2011 quilt projects

Looking Through the Fence

by Karen on January 23, 2012

in 2011 quilt projects, quilts

In the past month or so I have had about 4 or 5 new readers – one just yesterday – ask me where did I get the pattern for the “Looking Through the Fence” quilt.  I thought seeing as I am out of town today I would schedule a post that tells about this quilt and maybe some others this week.

I made this quilt last fall, I hand pieced it in September and October of 2011 while we were traveling in our little motorhome.  This is really a very easy quilt to piece.  I would say confident beginner?  I was told that the individual block that makes up this quilt is called “Kansas Troubles” there are different blocks though that go by that name – not all the same one either Smile  Looking Through the Fence is my name for the quilt as it reminded me of a lattice fence.

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I saw the pattern for the pillow at the Moda Bake Shop web site.  If you click on that link it leads you to a post on pillows for the couch.  There are 5 pillows lined up on the couch – the pattern for this one is the 2nd from the arm of the couch.  If you scroll down throughout the list of instructions you will see how easily it is made.  If you want pillow size follow the directions for it – if you want to make a quilt just keep on making those blocks until you have enough!!

Now if you go back to the top of the Moda Bake Shop site and click on the header or just click on my link again – it takes you back to home – which would be the latest date that the web site has been updated.  They have wonderful patterns – free – with instructions telling you how to construct the quilts.

I  made several of my smaller quilts last year from this web site.  They have patterns for beginners and on up.  I love making the beginner patterns even if I am not a beginner!  They are fun and easy to do.  Use a lot of white or black with wild prints or plain old pastels and you have lovely looking modern quilts.

Another I made from that web site is this one, Geese in the Park – the link to it is here.  This is made up of large flying geese units and you just turn them this way and that to get this arrangement.

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I am in no way connected to the Moda Bake Shop and they are not a sponsor of my blog – I have no sponsors – it’s just me Smile  I am just a very satisfied customer!!

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What a day

by Karen on July 12, 2011

in 2011 quilt projects, gardening, Inklingo, Joseph's Coat--Morning Glory, quilting links, quilts, Signature Quilt, weather

(I wrote this last night and scheduled it for morning)

Back up into the hundreds again today, I can’t keep up with the watering.  We have had one rain that I can remember since the beginning of June other than a few sprinkle showers (the kind that stops before it hardly starts).  I have flower plants that are dying much earlier than they normally do – even the ones that are supposed to be good in droughts like the Black Eyed Susan’s and Purple Cone-flowers.  I try to mainly water early in the morning or late in the evening.  I now have 4 soaker hoses scattered throughout the many flower beds and tonight I put one hose on a trickle by my dogwood tree for an hour or so and then the sprayer that gets a big area on to another area but turned down so it was mainly getting flowers not the yard.  If the flowers that I sprayed tonight do not look good tomorrow I will give up on them – they are normally sturdy plants and should come back next year – the kind you can’t kill if you try Smile

Today I did not get done with everything I said I was going to do on my post this morning.  I did not quilt Sad smile I really should have and at 10 PM I do not feel like it now, I’m almost ready to go to bed.

I did sew the backing together for both “Pave the Way” and the “Wedding Signature” quilt.  Tomorrow I will get the small quilt basted – most likely with pins. This one is ready for the living room floor tomorrow to get pinned.

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This is the backing for the wedding quilt, I didn’t have a piece wide enough for it either and I got that taken care of today.

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I went through all of my batiks looking for pieces that will be put into the Joseph’s Coat quilt that I will be hand piecing soon.  I think this will give me enough for a queen size combined with the light color background.  I broke down and ordered some light color batik for the background from the Fabric Shack – I was going to use a white that I had but I would rather not mix two different types of fabric for this quilt – the the light batik will work better when using other batiks.

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I did get some worksheets done up so I can decide on color placement for the Joseph’s Coat, I had to cut and paste a bit and make copies but it worked – I have about 10 copies now to use and decide color – this will be a queen size at least;

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My friend Regina (no blog)I told you all last week o r so had won one of the $100 prizes in the candy bar boxes from the Fat Quarter Shop – well she got her winnings in the mail today – she sent me photos from her phone so they are not real clear but here is what she got.  If I remember what she said right all of her goodies was packed into a tote bag and some small things were in it as well.  Just look at all of this and drool right along with me, sampler box of 2 1/2 inch squares, that big big bundle of fat quarters, a jelly roll – can’t tell if that other one is a honey bun or if it is two jelly rolls, and is that some candy bars in the back?  If she gets on here she will have to leave us a comment and tell us what all she got.

