scrap happy

Over at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on SoScrappy blog, the colour of the month in May was green. I guess that means I’m a couple of months behind but at least I’m playing along!

The drawer where my green scraps are stored wouldn’t open or close without force, it was way over-full. I decided to make a green bargello table runner but I couldn't find enough suitable fabrics where I had the full width. However, it was obvious that it was time to sort through my green scraps. When I’d finished sorting and pressing, I still could not fit them back in the drawer! It really was time to do something with them. Remember this pile of strings?
 
I separated the 2.5” strips from the rest of the strips and had so many that I thought I could make a quarter of a quilt with them! I was right. Here is my green scrappy strippy quilt so far. Admittedly I only had enough for nine rows (there are thirty-two rows to a full quilt) so I have cut some more strips from my bigger pieces of scrap. I have not yet had to time to sort them by value or sew them to the quilt top.

Yes it is curving slightly on the “dark side” but I’ll correct that as I sew more strips (or by blocking if necessary). My quilt top was, of course, inspired by the Jelly Roll Race quilts that have been around for several years now. I had thought I’d like to make one but I find it hard to keep the edges of the strips lined up properly without pins! And who wants to pin 1600 inches of seam?

As you can probably imagine, I still had a substantial number of green strips in varying lengths, all less than 2.5” wide. I needed a new leaders and enders project so I decided to make half-square triangle blocks with some donated yardage and the green strips. I did foundation piecing on greaseproof paper for the first one because I didn't have copy paper big enough to draw 10” squares. I made a mistake though – I drew my square 10.5 inches which resulted in the colour join not being on the diagonal centre line! We live and learn! The second one I pinned and sewed that 15.5” bias edge carefully!
 
The reason I needed a new “leaders and enders” project was because I got too carried away with my pink and purple improv blocks earlier this week. This is what I ended up with. I have no idea how I’ll use these blocks yet but my mind will be working on ideas while I’m doing other things!
 
I’ve also been working on my “Something Old” project, the Country Houses quilt, and my “Something New” project (the Blue Bargello table runner), but I’ll leave those for another post.
It’s funny how my love for my hobbies cycles in and out. For the past ten days or so, I just couldn’t wait to get to my sewing machine and I’ve still been knitting in the evenings. However, my blog reading is months behind and I haven't done a thing for family history in months!

Does it work like that for you too?
~~~~~~~~~
Linking this post with the 2014 Rainbow Scrap Challenge at SoScrappy blog.

Relaxing Robin report

Sorry about the length of time between posts. We have DD and our grandsons staying with us at the moment. We all attended MIL's 80th birthday party on Saturday. They will be staying until Wednesday morning, when I will drive back to Woolgoolga with them and return to Sydney the following day by train so I have a busy week ahead.

But you didn't come here to read about my family activities, did you?

Dawn, over at sewyouquilt2, has a Relaxing Robin Linky party. It's like a Round Robin but the work never leaves your hands so the only one to work on it is you. 

In January we were to find (or make) an orphan block (or two) and add a small border. I showed you my block in my last post but here it is again. Looking at this photo, I'm glad I have a new iron to press out those creases and seams.

I'm considering using the other block as well but haven't started on it yet. I certainly don't have enough of the green fabric to add a border to the second block.

In February we were to add some appliqué. I want to add some bird appliqués to mine, in keeping with the theme set by the fabric in the original pinwheel. My idea was inspired by this lovely mini by Samelia's Mum.

 I plan to do this while travelling on Thursday -- nine hours on a train gives me plenty of stitching time. I hope to cut the appliqué shapes this afternoon while DD and the boys are visiting with DD's best friend.

What about you?

Do you have an orphaned block (or two) that could form the basis of a Relaxing Robin project?

It's not to late to join in if you start this week!

Link up with the Relaxing Robin here.

one of those days

You know the kind I mean.

Where you seem to take two steps forward and one step back.

Where more ripping takes place than progress.

I started out with these:

When I first started at Caring Hearts Community Quilters, no-ne told me what size to make the quilts, just “single bed toppers”. I didn’t know what that meant but then I remember that the wraps I knit were also single bed toppers and they are 40” x 70” (28 ten-inch square in a 4 columns, 7 rows configuration).

And so I pieced this quilt top in the same way. It came out 44” x 77”. I pieced the backing to be two inches larger all round – 48” x 81”. 
There it stopped. I never got around to quilting it.

A few months passed and I found out that the quilt size required was approximately 54” x 64”.

Clearly this quilt was too narrow and too long. I have known that for several months but have only just got to this UFO.

It should have been no problem. Remove the bottom row. Make two more squares. Cut some more sashing. Put it back together.

Cut the back down and find a way to make it wider. Ah yes, ten inches wider. Three sashings at 2” each plus a four inch panel of the main fabric – just as well I still had some of the fabric in my stash.
~~~~~~
I decided to work on the backing first – it’s more straight forward. First cut it down to 70”. Then unpick two 70” seams to remove the pieced panel.

