kirstencan

Little Quilts

Yup, kind of on a quilting kick again.  

Little quilts are so satisfying, because they're so fast to finish!

I'll show you my favorite first - I made this pillow last weekend:

I wanted to play and try a few 'trip around the world' blocks.  They are SO fun to make!  Way quicker than you'd think, too.  I used some cotton + steel fabrics.  Very not perfect, but I really like it.  Backed with Essex indigo linen.

I wasn't planning on doing anything specific with it when I started this project, but after it became a pillow... I can't believe how well it matches my rug!  Almost weirdly matchy...

After Christmas I whipped up this one.  I have been wanting to update my throw pillows.  This one is just a piece of fabric (another cotton + steel, I believe), quilted with wavy lines.  Quilted fabric is great for pillow covers.  It's thicker/has more structure than regular cotton, but softer than upholstery/home decor fabric.

And I recently made this little mini-quilt, too.  I love this cheery fabric (Summersville - gifted by my MIL  - yay!), and just threw easy squares together with simple straight(ish)-lined quilting.

The back is the same fabric, different layout.  I love that red/white scandi print!

I like this one on my table.

January is a great month for mini updates...doesn't mean I'm not dreaming/planning on bigger ones, though! :)

Hawaiian Quilt

First Quilt Finish of 2016!

I've mentioned this Hawaiian fabric before, but my parents brought it to me from Hawaii years ago.

Last fall I finally set the top together.

This week I have a finished quilt.

It's really simple, just 9-patches with sashing.  Simple straight-line quilting.  

...Straight-ish line quilting. :)

As usual, I didn't follow a pattern or anything, so I didn't have a specific size in mind when I was making it, but it ended up between lap and twin (my tall 15yo is holding it for me here).  A good size for naps.

I went the semi-cheesy route and got Hawaiian themed fabric for the back.

This quilt will be perfect to have by my bed ... an excellent napping quilt! I like to nap on top of the covers, but with a quilt to pull over me. When I get a chance to nap.  Which isn't often, but it's supposed to be really good for you, I'd love to take more naps!  More naps in 2016 - a worthy goal! :)

Since the quilting isn't too close together, it feels rather puffy.

This quilt is rather fitting to finish this year, as we were married in Hawaii... in 1996.  That means this year will be our 20th anniversary!

Crazy!

I am hoping this is just the first in a string of Quilt Finishes this year!  I just looked back at this post, and I guess I've gotten 3 of my WIP quilts done in about a year.  And the top of a 4th.  That's better than I thought I'd done, but I hope this year will be even better!

Pillow

 

My mother-in-law gifted me a box of fabric, which included these super fun Japanese strips.  I knew that they'd make the perfect gift for my daughter's friend, so I whipped up a quilted pillow for her bday last week.

It was great to do a small project - reminded me that quilting is fun, and motivated me to get back to my list of quilts-in-progress!  

So I did.  More on that front soon.   Right now I have a quilt top & back to sandwich and baste!

Mermaid Quilt

My second quilt finish of the year!  This would have been done weeks ago, had I not run out of quilting thread and had terrible luck finding an exact match!

Anyway, it's my 'mermaid quilt'!   This fabric is probably my all-time favorite line (Mendocino by Heather Ross).  I specifically cut big squares so that you could just enjoy the fabrics together.

I ended up ripping off the narrow border I had sewed on.  Which was the right choice.

I wasn't planning on the back being so 'interesting' but without time to shop around for appropriate backing, I decided to pull all the scraps I could find together and see how far it stretched.

Answer:  It stretched just barely enough.  Good thing I ripped off that border.

(Need to check camera settings, these oranges are looking extra bright...)

The binding is Michael Miller's 'Dim Dots' and worked perfectly.  Glad I went for a blue binding.

It's a lap quilt, measuring 38.5" x 53.5".  I quilted it with wavy lines running across it.  I am very happy with how that turned out, and will be doing that again.

I think I'm going to gift this to my daughter who hopefully doesn't read this blog (and if she does she needs to act surprised in a few months).  Because as much as I love this quilt (and I do), I kept thinking of her as I was making it.

There will be a delay on the quilting front as I need to have my machine serviced (and need to find time to get that done), but I am already thinking a lot about my next quilt!  Hooray, quilts are the best.

Quilt Finish

Well, I can't believe it, but I can update my quilt progress post!  Here's my 'Walk in the Woods' quilt.  I ended up using almost all of the 4 charm packs making half-square triangles.  I arranged them, re-arranged them a couple of times, and somehow the top came together.  I didn't use a pattern or anything.

I was pretty pleased having it sandwiched and basted - that is one of my least favorite parts of quilting.

