A Lovely Dresden

Dresden plates are a lot of fun and fairly quick, especially if you're only doing one. I've been anxious to cut into my Lovely by Sandy Gervais stash.  So perky!  Maybe I will make four and turn them into a little wall hanging.

A New Pillow

This has been a super fun project for me, and its a good skill booster too.  Using a load of half square triangles (HSTs) I made a modern pillow cover.  It was good practice for the HSTs and I improved my accuracy on quarter inch seams.  

Using advice I read somewhere on the internet, I remembered to press the seams on each strip in the opposite direction so that they fit together more neatly. It has an envelope style closure on the back with the most mod looking of the patterned fabrics.

I quilted it with teal thread that is a little darker than the solid teal and I like how it turned out. I did alot of quilting on the teal target band but less on the remaining solid and patterned bands. Its bound in solid teal and I'm just tickled with it! I might do another in a different colorway and create a tutorial.
Any good ideas for a name for this puppy?  I'm thinking "Off Center" or "Off Kilter" but those are fairly boring.  It will go in my Etsy shop soon.

Linked up with Ruby Jean, Sew Many Ways' Sew Darn Crafty Party, Creation's by Kara's Look What I Made Linky Party, Beyond the Picket Fence's Under $100 Party, Sew Happy Geek's Manic Monday Linky Party and Serenity Now's Weekend Bloggy Reading.  Check out all the awesome projects on the links, and thanks for letting me share, ladies!

Not all Those Who Wander are Lost - Some are Just Learning to Quilt

This is my second attempt at free motion quilting.  The first time I dropped the feed dogs and changed the foot, and it was quite the work of art.  (Insert sarcastic sneer here.)  Kind of looked like a baby using a crayon for the first time.  Scary!  This time, I did nothing different with the machine - I just fed the quilt sandwich under the needle and went to town.

It was easier than I expected, although this is by no means perfect.  Its a wide meandering, so its not technically stippling.  Wiiiiiiiide meandering, dare I say wandering!  My stitches are not even lengths, and some of the curves are a little pointy, but I think its ok for a beginner.   You can see the quilting itself better if you click on the photo to enlarge it.  I still can't manage to achieve the same quality of photos in blogland as I can in the photo editing software. 

You can see the quilting better on the backside of course.  Its a small quilt, about 18 x 25, made with a set of disappearing 9 patch blocks.  I had intended to get more of the fabric & make it larger, but they were out of stock.  Its a cute size that could be used as a doll quilt, or perhaps as a doggie quilt?  There are a couple of places in the house that Katie will go to during thunderstorms, but those spots are just hardwood floor.  I thought maybe having a little rug to lay on would make her more comfortable.  We'll see later this week for sure, because there are storms in the forecast.

The front is fun!  I messed up one of the big 9 patches, but I did not catch my mistake until it was too late, so this is a little scrappier than a thoughtfully planned disappearing nine patch! 

Any advice for a beginner?

The Ten Minute Block Lap Quilt

Have you seen the 10-Minute Block?  There is a wonderful video by Suzanne McNeill of Design Originals on YouTube with a quick run through of the basic technique, and she also has 2 books with great ideas.  I know this has been around for a little while, but I just discovered it and boy, is it fun!  Three quick seams and you've created an almost 20 inch block!

I used a Park Avenue layer cake and once I got the hang of how to fiddle with the fabric before sewing that third seam it took less than 10 minutes per block.  When you first start out, the pinning is what consumes the bulk of your time but as you get better it will go more quickly.  (I've done all of 6 blocks and I feel like I'm an expert!)  There are different ways of dealing with the center diamond, and I chose to stitch down both sides of the curved seam, reminiscent of Cathedral Windows.  I just love how this turned out kinda scrappy but also cohesive with the rich red centers.  It was a fun way of putting together a roughly 40 x 60 lap quilt in no time flat.

She's all basted and ready to be quilted, but I can't decide what to do.  I think I might draw a continuous leaf pattern and try to do that.  I could echo quilt the red curved center sections but then what else?  And I thought choosing fabric combinations was hard!  I've stalled out at the quilting phase of this project.

