It’s time for the May Crossroads Quilt Along! I have been having so much fun with Kimberly Jolly’s quilt along, I am so glad my friend invited me on this journey. In fact we sewed along together via phone this month and it was wonderful.
Here are my Family Blocks;
The Fat Quarter Shop’s Crossroad Quilt along benefits the March of Dimes. Please join along or donate if you can.
Special thanks to my daughter who was my photographer for tonight’s blog.
Yes, I am aware it is May now, but the measurements for the April mini Crossroads just went up two days ago as Sondra Davison of Out of the Blue Quilts has been very busy. I am so glad they were up and I got it done.
The Crossroads block only had two colors to it, but I have been adding bits of red to the other minis and continued to do so this month. I actually had drawn out the block a dozen times and colored in many versions trying to decide where I wanted to put the red. In the end I didn’t choose any of the pre-drawn versions and just went with this. I am satisfied with it.
With the Mama blocks;
And all my current minis together;
The finished size of the mini blocks is 3 3/4 inches. I’ve been working on such small blocks lately that when I went to make a 9 inch 9 patch I felt I was making a king size quilt!!!
Special thanks to Sondra Davison for the measurements. I am having a great time with the mini version of the Crossroads quilt along.
Every year there is a huge fundraiser for the local education foundation. Included is a silent auction featuring art work done by a classroom. I’ve seen chess sets, board games, lemonade stands, a whole motley of items that the children participate in creating.
This year I helped out with both of my boys’ classrooms. The fourth grade project was going to be a bookshelf, but we didn’t want it to be empty. We thought we would give the class options – they could help decorate the bookshelf or they could author books to be included.
Well, the bookshelf idea went flying out the window. Each of the students in that classroom wanted to be an author. Creativity was everywhere! We had non-fiction football books, sequels to books or shows they loved, mysteries, love stories, and comic books being written. The project became less about the auction and more about the kids. How could you not encourage the excitement they had for writing a book!
24 kids created 16 books. The books ranged from 3 pages to almost 20 pages long. Once they were done being written it was my turn to work on them. First I had to shrink the covers, contents, and about the author pages. Then it was time to bind them up.
Here is my set up. I used the boxes from old games as the covers, the books were wire bound using a Bind-it-All. All 16 books were sold as a set at the auction. I was told they went for $70.
But that’s not all. I couldn’t let the kids not have copies of their own books. I couldn’t let them go without celebrating their accomplishments. So, I spent the following two months binding 24 more books, one for each of them, and then 16 more to create a set for their amazing teacher.
Here are the final 40 books;
The set for the teacher will be signed by the author. The personal copies have an additional 10 blank pages so that people who enjoy reading the story can leave a message for the author. We are going to have a big publishing party before school ends to distribute and celebrate their achievement.
I am so incredibly proud of this class.
The Splendid Sampler had a Bonus Block and Challenge this week. The block is a cute derby hat and I had just finished sorting scrap fabric and figured I should use some of it up.
I tried the freezer paper technique for the applique of the hat and hat band and machine appliqued the heart. Of all the applique techniques I’ve tried so far, the backbasting method has been my favorite.
Every summer quilt shops across the U.S. and Canada participate in the Row by Row experience. You visit a participating shop and pick up a pattern for a quilt row. Each shop has their own unique pattern, but they all follow a theme.
I don’t really shop hop and gather rows each summer, instead I visit a local quilt shop from wherever I am vacationing with my family. Some time in the future I will have a wonderful blanket filled with memories of everywhere we went.
Last summer we went to Gatlinburg, TN and visited the Great Smokey Mountains. I made a stop at Mountain Stitches by Susan and purchased a kit to make her row of the grist mills and water wheels.
There was applique involved with this piece and I thought I would try it a few different ways. Just to see how it would turn out.
First, the upper windows of the grist mills were reversed appliqued. This meant I put the window fabric behind the grist mill, and cut the grist mill fabric to show the windows. I needled turned the grist mill fabric.
The door was next. For this applique I did the backbasted method. You draw the outline of your applique on the back of the piece you are sewing it onto. Then you lay the piece to be appliqued on top. Following the drawing you baste the piece on using tiny stitches. If you let it sit like this for a while, it makes a perforation of the fabric to make turning under easier. I just pull out a few basting stitches and needle turn the fabric.
Finally the trees were machine appliqued. I cut the design directly on the green fabric and used a straight stitch along the edges. The fabric may fray as time goes on, but I think that would be in keeping with the trees.
To make the trees pop and add dimension, I opened the seams behind them and stuffed the insides.
Finally, I added some embroidery to the bottom. Just to remember where and when.
Here is the finished row;
I am excited to see what rows 2016 brings.
I took a class with Alex Anderson, oh, about two years ago. We learned how to machine applique using a blanket stitch. The class was fun and the quilt pattern sweet. I loved the bright colors. It took me almost a year to finally finish the quilt top and it has been sitting in my UFO box ever since.
You see, I have a fear of finishing quilts. I’ve taken a few free motion classes. It’s not something I do perfectly the first time, so I shy away from it. After all the hard work I put into a quilt top, I don’t want to ruin it with the quilting part.
But time to face my fears!
The classes I’ve taken on free motion quilting all had different advice. I’ve mixed it all up and have found what works best for me.
First, I mark my quilts. I like this chalk set I found at a local quilt shop, I think I’ve also seen it at Joann’s.
I like the interchangeable colors, the case, and the sharpener. Also the chalk rubs off rather easily, which can be a good or bad thing.
I made a general design on the quilt. Just to give me a general idea of where to go. Trying to figure out my next move while sewing just doesn’t work for me. I get all kinds of confused and frustrated. I usually find that I’ve quilted very close together in some areas and very spread out in others, and I’ll get stuck somewhere and not know where to turn next.
