Selvage Blocks for Miles

Each morning while I brush my teeth, I thumb through IG to see what creativity I have missed while I slept.  What inspiration waits for me?  It is a great way to wake up.  One morning, Craftsy posted an advertisement for this pattern that immediately occupied my brain.  I could not shake it, so I bought the pattern thinking that would scratch the itch.  But no.

Although I see myself using different methods to make these blocks, I love the idea of a full quilt of selvage vines.  I started stitching a few tester blocks at the Brit Bee weekend retreat and fell in love.

I have now finished 23 of the 42 blocks I need.  It shocks me how heavy they are and how they eat up the selvage strips.  I have enough selvages for another 5-10 blocks, so I will have to finish a few other projects to increase my stash.  That's OK.  This can be a slow burner.  I'll just keep stitching!

String Stars Baby Quilt

There is a new small person joining my world in the next few months.  (Before you get excited, it's not me expecting!)  I want to make a baby quilt to be ready for their arrival.  Now, I do not know if we are expecting a small boy or girl, so this will have to be a unisex quilt.   In my head, you can never go wrong with scrappy stars - they're unisex, right?  This time around I am going to give string stars a go.

Using the tutorial by Corey on Coriander Quilts, I printed out 72 templates and started stitching.   I had cut a whole pile of 1 inch strings to stitch onto the paper templates, so these came together quite quickly.  It was very meditative and I loved seeing the fabrics I loved finding a space next to one another.  It is like being reunited with old friends.

After an IG poll, I have decided to use Essex Linen Medium Aqua as the background fabric.  The lavender cross hatch did indeed win the popular vote, but when I had a good look at it in real life I did not like it nearly as much as I did the linen.  You have to go with your gut, right? 

This will be the last I show you of this quilt until the baby arrives.  I need to keep a bit of surprise for when it is gifted.  Until then, know I am quietly stitching away, loving every bit of it.  

Time To Stop Faffing....

 ....and get serious about sewing the goose border for my medallion quilt.  I had all of my focus fabric and most of my LV charms cut out last week.  I have my paper piecing templates printed and ready to roll.  I just needed a bit of time to dust off my reversed-piecing-guided-by-sunlight skills.   Time to settle in mentally.

This past weekend I dove in and pieced geese like a maniac.  I had a small bit of help...or distraction...or spot quality inspections.  It's good he's cute.

After a day and a half I had 19 of my templates finished and five remaining.  Now that's real progress - enough to keep me motivated to finish off those last few in no time at all.

I am 100% jazzed about they are coming together.  Paper piecing makes those points extra pointy, which I love.  The color in this photo doesn't do the focus fabric justice - stinkin' winter sun.  They are bright, saturated and shine with the LV background.  De-lighted. 

Although I am not looking forward to pulling the paper out of the back, I can not wait to stitch these together into rows.   Do you think we'll have a finished medallion top next week?  Here's hoping!

Sewin' Scraps

It is so satisfying, isn't it?  Digging though your scrap bin, finding little tiny scraps and chain piecing them together willy nilly.  I love it.  It's quite peaceful.

I have three borders remaining in my medallion quilt.  The flying geese (which are coming along!), followed by a thin 3/4 inch scrappy border and then a wider (2-3 inch) border in block color.  The scrappy border seemed like a quick and easy project to take on in evenings after work last week.

I stitched together anything 1 inch - 3 inches long by 1.5 - 2 inches wide until I had a chain 240+ inches long.  I trimmed the whole thing to 1 1/4 inches wide to finish at 3/4 inches in the quilt.  There are some of my absolute favorite fabrics included in this border by using scraps that would be too small for me to use in any other project.  They make me so happy popping up like little pieces of confetti.

One of three remaining borders finished and ready to assemble.  Check!  Now back to focusing on those geese....

Modern Irish {Scrappy} Bee: October Blocks

I totally cheated.  I knew what blocks Tomomi wanted for her bee month ahead of anyone else as I pre-schedule the bee block blog posts to appear on the first of the month.  I cheekily packed up all of the fabrics I needed to make her blocks and brought it with me to the Modern Quilters of Ireland retreat last weekend (27 Sept).

Tomomi was looking for book shelf blocks, but with a twist.  She wanted to blocks 11-13 inches long x 12.5 inches tall with various sizes of books and Ash background.  However, she wanted us to each create a section on her bookshelf with a theme.  Humm....now that's interesting.

I choose to give her a section of bird watching guides:

and a section with cook books:

Tomomi, I hope you like them!  I know several other hive members have started thinking of really super, creative themes for you.  I am sure will you will love what they create!

