Underground Railroad Sampler - 2 generations

My mom started this quilt many years ago.  It's the pattern from Eleanor Burns, and Mom took a class to learn how to piece each block.  Then she gave them to me to piece into a quilt.   Mom suffered from Parkinson's disease the last 16 years of her life.  So, the blocks were a lot of different sizes.  I was stumped.  I did not know how to finish it.  Mom pestered me to get it done.  I told her I would.  She passed away in 2013.  Since then, the blocks have been on my UFO list several times, but the number never came up.  I thought I might need to make filler blocks, so I bought several 1/3 yard cuts of Kim Diehl fabric.

I started working on the blocks for our PHD (Projects Half Done) in our Sew Small Guild.  I chose to work on 3 blocks per month, during the guild year, with the goal of finishing it up in May.

I actually had to start over on some of the blocks, so I used the Kim Diehl fabric in similar colors to Mom's blocks.  Fortunately, I didn't have to redo the applique blocks!

Here is the top, finally pieced in March or April of this year.

Then, I quilted it and had the binding finished on April 14, 2020.

I think Mom would be proud.

Keep on Sewing!

Coming Back to the Blog

How do you start a blog again after a long absence?  This has been whirling in my brain for some time.  However, I did not come up with anything profound.  I will start with today.  I have been quilting a lot this year.  I just finished #152 for this year.  This quilt is a grandmother's flower garden.  English paper piecing, pieced together, then appliqued to the background.  I just love the colors, and my phone doesn't do it justice.  The owner and I thought cross hatching would be nice.

We were right.  I just love how it turned out.  But, I must tell you the rest of the story.

I own a Handi Quilter Fusion with Pro-Stitcher.  That means I have the capability to have computerized quilting.  I didn't know how to set up for cross-hatching a whole quilt.  It made me a little nervous.  I did some research on a Facebook group, found an idea of which design to use, and gave it a try.  It did work out marvelously!  I'm pretty excited for the owner to see it.

This next one is a quilt I worked on this summer.  I used the computer for the flowers in the points where the blocks meet, then filled with swirls to give the idea of a windy day.  Each umbrella (80 on the quilt) is also quilted with vane lines.  Lots of fun on this quilt.  I enjoy when I can mix computer with my own work.

Then, last, this is a mini quilt - about 11" square.  I made two of them, starting with 3.5" squares for the pinwheels.  Then, I quilted them both at the same time with my Pro-Stitcher.  I used a clam shell design resized to 3/4" high.

This was for our Sew Small sew-along.  We are working out of a Moda All-stars book, but the quilt chosen was applique.  So, I made this instead.  This month's is paper-piecing, so I am working on something else instead.  I think you may think me mad when you see it later this month.  That's all I'm sharing about that right now.

Anyway, I look forward to sharing more as I go along.  Thanks for joining me today!

Keep Sewing!

Pictures from HMQS 2015

Earlier in the month I had the wonderful opportunity to attend HMQS in Sandy, Utah.  My sister and I attended classes on 3 days, and wandered the vendor's mall and exhibit on 2 1/2 days.  It was exhausting, but I saw some great quilts.

This first one was on display from Dusty Farrell.

The flying geese are dimensional.  And the center circles of each kaleidoscope has a special addition.

Isn't the quilting fabulous?!!

There was a special exhibit using Kaffe Fassett fabrics.  I really like how the dark background sets off the bright fun fabrics.

I took a class from this quilter...  I think it's Karen Sievert.  Just fabulous quilting.

And here is a close-up shot of the quilting.

This quilt I really liked...because of the border treatment.  A good example of how the quilting can change the look of the quilt.

And another close-up.

That's all for now.  Enjoy the eye candy!

And Keep Sewing!

My last Mini Quilt for Now

Here is the last mini quilt made for the Sew Small Guild.   I used flying geese to make the stars.

I had members of the guild sign squares for the centers of the stars.

I used Kim Diehl fabric, and made the sashing from the same fabrics as the stars.  The cornerstones are the same as the outer border.

Here you can see the quilting.  I used rulers for the stars, and ditch quilting.

The outer border was done free motion.

I wanted to make a mini version of this quilt, since the original is about 42" square.   I just ran out of steam to do it.  I have so many other things I have been working on.

Earlier this year, I made a store sample for Christmas:

It used a charm pack and some yardage.  I chose the pink colorway (also available in red), because I didn't think it would sell as well as the red.  People like to see them done before they buy.

I used a stencil for the feathered wreath, free motion for the sashing, and rulers for the ditch work.

I also put Cuddle fabric on the back...this will be a baby quilt someday.

Then, I wanted to play with some moda mini charms.  You know...the 2 1/2 inch squares that come with a line.  I used 2 packs from the Daysail line by Moda, with 3/4 yard of background fabric.  I laid them out in rows...on the diagonal.

It was still a little small, so I added borders, after gluing the fabric down.  I took it to my Fusion, and used a ruler to keep my lines straight.  I stitched them all down, and this is how it turned out.

I really like how the back looks!  I used a soft flannel the same color as the border, just a little paler.

Then a free-motion flower and swirl in the border.

Another baby quilt to set aside for someday.  This kind of quilting...just playing with an idea...makes me happy.  I saw something similar at my training for Handi Quilter reps.  Works great!

Next time I'll share some photos from HMQS 2015.  I saw some great quilts, and took some fun classes.  After that, maybe some customer quilts.  Until then...


Keep Sewing!

Another Mini Quilt....Just a little late

March's mini quilt is a tiny Dresden plate.  I used a template just for this size.  It required more handwork again.  It did work up pretty fast.  This first picture shows how I first finished it.

I added a border, then the binding in the same color.  I didn't like how it turned out.  So, I then took off the binding and border, and put the binding back on again.  This created it's own border with the binding.

Much better!

The meetings for this guild have been amazing this year.  We've done the mini of the month, a row robin and Dear Jane blocks.  I took some pictures of the row robin and will share them with you.

 Everyone who participated (14 or 16?), provided their own fabric and theme.  Then each month, each participant took somebody else's fabric home to make a row.

There has been excitement each month to see the next row, and quality work shown each time.

I took more pictures, but this group doesn't hold still very well, and many pictures were too blurry to share.

All participants will be getting their rows back this month.  I'm sure everyone is so excited for this!

Then, the mini challenge was applique, hexagons, or English paper piecing.  I gave Kim small (1/4") hexagon papers, and she was very brave to use them and put them with her Carpenter's Wheel.

This ball had a very long mathematical name.  I would trip over my fingers if I tried to type it!

Then these hexagon type blocks.

Annette is working on a tessalation using birds with paper piecing.  She calls it her forever project.

Kris participates in a hexagon swap, and is going to piece hers together to make a shower curtain. Pretty fun idea!

I've been trying to get caught up on customer quilts, but they come in as fast as they go out.  I made a tote bag this week, but it is a little bigger than I expected.  I may make another just a bit smaller.

I am working on the next mini quilt, but I won't be making two of them before next Thursday.  I may make the smaller one before the May meeting, because I really like how the small one is turning out. It will probably finish around 42 inches square.  Not as small as the others, but small enough this time.

Until then...

Keep Sewing!