Apr-May-Jun Review

My 2010 Quilt Challenge continues to forge ahead... and I am already at the midway point. It has been an enjoyable journey so far, as I continue to check out those quilting books on my own bookshelf. Some of them have waited until now to be enjoyed. 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,
· USING fabrics I already own,
· CREATING small projects to test out these new techniques.


APRIL 2010

Easy Does It for Autumn
Nancy Halvorsen

Halloween Candy Quilt

Book Project                            My Quilt

My sixth project was definitely fun to make and there are a few more projects in the book that I'd love to try. I usually change things that don’t fit my way of doing them. First off, I did not include any buttons, as they were specialty ones that I would have had to go buy. The only item I am allowing myself to purchase for this challenge is batting. And, secondly, I added a binding to the quilt when the pattern didn’t use that method; therefore not adding the hanging tabs, either. These types of quilts are my favourite as they are small, the machine appliqués are done with fusible web, and the quilting is easy to do on my own machine. My favourite choice for batting in these wall-hangings is fusible Pellon. This bright quilt will be certain to get attention with its beautiful autumn colors. If you prefer stitcheries, then you may like to make the smaller version in embroidery, as shown above. This project is: 9" x 24". Mine was very close at: 9 3/4" x 24 3/4".

New Collection of Classic Quilts
Lynette Jensen

High Country Pinwheels – Christmas

Book Project                                My Quilt

My seventh project went together quickly as it was all done by piecing the cut fabrics together. This method seems too plain for me, as I love embellishing with appliqué, buttons, and mock piping. However, the opportunity to use some of my Christmas fabrics, and see how fabric can create such an amazing result; were two factors in my choice. I also love the process of cutting up fabrics with my rotary tools, so it was still enjoyable. The projects in the book are mainly large quilts, so downsizing of the pieces was in order to get this one finished. Even though there are many beautiful quilts in this book, I think this is the only one I will try. This project is: 56" x 56". Mine was 32 1/4" x 32 1/4".

MAY 2010

The Bargello Quilt Book
Piecemakers

Mini-Bargello

Book Project                      My Project

My eighth project was inspired from all the colourful quilts shown in the book. So, did I follow the pattern? Yes and no! Firstly, the method is so simple... and fun. It is a must to follow the technique to achieve what is called “bargello”. However, the color palette is completely your own! I don’t know if I’ll make this exact pattern again. But I do know that trying a variety of “bargello styles” would be fun to explore. It was rather difficult to pick my colors, and when nothing suited the amount of print fabrics that I had on hand, I chose one print and the rest were plains. I hadn’t seen that color choice done before. And, then, I only picked seven colors instead of ten. I chose to do the ‘diagonal quilting’ over the ‘in-the-ditch quilting’. This quilting was actually quite fun... an opportunity for me to go out of my comfort zone. Although I still did breathe a sigh of relief when I got to the binding stage! I hung my quilt with the points going downward. The project shown is: 27" x 35". Mine was 29" x 25 3/4".

Four Seasons of Quilts

Cori Derksen and Myra Harder

Pumpkin Patch Baby Quilt

Book Project                        My Project

My ninth project began with enthusiasm; however, I just couldn’t get myself motivated to work on the freezer-paper templates and creating all that bias for the stems. Even with this background, you can see I have difficulty with random placement of color. So, I had to decide if I could push myself to doing it anyway or change the project to one I could complete. I went with the latter, and was very glad I did...

Holly and Berries Table Runner

Book Project            My Project

With a Christmas project already made in April, my first choice from the book was this autumn project. However, because this one wasn’t going to happen and I wanted to keep this book for May, this table runner was my second choice. Of course, I had to try my own method when doing the paper piecing portion. It worked out perfectly with the appliqué and my piece of holly and berries fabric. I had also planned on doing the stems in hand embroidery, but after spending so much time on my first attempt, I went with machine stitching, instead. Of course!

