Quilt in action!

Man, I love it when quilt recipients share a photo of a quilt I've made, in use. Particularly baby quilts, because OH THE CUTENESS!! You might remember this solids and polka dot quilt I made for the daughter of a coworker and friend. Mama sent me this photo last night of Gaby the wondergirl playing on it and it just made me smile. Check out this girl's HAIR!!!






Happy weekend everyone. rainy and wet here - hope you're sitting under sunnier climes!

- Donna

Sweet Like Sugar

This is how I decided to use up my all white Bella Solids charm pack. Holly had suggested to just pair it up with a patterned charm pack to make a quick patchwork quilt. She was absolutely right when she said quick! This one was a breeze to put together.

I did think it turned out a little small with just the two charm packs, so I added a few borders around to add some size. I think it may be a little too big in the end, but lucky for me, babies grow and it'll be just the right size at some point in her lifeThe binding might be my favorite binding ever. It was a teensy bit more work because I didn't realize you had to match up stripes on striped binding, so I had to pull out some stitches (which I normally avoid at all costs!) and put it back together. It was well worth it in the end to have it look like one big continuous piece.

It is quilted in the ditch around the patchwork and then 1/4" on either side of each of the border seams. It made for an interesting pattern on the back...of which I only have terrible pictures, so you'll have to trust me on that one!

~Sara

You Are My Sunshine

I've had wonky stars on the brain since Tong asked us to do these blocks for Sew Modern Bee. This quilt went together a lot faster than I expected. I just had to get into a groove and find a way to chain piece most of the blocks. Once I managed that, I was completely sold on this pattern! As much as I love modern quilting, there is something that just melts me about old fashioned patterns.

When I picked up this cheater print a few months ago, I instantly knew I wanted it to be the back of an all yellow quilt. I think it works pretty great on the back of this one!

This was the first time I've used pre-made binding. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I would rather make it myself! The pre-made is just a little more flimsy than what I am used to, but I do like how this one matches so well with the other elements of the quilt.

Big E took a shining to this one, but it's actually for one of the 7 babies of 2011! I have one more quilt to make to round out the seven and I better get at it since the Mama is due in exactly one month!

~Sara

Jelly Roll Wonderland

My grandmother used to make the best Jelly Roll. Actually, come to think of it, she was the only person I've ever know to actually make Jelly Roll, but it was fantastic! Each time I hear the words, I am thrown right back to my childhood, sitting at her kitchen table savoring every last bite of my slice! I really wish I had her recipe so I could recreate that same pleasure for my daughter, but I doubt I'd be brave enough for the rolling part. I could see my cake cracking in more places than one!

This wonderland was my first ever fabric Jelly Roll purchase. I got it on sale when Fat Quarter World was closing out. It's just been sitting on top of my stash for the better part of a year, so I decided to sew it into a simple strip quilt before the fabrics and colors went completely out of style! It sure did make for a quick finish! Gotta love those pre-cuts!

As you can see, I straight line quilted about 1/4" on either side of each seam. I love the effect this gave the solid pink back. I also used two different shades of pink thread to give it a little more interest on the plain back.

This one is going to the next one of my (many!) pregnant friends who announces she's having a little girl.

~Sara

Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice

In case you were wondering, this is NOT one of the quilts I mentioned I was working on. I am in deep! I had ordered a Bella Solids charm pack of all white charms from Sew Fresh Fabrics (super fast delivery to Canada!) and it was burning a hole in my stash, so I paired it with a Sweet by Urban Chicks charm pack and next thing I knew, I had another quilt top. It still needs another strip of white around the outer edge, but I am fresh out of white solid. Luckily, that's part of the order that is en route. Fingers crossed my orders arrive this week so I can get to finishing what I started around here. I sure will have my work cut out for me!

Had to include this shot of my little helper fighting the wind! A half decent picture was not an easy task today...