I have yardage in one of the blues, but I've decided it should be bound in red so I've ordered more.  So much for my fabric diet!  I never would have chosen the cocoa or chocolate colors to go with the pale blue, ivory and red but I really love this collection!  I'm considering doing another in just the reds, ivorys & blues from Park Avenue.

Love In a Mist Sample

A little late for the Fourth of July, but here's my sample block for the HGTV discussion board swap.  The block is called Love in a Mist, which is a free block from the awesome site Quilters Cache.  (It also happens to be a lovely flower in the buttercup family, properly called Nigella damascena.  Its a gorgeous star blossom.)

Isn't she pretty?  The Swap Hostess had asked for star and star-like blocks and I thought this would be a fun one for me to try.  The final blocks will be only in red & white of course, but I thought my sample needn't be restricted.  One of the swap participants said she was doing sample blocks in a particular theme, and I thought that was a great idea.  I had originally thought to do my sample in 30's fabrics, but since I wanted to get started this past weekend the red, white & blue seemed appropriate.

I'm making progress getting my points tidier, but I still seem to foul up the seams.  Must drive slower over all those speedbumps!  What a messy back.

Small projects with quick finishes

Small projects are a great way to keep your crafty interest going and to feel a sense of accomplishment in the midst of several larger projects.  My WIPs at the moment are all fairly sizeable, and some are ongoing like the Birdie BOM and the Kaleidoscope QAL, so having smaller items to finish is keeping things interesting for me.  (How's that for a mouthful of crafty acronyms!)  I have a couple of recently finished small projects to share though.

This cute little drawstring bag was made from an unidentified fat quarter and with no pattern.  I took some notes along the way, and I think I may write up a little tutorial for it, but I need more 'in progress' pictures to really do it justice.  It's a great size for many things like knitting projects, a lingerie bag for travel etc. but its current job is to hold plastic bags at the shop.  I love the green swirls on this fabric.  It makes me think of Ireland, especially the circles at Newgrange.

A mug rug is on my list of things to do, but I wasn't feeling too creative when I realized that I need some kind of coaster for my sewing table.  I made a simple 9 patch using pieces from my favorite Mezzanine line by Patty Young / Michael Miller.  I've been snatching up bits of the line at some great prices, and I'm going to be terribly sad when its all gone and I've used my stash of it.  Its just so fun and perky.   The quilting is just a somple crosshatch through the squares.  Here's the front and the back, with a beginner binding job.  I really need to work on my binding, and small projects like this coaster are a good way to keep improving skills.

I'm also kind of excited that I just learned how to combine photos in PhotoScape.  Now if I can just take better photographs to start with, I'll really be on a roll!  The lack of natural light inside my house is never so obvious as when I want to take a picture.

Any small projects in the works at your place?

Some Lessons Learned

Now that I've finished my first quilt project, I am obsessed with quilting and I can't get enough.  The next project I wanted to work on is a quilt to cover the backseat of the car, to protect the upholstery from doggie detritis.  I usually use a fleece blanket or a quilt I got at Marshalls, but I really want to make something new and fresh for Katie.  I had two panels of Lakehouse Fun Flowers and I thought they'd make a fun, quick quilt.

Isn't that pretty?  I took this photo before I was finished with the flimsy, so you'll see 8 blossoms in the final.  The green sashing and the backing are part of Mezzanine by Patty Young from Michael Miller.  I love the pink and green, since its so cheerful & springy.

I'm rather far along in the process of quilt number two now, and I thought I'd share a few lessons I've learned in just two quilts worth of work.

Spray baste is your friend.  I had such a hard time with the Daisy Chain quilt in the pin basting process - I just couldn't get everything straight and even and where I wanted it to go.  This time I used spray baste before pinning and it makes things so very much easier.  With the spray, it seemed easier to smooth out the fabric and batting, and then pinning was a breeze.  I used my dining room table and foolishly sprayed without covering the table, so now I have spots where lint is collecting.  Note to self:  be sure to throw an old sheet over the basting surface.  It creates a somewhat stiff sandwich, but I'm finding it easier to quilt.

Go slow and do your best.  My mom used to tell me that all the time, and I can hear her voice telling me the same thing as I quilt.  It is a challenge to shove the sandwich past the needle perfectly, but practice does make better.  One of these days it'll get closer to perfect.

