MQG Riley Blake Challenge Top completed

 While looking for blocks to make up our guild's BOM program, I stumbled across Red Peony Buds in a Jinny Beyer quilt block book (the center one).  It would be a bit complicated to turn it into a 12.5" block, so it was eliminated as a possibility fairly early on.

     Instead, I chose to make it into my Riley Blake Challenge quilt.  

     With the challenge fabrics, some solids I had on hand, a few Riley Blake fabrics from a charm pack I picked up, and paper piecing templates from various other blocks, I made three columns.  I decided to just piece them together rather than adding some white sashing in between as originally planned.  I regret that I included the charm pack fabrics of similar colors just because I did end up having enough of the challenge fabrics.  Any recipient of the quilt won't know that so I left them in.  

     The navy fabric was just enough to make it work with some careful piecing.  I chose to put the piecing down the middle rather than off center because I've done a couple off center quilts.  I think I wish I would have made it off center anyway, but I definitely don't have enough navy to rip and make it look good.  Originally I was going to use white for the whole top and float the columns a little further apart, but this is destined to be a child's quilt.  Not so practical.

     The backing will be a Cape Ann brushed cotton that was destined for some clothing, but was just about the perfect amount for the backing.  If I had the batting on hand, I probably would have basted this tonight.  Instead, I'm waiting a day in hopes of cheaper batting tomorrow.  

      And since my posting is so infrequent, I figured I should post my progress so far.  It is approximately 49 x 69".

Sew.Bee.Create finished quilt

Here is a finish from the Sew.Bee.Create Bee last year.  In full disclosure, this quilt has been finished since  April 2012 and was given to the husband for his birthday.  I chose not to post it last year for what seemed like an excellent reason.

It is twin size and blocks were made by the women of Sew.Bee.Create, a friend locally, me and my mom.  It is quilted with a meandering stitch and bound with the same FreeSpirit Jade used for the borders.  I wanted it to be wider and I didn't feel like making another row of blocks, so I settled for the borders.  The family has been happy to snuggle under this and make forts with it for the past year.

Beejeebers finished quilt

This weekend I finished binding my quilt made by the Beejeebers bee.  The quilt is based on Boston Streets and the directions I sent out are here.  I am thankful for the women of the bee that helped me create the gift for my nephew.

It was quilted on the diagonals.  I think I prefer free motion quilting to straight line quilting any day.  More entertaining for the mind as I have to think about where I'm going and which way I move the quilt next.  For the diagonals I need to come up with something to think about other than how many more lines there are to go.

The backing is a Kaufman aqua flannel.  I added two rows on the side and bottom of the quilt to make the quilt a bit bigger.  His dad is 6'7" so a lap quilt won't make it too many more years.  When given the Kona card to show me his favorite color, he started pointing to just about every color.   He's since professed a preference for orange.  I auditioned an orange binding but couldn't bring myself to do it.  Instead, it is the asterisk print from Constellations by Lizzy House.  There are still two more blocks that are on the way but I started to worry that I wouldn't manage to finish before Christmas if I waited too much longer.  Instead, I plan on using those for a baby quilt similar to this one.

Dimensions:  88 x 68" unwashed
Made by: Beejeebers Quilt Bee and me
Quilted: by me with straight lines on the diagonals

A few scarves

 This weekend I helped myself feel less guilty about previous acquisitions of voile and velveteen by making five figuring the 8 scarves.  I altered the measurements so the scarves were about 9" wide and 80ish" long.  The blue one is longer because I cut two WOF pieces and it goes around 4 times.

There are three nearly identical ones of the center combination.

The blue one has the triflora print in blue on the inside.  My velveteen stash is now reduced to a couple small scraps.  The voile stash is slightly bigger but it is earmarked for a couple roller skate dresses from Oliver and S for next summer.  Hopefully over winter break I can tackle my fear of sewing with knits and I'll feel less guilty about the number of knits in the stash that have not been touched.