~Sara

A little more finishing and a lot less starting

I know I said I just had to add the binding to another strip quilt and it would be all finished, but I kind of don't like the binding choice, so while I percolate on that, I decided to jump in to not one, but two more projects (on top of my bee quilt - eeps!). I rarely ever start another quilt before I finish the one I'm working on, so we'll see what kind of precedent this sets. Anyhow, here are some shots of what's been swirling around in my head (doesn't it always feel so awesome to get those swirling projects out and in progress?!):

First up on the cutting mat, an all yellow wonky stars quilt. I cut out a whole bunch of pieces from most of my yellow fabrics. I started with 5" squares and had the bright idea to hack them in half. About half way through that brainwave, I realized I'd be better off leaving them as full squares so that I'd have more room to be as wonky as my heart desires. The polkadot squares you see at the bottom will be the center for each and every star. In my mind's eye, the yellow stars will look more like the sun because I already have my heart set on naming it "You are my sunshine." I guess if that doesn't go as planned, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" also has a nice ring to it!
And since I don't have enough white in my stash (how is that even possible?!), that project got shoved aside and out came these fabrics for the long awaited fishy strip quilt, completely inspired by these little bits of sweetness. Again, I'll need to secure some solids to mix in with these (and lots more just like them) strips.

One more thing to report, I received an email from a friend lastnight announcing that she's expecting! Six just turned into seven. It's a baby boom and I am not complaining!

Do you have any projects swirling around in your head just waiting to be put into action?
Do you let them swirl or are you a sketch book kind of crafter?

~Sara

She Sells Seashells by the Seashore

Another baby quilt down. That brings the tally 2/6. Thankfully all of the moms-to-be are all due no earlier than the summer, so it gives me some time to work my way up to 6.
I have another strip quilt ready to put the binding on...once I make the binding, that is. Also, I did some cutting yesterday for what should be #4 of six, but it's a wonky star pattern and that may get set aside if I need some instant gratification and interrupt the program with another strip quilt or some patchwork. I do have a stash of charm packs on the ready for when the mood strikes!

So this is the quilt where the walking foot made it's maiden voyage. Love that thing! It took a bit to get used to (first strip or two) and before I knew it, I had the pedal to the metal and the thing was all quilted! I mixed in a little bit of loopdy loos on the solid strips to add a bit of interest. I was nervous to try the loops, but they were really fun! This could definitely be my quilting pattern of choice for an entire quilt.

Ashley also has the strip quilt bug. The Mendocino was purely coincidence as I was inspired to cut into my stash after doing a swap with Tong, but now that I see her version, I wish I would have added a few smaller strips of different colors in for some variety. I am happy with this little quilt, though. It was a quick finish and right now, that's what I need!

~Sara

Action Shot #2

Is there anything sweeter than a baby girl freshly home from the hospital in her brand new nursery?

I think not. I wish she wasn't 10 hours away so I could snuggle her.

Action shot #1 here. Also so very, very sweet!

~Sara

A quilt! Finally!

It's been so very, very long since I've produced a quilt. Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I've showed you anything on this blog besides bee blocks! I couldn't stand it anymore. Call me a procrastinator, call me what you will, but I could not take the studying in lieu of creative time any longer. Something came over me last night and before I knew it I had a quilt top. Unbelievably so, I didn't have the right fabric for the back in my stash, so I had to put it aside until today when I could make a trip to the fabric store. Solids were on sale - buy one and get 2 free, so I was happy about that! This quilt is for a baby that is due in two weeks, but is long overdue to the parents she is just about to bless. They've been struggling to have a baby for a few years now, so it's pretty exciting that their journey is just about to end...or begin, I guess! I used a charm pack of It's a Hoot (gifted to me from Miss Donna!) mixed with some Wonderland here and there as well as three different shades of pink Kona solids. I don't know the names of them, but wish I did because I really liked them once I pulled them out of my stash. I quilted it with straight lines, and I use that technique title very, very loosely, 1/4" from either side of all seams. I love the drape this gives to a baby quilt. The photos leave a bit to be desired (colors are way off - back of the quilt is a sweet bubble gum pink and binding is a deep fuschia, but I was trying out my shiny new iPhone 4 with the "Shake it" app. Fun stuff! And so quick to get blogged. Speaking of my iPhone, I thought I should whip up a case for it so I could just throw it in my purse without worrying what else is thrown in on top of it or the crumbs at the bottom of the bag messing with it. It's not a show stopper, but was a fun little project for the holidays. I quilted it with tiny little messy circles. Of course, my intention was not for messy, but that's what resulted. I think it looks fine as is and it gives such a great texture. I hope to be back here soon to show of January bee blocks that have yet to be put together and a WIP. Take care until then! I've missed you!

Solids + Polka dots = dreamy

A sweet little baby girl was born last Sunday, a few weeks early. I had begun her quilt many months ago and thankfully had it done just in time to gift.

