Sewing Day

Once a month, my mom’s quilting guild hosts a sewing day at a local Bingo hall.  It’s a great space with plenty of room for everyone to spread out.  And there is a great Italian restaurant a block away so we had yummy Stromboli for lunch.  I wish I were retired too so I could join the group more than once a year!

I packed three bags…one is my sewing machine and then I have four different projects to work on.   

First, I added borders to the leftover Swoon blocks and brought the backing up to size.  I hope to get this quilted before school starts in a few weeks.    

Then I worked on some HST for the Starry Night for Josh QOV quilt-along.

The tables were a little too low for comfortable cutting, and I didn’t have the correct size ruler and mat,  so I set this project aside.  Sometimes it is just not worth it to “make do” especially when there is new fabric to play with!  I opened a couple jelly rolls and started a new design.  Unfortunately, I did not think ahead more than one step, so I spent some time ripping while making the strip sets!

It was a lovely day, but now I am back to longarm work.  I have another Aviatrix Medallion on the machine and we are expecting summer thunderstorms as remnants of Hurricane Dolores pass by.

Time for borders

I sew many quilts for charity, mainly Quilts of Valor.  (When there is another quilter in the family and only one other sibling, there are not many in-house requests, LOL!!)  Back in January one of my students asked me to perform in the staff talent show at my high school.  Since I prefer to sing in a choir, I thought of a way to showcase my true love. I set up a machine backstage, and introduced myself to the audience and explained that I was going to take the long strip of fabric (prepared jelly roll strips) and turn it into a quilt top.  While the other acts performed, I put the pedal to the metal.  Phew, I was worried that I would have to stop short due to time constraints, but the show director added one extra song, and I cut the threads just as that piece ended.

TA DA!!!

I love the combination of the lighter blue and the different neutrals in this line from Moda. (I think it is called “Red White and Free”)

I also had a sewing day with students from the National Honor Society, and they made the blocks for this Yellow Brick Road quilt:

I had the thought to use both tops to make a reversible quilt, but I talked myself out of that.  It seems like cheating when I can easily make two quilts and honor two of our dedicated service members.

My traditional jelly roll top finished at 51×63, which is too small for QOV (they request a minimum of 55×65, and the preferred size is 60×80).  So, I found some red fabric in my stash and added another 2″ border and on my last shopping spree I found that great navy blue dotted fabric.  I loved it so much I bought the end of the bolt, about 2.5 yards!!  I am adding a 4″ border of blue so the quilt should end up about 63x 75.I will have to dig deeper in the stash to find pieces for a backing, and then I have the perfect pantograph in mind for the quilting.  I hope to have this done in a week or so in order to share it with the students who organized the staff talent show before school ends.  By the way, I got a cute Santa trophy for “Most Unexpected Talent.”  It was a fun night!

On-going projects

I had hoped for more sewing time this vacation, but family outings have taken priority.

i managed to get clue 5 done for the Grand Illusion mystery:

 

We (all of us MQAL followers) are anxiously waiting for Friday morning to see if we will be sewing more units or if it is time to put things together. You can find the mystery details as well as many other patterns and tutorials at Bonnie’s website (www.quiltville.blogspot.com)

In between clues, I have been working on some other UFO’s.  Over the summer I joined a Swoon block exchange. The blocks are in rows and I have a plan for borders, and have even started on the back!

I also finished the December blocks for the Mod Mod QAL.

Both of these are destined for Quilts of Valor.

Long Term Projects

** Comment on the Oct 24 post to enter a charm square giveaway!  Open until Sunday Oct 26**

Before there were online quilt alongs, local shops would entice their customers with BOM projects – Blocks of the Month.  Many designers still offer these projects, and it’s a great way to tackle a large quilt.

I have been working with some friends on a year-long Bible Study/quilt project called “Women of the Bible” and tonight I finished block 52!  Here are the second half blocks, but it looks like I misplaced one.  ARGH.  That is certainly a sign that it is time for a deep clean of the sewing room!  The other 51 blocks have stayed nicely in their pile, I don’t know what happened to the Shunamite Woman…

Some other BOMs have been patiently waiting for attention for many years.  I have all the blocks done for the 2007 Marti Michell quilt called Hidden Stars…

 All it needs is a border!

A couple years ago I joined the Fat Quarter Stars QAL:

I stalled after putting the sashing on.

And the Block Lotto patterns from this year will make a nice QOV…I have seven months worth done.

How old are your projects?  Would you start with the project that is closest to being done or whichever strikes your fancy?

Jelly Roll Races

**Freebie Friday – Books!  This giveaway is open until Thursday Oct 24 at 9pm MST.  Comment on this post to win**

A quick and easy quilt pattern is the Jelly Roll Race.  Jelly Rolls are sets of 2-1/2″ strips, usually packaged in groups of 40 to highlight a designer collection of fabrics.  The race part came in when a group of quilters decided to see how long it would take to make a quilt from a jelly roll.  The first step is to sew the strips end-to-end, creating a 1600″ length of fabric.  The strip is then folded in half and sewn along the long end.  Repeat the process…folding and sewing, several times to create a lap-size quilt.

This pattern is ideal for beginning quilters and charity efforts because you don’t have to worry about precise cutting and it goes quickly.  Once the strips are joined in step one, you can finish the quilt top (before pressing) in about 45 minutes.  There are several variations – join the strips on a diagonal vs a straight seam, add spacer triangles or squares, slice two finished race tops in half to mix and match, etc.

