Quilting and Stuff by Knitnoid

Category Archives: Challenges

Black and Bright

December 27, 2015 11:47 am ⋅

IMG_20151225_141741~2

 

This is Black & Bright. The blocks were from a May 2007 swap I participated in. The blocks then sat for several years waiting for inspiration. At one point I wanted to set the blocks with applique (yes, I know I say that’s a 4-letter word) flowers.

I went as far as taking an on-line class to learn applique and quickly decided that wasn’t going to work. So, I took the class blocks and made this wall hanging in 2010.

dancingflowers

I didn’t like the original border with the wall  hanging, so came up with this layout with the plan to use it on the quilt when I got that far.

The quilt top finally got finished in April 2013 at a quilt retreat. It then sat in my stash of quilt tops to be quilted. This summer it was on of the quilts that was picked to be quilted as a thank you for the help in the yard (Aiming for Accuracy, Orange Crush and Nifty Thrifty were the other 3 quilts).

I found a bright green fabric on clearance to use for the backing. I also used it as the body of the pillowcases.

IMG_20151225_140253

It was quilted on both the longarm and my DSM.  I had a plan for the black borders and quickly realized I wasn’t able to execute it well — especially in the bright variegated thread I was using (Superior’s So Fine #40/3 in Crickey!)  So came home and ripped out the top border and did a simple cable. It was either Wednesday night or Christmas Eve morning I realized that I wasn’t going to have enough thread — I was using Crickey! in the bobbin as well. So, I had a design opportunity.

The ‘inner’ black band between the pieced border and the blocks is narrower than the ‘outer’ black bands, so I did a simple diamond in those two borders and used black thread on the top. Finally in the turquoise of the pieced borders I did a simply s-curve and used turquoise thread.  I think I have less than 1/2 bobbin of Crikey! left.

I picked the green from the border to repeat in the binding. “Susie’s Magic Binding” is my go-to binding when I need to do a fast binding. There’s no pinning and the entire thing can be done on the machine.

I used Hobbs’ Heirloom 80/20 black batting in the quilt. It started out at 103″ square and after washing it measures 98″ square.

It was finished Christmas Day, just in time to leave for Christmas dinner.

It was part of my Crazy Challenge II and on the 4th Quarter Finish a Long list.

Posted in: Black and Bright, Challenges, goals, UFOs

The Hardware Panel

December 26, 2015 12:07 pm ⋅

hardwarefinished

 

This started out as a panel. A friend bought it and the peg board and border fabric at a quilt retreat several years ago. Then it sat. When I was helping her move her sewing room I offered to make it for her and brought it home — where it sat a few more years. I added it to the Crazy Challenge II list in October. It was delivered on Sunday.

It was about 55 x 75 before washing. Although not really visible in the picture, I used Susie’s Magic Binding, using a rusty-red for the accent color. It nearly matches the red stripe in the border and more importantly allowed me to use the remaining peg board fabric as the binding.

It has Hobb’s Tuscany 100% cotton batting in it and I used Cairo-Quilt thread in Military Gold in the top and a beige pre-wound bobbin.

Bill

This quilt is on my 4th Quarter Finish Along List and will be linked up to On the Windy Side when the linky opens.

Posted in: Challenges, Finish-A-Long - 2015

The Red Disappearing 9-Patch

December 20, 2015 1:39 pm ⋅

reddp92

 

This is the 3rd of 3 Disappearing 9-Patches – for this year.  Since I made it the same as the Green Disappearing 9-Patch, I’m going with the same measurements. It measured about 79″ x 94″ before washing. Based on the picture, I’m guessing it’s about 75″ x 90″ after washing. Hobb’s Tuscany Bleached 100% Cotton batting was used (it’s what I had on hand). It was quilted on my DSM. I used my CarioQuilt thread in Military Gold. The quilting on this one is in a diagonal pattern similar to the Orange DP9.

All the fabric is from recycled shirts, except for the red. I purchased two yards of it, and had enough fabric to make the quilt and a pillowcase. Again I made the cuff narrower as I needed a red cuff on another pillowcase.

I started cutting the squares on May 19th, finished the top July 17th and finished the quilt on December 13th. It is on my 3rd Quarter Finish Along List make that my 4th Quarter Finish Along list that On the Windy Side is hosting and of course it is a quilt on my personal Crazy Challenge II list.

Here’s the pillowcase — it’s the body of the case is from a bolt of fabric I bought several years ago.

Jeremiah

Posted in: Finish-A-Long - 2015, goals

Green Disappearing 9-Patch – The Blog Post

December 20, 2015 9:56 am ⋅

greenD9ptemp

 

Well, I  had great hopes and dreams of a cool photo shoot of all of the quilts, but that simply is not going to happen.  I haven’t been able to get out during the day — except when the wind is blowing hard or it’s raining — neither are conducive to a quilt photo shoot of a single quilt, let alone multiple quilts. So this is it.  The quilt pinned to the shelves in the sewing room.

