Quilting and Stuff by Knitnoid

Category Archives: Quilts

What’s on my Design Wall

When I’ve not been working on the DWR or Cream & Green quilt, I’ve been sewing blocks into rows on Blue Ridge Beauty.  The rows still need sewing together, but I think I’ll wait until I get all of the rows sewn.  I ended up swapping two rows because I ended up with the same fabric next to each other when I got the last row on the wall.  I think I’ve also spotted a flaw in the design with the center two blocks on the first row.

They are just like what we (my DH did the final layout in EQ7) had in EQ, but when I started to draw the quilt larger I was having a tough time extending the pattern.   I think the top center two blocks is why.  I’ll play with it more before I get to the last row.

To see what others have on their design walls, follow the links over at Patchwork Times.

What’s on my Design Wall

It’s something new — sort of .  My  Blue Ridge Beauty blocks which I started back in May in Bonnie Hunter’s class.  I’m making this roughly twin size.  I’m winging this as far as block placement goes.  I’m starting at the top of my stack of blocks and sewing them according to my layout diagram I printed from EQ7.

This was my leader/ender project, so now it’s time for a new one. I’m leaning toward Color Play in Volume one of Sew Scrappy Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection magazine.   (I looked for a link on the BH&G website and couldn’t find one. This link is the first one that came up when I did a web search).

I’ve gotten as far as dumping my 2 1/2″ precut squares on the ironing board.  I can’t decide if I want to let it be “anything goes” and just sew a lighter square to a darker square (probably the fastest way to get started) or pick a “theme”.  The quilt in the magazine used green, red, yellow and blue prints, stripes and polka dots.  Regardless of what I decide, I’ll have to buy the sashing and border fabric.  I don’t have 3 1/2 yards of a “solid” in any color — well, maybe bright yellow, but I don’t think that’s the answer.

See what’s on others’ design wall by following the links over at Patchwork Times.

The Row Quilt is Finished!

Last week I prepped the binding so I could start putting it on when I got home from Butler Sunday afternoon.  I took a nap when I got back, so I only got the binding attached.   I finished sewing it down (on the machine) during my lunch break, then tossed it into the wash.  I pulled it out of the dryer as I was leaving for quilt guild  (what an amazing program by Sally Collins — I think I want to do a small/miniature quilt now).

This evening, just before I lost all daylight, I  had my husband hang the quilt on the gutters — I’m no longer allowed to do this since I fell off the ladder in the spring cleaning the gutters.

Since he was out there with me, here’s a picture of the backing –ignore the stuff in the garage:

Finally a closeup of the quilting — it’ won’t win any awards, but I’m very happy with it:

Cross a UFO from 2005 off my list!

It’s Quilted!

This afternoon I drove down to Butler and used the HandiQuilter 16 at Rocking Chair Quilts to quilt the row quilt.

The batting is Warm & White.   I used Güttermann 100% cotton 50 wt in the top and a Superior prewound bobbins (1 1/2) in the bobbin.  The quilting is an all over free form flower — the same one I used on the baby quilt I practiced on a couple of weeks ago.  Now to get the binding on it.

Stash Report

This past week I made the backing (from stash) and binding for the row quilt, quilted on my DWR and did a bit of cleaning in my sewing room.  I was looking for my Timtex.  Finally found it but also found my missing Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler Block and the music motif quilting pattern.  Managed to get two boxes out of my sewing room.

No new fabric this week, but I did buy a batting and thread for the Row  Quilt.  I also made the backing and binding for the quilt so that’s a chunk of fabric out.

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 150.511 yards

Fabric Used this Week: 10.125  yards
Fabric Used to Date: 86.644 yards]

Net Stash for 2010: 63.867 yards

Check out how others are doing by following the links over at Patchwork Times.

Another Top

Friday evening I finished sewing the rows together on Star Struck.  When I started this quilt back in May my intention was to go borderless. The top currently measures about 64″ x 80″ which is roughly the size I aim for when I’m not making the quilt for a specific bed/space.  originally I was going to use the gold accent as the binding, but I think it’s too light.  Now I’m leaning toward a darker blue.   I just have to decide if borderless is still what I want.

 

Design Wall Monday

Star Struck is hanging from my ‘design shelves’ today. There is a reason I only got 4 pairs of rows sewn together Saturday. See the rows hanging from the last hanger on the right?  The top left star is blue — it should be red.  I discovered this as  I was hanging the rows up.  So, instead of having to rip out a row of stars and sew them together the other way, I simply unpinned the other two rows.  I can sew a row to either side of this pair and everything will be OK.  Now when will I get to it is entirely another question.

Check out other design walls for inspiration by following the links over at Patchwork Times.

Shopping the Stash

I have a new project in the works which needs to be finished by next summer. Due to circumstances, there will be a mad rush to finish it.  Since it is going to require appliqué, I thought I’d start working on it sooner than later.  Tonight I remembered a length of light fabric I bought based on a tiny swatch. It’s perfect for my project.  Then I spotted some black fabric in one of my bins.  Turns out it a big hunk as well.  I need less than a yard for the appliqué, so if it turns out I need this fabric to set my Black & Bright Swap blocks I should still have plenty.

In addition to the fabric, I need freezer paper and fusible webbing.  It turns out I have both in my stash, along with a spool of black thread.  So, I think this quilt top will come completely from stash.  Check back with me next summer to see if the backing comes from stash.

Backing Decisions

Yesterday I said I needed to put together a backing for this quilt.  It’s a big quilt top – 100 x 100, so I either need 3 yards of wide backing or 9 yards of 45″ wide fabric and seam it twice.

In October 2007 I bought 10 yards of this yellow floral fabric, plus a couple of tone-on-tone coordinates (that I keep reaching for when looking for a peach or green fabric).

The fabric was on sale for not more than $4 a yard and I took the rest of the bolt thinking I would make  a 4-patch Stacked Posies quilt — and apparently a dust ruffle, curtains, pillows and other accessories.    This was pre-stash report days.

I really don’t want to make another 4-patch Stack Posies quilt (well, maybe one more from some Kansas Troubles fabric) — I’ve already made 3.  The only issue is the Row Quilt (need to find a new name for this quilt as well) has absolutely no yellow in the top.  The blue on the left of the picture is the border and binding fabric.

Now that I’ve written this post, I think I’ve talked myself into using this fabric.  If anyone can think of a reason for me not to this fabric let me know.

Design Wall Monday

Last month week I made significant progress on the red stars.  The blue ones have been done for a while.  I still need to finish up another 20 red stars – just the center seam – so it won’t take long.  But on the other hand since I’m doing my best to focus on the DWR, this might just take me all month.

Check out other inspirational design walls by following the links over at Patchwork Times.