Quilt Fest Part 5-6

 It's spring - even on the calendar now - and I'm enjoying the fresh breezes (when it's not a gale!)  And the flowering trees and bushes.  We're having a quilt show in May for the first time since 2019.  I'm even enjoying the rush toward that.

Quilt Fest -  last 2 groups - maybe I'm getting tired of answering or maybe I never saw anyone else's answer of these - at any rate - let's finish it off!!

Most Loved Quilt:  Now that's a hard one.  I love Holiday / Seasonal quilts because each year when you get them out to display, it feels like seeing an old friend again!  I actually forget about them between seasons!  Yeah, I'm worried a little about that too!

 

But I do have my 'comfort' quilts too.  For the last few years it's been "Shhh - it's low volume"  This quilt was shown on the web.  A quilter in a Scandinavian country was making it - I had to have it!!  I'd been collecting neutrals "Beige-ings" is the nick-name for them.  And 'conversation' prints - their name before 'text' fabric,  Anyway, I loved adding my few bright fabrics for the pluses.  And collecting brights for the next ...

It's been my extra quilt on my bed for a couple of years now.

Quilts in the Wild:  I never saw anyone's post to this prompt.  But ironically, when I give away quilts that have been languishing in the closet - I call it "releasing them into the wild!"

New Skill:  I wish I could say it's organization!  But, alas, still trying to correct bad habits - unfortunately, ignoring resolutions is one of my bad habits!!

Whoops:  Over the years, I have to say I have not gotten better at actual counting during prep work!!  What does that mean, you ask?  

I'm famous for having twice the number or half the number of components needed!!  I think it all comes down to dividing the block into the sub-units and then getting the 'blocks' counts mixed up.  I just go with it, grumble when I'm under and giving the extra away when I don't feel like making another one with them!

Binding Technique:  Boy, I'm struggling with this right now.  My Janome, after a decade, bit the dust during COVID.  It had the best little stitch to machine bind.  It took a 'divot' to the left; a stitch forward; and a divot to the right ... repeat.  It made a sturdy hem stitch which was very forgiving - it didn't create a solid line, it was softer to the eye.  My new Ever Sewn Quilters' Edition has many things going for it, but not this stitch.  Darn! I'm trying to find a replacement I can live with.

Current WIP:  Oh boy, I'm in a mess with this one.  I have 5 family quilts planned for this year - 3 tops are finished and 2 almost so - (one is in time out!)  And only one is going to be quilted by a long-armer.  How I'm going to get those other quilted and out, well I'm still pondering that.

Texture:  I get my Texture fix from wool applique and simple embellishments.  I love doing that, but I back away from 'fussy' techniques.  Partly because my hands have become problematic at 69 years old.  I can't hold small parts securely anymore - so working with a large amount of - let's say, ruching is problematic.

Favorite Finish:  I love making Quilts of Valor, a national association. (QOVf.org)  I love seeing 80 yr old veterans looking like they are going to start jumping up and down like a 3 yr old when they receive their quilt.  I'm an active member of our local chapter and usually make 2 QOV quilts a year.  It feels like you are actually making a difference in somebody's life.  I won't start preaching their cause, but check into it - it makes such a difference in someone else's life and in yours!

Must Make:  While, once again, following some program to organize the chaos that is my sewing room ... I admitted to hundreds of WIPs.  A WIP is a quilt in progress.  Although, in this case, they counted projects that you have the supplies, or the pattern worked out, or you've become obsessed with even if not a stitch has happened yet.  So I claimed all the ones on my extensive lists (I love a good list!) but I did explain I didn't count all the ones on my Pinterest Pages!!  

Right now I'm inactively working on(!?) Monkey Business by Bonnie Hunter; StashLab strip projects; several quilts in line for quilting; #scrapsnap - 4 color sets cut; new small holiday wall quilts for the gallery wall ... but wait - there's more!!!

And Many Many UFOs too!

Favorite Post:  I love the small modern quilts people are making and often selling on IG.  I started "ModQuad" 6 years ago.  A local group of quilters exploring the modern quilt techniques.  And I love the graphic statement a quilt can make - always have.

Thanks for putting up with me waxing poetic about my life in Quilting.  I hope I'm 'preaching to the choir'.  I can't imagine it not in my life.  My kids complain about being buried in quilts.  But I was told the baby quilts are still hauled out when we're not feeling good.

When my DS & family were in Panama for two years, their storage unit was destroyed by the Almeda Fire.  They lost 27 quilts.  Does anyone that isn't a quilter or isn't related to a quilter even have 27 quilts?  I replaced 5 of them last year to welcome them back home.

