Getting There -LHQS 2.0

The Left Handed Quilter Sampler quilt was started in January. Today it has become a top.

I knew when I started this quilt that it would be made on an "as time allows" basis. I am happy that it has become a top already.  There are 32 pieced blocks in the quilt.  It is set on-point with sashing and cornerstones.  Most of the patterned fabric in the pieced squares are Kaffe Fasset fabrics.

 Quite possibly there will be a border added to this top.  That will make it easier to square up without losing points off the on-point squares.  Once again, there is no rush to finish this quilt.
The friend holding the quilt for the photo said "the colors in this are really pretty."  I agree wholeheartedly.  I am loving this one.


Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Progress - at least a bit

Sometimes life gets in the way of quilting.  This week and next week are like that. Medical appointments and other commitments can consume a lot of time.  But I finally managed to squeeze in some time to work on the LHQS quilt top.   Back in April I got the diagonal rows sewn.  And now I have started the sashing to join them.  I am working from the corners toward the middle.  That way only half of the top will be under the needle at once - at least until I sew that center seam!

 For now I have the two corners joined.  The paper pieces pinned in place are my way of keeping a little order so that I don't have to lay out the quilt each time I work on it.  One corner is marked "A" and the other is marked "B."   The remaining strips are marked "A1, A2, B1, and B2." 

To speed the process, I cut a stack of sashing sections (6.5" by 2.5") to have at the machine so when I get a few minutes to sew, I can add those 2.5" squares to them as mindless sewing.  Then I can join the strips for each sashing row.

I am sure that I will have to cut more of the sashing strips before I finish.  I will also have to cut border strips to surround the pieced top.  I find that important for on-point tops to help prevent stretching. (I prefer to add the border rather than stay stitching the edges.)
I am undecided if I will end with the teal border or add a print border outside it.  But, that is a decision for another day.

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

A Bit of Quilting

In case you are wondering if I am doing any sewing or quilting... here is a little peek at the Island Batik May challenge quilt that I am now quilting.

I call this quilting pattern Vertical (or horizontal) meandering. I first called it "straight line meandering."  I kept thinking  "there is nothing straight about it."   But unlike a typical meander, the lines flow in one direction.

But in some places on the quilt, the lines are in the opposite direction. There is also some free motion quilting on parts of the quilt.  As this is a Modern quilt using the principles of improvisational piecing and areas of negative space, I wanted the quilting to be just as improv as the quilt top.

This challenge is the 'Make it Modern with Hobbs Batting."  I am using Hobbs black 80/20 batting for this and it is great.  The batting doesn't show through at all and there is no bearding.  The gray fabric you see is  Island Batik's solid gray batik.  They make solids in black and white as well as the gray.  Due to the tighter weave of the batik fabric base it is wonderful.  There is less fraying (almost none) and virtually no show through.

Have you ever made a modern type quilt? If so share it with me.
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

More Units Made

The Daisy Chain Quilt Along is still going strong.  Monday, Alison released the instructions for Unit D.  This involved sewing some strips together and sub-cutting them before joining them to other strips.
Here are the strip sets that I sewed.  I chose to use three Island Batik fabrics in each set, along with one solid in an aqua color.  I did not use the same three batiks in each set, but I aimed for a nice scrappy variety but using the aqua in each set added a bit of consistency.
Here are some of the strip units.

As you can see I did repeat some of the batiks, but I also mixed it up so that there was a planned randomness.
Those strips were cut into two and a half inch sections and sewed to the  background strips.

 Finally those needed to be pressed open to finish unit D.

Since I am making the throw sized quilt, I  constructed a total of 24 of these units.  According to the schedule we will begin using the various units to start constructing our quilt tops on May 6th.  I am really looking forward to seeing exactly how these units will go together to become a quilt.
This has been a fun quilt along for me so far.  I really think that I will love the finished quilt.

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

April Challenge: Island Batik and Accuquilt Go!

The Island Batik Ambassadors were given an Accuquilt Ready, Set, GO! package this year as part of an industry partnership with Island Batik.  For the April Challenge we were asked to make a baby quilt using the Go! cutter and the 8" Qube set that are included with the package.

This is the point where I confess that this was actually the first quilt top that I made as an Island Batik Ambassador.  I could not resist playing with the dies and experimenting with the blocks in the Eleanor Burns book that came with it.  I wanted to try every block in the book, but I managed to limit myself to only enough to make the quilt.  Since it is an on-point layout, that came to thirteen blocks.  I chose to use black, gray, and white as the setting triangles and sashing.

There are four of the "Sawtooth Star" blocks in this quilt. There are two "Old Maid's Puzzle" blocks, two "Frayed Four-Patch" blocks, two "Broken Sash" blocks, one "Whirlpool" block and one  variation on it, where I just changed the construction - I am calling it a design choice.  And in the very center there is a "Dutchman's Puzzle" block.

The Accuquilt package also came with a 2 1/2" strip die.  I used that die to cut the sashing strips and cornerstone squares.

This quilt measures 42 inches square.  The batting is Hobbs Premium Cotton batting.  The quilting was done with Aurifil threads in black and gray.  I decided to do a casual quilting that is less dense than my usual quilting as I wanted the baby quilt to be soft and snuggly.  In these photos the quilt has already been washed to produce the "crinkle" effect that I find so appealing in a quilt that will be used and loved.

I decided to do a two color binding in blue and red in order to echo some of the colors in the quilt.

Here is a cute photo with a couple of teddy bears from Mom's collection.

The fabrics were provided to my by Island Batik as an Island Batik Ambassador and the Accuquilt Ready, Set, GO! cutting system was also provided as mentioned above by Accuquilt in partnership with Island Batik. The Hobbs Batting was also provided as a part of the Ambassador program.  The Aurifil thread was in my stash although other Aurifil threads were also provided by the Ambassador program.  My sincere thanks to Island Batik and all of the partners/sponsors of the program.

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

A Little Construction

Over a month ago, I had the blocks made for the LHQSQ 2.0 quilt along.  Then life got in the way.
Early in April I was in an accident and was diagnosed with a cervical injury.  I will be fine, but it has certainly slowed me down.  I am doing physical therapy and trying to regain my strength fully. (That means doing the therapy exercises daily. And I am being compliant.)

For now I can only do so much at a time to avoid causing a flare up in the neck and shoulder. But enough "whining."  I did manage to cut some sashing strips and setting triangles for the top.  I also sewed all of the rows.

As you can see, I still need the other sashing strips and cornerstones to complete it. But, I have learned when to say "That is all I can do today." and then stop.
My plan is to use leftover pieces of the Kaffe fabric for the cornerstones.  I love the bright and happy feel that the combination with the turquoise fabric gives it.  I am undecided about adding an outer border at this point. Once it is all together I can make that decision.

I don't think I will ever get tired of making sampler quilts.

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

A Sneak Peek!

I know I haven't posted in over a week.  I am sorry.  There have been several things that have happened in my life that I just can't talk about right now.   Just know that I am still here.

Now,  Let me give you a bit of a sneak peek at a quilt that will be my April Island batik challenge quilt.  The fabrics were all provided by Island Batik as a part of the Ambassador program.

This is a baby quilt but it has a more modern aesthetic.  The sashings, cornerstones and setting triangles are in gray, black, and white.  Since it is a baby quilt I did more casual quilting on it also.  I really like the two color pieced binding in red and blue.  It adds a nice pop of color to the edges. 

Hopefully in a few days I will be able to get good photos of the quilt and post them for your enjoyment.

Have a great week.


Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.