Phew

Look at the simple piecing.  I figured this would take me about a month, maybe two if I took my time.  5 months!  The crooked bandanas?  I was trying to wash out the dye smell and make the fabric less stiff.  100% cotton in hot water.  I am not laundry proficient!  But I learned my lesson.  From there, things just kept going wrong.  But I am so happy it's done!

It's got flaws throughout, most of which I was able to hide.  I was going to take some better pictures, but forgot before it was time to pack it up and mail it off to my step-mother-in-law.  I really hope she likes it!  At least enough to line a stall with it, if need be.  I really need to sharpen my skills.

Autumn Scraps

This was a quick project I actually finished over a week ago.  Just a bunch of scrap fabric that happened to work perfectly for an autumn table runner.

The border fabrics were just laying around waiting for a purpose.  I used a zig-zag stitch to quilt in a rectangle around the patches, then hand quilted the inside.

Well, that's not a great picture of the quilting, but at least you can kinda see where I couldn't get the chalk marking off.

Right now I'm trying to figure out quilted Christmas stockings.  REALLY don't think I'll have these done in time for this year, but maybe next year.

Machine Applique

My first autumn table runner is finally done.

I wasn't happy with my color choices once I had pieced the top, so I added some zaz to it with the appliqued leaves.  It was my first time doing any kind of applique, and I didn't do so hot.

I used a zig-zag stitch with some heavy yellow thread that you would normally use on jeans.  I thought it gave it a country primitive look.  But I messed up several times, and I'm afraid to wash it for fear the leaves will shred.

In the very center, I machine-quilted a design, which I ended up screwing up horribly.  So after carefully picking out the stitches, I hand-quilted the same design.  But it may never look quite right.

And here's the back.  All in all, I like it, and I'll definitely use it.  But it's certainly not up to the standards of being a gift.

Free Motion Machine Quilting

I got my darning foot!  Then I discovered that the feed dogs cannot be lowered on my sewing machine.  I would have to remove them entirely, and I need those for piecing.  So I used the old masking tape trick after setting the stitch length to 0.

After practicing on scraps, I went ahead and tried a meandering design on my latest table runner.

I am a beginner, remember.  There were a lot of times when I couldn't get the fabric to go through the machine at a consistant speed.  My machine is not great for this kind of quilting.  But it got the job done.  This runner was done with all the scraps from my patchwork quilt, the first one I ever completed.

I am going to get in some more practice with this darning foot once I start on my autumn runners.  First, I'm busy with the cowgirl quilt.  Got a ways to go before that one's done.  But I'm getting there.

Simple Machine Quilting

I got tired of hand-quilting, and decided to try doing something simple on my machine that didn't require a darning foot, which I don't have.

So I threw together some scrap blues to also test out spray basting, something I love for small projects.  For quilting it, I just did some crooked lines all over.  So here's my first pieced table runner.

The only thing I bought for this project was the fabric adhesive spray, and the backing.



I'm really proud of how this turned out.  My binding stitches are getting a bit better, and I love the color.  In fact, I was so proud, I cut a new table runner in the exact same pattern with my scrap greens and purples.  But I won't do this type of quilting again.  The crooked lines acheived the look I was going for, but it was SUCH a tedious process!

A New One

Here's a sample from the quilt I am starting for my step-mother-in-law.  She's the ultimate cowgirl princess, so I went with pink bandana material and leftover denim from Andrew's jean quilt.

This one's going to take a while.  But I'm having a lot of fun with it so far.  I found some unusual bandanas online that will be used as whole quilt blocks.  No idea how I'm going to quilt it with the jean pockets on there...

Fun with Hand-Quilting

I enjoyed making this table runner.  Probably the funnest project I've ever done.  I got to use bright colors, polish up my hand-quilting skills and try binding 135 degree corners.

I'm still getting the hang of binding.  Lots of errors there.  But it's a sturdy little thing, and I love the colors!  I hope my cousin likes it as much as I do. 

I'm taking a break from piecing for a while.  There are a few half yard pieces I have that would make neat table runners, so I'm going to get to work on those.  Finishing projects is giving me almost as massive a high as starting them, heh. 

Still Working

I haven't given up, yet!  Right now I'm working on the yellow and purple snail's trail quilt.  It's a pain because there has been so much repairing to do.  I pieced it years ago when I just barely knew how to operate a sewing machine.  But I got a border on it, and am deciding how to proceed.  I'd like to do an allover spider web quilting design with clear thread, then embroider a metallic silver web in two of the corners.   Hmmm, still thinking.

I am also doing a table runner for my cousin.  It's in the hand-quilting stages, which I'm really enjoying.  Pictures when there's more to show.

Birthday Gift

I enjoyed making this one for a Cancer whose birthday is this month.

