The Pantone Project

Friend Julie and I started a project together. This isn’t the first project we have worked on together. We have worked on Bullseye quilt projects together, the Windmill quilts and Julie’s Tumbler quilts. I enjoy working on projects with her.

Pantone Postcards
Pantone Postcards

This project started with me asking for the Pantone Postcard Box for a gift. Friend Julie got it for me, then we started talking about doing something quilty with it.

We threw ideas back and forth, but recently we got together for lunch and laid out our guidelines. It was a lot easier to make the list when we were together, though I suppose we could have done it on the phone as well.

Pattern Play by Doreen Speckmann
Pattern Play by Doreen Speckmann

We decided we would use the units Doreen Speckmann recommends in her Pattern Play book. I LOVED Doreen Speckmann’s classes. I have had the book for a long time, but Friend Julie bought it recently. It is a technique book, though there are a few patterns. Doreen shows readers how to make and use different units to make quilts look more personalized. These were the types of books that were written in the past whereas now people just write books that tell you how to make a certain quilt with certain fabric. I don’t see that I have written a book review on this book, but it might be time.

That being said, this is a block based book and, thus The Pantone Project will be a block based quilt.

“Supplies” Needed:

Decisions to Make:

    • Size of units (blocks)
    • Type of units to make
    • Timeframe for making the project
    • Timeframe for sending postcards

Every week or so we send each other a postcard. The interval is pretty random, but we aren’t letting months go by. I was on a trip recently and didn’t send any that week, but sent one as soon as I got back.

The postcards have a certain Pantone color. From the color we will choose a solid, tone-on-tone or ‘reads as solid’ fabric to use for the block.

Blossom by Christopher Thompson for Riley Blake
Blossom by Christopher Thompson for Riley Blake

We decided to use the same background and bought some together the other day. We bought a cool grey called Blossom by Riley Blake. Christopher Thompson is the designer. I don’t know why it is called Blossom since there is not one blossom-y color on it. Some of the other fabrics in the line are more blossom-like. Anyway, this is a really good grey, which is now washed and waiting to be incorporated into blocks. You can see more of the design of the fabric on Julie’s blog.

Our units will be 4 inches finished (4.5 inches unfinished).

We will make two blocks, plus cut two squares and send one block and one square to the other person. At the moment, I am behind and won’t be able to get started until later this week or next week. Julie has a nice picture of the postcards I have sent on her blog. She also made one block already. I need to get busy, and will soon.

I hope you find a friend and play along.

 

Resources:

 

 

 

 

**Obviously, you should shop at a local quilt shop. However, I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

Book Review: Simply Modern Patchwork Quilts

Carina Gardner's Simply Modern Patchwork Quilts: 12 Posy Garden Quilts and Sewing Projects for the Beginning QuilterCarina Gardner’s Simply Modern Patchwork Quilts: 12 Posy Garden Quilts and Sewing Projects for the Beginning Quilter by Carina Gardner

I received this book for free as an affiliate of Creative Fabrica. It is a self-published ebook, which you can find on the Creative Fabrica site. I was able to download it as a PDF, which opened with no problems in my normal PDF viewing software.

The table of contents contains an Introduction, Guest Pattern Designers and then Patterns in Section 1 and Finishing in Section 2 (pg.4).

In the Introduction, Ms. Gardner talks about how she came to quiltmaking and relays that she designed a fabric line for Riley Blake which debuted in 2016 at Quilt Market in Salt Lake City. She names the guest designers who are all new to me. There are brief bios of these designers on page 6.

Patterns start immediately with a design called Modern Granny Pillow. This design, made with larger squares, could be a donation top design really easily. The pattern is 3-4 pages long. The page numbers disappear when the patterns start.

An eBook makes it hard for me to flip through and decide on my favorite pattern. I like the first pattern for the possibilities. The second pattern, however, a Sawtooth Star mini quilt, appeals just because I love Sawtooth Stars. Gardner calls the pattern “Clean Star”.

