Embroidery Machine applique

 Not everything becomes a quilt.  I decided to use this pattern I bought in New York on a Wool Row by Row adventure.  I decided to make some placements.  I had purchase some Bosal Craft Tex fusible placemat on sale a decade or so ago.  I used some cotton batting and fabric with some hand dyes and Cherrywood scraps for the applique.  

The corners do not lie flat I think I should have gathered the binding at the corners so that it lay better.  Maybe they will relax a bit with use.  I am off to digitize a couple more block patterns.  It has been so long since I did any machine applique that I had to relearn the software.  I should make some notes and put them with my embroidery module so that I can remember how to do it in the future and shorten the relearning curve.  Lots of fun.

Dodecagon 2

To make the second dodecagon ... so yes I know that a dodecagon has 12 sides and this shape has 12 papers makes no nevermind.... I used fray check on the edges of the woven fabric and ironed them dry between silicon sheets.  I fray check seemed to turn into clear rubbery substance.  I have always let it dry on its own before.  Learn something new every day.  I managed to have enough fabric in the center for the points to come together.  I was going to applique a circle in the center. but I like it as is so I need to go back and rework the first one I did to make the center look better.  

While going thru instagram I saw a Grandmothers flower garden quilt that has been quilted with concentric circles.  I am thinking that maybe I should quilt the pillow end of My Aunt Mellie's quilt like that.  Hmmm.  I wonder how many of these blocks  I will make for the border.  I keep changing my mind. At least 3 ..... I may quit when I run out of this selection of fabrics.  

EPP Dodecagon

 

Just finished my first dodecagon for the border of Aunt Millie.  I think I will applique a small circle over the center of the points.  

A quilt for Hunter

This quilt is Elizabeth Hartman's Dogs in Sweaters pattern with paw prints added as a border.  I will try to remember in the future to wash my quilts in Synthropol.  I washed the backing because it was an inexpensive flannel that my sister warned me might shrink.  She washed it for me in her new washer.  The white with grey dotted fabric showed signs of discoloration from the loose dye from the flannel.  It was washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer.  After I quilted and bound I washed the quilt again.  I did not expect the backing to discolor the light fabrics on the top but it did.  I washed it one more time with synthropol after I added the label and the label is obviously a different color than the same fabric that is next to it.  I guess I had better warn the recipient to wash with dark colors.  

I used Warm and Plush batting for the first time on this quilt.  After it was washed the quilt has so much texture.  I quite like it.  I used MicroQuilter thread and it was practically invisible before it was washed.  The color of the thread darkened and the stitching is more prominent.  

This shows the difference between the before synthropol and after synthropol washings.  What is interesting is that the white on the Dalmation fabric remained white but the white with grey dot background fabric discolored.  Makes no sense to me.  I am still happy with the quilt and look forward to giving it to my sister to give to my niece when she sees her next.  She is on baby watch at the moment.  
 

GG Quilt Completed (including the elusive label)

The construction of this quilt has a nautical theme.  The Mariner's Compass Center was surrounded by Storm at Sea blocks with a Wave block variation of the Snail's Trail for the border.  I quilted pairs of captital G's (for Georgia Grace Sheppard) in the waves.  I marked and quilted feathers in the white space.  The upper triangular white space I used a Westalee Spin ruler for the circles of feathers.  I used a circle ruler to quilt all the circles that were printed in the fabric from the Horizons collection by Kathy Doughty.  The quilt pattern is a derivative of the one published in issue 127 of Quiltmania by Robin Long.  I did use the Robin Ruth Designs Fat Robin rulers to create the the compass center. Although I personally like paper piecing there was none needed to make this block.  I did have a little trouble following the directions.  I have a learning disability which causes me to struggle with all things left right and directional.  I made a practice section as advised in in the magazine which clarified everything for me.  I love these rulers and plan on using them for the center of this year's thequiltshow.com  BOM.  I was attempting to make a modern quilt on the backside.  I had done something similar on another quilt.  I do not think I achieved my vision.  This looks more like hunks of fabric sewn together to make a back rather than a backside quilt.  The previous one that I had done had pieced blocks in the stripes and was light grey on white print.  I wonder whether the position of the stripes or the monochromatic feel made the difference in the outcome.  As you see I have a label on the top of the short strip.  I more often than not forget to add a label.  As my quilts get launched out into the world I do think of the joy i get from the histories of the quilts from other centuries.  Next project Dogs in Sweaters for a nephew expected in May.  

Really handy gadget

 

    Paula gave me this handy gadget.  I have used it for trash and holding my beverages.  Before this wonder tool I had spilled my coffee on my projects on multiple occasions.  This truly solves this problem.  Today I figured out that I could use it for holding my tools while I am quilting.  When the quilt covers the whole surface of the table tools tend to get lost.  I am using to hold my rulers and marker etc while I quilt.  It keeps them handy and not lost under the quilt somewhere.  Yeah!!.

 The quilt top is done.  Storm at sea blocks surround the mariner's compass center and the border snail's trail wave blocks were added for the border.  Note to self:  I can make a snail's trail block using my Storm at sea accuquilt die by adding the 6 inch half square triangle on my flying geese die.  I added a 3 inch quarter block to the border to make the wave turn the corner.  On to the backing.

Update:  I have a new Reliable Velocity iron that I do not know how to operate.  I used a double bat that I struggled to fuse using Quilter's Select Free Fuse.  To make it work I needed to use steam on a number 4 (medium) setting.  I fused the batting on the floor but I purchased another wool mat and dug out my June Tailor Ironing blanket to reflect the heat and steam from the surface of my cabinet.  I wish I had another one so I could cover the whole surface of the table.   I just iron where I have the ironing blanket.  I wonder where I can get the material that is on the underside of that blanket so I could customize a top to use on the top.  Hmmm.  Something to investigate.

 The center of the Mariner's Compass completed using Fat Robin Rulers.  I did a practice unit.  That was necessary step for me.  The rest went quite smoothly.  Now I am working on the next ring which is done reprising the directions for the first ring so I think I can handle it   I am contemplating switching up the outer borders using Storm at Sea or Snail's Trail blocks.  The pattern is from Quiltmania #127.