Weekend Progress

If you are looking for the giveaway go here. :-)

I got a little more than a quarter of the quilt quilted this weekend without breaking any more needles. It seems to be getting easier. Unfortunately, we have important company coming this week so, and seeing as my machine and quilt were set up in the dining room and taking up the entire space, it all had to be put away last night. I was really hoping to get more done, but the weekend flew by. I seriously don't know how it went by me so fast!

Since I was feeling a bit bummed about not making more progress (and the fact that the weekend was already mysteriously gone) I decided to take a couple short breaks later last night to do some piecing which is the most relaxing part of quilting for me. Two breaks, totaling a little over an hour, later I had this...

All the blocks for my Four and Four Quarters quilt (aka Five, Ten, Twenty), which made me feel better since it gave me a feeling of accomplishing something during my weekend.

Next goal is to get the blocks squared up and pieced together. Seeing as my job takes up most of my time now, that may not happen until next weekend. But hey, at least there's progress!

Free Motion Quilting: Attempt 1

If you are looking for the giveaway go here. :-)

Yes, one week turned into six, but I finally got around to quilting my quilt. Got it prepped and ready to go late one night after everyone was settled in for the night and I could use the floor space. It is currently on the machine as I have been quilting it little by little.

Free motion quilting is definitely something one must get used to. I'm beginning to get the hang of it, but I still have some learning to do. For instance, I'm having a little trouble with this...

That doesn't even show the first one I bent when just playing with the new machine. And in all honesty, I'm not all that far along on the quilting yet. The needle that is currently in two pieces broke off after about 65 seconds on the machine, maybe 80. Seeing that I began a new job today and am tired, I decided that was enough for tonight. I'll try again in a few days when I have some time and I'm not so worn out by my new routine. In addition to needle problems, I'm struggling a bit with the tension being correct. I'm thinking I should have started with a smaller quilt to learn on, but I will prevail in this ... eventually.

While I Was Waiting

If you are looking for the giveaway go here. :-)

My kona fabric finally arrived yesterday, but while I was waiting I decided to make the best of the situation and set aside the five, ten, twenty quilt and start another of my Christmas projects.
So I finalized my design plan for A2's quilt and got to work ironing and cutting her fabrics.And then while she was at class, I managed to get some piecing done.The problem at this point is that the quilt is very light in color. I let her choose the fabrics and I think it needs a bit more contrast. We'll see as I continue, but I may need to get a solid or two to put in the mix. I actually think I may need some additional fabric for the quilt anyhow for the design and size I've chosen.

Moving Right Along

Continuing along on my wave of motivation after finishing my first Christmas flimsy, I got started on another one last night. I cut 16 of the 20 initial blocks needed for the Five, Ten, Twenty pattern I am using for A2's boyfriend's quilt. I'm just waiting for the fabric for the last four blocks to come in to finish cutting. I decided on four different kona solids to use for the last four blocks, the backing, and a scrappy binding. They (hopefully!) match the colors of the electric guitars. There is so much going on in the fabrics above that I feel like a few solids will tie the prints together while giving the eyes a place to rest. Now to patiently wait for that fabric so I can keep moving along!

One Thing, One Week Challenge Complete!

With a last minute push late Sunday night, I managed to finally get all the parts assembled for A4's quilt top. I will warn you, this quilt is not too easy on the eyes. The bright and crazy fabrics probably won't sit well with everyone's tastes, but my baby sister will absolutely love it. Of that, I have no doubts.I have even managed to keep her from seeing it. She asked me one day last week if I would get her quilt done before she went to college - the child isn't even in high school yet! So I don't think she suspects she's getting it for Christmas.

Thanks to Amy for hosting the challenge. It was just the push I needed to get moving on these Christmas projects. I'm ready to get moving on the next one now. I ordered the remaining fabric I need for A2's boyfriend's quilt today. I think I might get started cutting what I have already for that quilt since I know exactly what I'm doing with it. I'm still not 100% sold on my patterns for A2 and A3's quilts so I'd rather work on what I am sure of.

My Christmas List

I have five quilts I need to have done by Christmas. One for each sister (3), one for my mom, and one for my sister's boyfriend. Each of the five is in a different stage of the process.

A2's quilt fabric is in line for the wash.A3's quilt fabric I showed you a couple months ago. I am making some finishing touches to the pattern I designed for this quilt before cutting it up.
A4's quilt is in the process of being pieced.My mom's quilt is on pause. It is the black and red string quilt I've shown before. There is something about string blocks that I love and something about them that I hate. The part I didn't like so much started getting to me and I put this project aside for awhile.Finally, A2's boyfriend's quilt I am still purchasing fabric for. His is the guitar themed quilt I've mentioned before. I still need three yards of fabric before I can get started on his. The pattern, Five, Ten, Twenty, is just waiting for its turn.

