Reversible Bag # 2

Another Bag; this one, I made wonky log cabin style block from scraps I received as part of a gift, as well as a couple of pieces left over from the place mats I'd just finished.

 Scraps are a Good Thing!!!

Placemats from my winnings

Back in December I put my name in for this giveaway.... and I was the winner!!! 

.....all the way from N. Ireland!!!

 I've made a few quilts over the years, but had no idea how to use this fabric the best way I could and keep it for our very own.  So I made my first place mats.

I used a fabric I had in my stash for the backing, and we like it as place mats too. 

So... double the pleasure.  

18½"  x 12½"

Cats in the Bag!!

My first reversible bag.  I added a pocket on the one side just before it was complete..  Next time I'll know better, and add one on each side BEFORE I start assembling it.  Always learning......

040 Quilt as You Go ~ Abigail & Mark

Quilt As You Go has intrigued me for a while. 

I'd found a tutorial at Little Island Quilting that I bookmarked as a resource; 

her measurements for the strips are what I used. 

I also found another tutorial at The Quilting Edge .  

While I found her instructions very easy to understand, 

the measurements didn't work for me.

I played around a bit with a few different quilting styles on each block, 

some were better than others...but......

Here it is, done and I like how it turned out.

 The back, better shows the quilting styles.

 "A" quilted on a Hummingbird block....for Abigail

"M" quilted, shown on the back....for Mark

 The measurements for the strips (which look like sashing, but are in fact what hold the blocks together) are: for the front 1 ¾" wide, folded in half, and for the back 1" wide.

 The front sashing and the back sashing are sewn and the back is pressed out.

 I had to go to my Juki to sew this seam because the feet on the Janome were too wide, 

and kept pushing the batted layer away which made for a few 'unsewing' seams.

Back to the Janome to top stitch the front.

I really enjoyed this process, and am currently working on a queen sized Dresden Plate Quilt, 

using the QAYG method.  

Measures 59" x 70"

Circles for Applique ~ How I make them

I've seen a few different ways to make circles for applique 

and have tried a few of them without satisfaction.  

Then I watched a clip on YouTube...and was sold.

 Roughly cut your fabric the size you would like your finished circle to be.

 Draw a circle the size you want your finished circle to be on the wrong side of fabric,.

I use a non adhesive interfacing and pin it onto the right side of fabric.

 Sew on the drawn line.

I then used pinking shears to trim around the sewn line (no need to cut notches).

 

Cut a hole into the interfacing, (careful not to cut through the fabric) in order to turn it right side out.

 Use a sharp(er) tool (I usually use a plastic chop stick) to push out the edges. I found it easier if I pushed on the fabric side, rather than on the interfacing side.

 Looks pretty good.

Turn it over and press.

I've made a variety of smaller circles and this method works so easy!

Done!

039 Bubble Quilt for Baby ~ henry

It was a request.... my niece wanted a "bubble quilt" for her next baby.  

I'd never heard of it, so I researched it, hm..... interesting technique...   

ok, I could learn something new right??

 This is how it began.  

Making little pillows, stuffing them and sewing them together.

 And they look like this.

 Of course my helper was right there reassuring me, that it was looking good.

 Sewing the backing on, folding the backing around to make a "binding" 

was incredibly tough on the shoulders and arms.

 But alas, it was done.

 I used a light blue fleece (with teddy bears) for the backing 

and did the "tieing" method to hold it place, 

knowing full well that it would be impossible to try any other quilting method. 

I used some of my Mother's embroidery floss to do the tieing.  

so Little Henry has a Bubble quilt with his Great Grandma's embroidery floss in it.  

I'm sure She's smiling!!

 Torture might be a bit of a strong word, but this project wasn't really a fun one, and by the time i was done i NEEDED to do something quick easy & fun, so i put together this receiving blanket to go along with the bubble quilt....... ahhhhhhhh.

And..... how is this for a Thank You???

Scrap Stash Score

I went to a fantastic quilt show in the fall, 

For me it was like an early Christmas shopping trip.

Yes, a few bags of bits and pieces, but many already ready cut 

(ie:  2.25" squares - I think that may have been a mistake) 

and 6" squares & strips, some large scraps the size of a fat quarter, 

and a 7 meter piece of fabric.

all for a few dollars.

I've already had use of a few things here.

Yay to scraps!!!

W.I.P. Postage Stamp in a Block???

I've started a Postage Stamp quilt a few times, and it's always been put away... 

Then I got fed up with them, and used the parts up in something different.

DH has requested a postage stamp quilt... and in earnest, 

I am working on & gathering 8" blocks of 1" squares ........ 

it might be a while... 

038 Rag Quilt First & Last

I was given a huge bag of flannel fabric remnants from a Grandma who'd 

made pajamas for her grand-kids.  

This was a perfect opportunity to try a Rag Quilt. 

I cut 4" pieces... and almost made it for a twin sized quilt, 

but ended up using flannels from my stash to make the size.

 ~ here's the front ~

I'm sure I won't to make another; The amount of lint that came out of the quilt.... 

after several washes it is still shedding.  

Possibly the fabric had a low thread count....??? 

Well, I can now say....... "I've made a Rag Quilt".

 ~ here's the back ~

W.I.P. Square in a Square

I have been busy in my quilting room. Here's one of the projects I've worked on.  

I love the look of scrappy quilts; this ones no exception.

I had to have one!!!

A featherweight is a "must have" isn't it??  

I'm her 3rd owner; she's got all the original tools and accessories.  

She "sings" along real fine!!!!  Beauty!!!

037 Rectangular Log Cabin ~ finished December 2014

I really like the looks of Log Cabin blocks. Here I've made them in rectangle form. I love it.

 The back was supposed to be a very large log cabin but as you can see..... 

something went awry.  I won't tell, if you won't tell..  :)  

Measures 64" x 84"

HST's this is how i make multiple same colour HST

Half Square Triangles; I've seen several tutorials. I found an old quilt book I'd bought in the early 90's. It had instructions how to make these HST and it's my preferred method.

 Lay your two fabrics right sides together and press.

Draw a grid of squares 1" larger than you want the finished HST to be.

Mine were finishing at 4" HST, so the squares were drawn at 5"

Draw diagonal lines (as shown)

These are going to be the cutting lines.

Pin between the cutting lines

Each square will make 2 HST's.

Sew 1/4" on either side of the diagonal cutting lines

Cut along all the cutting lines; the squares and then the diagonal lines.

Open and press to the darker side, and trim to the 4 1/2" square, 

which once sewn into the project becomes a finished 4" HST.

Done!!