AQ02: Blue with Pieced Sashing Quilt

Blue Solid Squares with Pieced Sashings

Hand and Machine Stitched

No noticeable tears or stains

72"x90"

Here is the next installment of the mystery quilt bundle. Again, I hesitated posting these as I feel I should know the name of the quilt pattern.

The "Patch Quilt" tag in the corner listed it for $45.00

Can't you just imagine some beautiful design hand quilted in these squares?

The pieced sashing is all hand pieced, but they are
sewn to the solid squares with a sewing machine.

I LOVE scrap quilts.  Can't you imagine this on the bed or the back of a couch?

I don't feel my candid snapshots do the tops justice, but they get progressively more beautiful as we unwrapped the bundle.  I'd love to see this one completed and given to Steve.

Spinning Oxfords

Here it is! The memorial quilt for a friend's Mom. She passed away this last summer, and she loved her Oxford shirts! The entire front, including the sashing (but not the binding), was made from her crisp, starched shirts!

I hope it doesn't appear washed out with the snow behind it, but, up close, it looks like a summer picnic quilt. And it's the perfect drape - the heavy seams just melt into the Quilter's Dream Puff batting.

This is my favorite one yet and will be VERY hard to give away.

Still Plugging Away

Ok, you've heard nothing from me this month. I'm working away on that Memorial Quilt, and I just have a week until deadline! I can't wait to share the pictures - gorgeous! And in this weather, it's oh so tempting to snuggle under it!

I'm bummed that it's the last of a series of Memorial quilts - have completed several over the last 3 years. On the positive, maybe I can actually work on my own projects now. My sisters butterfly quilt is calling me, and Steve wants me to quilt my journal quilt.

I don't know about you, but I'm really loving my house full of quilts in this weird, record-breaking Winter. Today we had thunder snow!

Who Threw Away A Perfectly Good Cat?

Started that new memory quilt today. It's a dream as it's all cotton Oxfords in a wide array of colors. The only problem was my assistant...

Ginger had to get into the act!

Look at these colors! Mixed in with her crisp white Oxfords, this quilt is screaming Churn Dash, don't you think? Maybe those elongated ones?

I'm only a quarter of the way through the bag. The happy part is that I'm catching up on my podcasts, too....as long as Oscar stops lounging across my iPad!

Happy stitching!
Elisa

For the Love of 4-patches

Working on another memorial quilt.....

What is it about a pile of four patches? Such a simple block, but they fascinate me in scrap quilts.

E.

 

 

I Love My Reference Library!

What is the longest aspect of making a memory quilt using a loved one's clothes? Figuring out the best pattern to compliment them. Really. Sometimes I can be stuck for days or weeks. Things I have learned:

1. Separate all clothes that definitely will not work in the quilt (loosely knitted sweaters, fake fur colors, etc)
2. With the remaining clothes, place all clothes in XXL Ziploc bags so you can look at the patterns and colors when you are relaxing until inspiration hits. I leave my bags in my living room so I can see them in passing or can glance over while watching TV.
3. You want to make sure the pattern you select will feature the fabrics - the bigger block pieces the better so the loved ones can recognize the clothes in the quilt. Patterns based on baby patterns or flannel quilts work well.
4. Use your reference library.
5. Use your reference library.
6. Use your reference library.

While drinking tea from the mug your sister gave you, flip through your reference library. This includes quilt catalogs, magazines, quilt books, old calendars, clippings on your bulletin board. The Internet is great but it can be limiting - many sites tend to focus on a certain quilt type (example: sites that focus on Civil War repros, flannels, art nouveau, etc). A paper reference library gives you the gamut.

At least, this is my excuse each time I'm at the periodical checkout.

Happy stitching!

Elisa

p.s. When looking in the magazines, don't forget to look in the ads! Sometimes my best inspiration appears there!

No Sheet! Really?

Sorry, couldn't contain the pun!

After reading my last post, Dreaming commented that she uses twin-size sheets to make duvet covers (brilliant!)

Allie shops in resale shops for vintage sheets and uses them as quilt backs.

As a military wife, I used sheets to make simple garment bags for my then-husband's uniforms and shoe bags for his dress shoes.

I have a friend who uses them to make ironing board covers. Because they were often worn out at this point, she would cut an oblong piece of Teflon fabric and use the sheets to border it/cinch over the board.

What other uses for sheets?

I'm interested in this topic of reusing/recycling because it's everywhere, and I'm making another memory quilt with every type of fabric thrown in.

Things I've learned (in addition to my t-shirt tips) when using clothes are:

• A good stabilizer makes almost any fabric usable.
• Careful of the stabilizer you select - sometimes it makes fabric flexible in one direction and unforgiving in others.
• Bonnie Hunter (who has fabulous books in this topic) was right... If you cut the pieces small enough, every fabric is beautiful!
  
