Daybreak and Stars Around the Corner

I've been doing a ton of hand sewing and embroidery this week, but I managed to get some 'real' sewing done too.  All of the blocks for Daybreak are together.

I had a little difficulty getting some of the blocks to lay flat.  If you attempt this pattern, make sure your 1/4 inch seam is very accurate!  I had a few blocks that wanted to cup, but most of that came out with a good pressing.  I don't think it will be noticeable once it is quilted and washed.  I might add a narrow border to the sides to make it a little wider.

I got all my alternate blocks for Stars Around the Corner done too.  I still need to do the sashing and cornerstones.  This one wont be done by the end of April.

My square in a square blocks are not entirely accurate, but there is so much color, I don't think a few cut off points will be that noticeable.   I prefer to paper piece this type of block or use my Deb Tucker Square Squared ruler, but since this was a mystery, those techniques were not an option.

Stash Report, ICQC Task 3

I have nothing used to report, mainly because my piecing has taken a back seat this week to my crazy quilting class.

Used this week: 0 
Used Year to Date: 33.125 yards
Added this week: 4
Added Year to Date:  38.375 yards
Net ADDED:   5.25 yards

I just finished the third task, framing a silkie.  Kathy wanted us to have the entire block complete or almost complete, so she could see that our block was balanced.  Here is my almost completed block with its framed silkie.  I may go back and outline 'eek' with brown thread so that it stands out more.  

Linking up:  http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2016/04/lets-bee-social-122.html

http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/05/02/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-56/

Intermediate Crazy Quilting Class 104

I have signed up for another of Kathy Shaw's crazy quilting classes.  The first two assignments were to embellish 'silkies', printed images on silk or cotton.  For the first silkie, we needed to stitch hair.  Most of the examples we were given were of Victorian women or children in fancy dresses with hats or flowers in their hair.  Instead of printing one of these images, I chose to use a piece of  mermaid fabric from Windham's Mendocino line.

Her hair is stitched in one strand of varigated 50 wt. Wonderfil Tutti Cotton.  It took me 3 evenings:  over six hours just to stitch her hair.  Kathy's instructions said to use small stitches and thin thread.  I'm very happy with her hair, but I'm not sure I'll invest the time to do that again!

The second task was to stitch silk ribbon flowers to a silkie.  This time I printed out an image I found on the internet and added silk ribbon.  Again, a lot of the people in my class are using the Victorian images of women or girls.  I chose an image of a bird. 

 I am not entirely happy with the silk ribbon embroidery I used as a border. I think the color is good, but my stitching is sloppy because I was trying to stretch the little ribbon I had.  I'm not sure where it came from, and I really liked the color, but if I had more if it, I would have done a neater job.  Pulling the ribbon through the background bruised my fingertips, and I wish I had used shorter lengths of silk.  I need to remember that if I'm having a hard time getting the needle through the fabric,the silk is being abraded.  Punching a hole with a large needle helps a lot, but I didn't do this until I was half way around the image.   I will be smarter next time!

Stash Report, Daybreak on Design Wall

Last week I worked on Daybreak.  I've gotten all of the half blocks together, and it is on my design wall.  The 1 1/2 inch border on every block took a lot of time:  Three seams, and every 1 1/2 inch piece had to be trimmed at an angle after sewing.  Not hard, just  time-consuming.   I am not going to have the jagged edge on this quilt because, jagged or not, I would end up paying the longarmer for the quilting that would fill the blank spaces.  My next challenge will be figuring our what size triangle fills the blank space since the space is bigger than my super side kick ruler can cut.

I've been playing around with color placement, getting the light pink and navy spread evenly over the quilt without repeating fabrics in adjoining blocks.  A challenge!

The latest Stars Around the Corner clue came out last week, and I'm about half way done with those blocks.  I also signed up for another of Kathy Shaw's crazy quilting classes, so I've started working on my crazy quilting again.  I should have a lot to share next week, but right now the dust in my house is getting thick enough to write in.  Time to clean, not sew!



Used this week: 0.625 (binding)
Used Year to Date: 33.125 yards
Added this week: 0
Added Year to Date:  34.375 yards
Net ADDED:   1.25 yards

Linking up:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2016/04/18/design-wall-april-18-2016/

http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2016/04/lets-bee-social-121.html

Trent's Bargello Quilt

I got  my nephew Trent's graduation quilt bound this week.   The pattern is of my own design.  There are many free bargello patterns on line if you want to give bargello a try.  This quilt is 64" x 82".

 I tried to get a picture of the quilting.  You may be able to make it out on the dark fabric. It is swirly.

