A Weekend of Sewing

 Well, the weather here is back to winter. I guess that means more sewing, so not such a bad thing. I finally got started on my Mod Olives project, after everyone else has finished theirs. I must say I really like it.

I struggled a bit with it, but I think the next one will be easier, especially if I keep working on it.

I also finished off quilting the trees on my Tree quilt.

I'm quite pleased with how the trees turned out. I'm ready to move on to the next section of quilting, I just need to order some more Aurifil # 5004 grey thread before I run out. 

And speaking of yummy Aurifil thread, my Pantone quilt top won the Pantone Challenge. Yippee, Skippee, I have some Aurifil thread coming my way! Check out the other winners On the Windy Side.

I'm linking up today to Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch

 

Color Me Quilty

Pat

Three More Trees and a Finish

I do love finishing projects even if they are small. I finished stitching the binding on my RMQG QAYG sample. I think it will look great hanging in my office.

I also was able to quilt three more trees on my Tree quilt.

The back

I love the Infinity Tree design (Leah Day # 365). I need to stitch three more in the middle, I enjoy the repetitiveness of the trees.

I used Aurifil 50wt #5004 for piecing and quilting both of these projects. It's becoming my go to thread color. I might have to buy a cone of it! That would be fun!

I'm linking up with FMQ Project Friday, TGIFF, Link-A-Finish Friday, and Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop

Color Me Quilty!

Pat  

WIP Wednesday

I love WIP Wednesday, it forces me to step back and see my progress when I think I have none.

Tree Quilt

RMQG Sample

I didn't have much time to sew last night, so I decided to work on something simple, the little sample I put together for the RMQG QAYG demonstration. I think it will make a really cute wall hanging.



I also got my Tree quilt basted and started quilting it this week.


So, I didn't set the world on fire with my progress, but I did make progress on my projects.









Here are this week's stats:
In-process: (7)
Express Your Love
Humphrey's New Bed
Mod Ovals Quilt
Pantone Quilt 2014
IMQG Guild Block (reverse applique')
RMQG QAYG Samples
Tree Quilt
 
New projects: (0) 

Finished (0)

 
I'm linking up with  Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday!

 

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Also, make sure you check out all the Quilts, Minis and Quilt Tops entered into the Pantone Quilt Challenge and vote for your favorite in each category. Voting has been extended until March 27th. To vote, just click on the heart in the corner of the picture of the quilt.

Can You See the Forest for the Trees?

You guessed it, I'm quilting more trees today! I'm really liking how this Tree quilt is turning out. Only six more trees to quilt.

The back

I like how this thread, Aurifil 5004, looks like pencil sketches. I'm planning on using this same thread for the whole quilt. Better order some more today! Who needs to hoard fabric, I much prefer to hoard Aurifil!

In other news, just look what came in the mail yesterday??? The Modern Quilt Guild Michael Miller fabric challenge. Yikes, I have to cut all this up in to fat eighths?  Maybe someone in the IMQG will take pitty on me and offer some help!

I'm linking up today with Free Motion by the River for Linky Tuesday and A Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday.

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

FMQ Trees

I didn't have a lot of time this weekend to spend quilting, but last night I did have a few minutes. Since my Tree quilt is ready to quilt, I thought I would give it a go.

Quilted with Aurifil 5004. I just love quilting with this thread!

I had to practice a bit before I got to the quilt, make sure my tension was set properly.

Which, I'm glad I did take the time to practice first. My tension was bit off, but I got it sorted out and practice quilting a tree.

Front

Back

I'm linking up today to Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch

 

Color Me Quilty

Pat 

 

Also, make sure you check out all the Quilts, Minis and Quilt Tops entered into the Pantone Quilt Challenge and vote for your favorite in each category. To vote, just click on the heart in the corner of the picture of the quilt.

Tree Basting

 Tree (quilt) basting in pictures. For more on this technique, click here, here and here! This is the first time that I'm using Quilters Dream Wool batting. I'm really excited to see how this quilts.

Start by laying out the layers, just enough to fit the width of your table.

 Then just start pinning. I use long straight pins (although I bend them to make it easier to come back up through all the layers) and I use Pinmoors (thanks Leah for introducing me to these little things)

Notice my new smartphone (finally in the 21st century). I love to listen to audio books on it. Yippee Skippee, I can sit and baste my quilt on the dining room table and listen to my book.

