Friday

It's finally Friday.  It has been a long week.  We were back in school after being off for 3 weeks...2 weeks for Christmas Break and 1 week because of snow.  They kids were ready to get back to school.  I have almost all new classes this Semester.  Most of the classes I teach are Semester classes, so they change completely.  It was a good week, but I didn't get much done in my quilting life.

Tomorrow is our 3rd Saturday Sampler class at the quilt shop.  We are ready for that.  We are also having a "Pre-cuts" class.  It will be different each month.  I did get a sample done for our project for next month.  I will be able to show it tomorrow.  The class tomorrow is using a Layer Cake, which is 42 - 10" squares.  We are cutting them with the Half Hexie ruler and then making a quilt.  Don't know why I have not taken a picture of that quilt.  I will have to do that tomorrow.  I will also take a picture of next month's quilt.

I have not had much time to quilt this week.  I loaded a quilt on the machine this week.  I think I was able to quilt 2 nights.  This is a large quilt...97" x 97".  I am doing a simple pantograph on it, so it is going fast.  The trouble is, the pantograph is not very wide, so it seems like I have to advance the quilt a lot.  The quilt is made from 2 1/2" strips.  It is one of Bonnie Hunter's designs called Scrappy Trip Around the World.  It is the second UFO I need to have finished for the CRS Quilt Guild meeting next month.  It is on my large UFO Challenge list.  I had trouble finding batting big enough for it.  Finally found a package of bamboo batting I had bought several years ago that was large enough.  I worked on the binding tonight for the small UFO Challenge quilt due next month.  I think I can get them both done.

What's on the machine

I have also been doing a little bit of sewing when I get a few minutes.  Sewing some large pinwheel blocks together to make Disappearing Pinwheel blocks for a future Pre-cuts class.  Just using fabric from my stash for them, but a Layer Cake will work for it.

I also worked on some of the pieces for the Celtic Solstice quilt, which is Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt this year.  This one is going to take some time to finish.  There are a lot of pieces in it, especially for the large quilt.

I will try to post more pictures of what I am working on in the future.  I would like to work on the Sylvia's Bridal Sampler quilt this weekend.  Maybe I can cut some blocks tomorrow during class, after I get everyone started on their quilt.

Until next time...
Happy Quilting!

Sunday Thoughts

Had a good day at the quilt shop yesterday.  We started our Elm Creek Quilts class.  Everyone wanted to do The Loyal Union Sampler Quilt.  We did two blocks!  They now have homework, so maybe we can get a row done this month, or close to being done.  Here is a picture of the first block we did.

 

The second block had Y seams!  Those are not fun and everyone decided it was a good practice block and would probably do another one.  I did not take a picture of our second one.  Next month I will post more.

 

I came home after the class and worked on a sample for February's Pre-Cut class.  I have it ready for the borders to go on.  January's Pre-Cut class will be the Half Hexagon quilt using a Layer Cake and yardage for the border and binding.  That class will be next Saturday, January 17th.  I think we have some new people coming to do the Pre-Cuts class and to start the new 3rd Saturday Sampler quilt.  That will start next weekend, too.

 

Today is a quiet day.  I need to get my Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt out and count pieces.  I don't know how many of each clue I have made.  I have been sewing them as Leaders & Enders, so I have not kept up with the numbers.  Time to count and see how close I am to having enough for the quilt.  I know I need more.  I have not done any of the last section before the reveal.  I will have to cut fabric for that.

 

I wanted to get another quilt on my machine and start quilting it last week.  I got a quilt out, one that is on my UFO Challenge list of Large quilts.  It is 97" x 97".  Pinned it to the leader, but did not have batting big enough for it.  I thought we had a king size batting at the shop, but we didn't.  I cut backing fabric and pressed it.  I finally found a package of batting downstairs that is big enough for it.  I took it out of the package.  It is SO wrinkled!  I laid it out and sprayed it with water to help get the wrinkles out.  I sprayed it again today.  Hopefully tomorrow it will be ready to go on.  I am going to do an easy pantograph on it called Chantilly Lace.  It should quilt pretty quickly.  Will have to wait until after school tomorrow to start quilting it.

