Machine Sewn Binding

Today's the last day for linking up to 100 Quilts for Kids and here's my final quilt.

I just grabbed the red and blacks/whites scrap bags, started cutting and sewing.  I must say, after several scrap quilts I am finally seeing a dimunition in scraps around here.  Plus I've been able to use up some fabric that's been in my stash forever, like when Clinton was president, the first term!

Here's the back.  About three minutes after I took this picture, we had a sudden cloudburst.  Weird weather here today in south Florida.  We're back to fully sunny now, five minutes later.

I attempted machine-sewn binding on this quilt, for the first time.  I like the speed of it but I did miss sewing on the binding to the back by hand.  I'm weird that way! I don't really think hand-sewn binding is any less sturdy than machine-sewn but the speed of finishing up in twenty minutes was nice!  I used a scant 2.25 inch cut for the binding width.  I think I'm going to try a generous 2.25 inch cut the next time.  Here's the binding,

Could be better but not too bad for a first attempt.  This one, like the others will be donated to Quilts for Kids.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Some Finishes

Hi quilting friends!  I've been on a mission to use up some of my scraps starting with making some charity quilts that will be donated to Quilts for Kids.  I got the idea because every time I'd go through my stash I'd run across this vacationing duck fabric.  I must have bought 3 or 4 yards originally, what was I thinking?  Somewhere along the way I must have used some of it for borders because I had long lengthwise strips left over.  It was time to use it up!

                                           

I used one of the simple patterns on the QFK website, one that seemed to maximize the duck usage!

I used stitch number 719 elongated on my Bernina to quilt what I hope look like waves.  Seemed appropriate.  Yay! But then I found more duck fabric! So I made this also using nothing but fabric from my scrap bags.

Sorry about the bad iPhone pictures but it's been so long since I used my camera the battery was dead.  Yikes!

I quilted wavy lines using a pre-programmed stitch again.  I think I got a little carried away with this one.  I was hoping to make a dent in my scraps but no such luck!

And number 3!

More scraps and the last of the ducks! Yippee!  I used 3.5 inch squares and quilted it with straight lines on either side of all seams, about half an inch away from the seams.  I've found this whole process quite liberating and decided I need to do it more often.  No agonizing over the perfect fabric and where it should go in the quilt.  I just grabbed and started sewing.

If you've made a quilt for charity you can enter the picture or blog post over at Quilts in the Queue and be entered for prizes.  I'm off to look for a box.
Thanks for stopping by!

Summer Sewing

Cleaning up the prior day I forgot to move this pile of scraps, meowing ensued rather loudly the next morning until I came and moved what was invading "her" space. Amazing how they "train" us!
If you have not visited the various Pets On Quilts participants, I urge you to do so. There are so many cute pets and quilts to enjoy.

This is the quilt Cinabella has claimed and was shown on in the prior post. It's made out of leftovers from a prior project, no pattern just squares put together in an effort to use up a small amount of pink chenille I had leftover.

I just quilted it by meandering.

And bordered it using my favorite fabric. I bought all my LQS had at the time but wish I had more.  It's called Charlotte by Anna Fishkin for Red Rooster Fabrics. I know it's silly but I have an irrational love of it!

Those green ferns on a mottled background and I swoon everytime!  You can see the other fabrics in the line archieved  here. I am glad my LQS had the green ferns as that would have been my choice of the 4 colors offered.

This is the quilt the budgies were on. I call it the Wisdom Teeth quilt. My daughter had her 4 wisdom teeth removed in May 2007 and to keep her company I perused Ebay for the first time. I was the winning bid on a stack of 9-patches thinking I really scored.  They were all made using Joann's fabric and rayon thread! Uh oh! That taught me to read Ebay carefully and ask questions. So, I sat, in between making mashed potatoes for my daughter, and ripped out the thread and re-sewed the 9-patches. This is only half of them, the ones I thought went together. I do love the way it turned out.

Except for the binding. I made a two-colored binding, yellow on front and aqua on back, but you can see the aqua through the yellow binding on the front. Sort of. I don't know if it's worth the effort of re-binding it though.

These are 8-inch blocks I donated to a quilter who is making a Quilts of Valor quilt. I swore I'd not make another Missouri Star block that small again and then Randy posted one at six-inch! I grumbled and complained but did it and it wasn't too bad.

I wish I'd used a darker fabric for the star points.

This is Handweave.

And this is Boxes and Baskets.
Glad you came for a visit~

I Sewed!

