Monday Meanderings 3 - 14 - 2016

I was very successful with my goal list last week but I really don't have a lot to show for it.  What I did work on outside the goal list (I forgot to list it!) was some sample Disappearing 4 patch blocks.  At guild on Saturday we had lessons in 4 patch.  Dorothy showed us how to make multiple 4 patches with Fons and Porter called Easy Peasy 4 Patches.  At the end of the directions is a link to get a PDF with the same instructions.

I showed how to make 2 at a time 4 patches. I haven't been able to find written or video instructions on the web for this method. This link shows how to make multiple different 4 patches.  (Hum, sounds weird.  How about different fabric ...?) I learned the 2 at a time 4 patch from a Billie Lauder book if I remember correctly.  Here's a video that Billie made to share making multiple 4 patches.  Someday I'll write up a tutorial for the 2 at a time 4 patches.  Sorry, it's not going to be today.  Check out her Magic 9 Patch instructions too. Missouri Star also has a video on making multiple 9 patches but done same as the first link in this paragraph. 

The next part of the presentation was what do you can do with all these cool 4 patches.  So, I searched the web and found 2 different types of disappearing 4 patch designs.  The one on the left is the basic disappearing 4 patch. Directions are at Material Girl Quilts. I love the clean, crisp look of this design.  

The block on the right is an alternate method for a different disappearing 4 patch. It was called Disappearing 4 Patch with a Twist.  You need to be very careful on your measuring and cutting.  If not, you're points won't meet perfectly.  

One block I didn't show was the 4 Patch Slice.  I thought it was pretty cool too.  I have no idea what I'll do with all of these blocks -- I had to have several in-progress steps for all the blocks I showed. Time will tell, or I have a new UFO! 

Yea! Very successful goal completion last week! 

March 7, 2016

Quilt 2 charity quilts√

Finish the 5 strip pieces for Slide Show√ close

Continue to work on “boy” challenge quilt√

Continue to work on OMG quilt√

Prep backing for antique quilt√

Quilt Antique quilt √ started

And hopefully this week will be just as successful. The highlight of the week is the third annual In Home Retreat.  Sharon, MaryBeth and Nancy are coming down to sew like fiends.  They learned last year it made a lot of sense to drive down Wednesday after work because then we had 3 1/2 days of quilting.  I'll be getting the space cleared up and ready this week along with all my other goals. 

March 14, 2016

Sew OMG quilt to top stage

Finish quilting antique quilt

Enjoy at home retreat

Keep working on the Slide Show quilt

Keep working on the “boy” challenge quilt

Prep two more quilts for FCQ show

That's it for me today.  I must get started on the putting things away and also get back to quilting the antique quilt. I'm linking up with my two favorite Monday Linky Parties: Monday Makings and Main Crush Monday. 

Happy Quilting All! 

Check Off Another Item on the List

Back to Ruthie... I spent part of today quilting with Ruthie. I made little melon shapes around the 4 patches of the purple quilt . The beginning was pretty sketchy... how do people get those nice smooth circles? The cirlce shown was done close to the end... and it looks fairly decent. You can see the wobbles in the dark purple. I used a varigated purple thread from Robison-Anton for top and bottom thread. No tension issues at all! YEAH. This was a 100% cotton. And, I'm fairly pleased with the results considering I haven't used Ruthie for at least a week. I used up a piece of batting I had hanging around -- it was a puffy polyester batt. Not my favorite but it was the right size for this one.

Here is the center of the quilt. I'd just decided it was time for lunch and snapped a picture before I left.

And on the right -- the quilt draped over Ruthie. (I love it when I see photos like this on other blogs. Unfortunate

ly, my room is red which really changes the quilt colors and it doesn't have much room to get a long picture!) You can't see the machine in this photo... it was at the other end of the rails!

The 4 pantos I bought arrived today. Hum, I wonder if I can get another quilt on the frame tomorrow?

This is called Popcorn and is designed by Willow Leaf Studio, Jodi Beamish. This is a Canadian company so I was happy I could buy it through Kings Men Quilting Supply. I could have bought way more than 4 pantos but there is a limit to how much I can spend at a time. You can get thread there too. I'll share the other pantos in a later post.

It's time to figure out dinner because the casserole I thought was in the freezer -- wasn't. Hum, perhaps it is time for pizza again.

Happy Quilting All!

A Few Pictures of Quilting Stuff

I promised pictures of the other two bags Jenny made when she made mine.  Here are Emily and Becca showing off their new purses.   And here's a salute to the Cricket Buddies.  What is a Cricket Buddy, you might ask?  A person who became a great friend over a high school biology assignment. I think it is tres cool that they still get together when they can, especially since they live from Boston to DC on the eastern seaboard. 

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So how cool is this!?  Have you ever played with webdings?  I have in other programs but not in Blogger.  What do I find but the subject of my next picture!

  

Four Patches!  Here is the sample four patch I showed at guild Monday night to get people interested in the lowly four patch.  I don't really think it is lowly, but it certainly is easy!  

I was trying to create a dark diagonal line with both the smaller and larger four patches.  I think the smaller four patches succeeded but the larger ones weren't as successful. 

I have another purple piece with four patches and half square triangles but couldn't find it when I tried Monday afternoon.  Note to self: think about organizing all finished quilts somewhere.  This hunt, throw, lift, hurl system just doesn't cut it.

Upcoming on Institches with Bonnie:

Spring! wall hanging is cut out.  On to sewing today. Hopefully today I'll get at least half of the Spring piece done.  Photos of a four patch posie top that is being donated to Fido for Freedom auction.    

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie