Monday, September 26, 2011

Halloween Pinwheel Quilt

This is my Halloween Pinwheel Quilt so far.  I did some rearranging from the last photo I posted so the black sashing would line up.  I turned the orange border into a flange so that I could keep the orange color around the stitchery without adding to the measurement of the inside block.


Here is how I make my pinwheels:

I either use charm squares for the pinwheels or cut 5" squares of background fabric and focus fabric.

Take one square of background and one square of focus fabric and place right sides together.   

Sew all the way around the outside of the square with a 1/4" seam.  Here are several 5 inch squares sewn together.

Cut the square on the diagonal both directions.

Press the half square triangles open toward the darker fabric.


 I know making HSTs this way puts the bias on the outside of the block, but I feel that I can better match the midpoint of the pinwheels with this method.  Also when I am chaining a lot of HSTs through my machine I always get them tangled and have to spend time looking for 4 that are alike to make my pinwheel.  This way the 4 blocks are always together.  If you press your block carefully it won't be distorted.

 Here are more blocks ready to assemble.



Here are the blocks that are on my design wall this morning ready to go into the quilt.


Visit Judy's blog to see what others have on their design walls.

I hope you are all finding some time to stitch today. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Basting Quilts with 505 Spray Baste

I ordered a can of 505 Spray baste after seeing a post on SewCalGal's blog about machine quilter Patsy Thompson .  Patsy has a lot of free videos and downloads about machine quilting on her web site plus patterns and DVDs for sale.  In one of the videos she showed how she bastes her quilts with 505 Spray Baste on a vertical surface. She made it look so easy that I went right to Create for Less and ordered a can.  It came by FedEx yesterday, so today I watched Patsy's video again and tried my hand at her method for spray basting this afternoon.



I'm basting on my design wall, and just as Patsy did in her video I pinned newspapers on the wall to catch the overspray around the edges of the quilts. I also put a bed sheet down on the floor to protect the carpet.  Then I pinned my backing on the wall with the wrong side out just as you would when making a quilt sandwich.  In this photo you can see the backing with the batting already spray basted to it.

I basted several quilts this afternoon.  I started with a couple of small ones. 
This one is a table topper from a block of the month series I did a few years ago.  This was one of the spring months but not sure which one.

Next I basted another table topper from this series.  The batting in these two is like a thick piece of flannel. 

Then I basted my Peppermint Twist quilt from the Jo Morton book Remembrances.  I used an 80/20 batting in this one.

Next I did the Christmas Presents wall hanging that I made from a Flurry charm pack.  You can see my directions for this wall hanging here

I basted one more after this but forgot to take a photo.  Tomorrow I plan to start with one of the table toppers and do some machine quilting to see how the spray baste holds while moving the quilt around under the machine.  I found my sewing machine manual and know how to adjust the presser foot pressure in case there is too much drag on the quilt. 

So far I'm impressed with the baste spray but I'll know more after I quilt some tomorrow.  Until then.....

Thanks for visiting! 

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Giant Granny Square Afghan Finish

I've taken some time out from working on my Halloween pinwheel quilt the last couple of days to finish my Giant Granny Square Afghan that I started as part of Sucrette's Giant Granny CAL. 

Here is my afghan on our king sized bed. 

I used a variety of worsted weight yarn in about 30 different colors. 

The border was round #70, and it took almost an entire 3.5 oz. skein of yarn for that outside round.  The border is called Ole-Ole, and the chart is on Sucrette's blog.

It was fun doing this afghan with a group, but it was especially nice to get to know Cattinka, Cyn and Elly better since we all started the crochet along at about the same time. 

Thanks for stopping by today!    I hope you are doing some stitching this evening!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Halloween Quilting and A New Camera

This afternoon I opened the bag of Halloween fabrics I've been collecting and decided that maybe it was time that I made something for Halloween.  Here is the fabric:

I've even collected some pumpkin buttons and orange, brown and cream variegated thread so that I can machine quilt whenever the project is finished.


But before I could sew anything I had to play with my new camera.  The one I've been using is one my husband bought to use for work.  I borrowed it, tossed it in my purse, and the view finder has been scratched since that day.  No amount of soft scrub or toothpaste would remove those scratches.  So I'm being extra careful with my new one.

It's a Samsung - 16 megapixel, and our TVs and blu ray players are Samsung so we decided why not a camera.  So far I'm happy with it.  The manual is on CD and is 127 pages so I've only waded through part of it.  But here is a feature that I accidentally found.

It has different frames you can use.  You can center a photo in the middle of the T-shirt drying on the line. 

You can put a photo in the TV set in the old fashioned living room.

Here's a photo on the billboard at the train station.

Here's a photo on the side of a building. 

In spite of taking a lot of photos today, I did get some sewing done.  Here is what I've made so far from the Halloween fabrics.


I think the pumpkin has his own thing going and needs to be in a different quilt than the rest of the blocks on my design wall.

Here is a bit closer photo of the stitchery in the center.  That is a design by Gay from Sentimental Stitches.  She had a survey on her blog awhile back, and for taking the time to answer a few questions she sent me the PDF of the little witch stitchery.  I think she will make a cute center block. 

I think this is what I'll work with tomorrow unless I come up with another idea over night. 


Next post I'm going to tell you how I make pinwheel blocks.  Until then......you can see what others have on their design walls by visiting Judy here

I hope you are taking time to do some stitching today. 

Thanks for stopping by for a visit! 

Friday, September 16, 2011

Good Mail from Germany

It has been a great week for mail here.  I entered a giveaway/contest over at Roswitha's blog and won.  She posted a photo with spools of thread that were strung into large rings somehow, and there were several of these rings.  Then all of the rings were hung over the back of a chair.  The one who guessed closest to the number of spools in the photo had their choice of chains that Roswitha makes, and I chose gingerbread men.  I just love this chain that she made for me.  When I decorate for Christmas these will go up on my mantel with a string of lights and some greenery.  In the meantime, I plan to enjoy them year round in my sewing room.


Just look at this little guy.  Each heart and gingerbread man has ribbon that says God Jul (Merry Christmas).   They were neatly packaged in a bag with polar bears on it that Roswitha also made.

And as a bonus, Roswitha made me the purple bag with the rose decoration on front.  There are two pockets in the lining to hold small items.  I think I'll use the bag to hold a stitchery project, and my thread and floss will go in the pockets.  And, she sent me a German magazine.  What fun!  I don't read German, but I just love looking through the magazine just the same.  The card she sent has a drawing of a village near where she lives.


Thank you Roswitha for the fun package and for all of the work you have put into these things.  I will treasure them.  I hope you will go visit Roswitha's blog, Blauraute.  She is a very dear lady. 

Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you have a good mail day and find some time for stitching, too.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Goodies from Australia

Awhile back I left a comment on Leanne's blog.  Leanne lives in Australia and posted a picture of Romantic Homes magazine that she had just bought.  She was excited because it is published here in the US, and she found it there in Australia.  I had just bought the next issue of the same magazine.  After exchanging a few emails, we decided to send an envelope with a magazine or things from our country to the other.  Here is what was in the envelope that I received from Leanne.


She sent a lot of fun stitchery patterns for me to do, and I love the pretty thread and the fabrics.  The buttons are cute.  Here is a close up:


The bird buttons are pretty, but I am in love with the kangaroo button and will find a special project to put him in.   Thanks Leanne for a fun trade.

I hope you are finding some time to stitch. 

Thanks for visiting today!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Duck...Duck....Quilt???

This is my Garden Fence quilt, and it was on my design wall until I finished sewing the top together.  When I look at it all I see is yellow....like a big yellow duck.   I wanted this quilt for on the twin bed in our spare room so in order to make the quilt larger in addition to the borders (to be added later), I put 2 inch wide sashing in between the blocks and rows.    I think the yellow overwhelms the fabrics (Lovely by Moda).  Every other Garden Fence quilt I have seen has either used white or off white.  I just thought the yellow would be something different.  Well it's different but different isn't necessarily always good.

Here are my options:

I could take the whole quilt apart and substitute white or off white for the yellow. This would take longer than cutting out another quilt and sewing it together.

OR

I could cut the 2 inch sashing down to 1 inch and add the borders.

OR

I could put the borders on this one, donate it and move on. 


What to do? I would appreciate any input. 


Thanks for stopping by for a visit today!  And, thanks to Judy Laquidara at http://www.patchworktimes.com for sponsoring Design Wall Monday. 

I hope you are finding some time to stitch today! 

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Flurry Fabric Giveaway Winner Is..........

The winner of my 200th post giveaway is comment number 4: Janet O. I have emailed Janet and will send off her Flurry charm packs and Kona fabrics this coming week. Thanks to everyone for entering and for all of your wonderful comments.   

Enter a lower limit:
Enter an upper limit:
Random Number:

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

200th Post Giveaway

To No Reply Bloggers

I have had several of you leave a comment who are no-reply bloggers so I have no way to contact you.

Go to your Dashboard page.
Under your photo click Edit Profile.
Check the second box on that page that says "show my email address".
Scroll down to the bottom and click the save profile button. 