It is an ambitious goal for me, but one I really hope I can reach. I don't want any of them to see their quilts before Christmas so I am hoping that posting progress on here will help keep me accountable. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Little by Little

I haven't had lots of quilting time lately, but by doing 30 minutes to an hour of ironing, cutting, or piecing each day I've managed to put this beauty together....I love, love, love it! It was inspired by this quilt. Can't wait to start quilting it next week.

My New Project

A peek of my new project (which is much more vibrant in real life)...It is a lap quilt for me. I keep working on projects for others and suddenly realized how much I wanted a quilt for myself. Like my mother, you may wonder "Well isn't the log cabin quilt for you?" The answer is yes, but it is for my full size bed which is currently in storage. I want a quilt I can cuddle in when I read or watch tv. Something fun and pretty. I saw these charm squares on ebay and immediately fell in love. It took something like 9 auctions for me to finally win 2 sets of 60 squared which when totaled is the exact number I needed for the quilt I was planning. The second set arrived yesterday. I'm completely in love. And when my sister took one look at them all she could say was "Wow. Those are definitely you. It is like that fabric was made just for you."

Musical Pinwheels top is finished!

Haven't gotten much sewing done lately. Have got to have a lot of family time though which is nice. Lots more is scheduled in the next week so I probably still won't get much sewing done. I have managed to purchase quite a bit of new fabric in the last week though. You've seen some, but there is lots more headed my way :-) Gotta love sales, clearance, discount codes, and ebay!

One thing I did get done was the top for my Musical Pinwheels quilt. The border fabric got washed, cut, and attached. I still need to find a new backing so this one will get set aside for a little while now. There is plenty more to work on with all my new spoils so it shouldn't be a problem :-)

Big Sale, Big Finds

As scheduled, I made my way to my LQS yesterday for their 'date matching' sale. Not only was all regularly priced merchandise 25% off since it was the 25th, but they also had clearance merchandise up to 75% off.

So what did I find?

Backing fabric for 'Musical Pinwheels'...Backing fabric for my log cabin bed quilt...Fabric for a colorwheel quilt to be made in the future and a spool of thread for piecing...
The prices and service were great, they even offered me a free half yard on both backings since they were the end of each bolt, but they didn't have many modern or novelty fabrics so we decided to hit another LQS a few cities over. They offered a much larger selection, but also had higher prices, no sale, and not so great service. I found a few batiks on their sale shelf that I really liked though so it wasn't a worthless visit.
I was quite pleased with my findings and brought everything home to admire. I pulled out the tops that correspond to the backings I had purchased only to discover that the Musical Pinwheels top doesn't match the back. Mind you, I took a swatch of the pink to the store and in the lighting there it matched, but in the lighting here at home and with the whole front, the pinks are different. So into the stash that fabric goes. I'll have to try again for the backing.

Log Cabin Re-visited

Earlier this week I was inspired to pull this back out...I laid it out and decided I needed to add one more row to get it to the dimensions I needed so I made these...
Tonight, I suddenly felt a need to look again. After doing a couple calculations on the size of the quilt top and the size of the bed the quilt is intended for, I realized I need to add one column, not one row.

Now, I'm bothered because the design is going to be off-centered if I add a column and I'm unsure what to do. I'm not sure I have enough strips left over to make another eight blocks (a second column plus the one block I need to finish the first column) to re-center the design. I know I don't want to rip it all apart and create another design. So before I attach any more blocks I need to think this through. It definitely needs to be wider to fit the original bed it was intended for. Any thoughts, ideas, or advice would be appreciated.

Musical Pinwheels Progress

Musical Pinwheels is beginning to come together :-) I found another music themed white fabric while at Joann's shopping for Colt's quilt so I was able to put together the four additional white pinwheels I needed earlier this week. After experimenting with a couple arrangements, I decided this one showcased each of the four prints well and didn't lose the pinwheel look of each block (which happened when I put too many of the same color pinwheels together). What I've put together thus far is a bit smaller than I had hoped, but I'm thinking I'll just put an extra border on to make it large enough for a lap quilt. I cut the binding I will need out of the remaining pink fabric. Now if I could just find the black I bought for a border I could make some more progress with this...

Musical Pinwheels

My most recent project is a pinwheel quilt for a family friend. She is a pianist and has generously assisted my sisters and I over the years with vocal auditions without ever accepting anything in return. I was inspired to make a quilt for her when I saw the black musical note fabric a few months back during a sale I happened upon. The pink fabric I had purchased for another project which has since changed directions. I really liked the look of the black dot swirls with the musical note fabric so I began cutting and sewing. The white fabric, which I pulled from my stash, isn't exactly music themed, but I think the swirls on it look like bass clefts so I decided to include it. I also have some piano key fabric which isn't pictured.

I am happy to say that my piecing is improving. The points on most of these blocks line up. I've only had to tear apart one block (the first one) to make everything line up and lay flat. I really love the look of pinwheels and am happy that I chose pinwheels for this quilt.

I currently have 20 blocks made - 9 white pinwheels and 11 black. I have two more black to put together. I'm trying to experiment with layout and borders to see if I need to make more blocks. I'm also trying to think of how I'll quilt this. Suggestions are welcome :-)

Success!