There are four fun mini projects (14” x 9”) that I’d go back for, but I still don’t know what I’ll do with my “Pumpkin Patch” appliqué-less quilt top. This completed project from the book is: 16" x 38". Mine was 15 3/4" x 34 1/2".

JUNE 2010

Turning Twenty... Again
Tricia Cribbs

9 Blocks – 3 x 3 setting

Book Project                        My Project

My tenth project was a perfect choice for using up some of those fat quarters that I have and aren’t particularly fond of as I like my fabrics to have two selvage edges. And fat quarters aren’t always so perfectly cut. I chose the smallest size because that is what I work with best. And, if you like to do everything will precision and order, then this technique is a sure thing to challenge you. When it says, “it makes no difference which side you choose”, it means exactly that. Of course, I am challenged when doing things randomly. So, if I ever make another one of these, I may just use my scrap fabrics, and choose my colors at random, to keep me from wanting to always match things up evenly! When quilting the layers together, I think all those seams and edges wanted to take a stretch because it wasn’t fun to quilt. I did, however, finally get it to work.

The project shown is done with the 12 blocks -3 x 4 setting. The finished size without borders would be 48 1/2” x 64 1/2 and with a 6 1/2” border would be 60 1/2” x 76 1/2”. Mine was the 9 blocks – 3 x 3 setting, and the pieces decreased by about one half to finish at 29" x 29".

Thanks for reading...

Enjoy your quilting adventure for... 2010!!

Next Week:
July begins my third quarter of quilting topics and book reviews. For more details of upcoming quilting techniques and more great books check out my website for even more inspirational ideas!!

Autumn Quilts

Book:
Easy Does It For Autumn/ Art To Heart by Nancy Halvorsen

Time to reveal my next project... I choose: "Halloween Candy Quilt" on page 5.

I know that for me.. Halloween isn’t until October 31st, but I have not done a quilt project from this book yet, and wanted to make a smaller fun project with these delightful autumn colors.

Fabrics, Book

For those of you enjoying the autumn season now, this book would fit in real well. Although, I don’t know when you celebrate Halloween, there are other great autumn projects to make. I look forward to revisiting this book, to make several more of these autumn projects.

I remember thinking last month, that April would be a time to do some fun seasonal quilts and so I’ve done just that! For me… if the quilt is small and it has an applique design on it, then I am very motivated to make it!!

To begin, I need fabric...

I find it rewarding to have my fabrics neat and tidy in this cabinet. I can easily pull out the fabrics and choose those that will be suitable candidates for my next project. Then, it is just as easy to put them back when I am done with them.

Fabric Cabinet

The assembly...

This project has two background pieces and one border that are all sewn together before the appliques are added. It makes it possible to have the design extend onto the border edges.

Quilt Top

The pattern uses the method of adding tabs to the top for hanging and no binding as the layers are put together and then turned. This was a method I would have chosen in the past because hand-stitching was not something I wanted to do.

However.. this time, I decided to add a binding and a hanging sleeve, instead. This is one technique that I have come to enjoy and adding the binding and hand-stitching it to the back is my preferred method, now.

Quilt Layers, Binding

For all bed quilts, I still would machine sew the binding to the reverse side and bring it to the front and then machine stitch it in place. This causes less stress on me and allows time for other things.

Embroidered phrase on the Moon

 Stitching around applique pieces

Finishing...

This is always a rewarding part. The binding is so easy to attach and creates such a lovely edge. And, the final steps are to attach a label to the back and take photos of the completed quilt.

Finished Quilt Showing the Binding

Finished Quilt

(Size: 9 3/4" x 24 3/4")

Need motivation:

After getting all the tax returns I needed to file, done early, I thought.. why not do a quilt theme out of season! If doing taxes is something you keep putting off, then why not challenge yourself to get them done and reward yourself with a fun quilt project.

Next week...

My next book choice and then a reveal the following week. If you wish to see what books are being featured you can also check out my website for more details.

Happy stitching!!

