ARE YOU BLUE WHEN YOU QUILT?

I'm not Blue today, but I will be blue for months.

Especially while working on this quilt.

Six years ago I started a quilt by hand.  A dear friend, I met on the internet, from Australia was visiting.  This was to begin my interest in hand piecing.  She taught me the fundamentals of hand piecing and explained how she could hand piece faster than people machine piece.  She could!  She was amazing.  All her quilts were handmade from start to finish.  I watched her hand piece and decided I would have to take up the practice.  After she left I looked for appropriate patterns to start a hand piece carry-a-long project. 

The following is the story of that quilt.  I wrote two blogs on it.   It is still a top (I haven't decided how to quilt it). I thought I will have to make another so each grand child will have one.  Hence the blue one above.  Both quilts are made from my stash.

TREASURED TIME NOT TIME LOST

I finally put a hand project I have been working on for the better part of 6 years, up on the wall.  I only work on this when I am waiting.  Waiting endlessly for planes or doctors or any place else you have to hurry to just to find out you have to wait.  I have recently started taking my project bag with me when I ride along in the car.  Every where we go takes at least 30 minutes to get there and when I am not driving I am "Waiting".  I've been wanting to speed this project up and to piece while I ride along fit the bill.  I really get a lot done in that time.

The pattern for this quilt, I think I got from one of the Nickle Quilts books. 

It requires 4.5" colored squares, 2.5" X 4.5" colored rectangles,

1.5 inch white squares, and 2.5 inch white squares.

One of those sleepless nights I needed something quiet to do and reading didn't fit the bill.  I decided to cut out a quilt.  This pattern had been in the back of my mind for several years.  I wanted a star quilt and didn't want to piece one that had all the points meeting in the center.  This is why I picked this pattern.  This was supposed to be a relaxing endeavor.  Searching through the stash I found a white on white with a minuscule flower pattern on it.  It looked like I had an adequate amount of fabric to complete the cutting (I squeaked through and over the years I have lost pieces and mis-cut when piecing,  Now I will be hunting in the stash for a white which is close in pattern and value to replace the shortage.).

When I finished cutting all the white pieces and sat down to read the instructions (remember read the instructions all the way through first!) I realized all the 1 1/2 inch squares were to be attached and then trimmed to make the star points.  I also realized how small these 1000 plus squares were, and thought,  "There is no way I want to sew all these by machine, who am I kidding!"  I put the project in a bag with a copy of the pattern (the pattern has since been lost).  That was approximately 10 years ago.  

 I remembered the fabric pieces I had put away so many years ago. I had been in a 5 inch charm square swap for three years.  Another influence was I was privileged to hear Pat Spath speak and take an afternoon work shop with her. 

I decided the charm squares would be great to use for this.  But I wanted some continuity to this quilt.  I am a bit of a control freak.  When I do a "pull the strip out of the bag and use it in a scrap quilt challenge", If I come across one that to me doesn't go with the one I pull out of the light bag, I throw one or the other back and draw till I get something that I like.  You can see by the above photo I even had to have the 4 squares in each of the blocks be coordinated. 

To "coordinate" things I decided all the sashing rectangles should be blue or read as blue.  What made me finally hang the quilt blocks and pieces on the wall I needed to find out how many more blues I needed to finish the project (I was running out of rectangles).  I am trying not to repeat any of the blue rectangles either.  I don't think I have more than 10 blues left in the stash.  With the blocks hung up it looks like I will need somewhere over 70 blues.  At least now I will be able to re-look at the blues in the quilt to see which ones in the stash I haven't used yet.

I am thinking I am going to add another four block row to each row.  I am not happy with the long skinny look of the quilt.  If that is the case I will be needing I'll be needing possibly another 80 blues..unless I have mis-counted, which is entirely possible.  Any one who knows me personally knows I am mathematically challenged, especially if it requires figuring with a gizmo.

One of the major things I have learned while working on this is; I should have never used a printed white on white.  The dyes make the printed areas stiff and are very difficult to run a needle through and you can't do a running stitch of several stitches on the needle.  It is too, too stiff.  Next time I will pick a background fabric with a looser weave. 