 

Tomorrow we go back to school.  We have been out for 3 weeks.  Two weeks for Christmas break and then last week for snow.  We are starting a new Semester, so I will have different students in every class, except one.  I am ready to get back to it, I think.  I will miss having so much time to quilt.  My days have been filled with quilting and thinking about quilting.  Now, I have to think about teaching and coaching is not too far away...about 2 months.

 

We also have a Quilt Guild meeting tomorrow night.  The Current River Scrappers Quilt Guild meets the second Monday of each month.  It will be good to get out and see everyone.  I hope we have lots of Show & Tell.  I love to see what everyone has been working on.

 

Well, I need to get off of here and work on the Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt.  We are going to be starting a Mystery Quilt with the Guild tomorrow, too.  It is a really neat quilt.  I am anxious to show everyone Part One!  I may post it here, too, so you can join us if you want to.

 

Happy Quilting!

 

Another Quilt Quilted

Here is another quilt finished.  It is another one of Lori's.  She does such a good job!

 

I used the pantograph called Chantilly Lace to do this one.  I did it in one day. 

 Easy and quick pattern.

 

Now I have a problem.  The next quilt I wanted to quilt is one of mine.  It is on my UFO List for the Quilt Guild.  I call it Scrappy Trip Around The World.  I made it from 2 1/2" strips using one of Bonnie Hunter's patterns.  It is big.  One of those quilts I didn't plan ahead and just made a bunch of blocks.  Well, it is 97" x 97".  The largest batting I have is 96" wide.  Now I have to wait until I get a king size batting.  I think we may have some at the shop, but not sure.  Can't put it on the machine until I get the batting.  If we don't have to batting at the shop and I start putting it on, then I will have to take it off to start on something else.  So, what to do now?  Put another quilt on or wait until this afternoon to see if there is batting at the shop?  Maybe I will put another one on so I can quilt this morning.

Have a wonderful day! 

Happy Quilting!



Sylvia's Bridal Sampler Quilt

We are starting a new class this Saturday at Quilters Journey, 10:00 a.m.-?, called Elm Creek Quilts.  We are doing The Loyal Union Sampler and Sylvia's Bridal Sampler quilts.  Yes, at the same time.  I have a feeling that most will be making The Loyal Union Sampler quilt.  These are quilt books from novels by Jennifer Chiaverini.  I have read most, if not all, of her books.  Love them!  Anyway, I had to make samples of the blocks we are going to be working on this month.  I hope that everyone will get them all cut out and start sewing during class.  Then they can finish sewing them before next month's class.  Students can make them all or just the easy ones.  Some people don't like sewing Y seams and have said they would skip those blocks.  There are not many with Y seams.  There are also examples in the back of Sylvia's Bridal Sampler book of different setting, which do not use all the blocks.  I don't remember if The Loyal Union Sampler has pictures of other setting.  I posted pictures of The Loyal Union Sampler blocks yesterday.  Here are pictures of Sylvia's Bridal Sampler blocks.

 

The block that is blue and white in the top right corner still needs applique'.  I will try to have that done by Saturday.  It will be machine applique'.  There are little flowers and leaves that go in each corner.  My book has laid open so long that it wouldn't stay closed.  Can you see the little post-it note tabs around the book.  About a year ago, I went through and picked out all the "easy" blocks that I wanted to do to make a quilt that is in the back of the book.  I never did start the blocks.  I will leave the tabs there until I make that block.  I also have papers in the book that has all my notes. 

 

 

I pieced 8 of the 10 blocks last night.  The first two I did earlier.  Some of these blocks are paper pieced, one has a Y seam, and one has curves.  But, they were not too difficult.  I had them all cut out and ready to go, so it didn't take too long to piece them together.