The actual quilting didn't go so hot - I'm not sure if it was my walking foot or what, but I definitely had some issues.  It's a small quilt, though, so it went fast.  By the time I was sewing the binding on I was a little disappointed in myself for not hand-quilting it or sewing on the binding by hand.  The binding job is laughable.  I was a little disappointed, but carried on, finished, and threw it in the washer.

Few things in the crafty world are as satisfying as taking a quilt out of the dryer for the first time.  I promptly forgave the quilt it's faults, as it was all puckery and cute.

Here it is:

The back:

I threw a nine-year old in for size - it measures about 39" x 42".

The back is mostly a thrifted pottery barn sheet.  I wasn't sure if it would shrink up like the front, but it did!

Seriously, so much better after washing.  The quilting mistakes aren't so noticeable and the texture is so much better.

I was wondering what I would do with this - I mean it doesnt match anything, and it's pretty small.  I didn't realize that the collection included so much light blue, which I was afraid made it look too 'baby-quilt-y'.  But my kids LOVE it (foxes!) and it works as a lap quilt (right now, under my laptop!).

Monkey had it all afternoon. 

Except for when I stole it back for Sunday naps (morning church is the BEST).

First quilt from the list finished!  And last night I worked on piecing the back of another one - finishing feels GOOD and I'm remembering that quilting is a very satisfying creative endeavor!

Quilt progress

So I have some quilts in progress.  Kinda embarassing, actually, because they've been in progress for YEARS.  And I haven't had much time to sew for so long I totally forgot a couple of them.  But I've been cleaning out my crafting area (*full-disclosure:  When I made that new stocking, my sewing maching was sitting on the floor, and I was wedged in between the nordic track and the door, pushing the pedal with one hand.  Pathetic.  As soon as I got stuff cleared away and the machine back up on the table, I celebrated by sewing a couple new couch cushions.  It felt great!  But that is neither here nor there) and decided to see where I was at with my quilts.

Because I want to finish them!  I enjoy sewing.  I used to sew (remember?) and I think I need to make time for it again.  I also enjoy finished quilts and want more around the place (though we are very very spoiled and have quite a few).

I pulled them all out examine.  No particular order, no perfect photos, not ironed or anything.

Okay.  Up first:  The Mermaid Quilt.

It's pieced all from the same line (Heather Ross Mendocino) with fairly large blocks.  The top came together SO fast, but I got frustrated and put it down when I didn't have quite enough fabric for the scrappy outer border I wanted to do.

When I pulled it out I realized:  I don't need an outer border - let's just get this thing done!

So, Quilt 1:  Top done.  Next step: buy backing, binding fabrics (aquas + brown) and batting.  I think I'll machine quilt this one.

Quilt 2: Is actually just a pile of fat quarters.  Anna Maria Horner's Folksy Flannel line.  I got it way back when I was sick, I think.

I was originally going to do big squares, but... I can't have all my quilts be just squares.  So I have considered several other patterns, and I THINK I have decided to do a plus quilt (like this one).  So next step is cutting/piecing.  I love the idea of hand-quilting this cozy flannel.

Quilt #3:  I fell in love with the cutesy A Walk in the Woods line and bought 4 charm packs of it (last year?), some white kona solid and some red for the binding.  Because I originally had a big chevron pattern in mind.  Except I changed my mind.

Honestly, it would look good just in squares.  Charm packs are awesome, my least favorite part of quilting is cutting.

But I decided to not overthink it, and just make them into half-square triangles.   Today I made 2 charm packs into blocks.

(iPad photos - too busy to run down and get my camera)

 

I think I need to make some more blocks (goodness, I have plenty of squares), but it's coming along and I figured how to place the blocks, I think.  I'll probably machine-quilt this one.

 

UPDATE - this one's DONE! :)

Quilt #4 - Scrappy Log Cabin

The funny thing about the above quilts is that they are all from a particular line of fabric when my absolute fave quilts are scrappy.  So... I may need to rethink how I go about planning quilts. 

I really really enjoyed making these blocks (way back when).  After I pulled out this stack I  sat down and started a new block.  I wish I had tons of biggish scraps to just make tons of scrappy quilts with!

I was going to sash it with brown, I think I may have changed my mind.  This is what happens when you put a quilt away for YEARS.  I think I'll piece the back with whatever I have around.

Needs:  sashing to finish the top, may hand-quilt.

Quilt #5 - Hawaiian 9-patches.  I think I'm stealing the white solid to use as sashing for this one.  I don't know how I'll quilt it yet.

Next step:  sashing!

UPDATE:  THIS ONE IS DONE!

The last two quilts-in-progress are a royal mess.

