Saturday, August 31, 2013

Lucky Stars Block of the Month

The last block I posted a picture of was April, so I've got 4 more to show.

Here's May. The background is Comma, I love that fabric line.


May block for Lucky Stars BOM

The June block :


Lucky Stars BOM June Block

I've just done July and August, in time for the September pattern which arrived today!


Lucky Stars July block

Last one, this is the August block:
Lucky Stars August block

These monthly blocks have been lots of fun to make. I'm much more comfortable with paper piecing now, too.
Only 4 more to make. I'm looking forward to seeing them all together. Even though I think I am going for a different look each time, I am frequently drawn to the same fabrics over and over. Of course I stuck to the same colour choices: red, aqua, grey and white.

Till next time,

Sue

Linking to:
Better Off Thread

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Stacked Blox Redux

I can't resist making fun of this pattern name! Sadly, I can't think of a better one, so I guess I shouldn't criticize.

The binding is on, all the threads are sewn in, and it's all finished! I like the Kona Steel for the binding. We tried out a patterned fabric, and a yellowy green solid, neither was so effective.









 The quilt measures 110" wide x 102" long, and is my biggest quilt so far.
 The quilting is in circles, echoing the swirls on the feature fabric.
It feels good to have finished this in time for DD#1's birthday. I hope it is used and loved!

Till next time,

Sue

Linking to:

Fresh Poppy Design

Friday, August 23, 2013

Stacked Blox

That's right, blox! It's not my idea, that is the name of the pattern. I prefer not to do those supposedly humorous misspellings, but the pattern author can do what she wants.

My DD#1 brought home pattern and fabric from a visit to Palm Springs and requested a king size quilt for the summer! Well, it's not the end of August yet, so I feel we are still on track.

The quilt top went together very quickly at a retreat. I just got it back from the longarmer, and I love the way it looks. We chose a fun dot for the back. There's only the binding left to do, and I'm counting it as a finish. it will be done later today.







The iphone pics are blurry. I'll try again before it goes to its new home on Sunday.

Yay for a finish!!

Linking to:

Till next time,

Sue

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

The Big Reveal!

The post title makes me smile! It was suggested by Kelsey of Everyday Fray, and sounds like pom poms and a marching band to me. Cake and balloons. Stop! I'm just getting carried away.

I'm very happy to announce the finish of my gi-normous Swoon quilt.


Here's another view from a different angle:

Swoon quilt, finished at last!


It was quite a challenge, but now it's finished, I love it!

It measures 100" x 105". The FMQ was a bit of a struggle, even though the quilt was in thirds at that point. It's still not my biggest quilt. That honour goes to my DD#1's king size. That quilt is being longarmed, believe me!

The back was fun because I backed some of my QAYG blocks with the Gypsy Bandanna fabric I had left.
Then they got moved around as I changed the layout, so I had no real idea of how it would look.
I also backed some of the sashing strips that way too.

Swoon quilt back

The binding is narrow, machine stitched both sides, it's a diagonal rainbow stripe that might have been waiting for this quilt. I love how it stands out from all the white.

The blocks were all straight line quilted, and then I tried out my new feathers skills on everything white more than an inch wide. There were some learning problems, but I don't think I'll be afraid to quilt this densely again. Try Angela Walters' class on Craftsy, I'm impressed!

Now, on to a few new projects!

Till next time,

Sue

Linking to: 

Better Off Thread

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

WIP, UFO, OMG!

Add a few more groups of 3 letters to that blog title!  I'm inspired by the Swoon 2013 group to pull out my quilt and make a huge effort to get it finished.

Here it is at present, still in thirds while being quilted.


There are three 24" blocks, twelve 16" blocks, and six 12" blocks.

So what was my plan 18 months ago when I started this monster? I wanted an alternative to the pattern layout of 3 x 3, (or 4 x 4 to make my size). I thought different size blocks would be interesting to look at. I also thought that QAYG would suit these blocks. Though you can't see it in this picture, each block is quilted in matching thread. I planned to have one of the large blocks in the centre, one top left, and one bottom right.

I got held up trying to put the sections together. Let's face it, I was scared of the process! So many strips of white, all different sizes. A big jig saw puzzle, really. So I procrastinated.

Finally I got it all out, and started measuring and sewing pieces together. Here's what I learned:

When trying to fit together different size blocks, it helps if the numbers divide into each other evenly. 12 and 24 was good, 16 was a headache.

When working with white, make careful note which one it is. They are not the same! All my dividing strips are Kona White, and in some of the blocks. Others are in either Bella White or Bella Snow, I'm not even sure. Big difference!

Also, you can see any coloured thread that strayed onto the batting through the white.

I don't need to be afraid of QAYG, it's working out fine. I'm using the method that Mari of The Quilting Edge shows on her blog.

And importantly, I still love the fabrics and the blocks!

Now I have some larger sections of white between the blocks to quilt. The widest of these is 8 inches. I signed up for the Craftsy class taught by Angela Walters for Quilting Feathers. I only have a domestic machine, it's a Brother with a wider throat. Each of my quilt sections is now 35" x 98", so it is possible to wrestle it all through. I'm nervous, I admit. All that work, not to mention expense. There have been some problems, to be honest. One section was taken out twice, and that's not easy. I had to change the needle and the thread. I hope I'm on top of it now. Here's some of my progress so far:



I'm pretty happy with how this looks. Hope the rest goes smoothly!

Till next time

Sue 

Linking to: 



WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Monday, August 5, 2013

Truckin'

I've been working on a special quilt for a young friend who is just moving into his "big boy" bed.
He loves trucks and construction vehicles, so that is the theme of his redecorated room.

I wanted to be able to showcase some of the fabric with fussy cutting, so we chose a Disappearing Nine Patch to make the quilt.


DSC05425

It measures 66" X 89", so it will fit a twin bed.
There are 7 different truck fabrics in the quilt, 5 of them were fussy cut.

The backing is flannel, soft and warm. I think I found the perfect print.

  

Till next time,

Sue


Linking to:
Better Off Thread