Slowly Spinning

Yes, I am still here....plugging away at these paper pieced blocks.

After making the first block, something was bugging me (and it was not just the fact that I had made every mistake possible before finally getting it right). It had turned out just like I had planned, but to me, it appeared to spinning backward. Weird? I don't know, but I knew I had to make a change.

So before I moved on, I flipped my pattern so it was be the reverse, and the the blocks would spin clockwise. That's better. :)

I'm happy to say the second block did not require the use of a seam ripper {happy day!} and turned in the right direction (at least, in my opinion). But it was still slow. I've since gained a rhythm and can work on several pieces at once, kind of like chain piecing, and it's much more efficient. But still, one block takes about an hour and a half to make from start to finish. Now I know, you have to love the process to take on a paper pieced project!

I'm just relieved this will be a wall hanging and not a bed quilt. :)

Hopefully soon I'll have a complete quilt top to share!

Spectrum Quilts

Last spring (yes, over a year ago!) I was lucky enough to participate in Bianca's (Sweet Diesel Designs) rainbow charm swap. Perfect opportunity for someone like me - relatively new to the sewing scene - to get a wide range of fabrics quickly and inexpensively. Well, it has taken a long to decide on a project! So many possibilities for one set of charms.

Here are a few of my favorites....

Spectrum Half Square Triangle Quilt

Circle of Geese - Colorwheel block - link to paper pieced pattern

Starflower Block Quilt - with tutorial - Ellison Lane

Jeni's Color Wheel Mini Quilt - based on Purl Bee's free pattern

And a few more that you'll have to go see:
Modern Drunkard's Path
Color Wheel Wall Hanging

See? How could I decide on just one project? So many cool options.
I knew I just had to dive in.

I landed here, combining several features of my favorites:

This block should eventually become something like this...

I was inspired by the "Wheel of Fortune"block in 5,500 Quilt Blocks Designs. (I love this book!) If you google this, you will find about a million variations and a few free patterns. But I wanted something very specific, requiring a few adjustments - like touching outer rings, just the right proportions, and it had to be sized for good use of charm squares, so I set out to make my own pattern.

I knew this block's detail would require paper piecing. 

Paper piecing? Yeah, I had heard of it and wanted to give it a try. But designing your own pattern for a first try? (And in Photoshop?) Probably not a great idea. A bit ambitious. It was a lot of trial and even more error. But eventually, I was able to produce what was in my mind.

charms sorted - and encroaching on someone's space :)

Now with all that time invested and charms sorted and ready to go, I am committed!

I just hope I can pick up speed! :)

 -  Click here to see the "Over the Rainbow Charm Swap" flickr group - some really neat projects there. (And it didn't take these ladies a year to cut into their charms! Amazing.)

Isosceles Baby Quilt

I have seen many simple triangle quilts floating around the online crafting community the last little while, and I thought it seemed like a great way to use up a few pieces in my stash that have been sitting for a long time.

I picked up this retro-ish floral swirl a few years ago for $1 a fat quarter. (I think it is part of the Park Slope line by Erin McMorris). And I've wondered what to do with it since. Sometimes I snag a deal and then feel stumped...

As the busy summer went on and I really didn't get much time to craft, I decided just to jump in with something easy, and not think about it too much. I needed a project!

I picked up this isosceles triangle template at Joann's on sale (Tri Tool), just after I had drafted a paper template to use. Perfect! This was easier to use and inexpensive - and could be used for different size triangles. And because this quilt was quick and easy, I think this will be a good tool to have. (If you'd like to use my paper template, there is a link below.)

I cut my fabrics into strips 6 1/2" wide, - the same height as my unfinished triangles. I then used the template, aligning the bottom and top edges, to quickly cut the sides of each triangle. I started cutting at the folded edge of each strip (cutting a half triangle) and then when I reached the selvage ends, I went ahead and cut a partial triangle with whatever was left. I used these pieces on the ends of each row. 

Each quarter yard yields about 11 full triangles and 2 partial triangles.

I pieced the triangles together, offsetting the pieces so that the 1/4" seam intersects the edges, and when the pieces are pressed open, the top and bottom of the row will be flush. (After doing this once or twice, it becomes easy to eyeball).

I pieced 13 triangles together (plus partial triangles at each end) to make a row, and then I sewed together 9 rows. After I had all the rows sewn together, I trimmed the right and left edges straight.

I practiced quilting in 'Loops and Double Loops' on this one. I'm happy to say I'm improving! This time my loops are a bit more even in size and spacing than the last.

This quilt measures 42" x  54".

If you'd like to make your own, you will need:

6 - 1/4 yard prints 

1 1/4 yard solid 

1/2 yard binding (or make a scrappy binding using your prints. You will just enough left over to cut one strip 2 1/2" by the width of fabric from each print - perfect for binding.)

1 2/3 yard backing (this quilt top will be a full 42" wide, so make sure your backing fabric is at least this wide as well)

* Click here for the printable isosceles triangle template.

