QUILTING PROGRESS

My Jewel Box Stars quilt is quilted, all but the final border!  I have been working on it for a couple of hours everyday since Christmas.
I am using Superior Thread for my quilting, with Bottom Line in the bobbin, and 2 colours of Twist in the needle.  I am planning on using a variegated thread on the plain yellow border.

 I work each day until my arms are tired, from moving this large quilt through my machine.

I machine quilt, using my Bernina B710.  It has a larger throat space, and wonderful tension for stitching free motion!

Now I have to look through some pictures of quilting to find an idea for the quilting on the final border.  I am determined to finish this quilt before 2020 arrive!

CHECKERBOARD RAILS - ANOTHER FINISH

Checkerboard Rails was a "leader and ender" challenge from Bonnie Hunter in 2017.  I had it on my to-do list, and finally began sewing blocks over the past year.  I had lots of 1 1/2 inch leftover strips, so I would cut a stack to use, as I was working on other projects.  I picked up white and black fabric for the checkerboard parts, and cut some strips - which were also sewn leader and ender style.

I decided to do an "on point" setting, so made a plan for a single bed size quilt, using Electric Quilt. Since most of the quilt was made with scrap strips, the software helped me to find out how much fabric I used, as well as helping to plan the borders, and determine the size strips and triangles that were needed.
 It was surprising when I counted my completed blocks that I had enough, and decided to finish the quilt.  I used a dark gray fabric for setting triangles, then used a varied of gray fabric for borders, along with one of leftover coloured strips.

DH helped my choose the binding colour of  solid black from several different choices.

  I stitched a fairly open design to quilt the blocks, and then had fun with the setting triangles and borders, stitching a different design in each.  I used some variegated thread when stitching the borders, and it shows up as tiny pops of colour when the light hits the thread, as well as creating great definition.
 

This quilt is going to be set aside for my grandson - he is only 4, and still enjoys his special quilts with his favourite characters, and other child-like designs.  I know he will grow out of them and then this will be ready when he wants a more grown-up quilt!

Thanks Bonnie for another fun design!

A TINY SCRAP FINISH

During the winter, a former member of my southern quilting group called to ask if I would like some of her quilting scraps.  She and her husband were selling their home, and returning north permanently.  Of course, I said yes!

She loved making flannel quilts, so there were lots of various size strips and pieces in lots of different colours and prints.  There were also some cotton scraps.  I found some odd shaped triangles in gold and burgundy, along with some dark print pieces.   I decided the largest cut I could make from all the pieces, and ended up with some flying geese, squares and half square triangle pieces.  After a little playing with various arrangements, I was able to piece a small table runner.

I pieced the dark print triangles and stitched them together to make bias binding.  Amazingly, I had exactly 2 inches of binding left over after joining the ends.  I machine quilted the gold parts with gold cotton thread, and then used a variegated thread to stitch tiny flowers in all the burgundy pieces.

The shiny polyester thread makes a simple project sparkle!
I'll have to send a picture of the finished project to thank her for the gift!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  13.25 yards

Fabric used year to date  13.25 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date 12 yards

Net used 2017  1.25  yards 

I'm in the black this week, but I just squeeked in!  Since I hadn't done any machine quilting for a while, DH and I pin-basted a baby quilt panel when we were pinning the other 2 quilts.  I use it to "warm up" my quilting muscles, including my brain......

I outlined many of the elements in this cute panel, then stitched loops and swirls in the pink gingham-look border.  The quilt has pink gingham-look flannel on the back to make it cozy for a new baby.  It will be donated to my guild for the Hugs program at our local hospital.

 For the pinwheel quilt, I stitched double circles looping back and forth in each block.  I used a neutral thread in the light blocks and a variegated thread in the dark blocks.

The plain border was stitched with simple leaves, forming a zig-zag pattern, and then large swirls in each of the outer border blocks.

