Another WIP

About a month ago I felt the need to get back to my sewing machine.  I had a nice little stack of fat quarters, so I pulled out my Fat Quarter book from M'Liss Rae Hawley.  I've wanted to make her "Garden Gate" quilt for a long time so I finally did it.

It came together very quickly. It's small, but I think it will be perfect as a wall hanging in little L's room.  The walls are a nice yellow and this will go with them very well. Sorry the picture is so dark! I took it back when Chicago was still experiencing non-Spring.  Summer is finally here so I'll be sure to snap a pic outside when it is finished.

Catching up...

I'm back! My little girl L is now 3 months old and we are really getting a good rhythm. I went back to work a few weeks ago and that seems to be going ok so far.  Here and there over the last few months I've managed to find a few moments for quilting and projects, so I need to update things here. First up is a baby quilt for a darling little girl born last week.

I am currently quilting it and will show it when completed, but here is the top prior to quilting.  I used the "Big Dots" pattern from "Quilts Made Modern".  I didn't really need a pattern, but it was good to have an explanation of the freezer paper technique  I really like how the circles have that nice turned under look. I've done applique before but usually just raw edge.

not Pringles....

At the last meeting of the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild, we had a lovely day of just sewing! It was super fun and there were lots of snacks and goodies, as it was our last meeting of the year and sort of our "holiday party". Lots of people came by my table to see what I was up to.  They saw the piles of yellow circles from my previous post and thought that the heat n'bond circles were Pringles. They soon figured out what I was doing.  I took off the backing from each of 180 circles, and stuck it to a yellow circle. Then I ironed them all down to the background.  I added some sashing and I have a quilt!

I'm working on quilting it now and it is coming together REALLY well.  I am really loving it, even though I don't normally make up my own pattern, or use grey, or use yellow.  There will be more to see when I finish!

A process post...

I've decided to enter the Modern Quilt Guild Challenge 1.  It requires that you make a quilt inspired by a photo. I won't show the photo, but I'll show you the progress here.

It involves 180 of those little heat n'bond circles and 180 of those little yellow circles.  For the fabric it helped a lot that I had one of those rotary compass cutters so I could do 4 perfect circles at a time.  The paper I traced out while I was on the airplane and cut when I got home. I'll show more progress as they get added to their background.

what I'm working on

As I mentioned, I went to Gwen Marston's Beaver Island Quilt Retreat with my mom. It was very fun, very relaxing,and the location was just gorgeous.  The lodge is right on a lake, and all the trees were changing colors, plus the weather was sunny and warm.  It was so nice, and all the ladies were so friendly.  I'll post more about it in another post.

While I was there, one of the women at my worktable had brought a pile of pictures she grabbed from catalogs and magazines.  In it, there was a great picture of a carpet that really intrigued me. I don't have a picture to share, but it really inspired me. I pulled out my greens and browns and started cutting strips and hanging them on the design wall.  I couldn't figure out what was wrong with it.  I left it on the wall and went to bed. In the morning, Gwen came by and asked what I was working on, so I showed her and told her it needed "something".  She directed me back to the inspiration picture, and pointed out that there was some gold in the picture that set off the other colors nicely.  So I went back to my stash box and found some gold.  That was just what I needed! So I put that on the wall and it didn't look so dreary anymore.

Now this whole quilt is not a color palette I normally work with, so it was a real stretch.  I've been doing that lately--pushing myself out of my comfort zone in terms of color.  I feel like it is so easy to get caught up in the colors you like, the palettes you like, that you may not "grow" a lot as an artist. 

I was going to quilt it myself, but then my friend Ebony offered free quilting so that she could practice on her new longarm machine, and I knew it would be the perfect challenge for her. I don't know what she'll do, but I'm sure it will be great.  She has a great eye for design and I've always enjoyed her quilting designs prior to her getting this new machine, so I am excited!  I'll be sure to post once it is done.

Quick baby quilt...more process discussion

While I have not taken the "Process Pledge" per se, I feel like it is good to see how people come up with what they are doing.  I had some cute David Walker "Oh Boy!" fabric, and I knew I wanted to make a baby quilt for my friends who are expecting in September.  The fabric was so cute I didn't want to cut up the large-scale fabric, so I got out my notebook and designed a simple quilt.  I am sure there are patterns out there for this quilt--I just made it up based on some basic measurements.

I knew I wanted 2.5" squares (2" finished) so I figured out that if I put four together, I would get a side of a square that is 8.5".  So I cut my large squares 8.5x8.5, and cut a bunch of 2.5" strips.

Then I combined the strips together (length-wise) and cross-cut them into 2.5" pairs.  Then I mixed them all up and laid them out, like this:

As you can see, because I was using pairs I ended up needing "singles" on the ends.  I played around with the arrangement a little to make sure that there was some diversity--no pairs of the same color next to each other.   I sewed each row together and then sewed all the rows together, and I have a completed top!

Now I just need to figure out what to use for backing.  In general, it came together very quickly.  Feel free to email me if you would like to make a similar quilt and have questions about the measurements or anything.

