My FNSI results were to finish my blocks for my Jewel Box quilt. I've now 40 of the patches and 40 of the HST blocks.
This Tapestry line is just so beautiful. I think it is going to make a wonderful quilt. I set out a few of the blocks just to get an idea.
We've a trip to the beach coming up in a few weeks and I always like to have some projects to finish up - this one will be making the trip with me!
It is always fun to sew and know that blogging buddies around the globe are "sharing" their Friday nights with you!
Happy Stitching!
FNSI is back! Go sign up now and join us!
My goal for tonight is to finish the blocks for my jewel box quilt - blogged about here. I'm almost done - about 25 blocks to sew and then iron all 40 of them. I also hope to finish the block for my Lemonye Star blocks - there will be 20 of these. I've made all of the required HST!!!! and now are in final block assemble. Once I get them assembled, I'll need to tackle the ironing.
Weather here in NC is the 90s and humid. Our AC isn't at its best right now so the thought of ironing blocks tonight is scary!
Perhaps that chilled glass of wine by my side will help!
Have a great weekend.
Happy Stitching!
My mission for FNSI was to finish the border on my Sea Glass quilt. (See this blog post.) After considering all options, I made a major change in the border design and decided to frame it with strips of white and color.
I purchased the Bella solid white for this quilt well more than a year ago so when I now needed more white for the border I was in big trouble. I had no idea what particular shade of Bella white it was and my attempt to order what I thought it was resulted in a white of a different shade. In order to get the border done, I had to steal fabric I had already cut in strips to lattice another set of quilt blocks in my WIP pile.
So I still need to find the matching white but I am able to finish this quilt which is a gift.
Whew.
I also put the binding on my Tulip quilt.
Doesn't it look cute on my hall table? (Trying to encourage spring to actually get here.) Pattern for bunny was free and can be found at The Purl Bee. The tulips come from the tutorial at Bee in my Bonnet.
Happy Stitching!
Icy weather Friday in NC so the best place to be was home with your sewing machine! I didn't really need the weather to motivate me to sew - it was FNSI!!
You see these scrappy trip around the world blocks all over blogland. I broke into my jelly roll of Butterscotch.
Laid out the traditional block.
But then decided to go take a right turn and mix things up.
The light fabrics should be all aligned so I'll get some effect this way but the fabric placement will be much more random. Everything is ready to go to assemble more and more blocks.
So, while the ice melts, you can find me in my sewing room today! (If you look carefully, I managed to catch drops of water falling with this photo - see by the watermark!)
Happy Stitching!
Had a lovely time in my sewing room (i.e. corner of the bonus room) piecing together more of my Irish chain quilt.
This will be a twin size quilt. Fabric is Marmalade.
I assemble in pieces - last night I finished the assembly of the 4 block x 4 block larger squares. I'll then press those, square them up and then start assembling the quilt top. Doing it this way - as opposed to long rows of single blocks - is a very manageable way to assemble a large quilt. I also add a line of stay stitching around the edge to prevent seams from opening.
I've a date with my LAQ in 2 weeks so this will get done in time.
I also did a bit more work to get ready for the Holiday Lane blog hop - my day is November 27th! No spoiler pictures though.
Happy Stitching!
FMQ was on the agenda for last night's FNSI. I
SewCalGal's FMQ challenge this month was fun. I practiced writing my name and then wrote the alphabet.
Before I even had this much success, I struggled with tension issues on the machine. After thorough cleaning, rethreading, needle changes, different bobbins, I put one color (red) in the bobbin and white at the top thread so I could see what was going on. This picture is FMQ. Shouldn't be seeing this on the top.
I put my regular foot back on and started adjusting the tension until I could no longer see the red thread on top. I had to put the tension dial lower than I've ever had to before to get the line white on top.
My baby is going in for a checkup.
To finish out the evening, I put my real FMQ project aside and decided to hem my daughter's halloween costume. She took a skirt that I wore 25 years ago and cut 12 inches off the bottom. I remember wearing that skirt - it had been a favorite - and I had donated it to 'dress up' clothes years ago for my girls. I was hesitant to cut the skirt - did I really think my waist would ever be that size again? - until I looked at it up close. It was filled with little holes. Great for a costume, not for anything else.
