is quilted, bound and ready to give.

 I also paper pieced these mug rug tops using an Eileen Sullivan pattern.  The bottom leafy print will be backing.

    Two large quilts are sandwiched and ready to quilt; however, my machines have had issues so they have had to wait. I prefer to use my Bernina 185 and the super quilter’s table it sits in but it needed service. It got a good cleaning and service Wednesday and is ready to get back to work on projects.  I hope to start some quilting on one of the big projects today.  I also spent a few hours cutting leader/ender kits of  Bonnie's "Carolina Chain" blocks and a couple other scrappy blocks. 

               

     For the past year I have not had as much quilting to post on this blog.   For the future I hope to spend more time with granddaughters.  The oldest is learning to sew and she is working on piecing quilt blocks but that still means I spend less time sewing and quilting.  I am considering whether to keep up the blog or use other avenues to share what I’m making. I’ll let you know what I decide.

Enjoy some time sewing and quilting.   

Weekend Activities

   

Happy Labor Day!

    I hope you are enjoying some relaxation whether that is not doing anything or doing something that you enjoy such as sewing.

    Saturday I added 3 double sided fabric leaves to my coiled fabric bowl.  I think they improve it.

 

 I also sandwiched 2 quilts (the blue “Star Gazing” and the yellow, blue and green Sampler UFO) and have them ready to start quilting; however, I am having machine problems.  I normally use my Bernina to stitch-in-the-ditch to stabilize before I do free-motion quilting.  I cannot use my Bernina right now and have an appointment for service Wednesday. The last time I used my sit down long arm machine I had tension problems.  I oiled and cleaned some, put in a new needle and tried it out.  I am hoping the problem is solved. 

    

    Sunday afternoon I tried out some FM motifs trying to decide how I want to quilt the blue “Star Gazing”. I have quilted this type of feather before and may use it in the central light diamond areas.  I was not ready to start quilting so I did some planning and cutting for a sampler class I am offering at church.

update * I am trying to decide which thread to use for the quilting and whether I want the quilting to show up on the light or dark areas.

Enjoy your day and may all your Labor be enjoyable.