Cut 2.5” strips WOF (width of fabric). Join the strips to make sashing 70” long. Sew the first sashing to the pieced panel. Oops! Should have used pins – unpick the whole lot! Re-sew.

Pin the second sashing to the other side of the pieced panel and sew. Good job. Uh-oh! What’s this? The sashing has been sewn on upside-down so that the joins are facing the outside. Unpick 70” of stitching. Re-sew.

Iron and cut two four inch strips from the main fabric. Join to make a panel. Sew sashing to panel. Perhaps I should have used pins? Err. I think I’ll get away with it!

Join two narrow panels to each other. Sloppy! Should have used pins! Rip. Re-sew!

Sew the narrower of the two side pieces to the stitched panel. Haven’t you learnt yet? Use pins! Rip. Pin. Re-sew! Pin last piece of backing to the panel piece, sew!

Backing finished – go and have a late lunch and read for a couple of hours!
~~~~~~
Ah, feeling better. Time to face the quilt top.

Rip the bottom row. Assess the situation. Find some appropriate scraps. Fortunately I have some strips of three of the fabrics that are used in other blocks. Measure the original blocks. Cut strips. Iron. Cut more strips. Sew strips in pairs. Join pairs (Look, mum, no pins!). Continue until blocks are made. Press, measure for size. Oops, too small.

Find another strip for each block. Rip one seam in each block. Add new strip. Press. Trim to size.

Cut 2” strips WOF to make sashing. Cut two 9” strips. Pin. Sew to blocks. Measure. Cut two 11” strips. Pin. Sew to blocks. Attach one block to the top and one block to the bottom of the four blocks that had previously been removed from the quilt top (because they have been made from the almost the same fabrics and need to be separated). Join sashing strips. Pin to side of blocks. Sew. Press.

Make another sashing strip. Add to other side using pins. Sew. Press.

Collect rest of quilt top from the family room. Look at it. Shake head. Look again! Realise the last sashing added wasn’t needed. Rip off newly sewn sashing.

Pin completed block column to rest of quilt top. Sew the last seam (finally). Begin pressing! What’s this ?!*^~*?

Can you see the problem here? Look closely at the top two block on the right and the two below them.

Leave it in tears. Go back to book!

scrappy Sunday

The colours for this month in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge over at SoScrappy are the blues at the green end of the spectrum (or is it the greens at the blue end of the spectrum? LOL)

Anyway, whether you believe them to be blue or whether you believe them to be green, I give you my scraps of aqua, teal and turquoise (and related colours).

3 x Four patch (6.5” unfinished)

2 x String (6.5” unfinished)

These are closest to the actual colours.

11 x Improv (6.5” unfinished)

 
joining The Rainbow Scrap Challenge linky party

brought to you by the colour yellow

The colour of the month for May for the Rainbow Scraps Challenge over at SoScrappy was yellow.

I always seem to leave it till the last minute to get my blocks done but here they are:

three four patch:

one string:

seven improv:

and one “Wonky Windows”

-- a total of twelve blocks made on Thursday and Friday.

I now have a total of 44 improv blocks so I am well on my way to having my first scrappy rainbow quilt top started! I think I need 56 for what I have in mind, so only need twelve more – hopefully I’ll have them by the end of June or July!

On the other end of the scale, I have only nine Wonky Window blocks. Given that they are only five inch blocks, I think it will be a while before we see those made up into a quilt!

today’s post brought to you by the colour pink

I’m a month behind with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge over at soscrappy. The colour for March was pink and the colour for April is light neutrals.

I spent all day Wednesday playing catch-up and this is what I achieved:
two four patch blocks

two string blocks

ten improv blocks

and one wonky window block

A total of fifteen pink blocks.

I have started an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of my blocks – I have to make a lot more to have even a single (twin) bed quilt!

busy quilting

DD and I spent some lovely time together over the last few days.