Finally, I pressed my Marmalade strips - I just love this fabric from Bonnie & Camile. Yummy! These are going to be beautiful 9-patch blocks.
Happy Stitching!
Enjoyed another fun FNSI. Much of the time was spent attaching the binding to my queen size quilt made from Sweetwater Pure. My LAQ lady (Cathy Kirk) serges the edges for me and I find that this makes attaching the binding so much easier. Everything is neatly held together. Glass of wine at my side, I got about 1/2 done.
I also did some FMQ including this month's Free Motion Quilting Challenge from SewCalGal. Paula Reid was the guest teacher for September.
This is roughly 8" square and I am going to trim and bind and use it as a small mug rug. I was pleased with how I did even tracing back over the design in order to get to the next place. The center looks a little wonky - perhaps an optical illusion from my photo??
I have really been enjoying this year long FMQ challenge and thank Darleene for bringing to us such wonderful guests!
Make sure to visit the FNSII line-up to see what others accomplished last night! Thanks Heidi and Bobbi!
Have a great weekend.
Happy Stitching!
I had a productive although not necessarily very picture worthy FNSI last night.
I made some HST. (Try to contain excitement!)
I did block 5 in the Tetris Quilt-a-long from Happy Quilting.
One more block to go! I choose to make mine with 2 1/2 squares. Loving it!
I also did some decision making and prepping for adding the border to the quilt I blogged about here. No exciting photos but I did make decisions after laying out all different fabric combination layouts. I hope to get the quilt all finished and ready for LAQ later this weekend.
Have a great weekend!
Happy Stitching!
Happy FNSI!
I had fun last night working on my stars for my new quilt for my bed.
The fabric is Sweetwater Pure from the stash I've been hoarding. The pattern is a Scnibbles Lincoln modified. I wanted to use my wing clipper ruler for the geese which meant I am making the stars slightly different size that Carrie's pattern suggests. There are roughly 40 of these required for the quilt. The other blocks are strip blocks so will hopefully go quickly.
Looking forward to seeing everyone else'e FSNI results!
Happy Stitching!
I found these wonderful New York Beauty block on Ulas Quiltpage and decided to make block 8 for my block in Jane's Red/White/Blue blog hop.
I've never done paper piecing before so I watched some videos on your tubes to get the basic concepts and then I dove in! So far, one error made that required stitches to be ripped out. Loving it so far!
Another fun FNSI!
Happy Stitching!
This month's pattern for AYOS is DOC (photo from Carrie's site). This one uses Sweetwater's Hometown.
I decided to use Sweetwater's Reunion line for my Schnibble. I set out to make my Schnibble 4 blocks by 4 blocks and merrily created my first block choosing the method to trim after sewing. This mean since I was using charm squares of ivory (or cream or whatever), I could start sewing right away. First block:
During FNSI, I finished blocks and the border and set out to assemble the quilt.
Problem.
Turns out I didn't have the matching Moda solid (to my time saving Moda charms) in order to cut the sashing strips. I had several different fabrics (all Moda) that were close but not close enough. I also didn't have enough charm squares to cut and piece the sashing.
Here is where the lemonade from my blog title comes in. I decided to make a table runner instead!
Get it - lemonade out of lemons? (Smile)
Anyway, I'll likely add the HST blocks to either edge. The Schnibble Doc pattern is very fun. I am going to make the actual Schnibble with other fabric at some point because I quite enjoyed the puzzle like assembly.
Now off to enjoy the other FNSI results as well as view the over 300 entries in the wonderful entries in Amy's Bloggers Quilt Festival. I entered my Romance quit - post here.
Finally, I plan to participate in SewMamaSew Giveaway ....see you on Monday!
Happy Stitching!
Directions matter. Reading them ahead of time is always a good idea.
During FNSI, I also learned that direction matters as well. Our task for FNSI was to make pillowcases for Conkerr Cancer. I purchased a yard each of very cute fabric.
