Red, white and blue quilt

For a very long time we have had a store bought quilt on our bed and I wanted to make a new one, but I wasn’t sure what colors or design to make it.

In 2016, at the summer picnic meeting of the local Quilt Guild, I won a stack of 2.5″ strips of patriotic material.  When I brought them home I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with them since I don’t really care of the look of Jelly Roll quilts.  Then I realized most of them were similar to the colors of our current bed quilt.

I then went searching online and found that some of the material was from the Stonehenge Stars and Stripes fabric line.  I found out that there were 10″x10″ squares, 2.5″ strip sets and yardage available in the same fabrics and I could also find some of it in the local quilt shops.

The next steps was designing the quilt top and figuring out how much fabric I would need.  Oh, and I don’t think I stated that I needed to make a slightly oversized quilt for a California King bed.  Until you start measuring the size and sewing the quilt top together you don’t realize how big that is!

I realized if I ever wanted this quilt finished then I had to make a simple design and use as much of the precut 10″x10″ squares and 2.5″ strips as possible.  Once I had a few designs figured out I showed them to my husband.  I had a plain piece of blue laid between the two different designs to separate them, but he actually liked it best with the plain blue strip in the quilt.  So, the final quilt is a mixture of the two different designed I originally came up with.

After cutting, sewing and trimming down to size for what felt like forever the quilt top was done.  Then I wanted to use up as much as possible of the extra 10″x10″ squares and left over material so I decided to make a design for the back of the quilt too.

When it was all done I handed it off to Quilt Legacy in Dayton, NV to long arm quilt  since I had other projects I needed to work on and I knew it was going to be a major pain to quilt that size quilt on my domestic sewing machine.

I am very impressed with how the final product turned out.  The quilt pattern they used was perfect for the quilt top.  And my husband was very happy with the finished quilt.

 

As I stated, when I showed it during Show & Tell at the local Quilt Guild, I don’t quilt that often, but when I do I take on BIG projects.

From some of the matching yardage I also made two pillow shams.

What big project have you tackled lately?

Heather

 

 

Applique Class by Kevin Kosbab

I took an Applique Class taught by Kevin Kosbab of Feed Dog Designs through the Carson Valley Quilt Guild (Nevada).  I had done some applique before, but I learned some new tricks and had fun.

Did you know that there are at least three different types of applique?  Here are my definitions:

a) Raw /fusible applique – This is the kind I had done before.  You draw the pattern on the paper of a fusible web, cut out and iron onto the back of the fabric, which will then be ironed onto a backing material.  Then, you can either sew with a straight or zigzag stitch.

Years ago I decorated canvas grocery bags this way and then used dimensional fabric paint around the edges.

b) Freezer paper applique –  Cut a template from the freezer paper and iron to the wrong side of the material.  Then fold the edge of the material over the template.  Then remove the template and sew the folded edges to the background material by hand or machine.

c) Needle turn applique – Using a template mark the material with a water soluble marker.  Then fold over the material on the edge using your fingers.  Then hand stitch the applique to the background fabric.

Today’s class we used the fusible technique for the feet and beaks.  We also used the freezer paper technique for the bird body and wing.

Kevin was good at giving enough details and showing the step by step instructions that I was able to pick up the steps very quickly.  I was actually done with my sample early enough that I had another bird cut out before the class ended.

Here are the two samples I made in the class.

Applique – big bird

Applique two small birds

Have you taken a class lately?  What did you learn to do?

Later – H

Denise’s purse – Quilt project

I just realized this post is almost two years old, but I never finished it!  So, since it is still valid I will finish it and post it now.  Two posts in one week already?  Maybe I am back to blogging….

So, lately my hobby of choice has been sewing.  Besides helping with Community Quilts (part of the quilt guild) where we work on quilts that are donated to people in the community (which is also a social outlet for me) I have worked on a few quilts – one of them being the Lil Twister Table Runner from this post:

Table runner – Lil Twister

I also made a quilt wall hanging for a friend (Denise) who loves purses.  I designed the quilt and it was inspired by Kim Schaefer’s ‘Calendar Quilts’.  This was also the first time I had tried Free Motion Quilting.  I think it turned out really good.  The one thing that surprised me is how LONG it took me to make this.  I think that is partly since I knew I was making it as a present and wanted to make it ‘perfect’.  Well, it isn’t perfect, but Denise loves it.

 

 Now (two years later) I am the 4-H leader for Quilting (actually the three girls are making wall hangings).  I was able to borrow the wall hanging I made for Denise and show it to them.  They were excited to see it and asked if I had won awards with it (definitely no, but it was nice to know they liked it).

Do you have multiple hobbies?

Later – H

 

 

 

One of my favorite blogs #1

I saw that another blog posted about one of their favorite blogs recently and realized I would like to start doing it also.