Modern Quilters of Ireland {Bee Blessed Blocks}

There is SO much to tell you from this past weekend, but I can not get my brain together to write a full post including all of the hoo-ha.  You see, on Saturday several ladies from the Modern Quilters of Ireland came together in Galway for a day of stitching.  I will tell you all about it in time.

Those of us gathering for the mini-retreat decided to come together and create a quilt top for Bee Blessed.  We decided on a scrappy sampler blocks in blues and greens with white background.  I am just delighted with what the ladies created.  Want to see?

Such a super array of blues and greens, but they work so very well together.  I think so at least.  Great variety in block choice too!

I'm going to put the top together with white sashing, blue and green corner stones and then I'll put on borders.  I already know one border I want to use that's new in the shop.  Can't wait to get cutting!

As you will quickly figure out, there are 13 blocks in total.  That makes for a funny shaped quilt.  I would love to have a 4 block x 4 block layout.  Would anyone else in the MQGI want to send on a blue and green block to be included?

Galway breeze go the best of my churn dash there in the upper left.
You can imagine what that corner looks like...very similar to the other three.  

I'm looking for 3 more blocks that are 12.5 x 12.5 unfinished (12 inches finished).  If you are interested in sending one (or two...or three) to me, please leave a comment below and I will send to you my postal address.

UPDATED: I have volunteers for the three additional blocks we need.  Thanks so much, ladies!

Modern Quilters of Ireland, this is going to be absolutely beautiful.  Thank you so very much for your effort.  What a stunner we will make together!

Modern Irish {Scrappy} Bee: September Blocks

It's a rare month that I have my bee blocks finished already!  This month in the Modern Irish Bee, Helen has asked for four happy, bright, loud, clashing Wonky Cross blocks using her own tutorial.  We were to use Kona Solids as the background fabric and then use (non-floral) scraps for the crosses.  

I had great fun making these blocks.  We usually only make two per hive member, but as these were so easy to make I was happy to make four.  

I have to say I was surprised to find four different colors of Kona Solids in my stash.  I was sure I would have to go to the shop and pick up a few FQs.  Lucky me, though...a little dig and I found enough.  They are quite Eastery, though, aren't they?  Sure, when they are mixed in with all of the others from the hive they will be fine.

We were asked to not trim them.  To leave the little crossing strips dangling from the edge.  I feel like I have not finished my job sending them all scraggly.  That said, if you tuck in the edges and align the blocks, you can see they will be quite pretty together.  Helen, I hope you like them.  They will be in today's post.

Hot pants? No! Hot pads.

Friday night I came home from work and wanted to sew.  I wanted color and a quick finish.  The lowest hanging fruit, then, was to make the hot pads my family had requested.  Super easy and rewarding, right?

I was happily stitching away when my other half came up to the sewing room.  "What are you making?" he asked.  "Hot pads" I replied (thinking if he couldn't tell what they were after asking for them I was in trouble!).  "Hot pants?"  he asked...slightly worried.  Um.  What?  Why would I ever make myself hot pants?!?  "No, just hot PADS."  Goodness gracious!

Photobomb by my left foot.  Thank goodness for that pedicure, Mom!

With a bit of Essex linen (Navy), Denyse Schmidt plaid and a FQ of happy Orla Kiely-type kitchen mugs and pitchers I sat down to use Adrianne's tutorial.  It was incredibly easy to follow and the templates are very helpful.  Adrianne stresses that you need to use biased binding and indeed she is right for those curves.

It was my first time making/using biased binding, so that was a small adventure.  Here I used Dottie Orange - I love how it works with the greens and blues in the other prints.  A bit mad, but I dig it.  I have to say, when I sat down to hand stitch the binding to the back, I was entirely grateful that there was a bit of give in the binding.  So very glad I listened to her suggestions and was not too arrogant to think straight binding would due.

When you google Hot Pad Tutorial, every tute and blog post has a lovely action shot of someone bringing a casserole or cupcakes out of the oven showing you that they do indeed work.  I am not a cook - I mean I can survive if left to my own devices, but I do not enjoy it so I leave it to my other half who loves it.  When it came to taking photos of my hot pads in action, my other half was not around to model them for me!  What to do, but make my own speciality?  Peanut butter on toast.  Bliss.  They worked just fine - no fingers were warmed while making this delicious snack.

The biggest risk in testing out the hot pads was this monster.  She loves peanut butter, so I was full sure she would steal my toast as I was trying to take a photo of it to my surprise, she just hung out in the grass and waited patiently for some of it to drop.  Love her.