Anyway, there's the first finish of the school year! It's only been a few days, but I think we're finding a routine. That should mean I get more work done, and have more time for sewing!

Summer: A little of This and That

The many activities of summer have left me little time for crafting, and even less for blogging.  Looking back on the last couple of weeks/months, we haven't done anything amazing really - no big trips or major events, but lots of little things. But it's the little things that count, right? Hopefully we've done enough to make some good memories this summer. :)

So, to update the blog for today, I'll share a little of what I managed to squeeze in between swimming lessons, bike rides, reading time at the the library, making popsicles, and all that summer stuff......(More details later. When school is in session. And we're settled into a routine.)

Bought a new acrylic cutting template - an isosceles triangle. I had a stack of triangles in no time, using a couple of prints that had been sitting in my closet forever. 

Made quick work - a fast a fun baby quilt!

Another opportunity to practice free motion loops and double loops. Not perfect, but I'm improving!

Did a little "old lady quilting", as my husband says. I put together a couple of traditional blocks for a collaborative project headed for auction at the Festival of Trees. Christmas in July!

Tried my hand at paper piecing. S L O W going for me. But eventually, this will be a neat project.

We have a new nephew on the way! Very excited for this baby quilt. I've been hanging on to these little bicycles forever. I love them! (Sarah Jane for Michael Miller - On the Go in navy). I'll be using Riley Blake's Cotton Dots and Cotton Stripes too.

So there you have it, a random sampling of summer sewing. Looking forward to the next little while - getting back into a groove around here! 

Hopscotch Top

Remember how I mentioned my occasional craving to sew for little girls? Well, it came back. :)
This time I decided to give the Hopscotch Top  a try. You can find it in the Peek-A-Boo pattern shop; lots of cute patterns!

I picked this pattern because it seemed so versatile. It can be made in three different lengths: top, tunic, and dress. I love that the bodice is lined (there are no exposed seams anywhere) and no bias tape is used. Hooray!

I'm a novice when it comes to sewing clothes. I've only made a handful of items, and some turned out better than others. This was definitely the best yet; everything went surprisingly smoothly - no problems! Great pattern! Clear instructions, good photos.

I opted to make the top using quilting weight cotton and chose a tiny red on white floral print from Riley Blake.

When it comes to sewing clothes, PDF patterns are definitely the way to go! To see what a bunch of talented people come up with, as well as keep up on new pattern releases and sales, you can join this Facebook group: PDF Pattern Sales and Promotions.

Sewing for Little Girls

Well, the craving returned. I needed to sew something for a little girl, and this time I decided to make a top for my niece due to start Kindergarten this fall.

Gather Love Baby Quilt: Tips

Well, my Gather Love quilt made it to it's new home just before baby girl arrived! So now I have no excuse to update the blog. :)

See the original Gather Love quilt here. So cute, isn't it? I love it! When I saw this, I knew I had to make one! Go here for the Gather Love Quilt tutorial.

Overall, I'm content with this project. It's not perfect, but it's still a sweet little quilt. Here are a few things I learned...

First, I thought ten 1/4 yard cuts seemed like a bit much for this size of quilt. I did a little math, and found that I could cut all the needed pieces out of seven 1/4 yards. No problem. So save a bit of fabric, if you like. (Cut carefully, and one 1/4 yard yields enough pieces for three blocks).  Though ten different cuts of fabric would give you more variety in the quilt.

Also, I adjusted the size of the sashing and borders to give the blocks a little more breathing room and make the quilt just a bit bigger. I like a baby quilt to be as big as the backing fabric will allow so it can be used a little longer as the baby grows. (I cut my background fabric into 2.5" strips, so the sashing and borders finished at 2" wide. I was still able to do this using 1 yard of background fabric.) A minor adjustment for my liking. My quilt finished at about 40" x 49.5".

As for block construction, I found that even when I cut precisely, gathered carefully, and pressed the heck out of these blocks (even using starch) I could not get a stable square.
So I basted each ruffle center to an unseen background piece that would give it stability. It took a bit more time and more fabric, but I could be sure that each finished block would be square. To do this, I used 20 4" squares of light colored scrap fabric. After I gathered the ruffled center, I basted around all four edges and was good to go.

Here's the quilt top, ready to baste.

And a few of my favorite blocks.

My straight line quilting was a source of disappointment. I tried to baste carefully (not stretching the fabric, pinning every few inches) but it still seemed like the fabric was shifting slightly. I didn't have any tucks or creases, but there were some bulges that tell me the fabric wasn't distributed evenly. Maybe my walking foot needs maintenance?  I quilted a ton of intersecting straight lines on my Love Mosaic quilt without any problems, so I don't know what the problem was.

This quilt is backed in Sweetest Bird in Blue by Riley Blake. The other prints are a mix of Riley Blake, Denyse Schmidt, and a bunch of Bonnie & Camille. Of course, sashed in Kona Bone.

I did not add in the optional trim in the binding, but it would have been really cute! I love that detail in the original quilt.
The ruffled centers and fabric choices make this quilt. It's a fun one; great tutorial!