Jan-Feb-Mar Review

My 2010 Quilt Challenge for this year is still on track and may just be the most fun resolution I have ever set to follow. To share my progress with you, I thought it would be fun to do a review every three months with some more details. Take a look at the projects done so far as journaled on this blog:

    

--Quilting Books on Review--

My goal is to try new techniques from the quilting books in my own library first and then from ones I buy or borrow from the library. Two other goals are to use fabrics I already own and to first learn these new skills by making smaller projects.

As I believe when trying new techniques the success of completing the project is far greater when the project is small. If one does not prefer the technique, not much time or materials have been invested into a project that will never see the light of day.  All quilts should have an opportunity to shine!!

JANUARY 2010

Simple Stained Glass Quilts
Daphne Grieg and Susan Purney Mark

In The Back Country

 

Book Project                               My Quilt

My first project was really fun to make and there are many more projects in the book that I'd love to try. I usually don't stick with the exact directions on most patterns, so was impressed that I did for this one. I did make some changes to how I used color in the inner border.  I found cutting out the leading fabric with the art knife just like drawing. The  finished design was truly magical. This project is: 19 3/4" x 22 1/2". Mine was very close at: 20" x 22 1/2".

Fantastic Fabric Folding
Rebecca Wat

Kimono Sampler I

 

Book Project                                       My Quilt

My second project was a stretch for me as I am not really into fabric folding, so I did find the technique of folding a real challenge. However, I was really happy to see Rebecca include the kimono samplers, as they are much simpler to make. That made it possible for me to continue and be able to succeed in a finished project.  There are two other projects that I wish to try at a later date because I like the design, however, I would certainly replace the folding flowers with appliqued ones. This project is: 57 1/2" x 57 1/2". Mine was 27 1/2" x 27 1/2".  This smaller size is because I used the cutting instructions from the Kimono Sampler II but used the construction process from the Kimono Sampler I.  That worked really well for me.

FEBRUARY 2010

Quilts from the Selvage Edge
Karen Griska

Glass Tumbling Blocks                        Garden's Edge

 

Book Project                                    My Project

My third project was inspired from the quilt project shown above. My goal was to try making a border using selvages and then do something on the center block. I love applique so created flowers cut from selvage squares. I figured there would be opportunity to create a quilt from this book after I had collected the selvages from all the projects made during my quilt challenge.  However, since I didn't wish to wait until then, I created a design of my own. The project shown is: 48" x 49". Mine was 25" x 25".

Flower Pounding

Ann Frischkorn and Amy Sandrin

Good Chi

 

Book Project                   My Project

My fourth project was interesting to create and noisy too. You can make one of these any time of year, whether you choose flowers from your garden or the local flower shop. I decided to use outdoor plants, but still needed to keep it small because I didn't want to create too much noise. So, I made a smaller vase for the flowers and added butterfly buttons for added interest. I was surprised when a purple bud pounded out green. So there are many more great ideas left to explore in this book. This project is: 15 3/4" x 25". Mine was 15 1/2" x 23".

MARCH 2010

Watercolor Landscape Quilts
Cathy Geier

A Lake Superior Maple (Level 2)

 

Book Project                             My Project

My fifth project was filled with challenge and intrigue. Since this was the only project I wished to try at first, it was what I made. To me, size matters, and many quilt projects are just too large for me to make. I thought perhaps the fabric choices would create a quilt that wouldn't work,  but was rewarded along the way. The fusible grid worked well for me. However, with the more challenging projects this is what Cathy suggested: "If you do decide to do one of the more advanced quilts, there might be more scalene triangles and these aren't as easy to put together on the fusible because of the bias stretch inherent in the product... just be careful! I don't want to see you get frustrated." So, I will try foundation next time, as the grid would be too small for more complex designs. That is why I didn't choose the project "A Room with a View" this time. This project is: 27" x 31". Mine was 22" x 25 3/4".

Thanks for reading...

SIXTH PROJECT - APRIL 2010:

My sixth project will be shared next week...

Easy Does It For Autumn/ Art to Heart
Nancy Halvorsen

ISBN: 632552005211

 
 


Enjoy your quilting adventure for... 2010!!