1)Make and attach binding to disappearing nine patch. - done
2)Iron and cut Camelot fabric. - done

3)Piece Camelot top and back. - done front

back
Close-up of back

4)Make Camelot binding. - done bindings for Camelot and Princess quilt

5)Iron and cut Princess fabric. - done

6)Piece Princess front and back. - done front
back
7)Make Princess binding. - done

Just a little bit of work most every day and I've managed to complete my goal list pretty quickly. My prize is to go fabric shopping. I got an e-mail from my LQS a few days ago about a sale they are having this month called a date matching sale. On certain days in June you get a percentage off all regularly priced merchandise equal to the date. I have plans to go on the 25 so I'll get 25% off my bill. Can't wait to see what I'll find!

Much Progress

I have had a very productive couple of days. In addition to cleaning, studying, cooking, babysitting, and other such activities, I managed to get two items from my goal list checked off. First, I attached the binding on the disappearing nine patch. I am now setting this aside for when I need a car project or will otherwise be sitting for awhile without anything to do.

I finished the ironing and cutting for my Camelot Squared quilt. The ironing took forever and what felt like a gallon of water. There were so many wrinkles! I did some chain piecing and the top has come together quite quickly. I just need to sew the rows together and the top will be done.
After getting all that done, I still wasn't tired last night. I decided to put together a few more string blocks to add to the stack. I still need so many more though. I had no idea what a daunting task I had taken on when I began.
And finally, I whipped up this adorable little skirt from this tutorial this morning. I don't even know how I happened upon it, but I am so happy I did. All the materials came from my stash. It was exciting to realize I could actually make something entirely from what I already have on hand. When I figured out the cost, the whole thing ended up only costing about a dollar. And look...its reversible! I made it for a little girl that I babysit. I've spent hours and hours with her the last week and a half, but now that I have this I don't think I'll be seeing her for a couple weeks. Oh well, I'll get it to her eventually.Just looking at this makes me smile. I think I might have to make up a couple more.

Camelot Squares

Got some ironing and cutting done today. Part of me wishes I hadn't cut the squares so small so I could preserve more of the overall design. There are still cute parts on most all the squares though, and, luckily, I have two more FQs of the castle background fabric to use on something else.

Let's Make a Deal

I want more fabric. I love all the beautiful designs, colors, and textures I find when fabric shopping. I happen to know myself though and know that I tend to buy and hoard things and never end up using them. So I negotiated a deal with myself. I would set a goal and when I reached it I could buy more fabric. Then came the difficult part of setting a reasonable goal. Something not too hard to reach, but also not too easy just because I wanted to go shopping. I've thought about it for a couple of days and here is what I have come up with:
1)Make and attach binding to disappearing nine patch.
2)Iron and cut Camelot fabric.
3)Piece Camelot top and back.
4)Make Camelot binding.
5)Iron and cut Princess fabric.
6)Piece Princess front and back.
7)Make Princess binding.

Its sort of a lot to do, but I don't think it is unreasonable. I'm hoping to work on ironing and cutting this week which should be a good start.

A Couple Little Problems

Bit by bit I managed to get the disappearing nine patch quilted over the past couple days. I absolutely love the texture the diagonal quilting adds to the quilt.
Although I think my quilting has improved a tiny bit from the last quilt, there were a couple little problems I discovered. First...
in two places I got these loops of thread. I think it had to do with the tension on my machine. I'm going to rip these sections out and re-do them next week.
Second... these little folds in the quilting. It didn't happen in too many places, thankfully. I'm not re-doing these areas. I believe it has to do with my basting and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Maybe I need more pins?

Overall, I'm quite happy. I'm crossing my fingers that with more experience I'll be able to eliminate these problems.

Hopefully I'll be able to find some space this week for the cutting table and ironing board so I can get the binding ready to complete this quilt.

Re-basting

While taping my disappearing nine patch for straight line quilting, I noticed that the basting was full of puckers around the safety pins on the back. Not wanting so many puckers in the finished product, I took it all apart and tried again tonight. I am happy to report that I don't see anymore puckers in the basting. Hopefully I'll get a chance to quilt this pretty little thing later this week.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Oh my...it has been nearly three weeks since I last posted! In that time I have accomplished many things, though few are quilting related. First of all, I finished school. Then I moved. Then I helped my sister's boyfriend move. Then I helped a friend with her move. Finally, this...
Graduation day. On Sunday I graduated with my Master's degree. I can't tell you how happy I am to finally have it completed.

Amidst all the papers, boxes, and hours in the car I was able to get a little quilting done. My red and black string quilt is coming along.
Some in progress blocks:
And some of the completed ones:
And I managed to baste the disappearing nine patch yesterday.

Oh! And when I arrived at my new address this was waiting for me...
My winnings from Robin. So many pretty fabrics and a great pattern she wrote herself.

I'm anxious to get some more done, but have a lot more boxes to unpack and commitments to fulfill before I'll have time to make much progress. We'll see what I can squeeze in here and there in the next few weeks.