Applique??

Oh my, oh my I just have to say how proud of myself I am!!!!  I am part of a wool applique group on Facebook that anyone can join.  In December the group decided to do two blocks of the month by Norma Whaley of Timeless Traditions ... Winter Wonderland and Silent Night.  I convinced a couple of girlfriends that they should do the WW quilt too.  We decided to work on it every month; my sweet friend that LOVES Christmas decided that since it was a Christmas quilt, every month on the 25th we would get together to sew on this quilt.  We had to skip January, so today was our first Christmas sew day.

It was hilarious ... she decorated for Christmas with two tiny Christmas trees and a Christmas quilt.  We had Christmas dishes to eat lunch on and Christmas mugs to drink our coffee out of!

Oh and we can't have Christmas sewing without Christmas music!

This pattern is so much fun ... I don't do a lot of applique anymore, but love this pattern because the applique pieces are quite large.  For instance, the first month we are working on the tree blocks ... each block measures around 12 1/2 x 28 1/2 ... that is a large block!  In the group, our esteemed leader, Julie Kursave, laid out a timetable so it would be easy to keep up with the stitching.

Month 1 was trees, month 2 log cabins, and month 3, angel block.  When you get three good friends together, two sewing machines, and lots of Christmas cheer this is what you get:

I did most of the tracing of the applique shapes on the pellon (we are using the double applique method because I have a bolt of pellon that I have had forever); Mindy did cutting and sewing, Michelle did cutting and sewing, and I did a little sewing, but in addition to my pellon job, my main job was turning the shapes.  It is great to sew with friends because you share material and ideas.  I just love the combinations that come out of teamwork and brainstorming!  Julie joined us later and she had a beautiful Christmas quilt she was starting to cut out, but I didn't get any pictures of it unfortunately.

Michelle's block before she got is glued on:

Mindy's block:

Needless to say I love their blocks more than my own!  Aren't they lovely??

There are two tree blocks in this quilt, here is my other block:

What a great day, and I am amazed that even in February, I still love Christmas music!!  We did get a good jump in our angel blocks, and will continue to work on those next month.

Stash Report - Week 8

Late on my stash report again!  Good gravy .... did some sewing, and also did some adding to the stash!  I needed a little bit of fabric to add for my 1,000 four patches and alternating 1,000 blocks!

Used this Week: 2 yards

Used year to Date: 26 3/4 yards

Added this Week:  1.5 yards

Added Year to Date: 19 3/4 yards

Net Used for 2015: 7 yards

Slowly moving in the right direction!  How about you????

Finally did it!

 I finally quilted a quilt on my longarm last week.  I cannot even explain to you the longarming funk I have been in.  It hasn't been this bad for a really long time.  I threatened myself and managed to knock this out last week for my friend ... It felt good to have a finish.

This was a delight to quilt because it was a flannel top and back.  I love how quilting soaks into flannel!

I free handed a circle swirl to give it texture.  There is a lot of pattern and color going on in the quilt, so I wanted the quilting to blend into the background.

Some large circles, some smaller ... Like the differences ... After all, I am not a machine, so they will all be different!  Used my favorite Omni thread in a new color to me, Cinnamon Stick.

I love how it showed up against the dark colors, and looked equally great on the light.

Glad to have this quilt to do ... She did a great job.  Now onto the next one!

Stash Report - Week 7

Still working on the same fabric pieces from last week.  Nothing new out or in!

Used this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  24 3/4 yards

Added this Week:  0 yards

Added Year to Date: 18 1/4 yards

Net Used for 2015:  6 1/2 yards

Stash Report - Week 6

Oh have been so busy sewing last week that I forgot my stash report!  

Used this Week: 4 yards

Used year to Date:  24 3/4 yards

Added this Week:  0 yards

Added Year to Date: 18 1/4 yards

Net Used for 2015:  6 1/2 yards

APQ Quiltalong 2015

I was very excited to see the new APQ Quiltalong for this year.  There are three patterns using four patches, but the quilt that I thought was just adorable was the first one shown, designed by Lissa Alexander.  You can read her blog here and see links to other designer blogs that are participating in the Quiltalong.  http://modalissa.blogspot.com/2015/01/apq-quiltalong-go-four-it.html?m=1

Ok great ... Reading the directions I first need a bunch of 1 1/2" strips sewn together, then cut into 1 1/2" segments.  I can do that!