In the past bit of time, I've made two pouches for the 6 year old's teachers and have quilted two quilts that I didn't make.  One was for my guild and one was for my mom to give my aunt.  And I made a lovely tutorial for the balance block.  

And here's a Christmas wall hanging that has yet to find a wall space at my house.  Super dense quilting of swirls in the middle of it.  

Knee Socks

For Beejeebers, I made a knee socks block using Elizabeth Hartman's tutorial.    Cutting the strips out of scraps took longer than sewing it together I think.  Actually getting to the post office to send it will take the longest amount of time.

Other than this, I have sewn myself an Everyday Skirt by Liesl and Co (but haven't taken a picture yet).  I also sewed an infinity scarf loosely based on Anna Maria Horner's tutorial.  Both of these were sewn so I could have some yellow and black clothing for work so I could dress up.

I helped a co-worker finish a quilt top of her mother's that she got after her mom died last year.  It was a dresden plate quilt top and I simply basted, quilted and bound it for her.  I figured getting it long arm quilted was probably out of her price range for the 80x100 size that it was.  I didn't take pictures because I didn't think my stippling job was that outstanding to make it worthwhile to photograph.  I think that rounds up my last month of sewing projects.  I'll be working a tutorial for my local MQG block of the month.  Unfortunately I spent most of nap time attempting to find the darn cord for the camera to upload the pictures.

Finished Ruby Mosaic and a swap

I had two finishes this weekend!  Yay for stormy weather.  This quilt is being donated to Seattle Children's Hospital through Katie's Comforter Guild.  My niece is going to drop it off at her next appointment so she might be a bit distracted from her frequent visits there recently.  I didn't make this or try to finish it in time for 100 Quilts for Kids, but since I did manage to complete it two days before the due date and it will shortly be on its way, I might link up.

      It is quilted with simple loops all over in pink thread and is about 48 x 60".

     My other finish is part of a scrap swap for the SSMQG.  My partner happened to not catch the part of being only a fat quarter worth of scraps.  I'm pretty sure she doesn't read this, so I think it will be ok to post a picture.  She'll probably get it on Wednesday anyway or my kids might adopt it as their own.

     Many of her fabrics were fall themed or with leaves so I decided to make some Modern Maple blocks.  It's an envelope closure on the back of the pillow.  I think I shouldn't have overlapped the back quite as much, but once the pillow is in there, it will be difficult for anyone to get it out.

Beejeebers for October

     The block for me is based on Nancy Cabot's Boston Streets pattern.  I'm not concerned about having the paths going through the quilt as it shows at the linked site.  The block finishes at 20.5".

You will need:

Quantity	Square size (inches)	Color
5	4.5	Gray
10	5	Kona white
1	5	Red
1	5	Navy
8	5	Assorted colors (red, green, orange, blue and yellow)

1.  Draw a diagonal line across the white squares.  

2.  Pair up each white square with a colored 5" squares.

3.  Stitch 1/4" away from both sides of the diagonal line.  Cut on diagonal line.

4.  Press to the dark (or open).

5.  Trim HST units to 4.5 inches.

6.  Layout HST as shown in the diagram below.  Please put the red and navy HST where it shows in the diagram or sample block so I can put together the blocks. You may choose where the other colored HST go but please have diamonds of all one color.

7.  Sew together the block and press seams open.  

     If you want to make some of your diamonds scrappy (two different HST fabrics of similar colors) that is fine.  I did that with some of mine just to make the red and navy not stand out so much when I put the blocks together.  I'd prefer that the HST fabrics read as one color.  

Ruby Mosaic

     The school year has started and it has been a busy one.  Remind me to get house projects done   in the summer.  Silly me making the initial weekends of the year busier than they needed to be.  

    Here are the Beejeebers blocks for the month.  Lindsay requested St. Louis 16 patch blocks using the following tutorial http://sewwithsass.blogspot.com/2013/04/quilts-st-louis-16-patch.html.