Each block of four blocks,  represents more than an hour of time.  Hanging on the wall I can see time which would have been lost.  Writing this last sentence has had a side benefit; I have found the name of my quilt.

"TREASURED TIME"

Not only is it moments which would have been lost forever,

but I was thinking of a friend who I treasured the time I shared with her and treasure her.  

The minutes spent with fabric in my hands,

Thinking of friends I have in many lands, 

Not counting stitches, not counting the time,

The memories I see, they are all mine.

Each of them, joined as if they were a seam,

Blending the real world and the one in my dreams,

A crazy quilt made of many thoughts,

Of happiness and sadness, life has brought.

These quilts warm me in my mind,

They are there when I need them, any time,

I make another, there's no need to measure, 

They are great for storing a memory I treasure,

TREASURED TIME, TIME REMEMBERED

I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to show you this quilt.  It is still a top.  I completed the top last night while we were watching the specials about 9/11.  The hours spent on it I did not keep track of, which made me decide I am going to keep a diary with the one I began last night.  Yes I began another one, but before I reveal the other one I will show you this one.  The pictures aren't great but I couldn't wait (I will replace them with better ones when the camera battery is charged.)

The quilt top grew to be very large.  I was unable to hang it on the wall because it was so heavy and being hand pieced I was worried  the weight would pull out the stitches.

Here is "Treasured Time"

The top spread over a queen size bed.

  

The right side of the bed.  The border is Jenny Beyer Eyelash (Navy) from her "Moonglow" pattern about 10 years ago (I used all but a couple of inches X 6 inches).  It is 4 inches when finished.  The squares are 4 inches finished.  The drop on the side is about 24 inches.

The left side of the bed.  You can't see it in the photos the navy border is on all 4 sides. 

I haven't decided how I will quilt it yet.  I was wanting to hand quilt it, but when I realized how large it had grown I am contemplating machine quilting it.  I don't have a long arm but I do have a short arm, but I am not sold on the idea of pantographs on it.  I do know I will not be using my home machine to quilt it!

You can use your stash even when you are waiting anywhere.

Your hands happily making a quilt to be treasured in time.

LESSONS FROM GIFTS

14" X 37"

 For the beginnings of this project see:

http://stashraiders.blogspot.com/2011/09/for-wedding.html

This project was an eye opener (lesson) for me.  I've never embroidered a table runner before and when it came time to add borders, I added and ripped 3 versions.  I should have taken pictures to show you, but at the time I was upset my ideas didn't work (on paper they looked good but when applied they looked tacky).  It was the same when I planned the embroidery.  I had planned four design sections (see the blog "Wedding Gift Season"), and was glad I completed one section on each corner first.  The extra sections would have made it too cluttered.  I didn't want to compete with the platters or the vase she might be using on it.

I have only Quilted on my regular sewing machine once and never quilted by hand.  I did both here.

These pictures are of the two embroidered units on the quilt:

 

                          LEFT UNIT                 RIGHT UNIT

I don't know if you can see it but I tried my hand at hand quilting.  I outlined the two units.  I started with a hoop and two thimbles.  I used the plastic ones that are fitted to the fingers.  I used one on the under finger and one on the right middle finger.  I moved them around to other fingers during the experimental stage.  I was very interested in learning to do this because I want to hand quilt a huge quilt I have named "Treasured Time".   I have attached all but one border which is pinned on awaiting me to sew it on.  It is king size.  I have been working on it for 10 years.  It is a king size quilt entirely pieced by hand.  Pics will be available as soon as the border is attached.  I don't know if I will be up to the task of hand quilting it but I know it is too fragile to put on the quilt machine.  I know from doing this little bit I need a teacher or a good book.   Another lesson I learned from the small project is I will have to have this huge quilt on rails.  It is too much to handle in my lap. 

I had to discard the hoop when I was half way through one of the units.  It was very uncomfortable for me to use.  and then I discarded the right hand thimble.  I was more comfortable using my finger nails to push and control the needle.  I did give it the "ole college try".  but I do need help. 