 The back is a wide back gray flannel, so there are no seams on the back.

One more graduation quilt to bind!

Linking up:  http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2016/04/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-its-important-to.html

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2016/04/maine-morning-mitts-and-procrastination.html

Scream House

I finally finished the cross stitching on  Just Nan's Scream House today. It is cloudy out, so these aren't the best pictures.

I had a difficult time with the stitching since the linen was limp.  I do a lot of stitching in-hand without a hoop, but this was so limp I had to use a q-snap, and there wasn't a lot of margin to snap it on.  I wish the linen had been 2 inches wider!

 I still have a little beading to do on it and need to do a lot of mindless back stitching around each piece.  Then comes the construction, which I've heard is complicated.  But the good news is I could very well have it done by Halloween this year.  It has been a long time since I've had a cross stitch finish.

Linking up: http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/04/11/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-53/

Stash Report, Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Yesterday I worked on my rainbow scrap challenge.  This month's color is Monarch (orange with black highlights).  I made 15 string blocks, but I have enough orange strings left to easily make 15 more.

I also made one orange inverted star.

Here are all of my inverted star blocks so far:

  



Used this week: 4.75 yards  (PoD backing, fat quarter lotto)
Used Year to Date: 32.5 yards
Added this week: 2 yards  (pillowcase, panel)
Added Year to Date:  34.375 yards
Net ADDED:   1.875 yards

Linking up: http://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2016/04/scraphappy-saturday-oranges-on-parade.html
http://www.patchworktimes.com/2016/04/10/stash-report-april-10-2026/

Rulers and Books, April Goals

I don't have a lot of quilting gadgets except for rulers.  I have a lot of rulers.  I believe in spending money on tools that make my cutting more accurate.  That allows my blocks to go together better, and I have to do less fudging.  It occurred to me the other day that it is kind of wasteful to buy a ruler and use it only once.  So now I'm going to try and make sure I use each of my specialty rulers in at least three quilts. I used Jaybird Quilts Hex N More and Side Kick rulers  when I made Gravity.

And I'm using them again in Daybreak.

I want to pick out and plan another Jaybird quilt pattern that uses these rulers. I want to go though all of my rulers, decide which ones are underutilized and make a plan of how to get them back into circulation.

Another of my long term goals is to look at my quilt books.  I shouldn't need to buy quilt books any time soon.  I have lots of them taking up space, and I haven't used most of them.  My new goal:  don't buy a quilt book unless I plan to make 3 of the quilts in that book.  The loophole?  Books that are gifts don't count, just the books I buy myself.  Also, if I choose to buy a quilt book, I'm going to try and find it used first.

As far as March's goals:

1.  Bind Wild and Goosey:  Done!
  
2.  Get POD2 ready for the longarmer: Done!

3.  Do the last two clues on Bricks, Steppingstones and Cobblestones:  Did the second to the last row and decided that was enough.  Done!

4.  Put the borders on Allietare:  Done!

5.  Finish the cross stitching on Scream House:  Not done.  I ran out of floss and had to order more online.  I've only a few more hours to go, Hope I can get it done before the next crazy quilting class starts this month.

6.  Keep up with Stars Around the Corner Clues:  Done!

7.  Continue to participate in Rainbow Scrap Challenge: Done!

So for April, I want to:
1. Sign up for next Crazy Quilting class and begin that stitching.
2.Bind Trents quilt.
3. Bind Amanda's quilt.
4. Finish Daybreak top
5. Evaluate rulers, books and think about a plan for them
6. Keep up with Stars Around the Corner Clues.
7. Continue to participate in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge
8. Pull out a UFO and make some progress.
9. Get red and white quilt to longarmer.
10.  Finish the cross stitching on Scream House.

Linking up:
http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/p/lets-bee-social.html

Stash Report, Daybreak on Design Wall

We were out of town this weekend, so I missed the Sunday stash report this week.

Used this week: 2.0 yards (Christmas pillowcases)
Used Year to Date: 27.75 yards
Added this week: 2 yards (backing for red and white quilt)
Added Year to Date:  32.375 yards
Net ADDED:   4.625 yards

I've done a little sewing on Daybreak.  This is a Jaybird Quilts pattern, and it is going together very well.  I like Julie's clear cutting and sewing directions.  I am pressing seams so the side and nesting them instead of  pressing open as she suggests.  The blocks are going together fine that way; it just takes me a little more time to figure out which direction to press each seam.

Linking up: http://www.patchworktimes.com/2016/04/04/design-wall-april-4-2016/