This is the 2nd of 3 Disappearing 9-Patches.  It measured about 79″ x 94″ before washing. Based on the picture, I’m guessing it’s about 75″ x 90″ after washing. Hobb’s Tuscany Bleached 100% Cotton batting was used (it’s what I had on hand). It was quilted on my DSM. I used my CarioQuilt thread in Military Gold to do some basic straight stitching.

All the fabric is from recycled shirts, except for the green. I purchased two yards of it, and had enough fabric to make the quilt and a pillowcase — well, I made the cuff narrower so I could make a cuff for Nifty Thrifty as well. Bottom line, there’s no green fabric left.

I started cutting the squares on May 19th, finished the top August 20th and finished the quilt on October 31st.  It was part of the November UFO Parade at Aunt Marti’s, one of my finishes for UFO Busting over at Field Trips in Fiber, it is on my 3rd Quarter Finish Along List (it was on the 3rd quarter list, but it’s the 4th Quarter Finish Along List that I need to link to)  for that On the Windy Side is hosting and of course it is a quilt on my personal Crazy Challenge II list.

Ooh — nearly forgot the pillowcase.

greencase

Posted in: Challenges, Finish-A-Long - 2015, goals, UFO Busting, UFO Parade - 2015

What’s On My Design Wall

December 14, 2015 12:08 am ⋅

 

RedDp9The design wall proper is empty, but the Crazy Challenge II is progressing. The Red Disappearing 9-Patch is done. It just needs washing and photographing.  I’ll wash it as soon as I get the pillowcase made.

hardware

 

The hardware quilt is done. I’m so glad I couldn’t find the extra backing fabric. I love the pop of red. I need to get this quilt labeled and it will go into the wash when I finish the pillowcase. BTW I finally found the extra backing fabric. I had decided it was too dark for the neutral box and not dark enough for the brown box and it ended up in the yellow and Halloween box.

yawn

 

This Black and Pink 4-Patch Stacked Posies quilt is a hug quilt. I need to finish cleaning up the threads, make the label and finish the pillowcase, then it will go in the wash.  I think Butterscotch is trying to tell me something. I know I’ve stopped for the night. The pillowcases will be finished up this evening.

pillowcases

I re-evaluated and realized I needed two more pillowcases for a total 7 not associated with quilts. These are cut to size, but before I can put them together, the inside of the cuff will get a label and I need to make two more labels. Maybe Tuesday?

So, what’s left?

thelast3

 

That lime green needs to be made into a backing for the Black and Bright quilt. The quilt needs to be put on the zippers and I have to figure out how I’m going to quilt it on Saturday. That’s got to be Wednesday’s project.

The Cream and Green hanging to the shelves and under the lime green needs to be finished, as does the Compass Lone Star on top. They will need labels and pillowcases of course. I think these two will be necessity get pushed to next week.

And the mystery quilt?  I think I printed off the instructions and put them with the fabric — but at this point, I’m not sure. But clearly there is no more work on it until after the first of the year, and possibly not until February. I’ve been given two commissions for quilts which need to be done in January.

If you don’t hear from me, you’ll know why. I’m buried under quilts!

Check out what others are working on over at Patchwork Times.

 

 

Posted in: Challenges, designwall, goals, UFOs

What’s On My Design Wall

December 7, 2015 10:03 am ⋅

dw1207

 

This past week has gone by in a blur – lots of errands and not much time at the sewing machine. The good news is I have finally finished the quilting on the Red Disappearing 9-Patch and I have the binding cut. This means I now have two quilts to bind as the Hardware Quilt still needs binding — and I don’t have those strips cut.

MQ1207

While I had the cutting board cleared, I made one set of clue 2 of the mystery quilt. I started with just a single headless goose, using the Companion Angle ruler, which came out OK. But then apparently the next 3 I cut wrong as they almost have their head. I finished up the set using squares and the stitch and flip method – which I think I’ll use going forward.

Looking at this week, I have 2 evenings of activities which will limit my quilting time, so I doubt I’ll get much done on the mystery – I’ll have to focus on getting the Crazy Challenge quilts done.

See what others have on their Design Wall over at Patchwork Times and how others are doing on their mystery quilt over at Quiltville.

 

Posted in: Allietare, Challenges, designwall, DP9, goals

What’s On My Design Wall

November 30, 2015 12:09 am ⋅

MQ-1This morning I have a little bit of several things in the works. I started Allietare, the Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt — because clearly I don’t have anything to work on — 😉  Although I had all of clue 1 cut out, I only got 1/3 of them made since I got a chance to use the long arm.

