Friday Night Sew-In Results

Last night I finished the stay-stitching (quilting in the ditch) on the pinwheel quilt,

And started on the free motion quilting - feathers in the black pinwheels.

It is the first time I have stay-stitched a quilt, and I don't know if I like how it looks on the back of the quilt - that is why I only did them one way. Maybe once all the quilting is finished the straight lines will "disappear"?

Thank-you to Bobbi and Heidi for hosting the FNSI.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

Friday Night Sew-In

Tonight is the Friday Night Sew In hosted by Crafty Vegas Mom.

I am working on the pinwheel quilt. I added the borders and got it all ready for quilting.

I am quilting it in the ditch with a walking foot and Invisafil thread (Aurifil in the bobbin) to start with, then I'll do some free motion quilting.

I am using my regular quilting set up.

There was a blizzard over night (started yesterday afternoon).

This morning there was just high winds and blowing snow,

by this evening things had calmed down, just lots of snow drifts left.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

OWOH Winner!!

One World One Heart has been so much fun! It has been wonderful checking out all the new-to-me blogs! Today is the day to announce the winner.

I am thrilled to say that the winner of my little quilt is Lynn Stevens from Trash to Treasure Art!!! Check out her beautiful art! I would love to try mixed media art - maybe one day.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

Block #17

This week I chose "Ohio Star" from EQ7 (I made one slight adjustment- more later).

It was a quick, easy block too make.

You will need -

Background (this patterns works well with a directional fabric) -

1 - 4¼" square - for the hourglass units (this is where I made the change - EQ7 calls for a 4+3/16" square for a 9" block, but 4¼" works better - the hourglass will be trimmed)

4 - 3½" squares for the corners

Print A (mine is dark green)

2- 4¼" squares - for the hourglass units

Print B (mine is gold) -

1- 4¼" square - for the hourglass units

Print C (mine is red) -

1 - 3½" square -for the center

To make the hourglass units start by making half square triangles with one background square and one print A square, and one print B square and one print A square. Draw a diagonal line and sew ¼" on either side, cut along the line.

Here are the four half square triangles (note the colours - 2 with print A and background, and 2 with print A and print B). Press the seams towards print A.

Repeat the HST process, this time pairing a print A/B HST with a print A/background HST, locking the seams together.

Trim the resulting four hourglass units to 3½" squares.

I pressed the seams open at the center of the hourglass to reduce bulk.

Now all the pieces are ready to be sewn together in the regular nine-patch method.

Trim the block to 9½".

I made the second one the same way - can you tell we are coming to an end!?
I originally thought this block was too simple, but it is such a classic block that I wanted to include it. Lots of variations can be made - it could have another hourglass in the center or a four patch, as long as all the units measure 3½", also the print B could be replaced with background fabric (standard classic Ohio Star).

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

Alternating Blocks

Last year when I made Rachel's (p.s. i quilt) Pinwheel quilt I saw pinwheels everywhere.


Now that I am making the Quilt Along quilt, I see quilts with these Alabama Variation blocks everywhere!

Here are some to check out -
from the EQ Blog.
from A Passion for Applique - not quite the same, but I love the look with the Hop to It blocks.
from Sew Karen-ly Created, the blocks are set on point and "scrappy".
from Bountiful Heirlooms - she is making a Lori Smith quilt, I love how the blocks extend into the border.
I saw another one where the blocks seemed to float (the backgrounds of the blocks were the same as the diamonds created by the alternating blocks) - but I can't remember where I saw it.
The Alabama blocks are a great alternating block (even if I do say so myself!!).

There was a beautiful sunset tonight.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping!!♥

Pinwheels

I finished piecing all the pinwheels for the quilt that my youngest designed.

He made about 6 of the blocks. They are 12" blocks, the quilt is 48" x 60" so far. I will add a border. It is one of my projects for the PhD Challenge.
I was originally going to have a small green inner border, but have decided against it.

I had made an green pinwheel, but decided not to use it, so I added some applique and some foil batting - now it is a hot pad (12" square). I did the applique and free motion quilting with Invisafil.

I had lots of problems with my sewing machine when I was free motion quilting - the bobbin case kept jumping out of its proper place. I vacuumed the whole machine very well, changed the needle a few times, and it seems to be working fine now. When I bought my machine almost two years ago, I had one for a week and it kept doing the same thing - the store replaced the machine with the one I have now. I hope this isn't a problem with Husqvarnas?!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

BOM's

I finished February's Granny's Hankie BOM.

