Sketchy Doodle Potholder

Last week I made a set of potholders, which has inspired me to make a few up for Christmas presents. Oh yeah, it's that time of year again. I talked to my stepdaughter and asked if she wanted to team up. She's a fabulous  baker. I thought that a set of potholders and a loaf of applesauce cake or zucchini bread would make a lovely gift. She can make the sweet treats and I can make the potholders.

I love to doodle, always have, what a perfect way to inspire some new potholders. For the set this week, I thought I would use some of my hand dyed fabric and do a Zentangled inspired FMQ. Are people that do Zentangles all children of the 60's? Sure feels that way to me ;)

 This weeks potholders were stitched with Aurifil 50wt thread. I used a layer of Insul-Bright and Warm & Natural batting.

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


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Pat 

FMQ Potholder Set Completed

Front

back

I like to practice free-motion quilting, so I decided to have a little fun and create a set of  potholders. I might as well make something useful while practicing. I used two layers of batting, the bottom layer of Insul-Bright and a top layer of Warm & Natural. The thread was a variegated King-Tut, Aurifil 50wt bobbin and Aurifil Invisible thread for the binding.

The quilted designs were just free-form feathers with a lot of echos. Then I just trimmed each one to 9"x 9". Lucky for me, I had just enough leftover binding from another project to go around each one.

I didn't have enough binding to make traditional potholder loops, so I just stitched on a bit of gold ribbon. I think it works.

I think I might have to make up several sets for Christmas presents.

For today though, I'm linking up with TGIFF, Link-A-Finish Friday, Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop and Finish It Up Friday


Color Me Quilty!

Pat 

All Buttoned and Zipped Up!

My old purse is looking a little shabby. Not surprising really, I made it a year and a half ago. So I decided it was time to make a new one. I have a pattern by Lazy Girl Designs called the City Bag. I have made it a few time (here, here and here), I really like this pattern.

One of the best parts of this bag are the buttons and zipper pull, aren't they WONDERFUL! They are handmade out of glass. My friend Bonnie Scott of Joyful Adornments makes them. You really should check out her website, she has so much more than just buttons.

A Spool Pull, how great is that!

 The inside of the bag has lots of pockets and there is a covered base (a piece of balsa wood cut to size) and sewn in to the bottom.

I chose this bag because it is quite large, perfect to take to a conference I have coming up in September.

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


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Pat 

A Modern Scottish Baby Quilt Finish

I did have fun designing and making this quilt for a very special cousin. My family is of Scottish descent and  my cousin's husband is also. As a matter of fact, my cousin's husband and family recently visited Scotland. So my goal in making this quilt was to incorporate a Scottish theme. That is easier said than done with a baby quilt. Thistles and plaid made it to the top of my list to use.

I used three shades of yellow and pieced a gingham top.

I used a tattoo design of a Celtic Thistle and used reverse applique' with dark grey fleece. I thought the fleece would be fun for baby to touch.

I found this yellow and grey fabric in my stash that fit it perfectly in both color and size.

I used Aurifil 50wt to piece it together, then tried some new types of threads for quilting. I used Aurifil invisible thread to stitch in the ditch and to stitch my faux piped binding, that worked wonderfully well. Then I used Aurifil 40wt and 28 wt to create the "plaid" with straight line stitching.

I used Quilters Dream Puff batting so that it would be soft for the baby to play on, but yet fabulously washable.

This is Jess, the mama-to-be, her grandma (my aunt) was looking on from behind.

I even took the time to sign my quilt.

The straight line stitching isn't really straight, but the quilt was made with love. Hopefully, that's what the baby and her mama feels when they touch this quilt.

Today, I'm linking up with TGIFF, Link-A-Finish Friday, Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop and Finish It Up Friday


Color Me Quilty!

Pat 

Quilt Top Finish: MQG Michael Miller Challenge

Funny how a looming deadline gets you moving on a project. It motivated me to get this quilt top finished so that I can get to the fun part, FMQ!!!

The top ended up larger than I thought it would be approximately 41" x 57", a nice sized baby quilt. I used all of the fabric (plus purchasing a little extra) of the challenge fabric and I added the warm dark grey solid. The goal for this weekend is to get is basted and start quilting.

Today, I'm linking up with TGIFF, Link-A-Finish Friday, Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop and Finish It Up Friday


Color Me Quilty!

Pat 

A Finished Tree Quilt

Finally, finally!!! I finished my Tree quilt. Pretty happy with the outcome. So what do you think?

 

 I decided on a faux piped binding with three chunks of the dark teal mixed added. I love the fact that the teal ended up going around the bottom corner of the quilt.

 

 This is the trunk of the tree that I see outside my sewing room window. I think I see the inspiration.

I am more than a little pleased with the Quilters Dream Wool batting, I will most definitely be using that again. The quilt is incredibly soft for having this much quilting on it. I really have come to the conclusion that Quilters Dream batting, whether it's their cotton, poly, puff or wool really makes a huge difference when FMQ compared to any other batting. It just quilts sooooo much smoother. Of course it goes without saying that I'm also a huge fan of Aurifil thread. I used about three large spools of Aurifil #5004 50wt. thread on this quilt (large throw sized).

I think the back looks pretty good too. Just don't look too close at the teal areas. The weave of that fabric was a bit loose and just didn't handle the quilting well. Live and learn I guess.

This was quilted on my BabyLock Tiara (a sit down mid-arm machine).


Today, I'm linking up with TGIFF, Link-A-Finish Friday, Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop and Finish It Up Friday


Color Me Quilty!

Pat 

Assembling The Cancer Resource Center Quilt

Yesterday I worked diligently on the Cancer Resource Center (CRC) quilt. To complete the quilt, I needed to three additional blocks and a border to a section. All done QAYG, of course. Since this is an emotion quilt, I wanted to add some emotional words, but subtle and let the guild members blocks shine.

 At first, I was just going to use the grey 50wt Aurifil, but then I remember I had some orange 28wt Aurifil. I think it really adds to the blocks.

 This little strip was added on to a section that I have joined. I used the same orange Aurifil to quilt the words. I've always just used 50wt, I may have to start experimenting with different weights of Aurifil.

I have the most complicated section joined. Once the all sections are done, I'll join them all together.

This is the back of the section I've joined. I like the back too!

All in all, I think the quilt is coming together nicely.

Since I finished my blocks to complete the quilt and did some FMQ I'm linking up with FMQ Project Friday, TGIFF, Link-A-Finish Friday, Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop and Finish It Up Friday


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  

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