The rest of the runner I marked with the blue pencil and quilted on the machine.  I didn't mention I thread basted the runner every four inches both ways.  I wish I had done it every two inches.  It seemed there was too much play in the fabrics and batting.  I used the even feed quilting foot which came with my Janome machine.  I had tried  to use the quilting bar once and was very disappointed in my consistency with it.  I knew if I measured and marked it would be even.

I was very glad I had not pre-washed the fabric before I embroidered on it.  I didn't pre-wash the backing or the batting either (the backing is the same fabric as the front).   I used Hobbs 20/80.  They did shrink up giving the runner an old item, with a soft feel and look.

On the back I didn't put a lable.  I just embroidered my name into the backing.  I did not want to personalize the runner till I find out if they like it and want to keep it.  If they do then I will take it home and put their names and date on it.

Every gift needs a card to accompany it.   I used the embroidery pattern to design the card.  It is printed on card stock and colored in with colored pencils.  The size is 6 X 9 inches.

For the inside I printed a piece of onion skin with design and line drew the colors.  Inside I wrote care instructions with the fabric contents of the runner.

Thank you for visiting.  I love sharing my projects.  All writings, patterns, and pictures shown here are mine.  Please ask permission before using.  (Credit is given for items not my own)

FOR A WEDDING

WEDDING GIFT SEASON

I don't know if there is a season for wedding gifts, around my house they are in season all the time.  I suppose it comes with the territory.  That territory being a large family.  I am the oldest of 6 siblings; 4 girls and 2 boys.  My youngest sister has had one wedding recently. 

Then we found out there is to be another wedding, the last of October.  I drove to Denver last week to deliver a quilt for them, just in case I couldn't go in October.  The following is about that quilt:

http://stashraiders.blogspot.com/2011/08/snowbound.html

My husband's family has surprised us with a Wedding in Vegas.  The couple, has their registries.  I don't know the wife well. I went to the registries to find her colors.  I had thought I would make her a set of place mats and napkins for her kitchen.  I saw something I knew would be one of a kind and she wouldn't be able to buy it anywhere.  She had chosen  the Lenox Botanical Boutique collection.  There is a platter in the group (the following is a pix of it)

This picture came from http://www.tableandhome.com/prodbbgefh site.

I copied the picture, enlarged it until it was approximately the size of the actual platter (I had to go to 350%).  Then I traced it onto white paper.  I had decided to make a table runner which could be used under the vases and platters.  The following is the plan, but I still had to decide how to execute it.

I had thought I would probably applique.
 My applique skills are on the good side (I don't do iron on applique).  But as I looked at the pattern on the paper I thought , "This has to be done by September 11th."  No Way, popped into my head. 
I re-looked at the googled images and noticed they seemed to have variegated colors.
I am hoping this is not a camera reflection.

I decided to execute the designs in embroidery.  My Needlework skills are so-so, but I figured I could do acceptable on at least one stitch.  I tried a back stitch and it looked terrible.  I pulled out the stitches and tried a split stitch.  It looked worse.  Then I tried a stem stitch.  It looked nice.  While I've been doing it I have developed a rhythm which may not be the correct stitch but it is working for me.

Pencil used in tracing the pattern onto the fabric.

 I used a blue quilt marking pencil to draw the pattern on the fabric. 
The fabric is white on white that has an extremely small design on it. 
It gives it the look it is frosted (the glass on the items is frosted crystal). 

I am tracing one section at a time.  I have finished a section and I am working on the second section. 
I started on opposite corners.  I don't know if I want use all four sections I have planned.

Hooped section I am working on.

Finished section unpressed, because I don't want to press in any dirt that might be on it.

As you can see I have chosen 6 skeins.  Each one with an "olive" edge to it.  These are DMC floss.  They are current.  I just purchased them on the 29th.

I can't tell you what size needle I am using.  I pulled it out of the pin cushion and used it.  I picked it because it has an eye, just big enough to get two strands of thread through with a needle threader and it had a great point.

I have not planned borders or any other finishing.  I do have a batik downstairs with the correct colors.  Right now I think I will only do the two patterns on opposite corners.  I don't want it to be too busy to set the items on (when I finish the second pattern I will make a decision if it needs more designs).

