Stitching On The Seas

All those sea days spent sailing to and fro on the big boat were not spent with idle hands, far from it. Like I did two years ago, this past trip saw many hours on the ocean spent hand stitching these itty-bitty motifs onto Essex Linen. They will soon be set into a child-sized quilt. (Click here to read a similar post from 2017.)  This time, using the same awesome book: "S" Is For Stitch by Kristyne Czepuryk,  I stitched out the boy version.


Stay tuned to see how this one is set together. The colors are much more muted this time, I love it!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Life is Good!

 

On The Edge

The Big Hex is finished, a flimsy no more. It is quilted and edge-finished with a lovely turquoise trim. Let me walk you through the finishing stage with photos; I am happy to report that this project turned out even better than I had hoped. 

After the quilting was completed, I trimmed the edges neatly on all sides. I had intentionally kept the quilting away from the edges to give myself enough room for inserting the trim. 

From there I took the quilt to the ironing board. I folded the top back and away from the binding and drew a line 1/2" from the edge directly onto the batting with a Frixion pen. Using that line as my guide I folded the top down exactly along that line and carefully pressed in an accurate 1/2" folded edge, with the iron, down onto the batting. Since the Frixion pen contains thermal ink the drawn line then disappeared.

I repeated the exact same procedure on the back side, rotating for each of the six sides.

I then took the quilt to my work table and worked my way around the edges, I trimmed away the 1/2" of extending batting as I progressed around and slipped the just-cut batting edge inside the folded edge of the top. As I worked, I laid the edge of the trim inside the "sandwich" and pinned through all the layers: top, batting, trim and backing; making certain that the folded edges of the top and backing were aligned and that the corners matched up.

Following the pinning stage I threaded up a long basting needle with thread that didn't match anything (for easier removal later on) and hand basted the edge as I removed each and every pin.

Once basted into position, I put on the zipper foot and, moving my needle to the far right, edge stitched along all six edges. I kept the needle as close to the edge as possible assuring that top and bottom edges were perfectly aligned and stitched very slowly, stopping and pivoting in each corner.

The edges turned out just fine, front and back, and the pom pom trim is securely attached.

This Big Hex quilt/play mat is all ready for gift giving. I hope the recipient will enjoy many hours of happy play time delighting in the shapes, colors and textures as much as this quiltmaker enjoyed every step of its construction!

Life is Good!

Up next: "Light Duty? Really?"

Hexed! (And A Winner!)

I have been hexed; yes, it's true, the textbook definition is as follows: to put a hex (a spell, especially an evil spell) on. The current Block-of-the-Month at my LQS has just begun, this session's theme is "Happy Hexagons". I simply cannot stop! The only explanation for this obsessive behavior must be a hex, although I certainly wouldn't call it evil, I am having too much fun. Armed with a well-stocked stash of novelties and a bin filled with strips for framing, there's no telling when this merriment will wind down. I do have an end in mind: a child's quilt, time will tell just how big this becomes. I need to find just the right setting. I have a winner* from last week's pattern giveaway: it is Susan C! Susan writes: "I love making zippered bags and use them quite often. As I'm on a quilt retreat now my organizational tip is to kit up your projects and put them in their own plastic box along with the instructions, thread and special notions that may be needed. Having everything ready like that makes for more productivity!"  Thank you, Susan, and for everyone who left a comment with an organizational tip, they were all great! Susan's pattern will go out in the mail today.

Life is Good!

*Winner was selected using Random Number generator, the number 12 was selected from a field of 1-16.

Pulling It Together

Pattern is from the book "S is for Stitch"  ~ 34.5" X 39"

Last week I found the perfect border piece for this embroidered "quiltlet", I believe this color helps to pull it together. I also found, what I consider to be, the most ideal backing piece as well, a precious floral that picks up the colors from the front (left, photos below). I need for scrappy, multi-fabric pieces to be controlled and cohesive. This one is pulling together beautifully, at least it is to my eye. Yesterday afternoon I took  stole a bit of time and added the border, pressed the piece and hung it on a hanger, where it now has taken its rightful spot in the "to be quilted" queue. That brings up even more to think about. However will I quilt this one? I honestly don't know.

I don't believe that I want to quilt through the hand embroidered blocks at all. 

What would you do when faced with this quilting challenge? I am wide open to suggestions. I have a LOT of time to decide, I am counting on this little flimsy to wait patiently for its turn, there are a myriad of other tasks that require pulling together in the meantime. Stolen moments to stitch, however, provides much needed energy to this quiltophile!

Life is Good!

"S" Is For Stitch

I saw some precious projects made up with tiny, hand-embroidered, blocks using the patterns from a book by Kristyne Czepuryk: S is for Stitch. Well, of course, I had to take a hand project with me on our recent vacation. I spent many a morning sitting outside on our balcony, happily stitching away one letter at a time. These little blocks finish up at four inches square.

 By the end of our fifteen day cruise I had all of the letters and little pictures done.

The trimmed blocks, ready for setting.

Beginning the setting.

After adding the inner border I thought about adding a strippy-pieced outer border, after auditioning a piece I abandoned that idea; it seemed too strong and distracting. I will add an outer border, in a tone-on-tone turquoise color, I just need to find the right piece. This small quilt measures 30" X 35" right now, before the outer border is added.

This is the little girl version, there is a boy version too; I believe I need to do that one as well!

Now I know my ABCs, next time won't you sing with me?

Life is Good!

"...With My Little Eye..."