 I finally have my first two finished for 2017.  The top and binding of this quilt was made entirely from my stash of pre-cut charm squares (5 "), while the border and binding was made from leftover backing fabric from a previous quilt.  The backing fabric was part of the order that arrived last week.

Check out all the progress shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

QUILTING AND BINDING COMPLETE

I completed the quilting on Tuesday, and hand stitched the binding down that evening.  I used monofilament (invisible) thread to outline all the cute blocks, then completed the quilting using Superior's King Tut thread in colour 937, called Tiny Tuts.  It is variegated in pink, blue, yellow and green - I use it often on baby quilts.  I stitched leaves in all the sashings, back and forth wiggle lines in all the yellow triangles, and gentle curves in the gray-green triangles. 

It is a shame that so many people think that monofilament thread is bad.  I've never had a problem with it, even in quilts that have been washed and dried regularly.  I love using it to give dimension to areas without adding another design detail.
 
I still have 9 more identical blocks for another project, but I think I'll work on it when I return north - I have more stash there, and can make a totally different quilt.  I'll have to think about this for a while.

Wednesday is my quilting group, and we are on week 5 of an 8 week mystery quilt.  I love seeing the pattern emerge with all the different choices of fabric.  I pin-basted another quilt panel, but DH and I are going out for the day - we need some US time!

FINISHED QUILT!

That's the good news.  The bad news is that it doesn't count toward my stash usage, as it is my sister-in-law's project.

I was given some quilting templates a year or so ago, so I decided to use them on this disappearing 9 patch quilt top.  The first one is a feathered star with a cross-hatched centre.  There were so many fabrics in this scrappy quilt that it was difficult to choose a thread that would show.

The second stencil was a feathered wreath with a cross hatched centre.  I chose a bright yellow King Tut thread from Superior for the quilting.

 
I used a variegated green thread to stitched undulating feathered hooks around the final border.  This is my "go to" pattern for borders......

The quilting shows up well on the plain backing fabric.

We are heading north to Coe Hill on Thursday to deliver the quilt, and have a visit over lunch.  The quilt will be given as a wedding gift on Saturday!

Tonight I'm attending my quilt guild's executive meeting.  I have volunteered to take charge of our guild's website for the next while.  It is something I can do whether I'm home, or down south. 

 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  7.75 yards

Fabric used year to date  90.75 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  35.5 yards

Net used 2013  55.25 yards

I finished the quilting on my guild's BOM quilt project version 1 this week!!!  The projects are due at our next meeting on 5 June, and I've heard that there will be prizes!!

Of course, I used my favourite hooked feathers for the large final border.  The stitching was done with a Sulky cotton variegated thread called Pansy, with pinks, yellows, greens and light purple - soft colours that suited the quilt.

  Fortunately for me, DH has long arms and was able to hold this quilt by himself.  The light was coming in the patio door, but it does highlight the quilting!

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see how everyone's stash usage fared this week.

FINALLY.....A FINISH!

I put the final quilting stitches in one of the quilts that travelled north, pin-basted.

The pattern was from a Quiltmaker magazine at least 2 or 3 years old.  Two years ago, I made a kit from my stash but ran out of time to make it.  It finally arrived at the finished mark this winter. 

I found the technique for some of the units to be easy, but very wasteful, so if I made this pattern again, I'd find alternate methods.

I inherited some stencils a couple of years ago.  This one was too large for the block, but I just omitted the last feather on four of the swirl arms, and it fit just fine.  I stitched it in a variegated rose thread on the yellow blocks, and a variegated gold thread on the dark green ones.

 The border quilting is difficult to see, but there is a rose in each corner, and zig-zag leaves in the centre of each long border.

I made a pieced back for this quilt, using leftover fabrics, and managed to add 14.75 yards of fabric to my "used from stash" report for next Sunday! 
 

ANOTHER PROJECT FROM THE STASH!

I am always on the lookout for interesting border prints.  They make great final borders when you can find the right fabric to make the centre.
Another piece that was languishing in my stash travelled south this fall - it was a pretty border print with bluebirds and roses.  Unfortunately, I had only picked up 1 yard, so it had limited uses.