The patterns use a variety of different techniques. The Starburst Paper Pieced Pattern is paper pieced and the paper piecing patterns to make the project are included right with the text, not at the end of the book, as with most commercial publications. That is a nice feature. I notice that there is no ‘square’ included with the paper piecing pattern to help readers figure out the size. Of course, you can make it whichever size you want.

Some great quilting is shown in the Garden Prairie Mini Quilt by Christine Cook. This is the last pattern in the book and does not include instructions for quilting.

All of the patterns are fairly easy and very appealing, especially when using bright fabrics contrasted with bright whites or cool greys. More traditional calicos and even Civil War prints would look good, too.

Section 2 about finishing starts immediately after the patterns. The first part talks about backing. The author discusses how much is needed depending on the type of quilting. She also talks about how to finish pillows and discusses challenges with ending up with different sized projects.

The Binding subsection follows. Ms. Gardner makes clear that she cuts all bindings on the straight of the grain. She mentions bias binding and how it stretches, but does not compare the two types of bindings or enumerate the benefits of bias binding. In the book, they are considered equivalent.

Ms Gardner shows how to bind a quilt including creating a mitered corner and creating an invisible join. The Finishing section also talks about piping. I have not seen piping included in very many books I have reviewed. She uses width-of-fabric (WOF) strips whereas I might use bias strips. Clearly WOF strips have worked for the author.

There is no supply list for this section and I think that might be helpful because she springs the fact that the reader needs a zipper foot midway through the process. Still, the instructions are basic, but clear and make me want to try piping again.

There are two full quilt patterns in the book as Easter Eggs (like in video games). Both are expanded from other projects in the book.

If you need quick, satisfying and relatively easy patterns, this book will satisfy your desire. Pull some favorite fabrics out of your stash and any loss of sewing mojo will be quickly restored.

View all my reviews

La Pass Month 12 Basted and Started

La Pass Month 12 Basted and Started
La Pass Month 12 Basted and Started

Month 12 arrived and I did a bit of cutting, but thought I could do the rest when I went to Sew Day. I was almost able to finish, but not quite. I spent some time that same day to finish after I got home, but before dinner. That was exciting because that meant I could start working on M12 right after dinner. ( yes, I lead a simple life. Partying for me is an evening with John Barnaby and my DH. 🙂   )

It was a bit of a trial to cut and baste. I didn’t want to use the Squirrel or Raccoon fabric. Because I am determined to use the fabric, I tried really hard to fussy cut around the squirrels and raccoons. I couldn’t find an appealing angle that would give me enough of the shapes I needed. It didn’t help that that shape I needed was the largest pentagon.

I switched the fabrics out when I got home. I used the coneflowers instead of the raccoons and the Daydreamer flamingo fabric instead of the squirrels. I alternated the flamingos with another part of the fabric that included more blue and green to help with the transition between rosettes. Apparently, birds are not animals in my crazy mind and I don’t mind them looking at me through eternity.

Anyway, I am super excited to be working on this project again.

Pies & Points Blocks Really Done

Pies & Points Layout Complete
Pies & Points Layout Complete

I finally finished the blocks and laid out the quilt the way I pretty much want it. I am still fiddling with the Pie half blocks, but otherwise this is how the quilt will look. Obviously, I have to fill in the background.

I am a little concerned about the large spaces of background, but I can’t really process how they will look with the white of my design wall showing through.

Rainbow Color Strip Non-Progress

Rainbow Color Strip donation blocks - June 2022
Rainbow Color Strip donation blocks – June 2022

The Rainbow Color Strip donation top has been stalled, mostly. Since the last time I posted about it, I have added some blocks, but the top is not done. I haven’t made much progress, which is frustrating.

I blame yellow.

You might remember I finished the Yellow Improv donation top in April. When I made that piece, I used every speck of yellow scraps in my yellow scrap drawer. I don’t always use a lot of yellow, so that was years worth of yellow scraps. Since April, I have cut only a few, oddly shaped yellow scraps. In order to make the above blocks into a  true rainbow quilt, I need yellow.

