Updates on Sewing Up My Fabric!

Since I originally posted my description of this blog, I have somewhat erred from my intention. I have actually bought much more fabric than I had but ................. in my defense, I got the solids at 50% off and the quilt shop fabric at 75% off, so that doesn't count, right? LOL

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Linking up with RSC Color Green

RSC17 - Color is Green
I have been concentrating mostly on my goal of finishing one quilt a week for 2017 but still trying to keep up with Angela and everyone at RSC17.  Everyone is doing such a great job. 
You can click HERE to see all of the green creativity!

I am mostly posting to show off my new design wall.  I am so glad to have it.  You can see that I didn't get anything done on my Bottled Rainbow blocks, but maybe now that I have a design wall, it will be easier to work on them.  The blocks to the left are part of my RSC17 lawn chair quilt.  The pattern can be found at the Moda Bake Shop.


I used the directions on this youtube video.  I pretty much followed her instructions completely.  Instead of buying flannel fabric, I bought a king-size good quality flannel sheet.  It was not quite as long as the insulation board so I cut off 6" from the bottom of each 4'x8' insulation board in order to fold the flannel around the board.  I also used her suggestion to only tape the boards together on one side so you can fold it.  That was very helpful in getting it into my sewing studio.

21st Finish for 2017 - Quilted and Bound

2010 Village BOM
 This quilt was designed by members of the Yahoo Group "Stroll the Block". 
This was the first BOM that I had ever hosted. 
The members volunteered to make one block.  They all did a fabulous job.  I enjoyed looking at each block while I was quilting it.  It's a shame that the detail doesn't come through in the pics.

Courthouse in the Village Square

January, February, and March
Pet Shop, Flower Shop, and Church

April, May, and June
Coffee Shop, Dress Shop, and Barber Shop
 I don't remember the whole story, but the designer named the dress shop "G.W. Boutique".  Either a family member or friend used to dress very well and people would ask her where she got her clothes and she would tell them "G.W. Boutique!"  I thought it was a cute story.

July, August, and September
General Store, Diner, and Schoolhouse
October, November, and December
Country Inn, Quilt Shop, and Toy Store

Quilting the Border
You can't see it too well in this picture, but I quilted houses and trucks on the border around the village. 
The quilting was inspired by Lori Kennedy's newest book "Free-Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3".


Quilting Info

Size:  85" square
Batting:  Hobbs 80/20
Quilted on my Innova Sitdown Longarm

NOTE:  No fabric, batting, or thread was purchased in 2017 to complete this quilt.

20th Finish for 2017 - Quilted and Bound

2014 Two Color Mystery Quilt
 This was a mystery quilt designed by Cindy Carter and the info can be found by clicking HERE.
I used 100% cotton homespun fabrics on the front and back.  I don't remember having any difficulty with the piecing, but the quilt seemed to drag while quilting it  Even the binding felt like it was dragging.  I have a sit down long arm.  It might have been easier using a long arm frame.


Close-up of Quilting
 I quilted poinsettias as an all over design.

Back

Left-over Fabric

As you can see, I have quite a bit of fabric left but I couldn't make myself make shams at this time.  I'm kind of tired of messing with that fabric.  I am hoping that I will forget all about it later in the year and make the shams and some Christmas placemats or table runner.

Quilting Info

Size:  85" square
Batting: 80/20
Quilted on my Innova sitdown longarm

NOTE:  No fabric, batting or thread was purchased in 2017 to complete this quilt.



Bonus Block for the Growing Up qAL

Woven Fabric Block
This one was a little funny to me.  Alida said that the fabric prep was tedious but after that, the weaving was easy!  Maybe for her!  I spent much more time on the weaving than the prep! I seem to struggle with the easy stuff.  I think I still got two strips wrong but it looks good enough to me.

Homemade Wefty Needle
Wefty with fabric strip.
I didn't see the need to buy a wefty needle for one block so I made one from some cardboard.  It worked fine, but if I were to made more, I would probably use some type of plastic.

You can see what others are doing with this QAL by clicking HERE!

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

May Blocks with the Growing Up QAL

Improv Piecing - Log Cabin
I think I got a little lost in this one! LOL
Improv Piecing - Curved Piecing
This one was a little harder than I expected but I got it.

These are the May blocks created by Alida for the Growing Up QAL.  She has really done a great job in stretching our skills to a new level.

Click here to see what others are doing with these blocks!


Blocks so far

Really, I am showing off my new design wall.  I am so glad to finally have one.


Saturday, May 13, 2017

19th Finish for 2017 - Quilted and Bound

Quilted and Bound
 This was a New Year's Mystery quilt.  I don't remember if it was NYE or NYD.  I am sure it was prior to 2008 but I haven't found anything so far to indicate the name or year.
Leftover Fabric
 I had kept all of the fabric together, so after quilting and binding, I still had enough to make pillow cases and shams.  I still have fabric leftover.  I might make a couple of small throw pillows and the rest will become precuts for another life!

Close-up of quilting

Quilting Info:

Size: 84" x 96"

Batting:  Hobbs Heirloom 80/20

Quilting time:  10 hours

Quilted on my Innova sit down long arm machine.

NOTE:  No fabric, batting, or thread was purchased in 2017 to finish this quilt.


Monday, May 8, 2017

18th Finish for 2017 - Quilted and Bound

9-patch swap
This is my 18th quilt to completely finish for 2017.
It was made from a none-patch swap with a Yahoo group named Stroll the Block.  This swap was from 2008 or before.  I wanted a larger quilt so I added the flowers and black fabric.

Backing
I tried to find fabric in my stash to compliment the quilt.


Close-up of the center squares.  All of the nine-patches had the same quilted flower motif in them as the black squares.

Quilt Info

Size:  80" x 81"
Batting:  Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Black
Quilted on my Innova sitdown longarm machine

Note:  The only purchase I made in 2017 or this quilt was the binding.  Out of my plethora of fabrics, I did not have what I needed for this quilt.  Luckily, I had purchased this binding fabric a few months ago from England Design Studios .  When I saw it, I was sure I would need it while sewing up some of my vintage fabric UFOs.  What a lifesaver that was.

Monday, May 1, 2017

17th Finish for 2017 - Quilted and Bound

#17 Quilted and Bound
This another Saturday Sampler from my favorite LQS, Cactus Quilts.  I don't remember the name or the year, but it has been a while!

Close up of Center

I really enjoyed quilting this one.

Quilting Info:

Size:  84" x 99"

Batting:  Warm and Natural

Quilted on my Innova Long Arm Sitdown Machine

NOTE:  No fabric, batting, or thread was purchased in 2017 to complete this quilt.