Design Wall Monday 7-1-13 and Stashbusting

Finished this charity baby quilt.  I was given a stack of 6.5" flannel squares two months ago at guild.  I found some peach and green hand dyed flannel I had done many years ago and thought, why not?  I had to piece the back but used white flannel for the binding.  Is it the most beautiful quilt I ever made?  Not to me.  But I know it will be a wonderful snuggly quilt for some child.  I used a multistitch zigzag to quilt it on the diagonal lines. I'm happy I could get this completely finished even with Ruthie in pieces in the other room. 

Next up is the current brown bag at Country Piecemakers.  Darlene gave us the Lazy Angle ruler to work with.  After I cut the my first effort incorrectly I tried again. Mine is the green boat at the bottom.  There wasn't enough backing fabric so I didn't make the star but I did cut the pieces from the green and blue polka dots so she could make one if she wanted to.  I liked the block so well that I cut pieces to make 7 more blocks so that I could also use them with some pinwheel blocks I have.  I see another baby quilt in my life at some point.

Here it is July 1st so it's also time for my stashbusting report.  Or, as is the case this month, stash building report!  

2013	Fabric In Month	Fabric In Year	Fabric Out Month	Fabric Out Year	Total In or Out Year
June	11.75	52.66	7.44	43.515	9.145 yd

And, now goals.  Not bad this week. 

Week of June 24, 2013

Finish flannel charity quilt√

Make brown bag block√

Begin working on a quilt from the 1800’s blocks√

Pack up a box from the shelves that will be moved first. √ well a bit has been moved/packed

Keep working on the orange peel blocks Never touched them! 

Week of July 1, 2013

Put 1800 blocks together into top

Paint ceiling in studio

Paint closet in studio

Pack up first 3 bookshelves in preperation to move

Work on Orange Peels

Try to do a little on a Tisket a Tasket

It doesn't look like I'll be getting all that much done in the way of sewing for the next few months.  But I will really love the end results!  Look at yesterday's blog to see how the attic is being transformed into a beautiful studio! 

I'm linking up with Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.  You can visit lots of different design wall from there. 

Happy Quiting All! 

Studio Update

The attic refinish into a studio is about to move into phase two.  Pat with a little help from me will be doing the finishing.  Here's the story so far in pictures. 

Before the refinish but with all the stuff moved out for the most part.

Scaffolding and the ramp -- main way in and out of the attic so we didn't have workers tromping through the house. 

Breaking through the roof to add the windows.

YIKES!

Windows are in! 

Insulation going in.

Wallboards are here and ready to be installed. 

Flooring -- Pat's installing it. 

Bamboo free floating flooring is going in eventually.

The room to the left.  Can you see my Bernina and Featherweight set up under those windows? The long wall to the right of the windows is going to be a gigantic design wall!  My cutting table will be to the left of the windows 

Ruthie the long arm will be set up on this side. To the right will be a sitting area with a couch, table and reading light. The air controlled closet is behind where the couch will be. 

Here's my current dilemma: 

These bookcases are being moved into the new space... but where do I put the "stuff" until that is done?  My sewing time may be coming to an end for awhile cause I won't be able to find anything soon. 

Triangle Thursday #19

June 26, 2013

Bow Tie Quilt

This design is number 3608 in Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns. It was published by Aunt Martha publishing, probably in the 30s.  At the end of the directions I’ll show some other ways to arrange the blocks. Click here for a printer ready version.

Cutting directions are for 6”

Fabric	Number to cut	6”
Background Squares	8	Cut 2” squares
Bumble Bee Frabic	8	Cut 2” squares
Bumble Bee Triangles	8	Use 1” template

We will be constructing this block by making each of the 3 ½ (unfinished) blocks that makes up this setting.

Here’s what the pieces look like, well, 3 sets of the pieces!  I had already made one when I remembered to take the picture.  

Lay the triangle on one of the background blocks making sure the cut off edges are even with the square’s sides.  Sew ¼” away from the long side of the triangle edge.  (This is like sewing a square on the diagonal but you’ve already removed the part that you cut off!) I cut the yellow off after I ironed the triangle over.  I also recut to 2” if needed.

Next up, lay out one of the blocks to look like this.

Sew the squares into rows.  And then sew the rows together.  When ironing, I decided to “twirl” the center seam in hopes of being able to nest the seams in the block.  Hum, didn’t work out quite like that.  And, honestly, I don’t have the patience to figure it out.

Here are a few ways you can lay this block out. 

With additional blocks this one will end up making

the open circles shown at the beginning.

This is how I laid out my block to sew. 

I’ve made bow tie blocks off and on for years.  Often I use left over fabrics to make a 6” finished block.  Here’s the measurements: 3 ½” colored fab and background fabric. 2” squares for the bowties.  Ok, you can also use the 2” template to create the block with leftovers.  Four will make a 12” finished block. 