The fabric was from my stash as will be the borders and binding, but alas, I did not have any of the correct color of thread so I had to relent and buy.  This was not my first transgression.  While in Denver (I was working on my hand pieced king size quilt.  this project is over 10 years old)  I went to the LQS and purchased a yard of navy Batik.  I had no more of the Jenny Beyer "eye lash" navy RJR fabric which I used to border the quilt.  That fabric was purchased over 10 years ago in Denver at their annual shop hop.  It was the year Jenny produced her "Moon Glow quilt".

When I came home with the fabric and the quilt I discovered the blue in Natural light was not what I want.  I will search my stash but I am fairly positive there won't be anything there.  My stash is not blue heavy.

Thank you for visiting. 

 I love sharing my projects.  All writings, patterns, and pictures are mine.  Please ask permision before using.  (Credit is given for items not my own)

SNOWBOUND

I am sorry I  haven't worked on the tutorial for the "Sweet Sixteen" Quilt yet.  Why?  I have had to rush to get a quilt together for another wedding.  It seems the stars and  planets were aligned, I had available just what I needed.   I participated in a block swap with 3 special friends.  Friends I met through the Internet.  One of them saw this pattern in a magazine (can't remember which one).  She wanted to do it.  We were visiting her in her home in Chicago.  It was the week of the first international Quilt show held in Rosemont.  We decided to help her out and make three different fabric blocks each (making 4 of each fabric) and then swap them out.  She had a bolt of white on cream which was divided between the 4 of us.  This would give some cohesiveness to our project. 

We worked on our blocks and swapped them out quickly, but mine sat waiting for me.  When the invitation to the wedding came I immediately thought of them.  The invitation had deep purple roses on it.  The couple lives in the Denver Area.  I thought about the snowflakes waiting. 

The stash held a purple that looked nice with them for borders.  There was just enough for binding (the only left over I had was 2 four inch pieces of binding). 

My Stash has been raided and my UFO pile is one less.  This is the quilt.

SNOWBOUND 78" X 53"

It has been so long since we made the blocks I can't tell you who designed the quilt or what magazine it was in.  I will tell you, the little blocks are only 1 1/2 inches unfinished.  Lots of ity bitty sewing went on!

Don't forget to raid your Stash. It is money saved, waiting to see how much interest it can earn!

Stash Raiding since January 1, 2010.

WITH TWO BITS YOU GET:

With two bits of fabric you can start a quilt.  Add two more, etc and etc, and you can end up with this:

I call this Quilt Pattern "Sweet Sixteen Gets Kissed". 

This is is my own pattern.  I made it from the trash I would have normally thrown away.  For years I have been cutting the tiny trash into squares and throwing them into a bag.  I had no idea what I was going to do with them.

I decided I needed to use the bag of 2" squares I accumulated. I have the need to control the outcome of my projects so sorted the squares (next batch I will sort as I go..lol).  I am not one who can just grab in a bag of of darks and a bag of lights and sew.  I would obsess when I pulled out a dark that it did not match with the light I pulled out.  The sorting began. I made a light bag and a dark bag of each color family. 

The squares were joined into four patch segments and the four patches were joined into a 16 patch block.  Then I constructed blocks the same size as the finished 16 patch block with a square in each corner which kisses the corner of the sixteen patch blocks.

Hence the name "Sweet Sixteen Gets Kissed".

The construction of these blocks is fairly elementary but I have a couple of techniques which made the top lay nicer.  I believe it will help with the quilting of the top. 

86" X 69"

Border sashing 6 1/2 inches unfinished. 

Construction techniques with pictures will follow in a blog titled:

"Sweet Sixteen Gets Kissed"

All pictures and Patterns presented here are mine. 

Don't forget to raid your Stash. It is money saved, waiting to see how much interest it can earn!

Stash Raiding since January 1, 2010.

FUN WITH SCRAPS

We have scraps and can't bear to throw them out. We inherit fabric,  we acquire fabric, we use it and have left over pieces which don't go with anything.  We put them aside hoping to find a use for them. 

An Internet group I belong to had a challenge.  A challenge which was to be fun, not demanding and would help get rid of some scraps (pattern free, impulse driven).

