Small and Smaller Churn Dash

Today's quilts are for the Sew Small Guild I belong to.  I have asked them to make a small or smaller churn dash quilt.  I provide the pattern, then they can play with it and change it up if they want or make it the same as mine.

This is the small one.  It finishes at 22" square.  I used charms for the color fabric, and lots of background fabric to go with it.  I found the cornerstone and border/binding fabric in my stash.  I had enough that it also went on the back.

Next is the smaller quilt.  This one finishes at 8 3/4 inches square.  I used a bit of a fat-eighth bundle I bought on a shop hop in May of 2013.  I had to buy more background fabric, and since it is from  Maywood Studios, I found it at my local quilt shop.

The half-square triangles in the churn dash are 1/2 inch finished.  I also learned that by strip piecing my sashing units, I could work more easily with small pieces.  I sewed a 2" strip of background to a 7/8 inch strip of red.  Then I cut them into 7/8 inch segments.

Now for some catch up.

I had some fun with this customer's quilt.  She didn't want a lot of quilting, and she wanted to emphasize the applique.  I think this captured it pretty well.  The border design is fairly new to me, but I've seen it a lot around the internet.  Here is a close-up:

Then, the whole quilt:

This quilt was also for a customer.  I really liked doing the pattern in the center of the yellow.

There was a lot of ruler work in both of these quilts.  

Then, I also finished a quilt of my own.  These blocks were part of a friendship exchange several years ago.  They all finished different sizes, so they created a challenge to put them together. I put them together, then put the top away and forgot about it.  This summer, I found it in the bottom of my batting scraps box.  It had the backing and binding fabric with it.  

Here is a close-up of the quilting.  I really just tried to play and choose different designs as I went.  It took me more time than I had planned, but I really like it.

I bought the backing fabric before I owned a longarm quilting machine.  So, I had not purchased enough.  But, I had purchased some fabric, just because, and it fit the other quite well, so I pieced the back like this:

I intentionally off-set the piecing so it wouldn't matter on the back if it wasn't centered.

Next, I finished our guild's mystery quilt last May, except I didn't want to do the applique.  I toyed with the idea of coloring the fabric, after I had quilted the flowers into the quilt.  My friend Lyn took it home and embroidered the flowers in and added yo-yos to the quilt.  She brought it back just a couple of weeks ago, so here are the pictures.

Enjoy the pictures.  I hope you are sewing.  I try to every day, and some days are better than others. Are you working on Christmas giving?  I hope to have pictures soon of my Christmas sewing.  Until then...

Keep Sewing!

Piecing Again, A Class, and A Gift

I just finished being the President of a local guild.  This is the beautiful quilt that was given to me as a "Thank You".  It was pieced, quilted and finished by Melanie Larsen, who will be the president next year.

Here is the lovely lap quilt...

Here is the backing she chose... Yummy, Yes?!

Here is a close-up of the quilting, which I think is fabulous!

Then, on Friday and Saturday, our LQS had 2 days of classes of Machine Quilting with Sue Patten!  We had such a fabulous time.  Of course, I didn't learn much because I was support staff, but what I came away with is very valuable to me.

Here is Sue, showing some samples of practicing she has taught in classes.  It isn't a great picture of her, and does nothing to capture her dynamic personality, but I had to include it anyway.

And this quilt was made by Sue Patten, as a stress reliever.  All color shown is thread, all sewn on black fabric.  I would love to be able to play like this.  It's on my list of things to do in the near future.

This year, I went to HMQS in Sandy, Utah, to upgrade my skills (hopefully).  I thoroughly enjoyed the classes, and got to see some great quilts.

This one was made by a local quilter, and president of our Mini Guild.  It won first prize, and sold at a charity auction for $850.

This one was a favorite of mine, with shadow trapunto.

 This one was quilted by one of the teachers I took a class from, Judy Woodworth.  She taught a fabulous class, and seemed so at ease while teaching.  Here I am only showing detail from the quilt, not the whole quilt.

