Sister's Choice Quilts

What Was I Thinking?

Well, this is a UFO in all sense of the word.  I discovered this little project box in my sewing room closet and just stared at it open-mouthed.  What had I been planning?  There were the makings for flying geese units, some strips in various sizes, a whole lot of black and orange fabrics.  No pattern, no notes.  What in the world had I been thinking I was going to make with all this?

I started searching through my books and found a super cute pattern that I think will work great for this mystery assortment.

Are you familiar with the Moda All Stars book "Mini Marvels"?  It has patterns for 15 little quilts that are full of wonderful design elements.  Right there on the cover is a great little quilt that involves flying geese and log cabin blocks.  Here is a better picture of the quilt:

The pattern is called Cabin Skein and is by Carrie Nelson.  I will have to cut my flying geese and strips down to a smaller size for this project, but that is easily done.  This will be such a cute October table topper in those black and orange fabrics!  It will finish at about 20" as I recall, just right for a candle or little vignette of some kind.  

I have to confess, I got the sixty four 1 1/2 x 2 1/2" flying geese all made and thought "I'll just get cracking on those 4 1/2" log cabin blocks".  Wrong.  I made two of them and they were so wonky and misshapen I was ashamed.  I am so used to using trim tools and special rulers to ensure the accurate size of my blocks that I guess I can't live without them.  I have the Creative Grids Log Cabin Trim Tool in both the 8" and the 6" sizes and my blocks always come out perfectly.  So, I got on the computer and ordered the 4" size.  It should come by Wednesday and I will be back in business. 

Sometimes you just need the right tool for the job!

Quarantine Chronicles Day 296

It may not be 296 days of self-isolation, but it sure feels like it.  I had a live video phone call with one of my sisters yesterday and I was embarrassed to have dirty hair, no makeup and sweats on.  She looked much better than I did, I assure you.  It was nice to at least touch base with a living soul other than my husband.

The fabrics in the basket above are slightly different than the ones I posted last week.  I swapped out the former blues for some new ones that are brighter in tone.  The color is called "Cadet Blue".  I like it.  I also received the neutral fabrics I ordered online.  When I order online I try to shop independent shops that have an online presence, rather than "big box" fabric stores.  I occasionally order from the larger outfits, but right now it is the small companies that are getting my business.  And they are so grateful.  In three out of my last five orders I got a nice handwritten note included telling me how much they appreciate my business during these troubled times.

The Piecing the Past Sew Along starts next week, and I am excited about it.  I  have gotten about half the fabrics starched and pressed and ready to go.  I wish this sew-along was a little faster paced than a block a week, but I will live with it.  Heaven knows I have enough other UFOs to work on to fill my time.

These are my most recent Book of the Month Club selections, which got here in record time despite the delays in shipping I hear folks are experiencing.  Have you read any of them?  I love the title "The Guest List- You'd Kill to be On It".  Makes me want to jump right in.

Hope your week is going well.  Gosh, every day is feeling kind of the same isn't it?

Productive Weekend

I did not set foot outside my house for the past three days, and got a lot of sewing done!  My husband being glued to the tv watching various football games also helped my productivity level.

What have I been working on?  Well, a couple of things.  My main sewing project is First Flake in navy and white.  It is simple strip piecing, but you have to have your wits about you when you are laying out the pieces because it is very easy to turn one of those half square triangles the wrong way and end up spending some time bonding with your seam ripper.  I speak from experience.  I have 18 rows completed, sewn into two nine row sections.  I think this is such a striking looking quilt and cannot wait to display it.

I've also done some wool appliqué, which was fun, but ended up looking like a ten-year-old did it.  That's ok, I am enjoying myself and know I will get better with practice.   In 2020 I want to listen to more audiobooks, and these little projects are a good thing to work on with my hands while I do that.

That super cute mug is one of my favorite new things, from Anthropologie.  Only $12 and worth every penny.  I love the look of the tiny subway tiles and the beautiful initial.  Don't worry, if your name doesn't start with "N" they still have you covered.  It makes me happy when I have my coffee!