I chose a jelly roll with batik fabrics to make a masculine QOV top.  It’s a little smaller than the recommended size, so I need to add some borders.

And, I can make my own Jelly Roll if I ever get my 2-1/2″ bin of scraps organized!

New QOV Design

I was getting tired of the split nine patch blocks, but I still love the classic nine patch.  So, I gave it a twist!

I learned this technique early in my quilting career, and there is a book by Sharyn Squier Craig called “Twist ‘n Turn: a fun way to frame quilt blocks.”  To make a quilt that meets the desired size for QOV, you will need 48 or 56 blocks. (With borders, that would be either 58x 66 or 66×74)  Here is my layout for the larger size:

To make the block, start with 2.5″ squares and construct a nine patch.

Then add a yellow border.  Using a 2.5″ strip, cut 2 pieces at 6.5″ and 2 pieces at 10.5″.

You can make your blocks tilt to the right or to the left, depending on how you align the ruler to make the first cut.  The finished look of the block will be the opposite of the beginning ruler position.  Lay the ruler at an angle on the right side of the block, keeping at least a half inch seam allowance to the corner of the block.

Turn the block so the cut edge is along the bottom and lay the ruler straight along the 8.5″ line on the cutting mat.  Trim the next side of the block.  Repeat for the remaining sides.

And now your block is ready to dance along, doing the twist!

My UFO Pile

I am a member of Ravelry, the online knitting community.  Many of us have a variety of hobbies, and there is a “Quilters Knitting” group on Ravelry that is very active, especially when it comes to tackling UnFinished Objects.  Each quarter, we post a list of at least 5 quilting projects that are languishing in our sewing space.  I coordinate the “Send” group, which means that if you finish a project, the group members will send you a fat quarter.  It may seem trivial, but even that small reward is enough to motivate me!

Last quarter (July – Spetember) I was busy with school and my daughter’s ice skating life, but I did manage to finish this for Quilts of Valor:

I made the blocks in 2013 with patterns from Block Lotto, a monthly exchange group.  I finished the top on New Year’s Day 2014, as part of the Quilts of Valor Sit and Sew event.  Then it sat in my longarm pile, until I looked at the calendar and needed a quick finish for the Ravelry UFO challenge!  I loaded it onto my machine and did so fun free motion designs in each block, with a simple wavy line in the sashing and loopy meandering in the border.  I need to wash it and make a presentation case (pillow case) then drop it off for our state coordinator to present to a deserving veteran.

I have quite a few tops to work on for the next round of the UFO Challenge, Oct – Dec.

1. Star Light Star Bright – I recently finished the blocks, so the next step is borders then quilting and binding.

2. Football Chain – a baby quilt and pattern to be published.

3-12. Tops that have been in the longarm pile for years…

Front row: 3D trees, Square-in-a-square QOV, Mystery QOV, 4patch posy, 3Ps in a Pod

Back row: Mardi Gras Bargello, Turning 20 Christmas, Star Chain

On the wall: Sedona Stars

Those projects should definitely keep me busy, but I guarantee that something else will catch my fancy and the list will grow!

What projects are you working on this month?

A finished QOV

Today is Quilts of Valor National Sew Day, and I have done my part.

I started this top during the Quilts of Valor New Year’s Day 2014 Sit-n-Sew.  Looks like I can get a lot accomplished if I quilt on the first of the month!  Actually, I made the blocks throughout 2013 using Sophie’s patterns from Block Lotto.  (This year, she has even drafted a full pattern along with the blocks, so everyone can join the fun in the Mod-Mod QAL!)

The blocks were an unusual 6″ x 9″, so the center was a long rectangle.  I knew I needed borders to bring it to the QOV officially recommend size of 60×80.  I decided to add 6″ pinwheels to the right and left, and just a 3″ strip across the top and bottom.  I found a great patriotic print called “Stars and Stripes Bandana” to use as the outer border.

I will put this one at the top of my “to-be-quilted” pile and maybe during Spring Break in March I can do the final steps and get this in the mail to a worthy recipient.  Thanks to all who serve in our military!

If you want more information about Quilts of Valor, click here.

Block Lotto fun

We have been making 6″x9″ blocks this year. I made some in the required batiks for exchange, then I made these two patriotic for my QOV sampler.
Check out my other blog, truebluequilters.wordpress.com to see my other big project, a 52 week quilt along!
Happy stitching!

Quilt one, knit two too!

I’ve graded about half the essays I brought home, so I rewarded myself with play time in the sewing room!  Alycia is hosting a block drive for Quilts of Valor (details here) so I made some patriotic string blocks.  Yes, one of those fabrics reads grey.  I need to work on prepping my scrap bins.  I didn’t have a large selection of 1.5″ strips, which work well for these string blocks.  Alycia has two patterns posted on her blog and lots of great prizes for sending in at least five blocks.

I have been spending most of my free time knitting shawls.  I made a mistake on Evolution and ripped it all out to start over.  I am almost done with the texture of Section 3, then cables, then back to the lace part.  Notice all the markers to keep me on track this time!

And this strange looking thing is Stephen West’s mystery shawl!  It does look better in person, but there is alot of consternation in the Ravelry group about those funny-looking holes in the center.  My third color is a navy blue, similar to the couch which is my photo backdrop.  Tomorrow is the official start day for my international quilt along for the Women of the Bible Quilt.  I created a new blog… if you’d like to see my progress and block tutorials, visit us HERE.

Sunday afternoon is a good time for a nap.  Just ask our kitty Amy: