WIP Wednesday: Hodge-Podge

Well, this week I really jumped around on several different projects. But at least I finished something I started this week, two FMQ potholders. Since I had just finished FMQ a big quilt last week (which was Leah's homework this week), I decided to work on something small that would kill two (or three) birds with one project.

1. February's entry for Sew Cal Gal's FMQ Challenge

2. Homework/practice for Leah Day's QAL Wednesday

3. New potholders for ME!!!!

Close-up of my second one.

I'm really quite pleased with how these turned out and since I used Insul-Bright batting, I can actually use them.

So my question for Leah this week isn't really about FMQ, it's about using a walking foot. I rarely get puckers or tucks when I FMQ, but I always get them when I use a walking foot. The top fabric always pushes ahead no matter how hard I try to ease it in.  Last week when I was joining QAYG blocks, the bottom strip was always fine, but my top strip always "grew" or pushed ahead by nearly a half inch in the short distance of one block. I am using a Baby Lock Ellegante with the proper Baby Lock walking foot. I have checked and rechecked the manual to see if there are any adjustments I can make to the foot, there aren't any. I always thought that this was something I was doing wrong when I would straight line quilt, because I ALWAYS get tucks. I had my machine serviced/cleaned in November (it has done this before and after service), could the problem be the machine??? I didn't say anything to the repair person, because I thought this was my fault. But recently I've read on other blogs, that this could be a machine problem. What do you think?

On with other projects this week.

I got two blocks completed for my Urban Nine Patch/FLMQG solids quilt.

I also did a class on fusing at my local library with a great group of kids that made up some blocks that I'm now in charge of putting together and quilting.

So, my stats this week are:
In-process: (7)
FLMQG solids challenge crib quilt (2 out of 12 Urban Nine Patch blocks done)
Purple heart wall hanging ( needs borders, backing, quilting and binding)
Expanding Possibilities quilt (needs backing, quilting and binding)
Storybook quilt # 1 -  Started joining block with QAYG method
Storybook quilt # 2 - All embroidery is done
Quokka Quilts QAYGFMQQAL quilt (7 blocks quilted)
Sewing Machine Cover - pieced, basted, started FMQ

New projects in the cue to start: (2)
Geneva Public Library quilt - join and quilt (maybe make a block or two to even it out)
New Wave quilt (not started)

Finished (2)
Two FMQ potholders (for ME)!!!
 
I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday, The Free Motion Quilting Project for Quilt A Long Wednesday!

Color Me Quilty!


Pat

Feathers!!

I love the look of FMQ feathers, so I was excited to stitch a feather for Sew Cal Gal's February FMQ Challenge.

Front

Back

Detail

Detail

Unfortunately, my pretty green hand-dyed fabric doesn't really show well in these pictures. The batting is Insul-Bright, so now I will have one pretty potholder. I'll need to make it a mate. I wonder what next month's pattern will be?

I'm linking up with Sew Cal Gal February FMQ Challenge and A Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Learning Curves

Okay, the second Urban Nine Patch block came out so much better. I knew it was going to, because the inner curved nine patch part of the block squared up so much better than the first one. Hmm, maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks!

Corner of my first block

Corner of my second block

I was also better about following the directions for pressing my seams.

These blocks are fun, a bit challenging, but I think oh so worth it. I think this quilt will be perfect for the FLMQG solids challenge.

I'm linking up with Sew Happy Geek for Manic Monday!



Color Me Quilty!

Pat

P.S. I have succumbed to the draw of Pinterest.

Watchout: Curves Ahead!

I love curves in quilts, I just don't have much experience with sewing curves. But Jenny at Sew Kind of Wonderful keeps posting just the coolest blocks using her quick curve ruler. She even started the Urban Nine Patch QAL, I had to join. I'm new to sewing curves and this block is far from perfect, but I really love it.

My rotating cutting mat (another Christmas present) came in handy for squaring up part of this block.

A couple of the points of my nine patch aren't perfect, but I really love this block. I think the orange gives it just the right "Pop"!

Jenny has set up some Flickr groups, a general one for projects with her ruler and one for the Urban Nine Patch QAL. You really should check it out!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

WOOHOO! Nothing As Good As A Quilt Shop Sale!

Golden Lane Fabrics, Himrod, NY - It may look small and unassuming, but it is packed with fabric goodness!