I can just cut some from yardage, right? What’s the problem? That is definitely the problem. What is holding me up from just cutting a few strips from yardage and making the dang yellow strip blocks?

I have no idea, but that time is coming to an end. I want these blocks off my design wall and into the hands of a quilter in the guild. I need the space for another project.

As a side note, I don’t put these donation tops on my UFO or WIP or to do list. I only work on one at a time, mostly, and I never take them off my design wall until they are done. You are probably thinking “hey, what about the American Jane Plus top and the Ends n.14 (Typewriter) top?” Yes, I made both of those while this Rainbow Strips top was on the design wall. That is why I said ‘mostly’.

 

Pies & Points Blocks Heading Towards Done

Pies & Points blocks done
Pies & Points blocks done

I am still working hard on Pies & Points. I have mostly finished the blocks, except for a couple of seams. I am also closing in a layout about which I am relatively happy, too.

There are a few adjustments I need to make.

I didn’t have enough of the right pieces to make all the blocks I wanted. I should have gone over to Friend Julie’s house and cut them using her Sizzix (we got the Sizzix die in the class), but I didn’t think I would need many pieces, so I cut a few by hand, then  cut a few more and a few more. I still have a few more to cut.

Once I get the layout done, I’ll have to start putting it together. You can see from the shapes that I won’t be able to put it together in rows exactly. I see some Partial Seams in my future.

Gelato Finally Arrived

Gelato in new home
Gelato in new home

After much drama, Gelato finally arrived in Switzerland. My friend had to go pick it up and pay duty despite me sending it as a gift. I always have problems with Swiss customs.

Right now it is resting after spending 4 months folded up in a box.

My friend says he will probably frame it and hang it in his living room. I can’t wait to see it when I go back to visit.

 

More Pies & Points

Pies & Points More Progress
Pies & Points More Progress

I worked really hard over the past weekend to get this quilt pieced and off the design wall. I didn’t succeed, but made good progress.

As I worked on this quilt, I realized that I was more interested in working with Victoria Findlay Wolfe than this actual quilt. I will finish it — I am excited about getting this quilt off my UFO list, but I am not excited about the project in general.

There are some things I like about it. I like practicing curves and I am enjoying the pinks.

I started another quilt (stay tuned for photos) as leaders and enders about which I am much more excited and I am eager to get busy with that one.

 

La Passacaglia Month 12

Month 12 arrived and that means 6 months to go after this.

La Passacaglia Month 12 fabrics
La Passacaglia Month 12 fabrics

At first glance I was not that excited about the fabrics this time. Lots of Tiny Beasts and, as I have said, I do not want animals looking at me for eternity. Also, I have had enough green. I want more turquoise. I need to balance those feelings with “I already bought the fabric and need to use it.” I took a good look to see what I wanted to change out with the fabrics.

As I looked closer, I found that there were some possibilities with most of the fabrics, though there are a couple I will change out.

Stag fabric in fussy cut mirror
Stag fabric in fussy cut mirror

First I got out the fussy cut mirror** to look at different aspects of the stag fabric. This required me to take a good look at the fabric. I found that there were two kinds of orchid type flowers I could use instead of the stag’s head.  The first one was ok, but the second was very appealing. I particularly like the middle.

I am still cutting, so I haven’t done it with all the ‘suspect’ fabrics, but will.

I also decided I would use the ombre little fluffy clouds/sunset (PWTp 177-Dragonfruit from the Daydreamer line) fabric for the middle of the stars. Pink Door had white for those centers. I want the whole star to be one color.

The racoon fabric from Tiny Beasts will probably go as it is basically a tone-on-tone if I eliminate the racoon motif. Same with the squirrels, though there are some interesting vine patterns that may work for fussy cutting. However, they are green.

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need at quilt shops, I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

Happy Independence Day!!