 

The Loyal Union Sampler has all the blocks in alphabetical order.  The first row starts with "A" and continues through the quilt with the names of the blocks in order. It is easy to do the blocks for the first row.  Start at the beginning of the book and work your way through.  There are 11 blocks in each row and there are 121 blocks in the quilt.

Sylvia's Bridal Sampler does not have them in alphabetical order.  They are listed in the front of the book with the name of the block, page number, and position in the quilt.  For example, the first block (top left corner) is Mosaic No. 3.  It is on page 50 and the position is Block A-1.  So, I went through the book and made a list of all the rows, the name of the block, position of the block, and page number.  As I worked on the blocks, I had to flip through the book.  A little more time consuming, but it will be worth it.

These blocks will finish at 6".  I think they are fun to make.  I think my favorite one is the Star of the Orient.  It is the block that is at the bottom, second from the left.  The colors are red, blue, black, and white.

I am using the same background in all the blocks for Sylvia's Bridal Sampler.  The colors will be different from the original quilt.  I am using fabrics from my stash as much as I can.  These blocks don't use much fabric because they are so small.  So, I probably won't have to purchase any fabric for awhile. 

For The Loyal Union Sampler, I am using blues and tans/creams.  Also using my stash.  I have LOTS of blue fabric, so probably won't have to purchase any blues for this one.

 

Well, that is it for now.  Plans for today:  exercise, start quilting another quilt, open the quilt shop at Noon, and go to a Quilt Guild meeting tonight in Rolla.  Not sure what I will work on at the shop today.

 

Happy Quilting!

Quilted Today

This is what I quilted today.  It is a quilt made by a friend of mine, Lori.  She has done a lot of quilts this past year and had me quilt them.  This is her third, I think, from this pattern.  It is from a book called "Lap from Fats".  All Lap size quilts from Fat Quarters.  Easy quilt to put together and looks good in any fabrics.  I have made several of these quilts, too.  I did a pantograph on this one, too.  I used the same pantograph as Linda's quilt-Rosey Posey.

Just started quilting in this picture.

 

It is finished and I am taking it off.  Started around 11:00 a.m. and finished at 3:00 p.m.

 

Okay, now I HAVE to do a different pantograph on the next one.  Trying to get the ones that I am doing pantographs on done first before moving on to the bigger ones that I am going to custom quilt.

 

I also finished the first row of blocks for The Loyal Union Sampler by Elm Creek Quilts.  Here are pictures of these blocks.

 

We are doing this as a class at Quilters Journey Quilt Shop this Saturday.  We will also have Sylvia's Bridal Sampler quilt to do.  I have not finished piecing those blocks.  They are cut, but I have been too busy quilting to get them done.  I will do them tonight and post pictures tomorrow.

Happy Quilting!

 

The UFO Tub

I have my quilt tops stored in tubs in my basement.  Part of my basement is finished and that is where they are.  My quilting machine is down there, too.  So, they are close and "on hand" when I am ready to quilt them. 
The quilt guild I belong to is doing a UFO Challenge again this year.  This year we have 6 quilts on our list.  I turned in 2 lists.  That doesn't even begin to touch the many, many tops I have to quilt.  I have 5 tubs of tops.  I went through every tub last week.  I pulled out every quilt I have listed on my UFO Challenge lists and put them all in one tub.  I also have quilts to quilt for other people.  I put some of them in that tub, also. 
Here is my UFO Lists for this year and the other quilts I put in the UFO Tub last week, which I want to get quilted this year.  Some I have already quilted...YEAH!