This one was quilted by Lisa Calle.  She taught my second class, and we spent two hours drawing feathers.  I did pretty good in class, but when I tried it on the longarm, it wasn't pretty. When I got home, I found out I had pinned this quilt before I knew who had done it.  Now I've seen it in person, too!  Very spectacular!

I've ordered her "Wholecloth Class in a Bag", complete with DVD, so I will be learning how to design a wholecloth quilt this next year.  It may be something I do on my domestic, instead of the longarm, since I have better control there.  I'm not sure.

Finally, a finish.  This was our guild mystery this year.

You may recognize it as the quilt on the cover of Kim Diehl's new book, Simple Appeal.

Only, I don't have the patience for applique, so I quilted in the flowers.  I am considering painting them in with ink, eventually, but I can actually see the flowers pretty well when it is hanging on my banister.

So, let me know what you are doing, and I'll try again to make this blog work for me.  Have a great week, and

Happy Sewing!

I've Become a Finisher Again

The last year was a little rough for me.  I wasn't able to post here much.  I was able to sew some.  I helped my mom during her last few months of life.  I helped my sisters clean out her home.  I trained a few people with their new Handi Quilter Longarm quilting machines.  I continued to work, serve in my church, and care for my family.

Mom's work to be done is dwindling down a bit.  She is still on my mind, and I miss her, but I don't have as much to do for her.

Life is getting back to a "normal roar".  So I have become a Finisher again.

Last week, I finished quilting 3 customer quilts in 3 days.  I put binding on 2 of them during the next 2 days.  I am working on a store sample, and I finished a small store sample last month.  So, I consider myself a Finisher again.

This summer, I quilted and finished this fun Jelly Roll Quilt.  I pieced it back in February.  It is supposed to have something fun on it (like ric rac or applique), but I don't speak embellishment.  I thought it was fine without the extra.  It's a nice lap quilt.

Then, this last month, I made this grocery bag dispenser, using charms.  I found the instructions on Moda Bakeshop.  I actually made two, with charms left over.  I will probably hang one at the store for a sample.

In May, we had a class in guild to make an art quilt - Poppies.  It uses raw-edge applique.  I've used the technique before, but sometimes I have to be reminded I know something.  The poppies stand out well for me, but I don't think I particularly like my background choice.  I've even thought of doing this in a miniature.  As I don't speak embellishment, my friend Pam sewed lots and lots of beads on this.  Hard to pick up in the picture, but it adds sparkle in real life.

I am also participating in a guild Mystery Quilt.  I started a month late with my cutting, and after I square these blocks up, I will have the first sewing step done.  There are supposed to be 88 of these blocks.  I'll count them as I square them up.

I'm using Civil War reproductions, which I haven't used too much before.  Mysteries can be a little scary, because you don't know what you'll end up with.  However, the Mystery Leader does good stuff, so I'm giving it a try.  2/3 of my fabric came from my friend and co-worker, Judy.  She was very generous to give me so many fat quarters!

I'll keep working and I think I'll be able to keep up on posting, too!  It's nice to be back at it again.

Keep on Sewing!

It's Been HOW LONG???!

I went on Spring Break with my family, shortly after my last post.  Then, as soon as we were back, I hit the ground running and it has taken a while to slow down.  So, I guess I better do some catching up.  I had an opportunity to use a long-arm quilting machine... and quilted this to hang at the store.  It isn't bad for my first official quilt.  I would like to do some more.

 Then, there is this runner.  I took a quilt guild class for flying geese in 2010.  Then, last fall I pieced these three blocks together to make a runner.  I basted it soon after, and finally quilted it this month.  Last week I finished the binding while at a family reunion.  I am pleased with it, and will use it in the Spring.

 In April and May, I only had time to finish one quilt guild project...The Mystery Quilt.  I decided to do straight lines diagonally across the quilt.  This is a very time-consuming way to quilt!  I do like how it finished.