Here’s a baby quilt I made several years ago using this pattern and 6" bow tie blocks as compared to the 3" individual bow ties we made in this pattern. 

Happy Quilting All!  

 

Design Wall Monday 6-24-13

It's been a while since I finished this little beauty but it had to wing its way to England before I could show you.  I'm a member of Kathy Tracy's Small Quilt Talk yahoo group and this small quilt was made for a swap.

I was very happy with the quilting in the border.  It's evenly spaced, I mean nearly perfect.  (Yes, I am bragging just a bit. But I am really thrilled how well it turned out!) Here's what I did to achieve that. 

I carefully measured the sides of the quilt and then cut tracing paper to fit.  Then I quartered the paper and folded it.  At each fold I center one of the "Xs" so that they were in the correct position.  Then I drew in the remaining straight lines.  I basically did the same for the corners although I didn't draw a full X. Then using Bubbles, the domestic sewing machine, I quilted right through the paper on the lines.  Voila!  Instant, (well, not quite that instant!) perfectly spaced quilting.  

When we send these little packages we try to add some other goodies.  Here's what I added.  I made up a little kitty cat mug rug because my partner, Val, likes cats.  I think I should have used a bit heavier embroidery thread for the nose and eyes.  With the spotted fabric you can't really see the face.  

Here's a shot of all the little goodies I sent. The right side purse is a snap purse.  Left side shows a couple of pieces of fabric -- one reproduction the other has the feel of reproduction -- wait, I think it is the other way around! 

Here's the little quilt Val sent back to me.  I haven't quite figured out why I like this one so much but I do.  I love the border fabric.  I like the color combination -- a red, white and blue that doesn't scream patriotic red, white and blue.  Slightly country but it doesn't scream country.  Just a perfect little quilt from my point of view.  Thanks Val. 

I got several wonderful little gifties back.  Val really was thinking about the fact this little quilt and goodies were going across the pond.  She sent me a piece of fabric that was commemorating William and Kate's wedding.  And, I'm sure the ribbon with the heart is also from that time.  I'm sure there aren't all that many American's with this fabric!  

She also enclosed postcards and that cute little note book.  Wonderful swap.  And, I have to say Val really spoiled me.  Thanks bunches! 

Here's last week's goals.  Not bad but I wasn't as focused as I should have been! I'm not putting a lot on this week's goals as I hope to focus on these few things and get them done! We'll see. 

Week of June 17, 2013

Finish one or two little flag quilts√ tops done

Make 2 more heart blocks√

Finish flannel charity quilt

Make brown bag block

Begin working on a quilt from the 1800’s blocks

Pack up a box of books√

Applique more orange peels√ 

Week of June 24, 2013

Finish flannel charity quilt

Make brown bag block

Begin working on a quilt from the 1800’s blocks

Pack up a box from the shelves that will be moved first.

Keep working on the orange peel blocks

I'll be linking up with Patchwork Times this morning.  Go over and look at what folks have on their design walls. 

Happy Quilting All! 

Stash Enhancement

Lookie, Lookie!  I've been adding to my stash.  Well, with the help of my kids that is! Here's what I've been getting.

I'm thinking of making a paper pieced fancy star wall hanging with these. Yummy batiks. These were purchased with a gift certificate from Jenny.  Thanks bunches, Jen and Brian. Woops, I also bought a yard or so of red fabric as I seem to go through it fast! Some how it didn't get in the picture.

No clue about these. The top is a pale lavender batik and may end up with the ones above.  Maybe a charity quilt at some point. 

Kevin signed me up for a monthly fabric delivery.  Yummy greys came.   I'm not sure when these will be used but it is great to have them to choose from.  Thanks Kevin and Aimee. Jenny gave Aimee the same gift for her birthday, I think.  So Aimee was all for sending me this too.  

As you might guess my fabric usage is going to be nil this month.  Well, I'll make a little dent in the amount brought in but not all that much.  But, how can I complain when I love all the fabs I got!  And, I am finishing small things and if I'm lucky I'll have one charity quilt done before the end of the month. 

Pat and I tried to make pizza on the grill this week.  Hum, we need to refine the whole plan starting from the crust up.  We chose a veggie pizza without red sauce.   First you grill the pizza dough on one side. (After you figure out how to get it to the grill without falling apart -- key is parchment paper. )

 You make sure your toppings are close by.  Ooops.  I didn't have enough olive oil so had to go back for more.

 Here's the final product.  The bottom was cooked too much. (Remember going back for the olive oil?)  It was a good first try but it needs a lot of refinement.  We'll see if we want to try again or just do pizza in the oven! 

Happy Quilting All!  It's time for me to hit the studio and finish that charity quilt.