Quilting and Stuff by Knitnoid

Category Archives: Quilts

Shopping the Stash

October 7, 2010 9:39 pm ⋅

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.

Posted in: applique, crossword, Stash

Backing Decisions

October 7, 2010 5:39 am ⋅

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.

Posted in: RowQuilt, Stash

Design Wall Monday

October 4, 2010 4:00 am ⋅

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.

Posted in: designwall, Star Struck

September Recap

September 30, 2010 10:42 pm ⋅

A road trip to visit family, two weekends with visiting family, plumbing issues and work.  I may not have accomplished everything I set out to do this month, but I sure got a lot accomplished.

  • At least 8 SBS blocks – Made 4
  • The September KVQG BOM – No
  • Finish Quilting and Bind Oklahoma Backroads – Yes
  • Quilt at least 15 rings on the DWR – 6 done
  • Make progress on the Cream & Green quilt – No
  • Make progress on Star Struck – Yes – all blue stars are made and significant progress on the red stars

In addition to the above, I finished 5 more embroidered dragonflies, made a nap quilt for Head Start, made significant progress on Blue Ridge Beauty, tested a new pattern for a mini quilt, tested a quilt block, then made a large quilt top, and pieced, quilted and bound a baby quilt.

I haven’t posted a full picture of the baby quilt yet so here it is:

This is the quilt I quilted on HandiQuilter at Rocking Chair Quilts.  I have an appointment next month to go back.  I haven’t decided for what I’m taking to quilt.  I do have a “few” tops which need to be quilted.

Posted in: finish, goals, Modern DP9

Star Struck Progress

September 28, 2010 6:16 pm ⋅

Each month I list out what I want to accomplish during the month.  Sometimes it’s easily done, other times I’m overly optimistic -or get distracted. Unless I don’t sleep or take the next two days off from work, this is going to be an optimistic/distracted  month.

One of my goals for the month was to “Make progress on Star Struck”.  Furthermore somewhere I defined the progress as completing at least 20 blocks — which would get all of the blue blocks made.    Well, I’ve finished those blue blocks, made a couple of red blocks and sewed the squares on the rest of the red units.  If I I had been thinking, I would have been using this quilt as my leader/ender project instead of Blue Ridge Beauty.  Oh well.

Regardless, I’ll be able to say “Done” to Make Progress on Star Struck on Thursday.

Now to “Make progress on the Cream & Green quilt”.  Does uncovering it again count?

Posted in: goals, Star Struck

Design Wall Monday

September 26, 2010 11:33 pm ⋅

Today I’m deciding on the binding for the ‘Modern DP9″ baby quilt I  threw together a couple of weeks ago.  Yesterday I drove down to Rocking Chair Quilts and quilted it on their Handi-Quilter.  I am thrilled with the way it came out.   Here’s a picture of the back:

Now I have to decide on the binding.  I have 3 choices from my stash:

  • Use the backing fabric
  • Use the white I used in the quilt top
  • Use the pink/orange mottled fabric.

My original intent was to use white — not that it makes a whole lot of sense as either a binding or on a baby quilt, but I like the concept of the “crispness” it would give to the quilt.  The backing fabric I think is too pale, but it did send me off to my stash to search for some orange fabric which is where I came up with the pink/orange fabric.  I’m not sure it’s right either.   I guess I’ll dig some more through my stash, perhaps looking for a ‘pinker pink’ or a yellow.  I only need 10″ WOF – but since most of my stash is FQ or smaller, my options will be limited.

Check out the links at Patchwork Times to see if anyone else is having binding issues.

Posted in: designwall, Modern DP9

Fairy Frost Sunset

September 25, 2010 7:04 pm ⋅


This evening I finished the Fairy Frost Sunset top. I really think I need a better name for this quilt, but for now I know what I’m talking about.

Ok, enough playing, I need to work on my Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler blocks and my Double Wedding Ring. Of course in the process of making this quilt top, I’ve made significant progress on my Blue Ridge Beauty as leaders/enders…

Posted in: Fairy Frost Sunset

Some Sunset Blocks

September 23, 2010 11:43 pm ⋅

Posted in: Fairy Frost Sunset

Design Wall Monday

September 20, 2010 6:58 am ⋅

Today it’s the ironing board.  I’m cutting the strips for my Fairy Frost Sunset.  Since I read all of the directions and made a sample block, I know that I can cut the pieces more efficiently resulting in bonus blocks.  Each strip set provides a 12 1/2 piece with a 45 degree cut, a 6 1/2″ piece with a 45 degree cut, a quarter square triangle and a 2 patch.  I  don’t think the 2-patches will play nicely with quarter square triangles, but I’ll cross that design challenge when I get there.

Today is the Guild mini-retreat and as I do for any retreat, I’ve over packed.  This is a handwork retreat, so I’ve got my DWR. Also in my bag so I don’t get bored, is the red work I’ve been working on for 3 years – I think this block just needs a couple of snowflakes, my dragonflies and crayons and fabric to make yo-yos.

Check out what others are working on by following the links at Patchwork Times.

Posted in: designwall, Fairy Frost Sunset

For Best Results…

September 18, 2010 10:46 pm ⋅

read instructions first.  So begins the instructions on the Sunset by Sunflower Hill Designs.  It’s good advice for lots of things, not just new quilting patterns.

Somewhere in the back of my mind is another piece of advice “make a sample block before cutting ALL of your fabric” — or something like that.

Of course, I’m not one to follow instructions if there are good illustrations.  And then even if I do read the instructions, I tend to go off on my own anyway.

The first place I varied from the instructions was in my fabric selection.   The pattern said 2 3/4 yards of assorted prints in various colors for the strips in the blocks.  My first question was can I use fat quarters?   To know that I had to read the cutting instructions.

At first glance, it doesn’t look like it:

Cut 48 strips 2″ x 40″.

So I kept reading.  After the strips are sewn together the directions say cut 2 – 12 1/2″ segments and 2 – 6 1/2″ segments.  Knowing this, I could use FQs since I could get a 12 1/2″ and a 6 1/2″ strip out of the width of the FQ.  So, I purchased 11 fat quarters (2 3/4 divided by 1/4 = 11).

Over the last couple of days, I cut into my Fairy Frost and sewed strips together.  Now it’s time to cut those 6 1/2″ and 12 1/2″ segments.  But wait – the next instruction is to cut the end of the rectangles off at a 45 degree angle.  Resulting in triangle “waste”.

These triangles will not end up in the trash — they’ll end up either in my  “crumbs” can or the “orphan block” box.  But then I got to thinking.  Could I cut the fabric with my Companion Angle ruler?  To know that, I’d have to make a sample block.

I’ve figured out that yes, I can cut the strip with the Companion Angle ruler and the block will go together correctly.  After I get all of my blocks made, I’ll sew 4 of the triangles together and use them in another quilt with the left over dragonfly fabric I am anticipating having.

Wasn’t I supposed to be making another SBS block and the guild BOM, not to mention quilting the DWR?  Then there’s the monthly goal to “make progress” on the Cream &  Green quilt and Star Struck.  Good thing this is only the 18th.

Posted in: Fairy Frost Sunset