List #1-Small Quilts
1.  Embroidered Double Wedding Ring-Quilted 1/2/14
2.  I Spy
3.  Baby Panel
4.  Baby Flannels (3 sets)
5.  Alerica's Leftovers-due Feb-Quilted 1/2/14
6.  10 Minute Block #1

List #2-Large Quilts
1.  1st Saturday Sampler 2010
2.  30's Trip Around The World
3.  Scrap Basket Surprise
4.  JoAnn's BOM
5.  Scrappy Trip Around The World-Due Feb.
6.  Scrappy Twist & Turn

Other's Quilts
1.  Linda's Quilt-Quilted yesterday-1/7/14
2.  Quilt for Ladies at Church #1-Green
3.  Quilt for Ladies at Church #2-Blue

Other Quilts not on UFO Lists
1.  Mom's Mirage
2.  Joey's Moonglow
3.  Pastel Baskets (was on last year's UFO Challenge List)
4.  Chris' Story Book Farm
5.  Jelly Roll Log Cabin

My rule for this year is that if I finish a quilt top, it has to go in this tub.  I am going to be working from this tub this year.  I think it will help me focus on what needs to be done.  I think I get overwhelmed with the number of quilt tops I have and don't know what to do next.  I also have other quilt tops to do for other people that I did not put in the tub. 

Here is that list:
1.  Joyce's quilt
2.  Lori's 9-Patch Quilt
3.  Lori's Baby Quilt
4.  Lori's Sweet William Quilt
5.  Quilts of Valor Quilt
6.  Denim Quilt
7.  Hexagon Quilt

Plans for today:
Get one of Lori's quilts on the machine and get it quilted.  Probably the Sweet William Quilt.  The pantograph I want to do on it is on the machine, so I won't have to change it.

But, first, I have to exercise!

Have a great day!

It's a New Year!

It's a New Year!  And always a new chance to make plans.  What are your plans for the New Year?  What are you going to do different this year than you did last year?  I don't want to ask what "resolutions" you made, because we all know that "resolutions" are just things we do for about two weeks and then we go back to our old habits. 
My son started a new blog this year.  He is trying to post something every week.  He is getting into photography (and does a great job) and he is planning on posting some of his work every week.  That made me think...maybe I should do the same thing.  I am always doing a lot of quilting and piecing on quilt tops and making "stuff".  So, I thought I should document what I am doing every week.  As I finish quilting a quilt, I need to post a picture...another way to document my quilts.  My nephew's wife has a blog where she posts pictures of their daughter.  My parents get to keep up with what is going on in their lives...they (my nephew and his family) live in Florida.  Great way to document what is going on in our lives.  Will someone read this or see this?  I don't know.  But, I am still documenting what I am doing with my quilting.
So, I will give it a try and see where it takes me and how long I will keep this up.  One problem I have had with documenting my quilting is not having a camera on hand.  That thing always seems to disappear!  Now, I have a new iPhone and can take pictures with it.  (Although, it has been disappearing, too!  Today I found it in my chair...in the very, very back!  Along with a thimble I thought I lost in an airport coming back from Moldova last year!)
Ok, so here are some pictures!

This is my friend, Linda's quilt.  This is the first quilt she ever made!  She did a great job on it!  I love her colors and fabrics!  I started quilting this last night and finished it this afternoon.  It didn't take me very long to quilt it.  I did a pantograph (all-over design) called Rosey Posey.  It is a design I like to do...easy.  So, here it is as I was quilting it today.

 

Here is one block before I quilted this area.

 

 

This is from the back of the machine (where I quilt from) after I got about half of it done.  The pantograph is about 6 1/2" wide, so it didn't cover the whole block.

 

Here is the same block after I finished quilting to top.  Can you see the pantograph?  It has lots of flowers in it.

 

And the finished quilt as I was taking it off the machine.  Yeah!  It's quilted! 

Now, I have to do the binding on it.

 

 

I'm not sure which quilt to do next.  Another one will go on tomorrow.  We will be out of school again.  Looks like we may not get to go all week!  Helps with my quilting!

Happy Quilting!

 

Terrie