Something from Nothing

DONE!

I only meant to clear out a bunch of old strips - none of the strips seemed like they would "go" well together, but sometimes a person has to try new things.  The last logs were the darkest - good plan!  I WAS trying out the Creative Grids 6 inch Log Cabin Trim ruler, feeling positive and smug that it would add nothing to the process but,  uhhhh, I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED with the accurate result!  The original casually-cut leftover strips were anywhere from 2 inches to "sorta" 1 1/4 inches. Narrow strips have a tendency to wobble and stretch during construction and pressing, and the ruler is designed to trim up the logs perfectly after each round.  Logs finish at 3/4 inch. 

The back - it is surprising how homely fabric cut into squares and set into some sort of pattern can make a pretty backing!  I've used this technique frequently, cutting the squares at various sizes, depending on the size of the quilt.  How far back does that red gingham go?

I found it helpful to draw the backing needed onto graph paper to help determine how many of each square was needed.  Save the extras for another quilt backing.

This will be a donation quilt - but I LOVE looking at it for now!

QOV Quilting - Pinwheels and 4-Patches





Machine quilting -  I started with one overall design, and it morphed into another, and then another and then another - no self-discipline!  There are lots of curves, spirals, banana-type fill-ins, and then I got really crazy and started making sun rays erupting from paisleys -- they are my favorite!   All of this quilting is done with the original quilting foot that came with my Janome 6500 MC, a standard DSM.

 

However, a surprise occurred near the end of this project.  On a whim, I again tried to use/learn to use the 3 combination feet for a low shank Janome.  I made up a practice sandwich, and didn't experiment on my nice QOV.  Until today, I have had NO success using these feet, and was totally disgusted with that purchase.  The only thing I've done differently today, is that I used Sewer's Aid on my thread, and tried the feet for at least the 6th time, and voila!!!!  HOOOORRRAYYYY!  I've had to do some eating CROW following this happy surprise.  I MQ'd 2 of the borders on the QOV with no problems at all. Go figure!   

 

The quilting toned down my backing stripes a bit.  I LIKE it and didn't purchase anything more. 

 They look good together. 

Quilt Backing - Positive Solution to Error

My previous post mentioned the error when measuring for the backing for a Linus Quilt, Scrappy Trip Around the World.  I was "shy" about 1.5 inches in width, and 4 inches in length.  I didn't have any more of any of the fabric in those squares.  Luckily, none of the 10 inch squares were sewn together, and I HAD this bright pink.  I was not thrilled with those pale, pastel fabrics.    

I was so pleased with this solution that both DH and I agreed it could be used as a "real" quilt top, but NO, it will be the backing.  The pink jazzed it up, and improved the entire coloring, as well as solved my measurement problems.  What a perfect example of errors turning out better than the original!  It actually IS a 2-sided quilt!   I tend to be not fearful of errors because of the great pleasure in getting out of trouble!  

Famous last words when finishing a quilt (or a backing), "It turned out better than I thought it would."

Stars DONE, and Hugs and Kisses DONE

This one is DONE - here's the back, shown previously.  We are having the deck painted, again, so I am also showing slow painting progress for my own use.  The quilt design is originally from Quiltville.com and Bonnie Hunter calls it Maverick Stars.  I've made MANY of her designs - thank you Bonnie!

Swirls go fast and are not difficult for quilting on a DSM.  I sew/quilt on a Janome MC 6500.  LOVE that machine!

 I DO enjoy seeing my finished quilts on the deck rail.  8-)))  Pretty against the deck primer.

Below is Hugs and Kisses, a Linus quilt - so easy!!!  The design would also be perfectly wonderful in blues and purples, or greens and blues or very scrappy.  I was not sure how to handle the giganto  rick-rack.  I sewed the rick-rack down the center.  I tried NOT to sew down the points but leaving them loose, seemed kinda sloppy - couldn't have it both ways so they are sewed down.  Each border corner miraculously "turned" perfectly!  

I had a LOT of this backing for Hugs and Kisses, so I made a pillowcase to be included.  Dig that YELLOW!  --no more pink.  Those are silly "cat" cartoons on the back.

Overall quilting was big and similar to "dwirling" - this went fast.  The finished quilt is about 51" x 51".  The quilting thread is a variegated light pastel, that I've used for MANY quilts when there are a lot of colors.

Every unit is made the same - similar to snowballs.  This would also be a an excellent totally scrappy quilt if arranged differently and the blocks can be any size.  It's simply squares and quick corners.  I saved the cutoff corners for .. for ... uhhh... something.  8-))

Friends Visiting, more Quilting

A while ago, "someone" brought a big box of unused threads to our local quilting group.  Some of us grabbed it, wondering what those threads would turn into.  Well, here are my 2 beginnings of "something" ... it looked kinda jewel-like, as some of the threads were glitzy.   We layered a LOT of threads over batting that was laid on a backing, then threads, then tulle and quilted a LOT over it all. The brown/pink one was machine quilted with invisible thread, and turquoise one was quilted with regular thread, straight lines.  I didn't like the obvious lines as much as the one quilted with invisible thread.

Remember my owl?  I always thought he looked kinda jewel-like - so little, perfect, almost impossible to see.  Our local group is meeting soon and we said we each had to make "something" with our thread project.   

