Quilting and Stuff by Knitnoid

Taking No Chances

Since I had the mishap yesterday when I worked on the Christmas BOM instead of the purse, tonight I started with the purse.  I’m happy to report that all 4 tabs are now attached and I’m it’s ready for the next step – gromments.  16 of them.

So, after I put the purse back on the back burner, I made block # 14 from Just Takes 2.  The latest set of blocks were released today.

Four more blocks to go in this set.

Should Have Worked on the Purse…

I said I was going to work on the purse, but instead I started the evening with this cute Hole in the Barn Door and Teddy block from the Christmas BOM. It’s one of the two blocks I said I would do this month.  Since “I don’t appliqué”, I fused the teddy and tie in place and then used the blind hem stitch in matching thread to stitch the bear down.  I flipped the block to trim the threads and found this:

It’s a unit from Orca Bay.  At first I though “static cling” — but then reality set it.  I stitched the unit to my block.  It’s a little easier to see in this ‘negative’ image.

As soon as I fix this I promise I’ll attach the remaining tabs to the purse!

Just Takes 2 – Part 3

I think of all the pictures I’ve taken, this one might be the closest to the correct color.  I’m calling the color combination Turquoise Blue and Steel Grey.  Someone said they thought it was a very modern combination. These are my fraternity’s colors which were picked in 1889 – over 120 years ago!

Other than that string of geese, finishing up part 3 of Just Takes 2, no quilting got done Monday.  I spent the evening sorting t-shirts for my husband’s bands and orchestras.  Maybe tonight after work I’ll get the other two tabs added to the purse.

What’s On My Design Wall

These are the first 12 blocks of the mystery sampler Just Take 2.  One more block – a string of 8 flying geese — and I’ll be caught up and ready for the February 15th blocks. I want to go on record that just because I’ve started this new quilt, it does not mean I have given up on my numerous UFOs.

  • The purse now has two of the four tabs attached.  Two more, the grommets and handles then it will be done.
  • Admittedly no work has been done on the frog quilt, this month’s Christmas BOM or the SBS quilt.
  • Even though I don’t have any blocks up on the wall, I’ve partially pieced some of the Ocean Wave blocks — these are for the 4th section of the quilt.  I need more neutral HST.
  • I’ve also pulled out the box of Orca Bay parts to use for leader/enders
  • Just a bit was quilted on the DWR this week

Don’t forget to check out the design wall links over at Patchwork Times.

Stash Report

Yes — I bought fabric this week.  The FQ are to replenish my “neutral” stash which is getting a bit thin.  Ocean Waves and Orca Bay really bit into them.  The turquoise and blue.  Well let’s just say “Resistance is futile”.  Yes, I’m semi-committed to the Just Takes Two project.  I say semi-committed because I only bought enough fabric for about 1/4 of the quilt from “basic” fabrics. In theory I’ll be able to go back and get more of the same fabric.

There have been three sets of block released and I’ve got the first set done.  Hopefully I’ll get the rest of the blocks done and I can show them all tomorrow.

The good news is I am still in the black on my fabric usage.

Fabric Added Last Week: 5.833 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 10.583 yards

Fabric Used Last Week: .779 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 15.012 yards

Net Used for 4.429 yards

Follow the links over at Patchwork Times to see how others are doing with their fabric usage goals.

Linking Up Orca Bay

Today’s the last day to link up our Orca Bay progress.  As much as I would love to be showing a finished top, other quilts have taken priority.  This is the #1 reason I have UFOs. I set this project aside January 1st to focus on Ocean Waves, a graduation gift for my niece.

So what have I done and what do I need to finish?

  • Part 1 – DONE
  • Part 2 – DONE
  • Part 3 – DONE
  • Part 4 – In progress — need to lighten up my purple strings
  • Part 5 – In progress — I think this will become my next leader/ender project
  • Part 6 – In progress
  • Part 7 – In progress
  • Part 8 – Not started

Last week  I was thinking I was going to have to cut into the fabric for my Scrappy Irish Chain quilt to have a L/E project while I finished up Ocean Waves, but I’ve got plenty here to keep me going.

Make sure you stop by Bonnie’s page to see all of the beautiful quilts.

What’s On My Design Wall

Yes, this is the 3rd section of Ocean Waves.  This section is done!    I get to cross off something off my goals list.  Actually I get to cross three things off the list.

I’ve written and revised the instructions for the retreat mystery quilt.  Here’s a sneak peek of the top I have made following (and correcting) the instructions.  The pattern is now in the hands of my two testers. The first top was made based on drawings and vague notes.  Of course they both still need to be quilted.

Additionally, another ring in the DWR was quilted.  My revised illustration is on the right side column of this page.

Other than pulling the fabric (and subsequently burying it) I’ve made no additional progress on my UFO challenge quilts.  I have however, top stitched the top edge of the Bellanca bag. Now I’m ready to add the tabs for the handles.  Small steps.  It will get done.

Don’t forget to check out the links over at Patchwork Times.

Stash Report

I’ve been sewing all week, but have very little to show for it.  I used 1 yard in a sample table runner and just a bit under a 1/4 yard making parts and pieces for the Ocean Waves quilt.  On the flip side I won 1/2 yard of fabric.

Here’s this weeks results:

Fabric Added Last Week: .5 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 4.75 yards

Fabric Used Last Week: 1.244 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 14.233 yards

Net Used for 9.483 yards

Follow the links over at Patchwork Times to see how others are doing with their fabric usage goals.

Surprised Again by the Stash

Next week, I will need to test my new quilt pattern before I send it off to my testers.  So, I dug into my stash to see if there was any chance I would have four 3/8 yard cuts of coordinating fabrics.  I found these four fabrics.  I think they’ll work.

 

Assembling a Quilt Top

My Ocean Waves quilt is almost too big for my design wall, so I’m working on it quarter sections.  This is the 3rd section up on the wall last night.

Each of these blocks has to be turned in the right way to make the pattern show up.  Everyone has their favorite method for assembling a quilt top.  This is how I do mine.

First — I wrote numbers on my flower head pins.

These are what keep my blocks in order.  At the design wall, I put pin #1 in the top left corner of the first block.

I then flip the second block over the first and insert a pin in the seam to hold them together until I get to the sewing machine.

Flower pin #2 goes in the next block, the following block is flipped over and pinned as above.  If you have an odd # of blocks it gets a flower pin the top left corner. Take all the blocks to the sewing machine and pin if desired.  I have tons of seams which are not nesting well so lots of pins.

Sew the seams.  Then sew the pairs together, remembering the flower pin is in the top left corner of the block/section.  Once all the sections are sewn together press.  Do not take pin #1 out of the row so you know how to put the row back on the design wall.

Since I’m only working with half the quilt, I know the half block goes on the left — for this quarter — but when I was working on the log cabin it was easy to get the row turned upside down.

Repeat with each row.  Then sew the rows together.  If you are concerned about the rows falling off the wall, exchange the #1 pin marking the top left corner of the block with a number pin with the correct row number.  Once it’s time to sew the rows together do them in pairs, then sew the pairs together.

To get an idea of working in quarter sections, here are a couple more pictures.  The section on the left is sewn together, and I’m still piecing the blocks on the right.

The top half sewn together.

I’ll finish up this section, then finish piecing the 4th section.  I’ll sew the “short” vertical seam between the sections and then only have the one long horizontal seam to sew.

If you struggle with quilt assembly, I hope this post helps you — or at least gives you some ideas to incorporate in your quilt assembly.  Feel free to ask questions if I need to clarify something.