Another fun Instagram-along has been called #PinkSwap2017 in which we are making either large or small mini-quilts in pink to send to a secret partner. There's no blog to link you with for this one, and getting in on this particular swap is long-closed. But here's my progress so far.
And lastly for this post, I've been working on the Free Block of the Month being generously hosted by Alida at TweLoQ Designs. The final quilt will be called "Growing Up" because this is a skill-builder!
I had never done raw-edge applique before this, and I'm glad her January block 'pushed' me into it. I like it! I investigated how it turns out after laundering a few times, and it really does well if you use the right fusible backing and a quality quilting cotton fabric. There's actually more I've been up to, but that's enough for today. This post will link up with the parties at: Confessions of a Fabric Addict Fort Worth Fabric Studio Nina-Marie Sayre Busy Hands Quilts
Thank you for reading my blog! (I really mean that.)
This is my first year doing any quilting swaps at all! One that I'm most excited about having joined isStash Bee 2017.
A second first (don't get to say that often) is doing a wonky style of block. I've always been a color-in-the-lines type girl, but 2017 is my year to expand my quilty skills. Right out of the gate in January charges a design where I'm the one who decides where to make the cut and what size the block will be.
via Giphy
The January Queen Bee provided a link to an excellent tutorial by Amy at Diary of a Quilter. And, voila, here they are, blocks for her Magical Forest quilt.
After many hours at the sewing machine, and who knows how many yards of thread, I've completed my submission for the first challenge in the eighth season of Persimon DreamsProject Quilting, hosted by the talented Kim Lapacek:
Pieces of Eight
Being one of the “eight-iest” images out there, my husband helped me select an eight-pointed Missouri Star. Greg really has the best eye for design in our family, so I generally defer to his advice on these matters. (Love you, Dear.)
My S.A.B.L.E produced several prints with “eight-y” design elements: four aqua and four blue. For negative space, four white and four light gray prints were chosen.
Running with the 45-degree angles angle, which produces the Star in Missouri Star, eight triangles were sewn into half-square triangles, bearing a 4-inch basic block. The resulting quilt is 32-inches on each side.
Each block's eight-pointed center was emphasized with a circle to make the seams read as radii. For more structure, I quilted in the ditch through the block centers. This produced eight chains of eight circles.
But wait - there's more! The “eight-y” mathematics of the quilt can be summarized in this list of eight different features:
512 total triangle pieces (the cube of 8) 64 total quilt blocks (the square of 8) 64 circles quilted 8 points in the Missouri Star 8 pieces in each four-inch quilt block 8 different aqua/blue fabrics 8 different white/gray fabrics 8-sided designs in some of the fabric prints.
With all of the eight-pointed block centers, especially in the high contrast sections, there was a bit of "quality control" required. (Thank you again, Dear.) Several blocks that didn't pass muster were re-sewn.
Without belaboring eight any further, here are the rest of the pics:
Thank you VERY much for reading this blog post. May you all enjoy a happy and healthy 2017!
(Note to Kim Lapacek: Could the next challenge theme please be "One"?)
And we're off! The QALs, challenges, and sewing room cleanup checklists have begun.
Here's my first offering in The Quilter's Planner weekly block challenge hosted by Gnome Angel. The challenge part of the QAL is happening on Instagram, but lots of bloggers are getting in on the action too.
Aren't I a good little copier? ;-) Solids and modern blocks are out of my comfort zone, so I'll be sticking pretty close to the fabrics and colors of the patterns.
2017 is the year of learning new skills and all the bias edges in this block were challenging. But I made them obey my will. Mostly. Don't look too close.
During 2017 I am committed to being more generous in sharing my fabric hoard collection. But of course, I want to make quilts with that fabric before I give it away! (See 'stash justification' on my 2017 planning post. ;-) ) One deserving charity is Quilts Beyond Borders. Their volunteers deliver hundreds of quilts to children around the world in need.
Because the recipients are children, the size requested is very quiltable on my domestic tabletop mid-arm. They prefer 40-45" by 48-60". They also accept unquilted tops and seek volunteer longarmers to finish them.
In the U.S. there are many regional collection points, which helps save on shipping costs. I aim to collect up a few at a time to get some savings with the theme "if it fits, it ships" -- lol. The first pattern I've chosen is from the wonderful blogger Christa Quilts. Her quilt style is always cheerful, so her free Puzzle Box pattern was a natural choice for its energy alone.
But wait! There's more! Puzzle Box is perfect for a leaders/enders style project.
Having cut and stacked the block-makings for the first quilt, I've got a jumpstart on 2017!
Do you have any specific charity sewing in mind for 2017? Please comment and share your plans below. Others may want to see a variety of ideas to inspire their own New Year's resolutions!
