FIRST FINISH OF THE YEAR! (But it's not finished!)

I had some time yesterday to get my first finish of the year but fell short of hand stitching the binding down.  This small quilt wall handing has been pieced for over a year and a half but I have procrastinated because I am afraid of failure.  The quilting is something that I have not had much experience with.  This is about to change.  I decided to try mock hand quilting on my machine.  You probably have tried it before.  You use a regular thread in the bobbin and an invisible thread on the top.  My Janome machine suggests using a stitch called a "sculpture stitch" (#171) and adjusting the tension to a #6.  What happens is the invisible top thread pulls the regular bobbin thread to the top in a fashion that when stitched you find it looks a lot like hand quilting.  I have done it before, but not in a long time and on a very small quilt that was a panel.  The mail problem I had was moving over thick seams of piecing.  I found that sewing very slow is very necessary.

 I layered my backing, batting and quilt top after pressing all until smooth and straight.  Make sure you have no puckers anywhere and pin all together.  The batting and backing will be trimmed after the quilting is complete and the excess backing will be used as the binding.

 I then began my marking.  I used a chalk marker and, of course, a straight edge ruler.

 I used the simplest method quilting lines which was diagonal through the blocks, both directions.  I only marked a line or two at a time as the chalk brushes away easily.  Choose the color of invisible thread that you think will be the most invisible on your quilt.  Funny, but I have a real problem with this thread because it is so invisible.

 Here is a pic of after I marked a few lines of quilting.  I did rub some of it off and had to do it again so you can benefit from my mistakes!  Yay!!

 As you begin to quilt you will start to think it is puckering and will never ever be right again!  But think again.  When all is done, if you have quilting similarly all over the quilt, it will be straight again.  I promise.

 I think you can see in this pic that the top and bottom look good but the middle looks puckered.  That is because it has not been quilted.  Take your blessings where you can fine them!

 In this picture, I hope you can see the hand quilted look.

 I actually began working on the binding before I finished the center quilting because I stipple quilted the middle.  I was anxious to see if my idea of bringing the backing around for a binding was going to work.  I folded the backing out of harms way and trimmed the batting to 1/2 inch all the way around.  I then trimmed the backing 1 1/2 inches all the way around.  I them folded the edge of the backing to the edge of the finding and then folded the backing one more time and pinned it in place.

The corner will need to be worked with before you can fold the next side.  After the first fold, you will need to fold back the edge into a triangle sort of.  This makes that edge disappear.

 Press all really good even using a little Magic Sizing or starch.  Fold down and continue pinning.

This pic was taken before I pressed really well---my bad!!

 Here is the semi-finished quilt, ready for binding to be hand stitched.  You would not believe all my computer woes lately.  I got a new Microsoft Surface Book for Christmas, but it is so different from any I have ever had, it is taking me awhile to figure it all out.  This posted before I was finished yesterday so many of you think, "Well, she just cut it off right at the end!  Sorry!  and anther day last week I was trying to post from my phone and a blank posted.  Many of you tried to "read" something and "nothing" was there.  Again, "So Sorry".

Back soon`--  I have a couple BLOCKS OF THE MONTH going that I want to show you.

HAPPY FEBRUARY!

TREE TIME EMBROIDERY BLOCK OF THE MONTH--BLOCK 9

Well, I guess one week late is not all THAT bad.  I have to apologize for posting the September block late.  Life just got in my way.  Busy and maybe not enough energy is my problem. 

I hope the link on the sidebar works this time.  If not, I am sure "someone" will let me know- smile-.
ENJOY and remember to Make it your own.  I drew the lines, but you can erase!!  and redraw them the way YOU want them to be.  Thanks for loving my blocks and I look forward to seeing and loving YOURS!  Send me a pic!  I will blog about it.

Bunnie Hill BOM-It's Fun and It's Free

I SAID that I was going to keep up with this one--Don't ever believe a word I say! LOL
May is finished now, and I am picking out the fabrics for June and July as we speak.