I knew as soon as I saw the Fat Quarterly Quilt Along posted back in August that it was a perfect way to use the Kona Rainbow Roll I had picked up ages ago. I stocked up on some great polka dots at our local Fabricland and away I went. I have learned several lessons over the years I've now been sewing. Squaring off? Muy importante. It's not perfect (Gah! How did two yellow polka dotted middles get beside one another??) and there are some wonky lines, but it's bright, colourful, and soft. It was nice to do some free motion quilting again, and I think I love scrappy bindings! This was my first, but I don't think it will be my last.

- Donna

Sugar and Spice

Fresh out of the dryer, this quilt is for a baby girl due to join the world in December. Can never be too prepared, can we? The fabrics, with the exception of the back and binding, are all from the Simplicity line by Three Sisters for Moda.

It's a Bento Box pattern which I doubt I'll ever do again. Matching up seams is something I've yet to perfect, so I really had no business going the Bento Box route in the first place! It's quilted using a meandering pattern a bit larger than I'm used to which makes it a little less crinkly.

I quilted it with a light pink thread that matches the solid pink back and the whole thing measures 41" x 55". I'm happy to be at the point where I can fold this one up and put it away until the shower rolls around. It's been keeping me from some improv quilting that I really want to try, but am nervous to ruin!

Question: Can you even ruin an improv quilt?

~Sara

I'm hooked on strings

Ever since I read about and feasted my eyes on Ashley's beautiful Kaleidoscope string quilt, I've been hankering to get started on my own. Then she kindly posted a tutorial and I really started making plans.

I have been setting aside scraps since I started sewing, and two nights ago I began the process of cutting them into useable strings. I also grabebd some bigger pieces of fabrics I really love, as well as some that I don't think I'll ever get around to using. I think a string quilt is a great place to use up some of both. I had initially planned on using up only things I didn't really care for, but a friend convinced me otherwise. "Use what you love," she urged, and since this quilt is going to be mine all mine, I'm taking her advice. Oh, I might just be using up the last of my Flea Market Fancy!!

I cut. And I cut. And I cut some more. I have no idea if I have enough, or even how large I want the quilt to be. As suggested, my strings range in size from 1" to 2.5". I realized that too many of my strings were on the wider side so tonight I cut some of them into more narrow pieces. I am using 7" squares as my foundation pieces, and we'll see how it shapes up. I'm pretty happy to be working on a block quilt for the first time. While I'm terrified that my cor ners won't come close to meeting up, it's super nice to be able to pick up a few strings and sew up a block when I have a few minutes to sew. With two kids under three, sometimes a few minutes in one go is about all I can manage.

Here is a shot of my first four blocks . .more to come. The process has me intrigued, and firmly hooked.

- Donna

A vintage pillowcase quilt - Check!

Ever since getting this book I've been itching to try out several of the projects. I managed to check one of them off my list this past long weekend, by completing a little baby quilt out of four different pillowcases. Although I didn't stick to the pattern to a T, I did start out that way, but ended up with a HUGE baby quilt (maybe my pillowcases were really big??) so I cut part of it off and went with that.

It's going to a new baby girl born a week or so ago. Can't wait to gift it! I haven't washed it yet, so not sure how much it will shrink up. The white fabric wasn't prewashed, not was the batting. It currently measures 32" X 44", so I'm hoping it doesn't shrink TOO much as it's a bit narrow.

I learned a little trick at my last quilting class too - clipping the corners of your quilt sandwich before mitering the corners gets rid of some bulk and allows for smoother corners. Still not perfect, but I do see an improvement.

Next up is the quilt I've been working on my quilting class. My class is now over and we're left to our own devices to get it quilted and bound. We starting quilting it in class and it was going along fine . .until it wasn't. We're supposed to qulit it as Sara did her last one, nice straight crosshatching. Mine, not so straight, not so nice. I'm going to be spending some quality time with my seam ripper in the not too distant future. I wanted to only show a completed project on that one, but I may come to you all seeking advice on how to quilt it. I'm sure you're sitting on the edge of your seat waiting, right? :)

I jest.

- Donna

That 70's Show

I finally finished this one last night. What was I thinking last week when I said I'd have it done the day after I finished the blue one?! This is the other project I started when I was away on the girls sewing weekend. I put the top together there and did the rest at home. Again, I used Denyse Schmidt Katie Jump Rope fabric for the front and some fabric Donna and Holly sent me for the back.

I finally strayed away from free motion quilting and attempted cross hatch instead. Instead of drawing lines on, I used painters tape to guide me and it worked like a charm. I really love it now that it's washed and dried. It feels lighter than a stippled quilt. Don't get me wrong, I still love the stippling! (the picture of the back looks funny, but I swear, it looks fine in real life!)