Quick liberated baby quilt

When I got back from my trip, I had a nice package of solids awaiting me.

Some are for the paintbox quilt, and others were just because I am trying to increase the number of solids in my stash.  I've been meaning to make a baby quilt for my friend B, but the paintbox quilt took over. Well, she had a lovely baby girl E on Friday, so I realized I had better get cracking! I was fiddling with some fabrics, thinking I would do a disappearing nine patch quilt, but I couldn't find enough fabrics to get excited about. The solids were calling my name! So I cut a bunch of 13" strips with varying sizes, each with a wide end and a narrow end (no measuring).  I sewed them all together and then squared up to 12.5".  The nine squares were done yesterday and then I sewed the top together at the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild meeting.

You can't tell from the photo here, but the borders are a light gray and the light color in the quilt itself is actually a powder blue.  All are Kona solids.  I don't have the names with me at the moment, but you wouldn't want to make exactly the same quilt as me, would you? 

I came home and basted it and now I just need to quilt it.

It was super quick and easy.  I recommend you try it if you want to make something quick, easy, and modern for that baby shower that is next week. :)

Quilt a Long Blocks Finished!

Last weekend I went on a cutting craze to finish the paintbox blocks.  Here is the stack after all the cutting:

Then I finished them up Monday and Tuesday.

Some yellow ones:

Some turquoise ones:

And finally, some green ones.

I still haven't started laying them out, or deciding what color sashing to use. I know a lot of modern quilters like white backgrounds or white sashing, but I just can't bring myself to do it. White gets dingy too fast, even when you wash often.  I make all my quilts to be used, and I can't say that I am the most "clean" person. This is not to say that I am dirty, I just spill things a lot and am somewhat of a klutz. So anything white is basically screaming to get stained in my house. This is all being said when there are no kids in the house (I don't have children). If I did have children, I'd stay away from white even moreso.  I really don't understand how folks can make baby quilts that are white!  If the child loves your quilt, it will get snot, barf, mud, etc all over it and white just doesn't handle those so well.  Just my humble opinion, really. :)

I will look at some neutral linen, or possibly some beige or gray cottons.  I'm happy to hear suggestions if you think there is a color or brand I should use. What is your favorite neutral?

Not much quilting will happen in the next two weeks as I am leaving for Spain on Wednesday. Much food will be eaten but no quilting.  I'm just glad to have the blocks done before then.

Love beads top finished

I realized on Friday that I had Martin Luther King Jr. day off.  Why I didn't plan ahead, I don't know.  Sometimes I get so into the groove of work that I forget about the rest of the world.  Anyway, I took advantage of my day off to do some sewing!  I put together the blocks and voila!

This is the "Love Beads" pattern from The Modern Quilt Workshop by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr.  I really like their idea of slicing off the halves of the circles on the sides.  They call it "engaging the edge" and my husband agreed that it makes the quilt more dynamic--like it's continuing off the "page".  This one is for a coworker who is having a little boy in February.  I wanted it to be somewhat neutral, as the first quilt I made for her little girl was super girly.

I also started quilting the other baby quilt here.  I got about 1/3 way in before my needle kept hitting the foot.  Argh!  See below--see where the needle gouged a hole in the plastic?

I've since realized that I should just get a new foot.  This one is made of plastic, so it wobbles a bit, and then the needle hits the plastic and frustration ensues.  I just ordered a new one.  Take note if you are thinking of purchasing a darning foot: the more metal, the better.  It will wobble less and probably just plain last longer.  Now I have three quilts (love beads, this one, and this one) that are basted, waiting to be quilted.  I'm just waiting for the foot to get here.  Of course it'll get here on Friday, right before I leave for a family trip to Texas.

So I guess I'll have to get started on another quilt while I'm waiting for the foot to finish quilting my tops!

new charity quilt

As I mentioned in my goals for 2009 AND 2010, I want to actually make and give away charity quilts this year. So I got out all my children's fabrics and started cutting. I'm making a quilt like this one on the Moda BakeShop, but with no charm pack.

Here's the finished top! While not an official goal, I'd like to use fabric I already have, especially scraps. This quilt is great for those small pieces that you may only have a 5"x 5" piece to use. I'll definitely post it once it has been quilted!

Circles aren't scary

As you can see from my goals, I have been intimidated by circles in the past. I started working on "Love Beads" from The Modern Quilt Workshop by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr. You can see an example of the pattern here.

Here is my first half-circle ever!


It actually turned out ok. I don't know what I was so afraid of. Some tips:

• Take your time. This is not something to do if you need to get it done before dinner.
• Pin everything a lot
• Make sure that your cut pieces are accurate. If they aren't, it is going to be tough to get everything to match up.

I'll post more as I get the quilt put together.

progress on "out of line" quilt

A while back I posted a big pile of strips. There were over 100 of them, and now they make this lovely quilt. It is a gift for some family friends, but they don't know they're getting it yet. :)

Obviously I still need to quilt it, but I'm so happy to be making progress! Here is a more close up shot.

The pattern is called "Out of Line" and it is from Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr's book The Quiltmaker's Color Workshop. I highly recommend it if you don't own it already.