• To take apart a shirt, cut out the neck, the sleeves, the waistband, and the side seams before stabilizing. I was told I hadn't clarified it in my last post.
• Save the sleeves - if you run out of fabric pieces when cutting up the main yardage, you can turn to the sleeves as an emergency stash. You can also save them for "emergency repairs" at a later date.
• I find stains are more noticable after stabilizing so give your fabric another check before cutting.
• My favorite patterns for memory quilts made from clothes are enlarged baby quilt patterns. They are simple enough that you don't have to worry about bulky seams (quilt I'm working on now includes blue jeans) and the pieces of the loved one's clothes are big enough to be recognizable.
• If the clothes (or sheets) have a lingering smell, I found these great skunk-away pouches (look like the powder bags for bowling) at BB&B. I tried enclosing them in a sealed garbage bag with fabric softeners but everything smelled flowery and musty.

What other tips do you have for re-using, repurposing and recycling? How do you use leftover clothes, sheets, towels?

 

I wanna know!

Elisa

 

 

Wanna See Something Funny?

I was cleaning out my garage the other day and found my very first block!

I am self-taught. Can you say "early 90's"?

And the back.... No calico was safe...

Kinda glad this is still a UFO... Can't imagine what I would do with a completed quilt today!

Happy Wednesday!

Elisa

 

Poof Pouch!

I'm home sick today so I thought I'd cheer myself up with a poof pouch!

 

It's a Pink Penguin free tutorial. So simple and quick. I love it! Made it from the scraps of a t-shirt quilt I'm completing.

This one was made with flex frames (ordered on Etsy), but you can make it with Velcro or tape measures. I think I may have to order more!

Have a great weekend!

Elisa

Oh, on a personal note, I found my 500th Geocache today! Woot!

Sometimes It's The Simplest Things....

As simple as..... One layer cake:

Equal 4 sets of charm squares:

I know. Obvious to everyone else. I'm making a butterfly quilt for my sister that requires 4 sets of charm squares. Brilliant me remembered at the last minute that equals a layer cake, which was cheaper (sometimes you can find good sales on them, especially on Etsy).

So, next time you begin one of those charm square projects, consider a layer cake instead.

Cheers!

Elisa

 

 

Need Your Butterfly Opinion!

I'm in a scrappy, happy mood.  

Lisa from A Spoonful of Sugar made this awesome butterfly quilt last year.  I really love it and was hoping she'd post a pattern for it.  No luck so far.  So I decided to make one of my own.  I always have a scrap project on hand for those times when you have only 15 minutes to quilt.

I'm quite proud of it!  My version uses charm squares for the wings - the entire square.  You paper-piece the wings and then cut it in half to make the two units.  So far, I think I've narrowed it down to two patterns, but I want your opinion about the form of the butterfly.  

Don't focus on the fabric - the final version will be made of Kate Spain's Terrain and solid Amish black in the "background".  My sister found this awesome retro print for the centers.  Hmmm... do you think the "body" should be thicker?

Here's the blocks individually.  You will see the angles are slightly different - one showing more blue. 

What do you think?  The top or the bottom one? I kinda want to make sure before I make 338 of these!

The math works out perfectly for the "bodies" as is but it can be tweaked, if needed.

Love to hear from you!
Elisa

New "Scrap" Project

Started a new scrap project tonight and I'm [gasp] cutting into the pre-cuts!

Ever heard of Bonnie Hunter's "leaders and enders"? I'm doing that with jelly rolls and Thangles. I have a roll of Kate Spain's Terrain, a roll of Moda's Bella White and lots & lots of Thangles (from a cancelled quilt shop class).

I'm going to make a giant Trip Around the World scrap quilt over the next year. You know my feelings about 15-minutes-a-day!

Because... you know.... I have so much free time on my hands!

Happy Stitchin'
Elisa

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Mystery About to Begin!

Bonnie Hunter is at it again! She has announced her annual Mystery Quilt on her blog today.

Starting Nov 18th and running for approximately 8 weeks, she will post a new step every Sunday. Today’s post included fabric selection.

Now, if you haven’t seen her stuff, she does AMAZING scrap quilts – great way to use up those little pieces. Her theory is (to paraphrase) “if you think your fabric is too ugly, you haven’t cut it small enough!” She is also the brain behind “leaders and enders” (thanks to her, now I have about 3 scrap quilts “in the works” at all times!)

Even if you don’t have time to participate now, make sure you stop by each week and save the steps. She’s taking it down in May to appear in her next book. I was lucky enough to save all her previous ones including the gorgeous Roll Roll Cotton Boll (which will appear in her newest book released 2012).

Also, stop by her free tips and tutorials tabs – she gives away a ton of free pattern for some fabulous scrappy quilts. I follow her blog and her Facebook adventures – she’s a hoot!

Happy Stitchin’

Elisa

Humble Quilt

Let me introduce you to... my humble quilt.

This pattern, comprised of 2" paper-pieced house blocks, was from Miniature Quilts a few years ago. It's perfect! Except for the puckered borders, the outside-the-lines machine quilting, the mismatched points, the whacked binding, the skewed fence, the cut-off branches...

Where is it? Bottom of the cedar chest? Nope. Hanging in my office at work. Anytime I get a little cocky, I look up at it, shake my head, and get back to work.

Have you ever made a mistake (or a plethora of them) and left it in?

Still working on my TIS stitchy.

Happy stitching!
Elisa

If you haven't seen it, visit http://www.welovefrenchknots.com/2011/08/guest-stitcher-hudsons-holidays.html for an awesome free Halloween embroidery pattern!