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

Cut, Trimmed and Squared!

I never seem to get as much done as I want to, but I did get things prepped for a day of sewing today! Cutting, trimming and squaring is kind of like the "eating your veggies" of the quilting process for me. Not my favorite part. But now I have 3 projects lined up:

Cut the strips for the nine patch part of my Urban Nine Patch quilt

Trimmed the edge of my Hip to Be Square/FM Sampler, ready to bind

Squared up all of the blocks for the first of my Storybook quilts. Ready to assemble.

 And since today is a holiday, I get to sew today (President's day, the celebration for the birthdays of Presidents Washington and Lincoln, for those of you outside the U.S.)!!! Yip, Yip, off to my sewing machine!

I'm linking up with Sew Happy Geek for Manic Monday today. (Which seems appropriate, because I plan on sewing like a maniac today.)

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

WIP Wednesday: Finished Quilting My FMQ Sampler!!!

Look what my dear sweet husband sent to me at work yesterday! He's the BEST!

 I have been quilting my Hip to be Square/FMQ Sampler since last summer! Now all 30 blocks (the quilt is approx. 60" x 72") are quilted, all differently. Here are the last two blocks that I completed last night. I know this isn't exactly Leah's lesson this week, but it is quilting an actual quilt and I did start in the middle and work out.

I was inspired by Leah Day's post yesterday about stippling to give texture.

I stitched some random lines and then stippled on a very small scale around them

I was quite pleased with the effect.

This was the last block. A simple loop de loop. I thought it was a tribute to finish with a very simple design!

I know I've already shown these blocks, but here are the rest of the blocks I quilted this week.

So my questions for Leah this week is regarding batting. What type of batting do you normally use? Do you use different batting for different types of projects? Without doing trapunto, which batting would best show off the quilting in the top block? (Sorry Leah if I'm asking more than my allotted questions)

Hopefully by next week I will have the quilt trimmed, the binding on and a mosaic of all the different blocks.

Other projects this week include creating a block and writing a tutorial. Woohoo, I'm guest blogging tomorrow for Melissa at Happy Quilting for tomorrow's Try New Things Thursday. I can only show you a sneak peak.

The block is made from 3 jelly roll sized strips of fabric.

So, my stats this week are:
In-process: (5)
Hip to be Square FMQ sampler (All 30 blocks quilted, just need to trim and bind)
Purple heart wall hanging ( needs borders, backing, quilting and binding)
Expanding Possibilities quilt (needs backing, quilting and binding)
Storybook quilt # 1 -  All blocks are quilted
Storybook quilt # 2 - All embroidery is done
Quokka Quilts QAYGFMQQAL quilt (7 blocks quilted)

New projects in the cue to start: (3)
FLMQG solids challenge crib quilt (Not started)
New Wave quilt (not started)
Sewing Machine Cover - pieced, basted, started FMQ

Finished (1)
New block with tutorial for guest blog at Happy Quilting.
 
I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday, The Free Motion Quilting Project for Quilt A Long Wednesday!

 






 



Color Me Quilty!


Pat

FMQ Sampler: 3 More Done, Only 2 Block left!

My free motion sampler has been a lot of fun, but I ready for it to be done. It has 30 blocks, each one I'm quilting differently. I got three done yesterday, only two more to go. I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Sew what project did you work on this weekend?

Don't forget, this is the last day to enter my fugly fabric giveaway! Click here to enter. (Winners will be announced tomorrow)!

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

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Free Motion Quilting = Freedom to Doodle!

I have always loved to doodle! Sew why not on a quilt??!! I gave myself permission to doodle on one more block on my FMQ Sampler!

I left the center unquilted as a contrast to the rest of the block.

Are some of the lines a bit wobbly? Yes! But I am really pleased with the overall effect of the quilting. Does anyone else struggle giving themselves permission to doodle?

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

You can see more of my free motion journey here!

A Little FMQ Sunday Sampler Fun

I got 3 more blocks on my FMQ Sampler (Hip to be Square) quilt quilted. Only 5 (out of 30) more blocks to go! I may actually finish this quilt in my lifetime!

I'm definitely into swirls

Very hard to see on this crazy, wild fabric

All four quadrants of the block

Center of another block

Practice feathers

The whole block with feathers around the outside.

Not as happy with this block, but I guess that's what a sampler is about. Practice!

Happy Sunday!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

P.S. Don't forget, Tuesday is Fugly Fabric Giveaway. I have some surprises!