So, I only started following blogs a few years ago.   One of the first blogs I found was  ‘While Wearing Heels’   http://whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/

I wasn’t even sure what post first caught my attention so I just went looking on her blog to figure it out.  I think I first found one of Amy’s posts on Pinterest.com and was hooked from then on.

Some of the first ones that I pinned:

a) Framed postcards – I have been sending the daughter / us postcards from vacations for years.  I usually put the postcard in the scrapbook (using removable photo ‘ears’ so we can take it out and read the back), but I loved the idea of actually framing the writing on the postcard and an associated photo.

http://whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/2013/04/frame-personalized-postcard-souvenirs.html

b) United Scraps of America – I love this idea, but I plan on making it special for us.  I want to make a wall hanging and fill in the states as they are visited.  There are many that would be filled in right away between traveling for work and for fun, but it would be fun to figure out which states are still on our ‘bucket list’ (and to figure out if we can find  a reason to visit those states).

http://whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/2012/09/united-scraps-of-america-grand-finale.html

c) Steampunk Art – I thought this idea was so cool and when the Father-In-Law was selling old pieces of tractors, etc I saw piece that would be perfect.  I still have the piece and need to get it finished so I can get it displayed.

http://whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/2012/03/switching-gears-steampunk-art.html

So, what are some of your favorite blogs?

Later – H

Table runner – Lil Twister

Have you ever see a Lil Twister Pinwheel Quilt?  You start with this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And by using the Lil Twister Pinwheel Quilt Template (for 5″ squares) by Country Schoolhouse (and sewing the new squares together) you come out with this:

 

 

 

 

 

The first time I tried to cut out the squares I cut into the next row of squares 😦       I put this project on hold until my sister-in-law came to visit.  Thanks to Angi for helping me figure out what I was doing wrong.

Note to self: Don’t run the rotary cutter all the way to the corners – cut the corners out with scissors.

Oh, and since I was wearing a left wrist brace (due to spraining my wrist) at the time, I had to be creative in holding down the template.  I ended up using a full can of Chili (about 15 oz) as a weight and then holding the can.  The worst problem was my hand was definitely hurting by the time I was done.

I think it turned out pretty good.  What have you made lately?

Later – H

 

Life hint – dollar store deals

Hi.  I figured I hadn’t posted in a while (sorry, life has been busy) and almost every post I have in the queue requires a photo or something to finish it.

So, instead I decided to start randomly writing ‘Life hints’.  You are probably wondering what I mean by a ‘Life hint’.  Well, our daughter is in college and we have some other friends that ask my how I find my deals, etc.  I figured it was time to write some of them down.  (I will figure out how to make a page to list them, but that will be another day.)

So, today is the topic of the local dollar store.  If you know me I rarely go into a dollar store, but there are some products that I look at /buy when I do go in.

So, here are the ones I recently purchased:

– Toothbrushes:  I haven’t been able to find many (if any) coupons on manual toothbrushes lately and my local store that doubled coupons closed last fall (still sad about that).  So, I was very happy when I found Name Brand toothbrushes (3 to a pack) for $1.00.  Score!  A couple of those went in my hand basket.

– Greeting Cards:  Our local dollar store has greeting cards 2 for $1.00.  I was able to find some I liked and needed in the next couple of months – Easter, Thank You, Birthday, etc.

Spray Starch – Someone in the local Quilt Guild suggested I buy the cans of Spray Starch so I could starch the material before I cut it out.  For $1.00 a can I bought a couple and they worked just fine.

So, what are your favorite products at the dollar store?

Later – H

Microfleece baby blanket

One of my former 4-H sewing members (she aged out) is now an adult friend.  She is pregnant and I was asked to help her make a baby blanket.  She bought and cut out the microfleece squares ahead of time.

When she brought them over I asked if she wanted to make a Rag Quilt out of it (in the past I usually made them out of flannel), but since the baby is due in January this will be warm and extra soft and she agreed.  So, we basted two layers of each square together, sewed them so the ‘seam’ was on top.  Then we used small scissors to clip the fringe.

The finished blanket was a hit!

After the baby is born we will embroider her name onto the blanket.

What have you worked on lately?  Later – H

Projects to complete this summer

Hope everyone is having a good summer.  We had some record  breaking hot days, but recently it has been nice (before it get record breaking hot again).  I recently read the post ‘Ten Things This Summer’ on the ‘A Passion for Applique’ blog:   http://apassionforapplique.blogspot.com/  and that got me thinking.  She listed the ten things (sewing projects) she wants to finish this summer.

I recently spent two days straightening, throwing out items, etc in the back room (where company stays and where my projects are stored).  It looks a lot better, but I am realizing I have a pile of unfinished projects  I want (and need) to work on.