I have more to show later...and much more to work on.  I'll try to keep up here more frequently.  I've missed this, too.

Mystery Solved & a Few Other Finishes

Our Quilt Guild did this quilt as a mystery.  I used "Summer's End" by Kansas Troubles.  I am thrilled with the result.  I don't think I want to add a border to it.  I hope to quilt it before May 10th. 

Then, I finished this quilt, using "Lilac Hill" fabric.  

Can you believe that quilt is only 16x20 inches.  It is called "Delectable Mountains" and it is from the Fat Quarter Quilting book by Lori Smith.

Next, I finished these place mats for Easter.  I wanted to use them to decorate the shelves of my kitchen hutch.  I may make enough to switch out frequently through the year. I did learn that next time I will quilt all over a sandwich made from 2 1/2-yard pieces, instead of cutting them to size first.  That way, I can quilt better without worrying about getting too close to the edge.  

And, finally, the second Chocolate inspired table topper.  

This one, I used a different back on, but the front is the same.  I had a difficult time with the inside corners, but it worked out okay.  

Here you can see some of the quilting.  I am very pleased!

Now I can add them to my list of finished projects.  Yahoo!!!

What are you sewing?

I have my Mystery up to date

I worked on it all day on Saturday and got it to the same spot as our Guild tutorial.  Only 3 more guild projects to go this month.  

A Border Tutorial

  This is my first tutorial, so I hope you will leave some kind comments at the end. 

Putting borders on a quilt can put fear into some.  Borders not put on correctly will cause problems for your machine quilter.  I've developed a way to put on borders that seems to take out the fear, and leave you with accuracy.  I've developed it from using a conglomerate of tips gleaned over the years, and insight of my own.  Enjoy!

This is our mystery quilt for Quilt Guild.  It is basically adding borders around the quilt over and over again.  Some are pieced borders, and the others are a one-piece border. Great effect, don't you think?

The first thing I do, is measure the quilt through the center.  If it is bigger than my cutting mat, I fold it in half, then, measure it with my acrylic ruler.  I find the accuracy is fine if my quilt and border are both measured the same way, folded or straight. This measurement is 20 1/4 inches

So, now I measure my border piece.  The cutting instructions for this quilt told us the cutting measurements, but thinking they might be borders, I just labeled them for what they would be cut to.  I always measure my quilt before adding borders.  Lots of things can happen while piecing to make the measurement different than the pattern says.

Here, my border is measured from the fold...20 1/4 inches...

and I cut off the excess.

Next, I take the quilt and the border to the ironing board.  I press the quilt in half on the edge the border will be placed.  Here, the quilt is folded wrong sides together.

 Then, I open it up and press each edge to the center, still wrong sides together.

Set the quilt top aside for a moment.  Now, I press the border, right sides together, in the center.

When I open it up, I have a nice crease in the center.

Now, I press each end to the center.

This marks the border at 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 across the fabric.

 Now, lay the quilt top out, right side up, and lay the border on, right side down.  The creases you made with your iron will nest together.  You will know that they line up.

Now, it doesn't matter if the quilt is creased right sides together, or wrong sides together.  The key is to have the border folds be opposite of the quilt.  Then, the creases will always nest, giving you an easy mark to match.

Now, I pin at the center, each 1/4 way mark, the two ends and then in between each crease.

Now, I take it to my sewing machine and stitch my 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Just a note, here.  If you have one part that has more stretch to it, and the other doesn't, put the stretchy side down while stitching.  I remember it as "Baggy Bottom".  The feed dogs will help it feed evenly and your border will go on great.  Here, my pieced border has more stretch, so I will put it on the bottom.

Be sure to remove the pins as you come to them.  You don't want to break a needle on one.  Also, keep your edges together as you go.


Now, I press, with the seam allowance going to the border.  This eliminates bulk, and your machine quilter will be happier!

Now, repeat the process with your other 3 border.  (Lather, rinse, repeat.)

And here it is with all four borders.

Looks good!  Only 3 more rounds to go for this month.