August Gypsy Wife Blocks

August's Gypsy Wife blocks were quick and easy, and I finished them in July!

 

If I had a real design wall, I'd put it up and see how it is coming along.   In about a year, child number 3 will be going off to college. Then we will be juggling bedroom furniture, and I might have a real sewing room with a real design wall.

PA Row by Row, Log Cabin Quilt Shop

After I wrote the last post, I realized I'd left out the details of one of my earlier finishes.  This is Amish Country Shoo Fly Row by Log Cabin Quilt Shop in Bird in Hand, PA.  I chose to use my own colors, not the black, red, yellow, blue and green of the kit the shop offered. 

 

I knew I wanted to use red, but I also needed blue to tie this row to the others I'd already made.  I am not sure I got the colors right, but I made the log cabin blocks twice before I found something that was acceptable to me.  The white print which you can't see has little blue crabs on it. 

VA Row by Row, Sew E-Z in Virginia Beach

I completed as much as I'm going to do on Sew E-Z's Row.  I like the way it turned out, but it used more applique than I wanted to do. I left off the sun and the sailboat.  To me, my row shows the way the beach looks about 6 at night when everyone has gone off to dinner, and the only things left on the beach are a few umbrellas and stray toys. 

 I've already said I'm not an appliquer.  I am not a big fan of fusible web applique because I don't think it will hold up very long in a quilt that is going to be laundered.  On this row,  I attempted back basting.  I read a few tutorials online and then did my version.  I know if I did more hand applique, my skills would improve. I need work on my points, but hand applique doesn't seem to be worth the effort to me. If I'm going to sew by hand, I'd rather do cross stitch.  I started quilting originally to get a break from hand-stitching. 

Sew E-Z is a new-to-me quilt shop in Virginia Beach.  I went there last week while I was down helping my mom.  The shop was nicer inside than I expected, and they carry Deb Tucker's Studio 180 rulers.  I bought the corner beam ruler while I was there. Can't wait to try it out on my next round robin border!

Here's what my summer rows look like all together:

Stash Report

I've been doing a lot of sewing the past few weeks but haven't finished much.  This week I did complete a pillowcase.  This is for an elderly family friend who had back surgery a couple of weeks ago and is in rehab.

Used This Week:  1.125  yards
Used Year to Date: 59.125 yards
Added this week: 2.5 yards  
Added year to date: 51.875 yards
 Net Used: 7.25 yards 

To see more stash reports:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/07/27/stash-report-week-30-2014/

PA Row by Row, Piece by Piece Quilt Shop

I finished 'Sew All Year Long' from Piece By Piece Quilt Shop in Ephrata, PA. I bought the kit for this row because I think the fabrics in the four blocks do a good job or representing the seasons. 

 

Winter:

 

Spring:

 

Summer:

 

Fall:

The technique for this row was different than any other block I've ever made.  Each of the four sections is made of one 10"x10" square, four 5"x5" squares and four 2 1/2" by 2 1/2" squares.  No more cutting is done.  The shapes are made by folding the squares.  The four little triangles in each block are only sewn down on one side.  It was fun learning how to make this block, but it isn't one I'd use in a quilt because of the bulk in the seams.  This row will probably be made into a table runner.


You can get an idea of the bulk here.  The vertical and horizontal seams have 6 layers of fabric where the diagonal pieces meet.

 

 

I'm linking up with Sarah:  http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2014/07/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-quilt-giveaway.html

 

VA Row by Row, Quilter's Corner and Stash Report

Last night I  finished 'Winter's Song' designed by Swirly Girls for Quilter's Corner, located in Midlothian, VA.  I wasn't going to buy this kit because it was more expensive than most, and I don't like to do applique, but the pieces were pre-cut and backed with fusible web, so I bought it.

 

 My machine doesn't have a buttonhole stitch, so I used a narrow zig-zag.  It looks ok, except around the holly berries and musical note.  I think an open toe foot would help.  I'm pretty much stitching blind now.  If I did more applique, I'd buy the proper foot.

 

This is the only winter row I have so far, and I don't expect it to make it into my row quilt.  Maybe it will be a table runner.

