Scraphappy Saturday - Baby Blues

Here is my 16-patch scrappy star block for September, my baby blues from the scrap bin.  I am a few months  behind in my 6" crumb blocks and more projects are getting in line, so that may have to be a focus for next year.  My photography is always a challenge and these blues are really a softer shade than they appear here.

So hop on over to  Soscrappy  and see what everyone else is sharing for their RSC13 challenge for September baby blues.

Friday's Quilt Show

Sometimes I am clicking the internet, collecting new inspiration when I should be sewing something or cleaning something.  So, I thought I would share some eye candy, pattern links and tutorial links here.  So now you can click your way to new inspiration.

Wow. This one is really cool

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/160863017912788207/

this is a fun one

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/3729612163953011/

if you like paper piecing

http://www.whimsandfancies.com/patterns/

a plentiful listing of tutorials

http://piecefulliving.blogspot.com/p/tutorials.html

I hope you enjoy the show and find something wonderful!

Hanging Sleeves By Machine

I attached the hanging sleeve on my Autumn Sampler WH totally by machine.  I took a few photos during the process so I could share it with you here.

I  finished all the quilting first.  I trimmed my piece to its finished size, right up to the binding stage.

I have a narrow border strip separating the quilt center and the final border. This strip will frame the quilt center and serve as a placement guide for attaching the sleeves.



What size to cut your sleeve?

The width of the sleeve will be determined by the width of your final border, times two (2) plus one inch or so.  One half inch will be taken up in the seam allowance when attaching the folded edge.  The other half inch (or so) is extra insurance that your sleeve will reach the raw edge or beyond, when folded up into place.

my final border    2.25 inches
to double layer          x 2
plus SA & extra        + 1 inch

sleeve width =     5.50 inches
                              ====






Length of Sleeve?

I usually like my sleeves to have an opening in the center of the quilt.  This lets me choose other hanging options such as using a dowel supported in the center or using a rod supported at both ends.  So I cut one long sleeve, then cut it in half.

I also make one long sleeve for the bottom of wall quilts to insert a curtain rod, dowel, ruler or yardstick. This helps them hang straight and hug the wall. Do NOT cut this one in half.

The length of the sleeve depends on the width of the quilt.  This quilt is 25 - 1/4 inches wide.  I'll want my sleeve to reach about 22 inches. I have to add an inch for hems on the short ends.

So, I will cut 2 sleeves at 5 - 1/2"  x  23".

Cut one sleeve in half; fold in the 4 short ends 1/4", then fold over again - 1/4" ;  iron and stitch.
Fold in and stitch down the 2 short ends on the 2nd long sleeve also.  Then,

 With wrong sides together,
 press in half, lengthwise










See the yellow flowerhead pins?  This marks the seam between the narrow black border strip and the outer border.  The pins are my placement guide on the back for setting in the hanging sleeves.

Turn the quilt over to the back.  Place the sleeves 1/4"  over/above the pin markers so the folded edge is above the pin markers and reaching for the top of the quilt and the raw edge of the sleeve is reaching for the bottom edge.

Near the folded edge,
baste in place.






Turn quilt to right side, stitch in the ditch (SITD) around the frame border.  This step will include the folded edge of the sleeves.   Remove the basting.


I like my quilt to hang above the rod, so I stitch a "stopping point" through the sleeve pieces.  This allows the rod to stop at the middle seam and not go all the way up to the binding.

Spread the sleeve pieces away from the body of the quilt.  Stitch another seamline through both layers, about 1-1/2" from raw edges of sleeves.  This will allow the quilt to sit about 1" above the rod.

Press sleeves right side up/forward,  so the top raw edge meets the raw edge of the quilt.  If you added extra for insurance on the sleeves, this is the time to trim them even with the quilt edge. Secure the sleeve edge with pins until the binding is stitched on.

Add the Binding

Now you can add the binding. This step will enclose the raw edge of the sleeves.  I have been stitching my binding to the backside first, then folding to the front and top stitching down.

Here is a pic of my finished quilt with sleeve.  I don't often take time to make labels, especially on small projects.  Some projects I like to acknowledge I made them (grin), so I use the text font on my sewing machine to stitch my name and year. I incorporate that piece into part of the sleeve.   Ah, shortcuts............... makes time for more quilts.   LOL

I hope this tutorial gives you some new methods and ideas.  I wish you a blessed and Happy Day!

Autumn Sampler W.H.

Another finish,  I'm on a roll. Do you ever get really inspired and go into overdrive and can't seem to stop stitching?  I'm experiencing that lately.  I hope it never ends. LOL

I was inspired by a photo on google recently and just had to make a similar piece.   I cut the appliques out of a panel I bought at a Relay for Life garage sale.  I love designing around panels and blocks and motifs from panels.