Hardware

This is the Hardware quilt which I quilted on Saturday. It still needs binding which is on my list for this week.

redd9p

 

The Red Disappearing 9-Patch is maybe 1/3 quilted – I set it aside – I thought briefly – to work on Allietare and I haven’t gotten back to it. It too is also on my list for this week.

Hopefully I can get these two quilts finished up by midweek so I have plenty of time to finish up the rest of the Crazy Challenge II quilts.

I’m linking up with Patchwork Times for the Design Wall Monday post and Quiltville for the Allietare link-up.

Posted in: Allietare, Challenges, designwall, DP9

Orange Crush – The Blog Post

November 26, 2015 3:56 pm ⋅

OCtemp

 

The time change and weather has not bode well for getting good pictures outside. I’ve put off this post waiting for a good picture, but have decided if I don’t record details now, I’ll forget them.

My Orange Crush was started April 1, 2008 — well at least that’s when the first clue was released. I finished up the top 7 months later on November 4, 2008. The quilt top needed to age – waiting for the perfect occasion to gift it. I quilted it on October 26, 2015 using Superior’s So Fine! #722 “Crikey!” in the top and pre-wound SuperBobs in white for the bobbin. The quilting pattern is Curley-Q, a pantograph by Aimee Mahan. The batting is Hobb’s Tuscany 100% Bleached cotton. Finally I bound it using Susie’s Magic Binding.  After washing the quilt measures…well shoot, I don’t have that information in the spreadsheet. I’ll have to come back and add it before it is gifted.

This was an October 31, 2015 finish – pulling it out of the washing machine that morning in time to be included in the November UFO Parade Aunt Marti’s 52 Quilts. It was also counted as a finish for the UFO Busting Report sponsored by Vicki over at Field Trips in Fiber. It is one of my finishes for the 2015 Finish Along off my 4th Quarter List and finally it is one of the Crazy Challenge II quilts.

I didn’t mention it, but the backing is the same Kansas City Chiefs fabric that I used for the pillowcase.

occase

Posted in: Challenges, Finish-A-Long - 2015, Out of the Blue, UFO Busting - 2015, UFO Parade - 2015

Sew Scrappy Challenge Quilt – Week 7

November 24, 2015 9:51 pm ⋅

sewscrappywashed

 

Last month I said that on Tuesdays until Thanksgiving I am working on my Sew Scrappy quilt as part of Jo’s “finish a UFO before Bonnie’s mystery quilt starts challenge”. Sew Scrappy is from Evelyn Sloppy’s book 40 Fabulous Quick-Cut Quilts. I don’t think I have any Bonnie Hunter quilts in pieces, but I want/need to finish this one and I’ve been stalling for 3 years.  Monday I got it washed and hung to take a picture. These days it is too late to take pictures outside after work, so I hung it on my shelves. It has also been delivered.

The quilt measures 69″ x 83″ after washing.  All of the fabric is Kansas Troubles, including those really light pieces.  As I was working on the quilt, I’d pick up a light piece then go check the selvage to make sure it really was KT fabric.

The batting is Hobb’s 100% Cotton Tuscany and I used Cairo-quilt in Military Gold thread in both the top and the bottom.  It blends so well, I had a hard time telling where I had quilted! There was one spot that I added a bit of quilting to after I got home.

sewscrappyquiltingback

 

The quilting was done free-hand – just a loopy flower that I do. The picture above is before I washed the quilt, the one below, after.

sewscrappyquiltingdetail

This quilt will link up with Jo’s Country Junction, Aunt Marti’s UFO Parade, the UFO Busting – 2015 over at Field Trips in Fiber, the 4th Quarter Finish Along (list is here) and of course my Crazy Challenge II.

I nearly forgot.  Yes, there is a pillowcase to go with it.

sewscrappycase

 

Posted in: designwall, Finish-A-Long - 2015, goals, Sew Scrappy, UFO Busting - 2015, UFO Parade - 2015, UFOs

Sew Scrappy Challenge Quilt – Week 6

November 18, 2015 12:15 am ⋅

sewscrappybindingLast month I said that on Tuesdays until Thanksgiving I am working on my Sew Scrappy quilt as part of Jo’s “finish a UFO before Bonnie’s mystery quilt starts challenge”. Sew Scrappy is from Evelyn Sloppy’s book 40 Fabulous Quick-Cut Quilts. I don’t think I have any Bonnie Hunter quilts in pieces, but I want/need to finish this one and I’ve been stalling for 3 years.

Well, the end is truly near.  The binding is attached and I’ve started to stitch it down. Since I’m finishing it by machine, it won’t take long — but I got a late start last night. It’s the middle of open enrollment at work and since I was out on vacation last week, I didn’t start to look at the options until last night. There’s more personal computer work on the horizon for tonight, but I expect I’ll finish the binding. Then it will be time to trim the threads, label and check for spots that need more quilting.

See how others are doing on their project over at Jo’s Country Junction.

Posted in: Challenges, goals, UFOs