"...With My Little Eye..."  ~  47" X 54"

I  put this I Spy quilt together yesterday, it was quick and easy; I followed the directions in the pattern book to the letter. I was eager to try this pattern and the cutting template, both of which I purchased at MidAtlantic Quilt Festival last month. Created by Karen Montgomery, the book Crazy For More and the set of non-slip Creative Grids templates "Scrap Crazy" combine for some effortless and precise piecing. I am already planning my next project using these tools. The pattern book has many other appealing patterns and the templates are an absolute joy to use.

This quilt will be for Lynnleigh, her favorite color is orange.  She chose all the cute little novelty prints that she wanted in her quilt over the weekend. She dug deep into Nana's bins and placed everything that she wanted in one pile. You might think this would put a big dent in my fabric scrap bins. Think again! This bin, below, with its bulging cover is one of five.

I plan to back this quilt with a white Minkee-type blanket and quilt it on the longarm without any batting. It should be the perfect drag-along quilt for my favorite three-year-old!

Life is Good!

Why I Quilt

...wrapping the world with love, one quilt at a time...

Life is Good!

Why We Quilt

Meet Wade, he belongs to our small group friend, Nane; isn't he absolutely the cutest little guy?  When Nane and her husband were planning their trip to China this past spring to  adopt their son and bring Wade home, our group got busy quietly conspiring and contributing novelty fabrics toward a Picture Play quilt to present to our new little buddy. It was secretly pieced in one home and handed off for quilting; it made one more stop for binding and, before we knew it, our long awaited Sew Day  had arrived at Nane's barn! We were all about to burst with happy anticipation as the big presentation moment occurred... little did we know that our own excitement was about to be eclipsed by that of the recipient~ click here to view. The quilt has found it's forever home; with Wade, where it belongs. It's why we quilt.

Life is Good!  

One Word Wednesday

~Complete~

Life is Good!

Wedges On The Edges

 I decided to try something different this time, after doing three of this style quilt I knew that I loved the scrappy outer border element but I wasn't ever completely happy with the complete randomness of that look with both fabric and shape. I dove into my novelty scrap bin this time, my fourth attempt at these borders, armed with a new tool: a 15 degree wedge ruler! Surfacing with only fabrics that read medium and dark, I cut and trimmed what I could with this ruler; if they were too small and didn't measure up I tossed them back in the bin! Placing the wedges beside each other at opposite angles I stitched the cut pieces into pairs, then units, and so on... until I had pieced borders long enough to fit both sides. I love the results: random colors but one unifying shape; this method satisfies my love for the multi-fabric pieced borders without trampling on my sense of required orderliness, if you can see the logic! Hopefully the top and bottom borders will go together and be added this week. Gregory's birthday is Saturday; his quilt won't be quite ready for the day, but it won't be too much longer! It's a good thing he is patient with his Nana!

Top and bottom border wedges ready to be stitched together,
along side my 15 degree fan ruler, I added the sandpaper 'dots' to the back
for added grip while rotary cutting around my most straggly scraps;
it worked like a charm!

Life is Good!

Two For Two

There's another two-year-old birthday to be celebrated soon; and sew, there's a second Picture Play Quilt underway! This is Gregory's soon-to-be quilt as it appears on the design wall; I will be adding another round of borders, scrappy pieced ones, before loading it onto Sundance for quilting.

Gregory's Daddy (our son, Kyle) is facing surgery today to repair a spiral fracture in his right fibula following an accident that occurred two weeks ago. He will be receiving internal fixation. Some of you, those who have been reading this blog for a long time, may recall (click) that he is no stranger to this procedure, he had a similar (albeit more extensive) surgery almost exactly six years ago after he shattered the tibial plateau in his left leg following a fall. I am requesting prayer; for God's healing touch, and for patience in the process. I posted this scripture passage back then, for Kyle, it's appropriate to post it, to read it, once again today!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not rely on your own insight.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your flesh 

and refreshment to your bones.  

                     - Proverbs 3: 5-8                                                    

                                                                                                                                     

     Life is Good!

And Sew It Goes!

How would you celebrate two recent quilt finishes? A party? No! Start a new quilt? Of course! I have another grandchild turning two years old next month and you know that that means: another Picture Play Quilt! (When I told you that this book is the most used book in my quilt book library I wasn't lying!) This will be Gregory's bedspread in his soon-to-be "big boy" bedroom, as he will be vacating the Big Bird nursery before too long to make room for his soon-to-be baby sister! The piecing on this one is going quickly, the blocks are stacked in order and joined together as time allows, row by row! And sew it goes...

Life is Good!

And Another Finish...

As promised yesterday, I have another quilt project to share, one that's  been moved to the "done" column. There's a lot to cheer about at The Strawberry Patch!  This is Lucy Ann's Picture Play Quilt, the pattern from Ami Simms' book by the same name. I posted a while ago about quilting this one with Nitelite glow-in-the-dark thread, one more fun element in this quilt full of little things to discover. "Funny Bunny, Bears and Honey" is bed-sized, she can cuddle up under it and have many sweet dreams for years to come; or, as pictured above, can spend hours on top of it playing, and finding objects to name, match, and describe. Loaded not only with hundreds of novelty fabrics but also photo transfers and fuzzy machine embroidered animals she'll be busy for a very long time! This fills my heart, this is why I make quilts.

A detail of the quilting, binding and accent piping.
"Funny Bunny, Bears and Honey"
66" X 86"
Life is Good!