Second Time the Charm

There, that looks so much better!  The sashings match! (the Before picture is in the post below)

I ripped out the long sashing and remeasured/ripped/resewed about 3 small sashings along one of the columns...

I was worried the blocks would become frayed if I continued to rip, so I decided to try putting everything together again.

After sewing the long sashing onto one row, I laid out the second row so it would align with the first.  Everything seemed to magically come together.

But I did one thing different when I started pinning the second row.... I matched the first cross sashing with the other and pinned there first.  I continued to pin each cross sashing (and they did match) and finally I added pins to either end of the piece.  I really don't know if that technique helped, or if I had solved it with the resewing of the blocks/sashing...

Anyway, I am pleased and maybe I have learned a new technique.

Sometimes it is more logical Not to start at the beginning...

I May be Calling Jack (the Ripper) For This

This week our quilting group laid out the blocks for our Habitat for Humanity quilt we will be making.
This is without the sashing..  The blank square is for a block that had to be worked on...I had to take the picture quickly before the blocks were distributed.

 Each of us took home 1 or 2 rows to put together, along with the sashing needed.  We will have a 72 block quilt when we get finished (9 x 8)


I am not a picky quilter, but I think Mr. Jack is going to earn his retainer Wednesday. Luckily I did not cut the strip I was given for the long sashing.  I still have a tail hanging on one end.......of the two columns/rows....

  I don't like the idea of redoing all the sashing, but I feel as if I need to put the extra effort in it.  My part might not be perfect, but it will be better than the picture, I hope...

With several people involved in making the quilt, we are bound to have a little sash sliding in places....but hopefully the people who get the quilt will be looking at the overall result...and it should  be great.

If I get a picture of the finished quilt I will post it....

I Love My Hubby!

I am not in business....Far from it....Love Retirement!

But my hubby, also retired, likes to make "business cards" for himself to show at any hamfest or gathering, or if someone wants our address, etc...

While he was making a fresh batch for himself, he surprised me with a few (10,) of these:

 Our address, phone number and my e-mail address is under my name, naturally I blocked it out so I could show you.

The quilt shown is the one I made him,,,a crazy quilt out of his old clothes....heavy as all get out, it was a quilt as you go project...

Futures....in Quilting

Oops! Sorry.. Wrong key to those who see the title and nothing else last Sunday....There are Futures in my future, honest...

Basically, I got tired of several of these being stuffed in see through drawers...

They have been there too long (years +) because.I just couldn't make up my mind to cut them in smaller, useable pieces.. once I cut them....what if I need some of them for other reasons???....

Procrastination and Indecision....two BAD and USELESS attitudes!

In the meantime, my Go! Baby has been Rediscovered, along with dies (Tumblers, Squares, and Rectangles..)

Put the two together and I have the start of a couple of scrappy quilts,,,,eventually....

.
Not paying attention to color too much...hoping to have a large variety of shapes so I can pick and choose...who knows, maybe I'll even combine shapes....

I SO love!!! not knowing what I am doing!

Hoppin' Bunnies Whoop....

One step led to another and look what I did today....

Whoop! Whoop!

Thank You, Neighbor!

One of my neighbors enjoys machine embroidery....and sometimes she has leftovers.....

These are a sample of about 18 or 19 she gave me the other day with the instruction, "Make a baby quilt for the New GD to Be". 

Yes, Ma'am!

I picked 10 out, and to go with them I will be making 10 identical Nine Patch Blocks.  In accordance with my 2013 attitude of "Things I Have Been Promising Myself to Do", I brought out my Go Baby (which has been gathering dust on the bottom shelf) and will be trying the strip method of making Nine Patches....more pictures about that later; in the meantime, this is what I have done thus far....

Oh, the silver lines on the die?  Except for the goof line at the end, they show me where the cutting blade is so I can see if the fabric covers it or not....I used a silver Sharpie...

Bug Collection - Block One

Yea! It's official....I have started my first applique project, for Real! 

The directions say to cut the background a little bigger while sewing, to allow for fraying of edges...so this will be cut down to 9 1/2" x 4 1/2" just before I put everything together.

The spider was my February block.  I should be able to finish more than one block a month, but that is my minimum. Other than that, I have no schedule to keep on this. 

Lazy Way Out.....or.. Recycling Opportunity

I bought this ready-made wall hanging a few months ago with the idea of just having something to sew when I didn't have anything else, or felt like a small change from a long HQing project.

I used black thread and HQed on all the black lines....wishing I hadn't about one hour after I started (okay, it was about 10 minutes, but I am stubborn and didn't quit).  Anyway, I finished it a while back. 

One of the reasons I did this was to practice making a sleeve and sewing it on the back. I read the directions and had it firm in my mind how to do it, even bought a dowel stick.  So, yesterday I started looking for a white piece of fabric to use....and found an old curtain. I started to put it aside when I realized......it already had a sleeve..... It was slightly more than sheer and less than cotton, but substantial enough to hold this lightweight project.

