Made In Cherry QAL - Finished!

Back at the end of 2011, Chelsea at Pins and Bobbins hosted a QAL called Made in Cherry.  We started cutting in Jan. 2012 and I had a top completed in Feb. 2012. You can see a post about the making of the top here.

Then it sat until Feb. 2013 where I decided it was time to get this thing quilted.

So, I remeasured the top because it looked way too long with the added white borders.  I was right. WAY too long. I pulled them off, left the colored square borders and loaded her up to quilt.

Knowing there was a lot of empty space, I wasn't sure what to do when I started but decided to start and just go with it.  I decided to do some straight line quilting in the open white space except in 2 of the triangles where I quilted echoing triangles.

I added a looping border next to the blocked border and on the blocked border, it's even simpler. Just an X through each block.

I am pleased with it even though it was a chore to quilt. Why? Simply b/c as I committed to the design, I envisioned it looking like crap.  I didn't even look at it once off the frame for fear I'd never bind it.  Honestly, I felt that ambivalent about it.

However, I am nothing if not honest and knew I had to take photos and post them here.  Still unopened, I grabbed 2 kids, told them to hold it up on a 30 degree and windy day and snapped a couple photos.

And fell in love.  I love how the quilting looks. I still think I could have done things differently but I also really  like how I didn't do all four side triangles in triangle echo but only 2. I like how the borders show up.  I love the loopy star quilting in the star (sorry, didn't show it) and that it's loose enough of a meander that the star still pops when looking at it.

Is it just me or did I do alright on this one?  (Yes, shamelessly asking for a complement... I'll be okay if you don't give me one. LOL)

Cheers!
Beck

Ugly Swoon Block contest

Remember those Swoon blocks I've been making?  Well, what I learned in our Flickr Group was that almost every fabric combination, even the scrappy look, produced pretty blocks.

So I got to wondering, was it possible to combine fabrics to make an ugly block?   I posted this question in the group and with the responses, Katy of ImAGingerMonky (our hostess) and I decided it would be a fun little side competition.

We are about 1/2way through the time frame for creating and posting an ugly swoon block with a prize at the end (FQ bundle Pezzy prints by American Jane for Moda) for the ugliest.  If you want to join in, if you've missed the discussion, take a look. Here's the thread:

Ugly Swoon Block Contest

You have until March 15! :-)  Enjoy it, it's always pretty liberating to try to create something ugly on purpose.

Cheers!
Beck

Do your mistakes dictate your quilting design?

One of the Made in Cherry QAL top I'm working on is complete. The original plan was to work 2 of these tops simultaneously and donate them to Quilts of Valor. I cut the colored squares both at the same time but started sewing only one first and I am GLAD I did.

The squares and triangle points went together quickly and easily. 

Then I cut the background fabric for both but only sewed one. I followed the instructions but I still had problems. I don't know if it's my cutting (likely), sewing, or the background size (I am doing the 60x60 versions).  More than likely, I did something wrong. So I had to get creative.

When I lined up the pieces, I had excess in the middle where the triangle was supposed to meet at a nice point.  Instead, you see where there is a big gap.

 I decided to let the points get sewn off on the white triangle and then iron the excess white fabric down. Here's what I mean.

 I unstitched a little on the points.

 Then I refolded where they all meet to lay them flat & sewed it down.

 This is the fold sewn without pressing.

 Another view, prior to pressing. It's a big looking bubble of fabric so I have to ask do you think I was lazy to leave this in? I think yes but then again, I also think it doesn't matter for this design wtih the exception of that point being removed.  The good thing, that point is removed all the way around so I'm pretending it is supposed to be that way. :)

 Press the folds right over the colored fabrics.

Here's what it looks like once pressed and why you can see if I quilt it so that edge stays down, it will be just fine. So once again, it looks like my quilting is to be deteremined by my screw up on the piecing. One day, I won't need to do this.

Lastly, since I want to donate this as a QOV, I needed to make it slightly longer so I added a strip of extra squares and some more background fabric.  It's definately large enough now and come quilting time, I will quilt that white background down tight. 

As for the second top, I'm not sure if I'll work another star with all the cuts, re-checking the measurements of my background fabrics or if I'll choose another scrappy pattern and just go from there.  Maybe stripes of background and pieced squares or maybe a disappearing nine-patch.

More swoon blocks

Swoon blocks 5, 6 and 7 for your viewing pleasure.  Block 7 gave me royal fits. I pieced, ripped, pieced, ripped and pieced ripped!  Here's hoping 8 & 9 are more pleasant to get through.

