Month: March 2017

A Fix for Friday

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Friday’s Fix:

In my last blog post (click here) I showed a picture of a top that needed to be fixed.  Sometimes I can leave mistakes and call them ‘design enhancements’  but not this time.  I knew it would bug me forever – so fix it I did.  Personally, I think it looks way better and it’s the way it’s suppose to be.

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Two table runners done!

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Sorry, I can’t show you the front side.  One is for the “Fall Table Runner” exchange at the retreat and the other is one that I may keep or give away (not decided yet!).  And, since I haven’t decided which one will be for the exchange – you can’t see either of them.  I will show a picture of them after the exchange is completed.

 

Getting ready for an 8 day retreat

Yes, you read that correctly!  8 days!   It’s at a place on Camano Island called “Over the Rainbow  Lodge”   It’s a beautiful location with lots of room.  We have to do our own cooking, but that task gets shared amongst us, so it makes for a fun time.

I know that I am taking way way more than I will finish, but I’d hate to not be prepared.  And I wouldn’t want to HAVE to buy fabric for another project!  unknown-jpg

Here’s my list (so far)

  • Love Letters:  Quilt & Bind:  It’s a UFO from 2012!  Time to get it finished, don’t ya think?
  • Labyrinth Quilt:  the top is sandwiched, but I need to buy some backing … finish the sandwiching and perhaps get it quilted!  ??  maybe ???
  • Necessary Clutch – made with cork.  One of the gals at the retreat has made it before, so I’ll have help close at hand!
  • Irish Chain- with Kansas Troubles. A friend gifted me the fabric, knowing that I LOVE the warmth and cosiness of the line of fabric.  I started this in the fall, but momentum died.  I have no illusions about getting it sandwiched and quilted, but I’ll be happy if it’s a completed flimsy when I get home.
  • Charming Bag.  A friend convinced me to buy the charm pack in January and in February, she showed me her completed bag … so I’m challenged to get ‘er done!
  • And one more UFO – who knows which one I’ll put in?

Link-ups

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Oops! I have to fix it!

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As I was getting the picture ready for this blog post.  I was happy to have a flimsy completed!  However, the picture showed me that I have a bit of unstitching to do.

sad face Do you see the mistakes?  I have no idea how the green squares on the left and right borders got there.  And there is a blue and white half-square triangles on each side that needs to be re-oriented (again!).  The sides should look exactly like the top and bottom … sigh …

Now, the search is on for the white fabric … where did I put it? IMG_0550

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Stash Report: March 26 ’17

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This weekend, I helped a friend with a booth at Creativ Festival in Abbotsford.  As I predicted, it would be very hard to abstain from buying fabric.  I bought 1 meter of a really neat print that will be a perfect match for my cork wallet.  The cork is a bit of a weird colour. I did go through my stash and I, honestly, did not have anything that matched or coordinated.  I ended up with a piece a graduated batik – that I love.  I also bought a ½ meter of the fabric that protects your credit cards.  All for the “Necessary Clutch” that I hope to make at a retreat in early April.

Stash Report

Fabric Used this Week: 1.25 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 19.75 yards
Fabric Added this Week: 1.6  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date: 15.4 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017: 3.95 yards

UFO tally

I started the year with 38 UFO’s.

2017   Completed      Left to complete
Jan:           2                          36
Feb:           0                          36
Mar:          1                          35

Linking to

Happy Quilting
Gail

Sewing Quilts Faster

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The Process

People often ask me how I make so many quilts in the time I have.  Often big quilts, scrappy quilts with little pieces.  I always called it “Two at a Time.”  Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville has made this technique famous in the quilting world by calling it “Leaders and Enders.” Her book “Adventures with Leaders and Enders” is available at her website.  (Click here).  I did “Blue Ridge Beauty” as a true Leader and Ender.  When you need to make over 400 4-patches and over 400 half-square triangles, it can be daunting.  I did it one or 2 units at a time.  It took me 3 years – but once I had all the units together, it went together quickly.  And this is the result.  A quilt I love! L 'n E-6

When sewing scrappy quilts – especially everything including the kitchen sink (batiks, reproductions, modern, calicos, all colours, all prints etc) – all I do is have a plan, cut a bunch of scraps and sew them a few at a time, according to the plan.  All while I’m sewing on my main project.

My current plan is a scrappy double Irish Chain, using 2″ squares.   Many of these squares came from other people – the scraps they were going to throw away.  (I gather them from the garbage at retreats and sewing days and some people give me little bags of their scraps).

Leah Day has a free pattern that you can use.  (Click here).  Leah’s pattern uses 2 ½” squares as the base. And, true to me, I changed it.  I’m making it smaller, do not have the alternating white patches in the blocks, and have no idea how big the quilt will finish.  All I know is that it will have an odd number of blocks across and down. This will make the quilt symmetrical.

I have my unit pieces partially gathered and sitting by my machine.

L 'n E-3

I’m sewing them into different units:

  • 4 patches (kitchen sink variety)
  • background and a print (2 patch)
  • a strip of background, 3 prints, background (only partially shown)
  • a print on each end of a 5″x 2″ rectangleL 'n E-4

These units will get sewn into the blocks.  I have 4 blocks completed.