Triangle Zipper Pouches

These two funny looking things are triangle zipper pouches.  I watched a couple of YouTube videos to get the basic instructions.  They went together easily, with a few trial and error mishaps.  I sewed those D ring tabs on wrong about four times but got it right in the end.  I will provide more details in my next post.

For now, as it is late, as I write this, I will say, the smaller size was the more successful.

You can whip these up in no time, I will say that.  More tomorrow.

Oh My Goodness. Going Batty.

Can you even?  Is this not the cutest little Halloween block ever?  Actually, it is two blocks from the Night Flight pattern by Basic Grey.  The fabric is Hallo Harvest by Basic Grey.  This was a $130 purchase I do not regret whatsoever.  I am thinking I may not make the entire quilt, but make several table-toppers instead.  One for me, one for my daughter, one for my son in law.  And leftovers for future projects.  I love this fabric so much.

This is the complete kit, which makes a lap-sized quilt.  Those Moda kits that come in these beautiful boxes are just stunning.  My thought is to make table runners consisting of five blocks ( a row of bats and stars blocks).  Don't you love the sprinkling of albino bats throughout the top?  Oh, those fabrics.  Mostly Halloween, but some great "grunge" almost solids, and some beautiful fall florals.  It was so gratifying to open that box for the first time and see this:

The kit appears to consist of the pattern, a fat eighth bundle and three cuts of fabric that seem to be about a yard and a half each.

Hope you all had a terrific weekend!  You can see how I spent mine.

Chateau Rouge Cutting

Didn't we have great comments yesterday to my complaints of not feeling inspired to sew lately?  My gosh, so many of you weighed in with ideas for projects that were exciting to you.  The enthusiasm just leapt off the page.   If that wasn't a shot in the arm, I don't know what would be!

I got my red French General strips all cut out and a fair number of strip sets sewn together and cut out.  I think this project is going to go quickly, which is just what I need right now.  Instant gratification.  In spite of pre-washing my fabrics, I am getting the required eight triangles cut out of each pieced strip set.

I am using a 60 degree equilateral triangle ruler by Creative Grids.  My triangles are being measured on the 8 inch line near the bottom of the ruler.

Do you see how the bottom three strips are off-set by about an inch?  That is to be sure you get every smidgen of use out of your strip set and get your eight triangles from the WOF.

I need 108 of the pieced triangles.

Hope your week got off to a good start.  Thanks for all the encouragement and suggestions yesterday.

Corn and Beans

I did make it up to the sewing room yesterday, with the idea that my re-organization would commence.  I started with the dresser and this adorable little kit was in the first drawer I opened.  

How cute is that little Corn and Beans kit?  It measures 17" square when finished and would make the summeriest little candle mat or place to put a vase of flowers.

And just look at the sweet little pouch it was packaged in.

I think I need to make this right away so I can enjoy it over the next few months.

I can see how this re-organization project is going to go, can't you?

Hometown Christmas Quilt

Have any of you seen the Sweetwater Hometown Christmas quilt?  Click on the photo above to enlarge and see the detail.   It is simple patchwork, combined with machine applique and embroidery (eeeep).

The first step is to make twelve blocks that consist of a strip of 2 1/2" squares and two rectangles.  On one of the rectangles you machine applique the shapes, and on the other you trace your embroidery design.  The embroidery is super simple, easy block letters.  I can do this, right?   Hah.  Talk about over confidence.  I quickly discovered how out of practice with embroidery I was. 

I have never been particularly good at embroidery, but I have enjoyed it from time to time.  The last time I did any was when Sara was pregnant with Eva and I embroidered some onesies for the baby.  She is now seven and a half.  It has got to be like riding a bike.  I thought I would just jump right into this new project and all will be good.

No.  It turns out that embroidery is one of those skills that needs to be kept up with regular practice.  My stitches were not straight, not all the same length, and quite sad looking really.  My panels looked like a first graders first attempt at writing.  I had two false starts with my blocks, but luckily the poorly embroidered panel can be un-sewed and you can start over with a fresh panel.