So here it is.  I call it my Autumn Sampler. I do wish I had chosen a different quilting path, but it's done.

May you have a blessed and happy day!

Autumn Rose Wreath

I just finished my miniature Autumn Rose Wreath - full of little pieces of fall fabrics.  I love this little pattern. I just wish it would use up more scraps.  It measures a whopping 14 inches square and hangs from my tabletop wire frame.

Go to my Free Pattern page to get your copy of the paper pieced pattern.  I am linking up to the design wall over at PatchworkTimes where you can see what other talented quilters are up to.

Hidden Wells Christmas

I nearly forgot to share my third recent quilt finish.  It was a Hidden Wells quilt a-long we did a few years ago on Cbees group.  I used a christmas collection in brights.  It is also lap size comfort for a child.  It is not my best quilting work.  I had troubles with the layers during stitching.  So don't look too closely.

The hidden wells technique is fun, working from strip sets or using an interesting stripe fabric.  If you want to try it out, Moose Stash Quilting  has a good tutorial.

Thanks for visiting.  I wish you a blessed and happy day.

Purple Strings Quilt

This pretty little quilt is the result of  a challenge inspired by  Heartstrings Quilt Project.  The task was to make string blocks using a purple center strip.  I like how it turned out.  It will be given to the children's ward at our local hospital.

Heartstrings Group has just started a new challenge.  Try them out.  String blocks are  SO Theraputic.
Thanks for visiting and I wish you a blessed and happy day.

D9P - a lovely finish

I have been away this week, went  to a crash course at 'finishing' school.  DH set up table space so I could sandwich some flimsys.  So I put  everything else aside and concentrated on getting those done.  I have 3 lap quilts finished.

This quilt is the Disappearing 9-Patch QAL which I participated in over at the Cbees Yahoo group. It is made totally from charm squares, except the four border strips.  I thought it came out really pretty and with this technique, it distributed all the different colors effectively. Okay,I may have helped with placement a little.

I haven't photographed the other two finishes yet, but they are out of the dryer and waiting for their 'two minutes of fame'.  LOL   Have and blessed and happy day!

Dizzy Geese - Finished

I dipped into the scrap boxes to put together this mini hanging.  No yardage was hurt in the making of this piece (except the background).  I was even able to use up two leftover pieces of binding to finish it off.  This piece finishes at 14 inches square. It hangs on my tabletop frame.

So this is what came off my design wall this morning.  I'm linking up at  patchworktimes  where you can check out what other creative quilters are up to.

Have a Happy Day!

Scraphappy Saturday - Red

When I sorted out my red scrap bin I must have felt very distracted.  So many pieces, but I just couldn't bring myself to make the crumb blocks   .....  maybe saving those for another week, there is still time.

I did get the 16-patch scrappy star block together. Only 4 more months, and it will be a whole quilt.

I am linking up to Soscrappy, where you can see what everyone else is doing with their red scraps and   Have yourself a Happy Day.

Dizzy Geese Challenge

We have a monthly bucket list challenge over on Cbees.  This month is flying geese.  The purpose of the bucket list is to broaden your methods or techniques with a selected skill. If you want to join in the fun, you can join the group  HERE .  It is important to know that Cbees is a sister 'activity' list of Cyberquilters, so you must be a member of   Cyberquilters   first, before you can join Cbees. Now, stay calm.  I know you are joining two yahoo groups, but they are some of the best quilting groups on the internet and membership is   FREE !   LOL  I'm tempted to say they ARE THE BEST quilting groups, but I also want to avoid receiving any hate mail from members of other groups.

Okay, so I've been working hard, stitching bits and pieces into my Dizzy Geese piece.  This is only the center of my piece.  I know, it doesnt look like it should be two days worth of work.  But, hey, this center piece finishes at 6-1/2 inches square.  So, you're more impressed now?  LOL

Now, back to the borders.  I'm anxious to get this done because I have other projects that I feel ready to get started.  So have a Happy Day and see you soon.

Mission Huntington Project 2013

We've been busy here.  Our church created a mission project for local community service.  The main time frame was the week of July 29 thru August 2nd.  There were several work teams of landscaping, building a handicap ramp, service at the Animal Shelter, the Library, some school yards, the Literacy Coalition, roadside trash pickup working with the local inmates, painting, installing a cemented basketball hoop for the elementary school, and more.  We also had a community cookout at a central park, where everyone was invited for a free bbq & fellowship. There were 107 members of our congregation participated.  What a great team!  Many of the volunteers used their vacation time from work to serve.