Quilt #6: Castle Peeps

I originally wanted to do this a different way and cut some of it into strips, but couldn't make myself sew it together.  I just wasn't all the way happy with it.  Now I'm going to figure out what else to do with this mess. . It will happen.

Next step:  a plan of action.

Quilt #7: my queen-sized Double Irish Chain.

No photo because that mess is a post in and of itself.  Stay tuned.

My new treasure

So my mother-in-law spoiled me again this Christmas.  I got a quilt!

We all know that quilts are hard to photograph well, right?  But here's an attempt to show you most of it.  I love it! 

And I really wish I had a spare bed (a guest room would be nice!) because she also made a matching pillowcase for it! 

That olive tree fabric on the back is my fave.  But wouldn't be nearly as effective without the aqua there, too.

I really appreciate that she gave me this quilt, not just the time and money a quilt represents, but cutting into and giving me that fabric! ;)

I guess it doesn't matter that I don't have a spare bed, this quilt is getting plenty of good use on the couch!

After the fire, a good friend came over and gathered all our quilts to wash them carefully and get the smoke out.  It was much appreciated service.  She enjoyed the process, too, since they are all so beautiful.  She told me that these are real family treasures.

But I knew that.

Hawaiian Quilt Started - Ideas?

Last week I was in 'project mode' one evening, but I kinda needed to do something for myself (plus nothing super pressing house wise that I could do).  So I grabbed a stack of Hawaiian fabric squares my mom brought me back from Hawaii years ago ... and sewed them together.

Nine-patches.  Can't go wrong, right?

I am putting thick (6 or 8" strips?) sashing between the blocks (which are pretty big themselves), but can't decide if I should stay with white or go with something else.



Grey? Aqua?  Chartreuse?  Navy?  What say ye?

(And let's be honest, I rarely make time to quilt anymore, so it's not like I'm in a rush... still haven't finished this quilt - or this one... or....)

I don't know why I bother folding the quilts...

... it's been so chillly they end up like this - always.  There is often someone snuggled up in them.  I keep walking by and folding them, but why bother?

Speaking of quilts, here are some closeups of the redhead's birthday quilt.  Our latest 'Nana-Made' quilt.

I LOVE it!  It uses a lot of the Sarah Jane Out to Sea line (Ahoy there colorway).

Pirates, narwhales, anchors, ships, paper boats, dots, stripes.  Perfect.

The back has map and ship panels, dots, and stripes, with a stripey binding.

Yeah, we're pretty lucky.



Adding this one to the Quilt Parade post!

Drool Worthy

Alternate titles:  She who dies with the most fabric wins, The Quilted House, or My Mother in Law let me take photos of her house.

I've been wanting to do this forever, but when we were at my in-laws for Thanksgiving, I took photos of all her quilts.  Not closeups, just in-use photos.  You know that she's made us a ton, and they're amazing - but you should see her house!  So, yeah, let's be clear, these are not made by me, but my by awesome MIL.  She was nice enough to let me post them, too - I figured some of you guys would like this.

Unfortunately it was rainy outside, so not the best lighting, but here we go.

How many quilts do you see in the below photo?  I count... eight?

In the guest room (there are also quilts/quilt tops in the closet!):

Little quilts are on many of the dressers and tables.

And this is where the magic happens. :)  She has the most amazing sewing room setup.

I kinda like to hang out here.  Just a little. ;)  And I'm afraid she won't like the above shot because it's kinda cluttered (doesn't TOUCH what my craft room looks like right now all the time), but that's our fault anyway, she was getting out things to show me and craft kits for the kiddos.

Let's take a better look at that fabric wall...

There are also baskets and little boxes of fabric.

And I took a peek in a drawer:  more fabric!  I didn't get any shots of the closet  - guess what's in there?

She has her projects super organized.

Sorry about the shadow...

Anyway,  I was showing her my quilt board on pinterest, and she saw that I'd pinned the cutest fabric and said 'Oh, I have that.' I was pretty excited to see it in person.

Oh, and she has a DESIGN WALL.  So awesome.

A quilt rack by the door holds mostly quilt tops, but you saw I got one of the little Christmas ones, right?  Cute!

Anyway, let's continue the tour.  This one below is king sized.

Sandy, I need to see the one on the bottom of the rack better next time - I'm sure I saw it before, or at least in progress, but in this photo I LOVE it! The pieced border is sweet.

The dining room.  And I realized that I forgot to take a photo of the big basket full of table quilts!  Darn it!

The back of the couch:

And our little setup in their bonus room.  You will never be cold staying at their house!

Awesome, right?  Sometimes I just look around and am in awe!

Thanks, Sandy for letting me show off your quilts!