I keep a stash of 12 x 12 inch batting and muslins in a box. Before I start free motion on a quilt I make a sandwich out of these a do a practice run. This gives me a chance to check the tension on the threads and see how my quilt design is going to go.
I do NOT press the pedal to the metal when free motion quilting. When the needle moves fast I feel like I need to move fast and I just can’t control the stitching that way. The size of the stitch is as big as you make it when you move the quilt. So if the needle is slow, I move slow. I’ve found I’ve had more even stitching this way.
A little tip from me – I take my shoe off and use a bare foot to apply pressure to the pedal. I feel like it gives me more control.
I use a quilt glove on my left hand and use my right hand to actually grip the quilt.
It’s really about control. I feel like I have more control this way. I do admit, my right hand was hurting after a bit. I’ll keep working on it to find a more comfortable position.
I also start and stop a lot right now in order to move my hands. By the end of this quilt I was getting much better at it.
As I said earlier, the markings are just general directions, sometimes I didn’t follow the way they were drawn. Having them there still helped to know where to go.
The quilting is not in any means perfect, but I have to tell you it is MUCH better than I have quilted in the past. Its just something I will have to keep working on.
You know what? I don’t think I mind that at all.
I am constantly on the look out to try new things in quilting. I just need something to give me a kick start.
Recently I found this challenge are on Pat Sloan’s blog.
Perfect!
It was a small challenge, easy to do in one night. I can use up fabric from my stash for it and then have a reason to go to a quilt store to replenish! Wins all around.
And I was able to have some fun practice with photography and staging my pieces.
This one is my favorite.
The James Stitching Sisters is a local group of quilt makers who make quilts for patients at the James Cancer Center and clinics.
I have always wanted to join in with them, but was unable to due to family obligations.
This weekend they hosted their 12th annual Quilt Day. Everyone is invited. All that you have to bring is your sewing machine, an extension cord, and a willingness to help out.
Before the day even started there were 484 quilt tops brought in and 205 completed quilts.
Then there was this;
171 sewing machines whirring away. Mine was there as well. There were also volunteers ironing, sandwiching quilts together, and a few long arms finishing quilts. There were also many volunteers making sure those quilting were happy and comfortable, providing entertainment and food and a welcoming place to be.
While quite a few of the quilters were able to complete 2 or 3 tops during our 7 hour day, I only managed one.
The pattern was called Tuscan Sun. We all received bags with the fabric and backing pre-cut and ready to sew with directions.
I started another kit called Good and Plenty. I almost finished all the blocks before the end of the day. Despite being completely exhausted I did finish them before bed and laid them out to sew together.
I also brought home a quilt sandwich ready for quilting and plans to visit the Stitching Sisters once a month to drop off at least one top and one completed quilt and pick up new ones.
I have a special post tonight, all about surprises.
Today I received my first Sew Sampler box from Fat Quarter Shop. It’s a box I will receive monthly filled with quilting goodies. You don’t know what you will get until you open up the box.
SURPRISE!!
As I ran up the stairs with the box I thought the blue reminded me of a box from Tiffany’s. But what is inside here was going to be better than anything from Tiffany’s.
It was very hard to not rip into the box right away, but I really wanted to photograph everything first.
Let’s open it up!
Hehe! Still more unwrapping to do.
Here it all is.
I feel like I must be on the same wavelength as Kimberly Jolly. The Strawberry Picking pattern just caught my eye the other day, and last week I was just saying I needed embroidery scissors with a case to travel with me. That ruler looks fantastic for all the little pieces I’ve been working on lately. I love the grips on the bottom.
The Grow! Charm Pack from Moda has all the colors of the rainbow. My mind started racing a mile a minute with all the things I could do with it. It was hard to put it back down and not start on a new project right away.
Also in the box were Screw B Do, which are magnetic screwdrivers (they’re in the little fabric sack) for sewing machines, a sticker, magnet, and the first block pattern in a series. One new one comes with each box.
In the end, I’m quite pleased. The hard part will be waiting for next month’s box!
What a perfect name for the block I am working on for the Crossroads Quilt Along this month, especially after my last post about Community.
But first, I want to show you this nifty gadget I picked up on clearance from Craftsy.
It’s a handy little seam guide! Do you see the fraction markings? Right next to them is a hole you can put your needle into on the sewing machine.
Like so;
I was able to make sure my quarter inch foot marking was really marking a quarter inch. I’ve noticed my needle can be slightly off center sometimes. But it looks good here.
I used the ruler to mark the machine with masking tape.
I was curious to see if having a longer mark for the 1/4 inch guide would help on my blocks. It didn’t hurt.
Also I used it to mark the diagonals on the small squares for the Friendship blocks. It has the perfect mitered edge for just a task.
Time to sew!
My blocks this month lost some points. I pulled apart and redid pieces many times. In the end I am quite pleased with how they turned out. I even went outside for a fancy photoshoot with them.
Remember, the Crossroads Quilt Along is raising money towards the March of Dimes. Please donate if you are able!
Now that the Crossroads blocks are done, I am (im)patiently waiting for the mini size from Sondra Davison of Out of the Blue Quilts. I am picking out and starching fabrics tonight!
Also, it is almost time for a special arrival!!!!!
I’ve signed up for the monthly Sew Sampler from Fat Quarter Quilts. The very first one ships this week and I can’t wait to share with you the surprises I find inside. I’m looking forward to trying out new notions and tools and giving you all an honest review of it all.
There are so many other projects I am working on too. I can’t wait to share them all with you.
