Next, Please!

Since I finished the newer String Quilt/Phone Book Quilt, I thought I'd best back up and actually quilt the first one I pieced.  You know.  Back in June of 2011.  Actually I started in February of '09. Whoops!  But hey, I'm going back to finish it, so that's what counts -- right?!?

This one is made a bit differently, but is still pieced on phone book pages, using nothing but scraps!  In about the center of each block, I put a small piece of BDU fabric (camouflage fabric from one of my husband's old uniforms), and went from there.  You can get a feel for my "pattern" at this link.  Maybe more "system" than "pattern".  ANYWAY ...

Let me just say that I'm really glad I'm finally quilting it ... and that it's huge. Here it is, as I was making sure I had pieced a large enough backing:

And then sandwiched with the backing and batting:

It's really a cool quilt. I put so many of these fabrics into projects for other people (and for us, too) - it's really fun to see them again.

Because it's so huge (why did I do this to myself?), I struggled with how to quilt. Again, making it easier on myself, I'm going with my favored wavy lines - only this time, I'll eventually have a grid: three waves one way, three the other. Here's the beginning:

The gloves are a pain to wear, but they really do help with gripping.

Here's a look at the back:

I started on the cross-grid yesterday afternoon, but didn't take any photos. I hope to get back to work on it today.

I'm quilting in King Tut 953 - Lobelia. It's LOVELY shades of blue:

And above is my tip of the day - to help keep bobbins with the right threads -- use a golf tee! Very handy.

The girls have been very helpful in the process. They keep me relaxed and laughing, and are great company!

Thanks so much for reading!

Check That One Off!

Hi everyone!  In my quest to reduce my stash and actually finish things, I've checked another project off the list -- the String Quilt!  YAY!

Here's a look, before I washed it:

Oh, right. The ball. I had help in the Studio that day.

"Hello."

Maggie seems to like it. A lot.

I asked my husband to hold it for me after I ran it through the wash. It's so long, he had to go upstairs and hold it over the railing:

And the reverse:

That gives a pretty good look at that triple-line wavy design.

I think I mentioned this is to go at the foot of our bed, overtop of the denim quilt. Here it is, all set:

Have I mentioned Maggie really likes it?

"Could you keep it down, please?"

Her sister does, too. That makes my heart happy!

Thanks for reading!

Stringing Me Along

... or something like that!

As promised, an update on the String Quilt.  Phone Book Quilt.  Whatever. Regardless of what you'd like to call it, I'm getting there.

After I removed all the paper (never again!  not for a while) I pieced together a backing, grabbed some batting, and sandwiched the thing together. And basted really well.

Not really.  I spray basted.  Don't judge.

For the quilting, I reached into my King Tut stash and chose this one:

It's "Sands of Time", in case anyone was wondering.  Shades of beiges.  Really rich.

This might be the largest thing I've quilted by machine. If not, it's certainly right up there. My Bernina did me proud! I went with sets of three wavy lines:

I do need to start practicing with my BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator) again, but for now, I just really wanted to get on with things!

I decided to just add some 9-patches that were left over from something I was doing 10 years ago:

Just kidding. Sort of. As I was quilting, I noticed a "gap" between two fabric strings where either a slight seam let go somehow or they weren't lined up right or SOMETHING! But ... %$#@!!! HBO words uttered, then the fix with the 9-patches.

My FaceBook friends really liked the 9-patches on it and one friend suggested adding more. Sounded like a plan!

I added three here:

And one here:

I thought it was an exciting, creative solution! Other family members weren't quite as enthralled:

"Zzz..."

Sorry to bore you, Maggie!

Here it is, all set to trim up and sew the binding on:

Speaking of which ...

I must say, I love looking back at some of the fabrics! Most of them went into things I made for other people, so it's really fun to have bits and pieces sewn into something for us!

I'm still in the hand sewing phase of the binding:

It, too, is made strictly from scraps - just pulled from my 2.5" strips basket.  It's a slow process, especially since I should be writing Christmas cards and doing some baking for friends and neighbors, but I'll get there!

Thanks for reading!

Obsessing?

Hi everyone!  It's been a few weeks, but really - I HAVE been quilting!  I have picked all the paper off my String Quilt, have quilted it, and am in the process of doing the hand binding work.  I'll post pix of all of that next time.

Because I just can't have one thing going at a time (LOOK!  A SQUIRREL!), I started thinking about my next project.  My friend Denise and I decided we'd do a scrap quilt "together", and set about creating a board on Pinterest to kick ideas around.  We settled on an "x & +" quilt and agreed to start after the holidays.

Yeah.

So ... I couldn't just leave it hanging out there like that - right?  I mean, what if I hated how it went together or something?  I decided I owed it to both of us to make a test block. And I decided to use a bunch of Amy Butler prints I had from making bags. Here's what I came up with:

Hmm. I liked the process AND I'm still in love with the fabs. So I made another.

And then ... umm ...

Oops.  How did that happen?  I may have started obsessing over the blocks.  And the fabric.  And why did I have so few charm squares left?  Fortunately, I had some bigger cuts, so I started in on them.  Then, because I didn't think I had enough contrast going, I introduced a couple of "non-Amys" in there (the solid grey, the light with grey writing, and an off-white tone-on-tone that is also writing).

Some of the blocks above might make their way to the back of the quilt -- I'm just not sure at this point.  Maybe the low contrast is OK?  I might just send those first couple plus the other one with a touch of orange to the back.  Who knows? I don't even know what size I'm going for yet.

Anyway ... sorry, Denise.  I could very easily start over after the holidays!  Or keep adding to this.  If nothing else, I can attest that it's an extremely fun block to make!!

Thanks for reading!