BOM in Cotton + Steel

The other day at dinner, my 10-year-old said something about me "probably wanting to go to the Local Quilt Shop."  It totally cracked me up.  I let him know that if he'd like to sound really "in", he could call it the LQS.  :)  

Speaking of my LQS, this is the finished quilt from last year's Block of the Month club.  I've mentioned before that I've done this BOM club for several years now.  I've done:

1.  2012 Japanese Sampler
2.  2013 Cowboy Sampler
3.  2014 Solid Sampler
4.  2015 Neutrals Sampler
5.  2016 Red and White Sampler
6.  2017 Cotton and Steel Sampler (This one!)
7.  2018 Green Sampler 6 Inch Blocks (Started this one in September.)

 

This year we were given the choice to do our blocks in Cotton+Steel, a red/yellow sewing line, or civil war prints.  I chose Cotton+Steel because I really like some of the prints.  But as I discovered, I really don't like some of the prints too.  (The shop gives us a packet with the fabrics for each month's blocks.  You don't know what you're getting until you get it.) 

 

So as a result, I like the quilt okay, but don't love it.  Several of the prints have motifs that weren't really "my style" -- things like ladies gloves, purses, and animals.  But from a distance, it does look bright and fun.  I wasn't enthused enough to spend a lot of time quilting it, though.  So I quilted some really simple waves.  Then bound it with some striped navy.  The backing is a unique color -- kind of a pepto pinkish-purplish -- it matched perfectly well with some of those cotton and steel colors too.  Then I found a flowery print to go down the middle of the quilt.

 

I will be donating this quilt to charity and hope that someone out there loves it! 

Ha.  I just rushed to get this done before the Finish-A-Long deadline, only to just discover that it wasn't even on my list.  Oops.  I think I intended to put it on there, but must have spaced it.   

Unfortunately, this quilt is not my Finish-a-Long list for Quarter 4, 2017.

So I am not linking up to the Finish-A-Long party at She Can Quilt.  ;)

Two Boy Quilts for Charity

I made these 2 boy quilts for charity.  I'm on a mission to provide more quilts for the boys out there!   These were donated to Shriner's Hospital.

This first one is a pattern from the book "Quilt-As-You-Go Made Modern" by Jera Brandvig.   This is the second quilt I've made from the book.  It is a good QAYG book -- has a variety of layouts and clear instructions.  One drawback to this method was that it is difficult to chain piece QAYG blocks. I felt like I was wasting a lot of thread -- after each little stitch I'd have to pull out the block, snip the thread, and start again. 

In this method, you sew the fabric right onto the batting.  Then, you sew the blocks together.  Then you add the backing -- because all the blocks are individually quilted, you just have to sew a simple grid through the quilt to attach the backing.  

 

This next quilt is out of the same fabric.  (I bought all this fabric for 75% off!)  This is from a pattern I made once before -- I really like the first quilt better.  I guess it's because there is more contrast between the background fabrics and the squares.

 

 

The second quilt is on my Finish-a-Long list for Quarter 4, 2017.

I am linking up to the Finish-A-Long party at She Can Quilt.

Holly's Tree Farm Quilt

This quilt is made from 2 charm packs of "Holly's Tree Farm" fabric.  I chose this pattern after seeing Amy Smart's Quick Cornerstone Quilt - I didn't actually construct the quilt the same way she did, though.  When I first saw the quilt online the tutorial wasn't up, so I just estimated the size of those little "cornerstones" and started sewing.  Amy's tutorial method may have been quicker.  :)

Growing up we didn't actually go to a tree farm for our Christmas trees.  We went "tree hunting" in the mountains.  In fact, my dad and brothers continue this tradition.  The day after Thanksgiving they head into the frigid Idaho mountains and find some wonderful smelling, usually too-large trees.  (They look so much smaller when they're in the forest!)  As for me -- well my little family has a simple, easy, and very artificial tree.  But the tree-hauling trucks and cars on this fabric still make me smile.