Clearly, what I need is some practice before I pitch myself into embroidering the blocks for the quilt.  I am still rusty, but I think I can get up to speed again.

New Project-American Pie

Aren't these fabrics perfect?  Perfect for me anyway.  I've been talking about the new project I have had in mind to get started on, and finally have something to show for it.

I've made a couple of test blocks and am excited to get going on the project.   The pattern is American Pie by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.  I will share more details on it in my next post.

For the block units, I need to apply two folded corner squares to each 4 1/2" print square.  My Folded Corner Ruler by Doug Leko is coming in handy for this step.

Usually I don't bother to save the triangle trimmings, but these are nice and big-over 2", so I guess I'd be crazy not to.  I can make a wonderful table runner with the leftover triangles.  In fact, I could probably make another quilt, there are so many of them!  Over 700 if my memory serves me correctly.

The snow is melted, at my elevation anyway, and school is back in session.  A lot of folks are still without power, including my daughter Sara who lives near Yosemite at a higher elevation than me.  Electricity is unlikely to be restored very quickly so they have been playing cards by lantern light and trying to amuse themselves.  She says they know they are going to lose everything in the freezer, so they got started eating the ice cream last night.  She always steps up to the plate in an emergency.  Hee hee.

Are You Stringing Along?

The Moda String Along is officially under way.  It's a New Year, so a fresh project is called for, don't you agree? I had a project in mind and made a few test blocks last week when I had a bit of down time.  The idea is, you use scraps (or not) and make some sort of string quilt project.  You can use paper or fabric as a foundation for your blocks, or perhaps use nothing at all.  The point is to do your own thing.  There are plenty of tutorials out there to Google if this method is new to you or you would like to explore alternate methods of construction.  If you use Instagram, check out #modastringalong for lots of ideas for projects.

Here's what I am doing.  Grab a cup of tea and settle in, this is a photo heavy post.

Of course I didn't use scraps.  Why would I ever do anything so practical?  I saw the perfect string quilt pattern (also called "String Along") and bought it as well as all the supplies needed for the project.  I am using a couple of fat eighth bundles by Linzee McCray as well as some additional fabrics.  It takes a lot of fabric to make a string quilt, and there is a lot of waste, in my opinion.  That's why so many people use leftover scraps for their string quilts.

I am using foundation paper by Carol Doak.  I cut squares to 5" for my pattern.  Then I glued a rectangular solid color wedge to the paper.   Just a dab on two corners of the paper with a regular glue stick works fine.

You want to make sure the corners of the paper are completely covered with fabric.

Next up for my project, is to make lots of strip sets.  Mine are between 4 1/2" and 5 1/2".  The width isn't real important, the sets just need to be at least 4 1/2" for what I am doing.

My pattern instructions call for cutting the strip sets down into 90 degree triangle wedges.  The ruler I am using is called The Companion Angle by Diane Zimmerman.  It is a great ruler with clear markings which are easy to see and line up.  I get four wedges out of a strip set.

Sew a strip set triangle to one side of the center wedge, flip and press. Sew the second strip set triangle to the other side of the wedge, flip and press.

Now what?, you say.  This does not look like anything useable.  Well, here's where the foundation paper comes in.  Flip that unit over.

Oooohhhh.  Right.  Don't even think of tearing off that paper yet.  (Ask me how I know this...)

With the block unit upside down, trim the excess fabric from around the paper, using the paper as your pattern guide.  Now you have a perfectly square block unit.

NOW tear off the paper.  This came off very easily.

Four of these units make a block for my project. 

Before sewing them together, I attached a fold and flip square to the pointy corner of the wedge.  It forms a center square in the block when the four units are sewn together.

And there you go.  I have to  make 17 of these red blocks, then some blue blocks, green blocks and yellow blocks!  They are addicting once you get the first few done and are familiar with the method.

Looking forward to lots of sewing in the next week.  Happy New Year everyone!