For those of you who celebrate, Happy Independence Day! For those of you who do not celebrate, have a great day.

Happy 4th!
Happy 4th!

 

My wish, again, for this 4th is that we return to kindness, civility and working together to make a better future for our children. I have wished this before for various reasons. Post pandemic, I hope it will be easier to incorporate some of these traits into our lives as a society.

Pies and Points Progress

Pies & Points blocks - June 2022
Pies & Points blocks – June 2022

I have made a few more blocks. I don’t want to lay the quilt out symmetrically like in the class handouts. I want the eye to follow the lines around the quilt and find some surprises. For now, the surprises will be the Pie blocks placed strategically around the quilt.

Pies & Points blocks -problem
Pies & Points blocks -problem

I don’t know if that idea will work. As you can see from the arrow, the blocks to do not fit together in all directions.

It isn’t that I couldn’t piece those pieces together and I may still do that. I want to consider all my options. This is one of those design challenges.

Various & Sundry 2022 #7

Admin

I updated the Quilt Class page to include more about my teaching. If you want to take a class with me check that page.

I also updated the Minikins page. I love looking at that page, because I am always amazed at how many of the Minikins patterns I have made. I have not made all by any stretch, but I have made a lot.

I made another Ends donation quilt so that page includes the most recent quilt as well.

Projects, Classes, Patterns & Tutorials

Natalie from Sew Hungry Hippie has a tutorial on sewing with vinyl. Have you seen her aqua glitter webbing? I am forcing myself to use the webbing I have then will find a pattern and get some of this. It is so fun! It also comes in other colors.

I am really disappointed that anyone would need a pattern for this simple Sawtooth Star quilt. If you take a class from me, you might need a kit because the fabrics would be hard to put together without one, but you will be able to make this in your sleep. No pattern required. –>Please note that I am not against independent quilt designers creating patterns and I am not against fabric companies giving away free patterns. I am against not learning quiltmaking in a way that allows everyone to parse a quilt design.

Natalie from Sew Hungry Hippie has a tutorial on rolled handles for a bag. This technique uses vinyl tubing (from the hardware store) and foam, like Soft & Stable** or Bosal In-R-Foam**.

My mom wants to make a quick quilt as a gift. We discussed the various ‘Disappearing’ patterns like Disappearing Nine Patch and Disappearing Four Patch. We looked at the versions I have made, like the Food Quilts and the Disappearing Pinwheel. I found this tutorial for a Disappearing Four Patch for her and thought it showed how to make the pattern clearly.

Have you seen the Bucket hats that everyone seems to be making? They seem to be particularly popular with Kaffe fans. Natalie from Sew Hungry Hippie made a video tutorial with a free pattern link, if you want to make one as well.

Tools, Books, Fabric, Notions & Supplies

I heard about Got Interfacing. When I went to the site, it looked familiar and I wondered if I had shared here before. They call it a one stop shop for interfacing. I’ll definitely have to remember to look there when I need SF101 or a bolt of foam. Looks, however, like a UK/Canada/Aussie site.

There has been some discussion in my guild about the Oliso mini iron. I received one as a gift from Friend Julie with its own little case. Other mini/travel irons have been discussed including the Steamfast travel iron**, which got great reviews.

Articles, Tips and Other Information

Friend Julie has a great tip for storing your needles.

She has also posted her monthly Cornucopia post with lots of interesting media and tips.

Exhibitions and Inspiration

The Tanforan shopping mall in nearby San Bruno has provided SAQA space for the Prism Play exhibit based on Joen Wolfrom’s 3-in-1 Color tool. This is a tool I recommend for my students. The post about the exhibit shows a great space.