Staying consistant, I used vintage rick rack for the handle and vintage lace and buttons, and some wool for the applique pieces. In this case the leaves. Don't forget to go over to the Flickr Group site and see everyone's blocks. They are fantastic! You can also begin to see what makes certain blocks stand out among all the others. Seeing these blocks will make you realize how important neatness is in your work. Also it will give you some insight as to which color choice you like best. You can see the contrasts of fabrics and what roll texture plays in making a great block.

The link for the free BOM is on my sidebar. Never too late to start. Applique (any method) and embelishment just might be your "THANG" (remember where I am from LOL) and you never knew it. Have a great "rest of the week". Love to all-----

If this post causes you to lose control and start a Bunny Hill BOM please leave me a comment and tell me. There is another group I need to tell you about!!

SHE'S MAKING MY QUILT!!!

Quilter Kathy eed me this morning to give me a "HEADS UP". Seems The Quilt Rat has a new project and the reason it might be very interesting to me is IT'S MY QUILT THAT SHE IS MAKING!!!


Seriously--in 2005, my "Down the Garden Path" quilt was featured in Quilt Almanac magazine. I was thrilled! I had several other quilts published, but this one is the one I am most proud of.

Jill is making my quilt for her sister out of her sister's husbands shirts. Seems she lost him to cancer and this is a "love quilt". Jill is making her quilt completely from the heart not only using his shirts, but such symbolism as using a rose background for the applique border because her sister's name is Rose. Also other fabrics in the quilt depict her husbands loves and hobbies. You simply MUST go over and take a look at her work.

Thanks you so much, Jill, for chosing my pattern you make such a special and loving work of art for your sister.

SUNBONNET SUE SUNDAY #17

Well girls, better late than never, I always say. Sunbonnet Sue Sunday #17 is about 2 months late. SSS #16 was short and sweet and that was in May. I skipped June all together, but am making up for lost time now in July.

If you remember, this is the magazine that my mothers SSS of the month quilt came out of. She changed up the blocks to some extend and "did her own thing". Now I know where I get that gene! LOL As promised, I will show the completed quilt at the end of the year after I have shown you the entire 12 blocks one at a time in the appropriate month. Yes, I did skip two months and you will see 3 months worth in this post.



May depicts two Sues carrying their Maypole.

June is a Sue Bride. So simple and sweet is she. I started to crop these pics then decided not to as you might want to see my mother's beautiful hand quilting.

This Sue is wishing you a wonderful 4th of July. Flag and Fireworks in Red, White, and Blue--How Patriotic she is. When I think of the flag stealing and burning that is happening these days, I am sickened. Our country is so special--so wonderful--so undeserving of such treatment. Who would do such a thing.!! Certainly not Sue!!! ON TO SSS!

Remember my trip to Round Top Texas where I found a lady with many many vintage patterns she was willing to part with as a group. She gave me a really good deal and I have not shared any of them as I have not had time to figure out the best way to do that? Well, this is one of them. Tea Towel Applique. Aren't they precious?

A PDF file for this precious pair is available HERE. I think this is fairly new. I don't remember seeing this one at ABOUT.COM before. HERE is the link to a quilt made with these patterns. Visit ABOUT. COM for ohhhh sooooo many great patterns.

Visit Quilted Cats to see Janet Wickell's complete quilt. It is fantastic!! I love the color choices.

I want to end with a link to Pat's Place. Pat is a Texas Panhandle girl and has a special Sunbonnet Sue story of a quilt that her great grandmother (I believe) made. It seems there was some playing on the quilt by Pat. I will let her explain. Go see PAT as soon as you leave here. I did not tell her I was linking to her post, so please comment to her and tell her where you found her blog. I would appreciate that.

Sue's Tree House also continues to provide Sue's for us HERE.

I hope you have enjoyed this Sunbonnet Sue Sunday post. I promise to try to do better in upcoming months and not let you down. My only sister has been dianosed with Breast Cancer. She has had surgery and will start her Chemo and Radiation soon. Please keep her in your prayers. Her name is Brenda. She is so special to me. She has been very tramatized by this whole ordeal. I am trying to keep her spirits up and take sole responsibility of my mother with Alzhimers. Bren is able to help me some and her husband also, but when the treatments start, it may be a different story. Hang with me please and know that I will be with you when I can. All my love to my dedicated blogging friends. You mean alot to me even though you are virtual friends. You are amazing.

SOON.-.-.-.-.-.

Sunbonnet Sue Sunday #16

Sunbonnet Sue swap is starting--go HERE if you are interested. It is thru Block Central. There are several choices of style and fabrics.

A CRAZY QUILTING ADVENTURE

I have been so interested in the many aspects of the Vintage Embroidery sites. Floresita has a blog of her own, a Flickr group that has a blog called Feeling Stitchy. There is so much information that I have a hard time getting through it all. I will find a site link and veer off to it and then forget to go back to where I was.

I was looking through the posts on Feeling Stitchy reading about wool and I found a link to a website that sells wool and all aspects of wool embroidery called Vintage Vogue. She carries acrylic felt, wool blends and felted wool. It is all beautiful. She also has a blog called Nostalgic Needle Art. The best I can tell, January, 2008, Janet of California decided to start posting Crazy Quilt Blocks that include a section revealing a vintage postcard. You print off the pattern onto fabric by using a fabric printer sheet or making your own by pressing fabric to freezer paper. You use this as your foundation and fill in the sections around the image with fabrics and then embelish with lace, ribbons, beads, and of coure, beautiful embroidery stitches. Janet sells all of these wonderful things that you need over on her website --Vintage Vogue--.

This is the Easter block that I printed. The little basket you see on the pattern is to show you the placement of a "finding".

Here is the picture of her block. She sells the "findings" you will see on her block (I didn't know what that was either, but it is the jewelry you see on her block) and also tells you how to give brass an antique look so you can use items you have on your blocks. She gives you a tutorial in case you need a little help getting started. Then each month a new block with an appropriate postcard center.

This is the Easter block that I printed off. The small basket you see printed on the pattern shows the placement of a finding.

I have had in mind to make a crazy quilt block for practising my embroidery stitches. This is perfect. Thanks to Janet over at Vintage Vogue.

Sunbonnet Sue Sunday #14

A Rose by any other name is still a Rose? Right?

What if the name of the Rose is Sunbonnet Sue--That's right! A little trivia to start this monthly Sunbonnet Sue Sunday post. Sunbonnet Sue was also the name of a 1945 musical starring Gale Storm that was typed as a farce.

A Sunbonnet Sue Flickr group boasts 257 uploads. If you have some free time, you can spend some of it there. You will see crafts and quilts devoted to the star of this post.

I found a free quilt pattern here that includes the two darling patterns on the right. The Sam is one of the cutest I have seen. He is a little chunky guy. BTW--I found that one other author is cited as a source for the faceless children. Bernhardt Wall's characters were published about the same time as Bertha Corbett's. His girls wore a different style of bonnet and no aprons. Also, it is in Mr. Bernhardt's work that we first find a male character now known as Overall Bill. This article by QNL is excellent and gives the best complete history of SBS that I have found. If you are only going to read one, this is the one.

Marti Mitchelle offers us this free pattern over on her site HERE.