So, other than the Challenge Wall hanging Quilt that I need to start (for the local Quilt Guild contest) I think I need to work on my unfinished project pile.   Here are the first few of the projects I want to finish this summer:

1) This hooked rug is almost done, but I needed to find a darning needle so I could finish the outside binding.  Well, in the ‘big clean’ I found a darning needle.

I am happy to report this is now DONE and being used in front of my bathroom sink area.  (Boy that felt good.)

2) I need to finish the quilt for the couch for when Pepper (Golden Retriever) is allowed to get up on it.  I have decided I would rather stop fighting her from getting up with the family and just have a quilt I throw on before (so I don’t have to deal with her dog hairs on the couch).  I need to cut the front and back to the same size and sew them together.  I am thinking of trying some Machine Quilting at least around the outside portion of the quilt.  (Leah Day has some YouTube videos that show Machine Quilting on a regular sewing machine so I want to give it a try anyways.)

I got the back and front sewn together (straight lines for now, maybe I will add some Machine quilting also), but I still need to trim and add a binding.   At least the way it is now it can be put on the couch when Pepper wants to jump up.  Pepper ‘photo bombed’ the photo 🙂

3) Turn up a few pairs of Jeans.  I have a few pairs that need to be turned up, but haven’t got there yet.  I found a way to turn them up and keep the original hem.  I printed out the instructions since I shared it with my 4-H Teen Sewers this last year.  I will find the original post and link to it after I get a pair turned up.

4) Scrapbook – this is a never ending project and there is no way I will ‘finish’ it this summer, BUT I do want to put in the first year photos of Pepper (the Golden Retriever) into a Project Life album.  I usually do Creative Memories albums (with embellishments, etc), but I wanted to try the Project Life concept out with Pepper’s photos.  I have the supplies, but have barely started it.

5) Potholder with Scallops – In the Spring I took a class on how to do a Scallop edged potholder.  It took all three hours to learn how to make the scalloped edge and I never got back to finishing the potholder.

6) Pocket for hanging small quilts – I made some wall hanging (quilts) years ago, but didn’t know about making rod pockets for the back.  So, I took down the quilts, washed them and have made rod pockets so I can hang them back up.  Now to get them sewn onto the back and get the quilts back up on the wall.

7) Remember the post about the Dresden Plate class I took in the Spring?  Well, I never got back to finishing the first plate.  I have decided to finish at least the first plate and turn it into a wall hanging.

8) ‘Coffee’ cup wrap.  I don’t drink coffee, but I do occasionally buy a Tea or Hot Chocolate from Starbucks.  Instead of getting the cardboard wrappers I decided to make a material one that I can leave in the car.  It shouldn’t take long to finish the one I started.

I think this is enough of a To Do List for now.  It will feel great to get these done and off my mental radar.

Photos of completed items will be posted as I get them finished.

What is on your mental To Do List that wouldn’t take long to finish (once you started)?

Later – H

Dresden plate quilting class

I went to my first quilting class put on through the local Quilt Guild.  It was with Anelie Belden, a National Speaker that wrote a book on a new and easier way to make a Dresden plate quilt – sounds fancy 🙂

Before the class I had to buy a Jelly Roll (I had to ask what that was) – a roll of about 40 strips of 2.5″ wide coordinating materials and follow the pre-class instructions.  I first sewed pairs of dark and light materials together.  Then I had to iron them flat and starch.  The next step was to cut squares that the ‘plates’ will be sewn onto (I didn’t cut all of them since I knew there was no way I would get it all done in one day).

Before class I wondered if it would really be an all day class.  It definitely was and I only got 1/2 of a plate done!

Anelie Belden was a great teacher – I learned a lot and had lots of fun.  I still haven’t figured out what I am going to do with my Dresden (half) Plate, but I am thinking of completing it and turning it into a wall hanging.  

I think the next item I will make using this technique (assuming I ever finish this one) will be a serpentine shape and make it as a lap quilt.

What new skill have you learned?  – H

Elm Creek Quilts book series by Jennifer Chiaverini

Do you like nice books with good story lines and/or quilting?  Well, I stumbled upon ‘The Giving Quilt’ and a book of Project Linus quilt patterns (both at the library) and am now hooked on the series by Jennifer Chiaverini.

The last book I finished was The Aloha Quilt.

    (Photo from Amazon.com)

I liked this book the best so far and already plan on rereading it (once I have finished the rest in the series).  I loved the story, the setting (Maui) and a friend had just given me an unused Hawaiian Quilt patttern (named Anthurium).

 

After reading the book I had to open the pattern and it is how they described as in the book – fold the material multiple times and then cut out 1/8th of the pattern (which goes through all layers of the material).

 

I have a big mental list of sewing (and other) projects for 2014, but after reading The Aloha Quilt the Hawaiian Pillow has come towards the top of the pile.

Which book series are you reading and would recommend?

Later – H