L 'n E-5

Link-ups

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Stash Report Mar. 19 ’17

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Yeah!!!  I have a finish!  A small finish, but a finish.  I took a break from the huge quilt and quilted this baby quilt.  I started it at a charity baby quilt day with the Boundary Bay guild.  It’s nice to have it finished!  I don’t have a BBQG label for it, so I’ll wait until I can put one on before I hand it in.

Most of the fabric for this quilt was from the guild, but i used my own fabric for the background – so that will be calculated into my report!

Stash Report

Fabric Used this Week: 1.25 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 19.75 yards
Fabric Added this Week: 0  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date: 13.8 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017: 5.55 yards

UFO tally

I started the year with 38 UFO’s.

2017   Completed      Left to complete
Jan:           2                          36
Feb:           0                          36
Mar:          1                          35

Linking to

Happy Quilting
Gail

SLOW progress …

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Shakespeare in the Park

IMG_0541This picture shows a little of the back and part of the top.  I have most of the big squares done.  Just need to finish 2 large blocks work on all the little squares, little stars and triangles that make up the border.  At this rate, I’m hoping to be finished by 2020!!!

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Link-ups

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Mar. 13 ’17 Design Wall

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I’ve been away and we now have company – so very little sewing is happening.

My Current Works in Progress:

Labyrinth Quilt

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This was a kit from Heart & Soul Quilts in Grand Forks … I changed the background fabric … need to add borders … Oops, I see a mistake … will need to take out a couple of blocks and change the orientation … glad I caught it now!

 

Shakespeare in the Park: 

img_0518     It’s being quilted … still … almost 1/2 done!  

BBQG Baby Quilt

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It’s sandwiched … need to quilt and bind it.  Hoping for a finish  in the coming week …

 

 

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Stash Report: Mar 12, 2017

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Stash Report

Linking to Judy Laquidera’s Stash Report each week to keep me accountable!

Not a lot of sewing this week as I helped a friend at Creativ Festival in Victoria.  It was a fun time, but dangerous for my stash … although I did resist and only bought 1/2 yard of some cork fabric, a ruler, and some thread … 2 cones of Aurifil and some pre-wound bobbins.  And in 2 weeks, I’ll be helping her at Creative Festival in the Abbotsford Tradex.

Here’s a couple of pictures of her booth, The Steam Trunk.  It’s also an online store, so you can order any of the wonderful products she sells.  The Lone Star quilt in the left hand picture is made with Tim Holts fabric and is available as a kit.  It’s stunning!

 

Fabric Used this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 18.5 yards
Fabric Added this Week: 0.5  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date: 13.8 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017: 4.3 yards (I’ve still used more than I bought, but it’s getting close!)

UFO tally

I started the year with 38 UFO’s.

2017   Completed      Left to complete
Jan:           2                          36
Feb:           0                          36
Mar:          0                          36

Happy Quilting
Gail

 

Monday’s Design Wall- Mar. 6 ’17

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My Current Works in Progress:

Shakespeare in the Park: 

It’s being quilted …

“Fall” table runner: 

Is sandwiched and still waiting for inspiration on how to quilt it.

BBQG Baby Quilt

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Last week I went a guild charity baby quilt making day!  What a lot of fun!  And, I managed to get this quilt top together … I had thought I would add a border, but if I do that the backing will be too narrow.  Sew … all I will do is add binding – after I quilt it.

 

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Stash Report Mar 5’17

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Stash Report

Linking to Judy Laquidera’s Stash Report each week to keep me accountable!

I bought 3 meters of fabric to make some zipper bags … ones that can be coloured  unknown-jpg   It will be a fun, fast project.  (Once I get them started …)

Fabric Used this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 18.5 yards
Fabric Added this Week: 3.2 yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date: 13.3 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017: 4.8 yards (I’ve still used more than I bought, but it’s getting close!)

UFO tally

Started the year with 38 UFO’s
Completed UFO’s:     Total to complete in 2017:
Jan:   2                                    36
Feb: 0                                     36

Happy Quilting
Gail

Friday … a little progress, a solved mystery

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Shakespeare in the Park  

img_0518I’ve started quilting this beast.  And a beast it is!

After I quilted about 3 blocks, I was totally unhappy with what I had done.  So, hours and hours later, I finally had those tiny, tiny stitches ripped out.  I then decided to quilt in the ditch … a huge undertaking when quilting with a free-motion quilt foot … There are 41 large blocks (snail tail & large stars) and I think I have about 6 of them done.  I have no idea how many small stars are on the outside.   Needless to say, I’ve got a long way to go!  Sigh … I will be glad when this quilt is finished.

 

A Mystery Solved

People often ask me about thread. (Ha!  As if I know much!)  I’ve always felt that it’s OK to use polyester thread.  The rumour that it cuts cotton fabric just never made sense to me. Nor have I seen any evidence of it.

Today, on Bonnie Hunter’s blog, (scroll down, down, down), she discusses thread and then goes on to talk about how polyester batting is what shreds fabric.  I had an ah-ha moment.  Yes, I’ve seen this. Even in my older quilts … I knew it wasn’t the thread when the fabric is shredded within the piece, not near the seam.  Bonnie goes on to say that she never uses polyester batting.

Link-ups

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail