Finished Denim Blues

I finished the denim quilt on Friday. I knew it was one of those projects I needed to stay on top of, or it may end up sitting halfway done for quite a long time.

I backed the quilt with a soft floral flannel. Now it is pretty heavy, but great for picnics I think.

I just did a running stitch with some specialty yarn I had leftover from a sweater I made Bella a few years ago. I ended up with just two inches of leftover yarn. I wouldn't have cut it that close had I planned ahead better.

I really like the way it turned out. The finished size is 60"x70". I used warm and natural batting to reduce bulk. Perhaps it will be used today for a lunchtime picnic.

The Blues

I have been saving jeans for the past several years. Finally I cut them up and pieced them together in a picnic blanket. Nate can still identify who's jeans were who's. I am backing this quilt with a flannel that is pink with flowers. Mainly because I had a lot of it and am trying to do some stash busting. Especially with fabrics that have been around for years. I am hand quilting it with some yarn in big running stitches. I have no idea how long this will take me, I just wanted to get it out there so I will feel more accountable. I do have hope to have a picnic on this blanket before the end of the summer.

Table Runner with Pattern

Finished Size: 22"x42"

Materials List:
3/4 yard for backing
1/2 yd tonal red for outer border and four patches
1/2 yd stripe for inner border and binding
1/4 yd green fabric
1/4 yd blue fabric
1/4 yd red/white fabric
1/4 yd brown fabric

24 x 45 piece of batting

Cutting Instructions:
Outer Border- 2 strips 2 1/2" x 38 1/2"
2 strips 2 1/2" x 22 1/2"
Inner Border- 2 strips 1 1/2" x 18 1/2"
2 strips 1 1/2" x 36 1/2"
Squares- Cut 9- 4 1/2" squares from Blue Fabric
Cut 9-4 1/2" squares from Red/white Fabric
Four Patches- Cut 2-2 1/2" strips from tonal red, green, yellow, and brown fabrics

Binding-Cut 4-2 1/2" strips from stripe fabric

Piecing Instructions:
Four Patches-Sew tonal red 2 1/2" strip to green 2 1/2" strip along long side of fabric. Press seam toward red. Cut into 2 1/2" pieces. You will need a total of 18 pieces. Sew yellow and brown strips together in the same manner pressing seam toward yellow. Cut 18 2 1/2" pieces.

Sew together one red/green unit to one brown/yellow unit matching seams. Repeat until you have 18 squares. Press seams to one side. Each square should measure 4 1/2".

Piece together long rows starting with a four patch unit followed by a blue square. Then another four patch unit followed by a red square. Repeat pattern until you have nine squares across, ending on a four patch unit. Move pattern one to the right for the next three rows.

Press the first and third row seams to the left and the second and fourth row seams to the right. Piece rows together matching up seams. Press long seams flat.

Add inner border along the long side first, the 1 1/2" x 36 1/2" piece. Do this on both the top and bottom. Press toward border. Add ends in the same manner pressing toward border. Repeat with outer border.

Quilting:

Layer backing, batting and top together and pin with safety pins every four inches or so. Quilt as desired. I did a meandering daisy pattern. Then I stitched in the ditch along the borders.

Binding:
Sew binding strips together using a diagonal seam. Press seams open to reduce bulk. Iron binding in half. Stitch to top of quilt mitering corners. Hand stitch binding on to back.

I used Rambling Rose by Henry Glass in this runner. But the pattern will work for all sorts of fabrics. It goes together in just a few hours. Feel free to use the binding method you like best or are used to. I know there are a lot of great tutorials out there. For batting I like Hobbes and Warm and Natural the best.

HMQS

Sophie and I went to the Home Machine Quilting Show yesterday at the South Towne Expo Center. These are three of my favorites that we saw.This one is butterflies, of course the pictures don't do any of these quilts justice. But I loved the detail on the wings.
I have always love the Hawaiian quilts. And I love purple. I have a pattern, one day I will start on making it.

And this one is all polka dots. I have a huge love of polka dots which is reflected in my stash. I am liking the pineapple blocks. This would be a great scrap quilt.

There were also over 175 vendors. There were tons of long arm quilt dealers. My mom is interested in me buying one of those. Also lots of cutting systems and such that I really didn't have too much time to focus on. Sophie was in her stroller, but would yell "Go!" loudly anytime I lingered too long. I did manage to buy a few yards of Wonderland by Momo. I seem to be accumulating that fabric lately.

Pajama Pants

With the weather warming up, the kids needed some new pajamas. I keep checking on them at night and finding them all sweaty in flannel and polar fleece. So last Friday I pulled out some stash fabric and went to work. Jack got two pairs because he has less jammies over all. The girls love to match and love the sea friends fabric. I really like making lots of pairs at once, it seems to go faster.
One thing I do when I make them clothes at home is make sure and put a fabric tag in the back. This way they know, and their dad knows, which way is which. Just take two scraps of fabric and cut into little squares. Stitch the squares on three sides right sides together. Then turn them right side out. Put then unfinished edge in the waistband while when you sew it. I used to stitch the size on the tags, but the kids wear these until they are unwearable, so I don't worry about it any more.

Star Quilt-a-long Complete!

I am so happy with how this quilt turned out. I did some things that I haven't before. I had originally planned on adding boarders. But when I put everything together it was 62 x 88, so boarders would have made it way too big for the twin bed it is covering. Then without the boarders, I ended up quilting edge to edge with the same design.

I did a meandering stars design that I really love how it turned out. I had an extra star block, so I incorporated it onto the pieced back. I used scraps for the rest. So overall, I didn't have too much left over from this endeavor, which is not a bad thing.

So, I am not great at doing quilt-a-longs. I really had to be patient in doing the blocks each week instead of all at once. I suppose Jess and I kind of threw in the towel on that one anyway. I do better doing stuff all at once overall. Not saying I'm not up for another, it's good to learn new skills and patience.

Whirly Gigs

As soon as I saw this pattern I wanted to try it. I love the movement and the many possibilities that come along with it. So when commissioned to come up with a baby quilt, I knew exactly what I wanted to go for. The pattern wasn't too difficult to draft. I did have more trimming and squaring up than I anticipated, but I love the way it turned out.


I stippled with white thread from edge to edge. I am going to do this pattern again and again I am sure.

I have pieced the top of the star quilt-a-long quilt. Now I am getting the back put together. I am really pushing it right to the wire. I have six days before Jack's birthday-wish me luck!