It was going to be a mug rug, but got a little out of control when I realized I had the blue and yellow fabric to go with it.  Then I found the iron-on stars.  I just had way too much fun with this.

I machine quilted it (I still suck at that, but slowing getting better) with yellow thread in star patterns.

I'm digging through my stash looking for bright rainbows for my next project.  I'm also again working with the snail's trail quilt (the yellow and purple one), fixing some of the seams and trying to get it done by Father's Day...  we'll see about that.

Finally!

Big Blue is complete!  I just finished the binding Thursday.  I really hope Andy likes the quilt.

Remember, I'm a beginner.  It's not the most glamorous work, but it's pretty sturdy, and very comfortable.  I guess that's all a quilt needs to be.

Next Step

Finally finished quilting Big Blue!!  And I've concluded that I need a better foot for my sewing machine, and a *padded* chair at my sewing table.

Now I need to square it off and bind it.  I hate this part.

Waiting a Little Longer

So here's one from 2003.

This was the first time I'd ever had to cut pieces that weren't all the same size.  And I was using a Sharpie to mark my fabric....  Also, I was an utter beginner on the sewing machine, at which I've never been very gifted.

I started the project for my now husband.  I stopped at ten squares because I was tired of it, and thought a nice wall quilt would look just fine in our Nightmare Before Christmas themed bedroom.  I have almost a full yard left of eache fabric, though.  I've been waiting until I feel like doing a big bed quilt, but I just don't know if I'll get there.  So now I need to figure out what to put on the borders and backing.  It's hard to find a fun fabric that goes with both yellow and purple without looking too loud... 

So this one's going back on the shelf until I have some dollars laying around for just the right fabric.

Fail

I'm too embarrassed to post pictures of my failed quilted coaster experiment.  There are free instructions all over the internet, but I didn't bother because I got too excited to get started.  Seemed simple enough.  What a pain!  I am now dramatically avoiding contact with my sewing machine until it's time to finish Big Blue.

Lesson learned.  Binding a teeny 4"x4" quilted coaster is wrong!  It seems I was supposed to do it pillow-style, sewing inside-out and flipping it...  I may try again in a few months.  I have too many scraps to avoid something like this for long.

Borders and Backing

I picked up some solid slate blue for the inner border, on super sale.   I also got the backing.  I was planning to piece the backing, using the rest of my blue scraps (there are more than enough!) but on a whim decided I'd prefer some part of this quilt to look ... not chaotic.  (Also, the 108" backing was $9 a yard!)

Eh, you'll have to click on the picture to see it better.  The big border I was planning to use on something else.  It's currently my favorite fabric ever.  But thought it looked too perfect with this.

Here's the backing.  I tried getting a picture without the cat, but that was love at first sight.  Sorry Andy.  I promise to wash it before you get it.

I did a weird size on this.  I was planning to do something normal, like Full Size, but got carried away, so now it's a plump 88"x73". 

Now I have to pick up some batting and get the real work started.

Teeny Project

I started this yesterday and just finished it.  I have so many small scraps that seem impractical to keep around, but got the idea to do doll quilts.  It gives me a chance to practice machine quilting and binding, which have always been my weaknesses.  Plus, I've always wanted to make something for my neice Kailey, and was unsure of what I could do that I wouldn't flake out on.

The backing fabric was one of my most beloved scraps.  It's got some nice metallic gold in there.

Turns out, on a tiny quilt, all the flaws are the same size as a big quilt, so UTTERLY noticeable!  But I've already learned a few lessons from this, and may now be brave enough to attempt a table runner.

One with a Deadline

I have my brother's name for Christmas this year.  He said he would like to have a quilt.  He's in his early 20's and doesn't really have one right now.  You know bachelors and their ways.  So I focused on one particular scrap heap in my possession.

My sister-in-law donated some of her old jeans for the project, and after two sewing machine break-downs, a couple trips to the Sears repair center, a borrowed machine, and several blisters from cutting up jeans, I finally did this:

It's not the best jeans quilt I could imagine, but I love blues, and I really think he'll appreciate it.  This weekend I will need to find batting and something for the border.  I have a LOT more fabric from this stash, but I don't know what I'm going to do yet.  All I know is that it has to be completed by July 20 so I can take it with us to California.  I will not spend money on shipping!

Hello!

Here's a little about me before I start posting my projects.

I've been married for about five years, and have a 10 month old son.  We live in New Mexico with our two cats.  My husband and I were born in California, but fell in love with NM (and the cost of living) after our first extended visit.  We moved here in 2008 with almost nothing, but both managed to find jobs and build a pretty neat life.

I call myself a quilter, but I've only actually finished a couple of quilts.  I have such a love for fabric and color, and have only recently learned enough about the quilting process to start actually finishing the tops I've started.  So I wanted to sort of catalogue them as I go.  Hope I don't lose momentum!