Friday Night Cut In

First off, happy Quilting In Public Day!  What are you doing to celebrate?  Are there events planned near you? 

Last night I participated in the Friday Night Sew In, but really it was my Friday Night Cut In.  I didn't even turn my sewing machine on.  Is that possible!?!?!?  Still, it was a really good night for me.  Here's the scoop:

It was a good night for me to spend a ton of time preparing for new projects.  I am not great at starting new projects (or large steps of existing projects) during the week, so I have to do do larger bits and pieces over the weekend in preparation for the week.  This was the prep night to end all prep nights.

I cut 80x2.5 inch strips from my new Kona White for the Braided Irish Chain that I would like to make with batiks.  The pattern calls for 2 natural (Kona White) jelly rolls and 1 patterned (batik here) jelly roll.  I'm too cheap to buy three jelly rolls for one quilt top, so I decided to cut my own.  There is more cutting to do subdividing the strips into smaller pieces, but this was a good start.

I also cut Kona Snow for the Community Quilt background, which really was my most rewarding accomplishment tonight.  There were 128 2x6.5 inch rectangles, 128 2x5 inch rectangles, 128 2x3.5 rectangles and 128 2x2 inch squares.  Whew!  Now, most importantly, I am ready to start piecing.  I am 100% excited!!!

That's the news.  I did not touch Lattice Illusions tonight only because I was having a love affair with my rotary cutter.  It is top on the list for tomorrow and I am really jazzed. 

If you have not already done so, I encourage you to link up with the next FNSI.  It is a great way to focus and accomplish a ton of sewing in one evening.  Hope you are all well!

Friday Night Planning

Are you looking for our Japanese Import Fabric Swap?  You can page down or click here to register.  There are only a few spots left, so join in today!  It's going to be a great time :)

Tonight is the Friday Night Sew In and I am really looking forward to it.  I know every night could be a Sew In, but there's something special about calling it FNSI, anticipating the night of quilting and working out a plan that gets me all excited!  So, here is what is floating in my head. 

TO DO:
1. just after work run into town and get floss for Birdie Stitches
2. while in town, pick up my fabric for the Japanese Import Fabric Swap
3. cut my Kona solid fabric for the Community Quilt to start piecing this weekend
4. cut more Kona solid for the Irish Chain I'd like to start in the next week
5. piece what I can of Lattice Illusions to get the gazillion piles of blocks off the sewing table

OK, so it's more of a Friday Night Cut In, but that's important too, right?  Check back tomorrow for a progress update.  Happy stitching tonight!

Friday Night Sew In #1

Last night I took part in my first Friday Night Sew In organized by Handmade by Heidi.  I had a fabulous time rockin' out to my little iPod with my sewing machine hummin' like mad.

The evening started with a trip to the quilt shop.  Alright, I know it's a sew in, but it had to be done.  I have the glorious delusion that this Lattice Illusions top is nearly finished.  Each time I think I am close to finishing, I re-think the design and it grows a bit more....and there's another trip to the quilt shop for more fabric. 

Anyway, I was in the mood to start with half square triangles.  I had 66 made from earlier in the week, but I need 96 for the border.  I made the other 30, pressed them, trimmed their little ears and created four strips of 23 ensuring the colors are somewhat randomly spaced.  Two are pictured below.  The strips are pressed and ready to add once the center is finished.  Or should I say if ever the center is finished....

I paired up about 20 of the center blocks, which is not difficult at all.  However, at the center of this seam several points join and its difficult to keep the points sharp when pressing 8 layers of fabric.  I remembered Sandy discussing the exact point on Quilting for the Rest of Us and she mentioned pressing the seams open to keep the point sharp.  This worked beautifully!  Thank you, Sandy!

I need 27 more center blocks (consisting of 4 smaller squares each), so I started piecing strips again.  I did not get too far as it was getting late, but I am happy to have the strips assembled ready to cut into sqares.  This is pretty easy to pick up again on Saturday when there is a quiet minute. 

All in all, I had a great time tonight and am looking forward to the next Friday Night Sew In.  Did you join?  Will you jump in next time? 

And We're Off!

I am participating in my first Friday Night Sew In this evening, hosted by Handmade by Heidi.  You can use the button on the right of the home page to have a peek and the other bloggers participating today, but really you want to jump back on Saturday when we have all posted our final products.

I might start in with this pile of goodness!  Or I may move on with my Lattice Illusions quilt.  We'll see what strikes me when I sit down this evening.

I'll be back with an update tomorrow.  Until then, let's get sewing :)