On Thursday, when I returned home from the Caring Hearts Community Quilting Group (CHCQG), she was already here.

We didn't get much time for sewing for the rest of the day - instead we spent the time looking through the fabrics that I had brought home with me. In the evening, DD knitted and I continued to sew the binding onto the quilt I had been asked to complete.

I began the binding at CHCQG. I had taken my embroidery scissors, a couple of needles, a needle threader and binding clips to the group with me, but had to borrow thread as I wasn't told to bring my own. The thread I borrowed was ecru, the binding I was sewing was blue. My hand-stitching is not too bad but that light coloured thread stood out against the blue like a "sore thumb".

So, when I got home, I found some blue thread and finished stitching down the binding with that. Then I re-sewed all the stitches I had already done and removed the ecru stitching. I finished it on Friday afternoon while teaching DD how to make QAYG string blocks.

Here is the quilt - please remember this is not my work; all I did was stitch down the binding.

finished size approx. 60" x 45"

This quilt reminds me very much of the warm/cool quilt-along which has been very popular in quilt-blogland recently. We'd better take a look at the back that shows that yes, there is binding - it's the same colour as the front border.

On Friday, DD and I went to the Mad Quilters Gathering. I went looking for specific fabrics that I wanted but didn't see any! All I ended up buying was a quilter's tool for making half square triangles and some spare blades for my rotary cutter.

DD and I both spent some time at the Gathering sewing a block for charity. For DD's block, she had to sew two borders around an appliqued patch. My choice was a four patch which was a little bit of a challenge because each of the four patches was made of three strips of fabric and I knew they had to be reasonably accurate so that the points would meet properly. I was so please to get a perfect intersection between the four patches. Unfortunately, I had not taken my camera and I didn't think about DD having one on her phone so there are no photos of our work!

When we came home, DD (who hasn't sewn for several weeks) was well and truly bitten by the sewing bug; especially since she had been sewing on a Husqvarna Sapphire machine. She was very excited when I taught her how to make a QAYG string block and she was allowed to use my new sewing machine, even though hers was right there in the same room. Her first attempt is on the left - perfect, as I said before, but a little bit "safe" (as was mine). She became much more adventurous in her second and third blocks.

You've already seen my first block on this post; it looks very boring in comparison to the five I have made since.

Hey, Kate; do you recognise your scraps here?

They are very easy and work together well. I just have to remember to check the back of QAYG block every time I sew a seam - sometimes I don't keep the back as flat as I should!

As many blocks as I can fit in a 500g post pack will be sent to Oz Comfort Quilts; the rest (if any) will be added to and made into a quilt for CHCQG.

We also spent some of Sunday afternoon cutting more foundation pieces (11" square) and further sorting our strings into three different containers: over 15", under 6", and those in between. Of course, the more blocks we make, the more crumbs we make - they have their own containers too: one for "triangles" (or pieces roughly shaped like triangles) and the other for more rectangular pieces.

All in all, a very productive, and highly enjoyable, few days.

don't look around - you'll be overwhelmed

Well, you may not be - but I'm beginning to feel like I'm drowning in UFOs - again!

I'm generally very focused. I don't mind taking on the big crafting projects - knitted blankets, bed sized quilts.

But, when I'm learning a new craft, I get very excited. I want it all - right now!

On 4th June I went to a quilting workshop intent on learning as many ways to make half square triangles (HST) as possible. I got really excited about HSTs - for a few days!

9" block - one of two - destined to be a drawstring bag