Here is my project, not yet finished, needing some dimensional leaves or ??? .  Yes, his head and body and wings were made from my thread project above.  His feet was tiny flowery fabric - perfect!  The pine branches are just for effect.  I plan on hiding little owl behind leaves, but I don't think I am able to replicate pine needles - might have to make regular leaves.  I've never done anything like this before - it was kinda fun - can't say it's very "arty" but it was an interesting start.  

Friends from Illinois visited last week and THEY liked the (real) owl as well.  

I HAD to bring my friends to Carhenge, our only tourist attraction (?).  While the cars appear to have been "arranged" after a family wild party, they actually ARE arranged reminiscent of Stone Henge by a former land owner who is not only highly educated and brilliant, but is a world traveler and was very familiar with the real Stone Henge.  mmmmmmm   It's surprising how many tourists visit this quirky stop.

Don't take my picture!!!!

Back to my quilting - here is the back of Bright Maverick Stars.  Even the back has patchwork on it!

The day was warm, I could hear birds singing -- what a nice project.This time I did not put the extension on the table legs and just sat down and basted.  Worked fine.

 Here are the heavy orange clamps I use to simply weigh down the backing.  They are waaaay too hard for me to use for clamping on the table, but the weight of them holds the backing just taut enough -- best solution so far!

 Happy Quilting!

Basting, heavy clamps, blizzard, camera repair

Whew - what a title!

Backing

Another backing planned with 10 inch squares - this uses almost 6 yds. of perfectly good fabric!  This backing takes about 2-3 hours to make, especially if the squares are cut already, something I do frequently with bits and pieces.  Also, remember these 10 1/2 inch squares are pretty close to Layer Cakes that cost a LOT!!!

Basting the Quilt 

The day was beautiful in western Nebraska.  I swept out the garage, then set up my 2 tables, put on the extension legs all in about 5 minutes.  Basting takes longer, but DH helped me and I even had large pins for him to help baste.  It was a nice time, together.  I use pins and spray, if I have it.

I tried using these heavy clamps on the ends and sides of the backing to hold the backing tight/taut. Each time I baste a quilt I try something different, with various results.  Since a quilt is frequently longer and wider than the tables, it's not easy to find clamps that will work on the edges of tables.  HOWEVER, THIS WORKED VERY WELL!  It was their weight, hanging on the backing that did the job - these are expensive, but the principal is good - any kind will do if they are heavy enough.   The small didn't work - not heavy enough, but the 2 larges sizes were great.  I can barely open the biggest ones -- they are tough!!!,  but they only have to clip onto the backing and their own weight does the job. I put 3 on a side.  

Here is the blizzard the day AFTER I basted the quilt - good grief - glad I didn't wait.

Camera fixed

Last thing, my camera quit for some odd reason.  It wasn't cheap in 2006, and I dread learning how to stumble through MORE techie stuff with a new camera, downloading, etc.  The camera repair place that I was bragging about a year ago, no longer fixes this version.  So, coming from a family of "fixers", I spent hours on the Internet today, searching for "fixes" and voila!!!!  We fixed it with alcohol, and wiping contact areas clean.  Easy-Peazy!  Happy Day!!!

Enuf! Progress on Split 9-Patch

This top is finally together -- I was getting tired  - so many little pieces, and have named it "ENUF!"  There are well over 3000 pieces, and for so many pieces, you'd think it huge, but NO, it's about 51"x 74" -- a lotta work for a small quilt!  It's from Jackie Robinson and she calls it Strip and Slash.  

Getting those chevrons to "close" at the top and bottom took extra thought and planning.  There are also a few almost-quarter-square-triangle blocks at the top and bottom inside and outside points.  That took planning!  I would not have thought of it if Kathy G., a new quilt member, had not made that suggestion!  Then it needed more lights around the chevrons so I made MORE lights, then the border needed more lights, so I made MORE!  Now I've called it DONE, and stay-stitched around the edges to hold them in place while wrangling the quilting - to be started soon.

Our snow is almost gone from most places and the last few days were so warm, there are puddles, messes, mud everywhere.  I wanted to get to my favorite quilt shop  to purchase backing, but my LQS is waaaaaay out in the country, on gravel roads.  Traveling those roads in this weather is for fools only so I forced myself to "make do", and stayed home.  I'm relieved that conditions made me stay home and use what I had!  There's good in everything, isn't there?

I've been cutting extra fabric into 10 1/2 in. squares (below) and occasionally use the squares for a backing.  I already had over 150 pieces of 10 1/2 in. squares -- time to stay home and make the back from what I already have.  I pulled out the blues, lights and mediums, pressed them and laid them all out in one direction; i.e. all cross grain in my case.  I needed 6 x 8, (= 60" x 80") or 48 squares.

Then I made a quick drawing (below) of my diagonal plan, counted how many squares of each color would be needed. I most cases I had enough of each fabric, but added some that were close in value.  After all, this IS patchwork!!  If I had needed an uneven number of squares across and down, wouldn't it look great as Trip Around the World???



Here is it, laid out on my design floor.  This sews together FAST, if I stack each row, put a pin pointing either right or left on the top square, take them all to the sewing machine and just get sewing, pressing the seams either right or left for speed.  Whew!  Dreaded basting is next  (my least favorite quilting job).

You might consider using some of YOUR stash for the backs.  Getting the fabric cut into a usable size is the first hurdle.  I tried using chunks for the back, but somehow, it just was NOT attractive, or balanced and I cut them into squares instead.  This backing idea came from Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.com, and I've made 4-5 like this.  Thanks Bonnie!