This is a 16" block - the applique pieces are nice and big. This pattern works so well with machine freezer paper applique - lots of fun to make (very beginner friendly).

A new BOM starts on Esther's Blog in two days - something else to think about!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

Udates

Phyllis (no blog) sent me some fabulous pictures of her Quilt Along blocks.

Phyllis is also from Manitoba! I was thrilled that she sent me some pictures - they are wonderful!! Thanks Phyllis!

This is Needled Mom's quilt along blocks. I love the fresh, bright colours she chose and the contrast she created with the alternating blocks - stunning!!

February's Granny's Hankie BOM came out yesterday. I have prepared all the applique pieces and they are waiting to be stitched down.

I have also been having fun "zentangling". Just paper and pencil for now - it is lots of fun. I found a great web site for zentangle pattern ideas (with explanations) - Tangle Patterns.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

PhD Challenge Update

I have been working on my two projects for Myra's PhD Challenge.

I am really starting to enjoy hand-quilting again. I am using Valdani 35wt cotton quilting thread - which is my favorite for hand quilting. I think I have figured out the quilting designs for the Bear Paw's quilt too.

I finished making all the half square triangles (they are 6½" squares) for D's Quilt too, they just need to be trimmed and sewn into pinwheel blocks.

Last week I won this Zentagles book!!! And it came today!!! Thank-you so much Jill (aka the Quilt Rat)! Zentagles is an art form that I have been wanting to try.

Jill even signed the book on her project page!

A while ago I also won PDF Cookbooks from Linda (aka Scrapmaster) - thank-you so much Linda - the recipes and quilt pictures are fantastic!!

Four rabbits today - hopefully that is all of them!!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

Machine Quilting

Today I quilted a lap quilt that my sister made.

The pattern is Friendship Braid (without the borders) from "Jelly Roll Quilts" by Pam and Nicky Lintott. It is made from one jelly roll (Heritage 1846 by Howard Marcus) and measures 43" x 54".

She chose an all over meander pattern and the quilt has wool batting and flannel backing. I quilted it with Aurifi 50wt thread - I started with a beautiful, variegated "Tutti" thread by Wonderfil (also a 50wt thread but thicker than Aurifl 50wt), but it kept breaking and was too frustrating to work with, so I switched to the reliable Aurifil.

This is my set up when I quilt a large quilt - I replace the little plexiglas sewing machine table with an old countertop that my DH made into a sewing machine table - set up on my dining room table - this works great to hold all the weight of a large quilt (the dining room table has been moved to be closer to a plug and so I can see/hear the TV).

The hibiscus had an unusual flower this week.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

Block #16

This weeks block is called Wedding Ring.


I chose it because my wedding anniversary is this week.

DH and I, February 11th, 1989

For this block you will need -

Background -

6 - 2+3/4" squares for the half square triangles (HST)
2 - 2+5/8" squares, cut in half on the diagonal
5 - 2+5/16" squares

Print A (mine is burgundy) -

2 - 2+5/16" x 6+5/8" rectangles
2 - 2+5/16" squares

Print B (mine is paisley) -

4 - 2+3/4" squares for the half square triangles (HST)

Print C (mine is dark beige) -

2 - 2+3/4" squares for the half square triangles (HST)


With the 2+3/4" squares (print B and C squares paired with the background squares) make the HST (draw a diagonal line, stitch ¼" on either side, cut on the line and press the units open). Trim the 12 HST to 2+5/16" squares.

Trim the ends of the two 2+5/16" x 6+5/8" rectangles, at a 45° from the bottom.

This might seem a bit more complicated than other blocks - but it works! Thankfully!

Sew the background triangles at the corners. This unit should measure 5+7/8" x 2+5/16".

Sew together the two 2+5/16" print A squares with a 2+5/16" background square as shown.

Sew the three units into a square.

Sew together two HST and a 2+5/16" background square - make two of these units.

Sew them to the center unit.

Sew together the remaining HST and the two remaining 2+5/16" background squares to make the top and bottom rows of the block. Sew them to the center unit.

Trim the block to 9½".

I made the second block the same way.

I was worried about this block because of cutting the corners of the rectangles - so I was thrilled that it worked out!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