It was called "Iron Quilter Challenge". 

The items I chose to use for my Iron Quilter Project.

The rules were:

Pick a focus fabric and 4-6 supporting fabrics (or scraps).

Any embellishments you want

A fabric that was not quilting cotton

Backing fabric

Batting

Set aside 2 hours of time.  Pick out your fabrics (don't use part of your 2 hours to pick fabrics and embellishments) and make a mini quilt 9x12 inches.  Use the six supporting fabrics, inserting them into the focus fabric creating another piece of fabric.   Finish in the two hours time (this is including the quilting). This was the general idea. 

When I heard the challenge size I immediately thought of a sheet of paper and decided I would make a note book cover.  This changed to a note book pouch.  I don't have any finished pictures of the project because I gave it to my niece to carry her crayons and paper to the hospital with her for her Chemo/Radiation treatments before I realized I didn't have finished pictures.

This is my creation from scraps.  I had a fat-quarter Laurel Burch fabric which I knew I would never use.  It would just be sitting in the stash.  With the cat theme I used the fake fur for the zipper opening of the pencil hold pocket.  The pocket was lined with bright orange dotted fabric.  I made a ball of yarn for a zipper pull.  I inserted the fabrics so the cats looked like they were peeking out from where they were hiding in a lumber pile.  The front was batted and backed with orange dot.  I quilted it in the ditch.

For the back I made a zipper in the middle so she could slip a note book inside.  

I joined the zipper back to the front and used a binding I had left over from another quilt.

It was a fun exercise.  It was freeing not to have a preconceived pattern.  Now months later I used the idea to contrive a folder cover for myself.  This is a little larger.  I received a fat quarter from a friend in my favorite colors.  But as with all fat quarters there wasn't enough fabric to make a quilt or to use for an accent fabric in a quilt.  What was I to do with it (it was too busy to use for applique)?  Looking at it, I thought back to the Iron Quilter challenge.  I thought I will make something for my self.  I recently bought myself a large plastic file folder to use for filing instructions for current projects.  I am always needing things like reading glasses, rulers, pencils ETC.  I thought I will make a "cover bag" for it.  I set about measuring it, I knew I wanted to make a bag with a box bottom to accommodate the file case when it was loaded with goodies. 

I proceeded to grow my fabric so I would have enough fabric for both sides.  If I didn't, I knew I would have something in the stash to go with it.  The finished file folder cover is 15"x12"x1 1/2".

The folder cover front.

The folder slides into the top of the cover.

The colors are very purple, orange and a limey army green.

I put a zipper in the bottom row.  I put glasses and things like that in there.

Cover Back

The zipper opening on the left is a pocket the length of the cover.  I use it for rulers.

This will not be my last experience in "fabric insertion". This  has encouraged me to tame other fabrics to do my bidding.  I am curious as to what other objects d'art I can produce.  Hmm, maybe kitchen accessories for small appliances, or use the technique to make a fanciful set of place mats.  Each one different but all matching.  I am only limited by my imagination.

Take time and have fun, create something wonderful and utilitarian from your scraps

All pictures and writings are my own. 

Please ask permission before copying from my blogs.

Don't forget to raid your Stash. It is money saved, waiting to see how much interest it can earn!

Stash Raiding since January 1, 2010.

ARE YOU A FABRIC HOADER?

I have to admit I am one.  I am a fabriholic.  I could never work in a fabric shop.  I would return home without a single pay check.  Worse yet I would delve into my husband's pockets. 

I am one of the worst offenders.  I love any kind of fabric,  anything associated with fabric.  My biggest problem is I have more than I can ever use.  Last year I decided not to buy fabric until I didn't have any in the color I needed.  I vowed to not buy fabric for anything, not even the making of costumes.  You see, I have a vast collection of fancy dresses I bought at garage sales so I would have the fabric to make costumes for the grands.

There will be tutorials for the projects I make raiding my stash.  I hope it will aid you in using your stash.  I wish I had done a step by step on the table sets pictured but alas I didn't.  I will be making each of the items again and demonstrating the process (they use a substantial amount of fabric).

Looking forward to Posting. 

I have been busting stash since January 1, 2010.