Panic Quilt Day 2

I just wanted to share my progress this first true day of attempting to make a wedding anniversary quilt in less than two weeks...more like 10 days!

Yesterday was the "pull fabric and design the quilt" day.  Today was dedicated to cutting it out.

The quilt will consist of one block only.

Since the  center squares are the signature blocks from the wedding, and I plan to use the rest off the 4 1/2" squares that were cut but not written on by the guests for the four corner squares, the only cutting needing done today was the quarter square triangles.  My quilt design calls for 30 total 12 1/2" unfinished blocks...5 across and 6 down.  To be honest, I may decide to make it square and use  25 blocks....5 across and 5 down.  Since I'm not totally 100% sure what I will decide later, I'm going to cut out enough for 30 blocks and decide later how many I truly need 30 or 25 blocks.

The EQ7 software calculated that I needed 7/8 " off each of the four fabrics used to construct the 120 QST units (if making the 30 blocks), or 100 QST units (if making  25 blocks).

To use the Accuquilt Die, I cut a total of 8 strips from each of the four fabrics needed measuring 3 1/2" x WOF.  I was able to get 120 QST's from each fabric with very few extras.  As you can see by the photo, the stack of sliver string scraps isn't very large.  I had very little waste by using the die.

Time to start piecing.  First I sewed 120 Brown QST's to 120 Cranberry QST's.....

Then 120 green QST's to 120 cream QST's.....nice tall stacks....

Time to press all of them....

Pretty, pretty....now to sew the two sets together to form a square...

All pieced and pressed....

The picture below just shows how many extra pieces I had after making the needed 120 units....not many extras at all...

All of this took some time and energy, now I'm tired.  Tomorrow I hope to start piecing the entire blocks together.

Goodnight.....Tomorrow is a brand new day to keep sewing.

Praise Then Panic

I titled this post "Praise Then Panic".  Let me explain the praise part first since it will only take a second to do so.  As I was scrolling through my Facebook page, looking at pictures more than reading, I spotted a quilt that looked like mine. :) :)  Lo and behold, it WAS mine!  Accuquilt had spotlighted my Scrappy Trips quilt on their FB page.  They provided a link for anyone interested in getting further information about the quilt.  To see my quilt on Accuquilt, click HERE.

The photo below is just a screenshot of what I saw on my own FB page. 

I must admit, it made my day to receive this praise and recognition from the Accuquilt company for my Scrappy Trips quilt.

Now for the PANIC part of this post.  I've just been puttering along, happy and content to work on projects feeling no rush or push to finish by a certain deadline.  I have one Halloween quilt top complete and was getting ready to cut pieces for the second one.  I've also been able to work on other little odd projects in between and having fun!

Then PANIC hit BIG TIME!!!  I'm not sure what even made me think of it (although I'm very glad I did)!  I attended a wedding almost one year ago.  I provided a stack of 4 1/2" squares of fabric at a reception table for those attending to write their best wishes, or words of wisdom on, intending to put them together in a quilt for the couple afterwards.

I remember coming home after the wedding, putting the fabric squares away....and then completely forgetting about them....UNTIL THIS WEEK!    On September 19th, the couple will celebrate their 1st Anniversary and I need to get something made by then if at all possible!!!!!!

There has been so much remodeling, sewing room upheaval, etc., I was afraid I wouldn't find anything especially since my fabric stash and everything else is currently scattered between 3 different rooms in my house!!!! After about an hour of searching I found the box with the 4 1/2" squares.  I'm thinking that I cut approximately 150 to take to the wedding but there were only 23 or 24 squares actually written on by guests.

I also have more yardage that the squares were cut from, just in case it's needed......

I continued digging through my fabrics and brought out these pieces....batiks...in cranberry, beige, green and brown.

I realize that most normal quilters probably design their next project, or buy a pattern and then purchase the correct amounts of fabric needed or pull from their stash.

I've never been normal!  I tend to measure my fabric to determine how much I have, THEN I design a quilt around what's on hand. The cranberry piece was the smallest at 7/8 of a yard.  The other pieces were not much bigger.

Next comes playing around using my EQ7 design software.  I quickly chose a simple block that has a 4 1/2" center square (perfect for the signatures squares).  Then started playing with color placement that would work with the amounts of fabric I had pulled.  This is what I came up with....

Because I'm in a hurry, I also made sure to choose a block design that could be cut out with dies that I own. 