There is a little Mennonite Quilt Shop, relatively near me, that has wonderful fabric at fantastic prices all year long. But once a year in February, she has a sale on everything in the store. That sale is this week. I HAD to go! I tried to be good, but she's starting to stock more modern prints! 

11 1/4 yards of fabric, 2 yards of Insul-Bright, and a 5 pack of rotary blades, all for under $100! You can't beat that with a stick!!!

I'm off to use up some fabric, so I can make room for this!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Try New Things (TNT) Thursday: Quilt Fusing at the Library

Can you do more than just look at books on quilting at the library? You can at the Geneva Public Library. Yesterday, I got to work with a great group of kids and get them excited about quilting. I brought in quilts, blocks and batting to let them see and touch.

Miss Tanya showed them pictures of different quilts on line.

I'm a firm believer that actually creating a quilt is better that just being lectured, so we set up fabric with fusible web already attached and set them loose to create!

And create they did! Even the librarians got into the act! Now my job is to turn this into a quilt so they can hang it in the library. I think we were quite successful, the kids were incredibly good throughout the process and even the parents asked if we could do an adult class! Considering I have never fused or taught a quilting class, I'm pleased with the outcome!

I'm linking up with the wonderful Melissa at Happy Quilting for Try New Things (TNT) Thursday.

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

WIP Wednesday: QAYG Part of the Story!

I'm quite pleased with myself this week. Leah Day's homework was to join quilted blocks in a QAYG method. I have experimented with a couple of different methods, and had started my Storybook quilt with this in mind. So the homework this week was the perfect "kick in the pants" to work on this quilt again.

All 20 block squared, ready to join

I joined the first row of blocks, then joined the second row.

I then joined the first two rows together. I really worked to get my seams to line up from row to row.

I have a confession. I'm good at math, I have a degree in math, I'm good at calculations and figuring measurements, I've run whole departments (quality control) that do nothing but measure things. I messed up the measurements on this quilt. I squared up these block to 15 1/2" x 15 1/2", thinking the seam allowance would make them 15" squares. But the seams "butt" and the block remains 15 1/2". Not that this will harm the quilt, I just didn't catch that the quilt top doesn't get any smaller when you join the blocks.

See how the top to joined rows are the same size as the unjoined rows??!!

So my question for Leah this week is about quilt size. I'm planning to make my Storybook quilt a twin sized quilt. I will be adding a small border. Do I need to worry about making this large a quilt with the QAYG method? Is there anything I need to do to make sure I don't make it "wavy"?

On to other projects this week. I finally finished by Hip To Be Square/ Free Motion Sampler quilt. All bound, washed and being used on the sofa. You can see some more of the quilting on this quilt here and here.

You can see why so many of my quilts are teal and green.

 I also had, what I think, was a successful tutorial/guest blog on my Gothic Windows block.

Gothic Windows 8 1/2" x 8 1/2". Made with three jelly roll sized strips.

So, my stats this week are:
In-process: (6)
Purple heart wall hanging ( needs borders, backing, quilting and binding)
Expanding Possibilities quilt (needs backing, quilting and binding)
Storybook quilt # 1 -  Started joining block with QAYG method
Storybook quilt # 2 - All embroidery is done
Quokka Quilts QAYGFMQQAL quilt (7 blocks quilted)
Sewing Machine Cover - pieced, basted, started FMQ

New projects in the cue to start: (2)
FLMQG solids challenge crib quilt (started my Urban Nine Patch)
New Wave quilt (not started)


Finished (2)
Presented my new block (Gothic Windows) with tutorial for guest blog at Happy Quilting.
Hip To Be Square/Free Motion Sampler
 
I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday, The Free Motion Quilting Project for Quilt A Long Wednesday!

 






 



Color Me Quilty!


Pat

It's Finished and It Feels So Good!

The inspiration for the colors!

I started cutting this quilt about a year ago. I pieced it together last spring and started quilting it last summer. It was the first quilt that I started FMQ on, although I have quilted (and finished) a couple of quilts before this quilt. My Hip To Be Square/Free Motion Sampler quilt is done! YIPPEE, SKIPPEE!

Front

Back

Just a few of my favorite quilted blocks. (Each block is quilted differently)

I'm linking up with A Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday and Quilter in The Gap Finish-A-Long!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat