Dust bunnies?

/ quiltinggail / 13 Comments

Nothing too exciting this week.  I did finish my April Island Batik challenge … but of course, I can’t show you until April.

How am I?

I’m feeling a bit unfocused!  The other day, I sewed for about 10 minutes and then I HAD to organize my zippers [i don’t know why – i’ve never done so before]…  Then I sewed for about 5 minutes and then I HAD to tidy up a box of fabic [OK … it was a huge mess and needed to be cleaned up] … Then I sewed for about 3 minutes and then HAD to sweep the floor and gather the dust bunnies … Then, it was time for a break … Sigh … but the zippers are still organized, as is the box I tidied … but the dust bunnies escaped and multiplied and are taking over!!!!  Thankfully, this is from the floor and not from inside a sewing machine!!!  And this is just today’s bounty … and I did sweep yesterday as well!  fullsizeoutput_c9e

ANYHOW … enough of my First World Problem!   On to quilting!

Design Wall

Piecing:

Donation Quilt:  On Facebook, I challenged the guild members to make a donation quilt by next Friday … the inspiration for this came from the cancelled Baby Quilt Kit Making day that had been scheduled for Saturday.  There are a few that have taken up the challenge, and some are almost finished!  Me?  Well, I haven’t even started.  Do I make a quick baby quilt? Finish a flimsy for donation?  I’m un-decided … but I better make up my mind soon, eh?

Frolic:  One border is done on 1 side … 

IMG_6321.jpegFlorabunda:
10 blocks completed this week … the picture on the left is not from this week … I have a sneaking suspicion that I will be making more than one quilt from these blocks.

Stay at Home Round Robin:  The 2nd row (piano keys) is on and you can read about it / watch the video about it HERE.   And, below is a picture of the 2 quilts with their piano key borders on.

Quilting:

No quilting happening right now.

TO DO 

I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”

Last week’s list:

  1. Round Robin: add the next borders    √  done
  2. (Maybe) finish quilting April Island Batik    √  done
  3. Make Elvira into a flimsy    √  done
  4. Summer Solstice: Complete next step  NOT DONE
  5. Frolic: get the borders on!!!!   only side of one border on

This week’s list:

  1. Round Robin: add the next borders
  2. Donation Quilt: ???
  3. Sandwich Elvira #1  & #2  (need to piece the backing)
  4. Frolic: get the borders on!!!!

Stash Report

SS yellowAn Island Batik project was completed … but that’s not counted in my stash.

  • Fabric Used this week       0  yards
  • Fabric Used this year:        66.5  yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:   0  yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      9.5
  • Net Fabric used                    57.75
  • –
  • Husband’s Purchases           0

Stitchin’ Time

I’m aiming for at least 15 minutes / day.   Even with a sore back, I’m managing 15 minutes a day …

  • 15 minute days:  January – Feb  59 / 60
  • 15 min days/ March = 29/29
  • Total days in 2020:  88/89
  • Percentage = 98% 

For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

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To be honest, I had hoped that with self-isolation, I’d get more UFOs done.  But I guess, I’m just too busy chasing dust bunnies!Screen Shot 2020-03-29 at 2.39.23 PM

 

Another Blog Hop this week!

Scrap Everything

 

I’ll be posting on April 2 … so stay tuned!

 

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!  
Gail 

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Linking to:

Stay at Home Round Robin: Part 2

/ quiltinggail / 10 Comments

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If you want to see the Intro and Part 1, click HERE and HERE.

Piano Keys!

There are many different ways to do piano keys …

For the Purple Round Robin (Quilt-as-you-Go), the piano keys are lengthwise  and for the Blue one, they are perpendicular to the quilt.

Video of Piano Keys

Here is a video of the piano key borders going on the Purple quilt:

                 https://youtu.be/m-xRPnbMFZM               

For the Blue Quilt, I cut 1½” slices from the 10″ stack of Island Batik “Freedom” fabrics and sewed them together.

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This piece was cut into 2½” pieces and sewn onto my grey square.

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I still haven’t decided about the centre block.  Will I do some appliqué? Some embroidery?  I’m sure I’ll decided before the quilt is finished!

Here is the purple Quilt-as-you-Go with the Piano Keys sewn on.

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SEW …

How are you doing with your Round Robin?

Linky Party

Here is a Linky Party for you to show off your work!  You have a few options for posting … you can post a link to your blog, a link to your Instagram or a link to a Pinterest page.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

What’s the next round you ask???

Pinwheels … I haven’t made them yet, so I’m not sure how wide the round will be.  It’s up to you to decide how big and how many pinwheels you want to add to all 4 sides! Do what you want, but add some pinwheels!   Have fun!  There will be another linky party next week!

Friday Finish … NOT

But I do have a flimsy, actually 2, completed.  These are from the Elvira Sew-Along that GE Quilt Designs hosted this past weekend.  I was going to make one large quilt, but decided that 2 smaller ones would be more appropriate for me to make at this time.

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One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!  
Gail 

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Linking to:

Making us Laugh Blog Hop

/ quiltinggail / 32 Comments

Joan Kawano of Moosestachequilting came up with this fabulous idea for this Blog Hop … a LONG time ago. I thought it would be a fun blog hop to participate in. Well, with all that’s happening now, it certainly seems like a long time ago.  And, with the world crisis right now … we all can enjoy a smile now and then.   I hope you take the time to visit all of the blogs that are participating!  Some of them will make you smile, others will make you giggle and others will literally make you Laugh out Loud!

I was going to use my embroidery machine to stitch out something … but I’ve been too distracted to work on digitizing …  I thought of a lot of meme’s that are in the quilting world, but nothing was original.

Here’s a few that I like:

  • A Clean House is a Sign of a Broken Sewing Machine (although,  NOT true in my case!
  • Creative Minds are Rarely Tidy
  • Quilters have Pressing Matters
  • I Quilt on any Day that ends with “Y”
  • My Studio isn’t Messy, I just have Everything on Display!

Then … one day when I was quilting away, my hubby  requested that I join him to do something important.  And, I kept quilting  … a few hours later he returned … and then I KNEW what my “Laugh” would be.    I have this printed out and it’s on my bulletin board.

Screen Shot 2020-03-23 at 4.05.48 PM.png Continue reading →

Did you see it?

/ quiltinggail / 19 Comments

All the posts on Facebook for International Quilt Day!!  It was a lot of fun!

I think I’m the only one in the neighbourhood that had quilts out … but that’s OK …

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I just grabbed a few small quilts that were handy and made in the last year … no digging through the camper to find more … and yes, I have more, LOTS more!

It was a BEAUTIFUL spring day!  Sunny (although not very warm) … you can see purple hyacinths blooming and the magnolia tree on the left is just starting to bloom!

I have a finish!!

Yes, my “Circles” quilt is finished.  The quilting is finished, the binding is finished AND the label is on!

This quilt was started at a guild workshop on curves.  The circles were all cut with a large and a small Accuquilt die. (The guild owns them).  The instructor was fabulous and the die-cut pieces made for almost perfect piecing.   I say almost, because nothing I do is perfect!IMG_6336.jpeg

And here’s a close-up of the quilting: A biggish swirl with smaller swirls on the outside of the biggish swirl …

IMG_6337.jpegIMG_6338.jpeg

And, it seams like flange binding is all I do these days!  But, I do like the look.IMG_6340.jpeg

Design Wall

Piecing:

Summer Solstice:   The next step is completedIMG_6322.jpeg

Frolic: didn’t work on it this week …

IMG_6321.jpegFlorabunda:
Only one block completed this week

 

Stay at Home Round Robin:  I started 2 … you can read about them HERE.  You can still join in, if you want … there will be a linky party on Friday for you to post pictures.

IMG_6377.jpeg

Elvira: This as a “Quarantine Quilt Along”  with GE Quilt Designs.  The temptation to spend the day quilting with others was too much …  SEW, I dug into my stash of Reproduction fabrics and cut the amounts I needed.  For some reason, the bins are still just as full!!!

Quilting:

April’s Island Batik is being quilted … sorry no pictures until April!

TO DO 

I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”

Last week’s list:

  1. (Maybe) Finish quilting “Circles“  √  done
  2. Summer Solstice: Complete next step  √  done
  3. Round Robin: Make block  √  done
  4. Make “Making us Laugh”   —  almost there
  5. Sandwich April Island Batik    √  done
  6. Get bordrers on Frolic!  Not done

This week’s list:

  1. Round Robin: add the next borders
  2. (Maybe) finish quilting April Island Batik
  3. Make Elvira into a flimsy
  4. Summer Solstice: Complete next step
  5. Frolic: get the borders on!!!!

Stash Report

Circles used up 14.25 yards … and since I didn’t leave the house and didn’t shop on-line, there were no fabric purchases.

  • Fabric Used this week       14.25  yards
  • Fabric Used this year:        66.5  yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:   0  yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      9.5
  • Net Fabric used                    57.75
  • –
  • Husband’s Purchases           0

Stitchin’ Time

I’m aiming for at least 15 minutes / day. 

  • 15 minute days:  January – Feb  59 / 60
  • 15 min days/ March = 22/22
  • Total days in 2020:  81/82
  • Percentage = 98% 

For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

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Quilt Qwazy Queens Blog Hop

It stated on Wednesday … and here are the participants for this week.  These are FUN!!!  I will be sharing mine on Tuesday!

Qwazy Monday, March 23

Qwazy Tuesday, March 24

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!  
Gail 

*****************************

Linking to:

Stay-at-Home Round Robin: Part 1

/ quiltinggail / 17 Comments

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Part 1

If you need an explanation of a Round Robin quilt see HERE.

Each Friday, I will post a short video of what my Round Robins are looking like.  Also, I will give you the guidelines for the next round.  There will also be a weekly Linky Party where participants can post their Round Robin progress.

Fabric:

#1:  I am using a variety of purple / mauve Island Batik scraps, ½ yard cuts, along with Island Batik solid white.  You can use whatever fabric with whatever colour, that you want.  I do not know how much fabric I will use … if I run out of what I’ve set aside for this quilt, I may start adding in another colour or 2  … I know it will all work in the end.  Please remember that this is YOUR quilt and you get to make a lot of the decisions!IMG_6352

#2: I will be using a variety of blue Island Batik fabrics.  A lot of them came from the “Freedom” stack that I received last year for a Quilt of Valour.  I’m Canadian and made a red and white Quilt of Valour, so most of the blue stack was left over.  Over the Rainbow is a fabulous on-line store that delivers world wide.  They will be recieving Freedom stacks soon (if they don’t have them already).   They also have lots of other Island Batik fabrics!

Here is what I’ve pulled for my blue Round Robin.  In the centre is my 8 ½” square of Island Batik grey solid that will be my centre block. I may embroider or applique it at a later date.IMG_6353

Centre Quilt Block:

First,  you need to make a centre block.  It can be any size you want it to be.  My centre block for the purple is an 8 ½” (unfinished) Sawtooth Star.  Just make sure that the centre is either a square or rectangle.  Please note that if you make a block that is not an 8 ½” square, I will not provide you with measurements.  You’ll have to figure it out on your own.  (Which is what happens with most Round Robins …)

I used my AccuQuilt Go! to cut out the pieces … using the 8″ GO Cube dies.  It was pretty quick to cut the pieces and then sew them together.  If you wish to make the same block and you don’t have the AccuQuilt Go! dies and AllPeopleQuilt.com has the pattern for an 8″ Sawtooth Star.IMG_6351

I’m also doing 2 Stay-at-Home Round Robins.  One (the purple one) is going to be a tQuilt as you Go.  The 2nd (blue) will be a flimsy and has the potential to be a bigger quilt. As you can see in the picture of blue fabric above, the centre block is an 8 ½” square of grey.

Quilt as You Go:

With this being a small quilt, I took left-over Hobbs 80/20 batting and zig-zagged the pieces together to make the batting big enough.  A flannel backing that is 42″ x 42″ was prepared.  The batting was cut to the same size and they were spray-basted together using 505 spray.   I then folded the backing/batting in half and gave it a good press. I folded it in half the opposite direction and pressed again.  Using a large stitch, I stitched down these 2 lines.  This gave me some registration marks so it will be easier to align the quilt as I add borders.

The Video of Part 1

As you watch this video, you will see me being me … I stumble over things, but eventually, I get it right! (I think).  As well, I said I wouldn’t give you the clue of what the next round was to be until next week, when I show you what I did.   After the filming, when I was thinking of that: I thought about what I know of Round Robins that friends have participated in.  They are given directions, but they are not exact and they need to figure out what they are going to do for each round.  SEW ,,, after the video, I will give you the clue for the first round.

                 https://youtu.be/Z2h30ULCqK8               

The First Round

Are you ready?

The first round, which will circle around all 4 sides of you centre block is “Piano Keys.”   You can do piano keys any way you want … Google it if you need to find out what they are.  You can make them bigger or smaller or do a variation of piano keys.

I will tell you that mine will probably be scrappy on both quilts.  And the border will measure at 2 ½” unfinished, and will finish at 2″ once all the seam allowances are in place.  Because of the nature of piano keys … mine may have a solid block in each of the corners … I’m not sure, I haven’t made them yet!

Now … onto other things:

Quilt Qwazy Queens Blog Hop

It stated on Wednesday … and here are the participants for this week.  These are FUN!!!  I will be sharing mine next week!

Wednesday March 18 
Thursday March 19
Friday March 20

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!  
Gail 

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Linking to:

A Stay-at-home Round Robin

/ quiltinggail / 18 Comments

With all the stuff happening in the world right now, I’m electing to self-isolate.  Yes, that means I’ll be staying home, not going out and will have lots of time to sew.

Well, I will go out.  I was signed up to do the 10 km SunRun, and that is now cancelled.  However, I’m still going to continue training for it.  I no longer run, but I walk.  I walk a LOT.  So, going outside and walking will still be a constant in my life. Unless I’m told to stay home.

Screen Shot 2020-03-14 at 4.34.42 PMRound Robin

Have you ever wanted to do a round robin?  I’ve been interested, but have huge BUTs surrounding them.  Well, I’m going to do a Stay-At-Home Round Robin here on my blog.  Beginning instructions will be given  on  Friday, March 20th.

For those of you that don’t know what a Round Robin is … here’s how it usually works:

  • Each participant makes a block … usually you are given a size.  Sometimes participants have the fabric they want used placed in the bag that the block is in.  Sometimes a little notebook is with the block and states the block owner’s preferences, notes are added as the block is passed along.  Then the original block is passed to another participant.
  • Directions are given as to what to add as a border onto the block.  Sometimes it’s all 4 sides … sometimes only one side …
  • Then the block is passed on to the next participant and there are different directions as to what to add as a border.
  • This carries on until the quilt is deemed “finished” and the original with all the borders are returned to the original block owner.

There are many advantages of doing a Stay-at-Home Round Robin

  • you use the fabrics that YOU want to use
  • you don’t have to sew on someone else’s quilt
  • you make the decisions
  • it’s your quilt
  • it doesn’t need to leave your home (which is a HUGE thing right now with all the media attention of COVID-19)

Here’s how it’s going to work.  

This Friday, I will post the beginning instructions.  What size centre block (if you follow what I do) and approximately how big the quilt will be.

By March 27th, you will have your centre block done.  There  will be a linky party on the 27th, and you can share your block then.  With the linky party, you can share a blog post, an instagram post, a pinterest page.  Your choice!  You don’t need a blog to do this!  And, with the Linky party, we get to see what everyone is working on.

There are no hard and fast rules … this is meant to be fun and to occupy your mind as we live in this chaotic time!

A New Blog Hop starting this week

Quilt Qwazy Queens!

It starts on Wednesday … and here are the participants for this week.  It should be FUN!!!  I will be sharing mine the following week!

Wednesday March 18 
Thursday March 19
Friday March 20

Design Wall

Piecing:IMG_6319.jpeg

Summer Solstice:   I made myself complete these blocks.  Yeah, they got done!

Frolic: The centre is trimmed.

IMG_6321.jpegFlorabunda:
This is a free pattern from Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville.com  You can access the pattern HERE.  This is being used as a “Leader & Ender” project and 12 blocks were completed in the last week.

 

April Island Batik Challenge is ready for sandwiching

Quilting:

IMG_6323.jpegCircles is being quilted

TO DO 

I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”

Last week’s list:

  1. Time to pull this back out and work on Summer Solstice: ½ hour / day √  done
  2. Finish March Island Batik √  done
  3. Finish piecing April’s Island Batik √  done
  4. Trim Frolic and get the borders on  Partially done … Trimmed but no borders on it.

This week’s list:

  1. (Maybe) Finish quilting “Circles“
  2. Summer Solstice: Complete next step
  3. Round Robin: Make block
  4. Make “Making us Laugh” wall hanging
  5. Sandwich April Island Batik
  6. Get bordrers on Frolic!

Stash Report

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There was this sale at “Dinkydoo” … a friend had never been … so off we went.  Inspite of the strict fabric diet that I have put myself on, I fell into temptation … 7 yards worth of temptation …  but aren’t they pretty?   The plan is to use some of them for guild pillowcases …

  • Fabric Used this week       0  yards
  • Fabric Used this year:        52.25  yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:   7  yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      9.5
  • Net Fabric used                    42.75
  • –
  • Husband’s Purchases           0

Stitchin’ Time

I’m aiming for at least 15 minutes / day. 

  • 15 minute days:  January – Feb  59 / 60
  • 15 min days/ March = 15/15
  • Total days in 2020:  74 / 75
  • Percentage = 98%

For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

 

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!  
Gail 

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Linking to:

 

PHD in 2020: Mid March Progress Report

/ quiltinggail / 12 Comments

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Sew how are YOU doing with your PHD in 2020?

In the past we’ve talked about:

1.  Analysis analysisHERE.

2. Track your Progress Screen Shot 2020-01-11 at 11.20.40 AM   PHD-Tally-with-formulas 2020

3. Assistance from other Blogs  HERE

4.  Focus :  HERE.Image result for clipart focus

5.  Be Selective Screen Shot 2020-02-29 at 10.49.09 AM

6.  Today: STOP Being a PERFECTIONIST!

Image result for StopOk … OK … I know that you are going to say “Gail, that’s easy for you to say, because you’re NOT a perfectionist!”  Yes, I know I’m not … but I really, really, really don’t understand when people take things out because the point is 2 threads off of perfect.  I get it when the point is 1/4″ off, or even 1/8″ off, maybe even 1/16″ … but in the whole scheme of things – NO ONE is going to notice the 2 threads difference.  I get taking stitching out when it’s bad and not what you want … but 2 threads?  … seriously!

Did you know that Perfectionism sets you up to fail?  Mostly because NOTHING is perfect.   Perfectionism limits your creativity and the willingness to take risks and TRY.  It may also be what’s holding you back from finishing that last UFO.

Get it out that UFO that’s your stumbling block … work on it … try to not let the 2 threads ruin your enjoyment.  Fudge and ease in that seam … it’ll be fine in the end – you won’t even notice it!  I promise!

Screen Shot 2019-12-06 at 11.47.00 AM2 UFO finishes

I went to try out a new sewing machine.  (Yes, I did end up buying it! More details in another post).  But what better way to test out a sewing machine than to take a few UFOs?  The Sunflower placemats were great to try quilting, piecing binding together, and sewing binding on.  The Orange/Green Baby quilt was good for doing more quilting.  As soon as the machine was set up, I finished the projects!  I also took some straight piecing to try out the 1300 stitches/minute!  It works like a charm!

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A close-up of the fox.  It is with the orange thread … I used a Janome app, took a picture of a fox on the white fabric, drew the fox and transferred it to my embroidery machine.  It stitched out ok.  I still need to do some work on it.

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To be honest, I almost feel a little guilty at finishing these 2 small projects in one week, when I have SEW many others to finish that take more time.  However, they are done and now off the to do list!  At this rate – I’m sure I’ll get more than 12 UFOs finished this year … and that’s OK with me!

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Linky Party

Show us your progress (finished or not) on what you’ve been working on for your PHD in 2020!  Or show us your recently finished UFO!
PLEASE:  Make sure that you link your post back to this blog post .  Also, visit others that also working on their PHD in 2020 and leave them an encouraging comment!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

52 x 52, Friday’s Finish

/ quiltinggail / 28 Comments

I finally finished my “52 Blocks in 52 Weeks.”  The quilt blocks were released weekly by Canadian Quilter’s Association designed by Jackie White.  Each block is unique and finishes at 6 ½” square.  Or should I say, each block is suppose to finish at 6 ½” square?  Most of mine did and I fudged with the rest.  I did not trim down any blocks.

Every single piece of fabric came from my stash. This was a picture of the bag of scraps that I dug into for each of the blocks … along with a constant light that I’d had for years.img_2976

Continue reading →

A “Not Finished” Friday

/ quiltinggail / 10 Comments

55557-go-glorified-nine-patch-package-tallNothing finished

No finishes this week!  I’ve been working A LOT on my March Island Batik challenge and I can’t show you yet!  I can tell you that I’m using the “Glorified 9 patch” Accuquilt die that I was given.  All the pieces for the block are on the die.  I have them all cut and most of them are on the design wall. Some blocks are sewn.

When I need a break from the excusiating SLOW curved piecing, I am quilting the “52 blocks in 52 weeks” quilt.  If you look closely, you can see that I’m doing graffiti quilting.  A little bit of this and a little bit of that! A swirl, pebbles, a heart, a teardrop, a flower and whatever comes to mind.  It’s fun and makes it so that I’m not bored.  I’m hoping that it will be finished soon!IMG_6222.jpeg Continue reading →

Embroidery Month

/ quiltinggail / 12 Comments

February is International Embroidery Month

SEW, what does this mean for me?

Well, I am trying to use my embroidery machine more!

Kreative Kiwi Zip PouchI told you that I worked with a friend and she made a cute little pouch.  Well, I had to make one … actually 2.

This is a free pattern from Kreative Kiwi.  It is all done in the hoop … zipper and all.  I made the one on the right first … and I realized that the embroidery didn’t really show up on the print … I like the 2nd one better.  I did make them 10% bigger and the pattern turned out just fine!

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Log Cabin Blog Hop

/ quiltinggail / 25 Comments

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I fell in love with this fabric the minute I saw it in my Island Batik box.  “Faded Blue Jeans” by Kathy Engle.  Those that know me, know that I practicly live in blue jeans.  I LOVE blue jeans.   And to know that I HAD to make a log cabin, well, the love fest began!!!  This beautiful fabric collection should be in fabric stores by the end of the month.
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How to cut perfect borders without a tape measure!

/ quiltinggail / 19 Comments

That’s right, you can cut your borders to the perfect lengths without using a tape measure: Watch the video to see how!

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https://youtu.be/Io65pwM3vJ8

Edit: I have linked this blog post to Kathleen McMusing’s blog where she is compiling quilting tips and tutorials.  Go HERE to check out last month and this months tips & tutorials.

Continue reading →