Time for Some Quilting and Teaching New Quilters

      My day started with some free-motion quilting on a comfort quilt for GCQ.  I am using the quilt to try out new free-motion designs and practice.  The quilt top is made up of  multiples of 4 different pieced blocks so I quilted different designs for each.  I did a loopy border for a couple.  I found it difficult to keep them about the same length and thickness. 

I did a feather ring in a couple.

For this block I tried some half feathers and stitched-in-the-ditch free-motion.

On the border I quilted S curves. 

I think they look good without all being exactly the same.

The easiest and not-new design was leaves.

    This evening I taught Quilting 101 at JoAnn Fabrics to 3 new quilters.  Here are their first blocks and hopefully more will follow. 

                             Susan

                               Sara

                            Betty

Great job, ladies !

Cardinal UFO

      About 4 years ago I took a thread painting workshop from Jody Raines.  I thread painted a cardinal and wanted to use it in a wall-hanging. (The cardinal has been my only independent thread painted object.)  I finally decided I wanted to use the cardinal in something smaller and made a mug rug size ( 6” by 9” ) quilt. 

I am satisfied that I finally used my thread painted product and no longer have that UFO sitting around.

    I am planning to visit granddaughters this weekend and like to make things for them.  I found directions for using t-shirts or single knit fabric to make a child’s tiered skirt. You can find a tutorial here. If Mattie enjoys this one, I could easily make more. 

Crossroads Top

     Recently my leader / ender project was analogous Crossroads blocks.  After I had finished piecing 12 – 12” finish blocks, I laid them out and decided they needed something else – maybe a large appliquéd flower. 

I was looking through a stack of quilt magazines I plan to share and found a lovely day lily pattern in the Oct./Nov. 2007 issue #82 of Quilt by Janet Rice-Bredin.  I am sorry she no longer seems to keep up her blog or website. 

I enlarged the day lily and raw edge machine appliquéd one flower.  I used hand embroidery for the stamen.  

I also added a simple border and the small top will wait in line ready to be quilted. 

It is a lovely springlike day here.  I'm ready.  Enjoy!