Handbag Sampler Returns

Handbag Sampler - ready for binding
Handbag Sampler – ready for binding

The Handbag Sampler is back from Colleen. She was able to drop it off for me when she did an errand in the neighborhood. It was great not to have to drive to her place. 

I wanted this ready for the BAM BOM start at the meeting yesterday. I had to stitch the binding on quickly. It was a little challenging, because I used a black and white diamond patterned fabric for the binding. That meant that choosing the thread to be invisible was a challenge. I ended up with white and was very careful about getting the stitches on the underside of the binding so they wouldn’t be visible. They were fairly hidden on the white fabric, but screaming against the black.

Handbag Sampler - quilting detail
Handbag Sampler – quilting detail

Colleen did a great job on the quilting.

She quilted a lot of different motifs in different places around the quilt. The swirls/spirals in the background of the New York Beauty are a particular favorite.

Working on this quilt and the Patchwork Palooza make me want to start another sampler. How many samplers are too many?

Patchwork Palooza Block 5

I am almost finished with the backlog of blocks.

Card Trick AKA Go Your Own Way
Card Trick AKA Go Your Own Way

I finally finished block 5, Card Trick, or, as the Patchwork Palooza people call it, Go Your Own Way. I don’t like this block. I always have trouble making it, which seems very odd to me. It shouldn’t be a difficult block, but for me, it is. Apparently, it didn’t like me either as there was a lot of ripping involved in finishing it.

In Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Quilt Patterns**, this block, #1674, is called Crow’s Nest or Card Trick. Both names are from Beth and Jeff Gutcheon. In the Encyclopedia it is colored very strangely, so you can see the card effect. It looks more like an Ohio Star, but with half QSTs instead of regular QSTs.

In Jinny Beyer’s The Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns, this block is #143 and also called Card Trick, but doesn’t have the QST in the center. It is listed as from The Perfect Patchwork Primer by Beth and Jeff Gutcheon. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon 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 website.

Finished: Fold & Stitch Wallet

Fold & Stitch Wallet - front
Fold & Stitch Wallet – front

I finished the wallet very quickly. That was my goal and the pattern leant itself to the goal.

The pattern was free and didn’t discuss using directional fabric. If I made this again, I might put any directional fabric upside down, so it shows right side up on the flap. That means,the motifs would be upside down on the rest of the piece, such as the back. No good solution except making the flap separately, I guess.

Fold & Stitch Wallet - open
Fold & Stitch Wallet – open

I used a light grey batik I have used before for the interior.

Mom really liked it and I barely needed to explain my thinking to her. She loved the idea and immediately put it into use.

BAM BOM Start

SueG and I have been working for a few months on organizing a block-of-the-month (BOM) program for the guild. It starts in a few days. If you want to join, buy a membership in the guild. We will make the BOM program available in the group’s forum as well as at the meetings.

We wanted this to be a different kind of BOM. The participants won’t be getting one block that they have to make in a certain size each month. We are going with a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style. People will get a pattern, but there will be choices of  sizes. They can use any technique to make it and change the size if they want.

BAM BOM fabrics
BAM BOM fabrics

I have started to choose my fabrics. These aren’t all of them. I think I need some kind of citrus or sunshine type warm color and a turquoise as well.  Stay tuned for the additions as I evolve the fabrics in my own mind.

Another Sampler

SueG's Libs Elliot Sampler
SueG’s Libs Elliot Sampler

As you know, I am a fan of samplers. They can be so interesting to look at and very fun to make. This is one of the most unique sampler quilts I have ever seen. SueG has made this fabulous piece as part of a Libs Elliot online class.

She said the blocks are really hard, but the instructions were really good. She also said there were various options for making the blocks – different techniques and methods.

The flower in the bottom corner reminds me of that curve I struggled with on the Pearce Sling.

I was thinking as I talked to Sue about this quilt that Ruth McDowell’s Piecing book** would have been a great pre-work for this sampler. I am not sure Libs Elliot has heard of Ruth McDowell. 

Sue is fearless when it comes to piecing. She is one of the stars of my students. I am so proud of her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon 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 website.

Patchwork Palooza Block 7

Patchwork Palooza block 7
Patchwork Palooza block 7

Block 7, North and True is finished!

It took me a long time, because I was sewing other things and using this as leaders and enders. It didn’t take years just longer than a small block should. I was working on donation blocks and sewing bits of the Country Revival/Sad Quilt together. So many projects happening at once!