Then come back and leave another comment. 

Some people have written that don't have a blog so there isn't even a way for me to go to their blog and leave a comment there.  Another option is to include your email address in your comment.  I always feel bad when someone asks me a question or makes a comment that I'd like to respond to, and there is simply no way for me to reach them. 
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I can't believe that I've posted 200 times on this blog.  I really appreciate all of you stopping by to read my ramblings and look at my photos.  I love blogging because it motivates me to keep going on my current projects and to try new things.  I have also made many friends and love all of your emails.


As a thank you to all of my readers, I'm having a giveaway.  

Since I received such a positive response to my Christmas Present Wall Hanging, I'm giving away enough fabric for you to make one for yourself with enough to make a second project or to make whatever you want.  The giveaway includes 1 1/2 yards of Kona White, 1/2 yard each Kona Red and Green, and 2 Flurry charm packs.


To be entered in my giveaway, just leave a comment.  I'll close the giveaway on Friday evening and post the name of the winner on Saturday.  Good luck!

Hope you are doing some stitching today! 

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!  

Monday, September 5, 2011

Charming Christmas Present Quilt

The Flurry quilt by Kate Spain is showing up all over blog land.  The project sheet for the quilt she designed is available for download at The Fat Quarter Shop and is made with a layer cake. 

Since I had a Flurry charm pack and only wanted a wall hanging this is what I've had on my design wall the past few days.  I used the idea from the Flurry project sheet and made my blocks smaller.  My wall hanging is approximately 35" X 40".


I really love these fabrics.


Here is how I made my wallhanging.  You will need approximately:

1 yard of white fabric ( I used Kona Cotton)
Red and green scraps for the ribbon and bow. 
One charm pack or 5" squares of Christmas fabrics.

For the blocks you will need:

1 charm square (or any 5" square of Christmas fabric)
Ribbon fabric (green in the photo above):
   Cut 1  - 1 1/4" X 5"
   Cut 2  - 1 3/4" X 1 3/4"
Background:
   Cut 2  - 1 3/4" X 1 3/4"
   Cut 1  - 1 3/4" X 2 3/4"



Cut the charm square in half.  Sew the 1 1/4" X 5" green fabric between the charm square halves as shown.




The green squares will be sewn onto the 1 3/4" X 2 3/4" background rectangle using the connector corner method.  Place right sides together and sew diagonally.  You can either mark the diagonal line with a pen or chalk, press the square in half diagonally to mark the line, or you can just eyeball and sew from corner to corner.


I trim away the excess fabric at the corner before pressing the corner down.

Now place the second green square on right sides together and sew.  Trim the excess and press. 


Here is the piece from the back side.  When using connector corners sometimes the top triangles end up outside of the original rectangle. 

I trim the piece so that it measures the original 1 3/4" X 2 3/4". 


Now the units are ready to put together.

These blocks are fast and easy to make.

You could make a Christmas pillow from just one block with a border or two. 


To finish the wall hanging cut sashing 2 1/2" wide and cornerstones 2 1/2" X 2 1/2".   I quartered charm squares to make the cornerstones.  The outside white border is cut at 1 1/2" wide. 

Thanks to Judy L at www.patchworktimes.com for hosting Design Wall Monday.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today!

I hope you are finding some time to stitch today! 

Friday, September 2, 2011

Stay At Home Round Robin

I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted.  This past week has really flown by.  I've visited my daughter and taken a road trip to a quilt shop I hadn't been to in several months, and I've done some sewing, too. 

 
I'm in a round robin with several gals that I see a couple of times a year at the Dear Jane retreat up in Shipshewana, Indiana.  I just finished my round on that quilt and passed it on to the next person on the list.  

I have also joined a stay at home round robin.  Sunny over at  Quilting Dreams blog is our hostess and has set up a page there with our guidelines.  She has also set up a Flickr page where we can post photos of our quilts.   


This is my center:



The round robin that I just worked on had a Dresden Plate center, and I loved it so much that I could hardly wait to work on my round.  So I chose a Dresden for my stay at home robin center, and I'm using the Bliss pieces that I have plus some other pieces from my stash.

Our centers are to be between 12" and 16".  The directions for our first border have been posted, and we are going to do a round with 3" triangles.  It can be either 3 rounds of triangles that are each an inch, or one row with 3" triangles or hourglass blocks.  We have a month to complete each round, and I'm really looking forward to being a part of this.

You can still join in because we've just started.  You can go over to Sunny's blog and join in the fun and check out our progress at the Flickr group. 

I hope you are all finding some time to stitch today.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit! 

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