I quilted this sparingly because I want it to be nice and soft.  The center of the quilt is quilted in a grid, and the border has big loops.  The backing is a large polka dot that I got on clearance somewhere.  I thought for a minute about trying to line up the dots when I sewed the two backing pieces together.  But I only thought for a minute....and decided that was a lot of work.  :)

This is on my Finish-a-Long list for Quarter 4, 2017.

I am linking up to the Finish-A-Long party at She Can Quilt.

Drawstring Bags

I went on a little drawstring bag kick.  The tutorial is from Sotak Handmade.  I have made other drawstring bags, but I think this is my favorite.  I like the method of making the casing separate from the bag.  I plan on giving these as gifts -- to whom, I don't know, but I'm sure I'll find someone!

Falling Maples Quilt

I am pretty happy about this quilt.  It started with the idea of making a maple leaf quilt for my sister-in-law who lives in West Virginia.  We went there years ago to visit.  It was Fall and the leaves were spectacular.  I had this Fat Quarter bundle of pretty traditional looking fabrics.  Then, Swim, Bike Quilt announced a quilt along for their "Spiced Chi"pattern in the book "Vintage Quilt Revival."  I have that book!  So I very loosely followed along -- meaning, I read the first post and made the quilt.  :)

The original Spiced Chi quilt is so great -- with grays and brights.  But here's proof that traditional fall colors look great too.  If I had finished this about a week earlier, the fall leaves would have been really beautiful.  But that's okay -- those dead, brown leaves actually match pretty well!

I quilted it with an all over loop -- I imagined it could be like the trail of wind-blown leaves.  :)

And here is the back.  I used 4 lower volume fat quarters from the bundle.  Looking at it hanging on the fence, I see it's a little crooked.  It is hard to baste a quilt perfectly straight since there are 3 layers and I am pinning it from the top.  Oh well.  Since this is not meant to be hung from a fence, or even a wall, I think it's okay.  :)

This is on my list of Goals for the quarter.  I may not get much done this quarter.  I am in the process of quilting on more, though.  Maybe I'll finish that too.

I am linking up to Finish it Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.
I am linking up to the Finish-A-Long party at She Can Quilt.

2017 Finish-a-Long Goals Q4

Another 3 months has passed and it's time to make a new list of goals.

For last quarter's list, I only included completely pieced tops that need to be quilted.  I am quite happy with the SEVEN that I finished!  Yay! Looking at the remaining 4 that I didn't finish, I can easily see why.... they are all large quilts.  Ugh to the basting, ugh to the maneuvering it under my little sewing machine.

Nonetheless, I am going to keep these on my list. Plus, I am adding two I've started recently.  One is a gift for Christmas, so I better get it done! 

1. Mystery Quilt

2.  Summer Sampler Quilt-a-Long

3.Sports Quilt

4. Holly's Tree Farm Quilt

5.Fat Quarter 5 Quilt

6. Spiced Chi Quilt Along Quilt

I am linking up the Finish-a-Long Q4 party at She Can Quilt.

Persimmon Four Square

I made this quilt using a charm pack of "Persimmon" by Basic Grey.  I really liked this collection when I first saw it.  The orangish "persimmon" color, the small patterns, the blues.  I still like it, but I wish I had done different background colors -- maybe navy and off white?  I wanted to use what I had in my stash, but after all is said and done, I probably should have just spent a little bit of money and bought some background fabric.

The pattern I used is from Amy Smart's book "Fabulously Fast Quilts." (I also made this quilt with the same pattern.)  I adjusted the pattern slightly so I could use the 5" charm squares. 

 

For the backing I also wanted to use fabric from my stash.  It took me a while to decide.  The tan gingham was perfect, but I didn't have quite enough.  This blue was one of the few other fabrics that matched -- so there it is.  The binding is done with this super, super soft woven cotton with tan and navy.  I had considered using this on the back, but I really love it and so I decided to keep it for a quilt I will keep.  This one will be donated.

Here is a close up of the loopy, meandering quilting.
  

I am finishing this just under the deadline -- binding it and posting it on Sept. 30.  Phew!  You can see from the pictures, it's getting dark outside!

