Jul-Aug-Sept Review

My 2010 Quilt Challenge is still on track... and here comes the third instalment. It has been enjoyable and when I seem to tire of it, I receive such wonderful responses, that it surely bounces me back into gear to continue the journey.

Take another look at the projects that I’ve blogged about over these last three months:

--Quilting Books on Review--

Several main goals still being maintained for this challenge are...
· EXPLORING the books in my own library with the Fuse-and-Tell book recently added to my collection.
· USING fabrics I already own, with only a few exceptions, as I bought some new fabrics at a yard sale.
· CREATING small projects to test out these new techniques is still my favorite way to test out new ways.

JULY 2010

Quilting for the first time
Donna Kooler

Redwork – Project 4

Book Project (on left)  /  My Quilt (on right)

My eleventh project allowed me to try Redwork embroidery. I had considered it before, but had not yet achieved that goal.  I do enjoy embroidery and while this project was fun; I really do like working with lots of colours, not just one.

The question on project 4 was “How do I frame needlework with a lattice-strip border?” This I almost got right, but did make one mistake on the bottom strip. Oh, well, it looks okay.

This project is: 8 3/4" x 10 1/4" including the hanging tabs. Mine was very close at: 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" not including the tabs.

Advancing On II – with the Square-In-A-Square technique
Jodi Barrows

In The Garden with Tumbling Blocks

 

Book Project (on left)   /  My Quilt (on right)

My twelfth project was definitely fun to make and this was a good start in seeing how much fun the Square-In-A-Square ruler was to use. So, I’d love to come back and try out more of the options. And, her website has even more options available then are in this book.

This project is: 48" x 55" and rated as an intermediate level. Mine was very small as I only tried out a small sample and is: 33" x 18". I followed the block chart diagram and then modified the size with the additional fancy strips on the sides.

AUGUST 2010

Nature’s Elegance
Jan Kornfeind

Butterfly Fancy Wall Hanging

Book Project (on left)   /  My Quilt (on right)

My thirteenth project was perfect for using those colourful scrap fabrics and an opportunity to dig into my button jar. Sewing on those 70 buttons did take some time, but if you love buttons it is a great way to use them. The book has some great options for using the butterfly blocks. And, one day I hope to revisit this book and try a project with birds.

This project is: 33 1/2" x 33 1/2". Mine was almost the same size, but I chose to add narrower borders at: 25 1/4" x 25 1/4".

SEPTEMBER 2010

Beautiful Borders Backings & Bindings
Jill Reber and Margaret Sindelar

Orange Blossom Table Runner

Book Project (on left)   /  My Quilt (on right)

My fourteenth project was a change from the typical square shaped quilts. Even though I’ve used a mock piping on several projects, it was time to try a real piping technique. I did have trouble with the piping not knowing which machine foot would allow me to get close enough during the construction and when stitching it in place. I know I’ll have more success next time, when I use a much narrower cord.

I also didn’t really have the best greens to choose from to match up the project’s requirements, but did have experience with bias binding and attaching piping to a project. This project is: 18" x 34". Mine was very close at: 15 1/2" x 31". It ended up a bit smaller because I preferred to have the border narrower with the colour I chose.

Fuse-and-Tell Journal Quilts
Laura Wasilowski

Peaceful Landscape: A Deceptively Calm Day

Book Project (on left)   /  My Quilt (on right)

My fifteenth project was definitely fun to make after I sorted out how I’d arrange my fused pieces. It seemed better when I changed the story of the quilt to something I liked. I stitched clouds in the sky and added a tree. It may even be an orange tree, now that I think about it. I like eating oranges. I really enjoyed the variety of embroidery stitches and colours used. It was also fun to embellish with rick rack and buttons. Hand stitching is not really so terrible as I’ve thought, mostly because there is no hemming involved in quilting.

I think I’ll still add a hanging sleeve sometime, as I didn’t feel the small hanging rings were enough for the weight of my quilt with the extra layers. This project is: 16" x 16". Mine was close at: 18 1/2" x 15 1/2".

What techniques do you wish to try or already are your favourites? If you have enjoyed this review, why not leave a comment below?

See what’s coming up… check out my website for more quilting techniques and inspiring books.

Enjoy your week…

Square in a Square

Book:

ADVANCING ON II with the SQUARE IN A SQUARE technique / Jodi Barrows

This is a workbook for the Square in a Square technique system for Options #1-17. It replaced the original “Advancing On” book.

Book, Fabrics

I had seen this technique demonstrated on TV many years ago, and thought… this is something I want to learn. However, as time passed, many other things and quilting techniques distracted me.

So, when I was looking through my own quilting books, realizing that I was soon to run out of books I hadn’t tried yet... I picked this one up. I decided it was time to try it…

Time to reveal my next project... I choose: “In the Garden with Tumbling Blocks” on page 69. It is labelled at an intermediate skill level project.

As I considered what I could make, this project felt like the best option… as I knew, I wouldn’t be able to try all 17 options this time; but if I tried just a few, I’d see how FUN this was!!

The project was for making a 48” x 55” sized quilt. It was going to have to be downsized for my challenge. So, as I turned the page, there was my answer that I needed… a tumbling block chart and diagram showing 12 blocks. Perfect size!!

So, I was going to finally:

          1.) get the opportunity to use that special ruler and try out two of the options (#1, #3) in this project!

          2.) do it by making a true tumbling blocks quilt. Some, say it is a difficult block to make!

Take a look… let me show you how easy it is to make when using the SQUARE IN A SQUARE technique.

Well, you know… there is ALWAYS something that seems difficult when trying out new techniques! Choosing your colors for a new project could be one of them, right? But, wait… To even make this simple, just pick a LIGHT, MEDIUM, and DARK fabric.