So, my job was to help sew 450 book bags for all incoming 2nd graders in the county.  These bags were stuffed with assorted school supplies and later, the students will be able to pick a book or two to keep.  We had over 1800 childrens books donated from local families and charity groups.

Okay,  so it was handy to be a quilter.  I gathered some other quilter help and we cut up all the pieces from bolts of ulpholstery and home dec fabrics in advance.  Phew, that did help!  We serged and sewed all the bags....510 of them.... in the first four days!   I know, I had the easy job, but, I was exhausted!!

DH at the ironing table,  a first!

510 school book bags

Finally,  now back to my regularly scheduled quilting.

Scraphappy Saturday - Teal

Okay, so I know this isn't Saturday and you think this block doesn't look like teal fabrics.  Actually, it is teal fabrics - not my favorite collection of teals, with a very grayish tinge.  Part of the blame is on the camera and the lighting and the photographer.

I decided to use a dry iron this time.  I've been having trouble with the squares wrinkling up and I can't get it to press out.  Using a dry iron helped avoid that issue,  but I just don't get a nice, crisp pressing.

I also figured it was time to include a pic of all the 16-patch star blocks made so far.  I am so tempted to begin quilting them QAYG style.  Thankfully, (or not) I am in the midst of several other projects, but you understand how you need to get in some quilting therapy  between piecing sessions.

I'll be linking up to  Soscrappy  where you can visit all the other Scraphappy Saturday participants.

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A Change to Bloglovin

This note is just to announce that I have added a Bloglovin button to my blog. If you are a follower, I would love it if you continue to follow me through any other available venues.  These options are located at the top right side of the page.  Please send me a note if there is another way I might serve your quilting interests.

and  HAPPY CANADA DAY !  I miss you.

Patriotic Ensemble - Finale

I finished quilting my 'grande finale' piece of the patriotic ensemble and it now hangs with glory.  The design was published in The Quilter Mag a few years ago. I just used the photo as inspiration and made it to suit my own dimensions.  I really like it!

I wish you a blessed day.  Thank you for visiting!

Patriotic Ensemble - Part 2

Two more small pieces to share.  The first one is a skinny banner.  I have a special little wall I love to hang seasonal banners.  They are such fun to make.  I even got to use up a leftover roll of binding.

I needed a very small table mat, so I made up this 12 inch block.  This binding was also borrowed from my basket of leftover binding pieces.  You may notice that I lost my star points.  I didn't want to piece the Ohio Star, so I cut squares, pressed them in half on the diagonal and stitched them onto the blue background pieces. Okay, I know that is cheating, but that was my mood at the time.

One more piece of this set to quilt today. I call it the grande finale!

Patriotic Ensemble

I am working on a 5 piece ensemble to show off my patriotic decor.  I've got 4 pieces finished.  I forgot to photograph 2 of them, so that will have to be shared tomorrow.  These are all small items.

This is a buffet (table) runner. It began as a bucket list challenge on my favorite yahoo group, Cbees.  The challenge this month is seminole piecing. Fortunately, the seminole piecing I chose was large enough to account for the center of the runner.  I just had to add narrow borders.

This next piece is a 14 inch square mini quilt. It hangs on my table top wire frame.  I saw the block on the internet, re-drew it in EQ and printed the star out at 10 inches for paper piecing.

It's been a long time since I've posted, but I've been very busy.  LOL   I will be back tomorrow with a few more patriotic pieces to share.

I wish you all a blessed day.  Thank you for visiting!

Patriotic Wall Hangings

I have been working on patriotic wall hangings.  I've had to fudge from my original plans.  The border widths are not what I wanted, but in the end I had to improvise just to get them finished. I've certainly spent more effort on these pieces than they should have required.  But if you're finished,  you can move on.   (grin)

Scraphappy Saturday - Yellows

All my life, I've avoided yellows.  I never wore it because I believed I would appear washed out with my dark hair and ivory skin.  Just in the past year, I've grown attached to yellows.  Strange, is it because I've entered a new 'decade' in age? Sometimes, I think we morph into new stages of tastes; i.e. now I love neutrals, and earth tones and yellow!

But I dont have alot of yellows in my stash, though I've acquired a couple new ones this past year.  As we are working with scraps, my yellow scrap bin has enough scraps, but not alot of variety.  I have many commitments coming up and thought I should work up my yellow challenge early.  It makes me think of bright sunshine.

 My photography is also challenged.  These yellows are brighter than they appear in the photo.

Thank you for visiting.  Go visit  soscrappy  where you'll find more yellow link-ups..