Do you see the mistake in this block #6? I messed up the center and since I did not want to rip it and re-sew, I've decided that this will be my center block for the 9 block pattern. 1 different center. (Shh, it will look like I did it on purpose.)

On a side note, there is wasted triangles when creating the flying geese pieces so I'm turning them into pinwheel blocks and I plan to use them as a border. This will help make it a large quilt for drapping a queen bed or a king bed.

Cheers!
Beck

Swoon Block #3

Just popped in to show you my third Swoon QAL block. I've picked all the fabrics but I'm curious to see how the blocks come together. I am purposely just making them and putting them in a pile to let myself be "surprised" along with you.

One additional note, I've been reading many of your posts, but have been unable to comment. Every time I try, blogger just gives me a blank screen. I wanted you to know I was still reading and I'm not neglecting you.

Cheers!
Beck

Another Embroidery Block

I jumped on the sewing bandwagon again this week but have little to show so far except this embroidery block. 

I have to say, tehre are some things I've learned. I cannot rotate the hoop and embroider in only one direction, if that makes sense.  However, if I keep the hoop level, then I sew a much more even stitch.  I find this a little annoying because it means my left hand rarely changes position and I have to stop and stretch it.  

Anyway... a set of reversible placemats are being made right now for my sister with some fabric that was simply too cute to pass up and that ended up with her request for a new tablecloth also.  No good deed goes unpunished, right? lol  Pics of the placemats will be posted as soon as I bind them.  The tablecloth may take a little longer. :)

Hmm, what else am I working on simultaneously? A mini-project for my secret swap partner from the Sewing Summit (well, not secret to me but she doesn't know I'm sending her something).  I am not going to provide hints about what it looks like because I don't have a definitative design yet.  You'll know when I know, which means, when it's done. -wink- I have to mail it by 11/5 so you will see it very soon.

That's all about me.  How about you, what are you up to this week?

Small accomplishments

I realized I forgot to show you the embroidery block I completed on the plane ride out to Salt Lake City, UT. 

Also, just finished another test cathedral window mini. I tell you, I'm not completely satisfied with the tutorial I previously used but I was trying it again here with some modifications in process.  Can't say I'm thrilled but it is a practice piece so I get to see what works and what doesn't. One day, when I have a method that allows lazy me (I hate pinning) and less than perfect me (I cannot seem to get perfect folds from a perfect starting square which is supposed to create the perfect finished square) to get a beautiful finish, I will be sure to share it with you.

Cheers!
Beck

Paper Piece QAL - Week 2

ETA:
ACK! I just realized in the post below I talk about this being a 9x9" square and it's not! It finishes at 9.5"x9.5".  Please translate that when you read 9" below.  My apologies. To those that have already printed and enlarged their patterns, it's OKAY to finish this out using 9x9 inch squares. It just means more leftover fabric instead of not enough.  I'm sorry for the inconvience.

I'm sorry this post is a couple days late. With it being quarter end at work and March Madness here, I lost 2 days of the week to other stuff.

This week: Pattern preparation and cutting.  Say it with me, "yea!"

Preparing the Pattern:
1) Pring this pattern.  Use THIS LINK, not the picture below (and disregard the "A" in front of the letters, it means nothing).  I've set it up so if you print both pages at your normal printer settings (for normal 8.5"x11" paper), it should come out to look like each sheet pictured in the link.  You may have to "download" it first but it should still print as 2 pages. 

For my friends using A4 paper (thanks for asking Shevy!) I am not sure how to advise you the best way to print. There is another link below, a JPEG of the entire block but it prints (for me) as a 6"x6" square instead of 9"x9".  Here's the JPEG link.

UPDATE: Ms Pyjamas of Australia states she printed this and it came out at 6.75".  She then enlarged it by 31% and it came out to be 9" blocks.   Just get it as close to 9" as possible without going over too much and make all your blocks the same size and this will still work out with fabric requirements.

Once you print, fold one side on the line and tape the folded part to the matching line on the other sheet.  THEN MEASURE IT, please.  Each block should print up at 9"x9" with both sheets.

2) Put the block under one piece of tracing paper and using a ruler, trace all lines onto tracing paper (including the block outline). Add the numbers to the sections on your tracing paper.

3)  Now, you can repeat step 2 for all other pieces of tracing paper (if I have a 4-block quilt, I'll do that but if I have a 35 block quilt, I follow the following approach) or you can line up about 6 - 8 pieces of tracing paper ("TP" now b/c I'm tired of typing it) and pin them together securely.  Then, with the thread OUT of the sewing machine, use the needle to punch lines through all layers of the paper to create perforated line patterns on the other TP pieces.  If you have a machine that yells at you when you are trying to work without thread (like mine) the other alternative is to use the tool below and do the same thing, puncture each TP piece. However, you can only do 3 or 4 at a time with this method. 