Since I wanted a "no brainer" project while I'm fighting my cold, I cut the strips apart, lengthwise.  This fabric had fairly narrow designs, so there were 6 complete strips across the width of the fabric.

I used my ruler to cut two of the strips into a 60 degree table runner, cutting two 60 degree triangles from each end of the two strips.  Then with some careful pinning, the runner was made!

Since I still had four strips left, I was able to make a set of 4 placemats from the leftover strips.

I pulled out my new bag of Thermore batting - my favourite for place mats and runners, found a part bolt of tan muslin, and a few pins later I was quilting!  I stitched in the ditch on both sides of all the darker blue lines, then added the binding.  The tan swirl fabric was leftover from a previous project, and once again I used almost all of it!
I hand stitched the bindings in place while watching TV in the evening, and while getting caught up on Downton Abbey this afternoon.
I used a blue variegated thread to outline each of the bluebirds, and then outlined the flowers and leaves on each side of the floral wreath with monofilament thread. 
   

VINTAGE PANELS

When can you call fabric "vintage"?  Before heading south, I dug into the depths of my stash, and found some panels that I know that I bought almost 20 years ago.  I decided that it was finally time for a couple of these to become a quilt.

This is the first one to be completed, and the largest in the group.  All I had to do was trim it, give it a good press, using a bit  of spray starch, then find a backing and batting.  I had brought some Christmas fabrics to use up, so one piece was used for the backing, and in my scrap batting, I found a piece that was the perfect size!

( Some say I'm too organized, but after pulling out many pieces of batting to find something to use, I took the time, with DH's help, to roughly measure each piece before storing it in a bag.  Each bag has a list of all the different sizes that are available, so I can see, at a glance, if I have a piece that will do, or two pieces that can be joined to use!)
 
I had fun quilting, first with some "smoke monofilament" thread, doing some stitch in the ditch, then I pulled out my thread boxes and played with various colours to highlight the nose, flowers, eggs in the nest, and mittens.  I used an irridescent mylar thread to outline the snowflakes and quilt the snow, then a light blue variegated thread to quilt the swirls in the blue sky.  I still have to quilt the final blue border, but decided to sew the binding on so I'd have some hand sewing to do while watching TV last night.

Off to my quilting group.......  

OCTOBER QUILTATHON DAY 3

Thanks to Judy for sponsoring this quiltathon - check out all the participants here.

I managed to finish the baby quilt, including the binding by lunch today.  I also found some embellishments for my Christmas Wish project!

Sorry for the washed out picture, but the sun was coming in the patio door while it was taken.

Here is a close-up of the quilting.  I used a variegated thread from Superior King Tut line called Baby Tut.  This is a better shot of the colours in this quilt.  The blocks were donated by my guild members, almost 1500 in bright colours to be made into more quilts!

I'm spending the rest of the day planning projects to take south for the winter.  I also have some new fabric to launder.  Speaking of laundry,  I have almost 3 weeks worth on the go - since I only do laundry on the weekend because of high electricity costs, and since we have had company or been away for the past two weekends - I have huge loads of washing and drying to deal with.  Today is just clothing, and tomorrow I'll catch up with the sheets and towels.  

Ontario has "time of use" billing, with 3 different prices for different hours of the day.  Green is the lowest cost, and all weekends and holidays are green, as well as evenings and overnight.  Since I have no where to set up a clothes line outside, and our basement of our small townhouse is finished (mostly my sewing room), there is no where to hang clothing to dry, so I am forced to use the dryer - a big electricity user!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

 These are the easy place mats that my quilt group was making last winter.  They are  made with four fat quarters and 5/8 yard of fabric for the backing.  These are made using the "quick turn" method - no binding.  They are quick to complete when you need a gift in a hurry!