This particular design only requires a 4 1/2" unfinished square die...Accuquilt Die #55060
And a quarter square 4" finished triangle ...Accuquilt Die #55316

I've never used the quarter square triangle die so when I opened it to take a look, it was clear that my die is an older version.  The newer ones use different colors of foam so you can clearly see the blades and where to lay your fabric when preparing to cut.

That problem can be fixed quickly, simply by using a white or silver marker and outlining the blade shapes.  Now I'll know that as long as this white outline is covered by my fabric, my cuts will be accurate and I won't have any oops, or partially cutout shapes.

Just getting to this point has taken the bulk of my day, so I'll start the actually cutting after a good nights rest.  Check back with me to follow my progress.  Can I do it?  Only time will tell.  The upside of this is an unplanned, newly designed lap quilt that I'll be able to share.

Am I the only one that get's myself into these jams????

Until next time!  Keep sewing!

Happy Gift Recipients

IT IS FINISHED!  Not only finished, but gifted to my daughter Amanda (on right in the photo below).....

I know I'm repeating myself here but I'm totally in love with this scrappy binding. After folding the quilt I couldn't resist a photo highlighting it!!!!

The backing.  Turquoise is one of her favorite decorating colors so choosing the backing was not a difficult decision.  I'm just happy that this piece was in my stash. I'm TRULY trying not to spend money on anything except necessary and special items.

A more close-up view......

On her full size bed.  She specifically requested a quilt that would hang long over the sides.  At 96" x 96" I dare say this fits the bill.

A different angle........

The free pattern for the above quilt designed by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.com can be found HERE.

Amanda is not the only one happy with a quilt I made.  You may recall several months ago I shared these two baby quilts designed and made by me. They were made for a set of twin girls special to my heart.

I was thrilled to receive these photos from their mom.....

Charley.....

And sister Finley.....

Nothing makes my heart smile more than to see photos like these. To see my pattern for the one with lime green border, click HERE.

I still need to share the pattern of the one with turquoise border. Hopefully I can get on that soon.

Hope you are having a wonderful, creative and productive day!

Until next time!

College Days and Quilt Project Updates

Quilting was put on hold last week as I was knee deep in preparing to take our youngest child, our baby girl to college 11 hours away from home.  Not only are we officially empty nesters now but I am now retired from 20 years of being a homeschool mom! It feels really strange to NOT order curriculum or complete required legal papers to homeschool in this state.  After 20 years I am excited to end this career but I'm not so excited to have an empty house!  Oh well, I AM excited to watch my daughter spread her wings and fly.

Packing up.....what to take?

Believe it or not, she did not want me to make her a college quilt!  Oh my heart!! Instead she wanted to take her Bat man comforter that has been on her bed a couple of years.  She did take a lap quilt that I made for her about 6 years ago.  She loves her familiar and well loved possessions more than new things.

The only item she wanted me to make was a set of microwaveable  potholders using superhero fabric.

Here is my tutorial for making these: http://quiltandsewforever.blogspot.com/2014/08/microwave-bowl-holder-tutorial.html

Once I gave her the set, she then sweetly asked if she could also take two of our red soup bowls with her to college.  Of course she can!!!!!!!

Not only will my home be minus any children now but I no longer have a vehicle of my own.  We gave my Ford Escape to Kirsten to take to college.  So now I'm stuck in this empty house all day.  We almost forgot to put her new parking sticker on the back before heading off on that very long road trip.

This was taken the morning she left....arms loaded with last minute items.

I rode with Kirsten to keep her company and let dear hubby drive by himself in the Jeep.

Ready to say goodbye.  I had strict orders from Kirsten that I was not allowed to cry in front of her.  I held it together.

Watching her walk back to her dorm, alone, in the rain......

During our trip we were able to visit and spend an evening with our grandchildren before moving Kirsten into her dorm.

We drove back home on Saturday.  Since then I've been cleaning and sewing a little. Got the last strip pieced to the top of the 42 Halloween quilt top.

Since we are in the middle of home updates and remodeling, my design wall can not be reached at the moment so back to using the floor to lay out all the blocks.

A few adjustments and now we have this.....

That's my progress update this far.  Tomorrow I hope to start putting the top together....after a little more cleaning.

Hope you have a wonderful and productive day!

Until next time!

Steady Progress on Intersection T Block

As always, I'm working on two projects at once.  The main project is the first of three (I hope),  Halloween themed quilts. In my last post the pieces were all cut from the layer cake (10" squares) and the solid color jelly roll (2 1/2" WOF strips) to start the Intersection T Quilt design by Missouri Star Quilt Company.