When I laid it on the bed I thought "That's it! I need to have another baby." So, either I have to stop making quilts, or I'm in big trouble.

~Sara

Gifting is the Best Part

Remember my first quilt? I got to gift it this afternoon and I was just so proud and excited. I was so happy to wrap it up and I can't wait to see the baby (due in mid-June) all snuggled up in it!

- Donna

PS - Isn't that gift tag awesome? My friend Nadia, of Red Sonja Designs, designed a selection of tree tags in mod colours for the Christmas ornament swap I organized last year. It was hard to use it on a gift but it complemented the paper so well, how could I resist?

PPS - Don't forget to sign up for the coaster swap! Sign up goes until May 8!

Little Baby Boy Number - Complete

First of all, we're getting really excited about the Coaster Swap! Swappers are trickling in and it's shaping up to be a great group. Don't forget to sign up by Friday, May 8th!

Now on to the quilting - I've learned a valuable lesson with this quilt: making a quilt with no planned recipient isn't near as entertaining. I'm happy with this one, but I don't feel a connection to it like I did the past quilts I've made. Is that weird?

The fabric used in this quilt is primarily Denyse Schmidt Katie Jump Rope and some dotty love from Fabricville for the binding. I also managed to use up some solid blue I had kicking around as leftovers from Big E's nursery. The quilt measures 37"x 46".

It's finally off of my to do list and I am quite happy about that. There is another one in the quilting stages and hopefully will join this baby boy quilt in the finished pile by tomorrow. Cross your fingers for me, would you?

~Sara

A quilt for TuesdayBread

I 've been working on this one for a few weeks, but it's done.

I'll definitely be hitting Sara up for some mitered corner lessons when she's in Ottawa, but all in all, I'm really happy with this lil' quilt. It's for the first baby of friends of mine, baby shower to be held in a few weeks. The inspiration for the colour palette was the fabric I used for the back, which is cut from a toddler duvet cover from Ikea that I thrifted at Value Village, new, for $2. It hadn't even been washed. The front is a mix of some of my favourite stashed pieces: some japanese cottons, a bit of vintage thrifted cottons, some 1930s repro, and some new cottons. I also framed up some of the animals cut from the duvet cover to tie in the front and the back.

I free motioned quilted it, and these photos were taken after the first wash. Should I wash it a few more times before giving it, do you think?

Sara helped me out with some really good advice for squaring the quilt off before attaching the binding. Long distance or not, she's really there for me. I made quite a few mistakes along the way, but a few of them actually ended up enhancing the final product, in my opinion. I mismeasured some of the pale blue for the front, and was short by a few inches, so I added another strip of patchwork, which I think worked out nicely. My original sketch had just four strips of patchwork strip at the bottom, but I ended up including 5 strips, three with animals, and two without. This happened because I got really tired the night I was framing up the animals, and with three completed, I laid out what I had on the floor, and they ended up all staggered which I thought looked cute. Before the yawns that were threatening to take over succeeded, I called it a night and the next night I added a fifth row of patches so that the bottom would look more balanced.

I can't wait to make the next quilt, which will be for my older daughter, who incidentally, has decided that the baby who will receive this quilt should be named 'TuesdayBread'. I've suggested this to the parents to be but I have a feeling that while they'll love the quilt they may find their own name for their baby.

- Donna

Ps - Do any of you get a little sad when a stash item (especially one this is either vintage or out of print) gets used up? I'm lamenting the almost goneness of this little gem that I found at a thrift store. I may hoard the remaining piece for awhile before I'm brave enough to use it all!

A Little Baby Boy Number

Big E stands firm that this could be for a girl, too. She's so progressive for a 9.5 year old.

I cut into some Denyse Schmidt Katie Jump Rope charms for this one. It's still in it's early planning stages - pieces pinned to my project wall and not a stitch sewn. I'll have to change that soon.

~Sara

Please Send Help!

Can't. Stop. Making. Quilts.

Two more on deck. I'll do one at a time so as not to appear completely out of control.

~Sara

Done like dinner

So it's finished and I'm not really over the moon about it. I think it's the off-white sashing that's irritating me. I am kind of proud of my progress on mitred corners though!

Edited to add: I went with the free motion again because of the backing I chose. I was scared that it would be too visible if my lines weren't straight if I stitched in the ditch. I feel one coming in the near future though!

~Sara