Next Baby quilt in Progress

I feel like everyone around me is pregnant, so here's another baby quilt I'm working on.

It's just a bunch of triangles in a variety of fabrics. Some "Red Letter Day" by Lizzie House, some other fabrics I don't really know the origin of, and then various Kona cottons.

It is for my friend whose son is shown here sleeping under the quilt I made him.
I feel like the second (or third or fourth) child often "gets the shaft" so to speak in terms of toys and special items just for them. So I want to make sure that baby #2 gets a quilt just as nice as the first one.

Zig Zag quilt

I know I'm a little late, but I decided to do the Old Red Barn Co's zig zag quilt along. I like the design, and I knew I needed more practice on working with triangles. I don't do much with triangles, so this was the perfect exercise.


This is a baby quilt for a friend. I don't know the sex, so I wanted to make it gender neutral. I think it turned out pretty cute, and I really developed my triangle skills! I feel like this was a good "skill builder" quilt for me. I have stuck to a lot of "safe" things in the past and this pushed me a little.

Now I just need to find some backing fabric. Good thing the baby's not due until November.

I feel like an artist...

The other day I was reading my (new to me) book, The Quilts of Gee's Bend. I got inspired. I saw the little hand-dyed fabrics from Heather, and I saw the scraps of black from this quilt, and got to sewing. I just started piecing and trying out layouts and came up with this.


I like it. I need to get some more black for the backing and to quilt it, but I think it's going to be a wall hanging in our living room. I know a lot of quilters are afraid of black, but I really like it. I fall into the camp of considering black a "bright". It really makes a lot of other colors pop when placed in contrast with them.

Making progress

I finally put the border on this quilt. I finished the top back in February but didn't have a border I liked. I had some leftover brown solid from this quilt, so I used that. I like how it sets off the bright colors.


I made this during a "quilt a thon" all day quilting session with a local quilting group. Of course, I was the youngest person there. The ladies were really nice and I'd like to go back, but they meet on Thursdays from 1-8pm. Two problems with that: 1) I have to work during the day and 2) Thursday nights are choir practice until June, and then July is dance practice on Thursday nights. Alas. Hopefully I'll be able to do the quilter's retreat in October. We'll see.

block party top finished

I finished this top. I really like how the brown sashing and border really sets everything off. I think it makes everything else really POP. My husband is so good--he was telling me that the strength of the design is having contrast in the sashing, rather than blending in. He was totally right.
I apologize for the poor photo job. My camera is on its last legs and I was also having trouble getting good light.

Now to find some backing. This one is going to the longarm quilter for the special treatment--it's a wedding present for a very special family friend.

block party in progress

I'm done with all the blocks (20) for a pattern called "Block Party". This is just four of them to give you an idea of the colors and pattern. It's from American Patchwork and Quilting's October 2005 Issue. It's designed by Jason Yenter of In the Beginning Fabrics. Anyway, I figured I was close to done. I just needed to cut up the blocks into fours and add sashing pieces to create a "window" effect. I asked my husband what he thought--should it be bigger? It's for a friend's wedding and I mentioned that it could be a "snuggle on the couch" quilt, or, if it was bigger, it could be a bed quilt. His response: "a bigger quilt does not prevent snuggling on the couch". So sayeth the expert in snuggling! :) So I need to create another ten blocks (it was four blocks by five blocks before). Good thing I have plenty of time for this one, and quite a bit of fabric. I might not post many updates, as I don't want to give away the surprise!

hearts in progress

I am currently working on a collaborative quilt. A woman in my choir (a fellow alto!) was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She was super good and always got her mammograms--in January they came back fine. But about two months ago she went in complaining of some pain and they discovered cancer. So I was reading about the group Prayers and Squares, and they talk about making prayer quilts for people who need some prayers. Well this seemed like a really good case! I am not affiliated with them, I just really like the idea that it is not about the quilt, but the prayers that go into making it. So I've been getting everyone in the choir to write a message on a heart, and then I've appliquéd them onto a piece of fabric.

I still haven't decided on a cut off date for them, because I really want everyone to have a chance to be included. So far I've got about 20 squares done. They were my first foray into fusible web and appliqué. If anyone has any tips for how to prevent your iron and ironing board from getting gummed up with that stuff, I'd love to hear them. I put down an old towel, and cleaned off the iron. How do you deal with fusible web goo?

Whipped up

So I whipped up this quilt pretty quickly.

My mom had sent me some fabric that she thought I would like--I paired it with some odd pieces in my stash that actually worked really well. I loosely followed the pattern "To The Nines" from the book "Rectangle Pizazz". I often use books and patterns for inspiration and then go from there. I wasn't sure I was going to like this as I was working on it, but as it came together, I really like it! I think I'm going to call it "Six Patch"

Overhead shot:

Detail:

Back:

I had really meant to finish two quilts this weekend, but I'm studying for a certification exam at work, and I'm practicing for a swing dance performance next weekend. So not as much time quilting as I'd like. But here's a preview of the next top to get quilted and finished.

It is patiently waiting its turn.