It is Mellie Time

 

I used a narrow buttonhole machine stitch to quilt the icicle blocks.  I had used my embroidery machine to stitch the snowmen blocks.  I upgraded my machines embroidery software when I traded in my Bernina for a new model.  I made the satin stitches too narrow and too heavy, so I had to do repairs on my blocks while I was quilting.  The satin stitches caused the fabric to fray.  I thought I could just use some Fray Check but that did not hold up, so I had to restitch both by machine and by hand with some silk thread. Hopefully, I will remember this lesson. 

The quilt really puffed up after I washed and dried it.  I used Warm and Plush batting from the Warm company.  It is my favorite for baby quilts.  My sister Paula gifted me the Accuquilt die that I used to create the snowmen.  I used the designs for 8 of the snowmen that came with the die and then looked for other snowmen antics on the internet for ideas for the other blocks.  The added vinyl on the snow globe was my idea.  I used a circle technique that uses freezer paper which I learned from a Sharon Schamber publication.

This fabric is from the stash that I inherited from my sister-in-law.  The stash is mostly homespuns and not all 100% cotton.  This fabric was 54 inches wide so it was a perfect size for this quilt. The blue and off white were the same tones as that on the front of the quilt.  I think of this quilt as Winter on the Front and Summer on the backside. 

This quilt is for dear friend Terry Frost's grandson. I got it done when he was 2 months old and before winter.

 I accidentally hit the snow globe vinyl with an iron so I had to stitch a snowflake in the whole to disguise.  

Vanish Lite

 

To baste the sashing strip on the improvisational back upon which I am working, I used a hera marker to mark a half inch seam.  I was not confident that I could make a quarter inch seam work.  I pinned the stitching line on the front and I am basting using Superior Vanish Lite thread.  Hope this works.

As You Go

I am making an attempt to quilt as you go on Aunt Mellie.  This is fun but nerve racking.  Generally, my plan is to use some Kaffe striped woven fabric for the backing. I am stitching some built-in stitches to quilt the top to the batting.  The underside of built-in stitches is messy, so I do not want that to show.  I started with quarter square triangles behind the mariners' cross.  I bought a book on stitch as you go some decades ago.  I read it. and am relying on my memory.  The blocks are sashed on the front so I will sash them together on the backing as well.  I am planning on using 2 colors of bottom line in the bobbin, a bright red and a pink.  I am using some Superior Fantastico, Magnifico and Master Piece on the front side.  I am using Superior water soluble for placement of pieces on the back.  

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.  

Surgical Face Mask Pattern

Surgical Face Mask Pattern

Border Challenge

I have been working on Manor House from Quiltmania mag.  After finishing the first two sections, I decided I needed to do the border so that the sections will be well balanced inside the border.  I have gone off script from the pattern for the third section so I decided I want to do the bottom section next and finish with the 3rd section.  I did the top border and then started down both the left and right sides.  After I got about halfway down, one side was 1/4 inch shorter than the other.  Panic struck.  I did not know the background fabric was not printed straight or if the dots were more irregular than I had thought or if the patches were not well cut or if the corners of the triangles were shredding off.  I changed my strategy and continued down the right side being careful to measure every fifteen inches so that the triangles were properly placed and sewn.  I measured and marked the bottom corners and did my best to square up the patches as I went across the bottom and the up the left side.  It went pretty smoothly.  I am putting it away for the time being.  I may not be able to be down stairs with my sewing machine while my mother recovers from her broken leg.  This will give me some handwork I can do in whatever space she resides for the next hunk of time.  I am disappointed that the green vine ( and the leaves too)  does/do not show up well.  I may have to do some embroidery to punch it up.  I will reassess after I finish the other applique and see the balance of values in the whole piece. 

I am sandwiching my train baby quilt with Quilters Select Free Fuse.  I have for many years pinned my quilts with safety pins.  After that I used Pin Moors and T pins.  Then I switched to fusible batting.  With Free Fuse I can choose any kind of batting.  It is my new favorite.  

I had some Laurel Birch fabric left over from a baby quilt and when I saw the train pattern in a recent Quiltmania publication, I decided to make another baby quilt.  Our neighbor just had a baby in November.  I pattern called for six inch square centers in the train cars but the animals on the fabric were much smaller so I resized the blocks.  The smaller blocks made to quilt very small so I drafted the industrial cars from some coloring book pages found on the internet.  I went to add the borders and pulled out a book to find an approximation of the amount of fabric needed for the binding and decided to made a pieced border instead of the solid border.  The arrow border is simple but it had bias edges so it was a bit of a problem.  I am using this carrot fabric that was from my Becky stash for the backing.  I have tried to use if a number of times and it did not quite work.  On to sandwiching and binding.

Good Fortune Border

The border idea is from Bonnie Hunter's String Fling Cover Quilt.  I plan to add a row of half blocks on the top and bottom of the quilt so that it will serpentine.  I also have a faux batik of gold fish that will be at the four corners of the quilt.  I need 10 half blocks, some quarter blocks, and the 4 corner blocks and the top should be done.

 I decided against the fish batik and finished the corner by completing the circle with a bridge block.

 The border is complete.  Now to contemplate the quilting.

Good Fortune Update

I decided to add a top and bottom row from Bonnie Hunter's String Fling and then finish it with half blocks for a serpentine border.  Now I am contemplating the quilting.  The kites look like I can have some fun.  I want something simple stitching but enough for dealing with all the bias cuts in the strings.  Hummmm.

Bonnie Hunter Good Fortune

I have been fortunate to have been the recipient of a stash of fabric.  Colon cancer took the life of my sister-in-law but due to the generosity of my dear brother I was the recipient of the stash.  Most of it I would characterize as woven or home spun.  It was definitely Becky style.  The majority of the fabric I selected for this quilt are plaids.  I did use the paint chips to select my fabrics but now that I have sewn a few of the clues, I have noticed that my patches are not as bright and bold as the color samples even though the colors look to me to be like the paint samples.  I wonder if I am going to be disappointed in the result.  I think it may be much more subdued.  I am using orange prints because I did not have orange plaids in the stash so that will either brighten up the quilt or look like it does not belong.  That is the fun of mystery quilts.  We will see what we will see.  I remember my first log cabin quilt.  I had so much fun rearranging the blocks and was so surprised at the results.  That was great fun.  On to clue 3.  I have die cut the rectangles and the half square triangles to make the chevron blocks and the bonus blocks.  I hope my plan works.

Bonnie Hunter Five my way

 I was going to work on Clue #3 but decided to download Clue #5.  I still had my blue fabric out and about so I decided to skip to Clue #5.  I had pulled oranges from my scrap box so that was also handy just waiting for my on a book case. I was rifling through some other oranges I had previously selected and noticed my hand painted samples that I had done in a dye class from year's back.

I decided I would cut them up for Clue # 5.

There is far fewer needed of this kind then the others so I will start working on this tomorrow.  I  need some blue cut into strips and I am ready to piece.  Fun with mystery quilts.