Patriotic Flag - Redux

Okay, so I do have a quilters' conscience.  I knew I made a bad choice in placing the large star so that it overlapped onto the braid. Originally, I thought I might have to cut more off the top for a  proportionate appeal.  That idea didnt work out, lol,  so I unstitched the star.

Here it is, appliqued back into place.  I will still be on the lookout for the perfect ornament/button to stitch in the center of the white star.

Happy Memorial Day!  Thank you, Veterans, ALWAYS, for your service for our freedom!!  We love you.

Scraphappy Saturday - More Blues

It's hard to stay out of those scrap bins once you get into them. As this is the last Saturday for blues, I had to put them to more work.  Unfortunately, this challenge has created new projects, but what fun it is to create a project around them.

So, this past week I worked up another project in EQ7. I made 10 log cabin blocks.  My project is a creation from another photo found during google searches. Google gets me into so much trouble.  This is just a portion of the project.  Can you guess what it will be ?  Clue:  A fitting symbol for Memorial Day.

Thank you, Angela, for continuing this Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2013.  It is so inspiring.  I am linking up   HERE    where you can find all the other wonderful entries.

I wish you all a safe and  HAPPY  MEMORIAL  DAY !

Patriotic Flag W.H.

Over at Cbees Club we have a bucket list.  The challenge this month is braids. A long time ago I discovered a neat USA Flag and I used the image as inspiration for my wall hanging.  After much fighting with machine and thread, it is finally finished.......just in time for Memorial Day.I will be on the lookout for a big decorative button to put in the center of the star.

May I take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to all our courageous military personnel and veterans!  I
                     THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE !

ScrapHappy Saturday - Blues

Thank goodness for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2013.  It is great encouragement to work through those scrap bins, PLUS it is stress-free sewing.  How can you pass that up?  The theory is that they are scraps now and it doesn't matter what you do with them, as long as you DO SOMETHING with them!

So, to continue my scrappy stars project and more crumb blocks to be inserted as part of another block unit... which is a quilt plan for another time, I offer this current display on my design wall.  I must confess that this didn't make a dent in my blue scraps.  I might have to resort to some string blocks which translates to "stitching at high speed".

This is just my favorite monthly challenge ever!  Thank you, Angela. I will be linking up over at Soscrappy.  Be sure to visit here to see all the other participants who link up.

I wish you a blessed Happy Day.

d9p QAL - Flimsy

My D9P quilt along project is now a real flimsy as it waits in line for the backing and quilting phase. So much fabric, sew little time.

Since there were so many fabrics in the center, I thought I should tie it together with some calming border strips.  So much going on, I expected it was fun to make the border strips all from different fabrics!  I am such a traditionalist, but in this case, I'm happy with that choice.  I wish I could say I used up all my charm squares.

Here's wishing you a blessed Happy Day!

D9P QAL - Phase 2

I've made some progress.  My 9-patch blocks are re-cut and placed on my design wall.  I tampered with two layouts.  The first layout is placed with some space between 4-patch collections, so I can visualize a narrow sashing to tie them all together.

This second layout has staggered the colors in a vertical angle, like a staircase.  I think I like this one since it will be going to a child.

Now on to Phase 3.  May you have a blessed Happy Day!

D9P QAL - Phase 1

Our quilt a long started today over on Cbees yahoo group.  So, I am not a fast worker.  I managed to get twelve (12) ,  9-Patch blocks stitched.  They still need a trim, since I used all charm squares, and charm squares are NOT all created equal!  Here is my batch of blocks hanging on the design wall..  I will save the re-cutting process for tomorrow.

I think I will sash my blocks after they are cut apart and re-assembled.  I need to decide, sash with brown, black or white?  If I can't find a suitable border fabric, I'll need to stitch together some more charm squares.  But, hey, please don't make me do that.  Tomorrow,    Phase  2 .

I wish you a blessed Happy Day!

D9P - EQ7 project sharing

I am sharing my EQ7 project file with all the D9P layouts I displayed in this post: http://scrapboxquilts.blogspot.com/2013/04/d9p-show.html.  This is one of the virtual quilts from the post:

If you would like  to discover your own  d9p creations, you can download the file here:
https://www.box.com/s/xyw6nnhtym51sz0h3bbj

**You must have EQ7 software installed on your computer, in order to open this file**
**Please do not share this file with others; please refer them here to get their own copy**

So get inspired and come join us for the D9P quilt-a-long.  It starts tomorrow on Cbees yahoo group.  See you there.