Used This Week:  0  yards
Used Year to Date: 58.0 yards
Added this week: 2.5 yards  
Added year to date: 51.875 yards
 Net Used: 6.125 yards 

Linking up with Patchwork Times:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/07/20/stash-report-week-29-2014/

VA Row by Row, The Quiltery

I bought the kit for The Quiltery's 'Summer Flight' row.  From the pictures online, I thought the fabric must be a batik.  I was surprised to see that both of the fabrics in this kit are from Northcott Artisan Shimmer.  This fabric was great to work with, soft but it still had a lot of body.

 I've seen quilts done with this pattern before and wondered how to do it.  I thought it must be paper pieced, but it is not.  It took a little organizing to make sure I kept the background pieces in the right order, but it was easier than I expected, and I'm very happy with the way it went together. I can see myself using this pattern in a border someday.

 The directions recommended a Creative Grids ruler that I don't have.  There was a template in the directions, but I used my Easy Angle Ruler instead, and it worked beautifully.  One problem:  I'm still  1/30 of an inch off in my vertical seams (I was 1/2 inch short).  This is the same amount I was off in my 'Something's Fishy' blocks, so even if I'm not accurate, I'm consistent. This was an easy fix.  I just made the rectangles on the ends a little wider.

PA Row by Row, The Quilt Shop at Miller's

I finished another row yesterday.  This is 'Shoo Fly the Seasons' by The Quilt Shop at Miller's in Ronks, PA.  I don't remember what colors the shop used.  I just used scraps that would look good with the other 3 rows I've already done. 

 

I've officially decided this will be a summer quilt.  I've picked up a few row by row patterns that won't work now in this quilt, but if I get enough of them, I may be able to make a quilt for another season. 

VA Row By Row, Quilting Adventures, Richmond VA

While I was watching the world cup yesterday, I worked on this row from Quilting Adventures in Richmond, VA.  I looked on the pattern and didn't see a name for this particular row, but I'm very happy with the way it turned out.  I bought the kit for this row because it needed lots of different colors.  The kit came with 6 different chevron prints for the straws and 6 hand stamped fruit wedges.  Well worth the price, I think! 

The cups and straws are paper pieces. The pattern was well designed and easy to put together.  The fruit wedges are stitched down by machine in an inexpert fashion, but I'm happy with them.

 

 

 

Here's what my 3 rows look like together:

 

Looks like a summer quilt to me! If I use summery fabrics in the some of the other rows, I can continue this summer theme. 

Linking up with Design Wall Monday:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/07/14/design-wall-july-14-2014/

 

 

VA Row by Row, Blue Crab Quilt Co. and Stash Report

More fabric added this week.  I bought bright batiks for  'Something's Fishy'.  I also bought a couple of fabrics for another row, 'Crabs in the Waves' by Blue Crab Quilt Co. in Richmond, VA. 

I had a problem with the paper pieced crabs.  For some reason, the legs didn't line up quite right, and I had to trim the red crab block to get it down to 9 1/2 inches.  That imperfection will not keep me from putting it in the quilt, though.  I ended up redrafting the block for orange crab, and it went together  more easily.  These crabs need eyes which won't be added until after it is quilted. 

This morning I got more Peanuts Christmas fabric to make a pillowcase for my friend's mom who is in the hospital.  Why Peanuts Christmas fabric in July?  Because that is what the lady requested. The only  fabric I used this week were in this king sized pillow case and in 2 blocks for a friend's comfort quilt. 

 

Used This Week:  1.25  yards
Used Year to Date: 58.0 yards
Added this week: 3 yards  
Added year to date: 49.375 yards
 Net Used: 8.625 yards 

To see more stash reports:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/07/13/stash-report-week-28-2014/

PA Row by Row, Brubakers Sewing Center

I finished one of the row by row patterns that I got last week.

 

 

 

This is 'Something's Fishy by Brubakers Sewing Center.   These are supposed to be fish, and they will look more like fish when I get their eyes sewn on.  But I might use beads or buttons for eyes, so they wont get put on until after it is quilted.