If your eyesight is poor, I recommend following direction # 2 above. 

The last alternative, print the # of blocks you need from the printer. I only use this occasionally b/c (a) it's thicker paper and makes tearing away more difficult and (b) it uses a lot of  paper and ink.

4) Once all sections are marked with perforated lines or actual, drawn lines, be sure to number them all.  Pay attention and be sure you don't accidently turn blocks upside down before numbering.   Set aside. 

Cutting the fabric:

NOTE 1: Since there are so many options, I'm not breaking cutting down by each quilt. I'm giving you the cutting requirements for each block. You determine how many pieces you need by the # of sections in each block x the number of blocks with that color scheme. In one version, I have 3 yellow blocks.  3 yellow blocks times 2 sections of the medium, dark yellow = 6 med., dark yellow pieces total.

NOTE 2:  Reminder, once we are done, there will be waste from the fabric cuts. This can be reduced with PP practice but because we have newbies, I want to be sure struggling with angling fabric is NOT part of this QAL. Plan to pass your scraps to a friend who likes applique if you don't applique yourself.  That's the best advise I can offer.

A) Cut fabric for sections as listed below.

Section 3 = 5 1/2" x 10"

Section 8 = 5 1/2" x 10"

Sections 1 & 5 = 4 1/4 x 8 1/4"

Sections 2 & 4 = 4 1/4 x 8 1/4"
Sections 6 & 7 = 4 1/4 x 8 1/4"

Examples of cut sections for my yellow blocks.

B) You can cut borders now if you don't already have them cut and (please refer to week 1 post for the measurements you need) but I always wait until the end to cut those. I tend to measure better.

That's it for this week, folks. Next week, we will begin piecing. I will post every Monday from here on out! Let me know if you have any questions and please remember to post progress on our Flickr group. :-)


Cheers!

Beck

Winner, a must go to link, & a little weekend progress

First, the winner of the weekend giveaway, as determined by Random.org, Commentor #9:

deborah said...

I don't have a favorite fabric line, since I mainly work with scraps (yep..I love just a big mix) but I do like Sunkissed.

Congratulations Deborah! I'll hook up with you over email and get that turnover sent out this week!

Now,  I came across a link for this survey in blogland and HAD to share it. Piecemeal Quilts is having a survey based, in part, on comments to a post she wrote a few days ago. I encourage all of you to go take a look at both posts and answer the survey questions. They are quick and it will be interesting to see the overall results.  For me personally, I learned I've got quite a range of know-how under my belt (whether I'm accomplished at it, that's another story!) and where I used to say I was a tentative intermediate, I now KNOW I'm an intermediate level quilter or maybe even an adventurouse intermediate. Felt good.

If you still haven't signed up for the quilt along, WHAT are you waiting for? Go HERE and get the supply list. I promise it won't take too much time during the week. You can do it... and since I'm not above bribery, I will be giving somethign away to a lucky participant. So grab my sidebar button, spread the word and join up today. (That's my best sales pitch... I feel pushy but my brain knows it wasn't pushy.  Thank goodness I'm not in sales for a living or I'd starve.)

Finally, a little weekend progress. Here are the two stars for the Just One Star campaign.

In progress and I'm afraid I did something very wrong b/c measurement seem way off. I decide to suck it up and sew to see what it will look like anyway. There must be a reason they say to cut it this size.  (Gee, trusting a pattern, go figure.)

 

 Hmm, not bad. They want to trim and square it up so this is what I am sending along this week.

Cheers! Beck

Q&A on Quilt along (and a widget!)

I'll post answers to questions for the supply list here over the next couple of days.

1) No need for lots of printing, you can do that but if you do, you need printer ink and paper, not tracing paper.  All you will need is 1 print copy of the pattern. Perhaps a friend will let you use their printer if you don't have one?

2) FQ's will work for this but you have to do your own math.  I tried to do it but found I was confusing myself and that meant the chances of confusing you would be great. To determine if you have enough FQ fabric, you can use the individual cut section sizes first listed. I am not providing cutting instructions, it doesn't matter which way you cut, it only matters that you get pieces for each section in the sizes I've indicated (and more on that next week.)

Now, if you want to let others know you are participating (or if you just want to help spread the word), I think I've acutally created a functioning button that you can add to your own blog.  See my side bar for the code. :)  It is linked to my blog as opposed to a specific post, but that's the best I can do for now.