Go ahead and wad it up.  It'll be okay.  It's much easier to smush the sandwich through the neck of my standard sewing machine if its rolled up.  The quilt bounces back quite nicely.  I'm not quite sure why I thought I needed to be all prim and proper with it and keep it flat, but no longer. 

You need a large clear surface.  This should probably come first.  My sewing set-up is a little odd, and I hate putting things away.  This is a bad combination for sewing anything over a 12 inch block.  As the flimsy got bigger, and then once I began quilting, the sandwich started knocking things off my tables and driving me insane.  Taking 10 minutes to put things away and clear the space was hugely valuable.  I will try harder to keep things tidy to keep from going batty.

Nike was right.  Just do it.  Prior to the Daisy Chain, I'd done alot of household sewing projects, small applique, and cut fabrics for about four different projects, but I hadn't been able to bring myself to start putting a quilt together.  I'm not quite sure what my hang up was, but now that I've gotten to work and finished one quilt in its entirety, I'm thinking there is nothing I can't do!

Isn't it fun to learn along the way?  What have you discovered lately?

Pinwheels Easy as Pie!

Did someone say pie?  Sorry - I distracted myself there for a moment.

Have you seen this tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Company on an easy way to make HST's and then pinwheels?  (Be sure to check out her ironing board cover - I love that fabric!)

Super easy!  Look what I did this morning ...

Love it!  I used two 5 inch squares and ended up with a block that is about 5.75 inches large.  I had a few minutes before work so I only finished one.  I can't wait to get home and get back to it!

It was a dark and stormy night....

I couldn't play in the garden yesterday because we had such terrible thunderstorms all day, so I hit the sewing machine instead.  I made great progress on my Daisy Chain quilt.  I added the aqua border (even though I wanted to start quilting it right away) and I'm really glad I did. I think it adds a cheerful touch.

This is my first quilting project where I've actually gotten far enough along to quilt.  I have lots of WIP's, but no finished objects.  Its a lap quilt, so I cleared off the dining room table to baste the sandwich.  It's so challenging!  Now I understand why this is almost everyone's least favorite part.  Most experts recommend cutting the batting larger than the top because of how things move when you quilt, but then how can you be sure your top is perfectly matched to the backing?  Oh the headache that ensued!  I even left the backing a little larger than it needed to be, but no matter how I wigged things around and pinned and re-pinned, I still ended up with an uneven sandwich.  For my first try, its not too bad, but its no where near professional looking.

Here we are, pinned and ready to be quilted!

 After dinner I headed to the machine to quilt.  It was definitely an experience!  I did simple straight line quilting, with the normal foot and white thread.  Diagonal lines across the charm squares in only one direction.  I considered using a colored thread to quilt, but I went with white and I'm happy with the outcome.  It was manageable in my little Singer - I just rolled up the right side of the sandwich to keep control as I stitched.  You can really tell as you stitch across the seams - the machine sounded different.  I had to rip one line because I ran out of bobbin thread but other than that (and some crooked sewing) it was kind of fun!  Stressful but fun.  I didn't mark the top at all, just eyeballed it (hence the crooked sewing!) which added to my anxiety.  I could almost hear my mom saying "just take your time and do your best!"

I created a panel of the large scale print with white sashing for the backing.  All that's left is the binding which will be a navy print from the line.  I'm so excited, and so proud of myself for getting this far.  I can't wait to snuggle up with the finished product!

I caught the bug!

The hexie bug that is!  Have you seen all the gorgeous hexagon creations out there on the internet lately?  I've seen some lovely antique quilts in Grandmothers Flower Garden and some hip new creations too - pillows and table runners and all kinds of cute home decor in modern, fresh fabrics.  Its amazing how changing the fabric can change a pattern. 

I found some hexagons to print & cut for the paper piecing part, and sat down last night with a selection of Erin McMorris' Wildwood fabrics.  Pinks and greens and yellows seemed like just the thing.  Three hours and several dvr'd episodes of TopChef later, I had a stack of flowers-to-be!

I can see how these can become addicting.  You just finger press and baste, and finger press and baste, and time passes very quickly!  I'm not sure what these will become, but I'm loving the hexie bug!