Nov
16
Work in Progress Wednesday
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Nothing more than a quick update on Alexis’ quilt. Gads and Gads of 4.5″ HSTs. And still no idea how I’m going to lay them out. Anyone have any suggestions?
Nov
14
Stockings for Kids
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I was going through my (not that big, but still too much to comfortably store in my way over crowded house) stash when I came across the fabric leftovers from when I made the kids’ stockings. (The whole story of the stockings is perhaps a very long story for another time.) I was going to just donate it or throw it out (as some of the fabric was as old as Alexis), but then I came across this post on Faith’s blog. I know, I know, it seems like all of my intel comes from her blog. I think I might be completely clueless in the awesome quilty blog-o-sphere if it weren’t for her.
So anyway, I obviously knew what I needed to do. So here they are. Two stockings for the Stockings for Kids — a very worthy cause that provides (stuffed) stockings to foster kids. Quick to whip up and cute to boot.
The stockings are made from a template I created from Chris’ and my stockings (both store bought) years ago when I first made Alexis’ stocking. Oddly enough, when I went to cut the second stocking out, I realized I must have inadvertently thrown away the paper template that I had saved for over nine years… So I had to recreate my pattern from the first piece I’d cut out.
There are two differences from the stockings I made for my kids and these. The first is that the quilting is just horizontal(-ish) lines instead of a criss cross pattern. I actually like this quilting much better. Or maybe I just like that it is quilted in half the time…. Ok, not really. The only thing I’m not sure about is the tracks across poor Santa’s face. It looks like he’s been run over by a freight train or something.
The second thing is that these are actually lined. I did not line the ones for Alexis and Sean because Chris’ and my stockings are not lined. I really don’t think it was necessary, I’ve never had any trouble with the stocking stuffers catching on the batting, but the lining does add a nice weight to the finished stocking. And I had these two adorable green prints that have been in my stash forever.
The only thing that bothers me a teensy bit, is that the stocking on the right has two different thread colors for the quilting. I didn’t want to use red thread on the front of a very bluish fabric scene. Do you think it’s too obvious?
Nov
11
Batik Tree — Collaged Mini-quilt
Filed Under Quilting, Remembering, Sewing | 2 Comments
Here’s a little quilt that I don’t believe I’ve ever really explained. Oh sure, it showed up in my Celebrate Color intro post, but only in passing. It is also shown on my art page, but only with the tiniest blurb of detail. And so, in honor of amylouwho’s mini-quilt challenge, here is my collaged batik tree mini-quilt.
I made this little quilt way back in 2006. I only know that because I remember I was working on it when I went to Wichita to see a new doctor about my experience after a flu shot. I’m not really sure what inspired me to cut 2 inch squares out of a ga-gillion (yes that’s a number) different batik fabrics, and then arrange them to form a scene, but I remember sitting in front of the TV with a whole array of quilt squares in front of me while I prayed that the dog wouldn’t come up and step all over them.
I also don’t know why I decided to hand piece the whole thing, and with raw edges to boot. Each piece overlaps the adjacent pieces on two sides, so that every square has two raw edges. How edgy. <insert eye rolling and groans of agony here>
The blue border didn’t look quite right to me, and so I inserted (yet more raw edged) strips of black peeking out between the border and the main scene. It’s the only time I’ve ever done that. I wonder why, because I absolutely loved how it came out.
Not only was the whole thing hand-pieced, it was also hand-quilted. With less than a 1/4″ of space between stitches. Yeah. It took a while. But the result was completely worth it. I wish I had a better picture, but if you click on the one above, you can get a better (larger) view of the stitching. I was trying to capture the movement of the wind in the tree and grass, and the heat of the sun’s rays with my quilting.
So is it really a mini-quilt? I guess that would depend on your definition of “mini”. It’s smaller than all of the quilts I’ve made (barring the mug rugs) and is definitely too small to be any kind of covering, so I say it’s a mini. The whole quilt is only about 20″ x 25″. Alas, I can’t measure it as I gave it to my bestest friend for her 30th birthday.
What do you think? Does it fit the your definition of what a mini-quilt is?
Nov
8
do. Good Stitches — November
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This is my first month of do. Good Stitches {a Charity Bee}. I signed up to be a sewer, but Rachel talked me into being a quilter. Our bee group is Dream and is working on quilts for Project Night Night. Project Night Night donates loveys to homeless kids who need a bit of security in their life. As such, they ask for only smallish blankets and quilts (around 30″ x 40″) so I expect many many of our months will produce two baby size quilts.
Our quilter (and host) for the month is Lindsey of LRstitched and she chose to do a squares pattern like this one. She asked for one girl block and one boy block of about 12″ square. Of course, I immediately made the whole thing harder than it needed to be by making a new block pattern with multiple squares. And then, I didn’t have ANY of the color suggestions for either gender. So, darn. I had to go fabric shopping.
I also should note that they are vastly different in size because I figured out after I finished the first one, that the quarter inch marker on my sewing machine is rather about 1/8″ off. Nice huh? So I guess it’s good that Lindsey said they didn’t have to be exactly 12 inches.
I don’t know why, but I’m really nervous about these blocks. I’m not sure about my squares pattern or the colors. I think I stayed in the guidelines, but I don’t know. That’s just me. I worry about everything.
But on the upside, I’m really excited about being part of such a great cause and getting to work with all these awesome ladies. Looking forward to a good year of good stitching!
Nov
7
Ribs and Ruffles
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This is my favorite girly-scarf pattern of all time. With my favorite chunky yarn of all time.
It’s the Misti Alpaca Hand painted Chunky yarn, and the “Ribs and Ruffles” free pattern from their website.
This yarn is so soft and squooshy (and cheaper than a cat!). It also comes in a whole bunch of different colorways. I can’t even tell you how many different skeins I’ve bought and knat into just this pattern for gifts. Maybe my friends are just too polite to tell me otherwise, but it has always been well received.
It’s also a super fast and super simple mindless knit. I can whip one of these up in an evening in front of the TV. It’s one of those great projects for when you feel the need to have something accomplished… now.
This was my last skein from an order a couple of years ago, and I think I am going to keep this one. But I’ve got to go order more yarn to have on hand in case I need an emergency gift… yeah, that’s the reason. yeah.