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.