Christmas Quilt Finished...

Christmas Quilt 2018.  Finished the 23d of December! PHEW!! Finally and in season! Two former front door curtains with a piece of really nice quality thick fleece in the middle as batting - fleece from JAs remnant bin! :) Binding is a lovely fabric with poinsettias print. I have quite a bit as I bought it for a greeting card but couldn't resist a whole yard!  The quilt is 33"x44" and plenty large enough for a lap quilt! Happy with that. used it last night while watching Seahawks football - yes, they did win!  Here is the back!  I used Metrosene thread on top and So Fine#50 in the bobbin.  I used red Metrosene for the binding on one side and then changed bobbins for a very light cream bobbin of cotton from Superior Threads (Masterpiece prewound) for the other side so that there wouldn't be a red line on some parts of the front! ;) Worked out. 

As you can see the free motion is not perfect. :) I tend to lost where I am at times, but it is really fun, and I thought this quilt was good practice because it is a good size, while not being so large it was super bulky to handle.    Meanwhile I had some of this Peanuts fabric left and made a greeting card with it, but I forgot to take a picture of the card. At least the cheery fabric is here! 

Square Quilt 2018 Done and Asian print fabric...

Quilt finished!!  Red binding pulls it together and some of these fabrics are from my Mother's stash from the mid 1990s, so it has an heirloom quality for the family as well. Very traditional and this is going to be a working quilt - a warm wrap for cold days...using quilts is the best way to honor the maker, not only plain traditional quilts like this one, but even the fancy ones people give family. Nothing warms you like a quilt made with love.

This is sideways of course, but the quilt is 64"x80" and I didn't want it to hit the floor in the picture. The two fabrics that were my Mother's are the lightest which is actually a blue and white print, but it surely does not come out in pictures well. The other one is the reverse - a dark blue with very small white pattern - these fabrics are the reverse of one another and are tiny florals. The blue with road signs was a length of fabric for jammies I made the grandsons some years ago, and the other two blues were in my stash awhile. The red was the backing from a recent quilt. I find quilt backing so handy when making a scrappy quilt later on!! I usually have pretty good amounts left of backing fabric.  

Meanwhile I bought a lovely length of Asian print fabric to add to my overflowing stash of same. Bought from a fellow PR member.  It is just beautiful!  

Working on a small lap quilt now - the Christmas lap quilt. Kind of an experiment because it has fleece lining which I have not used before.  There are a few other projects on tap as well. 

Koko Beall Patterns and a Cat-In-The-Way....

Here are a few of the patterns I have acquired in the last several months...I just love Koko Beall designs.  The link here goes to a lovely blog post that says more about Koko than is possible to find in a search....there ought to be more.

Aren't they nice! I love the simplicity of Koko Beall designs - simple yet elegant. Of course the models are all eight feet tall and slender, while I am most certainly not, but the styles are timeless. I already have a couple of Koko Beall patterns in the hoard, and here are they ones I already had.

I would like to make at least one pair of the pants to see how the sizing is and the fit, and a couple of the tops are very alluring. I did want a pattern that had not only the sleeve version but a sleeveless version as well as jacket and pants, so I think all bases are covered now.  I do not buy unless I see a back view as well because it is the line drawings that tell us so much about the real pattern. But the illustrations of the eras in which these patterns were released, as well as the 70s illustrations, were really my favorite style.  I sewed quite a few Very Easy Vogue back in years past.  I am going to try to get a few more of her patterns - a size near mine is good enough because they can be made larger or a bit smaller if necessary with such simple lines. 

This is why it took me awhile to pin the little Christmas lap quilt and even then....it could be better on the one side and will be. Our cat thinks anything fleece is for her, and this was on the fleece batting.....hahahhaha.....I tried to keep her off but until she wanted to leave it was not possible. Cough.

Detour to a Christmas Lap Quilt...