:-)

Quilt along post #1, suppply list.

I am late in the day posting, I know and apologize but to make up for it, I'm giving you a few options, and a week and a half to pull your supplies together. Next quilt along ("QA") post will be the 24th of March.

First order of business. I do not know how to do the linkee thing so instead, I've created a Flickr Group for us.  Questions/discussions can be posted there, anyone with an email address can participate for free and no blog posts are necessary if you don't want to. Just post pictures as the weeks move along.  It's fun to see everyone's choices and progress in the same place. So, pop on over there and join up. 

PAPER PIECE QUILT ALONG FLICKR GROUP

Second order of business.  For all those participating (and posting their completed tops, not quilted quilt, just tops) at the end of this QA on Flickr, there will be a random drawing for a prize. Right now I have one prize (to be disclosed later but let's just say it's stash friendly) and if we have a big turnout, I'll add a runner up prize.

Finally, a supply list:
Rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat
Tracing paper (enough for the # of blocks you choose & figuring blocks will finish at 9.5" square)
Fabric as indicated below.

If you want to go scrappy: the measurements for each piece of fabric for the block are:

Sections 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, & 7 = 4 ¼”x8 ¼”

Sections 3 & 8 = 5 ½”x10”

Yardage for 24”x24” Easter table topper:

Section 3 = 1/8 yd each, pale purple & light purple

Sections 2 & 4 = ¼ yd aqua polka dot

Sections 1 & 5 = ¼ yd light green flower

Sections 6 & 7 = ¼ yd yellow polka dot

Section 8 = ¼ yd pink polka dot

Border 1 = 2 EACH, 1 ½”x19”, 1 ½”x21” strips

Border 2 = 2 EACH, 2 ½”x22” aqua, 2 ½”x25” green strips

             An optional topper choice: 4th of July?

Yardage for 44”x53” garden quilt: (This is the quilt I am doing)

Section 3 = EACH, ¼ yard pale yellow, ½ yd pale blue, ¾ yd pale green

Sections 2 & 4 = EACH, ¼ yd light yellow, ½ yd light blue, ¾ yd light green

Sections 1 & 5 = EACH, ¼ yd medium yellow, ½ yd medium blue, ¾ yd medium green

Sections 6 & 7 = EACH, ¼ yd medium-dark yellow, ½ yd medium-dark blue, ¾ yd dark green

Section 8 = EACH, ¾ yd dark yellow, ¾ yd dark blue

Green Border 1 = 2 each, ½”x46” & ½”x39”

Dk blue Border 2 = 2 each, 3 ½”x48” & 3 ½”x45”

                                    An additional color and layout options for this same size quilt.
  
Yardage for 44”x53” pink ribbon quilt:

Section 3 = 1 ½ yd pale pink

Sections 2 & 4 = 1 ½ yd medium pink

Sections 1 & 5 =1 ½ yd light pink

Sections 6 & 7 = 1 ½ yd dark pink

Section 8 = 1 ½ yd medium dark pink

Light Border = 2 each,  1½”x46” & 1½”x39”

medium Border 2 = 2 each, 3 ½”x48” & 3 ½”x45”

                       Other color/layout options:

Yardage for 51”x51” patriotic quilt:

Section 3 = 1 ½ yd ice pale blue

Sections 2 & 4 = EACH, ¾ yd light blue, ¾ yd red

Sections 1 & 5 = EACH, ¾ yd medium blue, ¾ yd medium dark red

Sections 6 & 7 = EACH, ¾ yd medium dark blue, ¾ yd dark red

Section 8 = 1 ½ yd dark blue

Red border = 2 EACH,  1 ½”x46”, 1 ½”x48”

Blue border = 2 EACH, 2 ½”x48”, 2 ½”x53”

                Layout and color options:

I would like to take a moment to say, you are welcome to create your own design. You are also welcome to use solids, tone-on-tone or print fabric. This is all about being enjoyable to YOU and you alone.

Finally, I would like to say the fabric requirements are generous. There will be leftover after we cut and piece. I do not want people fussing with angling pieces and getting frustrated. Just look at it as a way to save scraps for your (or a friend's) applique stash!
Come post your fabric photos at the Flickr group.  Can't wait to see what everyone decides on. :-)  My fabrics are posted here and here.  I hope you have fun with this and if you are new to paper-piecing, this is an easy start. If you are familiar with it, I hope you find the variety of layouts and colors inspiring to you.

Cheers!
Becky

Tease

Four days and counting...

Cheers! Beck