First of all, I want to show you this awesome light I bought at IKEA for 14.99.  Bonnie Hunter had mentioned it on her blog as being a great little light.  I broke the light bar on my Bernina years ago and have been stumbling along without one.  Even my sewing machine repairman suggested just buying a clip on light.  This light is super bright, stays where put, and has a long neck and a long cord.  It works so well, I am going to buy one for my longarm too.

See all the strips piling up behind my machine?  I used my June Taikor strip cutter (only because I don't have an Accuquilt 1 1/2" die), and just kept chaining my strips.

Haha ... Pile of strips!!  Now to iron them

open.

A beautiful stack of strips, just ready to subcut.  I took a layer cake of Road 15 by Sweetwater ... I loved this line and had intended to use this layer cake for something else.  But one of the new rules for my stash is "no saving fabric."  Not for some old project, not for the "right" project, not for a person ... It's outta here! Let's face it ... We rarely ever follow through with what we intend it to be used for and there is always more fabric we can buy!!  I have lots of Sweetwater leftover fabric and it will pair well with others as well, so that's what I am starting with.  I am going to need A LOT of fabric, so who knows where this will lead.

Ok ... Yay!!  From strips to 1 1/2" segments .. The segments are sewn into 4 patches.  Hey, wait a minute ... That makes a four patch that only measures 2 1/2" .... And I want a king size quilt .... Whaaaaaattt?!???  Tune in for more later ...

New Project

I know I have been quiet this week.  Remember when I said I got so much done in January I had to take it while I could get it?  Well I think I hit a little slump!  I've been doing a lot of reading the last couple weeks.  Seems like I need to take my mind off my worries, but that's a story for another day.

I bought a pattern and fabric a couple of weeks ago while shopping with a friend.  I blame it on her!  Rarely do I want to copy something I see, but this just spoke to me!!  So I've been working on it for the last week.

Ta-da!  Isn't it cute?  Made with charm packs.  The Community line of fabric from Moda.  Cut them in half diagonally and then sew the strip down the middle.

It took me a while to lay it out the way I wanted it, so instead of chaining the whole thing together like I normally would do, I only took 6 squares at a time.  Much more manageable.  I thought this pattern looked fairly easy and fun, and then I realized it is both, but ... See where those four points cross and meet ... They all have to match ... Ugh!

Ok ... Marked the 1/4" on my machine with painter's tape to give me an edge to push up to.  I have been using my walking foot solely, and it hits the needle bar and causes the needle to not be in the right position.  That's why I marked my quarter inch.  In order to get it, my needle is moved two clicks to the right from middle!  My sewing repair man is going to reprimand me!

See what I mean about these having to line up?

And I have to get those centers to line up too ...

If you know me, you know that I am a fanatic about pinning.  When I have joins like this, I seriously over pin. 

If I think I am going to have trouble with the seam matching, and I did on these strip joins, I pin in three places.  One pin in the seam, and one pin on either side of the seam.  Works like a charm!

Now all I need is the three borders to put on and I am done, and call it another finish!  Now I seriously have to stop piecing and get to my longarm.  I have several customer quilts to do.  What have you been working on?

Stash Report - Week 5

Oops ... Forgot my stash report this week.  Made a backing for my Richmond Reds quilt and also the Community top too.  In addition, I used a yard of fabric to make a new ironing board cover.  Nothing exciting, just muslin.  I also added some much needed background fabrics this week.  I found some on sale, so bought at least a yard of each.  I only have smaller pieces of backgrounds, so I considered it a good investment.

Used this Week: 6 1/2 yards

Used year to Date:  20 3/4 yards

Added this Week:  4 3/4 yards

Added Year to Date: 18 1/4 yards

Net Used for 2015:  2 1/2 yards

Still moving in the right direction!!