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Congratulations Regina – what a great bundle of prizes!!

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A finish and a Start

by Karen on January 25, 2011

in 2011 quilt projects, quilts, Red & Green Traditional Applique

Baby quilt is done, washed and dried and has that nice crinkly look that I love.  It finished off at about 48 inches square.  I surprised myself at how fast I got this one done.  I started hand piecing it on December 29th I think.  It is also hand quilted – I just outlined stitched the pieces and the white sashing.  No fancy stuff!

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A close up of the multi-colored binding.

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The backing:

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Laid out flat before I washed it.

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Now on to the next project – which is really back to an old project – the Red and Green Applique quilt.  I choose a wreath block this time – I plan on doing 3 more wreaths so I will have plenty to mix in with the more – I wouldn’t say folk art blocks, but they have a different look to them then the wreaths – you can see them here.

This one is called a Wild Strawberry Wreath.  The stems are all to be embroidered on.  When I get done with the needle turn applique then I will take it back to the table and trace out the stems then embroider them on.  There are so many ways to applique – those that follow me know that I do needle turn.  I draw around each shape with a chalk pencil and that is my turn under line.  All pieces are glue basted in place with Roxanne Glue – little dots of glue.

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My process of matching up threads – and my thread cabinet which I can not do without now that I am so used to have so many shades to choose from.  Here I pull out shades that I think are closely matched.  I string a piece of thread over the colors and have a good Ott light above the table – then I pull a piece of thread over the shape and see which color I think is the best match and go from there.  Sometimes the color you don’t really think will match is the best to work out.  It looks so different when you place a single strand over the fabric.

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My cabinet with all the lovely shades!

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My hodge podge box of embroidery threads – as you can see from the somewhat small collection I don’t do a lot of embroidery but I have seen so many quilts lately with embroidery in them that I think the next baby quilt will have some embroidery mixed in with the patchwork.

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The block as in the book.

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So now that the Star Crazy Quilt top is finished and put away and the baby quilt is finished (just needs a label).  I will be back to work on the Red & Green and quilting on the Going In Circles quilt.  Maybe these two will keep me busy for awhile.

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2010 Quilting Accomplishments

by Karen on December 31, 2010

in 2011 quilt projects

This year has been a year that I got a lot done in the sewing department!  What have I done:

Two little blocks that will end up in a fancier than normal applique quilt for me.  I do not know what the name of it will be or what the rest of the blocks will be.  I started this at the beginning of the year and it has sat aside while I work on other things.  I will eventually finish it. (needle turn applique)

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the other one:

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Next that I have is my dear Jane #2 Insanity Revisited, I made about half of the blocks this year, all of the border – it will be quilted maybe late in 2011?  (hand pieced)

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Baltimore Bliss quilt top was made last year and hand quilted this year (needle turn applique)

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Bow Tie Medallion is a queen size machine pieced quilt – hand quilted who knows when:

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Devils Puzzle table topper, machine pieced in 2009 and hand quilted in 2010

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Going in Circles – machine pieced, needle turn applique in 2009 and 2010 and in the process of hand quilting – this shows about half the quilt, it is queen size

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I started the year with 4 pineapple blocks paper pieced and didn’t work on it much now I have 8 of them – this will be the year to work on this I think.

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Little Table topper for my mom – machine pieced and my first attempt at machine quilting

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Crayon Box child quilt – machine pieced and hand quilted

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Christmas Memories – needle turn applique in 2009 and hand quilted in 2010

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Traditional Red and Green Applique – needle turn applique 8 of 12 blocks needed plus a large center block – I would like to finish all the applique this year.

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Sugar and Spice – baby quilt, machine pieced, needle turn applique and hand quilting

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So Charming, couch size quilt, hand pieced and hand quilted

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Star Crazy – this photo is not mine it is from the blog site that I got the BOM from – my quilt is all machine pieced and ready to put together.  I started it in January 2010 and finished the blocks this month.   It is about 85 x 85 I believe. I might add another border around the edges but I’m not sure – will put together what I have and go from there.  Nice to have queen size if possible.

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I think this concludes what I have done this year.  Accomplished a lot!! Next year?

1- Get the quilting on Going in Circles finished

2- try to start quilting on Insanity Revisited

3- work on the pineapple blocks

4- finish the red and green applique blocks

5 – work on more of the fancy applique blocks

6- make the signature quilt for my niece from signatures gathered at her wedding

7- more small quilt tops, table toppers, quilting on finished tops – who knows Smile what is your list like if you have one?

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