Quilting keeps your mind busy - and no, I'm not referring to that 'where did I put my scissors' problem! Creating and organizing ideas; putting ideas into action; involving all levels of the brain - it's got to be good for you.  Being that involved in life.  Not just sitting like a bump on the couch.  Although, we do do plenty of sitting too!  It has been a good life.  People I love know I love them - they have proof in the quilt gifts.  People I hang out with share my interests.  We always have something on the burner and are busy sewing, laughing and living.  How can you resist?  I can't!!

Successful Week!

Whoohoo! I finished a charity UFO yesterday that counts for February. Don't you hate it when you make a resolution to do something and then break it the second month of the year!?! But I got it done with hours to spare - who says I wait til the last minute!

I had Yellow Brick Road [YBR] blocks leftover from Mr M's baby quilt last fall. My DD got picky about what colors she wanted in his quilt! But not enough blocks to make the next quilt - when does that ever happen?? I made YBR blocks and then wanted to make it a little bigger - so I made up my own blocks using the fabric units I had left. I'm always wandering off into my own variation of a design - just ask any of my friends!!!

I played with the machine quilting - made large 'rick-rack' with the quilting lines. After I did the first set of lines I decided to see how a triple line would work - don't you just love working on charity quilts where you can experiment??? It looked good but left a large space between that became very noticeable! So did the zig-zaggy decorative stitch between the channels and that looked finished! A friend in Nebraska showed me how wonderful that stitch looked on kids quilts and the stitch width fit the slot of my walking foot - so away I went with it! If you enlarge the picture - you should be able to see the stitch - especially on the borders.

I have also found I can do a good binding with machine finishing both sides with that stitch. I think the secret is that it doesn't make a straight line that is really noticeable. A fellow stashbuster asked me how I did it - so - since I wrote it up for her, I'll share it with you.



Okay ... I'll explain and you can ask questions about anything that I don't explain right or leave out! [LOL!] - I have a Janome and it has a stitch that makes little two stitch triangles in both directions from the 'line' of stitches. The same stitch that I quilted in the borders with.It might be a blind hem stitch. My walking foot has a slot big enough to handle the stitch width, but you'll want to check that before starting!

I cut my binding 2 1/2 inches. Prepare like normal - I use continuous binding; I fold it around the corners. I sew the binding on with my walking foot using a straight stitch. I even sew it from the front side of the quilt as usual. The walking foot lines up with a slightly bigger quarter inch - that's why I cut 2 1/2 inch wide.

Now comes the fun part!!! Trim the extra batting/backing as needed - but not too close. I find it easier to 'stuff' the binding rather than have it too thin. Change to your decorative stitch. Work from the back - just as if you are binding by hand. Start around the start/finish of the binding - you can slip stitch by hand the join before you start if you want. Go the same direction you put the binding on - it lines up the corners to just fold and not get in your way! Fold the binding over the edge and line up with the seam line - just as you do by hand. Start stitching with the decorative stitch, making sure to keep the straight part right by the edge of the binding. Sew with 'needle down' to keep your place when you stop.

I don't use pins - I just line up 6" or so of the binding and sew it down slowly. Stop sewing while you line up the next part of the binding. When you get to the corner, fold it up into that little miter, sew forward until your needle is holding down the next side's binding, pivot! Continue around the quilt to where you started!

The first time I tried this I sewed right off the edge at the corners and then restarted on the next side. You don't really need to. In fact - it's prettier if you don't.

The whole secret is that the stitch doesn't leave a straight line - so it's not noticeable when you wander off slightly. It's very sturdy and you don't really notice it when finished and washed. As long as you have the back fold lined up with the stitch line you made when you sewed the binding onto the quilt - you're going to be in the right area from the front!

Years ago I learned to make a sample binding square with a new technique. Mine is about potholder size and I write notes to myself about what I should do. You might try it on that - see how it lines up on your machine. Good Luck!

I've also really been working on the sesquicentennial project [Album Patch] and I can see the end of the piecing. I'd been dreading sewing the sashings on my hand - but actually, it's easy and relaxing after doing the blocks. Of course, I have fabrics that aren't from the 1850s period in it. One I can't believe I picked!!! Oh, well - it's a fact - I can be a ditz!!! Maybe nobody will notice! LOL! I'm hoping to have a picture of the top for you next week. I'm actually thinking of having a hand-piecing project going at all times. It won't be a bed quilt ... but it works well to hand piece in the condo. Sometimes DH needs the table!

Heading up to Portland today for our babysitting gig tomorrow and Tuesday - I'm taking the Album Patch up with me - just in case I have the energy to sew while we're there. Hey - it COULD happen!!! LOL!