Then I saw a blog with a disappearing four patch block. I really wanted to give that a go. I waited. I forced myself to focus on HST. But eventually I caved and I made one!

8" block - probably destined to be a drawstring bag

Yes, that's it! Just one 8 inch block. And I was ready for the next thing!!

A friend suggested I'd better make sampler quilts rather than confine myself to the same block over and over - and I think she's right!

I don't have a short attention span. I can focus on the same knitting project for weeks on end. But I have been knitting for forty plus years and I've tried most of it! I won't say I've done it all but, well, I've done a lot. There is rarely anything that excites me to think, "I must try it right now"!

Patchwork/Applique/Piecing/Quilting has a different excitement. It's new. It's untried. It's unknown. And I want to do it all. Now. If not sooner.

I can be very disciplined. Yesterday I got a new toy. I unpacked it and took photos to show you. WM and I cut a single shape with it and then I put it away - for later!


When I have finished some of these UFOs (in order of how long they've been hanging around):

I don't know what I'm doing with this. It started life as a scarf but I felt the fabric was too dense for a scarf. Then I thought it would be a bib for forthcoming Grandbubby the First (who's now seventeen months old). It's acrylic and non-absorbent - no good for a bib. I'm thinking I might use the ends for a scarf and knit garter stitch between but I'm not entirely convinced. Any suggestions? (Rip it?)

After attending a knitting workshop with Liz Gemmell last month, I have found a way to deal with all the ends of this blanket so it will get finished - one day; right now it's not a priority!  

Second Sock/Mitten Syndrome is alive and well.

Ambassador of Love mitten - waiting for a mate!

This sock was finished but the cast (bind) off was too tight and I put it in the naughty corner in late April - it's still there!

toe up sock for WM - also waiting for a mate

I would block this shawlette - if I could figure out how! It's not flat; the centre is flat and then it ruffles! Hard to explain, even harder to photograph!

waiting to be blocked

Eight out of fifteen of these blocks were completely quilted until I got sick last week and couldn't focus to sew straight!

Country Houses twin bed quilt

I ran out of red yarn (136 stitches from the end of the last block). WM went to the Big Box Store but it seems they are not carrying that colourway anymore! I have to redesign my blanket to work with the colours I have.

Pinwheel Blanket

This fabric was bought to make two change mats for Older Grandson and drawstring bags for Angels for the Forgotten - once again, I was too sick last week to sew straight!

flannel fabric

This blanket is the thing getting my attention at the moment - the weather has been cold and I have had a cold; these two things combined mean my favourite activity has been knitting, curled up under a rug, in front of the television. This is coming together very quickly - despite me not feeling the love for the combination of yarn and stitch pattern!

Feather and Fan Angel Blanket

I did warn you not to look!! LOL

a busy week and pinwheel blanket progress

I can't believe it's been a whole week since I posted about the Pinwheel Blanket - time flies when one is busy! So what have I been doing?

Monday: sewing class
Tuesday: take DD to obstetrician
Wednesday: at Craft Show test-driving sewing machines
Thursday: roaming around town looking at sewing machines and fabric
Friday: eye test, grocery shopping
Saturday: helping out at the Knitters' Guild stand at the Craft Show - too busy to even think about looking at sewing machines or fabrics!

So here we are: Sunday again and time to update my progress on the blanket. I am making 112 of these in five colours (mauve, lavender, purple, rose and crimson)

 I'm more than halfway with the knitting - I have done 63 of the 112 units needed.

So, all I have to do is knit 49 more units and use no-sew grafting to join 104 of those units to make 26 blocks (like these two which I've already completed)

10" x 10" - they will block square

.... then join the 28 blocks to make a blanket

... and sew in all the ends (I keep forgetting to weave them in as I go)