When I studied the directions last night (which are very clear, very easy to follow), it was clear you needed a piece of fabric 40 1/2 by 26 1/2. If I wanted the owls and trucks to run across the long way on the pillow, the largest piece I could cut was 36 by 26 1/2. Ugh! I didn't realize that by buying directional fabric I really needed 1 1/4 of a yard to get a piece 40 1/2 by 26 1/2. Lesson learned - directions matter and direction matters.
Luckily on the same shopping trip I had bought some Peanuts fabric for no other reason then I liked it. (Does there need to be another reason?) So I was able to get a pillowcase done - it is so cute!
Did anyone else trip into the same problem? Did you just make the pattern go the wrong way or did you improvise somehow? I will definitely make at least one more pillowcase but will need to order some more fabric first!
Heidi & Bobbi - THANKS!!! This was an awesome idea!!
My son (from college) called via Skype smack in the middle of FNSI so I lost some sewing time but enjoyed talking to him. I was able to get one more thing done last night - Bingo card. I am linking this up and will be participating in the May for Me! You have until the 22nd to link up so if you haven't already done so, check it out. I put off the making of the BINGO card for far too long but finally went diving into my scraps and was able to find enough unique squares. (My piecing accuracy is really atrocious so hopefully there are no points deducted.) Information and instructions can be found here.
Here are the squares:
B: Bird Bean Cupcake Lighthouse Tree
I: Snow Carrot Corn Muschroom Coffee
N: Robot Ornament FREE Stripe Dragonfly
G: Swirl Letter Leaf Onion Tomato
O: Horse Dots Cowgirl Broccoli Flower
Happy Stitching!
Had a productive FNSI and FMQ my Butterscotch Schnibble.
The fabric is Moda Butterscotch & Roses and the pattern is a Schnibble pattern called Lincoln.
For the FMQ pattern, I choose an overall pattern of loops and stars.
Some of my loops collided with the stars but overall I am happy.
I am participating in SewCalGal's FMQ challenge and this month's guest - Ann Fahl - had wonderful tips about FMQ and Stars and Loops were a suggested pattern. I am starting to assemble my book of FMQ patterns as she suggested. On this journey beyond stippling, it is the idea that causes me the most pain - keeping a notebook will help.
Finally, don't forget to place your vote for the Golden Quilting Awards hosted by SewCalGal!
Happy Stitching!
I spent a very productive 2 hrs in my sewing corner Friday evening working on these fun stars - or maybe they are pinwheels - from this month AYOS quilt called ISTH.
The fabric is Ruby. These stars will trim to 6 1/2 inches. I also started working on the border - which is made up of tiny squares. I had quite the assembly line going on this one so it was a lot of fun. However, by the time this much was done, I needed to walk away from the machine. There are only so many tiny HST I can deal with!
This is my favorite block. I am pleased with the red and aqua combination I choose.
Happy Stitching!
Fun time in my sewing studio corner of the bonus room last night while my daughter watched a movie. I did some basic piecing of two quilts in progress but also did my January's practice FMQ as part of SewCalGGal's 2012 challenge.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce my first FMQ of leaves.
I was pleased with the result - not sure that they all look really like leaves but it was the first time I've deviated from the basic stipple FMQ.
Next up was a little FMQ of fabric I will be making a small bag with. Darn, wouldn't you know it - I went right back to my old standard. I looked at this blank canvas and couldn't figure out what to do so basic stipple it was!
I decided I'd better get right back on the bicycle and try again. I selected a cute piece of fabric that I'll make a iTouch holder for a niece and decided that my leaves could easily become hearts.
Of course you can't see it very well in the photo but I did it! It was a lot harder to see my quilting as I went (white on white) but there truly are hearts on there!
Looking forward to the February challenge!
Now off to see what others did on FNSI.
Happy Stitching!
My mission for FNSI was to finish the border on my Sea Glass quilt. (See this blog post.) After considering all options, I made a major change in the border design and decided to frame it with strips of white and color.
I purchased the Bella solid white for this quilt well more than a year ago so when I now needed more white for the border I was in big trouble. I had no idea what particular shade of Bella white it was and my attempt to order what I thought it was resulted in a white of a different shade. In order to get the border done, I had to steal fabric I had already cut in strips to lattice another set of quilt blocks in my WIP pile.