This is the back of the quilt, after the first pins are put in.

 The next step, pull the quilt and boards forward on the table, until the boards are at the front edge. Then flip the batting forward and unroll the back of the quilt the width of your table.

 Smooth the batting over the backing

 Smooth the top over the batting

Start pinning again

I leave the board across the tippy top of my quilt while I pin the last section. It weights it down and keeps the quilt layers smoother.

TA DA!!! Finished basting my Tree Quilt!

I know it's a bit of a stretch to say that the quilt is finished, BUT the top, back and basting were all finished this week AND it's ready to FMQ!  So I'm linking up with FMQ Project Friday, TGIFF, Link-A-Finish Friday, and Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop

Color Me Quilty!

Pat  

WIP Wednesday

This is one of those Wednesday's that I sit here at my computer and wonder what the heck did I do this week. I know I sewed quite a bit, but what do I have to show for it.

Well, for one, I started and finished a quilt top and back and it's ready to baste.  This is my Tree quilt, which doesn't really resemble a tree, YET. The quilting I have planning for it will have a tree theme.

Front (approx. 65" x 84")

Ready to baste

Back

I made up this sample as a demo for QAYG that I did last night for the Rochester Modern Quilt Guild (RMQG). That was lots of fun to do. I think that I might finish up this sample and use it as a little wall hanging in my office.

I also did an unusual photo shoot with my Pantone Challenge quilt. The statue 'When Anthony met Stanton' (Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Bloomer and Elizabeth Cady Stanton) stands on a corner in Seneca Falls, NY. I might have to use that setting again, it's like they were made to hold quilts.

Here are this week's stats:
In-process: (6)
Express Your Love
Humphrey's New Bed
Mod Ovals Quilt
Pantone Quilt 2014
IMQG Guild Block (reverse applique')
RMQG QAYG Samples

 
New projects: (1) 
Tree Quilt

Finished (0)

 
I'm linking up with  Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday!

 

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

A Few Additional Tips and Tricks for Board Basting.

I finished my tree quilt top and back - Yippee Skippee

Front

Back

I did get it ready to baste and since my post on "board basting" is far and above the most viewed post I thought I would share a few tips and tricks on winding the quilt top and back on the boards.

I measure both ends of the board to help me center the quilt.

 When you are starting to roll up the quilt on the boards, make sure it's centered on the board. It will make it much easier to unroll and baste.

See the tape holding it to the basting board

I use a little tape to hold the quilt back on the board to start. I did measure to make sure the I had it even across the board. In this case I used duck tape because that's what I had, but you could use masking. I don't worry too much about it leaving a mark/adhesive because it always plan to trim off that part. Although, I've never had it leave a mark, but I baste my quilt pretty quickly.

Lining up the quilt back with a horizontal seam in the back to make sure I'm rolling it straight on the board

The front was even easier to keep straight by rolling it and keeping it even with the vertical strip in the design.

Once you are done rolling it up on the boards, you can use more tape or rubber bands to hold it. I don't always have the time to baste my quilts all in one go, this way I'm half way there and I don't have to leave my quilt out on the dining room table (which is the best place to baste in my house).

To see more on board basting, click here for pin basting or click here for spray basting.


I'm linking up today with Free Motion by the River for Linky Tuesday and A Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday.








Color Me Quilty!

Pat

2014 Pantone Quilt Challenge: Radiant Orchid

'When Anthony Met Stanton' Seneca Falls, NY (Left to right: Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Bloomer, Elizabeth Cady Stanton)

I thought it was awfully nice of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Amelia Bloomer to hold and admire my newest quilt top. I thought it was fitting for these fine women to hold this modern graphic quilt. After all Amelia Bloomer was a dress reformer and as my husband said this quilt is a little 'edgy'.

The quilt top measures 57"x 85" a nice sized throw. It would be absolutely wonderful, if I could quilt it with some yummy Aurifil thread ;)

The design is my own, inspired from a graphic print I saw on Pinterest.

I'm linking up to On the Windy Side for the 2014 Pantone Quilt Challenge Radiant Orchid: Quilt Top
You really need to check out all of the rest of fabulous Radiant Orchid quilts.

I'm also linking up to My Go-Go Life for Sewjo Saturday.

Color Me Quilty!

Pat