... and add a border! Thanks to the workshop I attended last weekend, I've got a great idea for this one - can't wait to get to it!

Will I have it finished by the end of July?

disappearing four patch

Since I started quilting, one blog that I find truly inspirational is Kate's Arty Bits. A couple of months ago, Kate won the blocks from Block Lotto. I pondered the block and couldn't work out how it was done so I visited the site to find out the name of the block.

It was a version of the disappearing four patch block.

I decided to use some of my scraps and try one. This would be very good practice for accurate measuring and cutting.

My first attempt didn't go well; I tried to be clever rather than careful - it ended up in my "just large enough to possibly be useful in the future" scrap basket!

My second attempt was much more successful. I cut each piece individually and didn't try to be clever! It doesn't really curl like that - the seams just don't lie quite flat enough!

Cutting blue fabric on a blue mat can sometimes be a bit tricky!

I really like this block - I think it it looks sophisticated.

Colonial House blocks nearly ready for quilting

All of the blocks for my Colonial House quilt have been appliqued and squared up. One even has the sashing added.

My layout was provisionally decided before all the blocks were appliqued.

I was hoping to get all my sashing and backing squares cut yesterday but I had to look after GS#1 unexpectedly so didn't get much done in the studio! (Yes, DD is fine; thanks for asking - she still has three and a half weeks before her due date.)

Once I get that cutting and stitching done, I'll only have to buy some batting and cut it and I'll be ready to start quilting.

We had no class at Down Patchwork Lane this week because it was a public holiday on Monday. I am looking forward to next week's class.

I'm already thinking about my next project! Did some way say "hooked"?

half square triangles Part 2

Yesterday I shared the five ways that I learnt for making half square triangles. Today I would like to take you one step further - blocks made from half square triangles.

Two half square triangles make a square that looks like this:

According to Judy Hooworth and Margaret Rolfe in their book "Spectacular Scraps", there are 256 ways to put four half square triangle units together to make a four patch block. Now some of these are obviously variations of others (mirror images, turned 90 degrees, etc) but there is enough variety there for one to make nothing else but quilts with half square triangles for the rest of one's life! And imagine the possibilities if one combines different four patch blocks!

So, here are the five I tried out on the weekend. Turn some of them 90 degrees clockwise three times and you'll have even more blocks!  (All you have to do to see them is lean right, lean left and stand on your head!!) Bring a mirror up to your monitor and you'll get even more variety!

Each of these has been trimmed to 5 1/2 inches and they are all made from the triangles cut from the fourth method talked about yesterday. I know they all have traditional names so if you know what they are, could you please tell me?

I know this one as "pinwheel"
(this can be mirror imaged and have the blades spinning in the opposite direction)

Does this one have "basket" in the title?
turn this one ninety degrees three times - four different blocks!

turn this one ninety degrees - different block

turn this one ninety degrees - different block



I believe this is called "Flying Geese".
this one can be turned 90 degrees three times to make four different blocks

 If you've now finished your contortions, you will observe that was fourteen variations! LOL

Of course, it might be better not to use a directional fabric (like these birds) to make half square triangles - unless, of course, you don't mind the birds standing on their heads or laying on their backs or beaks! But the teacher asked for a sixteen inch square and this is all the fabric I had in that size and I could only manage 15 inches. (I have corrected that and now have the beginnings of a stash - but that's another post!)

And, because it was fun, here is a quarter square triangle block made from my half square triangles - a bit skewed but a perfect point!