Once I finished off my other half's hot pad, I dove into those requested by my folks.  They wanted two individual pads, so I tried to oblige.  I figured while I was making two, I would make four so we had another set for bigger items (like massive pizza pans) that my onesie hot pad would not fit around.  

Saturday  morning I started making improv scrappy log cabin blocks.  I wanted to do a QAYG block, but that proved very difficult given the layer of insulated batting AND the layer of cotton batting.  These are fully from the scrap bin (much to Sarah's delight).  Scrap navy Essex to back, scraps to make the log cabin, scraps of batting (both types) and a bit of binding I had left from another project.

I am quite pleased with how they turned out.  They are a bit wild for my parent's kitchen, but they will not forget who made them :)

 

I quilted them in concentric rectangles, that you can see a bit better here on the back.  I do really enjoy free quilting on a side project that moves through my machine easily.  

The other two (that are staying here in Galway) are pieced and quilted, but waiting for their binding.  I am sure they will be finished off while watching a World Cup match some night this week.  Perfect time for a little hand stitching!

That's the word from Galway.  Rest assured there are no burned figures in our house!

Scrappy Mini Stars: A tutorial

Hello to all of my new friends from the SMS giveaway day!  It's so nice to meet you all.  How is your giveaway week going so far?  Meeting lots of new folks?  Found a few super new-to-you blogs?  I hope you are having a blast!  If you are looking for the FSQ giveaway post, simply click here.

Several weeks ago, I posted photos of quilts that caught my eye at the Knitting and Stitching Show.  In particular a quilt by Margaret Cunnanne got Helen and I chatting thinking it would be a great block to request in a bee.

Quilt by Margaret Cunnane of Galway.

I asked Margaret for a pattern, but she did not have luck finding one to share with us.  I thought, then, that I would go ahead and sort it out for myself.

With the idea that this could be made with charm squares, I decided to base everything on a 2.5 inch (unfinished) square.  To make 1 block at 12.5x12.5 inches unfinished, you will need:

4 (white) squares 2.5x2.5 inches for star centers

32 (white) squares 1.5x1.5 inches for star points

8 (scrappy) rectangles 2.5x4.5 inches as the bridge between star points

16 (scrappy) squares 2.5x2.5 inches

I wanted to use my rainbow charms to make the scrappy four patches you see between each star.  You could just as easily do all of this right from your scrap basket.  It's up to you.  All seams are 0.25 inches.

Cut the 5 inch charm into two halves, each 2.5x5 inches long.  

Sew two 2.5x5 inch blocks together (sewing right sides together) and press the seam to one side.  

Cut this in half, creating a 2.5x4.5 inch rectangle comprised of two scrappy squares.  

If you want coordinated four patches, just flip and re-sew the two halves together as you see in Margaret's quilt above.  I went for scrappy look, so I mixed and matched 2.5x4.5 inch rectangles to make a four patch.

Nest the two seams together (fabrics right sides together) to create a sharp point, pin and sew.  Press the seam to one side.

Create 4 four patches for each block.

To create the star points, draw a diagonal line on the back of each 1.5x1.5 inch square.  

Align this square with one corner of the 2.5x4.5 inch rectangle and sew ON THE LINE.  

Cut the extraneous fabric 0.25 inches from the seam and press. (Darn these winter night time photos - that little corner square is white in real life!)

Repeat this for all 4 corners in all eight 2.5x4.5 scrappy rectangles.  They will be like double sided flying geese blocks.  Flying geese are absolutely not my strong suit, so I would normally square them before going further.  

Layout the pieces as arranged below.  Sew the pieces together in rows, pressing the seams of each row in alternating directions.

Sew the rows together into a block.  Pin all of the nesting seams so that you are sure to have a sharp corner, then press press press.

That's it!  A super easy peasy scrappy star block.  Putting two together gives a better idea of the repeating pattern.

If you decide to use this tutorial to make a block of your own, please let me know if there are difficult-to-understand sections or if the math just does not add up for you.  I'll happily adjust the tute with your contributions.

Happy sewing!

Edited: It's just been pointed out to me there's a similar tutorial here.  Click on over and have a peek for another variation with more coordinated fabrics.  Pretty pretty!

Modern Irish Bee: January Blocks

At least I think this is still called a block?  This month in the Modern Irish Bee, the wonderful Fiona of Patchwork Delights sent to us an equilateral triangle template and a pile of her beautiful scraps.  Using this tutorial, we were to paper piece as many little scrappy triangles as we could!