She wanted warm and cool colored blocks.  I don't know how thrilled I am with my fabric choices. 

     Next, I went to the guild sew day and managed to sew 86 charms into HST, press half of them and begin trimming.  This weekend the remaining 86 HST were trimmed, and a decision not to go to the state fair due to weather gave me enough time to get this to a quilt top today.  And it is now basted too.  It didn't take me all day either.  Yay for rain and wind.

     It is made of 9 16" Mosaic blocks, like this one of mine from the Summer Sampler Series.  There is also one row of half blocks.  For some reason, my math was off and I felt the need to cut 2 squares of Bliss fabric that was completely unnecessary.  Oops.  The math was after the school year started as well.

     This is the fabric for the back of the quilt.  I do not remember what it is called, but I purchased it recently from Hancock's of Paducah.  I think it is Dena Designs.  I went through their web sales and purchased a few backing fabrics for quilts that I intend to donate in the future.  None of those quilts are made yet.   I had 2 Ruby charm packs and no plan to use them so I figured they would be perfect to start with.

     And now I'll go back to regular programming of not really posting much, attempting to sew a little, and balancing the rest of work and life.  Have a fabulous Monday.

Just a little sewing

     With the start of work, a few thunderstorms in the evening and a desire to make my yard and house look a little nicer this winter and next year, I haven't sewn quite as much of late.  This weekend I tackled our block of the month block for my guild and the sample block for my month of Beejeebers.

Melissa of Sew BitterSweet Designs wrote up the tutorial.  We are making red and aqua blocks to donate for a charity quilt.  I think I've decided that I am going to just make one block each month and not make a quilt for myself.  I might change my mind.  With different color placement, this block is also called the 4 H block.  Next month I get to be the tutorial writer.  Good thing that it is written and needs final editing and then I can post it.

      In October, it is my turn in Beejeebers.  Since nearly every weekend is filled with activities or house projects before then, I figured I should make my sample block.  It is a 20.5" finished block and might be familiar if you saw the Boston Streets quilt.

    With 4.5 inch HST and gray squares, here's my rough plan.  If the red and the navy HST are placed in the same locations then I can join up different blocks.  The other colors are in there just as placeholders and not as a guide for color placement.  

     When I showed my nephew the Kona color card to ask him his favorite colors, he started by pointing to a navy blue shade and then proceeded to say he liked them all.  I'm choosing not to request pink or purple but will ask for greens, yellows, reds, oranges, and blues that are primarily monochromatic prints or prints that read as one color.   I was going to make a few of the pinwheel spokes scrappy so the navy and reds don't stick out quite as much.  It will be fine either way.  Probably ok with black as well I think.  (And why is it that I can't manage to format this paragraph so it is aligned on the left side?)

     Here are two blocks together (right side is assembled, the left is just set out).  It just seems a bit warm to use the iron this evening so I stopped at the one block.  

     I also sewed the final 6 blocks for Birdie Stitches from a few years ago.  I still need to embroider 7.5 of them.  That quilt will get donated when it is finally finished.  I'm not quite sure what I was thinking when I started that since cute is generally not a word I use.

Lunch bags and Salt Water

Sewing has taken a back seat to yard work this week.  But in anticipation of going back to work and the school year starting, new lunch bags were in order.

Using Ayumi's tutorial, I made 5 lunch bags.  My mom took hers to her house before I took pictures.  Someone in this house might have watched The Incredibles this summer and has a bit of a super hero fascination.  The saga of Lightning Girl and Thunder Boy has been a common story this summer.  

Then I needed to make some sandwich and snack bags to go inside the lunch bags.  I have more of these cut out but haven't put them together yet.  I tried finding all the random cuts that were mixed in with my stash and use them for snack bags.  

