This is the latest block from the Fireburst mystery …. I really like this block and it went together like a dream! Or at least how I dream of piecing bits and pieces together. Having a block finished is a sort-of finish, correct? Continue reading
Author: quiltinggail
Deciding what “Quilt as Desired” is
Lately, I’ve seen people in blog-land asking about how to decide on what to quilt. Sew, I thought I’d blog about what I do.
I used to absolutely HATE it when I saw “Quilt as Desired” on a pattern. It made me wonder if the designer had no idea on how to quilt what she/he designed? As a beginner quilter, it left me frustrated and at a loss of what to do. Now – it just gives me the freedom to do what I want without any outside influences.
SEW … that brings me to “How do I decide what to quilt?” I have a quite a few Pinterest boards with links to various sites: Free Motion Quilting (FMQ), Leah Day, Ruler Work and links to FMQ videos All of these provide inspiration and ideas. I have a few books with quilting ideas in them. But my favourite of all is my own personal notebook. This book was a gift that a quilting friend made – isn’t it cute?
PHD in 2018 – Sept. Report
Two finishes for September. Both of them are UFOs! I must be liking easy and square pieces!
a 2nd September finish for Friday
Serged Top is done
Here are the questions I had before I started serging this quilt together and the answers to those questions:
- Which serger will I use? I used a serger at work (Pro-4DX) and my own serger at home. I actually prefer the Pro-4DX over my own serger
- Will I be able to finger press the seams, or should I use an iron? I did do some finger pressing, but as usual, the iron made a much nicer job of pressing the seam.
- Will I be able to chain piece using a serger? Yes, there was no problem at all with chaining
- Will it make the quilt “lumpy” at the seams? I don’t really see much different than when using a regular sewing machine
- Will I be able to web or lattice the final blocks? Absolutely! The first picture shows the first webbing, the second shows the top pieced together.
Blogger’s Quilt Festival
Fall 2018 Blogger’s Quilt Festival
Amy, from “Amy’s Creative Side” is once again hosting a Quilt Festival. It is worth going to take a look at all of the quilts entered. Lots of eye candy! Click HERE. And, there are prizes … you don’t have to be a blogger, you can enter via Instagram … check out the directions for entering a quilt. Here is my first quilt entry:
Secret Quilt Reveal
So, this quilt has been gifted … and I got a picture back with my newest great-nephew, Gage, and the quilt. He was born in late August. From his pictures, he’s a real cutie!
I used a Dr. Seuss layer cake along with “Slate Grey” solid from Free Spirit. It was a fun quilt to make. Probably because I LOVE Dr. Seuss!
More on Serging a Quilt
The back of the blocks are very neat and tidy! (Ignore the stray threads that hopped onto the block when I took the picture!)
Serging a Quilt top?
Yes, I’m going to attempt this. The pattern is Wonky Logs. It’s a free pattern by Custom Kwilts.
The pattern calls for 12 fat quarters … but I discovered that I can get away with using 6. First, I used paper scissors to cut out the templates. Then I laid them out on the fabric. This picture shows the background fabric – all 6 layers of it. (I cut 3 pieces, each 17 ½” long, and then layered them. You can see the pins holding the templates in place. If you’re not comfortable cutting through 6 layers of fabric, then make it 3 layers or 2 layers.
First finish in September
I thought I’d be just showing a picture of this quilt in progress, as I wasn’t sure I’d have time to get it finished by today. It’s a little quilt made with 6 ½” flannel squares. A great flannel stash buster of left-over baby quilt backings. This is a UFO … and it’s finished! YEAH! I just did a big serpentine stitch along the seams and diagonally … mindless and easy to do.
PHD in 2018 August Report
I have 3 August finishes. The quilt and the little zipper bag. I cannot show you the secret quilt because it has not been gifted. However, it is finished!!
Travelling Jewelry Bag
When I was in Newfoundland in the spring, my sister-in-law wanted to know how to make a travelling jewelry bag. I had made one for her about 30 years ago. Her daughters were always borrowing it and she thought it would be good if they each had their own.
An Update after a break …
Housekeeping
Here are before and after pictures … I know I prefer the “after” picture! Continue reading
Friday …
After writing my list of the 9 projects I have on the go, (click HERE), it has helped me to become focused.
The 2 sections of squares became the little zipper pouch. DONE! And, I think it’s super cute! (Thank you Cathy for the package of squares!)
Stash and Project Update
A few days ago, a couple of cousins on my mom’s side came to visit. It was a fantastic visit as I had not seen either of them for at least 50 years! Anyhow … one of them quilts, and when she saw my very messy creative sewing room, she asked how many projects I had going at one time. Just off the cuff, I said, “5.” Um … well, I didn’t really take a good look at what I had actively going in the room … and of course, it’s the reason for the MESS CREATIVITY. Continue reading
Stash Report & Design Wall
Design Wall
These are the 4 August blocks for the Fireburst Mystery that Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland is hosting. The pattern is currently free, but I suspect that it will be for sale when the mystery is done.
Tish posted 3 different layouts for these blocks … but I know better – it’s just a tease and the final design won’t be anything near what she’s posted. There’s still lots of bits and pieces and partial blocks to be used. I’ll be extremely surprised if the blocks end up anything like what she’s posted. Continue reading
My first August finish!
This was a jelly roll mystery that we did at the guild. I attempted to do Angela Walter’s “Swirl Chain” again. (It’s a FMQ pattern that my cousin, Terry, recommended). I tried, but in the end, I ended up doing my own thing. But you know what? I’m totally fine with that and it’s DONE!!! In the end, I like the echoed swirls and echoed teardrops – it gives it a nice texture. (another UFO bites the dust!)
PHD in 2018 – July Report
Moving right along with finishing!
The little quilt in the 2nd picture was made with left-overs from the quilt on the right. The one on the right was finished in January. You can see a close-up of the quilting HERE.
The “Left-over” quilt has not been washed yet – so it’s not a wrinkly and cozy. It’s 45″ x 45″. The backing and black border were also left-overs from another quilt. I did not have enough fabric to bind it in one colour. SEW, I used both green and red fabric to bind it.
Another finish! :-)
Yes, this is now finished. I showed close-ups of the quilting HERE. This is a fun and easy quilt to make with a charm pack. I bought the charm pack in 2012, started the quilt in 2013 and now it’s finished. It was a fun quilt to quilt! 
Continue reading
Quilting Gail 