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

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

"Making it Work" quilt is finally complete

When I had the idea to make a quilt for my mom and stepdad (what else was I going to make them, really?!) I knew I wanted to use Daisy Chain in this colorway. They just repainted their house and these colors fit in well with their decor (I hope!).

I've had the fabric for a while now, but was struggling with what pattern to use. My mind went through a good many patterns before I got frustrated and just started ripping the fabric and sewing strips together. And so it became what you see here, the "Making it Work" quilt. Once I had the strips, I just made it work from there!

My intention was to make a checker board with white blocks between the blocks of strips, but it looked too bland with just the white, so I cut up the white blocks and framed up some Robin's Egg and Stone Kona solids.

The binding is pieced with each of the five Daisy Chain fabrics in the blocks and is sewn on entirely by machine. I'm pushing two weeks late on this one, so some sacrifices had to be made! I am quite pleased with how it turned out. My picnic quilt also has a machine sewn binding, but it's lacking a bit since I didn't figure out to sew the 2nd time around on the front until this quilt! Much neater this way!

Throughout the process, I was never 100% sold on this quilt, but I've never met a quilt fresh out of the dryer that I didn't fall in love with.

~Sara

Bijoux Coin Quilt

I finished another quilt today!! I started this one ages ago, BEFORE I had invested in a 1/4 inch foot for my machine. Those babies help keep me straight, so the coin stacks were sewn together without the aid of a guide, which resulted in some wonkiness that I sort of patched over by trimming the stacks straight. This meant that the stacks are of varying widths and lengths, even though they're all pieced with the same number of coins. Ooops!

I also made an error in cutting a pile of charms into coins, which meant I had some scraps. Not wanting to waste the scraps, I decided to try my hand at making some tiny little log cabins to piece into the back. I had seen Red Pepper Quilts' beautiful Gelati Quilt, and I was inspired! Having made eight in an evening at the machine, I can't imagine the work that went into that quilt!

This is a quilt for my daughter, who will be three in September. It measures just 35" X 44", which is much smaller than I wanted. It shrunk a fair bit - I used pre-cut charm squares and didn't pre-wash my white since the charms hadn't been pre-washed, and the turquoise backing is a piece of cotton from a thrift store which I did wash. (Note to self: when using thrift store fabric pay attention to the fabric!! Look for fold marks that are fadey! Preferably before it's pinned and half quilted).

This one came together pretty quickly, once I got going on it. I quilted it in +30C weather, with humidity readings sending the temps well over 40C. There may have been removal of a shirt or two along the way. I escaped to a nearby coffee shop with a/c last evening and handstitched most of the binding while sipping a very tall iced tea. Another reason why hand sewing the binding is my favourite part.

We don't have a/c and I think I'll move away from quilts for a bit now until the temperature returns to a more livable level.

How are you all coping in the heat?

- 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

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

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

Coin Quilt Completed!

Another one down! I wasn't so sure about this one at several stages during it's production, but now that it's all washed and dried, I am smitten. You just can't beat a quilt with warm and natural batting and free motion quilting...okay, maybe a sweet little baby all snuggled up in that crinkly goodness. Aye! My ovaries!

This one reminds me so much of my grandmother. The mismatchiness of it reminds me of her need to use up everything she had around the house rather than buying fresh supplies. What impressive restraint that woman had!

~Sara

"Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed."

- Michael Pritchard



I decided to jump in with both feet and get to quilting this quilt last night. I started by taping the back to the floor which I hadn't thought of doing before and am so glad I read about it somewhere in my travels because it made a world of difference while pinning. I pinned until I didn't have any pins left to pin with and then I took the plunge. So far, I am pleasantly surprised at how smoothly the quilting process is going. I am a little over 1/3 finished (I had to put it aside to watch Grey's otherwise I might have gotten further!) and no major catastrophes to speak of yet...knock on wood. It's all I can think about and I cannot wait to get it in the washer so that I can see those beautiful puckers this style of quilting produces. If you need me tonight, you know where I'll be!

~Sara

Eureka!

I made an enormous discovery last night. I might even go so far as to say it was a monumental discovery. Lately I've been toying with the idea of free motion quilting, but seeing that I have a roughly 40 year old Kennmore machine that was handed down from my mother (sound familiar, anyone?!) I didn't think I had a chance at becoming Queen of Free Motion.

On the contrary, my friend!! If there's a will, there's a way. After reading the manual (when all else fails!) I figured out that all I had to do was slip this little metal plate over my feed dogs, press the mystery button on the top of the machine, install the zig zag foot and that old machine was ready and raring to go!

To show my appreciation, I replaced the needle; the poor, dull needle that has been on the machine since it was passed down to me some 10 years ago. It just so happens I have a long list of projects on the go that will look so very lovely (I hope!) having been quilted free motion style! I started cutting out a scrap quilt for a baby present, but that'll go on the back burner until I get a few baby shower gifts sewn up for the weekend.

And since I had to go to the fabric store to get some white fabric for the scrap quilt, I picked up a few new lovelies and some fat quarters while I was there. Must. Stop. Buying. Fabric.

-Sara