This is on my list of Finish-a-long goals for Quarter 3 of 2017.
I am linking up to the Finish-A-Long party at She Can Quilt

Scrappy June Quilt Along

I was super lucky to win a copy of the book "No Scrap Left Behind" by Amanda Jean Nyberg.  I have followed her blog, Crazy Mom Quilts, for years, and knew this book would be a good one.  I was right! I could make every quilt in the book.

Amanda hosted a quilt along for one of the quilts in her book -- "June."  Maybe I should call mine October since I used all orange scraps.  I used Shot Cotton for the background.  It is so soft.  I have made one other quilt out of shot cotton and that is my boys' favorite (even if it is mostly purple.)

I wanted it to be very soft, so I didn't quilt it very densely (and because I don't have the patience for dense quilting.)  A few straight lines through the orange/brown and a loop in the background.  I love it.  It's going to be a soft, comfy blanket for the fall.

Here's the back -- yellow chambray and an orange Denyse Schmidt print, both from my stash.  

I am linking up to the same Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday.  

Amanda, I hope you see this!  I don't do instagram so I haven't posted. 

Thanks for the quilt along, and for the fun book!  

This was on my list of goals for the Finish-a-Long. 

I am linking up to the Finish-a-Long party at She Can Quilt.

Clementine Four Square

This quilt is one I made with a couple of Heather Bailey "Celmentine" charm packs.  These colors and patterns are not my usual, but I got the charm packs on sale and thought I'd be able to use them. The pattern I used is from Amy Smart's book "Fabulously Fast Quilts."  I originally started with the green 4-squares, then decided I wasn't so sure about that color and changed to the pinkish 4-squares. In the end I used both.

I quilted with a figure eight pattern.  The binding is a shot cotton in red -- but since it is shot cotton it looks pink (a fabric where two colors are woven, in this case red and white.  So instead of red, it looks pink.)  I got the backing on clearance months after I bought the charm packs.  

 

This is the second quilt I made with this "Fast Four Patch" pattern.  The other is waiting to be quilted. Hopefully you'll see that one soon too!

This is on my list of Finish-a-long goals for Quarter 3 of 2017.
I am linking up to the Finish-A-Long party at She Can Quilt

Fairytale Quilt

I am on a role!  I have several "flimsies" (quilt tops that haven't been quilted.)  So for my Finish-A-Long goals this quarter I decided to only include those.  Quilting is not as fun as piecing for me, so I tend to start more projects than I finish.

I started by measuring all the flimsies that I had.  Then I measured the batting that I had.  I often buy queen sized batting and then cut it up to use it for two or more quilts.  Then I sat down and figured out what flimsies would fit on what pieces of batting.  This process really motivated me to baste and finish one quilt after another.

One of my really old flimsies was this Fairytale quilt.  The fabric is from a charm pack by American Jane. I like the colors, but never really loved the cute bears and flowers.  I think I'm finally figuring out that I am drawn more to color, and so sometimes I buy the fabrics based on the color only.  But then I get home and don't love the fabric pattern.

As is often the case, I like the quilt a lot better after quilting it -- even with simple straight lines.  I hope I find someone to give it to.  Pretty sure my boys don't want it.  :)

I had a bit of an adventure quilting this one.  I had a piece of black minky for the backing.  I haven't done much with minky.  I don't love heavy blankets -- particularly for babies.  (Carrying baby and car seat weighs enough without an additional heavy blanket.)  SO I thought I'd quilt it without batting.

But when I started quilting, the black minky was pulling through to the top.  I looked online for some tips and tried a few things.  I changed my needle (one site said use a smaller needle, another said use a bigger needle.  I tried both and neither fixed the problem.)  Then I changed my thread from cotton to polyester.  This seemed to help a little bit.  But still the black came through.  In the end I unpicked the quilting I had done and re-basted with some batting.  Yay!  No more black fuzzies on the front.  I guess I had to have that batting in between to catch all the fuzziness.  If I use minky again, I may still try it without minky -- I'll just use a minky that more closely matches the quilt top.

So that was a long explanation.  Karen and Allyson, I hope you didn't think you needed to read all those details.  :)  It just kind of helps me remember my mistakes/discoveries.

This was on my list of goals for the Finish-a-Long. 

I am linking up to the Finish-a-Long party at She Can Quilt.