And, for a green loving resident of this house, I cut into my Salt Water FQ and am making him a lap quilt using the Road to Tennessee block.  My Salt Water squares are 4.5" and the green squares are 2.5".  I like that proportion I think.  I did sew 1/2 inch away from the diagonal and am saving all the HST from that for some unknown project.  This one will probably be backed in minky so there is a minky quilt for each child and fighting over the Fruitcake one can stop.  

I'm not looking forward to drawing the double lines on each of the 400+ squares left.  But, I might be more excited about that than pressing and trimming the extra HST.  

Besides quilting, I've been sewing

lots of clothes for 2 six year olds.  

An Oliver and S. Family Reunion dress.  

 There are pintucks on the front which intimidated me for a long time.  They weren't as bad as I thought they would be.  I need to find different buttons for the front since they blend in so well that they aren't noticeable.  The fabric is a Timeless Treasures print bought last summer.

Oliver and S Badminton Skorts.

 Two of the skorts have the scalloped hem and two do not.  I like the detail but since my daughter is living in these this summer, I didn't want her to wear exactly the same design every day of the week.  Starting from the top left and going clockwise, Hex Bee in Yellow from Briar Rose, Goodies from Alexander Henry, Felicity (perhaps?), and Boho.  I made one more skort but that is 60 miles away with the other 6 year old.  There is a wide variety in the feel of different quilting cottons.  The Alexander Henry print seems a lot more sturdy than Briar Rose.  We'll see how well it stands up to quality testing over the course of the next year or so.

Class Picnic Blouse from Oliver and S.

This was coveted by my own 6 year old which led to the skort above in the same print.  Goodies by Alexander Henry.

Now that the Family Reunion dress is done and the two skorts, I need to gather my guts and try to sew with knits.  No excuses.  No projects that have to be done right now to give my reasons to procrastinate sewing with knits.  And one more week before work starts again.

Cat Challenge

A guild member was inundated with cat fabric for charity quilts.  We posed a challenge to the guild to take a 10" square, use 30-40% of it, and try to update it.

First, I went through the fabric I had and tried to find something that coordinated.  That wasn't too successful.  Instead I figured I could just cut the square into 10 one inch strips and use some slice and insert to make the block.  Just looking at the multicolored lines, you might be able to figure out what my original idea was.  At the end of my strips, I was about .25 of an inch too short and I wasn't so excited about the product.  I added in the yellow and blue strips and trimmed it to size.

I wish I would have added a navy strip in the middle before trimming but I decided to just stop at this point.  I was a little scared I would cut too many times and end up with a block that was too small again.  75% of the cat fabric was included in the block and it was always my intention to try to use as much of it as possible in the design.  Imperfect, but now there are only 2 creepy looking eyes left instead of more than 6.

Curious

Joelle asked for word blocks this month.  I chose the word "curious."  After Kris was nice enough to write about her challenge with keeping her block within the size parameters that Joelle desired, I knew I needed to pay attention to that.

Rather than carefully plot and plan, I chose to make letters and figure out later whether I was making an 18.5" or a 12.5" block.  18.5" won.

The block currently is a bit larger than it needs to be but figured that Joelle could complete the final trim.  She has about a half inch from top to bottom and a few inches on either side.  The "s" slightly irritates me, but it also looks fine as is.  And I tested this with the resident 6 year old to make sure she could read what it said.  No hesitation for her to read what it said so I count that as successful.

Balance block

For my quilt guild, Melissa and I are planning a block of the month with a variety of techniques represented.

Since Kathy of Eagle Nest Designs presented her Balance quilt pattern at last month's show and tell, I've wanted to try using crazy piecing for the sections.  Originally my plan was to have two lines going through the block, but a couple of math errors made me annoyed and unwilling to put together more small pieces.  The guild has representatives from all skill levels so I think only one bar going vertically will be a better choice anyway.

I still need to finish the measurements, try a new version with those measurements and write the tutorial, but here is the finished mini-quilt.  When I quilted it, I marked the second, left out line and densely quilted it as well.  I wish I would have just quilted waves throughout the rest of the white space so the second line stood out more.  Next time.