To begin I  sewed 42 strips of solid to 42 larger rectangle cuts from the layer cake collection.  Gotta love chain piecing.

All 42 sewn sections pooled together on the floor.....

Press the seams towards the solid strip......

Next, sew these 42 sections to a smaller sized rectangle from the layer cake collection.

Another pool from chain piecing has formed on the floor....

Once again, press seam toward the solid strip......

At this point my hips were telling me I had sewed long enough for the day.  Time to stand up and do something else.

Remember the Scrappy Trips quilt that was finished with the long arm quilting part?

All trimmed, squared, and draped over the long arm....

This thing is huge and requires approximately 400" of binding.  I looked for fabric to make the binding but wasn't thrilled with anything I was finding in my stash.  Then I thought about doing a scrappy binding.  Why not?  I pulled  10 different 2 1/2" x WOF strips from my box....

Sat back down at the sewing machine just long enough to sew all these strips together end to end.  Then took that mile long continuous strip to the ironing board and pressed it double....

I'm really loving this scrappy binding. :)  Now I will need to sew the binding to the quilt to finish it....but that won't happen for a few days at least!

On a side note, I've been crocheting some during the nights I hurt too bad to lay in bed and sleep.

I've been making 100% cotton dish cloths recently to use as future gifts.  I gave two as a birthday gift just last week.  My daughter Amanda (who is claiming this Scrappy Trips quilt) spotted one of the dish cloths recently made and realized it matches the quilt backing perfectly.  Plus, the yellow will look nice with her butter yellow bedroom walls.  Guess who claimed the dish cloth?  She plans to use it as a doily on her bedside table once the quilt is on her bed. Haha

Well, now you know what I've been up to recently?  What's keeping you busy?  I'd love to know!!!

Thinking October in August

As you can see, I'm almost finished with the quilting of the Scrappy Trips quilt which means I can start on my next project guilt-free.  Another couple of rows and I will be able to trim it up and apply the binding.

A year ago, or was it two(?), I saw this Halloween collection  called "Witch Hazel" by Riley Blake.  I thought it was so adorably cute with a vintage vibe.  Feeling confident that my three youngest daughters would enjoy a quilt to display during the month of October, I purchased three layer cakes.

Just look at the great color combination and precious prints.....

I would like to use three different patterns so all the quilts will be different, yet similar.  I also prefer not to cut these adorable prints into teeny, tiny pieces so I'm searching for patterns allowing large pieces.

For the first quilt, I've decided to make "Intersection T Block" by Missouri Star Quilt Company.  Watch the video tutorial HERE.

In addition to needing a layer cake with 42 - 10" squares, the design also calls for a total of 33 - 2 1/2" WOF strips of a neutral/solid.

This may be hard to believe but it's the truth....in my stash I found an opened, partially used jelly roll of a Kona solid called Ash.  I counted the strips and found 33....exactly what I need to make this quilt.

Cutting the required pieces was very easy and didn't take much time.  As far as the layer cake goes, only one cut is needed on each piece.

It didn't take long before the entire 42 squares were cut.

For the jelly roll, we just need two lengths for each block and the remaining strips will be an inner border.

All cut and ready to begin sewing....

Physically, I can't stand or sit and do one certain thing non-stop, I must take breaks and do other things.  During my breaks from quilting and cutting I've been cleaning out my clothes closet and FINALLY getting rid of things that no longer fit.  Let's face it, if I ever truly lose any weight it will be so far into the future that my clothes will not be in style. Plus I will deserve some new clothes if and when I actually drop any sizes.

Am I the only person who puts off cleaning out closets for as long as possible? ;)

Let the purging begin!!!!!  Success!!!  A basket full of emptied hangers....

Bags filled and ready to donate to a local ministry that will sell them and use the funds made to feed families in the local county where we live.

After so much work I didn't have energy enough to do anything more except get my sewing machine ready to start on the new quilt.  I'm using one of my vintage machines.  It requires a Class 66 bobbin and only came with one bobbin when I got it.  At this point, it's the only machine I own that uses a Class 66 bobbin.  I bought a package since you always need more than one bobbin.

But strangely enough, the new 66's are not identical to the vintage 66 bobbin.  They won't fit. :/

 Thank goodness for friends who collect vintage machines.  After hearing about my dilemma, my good friend Marianne is sharing a few vintage Class 66 bobbins with me.  Friends are wonderful!!!!!

Well,  I better get busy.  What are you working on now?  Are any of you starting any "holiday specific" projects?

Until next time!