Once I got into the sewing room today I remembered I had started making what Rosemary Youngs calls Quilt Blankets for a charity project she's started in Africa.  More info here.  I sent her a big box of culled fabric from my stash last month and ran across some orphan blocks that I just knew I'd never make into a quilt.

Following Rosemary's directions, there's no batting, the backing is flannel, sewn right-sides-together and then turned right-side out eliminating the work of a binding.  The edge is ironed flat, then topstitched on all four sides. I used a variety of the original Aunt Grace fabrics from the 90s.   This one's about 30 by 40 inches.

These blocks aren't too old but I lost interest in continuing to work with them.  I had a stack of fat quarters of the whole line that I had been hoarding since I bought them in 1999.  I made a couple of tops with them but they're just so darn stiff and thin!  That stiffness just doesn't improve with washing either.  It is really remarkable the evolution cotton fabric has taken in the last 10 to 15 years.  Anyway, I got both finished today and will mail them off tomorrow.  I am hoping to get to make some more Sow-A-Long blocks from over at Randy's.
Thanks for stopping by~

Chirp, Chirp

Hello everyone!  I've been busy with a lot of projects, starting with some pillowcases made for  ConKerr Cancer.  Most of my LQSs support this worthy cause which makes donating easy, just sew them up and drop them off.  Each pillowcase made gets about a yard of fabric out of my stash thereby making room for some new fabric. 

I finished the binding on the table runner.  It's a nasty job but had to be done.  I hate hand sewing the binding but hate the look of it machine sewn so I'm stuck.  I know some of you like the hand sewing part (probably the same people who like applique, lol!) and I wish you lived next door to me.

I spotted this fabric at my LQS and was inspired to make a small quilt for my DD.  Her room at Oxford is strictly the bare essentials.  The bed linens are provided and are all white.  A little color was needed so I made a little quilt to hang up.  I was quite pleased with the results.

I made this a while ago in pinks and purples for a doll quilt swap I was involved in.  Here's a close-up of the free motion quilting,

and that bird fabric that got me started, in one of the windows.  I wished I'd put white in the other window once I was done, for balance.  Still cute I think.

I love these little labels.  I re-discovered them recently having forgotten I'd purchased them in the first place.  They are nicely finished an all sides,

And finally a picture from my iPhone taken in the bookstore just because it was so gosh darn cute.  I love chihuahua dogs and this little guy leaves me with cute-overload!  I'd love to get one but I don't think my 16 year old cat would ever forgive me.

Until next time, happy sewing! and thanks for visiting.

This and That

Hope everyone had a pleasant weekend.  I spent mine sewing ~ On Saturday my LQS sponsored a Pillowcase Challenge Day.   I precut a bunch of novelty fabric and ended up using it all, 10 pillowcases, which means 10 yards out of my stash!

Then while waiting for my fabric to finish my Patchwork Party sampler quilt to arrive I started another kit in my stash.  Another one I have no recollection of buying nor can I summon up why I would want to make a kite-themed quilt.

Here's the fabric,

I decided to use this pattern from Moda instead.

The blocks are large ~ 15 inches. And I like them better than the kites!  My fabric came on Saturday late afternoon so I was able to add the sashing and cornerstones on Sunday. 

I love how it's turning out, so soft and feminine looking.  All I have left is a light pink tone-on-tone floral for an inner border and then the purple for the outer border.

And a pocket tissue holder I made for my daughter.  I made the quilted fabric and somehow it came out all askew and with squares rather than diamonds. 
Lastly, the back of a quilting book I found at the library featuring a men's quilted vest that I thought was a hoot!  Can you imagine... LOL.

Thanks for visiting.

Quilts for Kids

I was just poking around Jane's blog a few weeks ago when I saw a post about The Downy Quilt. It's a charity that collects quilts for kids and they will send you a kit to make one. Of course, having absolutely no constraints on my time, Ha!, I requested one.

Oh look, the instructions say I have 4 to 6 weeks before I have to send back the completed quilt. But wait what's this...

Aw, geeze, do you see that, Remember A Child Is Waiting For This. That line did me in. So...







Binding all sewn all and pinned. If anyone else would like to get a kit or more info, go here.
I have not started my November Schnibbles in the Year of Schnibbles that I am doing. No inspiration there! I am leaving tomorrow for the World Quilt Show in West Palm Beach, maybe inspiration will strike.
Talk to you later!