I used some built-in specialty stitches on my Pfaff for the quilting.  I stitched using Superior King Tut thread in a variegated pastel colour #937.

I've also been working on my redwork quilt.  I decided to take the easy road and make pieced sashing with nine-patch cornerstones.  I'll get back at it soon.

My BFF is on vacation this week, so we are heading across the border to visit Watertown NY for some shopping and a nice lunch out.  We're bringing both DHs along too!

I'll be adding some recipes that have been requested, later this week.
See what creativity is happening at Judy's blog!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  6 yards

Used year to date  131.875 yards

Added this week  0 yards

Added year to date  108.875 yards

Net used 2012  23 yards

I finished my Southwest Tree of Life quilt!  I managed to find the 1/16" cord for the mini piping between the final border and the binding.  My only difficulty with this project was running out of the variegated thread that I was using to quilt the final border!  It was an older thread that had been in my collection for quite some time, and I've never seen it since buying it!  Fortunately I found another thread that worked - just a slightly different collection of colours.  I had to hunt for the 8 inch section where I used it, so  I think it works just fine.

 I had fun quilting the black areas with a greeny black thread.  I enjoy free-motion quilting so much that it always surprises me when I hear how many people are afraid to try.....

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  12.875 yards

Used year to date  125.875 yards

Added this week  0 yards

Added year to date  108.875 yards

Net Used 2012  17 yards

I finished the quilting on my quilt called "Half Log Blues"  yesterday afternoon.  Now if I could only enlist a second tall guy to hold my last 3 large finished projects so they could have their picture taken!

 After my thread/needle/presser foot/tension difficulties, I chose a shiny trilobal polyester thread that is actually varigated light purples and greens, as the best to show up on the blue sections of the quilt top.  From a distance, the cone of thread looks like silvery grey - not my first choice, but my best choice!

Haven't seen Judy's stash report yet, but I'm posting mine!

ANOTHER SMALL FINISH

I've been concentrating on some small projects for the boutique at my guild's quilt show in the spring.  They seem to take longer than large quilts!  Lots of small, fussy cutting, no assembly line piecing, trying to use lots of fabrics - all time consuming.

 I managed to get the quilting  and binding finished on the pastel table topper.  These colours are outside my comfort zone!  I used gold variegated thread to stitch the small motifs in the flower squares and also to stitch the free-form feathers in the gold border.  Green variegated thread for the swirls in the teal/green border, and white to stitch leaves and curliques in the background areas.  The rest was done with "invisible" thread, stitching in the ditch.  
One thing about making small projects - they are great places to try out new designs in quilting and practice - no sore shoulders from manipulating a large quilt through a small machine!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

No fabric added this week, and the smallest of three quilts finished!

Used this week  6.5 yds
Used year to date  72.675 yds
Added this week   0 yds
Added year to date  28.375 yds
Net Used 2011  44.3 yds

Light Block completed

Light Detail

Dark Block Completed

Dark Detail

Border Detail

Fruit Squares

 I had fun quilting the fruit designs in each block.  I used a variegated Rainbow thread from Superior Threads, in an orange/rose colour.  Then I stitched the light squares with a darker green/blue variegated thread, and the dark squares and border with a light green variegated thread.   Lots of fun.  I machine quilt with my machine remaining stationary (not on a frame).  
Now on to the next quilt in line - Raggedy and Friends.

Check out everyone else's progress at Judy's blog.

Design Wall Monday

 I finished machine quilting "Fruit Salad" over the past two days.  I  outlined all the light triangles and the purple border, using monofilament thread.
Since I like the blocks to be the "stars" of the quilt, I did a small amount of quilting in the centre of each one, using a variegated polyester thread.

I stitched oval leaf shapes along the seams in the background green print, then stippled around the fruit in the final border.

Please check out what others are doing at Judy's blog.

Shades of Blue Pt 3

More alternate blocks, machine quilted with blue variegated thread.  All these are designs that are found here.
These were machine quilted with my Juki, hand guided without using a frame.