Tag Archives: Triangles

My Comfortable “Go To” Quilting

Posted in Quilting by

I pulled this fabric to make a quilt for a new baby boy at church.

The shower decor was my inspiration for the fabrics I chose.

Here it is in the flimsy state (quilt top).

Whenever I start a quilt, especially a smaller one, it’s always with the idea of quilting it w/FMQ (free motion quilting).

I’ve practiced FMQ in spurts in the past but not with enough regularity to allow me to feel comfortable and confident enough to finish an entire quilt, no matter the size.

I hadn’t practiced in awhile, but I thought that taking one of Angela Walter’s Quilting Clinics would be enough of a refresher. I did the Ultimate Block Busters class.

Angela is an amazing person! It was such a treat spending time with her. I learned so much and was so inspired by all she taught and the quilts she showed, I just knew I was going to jump on that Amara and stitch magically. Sadly, that didn’t happen.

I have quilted on a longarm using pantographs but FMQ takes A LOT of consistent practice and I hear tell it’s jumpstarted and enhanced with doodling.

Anyway, back to the baby quilt…I finished it w/my “go to” which is organic wavy lines quilted w/an even-feed/walking foot. And of course it turned out great.

But I’m never going to get better staying in my comfort zone. Therefore, on my honor, I WILL start doodling AND practicing FMQ more often! 🙋🏽‍♀️

A Thread for Life

Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us — to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians‬ ‭3:20-21‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Linking up at:

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?

Finished or Not Friday

Happy New Year 2015!

Posted in Uncategorized by

I’m sure this new year will have its ups and downs, as things cannot always be perfect, but I’m very grateful it has started on an up!

Iowa Spring Day baby quilt is finished! I quilted it w/organic wavy lines and I hand-sewed the binding, which is something I haven’t done in a long while!

39.75″ x 47.5″
Iowa Spring Day Backing
However, I will be hand binding more often…to justify a friend making me this custom hand sewing caddy.  I had seen something similar on Instagram, showed him a pic and this is what I got! Isn’t it fantastic?!

Before starting the project I got a tour of his shop. With so many species of trees in the world (some estimate 20,000+) it’s no wonder I’d never heard of the majority of wood types in his “stash”.  Yes, woodworkers have stashes too!

 Of course, one of my favorites was the Quilted Maple (see pic below) however, the three types of wood used in this little project were much more exotic!  The base is Sirari  (grows in Tropical South America, primarily Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay); the sides, needle holder, and extra spool/scissors block are made of Leopardwood (grows in South America, Chile, Brazil); and the stoppers on the spool turn are made of Bubinga (grows in Cameroon and Gabon, West Africa).

Watching and helping (yes, I helped a little!) a professional woodworker in action and working w/this gorgeous wood was quite fascinating! It’s definitely deepened my appreciation and love of trees! Thank you David! =)

The Quilted Maple I was telling you about.
With Iowa Spring Day finished I really ought to just be quilting Walk Like An Egyptian, but I’ve been moonlighting w/Through Thick and Thin.  Through Thick and Thin is a log cabin quilt I’m working on for my king size bed.  I’m constructing it w/2 different size logs, 2.5″ and 1.25″ and am using batik fabrics.  There will be 42 – 15″ blocks.  I wanted to do an offset Barn Raising layout, but I’m not sure if it’ll work w/so few blocks. Time will tell.  
Several blocks in Fields & Furrows layout
Piles of strings for Log Cabin

And lastly, I’ve got to make myself start quilting Walk Like An Egyptian this week! I’ve been putting it off because I’m not sure how to start the spiral quilting I want to do and am afraid to mess it up. If anyone has tips/tricks on how to get started on spiral quilting, please pass ’em my way.

Until next time, Happy Quilting and God Bless!

A Thread for Life
Am I getting nobler, better, more helpful, more humble, as I get older? Am I exhibiting the life that men take knowledge of as having been with Jesus, or am I getting more self-assertive, more deliberately determined to have my own way? It is a great thing to tell yourself the truth. -Oswald Chambers

Linking up at:
Tuesday Archives
Scraptastic Tuesday
Let’s Bee Social
WIP Wednesday
Needle and Thread Thursday
TGIFF!

Goal Reached and Other Things

Posted in Uncategorized by

I pray everyone had a Merry Christmas. Mine was good. My family came to my  house where we ate, drank and were merry. Afterward we went to Glendale Glitters. It was a really good day.

I actually finished sewing my quilted gifts on Christmas Eve. I wanted to give something quilted AND useful. I settled on these microwave cozies.

Leaning Tower of Cozies

 I made…and gave 37 of them. They were well received. I got the idea from this post and Jenn graciously sent me this tutorial.  Thanks ladies!

I’ve got my new grandson’s quilt top together. It measures 39.75″ x 47.5″.   I basted it last night and will be quilting it this week. I remember Greta saying, as she was cutting out the triangles w/her Go! Baby Accuquilt Fabric Cutter, how the colors and fabrics reminded her of a “gourmet” Iowa spring day.  So I’m calling this quilt; Iowa Spring Day. Thanks Greta!

 At first I was overwhelmed, not sure how to layout all these colors and fabrics. I finally decided to just alternate dark and light triangles in each row. Eventually I started to run out of lighter colored fabrics but then I remembered a trick I saw somewhere…I think it was Instagram.  By turning a fabric over, to wrong side out, it basically looks like a lighter/muted shade of the same fabric. I did this several times through out the baby quilt.  Thank you whoever thought of this wonderful technique!

Middle fabric used as a dark

Middle fabric turned wrong side out and used as a light

This was my first time sewing triangles together. I found/used this tutorial. Thanks Lorna!  Instead of pressing the seams open, I opted to press to one side or the other, alternating rows.

I’ve also been working on the pattern test I mentioned in my last post. I’ve got it basted and ditched. I’m calling it Walk Like An Egyptian. I love how it’s turning out. I can’t wait for everyone to see it! It’s going to be a wall hanging above my bed. I’m not sure how I’m going to hang it as I’ve never hung a quilt before, so if anyone can point me in the direction of a good How to Hang Quilts tutorial, please point away.

I bought myself a walking foot. One came w/my machine when I bought it a couple of years ago, but every time I used it, it bunched up my fabric and put a black line on it.

Anyway, I used my new one for ditching Walk Like An Egyptian and it worked beautifully. I am going to use it to quilt both of these quilt and I’m sure many others to come.

I haven’t shared pics of Ivy in a while. She is now 6 1/2 mos.  Look how big and beautiful she’s gotten.

I pray this coming year is a blessed and peaceful one for you all.

Until next time, Happy Quilting and God Bless!

A Thread for Life
So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. Matt 6:34

Linking up at:
Design Wall Monday
Let’s Bee Social