The show will be at the Peninsula Museum of Art
May 20 – July 17, 2022
The Shops at Tanforan, Space 204
1150 El Camino Real, San Bruno CA 94066

I love this idea. I think malls that provide unoccupied spaces for art will get shoppers that may not otherwise visit the mall. Nancy and I have been kicking the idea of spaces around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops. However, I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

26 Projects 2022 #6

The two latest donation tops/backs put me back in the black for fabric used this year. Yay! I am going to have some time off soon, so I plan to finish some of my UFOs in order to get even further into the black. La Pass Month 12 is coming so I need to finish some more projects so that fabric doesn’t put me back into the red.

Finished 2022 Quilt Projects

Finished 2022 Small and Non-Quilt Projects

This category covers bags, toys, aprons and knitting as well as other non-quilt projects.

Doing Good

In Process or To Make
The ‘In Process’ is used to denote projects on which I am actively working or are on the design wall waiting for me to stitch. I am continuing to try not to put away projects. I find putting a project away ensures I never work on them, because I just lose steam.

Quilts

  • The circle quilt is on the design wall waiting for what comes next
  • Pies and Points from 2016 Victoria Findlay Wolfe class. The blocks are up on the design wall and I have made a few more. I am actively working on this. It is the first of the UFOs to revert to a WIP and I am looking forward to getting it off my To Do list.
  • I have my Orange You Glad blocks back and will be sewing on the last circle pretty soon.

Small Projects

Most of my progress involves thinking or just cutting.

  • One Hour Basket for my stuff that tends to accumulate on the dining room table. I may switch to one of the Minikins projects or a Catch All Caddy for this purpose.
  • One Hour Basket for DH’s stuff that tends to accumulate on the dining room table. I may switch the pattern to one of the Minikins projects for this purpose.
  • Retreat Organizer – another project from the Crafty Gemini Organizer Club, also on my list, but not yet started. Recently, I saw one of these made up and I am not so nervous about it
  • Rose Petrillo bag – I found the pieces for this bag cut out, but not sewn.
  • Superbloom tote using Hindsight fabric – not started
  • Ultimate Project Organizer – another project from the Crafty Gemini Organizer Club, also on my list, but not yet started
  • Westchester shirt – this is a Crafty Gemini pattern. I bought the fabric at PIQF in 2018. I have the pattern pieces cut out and ready to sew. I was held up by the supply list which wanted a Jersey needle. SIL #2 and Mary C said that a regular knit needle was fine. We may start a garment sewing group in the guild. I could use the support.

Handwork

I decided that some of my projects are in a different class because they are hand piecing or embroidery or beading. They take longer. Thus I created a new category and have moved some projects here.

  • English Paper Piecing Project– half hexies – I worked on this project again while I was waiting for La Pass Month 11 to arrive. I need to lay it out and figure out the bottom so I can put the border pieces on
  • La Passacaglia – I am up to date on this project and waiting for Month 10 to arrive.

Ready for Quilting

  • BAMQG IRR

In the Quilting Process

  • BAMQG Improv Round Robin – The quilt is ready to be sent to Colleen. I like the look of Big Stitch, but I have enough handwork and wasn’t enjoying working on it. I am kind of shocked at how much I got done. I do feel some regret at ripping out the completed stitches.
  • The Tarts come to Tea – no recent progress,but I did pull it out to take a look at what I had done. I was thinking that I could rip out the stitching, but I have done a lot and the stitching is pretty good. I didn’t rip anything out and will get busy on at it again at some point.

In the Finishing Process

  • Nothing at the moment

Still UFOs
I still have UFOs. Who doesn’t, after all? A project in the ‘UFO’ category means I am stalled. A nicer way of saying UFO is a WIP. The list is a lot shorter and the projects are newer, for the most part.

I am annoyed that some of these are still WIPs. I just need to work on them!