I have to figure out if this needs to be trimmed. I think so, but getting the block done feels like an achievement.

Progress on the Country Revival / Sad Quilt

Country Revival Flower #2
Country Revival Flower #2

The piecing on this quilt takes a lot of time. I think it is because of the curves. That doesn’t mean it is difficult, just time consuming.

In the photo, the top left unit is pieced and trimmed. I wasn’t happy with the trimming. I ended up buying the SKOW recommended ruler, Sew Square 6**, though, despite my love for specialty rulers, I am fundamentally opposed to specialty square rulers. I would much rather the ruler I already have, the Quick Curve Ruler**, be marked well enough so I could trim with it. It isn’t impossible, but I found it to be very difficult. I haven’t decided if I need to make that upper left unit again. I don’t know if I trimmed too close to the green curved shape.

Sew Square 6
Sew Square 6

Except for the bottom row, the rest of the units have been sewn, but not trimmed. You can see how weird looking they are before they are trimmed. I bought the Sew Square 6** which I plan to use to trim the other units.

I didn’t buy the whole set; I just bought this one to see if I thought it was better than just using the Quick Curve Ruler.

Country Revival/Sad Quilt flower motif with leaves v.4
Country Revival/Sad Quilt flower motif with leaves v.4

Flower 1 is still unsewn. I am  not 100% happy with the color selection. I bought a few solids, which I am hoping will help fix whatever the problem is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon 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 website.

Another Look at Gifts for Mom

Here are the various gifts I have made for my mom over the years. She doesn’t want more bags, but I can’t seem to help myself. I have made her 34 gifts over the past few years. 

Recently, when I took her home after the second surgery, I saw the Bright Cafe Apron in a box. I only saw a bit of it folded, but the fabric jarred something in my mind. I had forgotten I gave it to Mom. She said she is going to use it now to carry things around rather than carrying them in her hands. Yay for safety!

When I went to visit her on Wednesday, she was using the apron as she said she would. I was so happy! It make me super excited that the apron was useful.

The only failures were the Cane Chains. I couldn’t get the clamps tight enough to do their job. Not sure if a rivet press would solve that problem.

EPP Ball #9 Received

Noel with EPP Ball #9
Noel with EPP Ball #9

I forgot to post that I finished EPP Ball #9. I sent it off without taking photos, but my friend was kind enough to send me a few. 

My friend said that the toddler loves the ball, which makes me really happy!

I am getting really fast at making these toys and was thinking that adding some embroidery over the seams would slow the process down.

Finished: Sidewalk #4

Sidewalk #4 top
Sidewalk #4 top

I finished Sidewalk #4 very quickly. I wanted to turn it in at Sew Day since the pieces were clogging up my workspace.

This is partially because my design walls are full. I have a lot going on (Country Revival/Sad Quilt, Patchwork Palooza, Four Patch Fun, 2 other Sidewalk quilts, Circle quilt). I even had to use the floor since there is no room on any design wall. Very hard on my back, but I was on a mission.

I definitely need to think about less white in the Half 16 Patch blocks. This quilt is VERY white and you don’t really get the sidewalk effect with so much white.

I have been working on some green and blue Sidewalk blocks with white and I may use a different color for the background. 

Sidewalk #4 back
Sidewalk #4 back

I was very surprised at how well this back went together. I didn’t worry about eeking every little inch out of the fabric. I got enough pieces out and cut there where I needed to. It means I have more scraps to cut up as well as a finished back.

 

Patchwork Palooza Block 11

Patchwork Palooza 11: Square Dance
Patchwork Palooza 11: Square Dance

I finished Patchwork Palooza Block 11! I am excited as I only have a few more blocks to make to catch up.

So far, I haven’t been able to find a block like this in either the  or in  Jinny Beyer’s The Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns. I can’t believe nobody ever thought of it, but so far I haven’t found it categorized.

Finished: Black Improv

Finished: Black Improv
Finished: Black Improv

The stripes in this piece are really striking. The rainbow stripes from Chain Link make this piece less depressing than it might be if I had excluded them.

I am pleased that I finally finished this piece. It has been on the design wall for more than a year and it is a relief to get it to the Community Quilt team.

I am pleased with the way it came out. Most of these improv quilts are hard to pass along.