OKAY, ready!!… here are my fabric choices:

LIGHT: selvage block--MEDIUM: yellow--DARK: black

CONSTRUCTION OF THE BLOCK

After I had made my center blocks (using selvages), I was ready to construct the required blocks. I also needed to make sure my words would face in the proper direction.

First, two (yellow) pieces are sewn to opposite sides of the light color block (selvage block). Next, two (black) pieces are sewn to the two remaining sides of the center block.

 

Then, using the Square in a Square ruler, each corner is cut to produce the finished block, below.

   

After the individual blocks were constructed; they were sewn into rows of four blocks each. Shown below are two rows ready to be stitched together to make the 12 block square.

Close-ups… of the tumbling blocks. (Front & Back)

To complete the quilt…

I considered many options for finishing this 12-block piece. One goal I did have was to make something that didn’t end up square. To accomplish this, I cut off a piece of the bottom row and then added a white border. Now, what?

Here is one of the layouts, that was considered. I’d add a black border, all around; and a yellow/black strip on each side.

But… it didn’t seem very exciting, at this point. With the center of the block done with selvages, it seemed to need more.

So… I added more color to the sides!

 

The decorative strips on each side were made from fabrics used in the tumbling blocks. I continued adding pieces until I had the desired length. I even added pieces of the selvage block cut from the 12-block square. For more, I added mock piping, as shown below.

Now, that looked more like it!! I think I’ll stop there. As one can see, quilting is a very creative art. And, fun it was!!

Binding with Mock Piping

If you find some blocks difficult to make, it may be time to try the Square in a Square technique and see if you agree with me!! 

These tumbling blocks just “fell together” easily. Thanks Jodi for such a great way to construct quilt blocks!!

My Finished Quilt

(Finished size: 18” x 33”)

During the making of this quilt, I thought it would be fun to give all the Options in the book, a try.  In my opinion, that would be a great project for a sampler quilt. Also, check out Jodi’s website for more options, videos, and other fun stuff.

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PS… 

So, it worked out that I got to do tumbling blocks, after all, using a new twist! And, that is why quilters have so much fun with fabric!!

Why not start today… and unlock your own potential to begin producing wonderful discoveries of your own?

Selvage Blocks

To create the selvage block centers, I’ve posted an entry on my other blog, entitled: “Look, No Pins”. Otherwise this entry may never have ended…

Thanks for reading…

That Wonderful Stuff

When I planned this 2010 Quilt Challenge... I knew I wouldn’t be able to buy more fabric for quite sometime. I needed to utilize the supplies that already filled my sewing cabinet. This challenged me to select colors from what I had and made me realize that I did have great colors.

Browns, Yellows, Oranges

Those organized shelves of fabrics really did inspire me to try to stay true to my quilting goals for this challenge. The one thing I did need to buy was batting for finishing the quilts.
 
I do believe that most quilters already have an abundance of fabric and sewing supplies. So then what should we do with it all?

We could start by…

donating books to libraries or charitable causes

when no longer needed,

playing with our fabrics.. to try out more new techniques,

sharing our resources with new quilters or participating in a local quilt guild,

simply loving the inspiration those beautiful fabrics provide,

and stop feeling guilty!

It is my personal intent… to use those books that have previously just decorated my bookshelves and that fabric that looks so pretty in my cabinet; to use more of it and allow it to become…

Beautiful Quilts

What About This…

Have you ever read about or heard someone saying that you should “save for a rainy day”? Or, grown up with the idea that we need to save and store up supplies for that day when we may not have the resources or ability to buy more?

This may be fine for you, but it seems to me… that for the most part, it ends up being “stuff” we are constantly trying to keep organized, with little success.

And then, recently, I was at a huge personal fabric sale from a long time quilter that had recently passed on. No, I had never meet her or even knew her quilting style, but my guess was... that she had loved fabric!

Yes, it was indeed a great place to check out quality fabrics at low prices!  And this time, I was able to buy some pieces… and will look forward to adding them into upcoming projects! I chose mostly lights and darks so I have fabrics for those background colors I didn't have in my cabinet.

My new fabrics from that sale!

As I know that each of our life’s journeys is unique, it still makes me curious about…   I still wondered what she would think now of all that fabric that she wasn’t able to utilize? Would she have done things differently, if she had known the outcome?

It really does become apparent to me that there will be many times when our attempts to follow through on chosen projects will be challenged. So... my recommendation would be to seriously consider what you'll do with those great fabrics you have, this year!

Some Things to Ponder…

When we understand and have the belief that we create our own reality by our thoughts, we really can reshape our own existence to live a more joyful and happy life.

Those beautiful fabrics and books we own, hopefully, will inspire and teach us how to become more creative and expressive. Instead of excuses of “I can’t”, or “I don’t have time”, or “I don’t have enough” or “I don’t have money to create from what I have”, etc. you can turn those around, by affirming:

“I do have enough and whatever I require will always

show up in my life, right on time.”

In my own challenge so far, this year; I have learned to stretch my abilities to... use colors together that actually work from my supply, tried new techniques, and continue to focus on creating projects that I can share on this blog.

So why not find your own purpose and discover that you do have the ability within… to move ahead.

Cross that Bridge Today!

TWELVTH PROJECT - JULY 2010:

My twelvth project will be shared next week...

Advancing On II with the
Square in a Square Technique/
Jodi Barrows





More Book Titles...

If you wish to see more quilting books you can also check out my website for more details. Also, to check out the books that will be featured this summer.

Enjoy your summer… and continue being creative in making time to create beautiful stitches !!