I can not tell you how much I loved making these triangles!  In the end I did make 8 little triangles to send off to Fi. She's going to need a whole lot more if she's going to make a quilt.  With the whole bee chipping in she's well on her way.  Can't wait to see the finished top, Fiona! 

You guys were hilarious yesterday.  I'm so grateful for your help and suggestions.  Because I'm a science nerd, I graphed out your preferences and suggestions in a totally non-scientific way:

From left to right: pin/red, grass, butterscotch, aqua/teal/jade, essex and bone

What cracks me up is that the jade/aqua/teal suggestion was nearly the overall winner (down by 1 vote) and was not even one of the choices!  For the three choices presented (Grass, Butterscotch and Bone) butterscotch was a clear forerunner, but with you all screaming for blues/greens I did have another look at these FQs next to every Kona blue that is available in the shop.  Right now I'm playing with the idea of Kona   Turquoise, Lagoon or Caribbean.  I'm digging the Turquoise with possibly Butterscotch on the back.  We'll see!

FINALLY!

Did we ever think we would see the day?  Our Community Quilt is finished.  FINISHED!  Well, it was really finished back in Nov, but I couldn't get a semi-dry day to haul it out to the line and photograph it.  **sigh** Here she is in all her glory:

This project began about 18 months ago as a way to commemorate our phenomenal quilting community.  I was struck by how fantastic the quilting community was when I started quilting and blogging.  How great folks were at freely giving suggestions to new quilters, teaching new techniques and supporting one another.  I wanted to make a quilt that honored that spirit.  

I started requesting scrap donations back in spring of 2011 from quilters in blog land.  I wanted a physical way to link each and every one of us, so I decided on a scrappy Irish Chain-type pattern that would allow for each person in the community to donate fabric from projects they were currently working on and I could combine them into one piece.  Get it?  The Irish Chain pattern was used to link (chain?) us all together.  It seemed appropriate that it was an Irish chain as I discovered my love of quilting after my move to Ireland...not (oddly) while I lived in PA only a few miles from the Amish heartland.  Anyway, piles and piles of fabric started to arrive from generous blog readers.

Thank you to all who contributed to this quilt, be it by continually encouraging me on this extended project, by quilting it (Miss Trudi) or by donating fabric.  Thank you all so very much for making this project possible.

Quilt Details

Name - Community Quilt

Made For - Me (selfishly) as a reminder of our wonderful quilting community.

Fabric - All 100% cotton.  The background of the top and back are Kona Snow.  The binding is Kona Papaya. The scrappy bits (about 1,500 of them!) are all quilting cotton donated by our quilting community members.

Thread - Pieced using a cotton cream Aurifil 50 weight.  Quilted with polyester So Fine #402 cream 50/3 wt (Superior) on top and Bottom Line #620 cream 60 wt (Superior).

Batting - Hobbs Heirloom 80/20.

Size - A whopping 96x96 inches.

Quilting - Quilted by Trudi creating a chain in the colored bits and with 4 eternity symbols in each Snow 

Pattern - Based on a Confetti Quilt pattern by Tea Quilts.

History - You can follow the history of the Community Quilt here.

Now, for the scrappy GIVEAWAY.  I have lots and lots of donations remaining.  You see, I used at most 2 little squares from any one print.  There is a good bit left, then.  What to do?  I would like to distribute them back into the quilting community.  Would any of you like a FQ of scraps?  Just leave a comment below saying that you would like grab bag of scraps and I will be in touch to get your mailing address, etc.  The one thing I will ask is that you cover the postage to get the scraps to you.   I will pack up bags in the order that folks leave comments - there should be enough for 10 or 12 of you.  Thanks so much for sharing the scrappy love!

Scrapy Swapsies

I've been fluffing about trying to keep life afloat the past few days.  The chicken was traumatized by the same stinkin' dog on Monday so we were off to the vet, the clothes washer broke on Tuesday, a car broke down Tuesday night, last night unexpected company arrives (and we've no clean sheets! and no washer!) and one fuse in the house keeps blowing.  It's just insanity around here.  Clarkson, the cat, has decided to contribute to the chaos by bringing in live birds and setting them free in the kitchen.  Twice this week.

In all of the insanity, a little parcel dropped through the door.  Scraps!  Perfect timing!  Scraps from a little private swap started in this post.   Want to see what arrived?  They will be great in my Chaos quilt.

and what went out in a second swap?

Now I just have to get to chain piecing these little guys together.  It's so rewarding seeing the scrap pile turn into pieces of fabric I will use in a quilt.  Insane pile of scrappiness to nice, trimmed order.  Makes my heart flutter every time.