So I measured, cut, sewed, and came up with an already folded and creased sleeve which I tucked under the binding as I sewed it on...still sewing, btw....

It was the lazy way out, but one must look for innovative ways to save time.....you can make more quilts that way...

Do I still need practice making the sleeve from scratch.....yes.....but I am still on the lookout for free curtains...

An Old, Used, Worn, Torn, Loved Treasure

Found this in Mother's things yesterday...double bed size..1" blocks, straight line quilting and very determined to stay together.

Don't know how old this is, but Mother did not quilt...my Grandmother & G Grandmother did, so this could be easily 100 yrs old...sure looks it...

 I am definitely not the one who can save this, but would love to be able to bring it back to it's glory...

It is too fragile to wash right now, and so stained that it might not be worth it...

But I hate to see the gorgeous colors disappear...

I thought I'd take it to my quilting group for suggestions...

Have any of you run across this problem before?

Leaf Pattern out of Painter's Duct Tape

I bisected/sewed the rectangle into quarters and used painters duct tape to fashion a leaf pattern for each quadrant.  I will use the same shape in each of the 4 patches, only a little bigger.  I can stick pieces of duct tape together, draw the pattern and then cut.  They adhere to the flannel well and I can use the same one several times before it gets too ragged, then I make another one.

I'm still not sure what I will use for the borders, but may just "wing" a wavy line in the middle of each strip....

Can't wait to see how I do it.....

Ready to Hand Quilt - Whoop

 I am ready to Whoop! it up with a quilting hoop... see Sarah's blog for more Whoops!...

My flannel top was ready and all I needed was a back and batting.  My back is made with a larger paisley print stripes with white stripes on either side.  It compliments the front and is looking good. 

I  used embroidery thread and basted  the sandwich together while I listened to an audio book.  I can no longer crawl around on the floor, so I use a chef's table made of metal I bought from Sam's.

 

 

 It rolls around and is tall enough so that most of the fabric does not reach the floor.  It has enough surface area on the top and is smooth with rounded edges so that I can smooth the fabric down, baste the area on the top and then slide/shift the fabric to a new area. I only work on it 20-30 minutes at a time and then have to sit and do other things, but this really works for me

It also serves as a holding area for my batting...and I don't have to unload it to use it..  *Please ignore the mess and shoes...I find I have to take them off when I use my foot petal..I have more control that way.*

My flannel quilt is now ready to be HQed...I have decided on the design, which will be a simple one, with a few curves here and there...maybe I can show it to you later on in the process...

 Look good now,,,you won't see this again for a couple of months....

But I won't wait that long for the next post, I promise.....See Ya....

Christmas Butterfly

I have finished with the Christmas Butterfly except for the buttons for the eyes..Those I will have to find..I want them to be small black buttons, either the 2/4 hole kind or ones that are like a round ball.  Hopefully I can find some in my stash or one of my friends will have some.

It's roughly 46" x 26"...To repeat myself from other posts, I used the remnants of my Christmas Tree Skirt to make this.  Even with cutting the strips down after sewing them together, they still make large wings.  I hand fashioned the body, kinda free style (drawing is not in my skill box) and kinda "winged it" from there. 

I would like to keep it, and may do so, but my Christmas Skirt went to my DDIL, and this matches it...so we'll see....

This is supposed to be a table runner...to me it is a little long for a wall hanging, but what do you think?  The back is done, but I can still make several tabs on the back to hold a dow stick..I don't want to ruin the front with stitching and am trying to decide whether to do that or not.  It could be hung with small clips on the top..

Be sure to check out Sarah's Whoops for this week. They are great!

Sewing D4P blocks

4 done, 2 in process and 4 more to go...that will give me the 10 needed...

These are coming together much better and faster than the blocks for the first D4P quilt I made....

Hopefully when the time comes, I will be able to get a picture of the top/finished project for you.

Unexpected and Lovely Idea

I met with our quilt group last Monday.  One of the members brought a lot of 5" squares she received while at Market...She suggested we use them in a scrappy D4P quilt to be given to the local Habitat for Humanity.  We agreed and eventually had them grouped and some given to each one (about 10 blocks for each).  I was the last one in line, so to speak, so I was honored with not only my 10, but the rest of the blocks...so I will see how many I can make in two weeks.  Can't remember if it will be a twin or double size...we will see how many blocks we have at our next meeting...

Here are the very beginnings of my blocks

We have yet to find out from the local H/H as to when the residence will be completed, but decided to go ahead and start on the quilt...worse case scenario is we give it to some one else who needs it...
It's nice to have a group that is small enough to decide on a project this quickly, and yet have enough people to be able and willing to do it in a timely manner.

Finished Wounded Warrior/Zigsaw Quilt Binding & Quilt

 You have seen the top before, but now this is ready to go, as soon as we receive the labels from the WW group.

It is quilted with variegated thread with a dark blue backing,,same color as binding.  This is one of the few I did not HQ. 

So glad it is done....it really was a challenge to put together.  I plan on using the pattern again, maybe in 3 -4 months.