This pattern was a challenge for me because there were no diagrams, and I am a visual quilter.  I had to google to find a picture of the finished row online and draw my own diagrams to keep straight what I was doing.   I also wanted this row to be 9 inches wide like most of the others, so I added strips on the  top and bottom.  Unfortunately, I ran out of the first batik, so I used a scrap of something else  I had laying around.

Notice that I had to add a piece of background at the end.  This is one piece where your 1/4 inch seam allowance really matters.  I counted 35 vertical seams in this row, which means that my 1/4 inch seam is 1/35 of an inch off.  Not something that really matters a lot in a normal quilt where there aren't quite so many seams going in one direction, but I need to be more aware of it for pieces like this.

Linking up with Sarah:  http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2014/07/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-anticipating.html

July Gypsy Wife Blocks

I got my July blocks done today.  Here they are:

I'm tempted to do August's too, but I have UFOs that need attention.  

PA Row by Row and Stash Report

I spent a whole $2 on fabric remnants this week.  Most of it was 3/4 yard of a yellow and white print since I'm low on yellows.  I also bought a small bag with some colors I'm low on: red, purple, and orange.

I don't have any fabric used this week to report, but I'm chugging along on Carolina Christmas.  I lost a few sewing days when we went to Pennsylvania to visit our son, but I picked up 5 Row by Row patterns on the way.  We visited:

Log Cabin Quilt Shop in Bird in Hand, PA
Piece by Piece in Ephrata, PA
Stitch & Craft in Manheim, PA
The Quilt Shop at Miller's in Ronks, PA
Brubakers Sewing Center in New Holland, PA

Of course there are patterns I like more than others, but I enjoyed visiting each shop.  At Miller's, there are a lot of finished quilts for sale.  They hand out gloves so you can touch the quilts.  Even DH was entertained in this shop.  Brubakers had a lot of sewing machines, new and used, but no Berninas. They gave out jar openers with their logo and a wrapped gift (mine was a pattern for a felt pin)  too.   Log Cabin Quilt shop handed out recipes along with their quilt pattern. I enjoyed talking to the lady at Piece by Piece.  That's the one place where I bought the kit for the row because her colors were so pretty.  We barely got to Stitch & Craft before closing, but the girl  at the cutting counter was very nice.  I'd have liked to have more time in this shop.

DH was a good sport through all the stops.  Sometimes it is no fun to shop with a non-quilter along, but he kept himself entertained on his iphone while I looked around the stores.  I kept my purchases small:  goats milk soap, aurifil thread, hex n more key chain.

Used This Week:  0  yards
Used Year to Date: 56.75 yards
Added this week: 1.25 yards 
Added year to date: 46.375 yards
 Net Used: 10.375 yards

Linking up with Patchwork Times:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/07/06/stash-report-week-27-2014-2/

Second Quarter Check In

My 3 quilting resolutions this year were to finish Celtic Solstice, my selvage quilt and a quilt for my sister.  I've made progress on 2 of the 3 goals, but none of them are completely done.

 I've already  blogged about Celtic Solstice a couple of times.  I was originally going to make a king sized Celtic Solstice.  After I got all of the blocks done and started laying them out, I decided I really didn't like it enough to make it for my bed.  Instead I pieced 3 quilt tops from the blocks. Two of them are for the bunk beds in my son's old room.  With the leftover blocks I made a baby sized quilt which I gave to Sarah, who added borders and turned it into a lap sized quilt for charity.  That's the only one of the 3 CSs that is completely done. 

 

 Bottom Bunk:

 

 

Top Bunk:

 

Baby Quilt:                                                                                                                              

 

 

I finished the top of my sister's one block wonder quilt, but I didn't draw her name for Christmas, so I haven't gotten it to the longarmer to get it quilted yet. 

 

 

 

 

My selvage quilt is still sitting in the box.  It has been resting for about 3 years now, patiently waiting for me.  Here's what I have done so far:

 

 

I need 2 more star blocks to turn these into a lap sized quilt.  I thought about making a baby quilt out of just the 4 of them, but selvages are kind of rough, not really what you'd want next to a baby.

 

Linking up with Sandy at Quilting for the Rest of Us  http://quiltingfortherestofus.com/blog/second-quarter-2014-quilty-resolutions-check-in/6/24/2014