  1. Handbag Sampler – this is still the forgotten project. It should be on the UFO list. The blocks were teaching samples when I taught a sampler class some time before I started writing the quilt class sampler tutorials. I found one block recently, but otherwise I don’t actually know exactly where the blocks are hiding. I crawled up in the far reaches of my fabric closet to see if I could find them and they weren’t where I thought. I am sort of mystified as to where they could be. I haven’t even found a picture of all the blocks. WTH?
  2. Lobster – I still want to make this into a tablerunner for the buffet. I think that will be a good and fun use of the piece even if the colors aren’t quite right for the dining room.
  3. Pointillist Palette #4: Fourth is a series of 6 quilts; needs tiny square patches sewn together. No progress.
  4. Self Portrait: started in 2006 at a class at Quilting Adventures in Richmond, Virginia. After a brief burst of inspiration, I am stalled on this again. As one of my oldest (I am pretty sure) UFOs, I put it on my blog and out into the Twitterverse and Diane suggested that I not consider this as a self portrait. I think that strategy is a great idea. I am now trying to think of a new persona for her.
  5. Serendipity Lady – I am still planning to take this piece to be framed. It might need a bit of quilting first.
  6. Who Am I? – This piece is still languishing. Perhaps having a larger design wall will help me regain momentum. The amount of satin stitching I was facing was a problem until I thought of BIAS TAPE. I am going to make the words with bias tape, perhaps different widths, then I won’t have to  satin stitch everything. Red Scribbles and Friend Julie helped me come up with this solution. Now I just have to do it!

June Donation Blocks

I got back on the donation block bandwagon this month as I was finishing up the Ends n.14 (Typewriter) donation top. I didn’t make many, but every little bit helps, right?

Sunset Bag Finished

Sunset Project Bag Finished (from top)
Sunset Project Bag Finished (from top)

I finished the Sunset Project Bag not long after my last post. I like the shape and how well it stands up. 

The fabric is one I unearthed when I was looking through my fabric for the correct colors for pieces for Orange You Glad. I thought I had used up all of this old Philip Jacobs fabric. Even though it doesn’t match my Take a Stand bag or my A Place for Everything v.2.0 bag, I like the way it came out. The fabric seems cheeful and light to me.

I really like the way the zipper came out. It works as expected. I was a little disappointed in the zipper on the my Take a Stand bag. It just seems weird to use.

I fussy cut the front and back panels to take advantage of the beautiful roses. The yardage I have left now looks a bit like Swiss cheese, but I am more interested in a good looking bag than non-Swiss cheese fabric.

I would have preferred pink or light blue handles, but I don’t think the darker turquoise looks bad. The handles came from some cotton webbing I have had around for a long time. It was time to use it.

Sunset Project Bag: inside full
Sunset Project Bag: inside full

The inside came out particularly well. The True colors fabric I used looks great. I thought that I would want to save it for something special, but what? I don’t have a lot of it left, but I decided to use something that would make me happy when I opened the bag and now I am really glad I did. I need to remember to use the good fabric.

As you can see the bag opens flat. Vanessa from Crafty Gemini uses this bag for knitting (or maybe crochet?) projects. Opening flat provides good access to the contents. With balls of yarn, however, they might roll away if the bag was opened flat.

Sunset Project Bag: inside mesh pocket detail
Sunset Project Bag: inside mesh pocket detail

The mesh pocket works well and will allow me to see what is inside.  The pocket is a good size, I think. I wonder if there are other pockets I should have added, but I think just tossing in a pouch with additional supplies will work. What are pouches for anyway?

Sunset Project Bag: inside binding detail
Sunset Project Bag: inside binding detail

The other side has no pocket, but you can see that I had to bind the raw edges on the inside to cover them. I machine sewed one side of the binding, then hand sewed the other. It wasn’t as much of a hassle to hand sew this bag’s binding as it was to sew the binding on my Take a Stand bag or my A Place for Everything v.2.0 bag. I still stabbed myself several times. One of the risks.

I am struggled with the finishing. I like to poke out the corners and make the bag nice and finished looking. In this case, I have rolled the seam joins, I have also pressed them and poked them out. Nothing I have tried will get them all the way out. I am not sure why, but maybe the binding since it is on the back of the joins.

I think it came out pretty well, though there are some things I would like to change.