The March winds are the inspiration for Mom's Block of the month. No Shamrocks or excessive bright green, or Leprochans or pots of gold, thank goodness. Just a high wind and a homemade kite. I think her dad helped Sue make this kite and her mom provided rags for the tale. Her bonnet is tied on tightly so as she won't lose it. Her bonnet is worn on this day because her mother told Sue that if she does not wear her bonnet her hair will blow and become entangled . Sue does NOT like to sit for hours in front of her mother as she detangles her long locks. Mama put her hair up today and positioned the bonnet just right so that it helped hold her hair underneath to prevent tangles. It so happened that dad found the time to help Sue launch her kite today. Her dad took the kite from her and began to run with it. Sue tried to keep up, but was becoming so tired when suddenly dad let the kite go-----up----up----up it went. High in the sky. The tale was turning and twisting and flopping in the wind as the kite went higher and higher in the bright blue sky. Dad handed the stick with the kite tied to it to Sue. She just stood there with the sun shining down on her face as she locked her eyes on the kite. What a wonderful day today is. A beautiful day, a wonderful kit and great day with daddy. Sue will never forget this day---never.

QUARTER SQUARE TRIANGLE TUTORIAL (TRI-COLOR)

This tutorial is the result of working on my DGS#2's baby quilt. You will find it posted here. This tutorial is for my benefit. To help me remember what I did and how I did it and what worked and what didn't. If any of my readers find it helpful then I am excited!! Thanks for reading my blog. My readers are the greatest.~~~

The above tricolored quarter square triangle is the result of the tutorial that follows. The finished size is 4 inches, unfinished size 4 1/2 inches.

You will start with one 6 inch square of fabric for each section. In this case two sections are blue so two squares are blue. This will work with 2, 3, or 4 fabrics. Place side by side fabrics (placement in the block) RST (right sides together). Draw a diagonal line on the lightest fabric . Pressing these two fabrics after placing them RST will marry them and help them stay together as you sew. Each set of 4 6 in squares will make 4 Quarter Square Triangles.

Chain sew the squares 1/4 inch on each side of the drawn line. I will say that 1/4 inch is only needs to be approximate as these blocks will be squared to the exact needed size after construction.

The pairs are now clipped apart and cut on the drawn line. The pairs are pressed with the seam pressed toward the blue fabric.

Place the pairs RST with the seams in the opposite directions and the blues opposite each other. Wiggle match the seams together. The bunny ears on the ends should be as close together as they can be.
The way you sew the next seem will determine how good these points look. See the blues opposite of each other? The seam is not sewn yet, I just folded back the top half square so that you can see how the block will look when the next seam is sewn and cut apart. You can check your block just like this before you sew it to make sure it will be right AFTER it is sewn.

If you are having trouble making this match in the center, one thing that can help is to put pins in to help hold the seams abutt (I love that word). Put them far enough apart so that you can sew the seam without taking them out.

Draw a diagonal line on the Half square pair opposite the abutted seams.

Here is Another tip to help make your center points perfect. #1-Place your pair into the sewing machine with the seam allowance you are sewing toward going into the pressure foot. I hope this is clear. If not, comment and I will try again.

#2-- Ok--now for the seam on the other side of the line. Take your pair out of the machine and put the same end back in. You see, I use my even feed foot to piece and the solid part on each side of the needle is the 1/4 inch mark. So for this seam I will use the other side of the pressure foot to measure for the other 1/4 inch seam. Again, I hope this is clear. The picture is worth a thousand words. If you do this, the seam allowance you are crossing will still be going into the pressure foot which pushes the seams together and makes some perfect points in the middle of your block.

Time to press. I have found that to help to lessen the distortion, if I press toward the center first and then----

Swing the iron to the right-----and then to the left. The seams will naturally spread for you. You will square up the block later, but when you have seams going all directions, the less you press the better.


Here's my center points--not bad, huh? I'm tellenya--my tips work!!

Ready for the squarin up? Take your unfinished size, in this case 4 1/2 inches, and divide in half. For this block that would be 2 1/4. Place that measurement in the center of the block. Then you must make sure that the 4 1/2 measurement is laying on the seamline. (see bottom right corner and top left. When you are sure that you have it right, trim two sides--top and right.

Here is a close-up or the bottom right seam line with the 4 1/2 inch measurement laying on the line.

If the first two sides are done correctly, the other two sides sould take care of themselves. Flip the block and trim the other two sides. You are done!