D9P Show

I am hosting a Disappearing 9-Patch QAL this weekend.  It will begin on Friday. It takes place over at my favorite yahoo group, Cbees.  Actually, Cbees is a sister list of Cyberquilters.  You do have to be a member of Cyberquilters in order to join Cbees, but hey, they are both free and fabulous, so come join us.

In honor of our QAL this weekend, I thought I would display a few examples of the D9P design options.  The possibilities are really only limited to your imagination and choice of fabrics, but I hope these examples will ignite your creativity and convince you to join in our fun quilt-a-long.

These projects were created with Electric Quilt software.  No fabric yardage was harmed in the making of these quilts.

We'll start simple and work our way up. This is a quick tablerunner. It finishes at 22 x 56.

This is a 12-block straight set - a nifty lap or child quilt at 45 x 57 inches.

Now we'll get into the fancy stuff.  This quilt takes 24 blocks. That includes the setting triangle areas too. It measures 60 x 77

This pretty little number is also set on pointe and includes a little sashing.  I like the separating effect of the sashing.  This quilt measures 70 x 88 and also takes 24 d9p blocks.

And the Grand Finale ..........  a beautiful vertical row quilt. It measures 57 x 73.

So,  care to come join us in the QAL?  I will offer this D9P project file for EQ7 users, as soon as I get the file tidied up. I'll make a post announcement when it is ready.

Scraphappy Saturday - Greens

I managed to get into this months RSC13 challenge - just under the wire.  I kept it simple ......... my 16-patch star block here:

This will go with my collection - one star block every month which should finish into a very nice sized scrappy quilt.

And I made some more crumb blocks.  I must be getting desperate.....beginning to crumb pieces together to get a length long enough to continue around a side.  These blocks finish at 6 inches.  Eventually, I will insert them into other block units  for a quilt design. Ever so much fun, eh !

I have to say my green scraps are still plentiful.  After doing these blocks, I feel more comfortable in tossing out some little bits, sans guilt.  These greens are so old and dull in my stash. I'm ready for some fresh stuff.

This challenge has been a real treat for me - encouragement to dig into those bins and use it up!  I am linking up with  Angela over at  SOSCRAPPY   for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Make a visit to SoScrappy to see all the other great link-ups.

Road to Round Rock - Center

Phew!  I have been busy, really I have.  I've just finished assembling the center of my Road to Round Rock QOV.  This is a QAL happening over at patchworktimes.

I will be not be following Judy's plan for the finishing borders.  I have a special print fabric that I want to use as part of the border, and I didn't want the quilt to finish quite as large as Judy's plan. This is a good stopping point.  I have some other sewing commitments that will take precedence right now.

This piece is a quilt of valor commitment.  Is it safe to say ............. HAPPY  SPRING !

Wonky Revisited

While doing a bit of recycling in the closet, I came across this piece I worked on last year.  I fell in love with the pattern when it came out in Quilters World and immediately set out to make it. I even found a lovely paisley fabric perfect for the border.  I've since forgotten the name of the pattern, but mine I shall call Wonky. It was written to be a 60 inch piece. I made it in half-scale or maybe less?  It measures 24 x 28 inches.

Then I started quilting it.  I love the background but they are only 1 inch wide strips. I quilted every strip so I could secure the fused leaves at the same time. I quilted it into wonkiness and hung it away in the closet.

This weekend it got pulled out of the closet.  I still love the piece and I'm still trying to overlook it's wonkiness. So, I hand stitched down the sleeves and decided to hang it up, for awhile, anyway!

Welcome,  Spring!  It is my favorite season!

Scraphappy Saturday - Orange 3

In an effort to clear out my orange scrap bin, I was encouraged to stitch up this Autumn Rose Wreath.  This  is a 12 inch block plus borders and ALOT of work. When I started the wreath, I realized I used up most of the oranges during these past two Saturdays, so I had to incorporate alot of rusts too.  I could have raided my stash for more orange yardage, but wouldn't that defeat the purpose of clearing out your scrap bin?

You can find the free pattern for my Rose Wreath on my pattern page HERE.  I have linked up at Soscrappy where you can visit all the other link-ups with their orange creations.  Orange you glad it's Saturday!

New Attraction to an Old Tool

I've been getting re-acquainted with my Easy Angle Ruler.  It has turned out to be a very efficient tool for my half square triangles.  Why have I been keeping it idle in my toolbox?

 Here is a sampling of 24 HST blocks I  made this morning. I didn't have to draw a diagonal line down the center of a square, stitch on both sides of the line and cut in half..... and I didn't have to do more trimming down to size at the finish!  When pressed open, they were the correct size.  I checked!

I think I'm trotting off to make another batch!  See ya soon.