And yes, I see that I must even out that pinning - the back gave me problems a bit. This is "whole cloth" and I will stipple it - not all that large but will be either a small lap quilt - literally for a lap cover on the couch, or a table cover - depending. For batting I am using a lovely piece of fleece I bought in the remnant bin at JoAnn's a few months back.  The fabrics are leftover cotton curtains from when we had a door with a nice large window. We don't anymore, and I saved all the seasonal curtains I had made and use them in quilts now - but I didn't want to cut up the piece on top....what a lovely print and already has a quilt sort of look to it. SO - this project will have a binding of another lovely Christmas print I have some of that I bought for whatever I thought about using it for! So far it has been one greeting card, so there is a lot left. It is a red with gold sprinkles and poinsettias on it.   And no, I didn't finish the quilt previously mentioned as yet. :)

Walking Foot Quilting Once More...

All ready to quilt! Done with the ditch quilting, and that really does help stabilize a quilt. I don't always do it, as it can be completely tedious on quilts with a lot of blocks and or detail.  So, after the ditch quilting, my first idea was block by block free motion, and that did not turn out. My acuity at a specific FM design I had in mind being limited, I picked out an entire block's worth of stitches, and then I made a thread change - oh, about three times I decided on different threads. Finally settled on a thread that is not in this picture.  Using Coats and Clark 30 wt. Quilting Cotton,  Warm and Natural batting, and now doing walking foot quilting with AcuFeed on my Elna 720.  Need to get over there and do it!!  Hoping for a few smaller projects after this one.

Squares Quilt 2018 Pinned!

Quilt pinned! Success....although the evening I finished that I realized I had a fever, but soldiered on until this thing was pinned. I think it will be ditch quilted with a blendy thread and then either free motioned or free motioned with a motif for each large block - this is 30 large 16" blocks of fabrics - I have had a buildup ready to go for this quilt! :)   I did have a helper on this pinning work of course.....

The quilt has Warm and Natural batting and will be quilted with Bottom Line or Sew Fine #50 in the ditch, and then probably free motioned with C&C quilting cotton in variegated blues, or with another choice - more on that when I decide.  The backing is from Connecting Threads collection of 108" cotton backings.

Machine Quilting...Easy Quilt Projects...Quilt Top Sewn...

Was lucky to find these used on Thriftbooks a couple of weeks ago.  Both of these books have some nice tips and good design inspiration in them.  Even though purchased used, the Easy Quilts from Better Homes and Gardens still had the patterns in it! It is former library and the library had attached a nice holder for the pattern sheet to the inner back cover - great library practice that I have done myself a good bit. Some really nice inspiring reading here! The Machine Quilting is really a very thin book - a "how to" and full of good ideas as well - well worth the very small price I paid for these.  I usually buy craft books used and if I decide I can use them I keep them and if not I move them on by donating them or giving them to friends. Used is so much better! Books should circulate!!   Meanwhile I did sew up my newest quilt top.  Here is a little teaser for it. :)  Needs pressing and pinning - later.

Fall Top Time...Burda 8291...

Another navy blue top this time because I had left over knit fabric from that last cowl neck top!

This time I am going to use a Burda pattern I have had for some years now. It has a basic tee with various neckline options. I chose B, which is a modified cowl, not too full. This will go quickly once I cut it out. I really like Burda for pants, but for myself this will be the first Burda top! I have made my daughter a blouse and a dress from Burda, and they turned out satisfactorily.  The patterns are drafted perfectly!  If this pattern turns out well, I can use it for so many different styles.  Plus it is an all season pattern. Short sleeves could be done as well as the long ones, and of course three quarter sleeves too.  Since my TNT pants pattern is a simple Burda, this would round out that wardrobe collection of patterns nicely!

Another Quilt in progress and Fall on the way...

Planning the next quilt...fabrics are those above.  I have cut 16" blocks and planned the layout and sewn the rows. Now to sew together the rows, and then to back and bat!  The batting will be Warm and Natural and the backing will be from Connecting Threads - another nice backing from that source!!    As Summer wanes, blogging and sewing come more to mind than doing the Summer when the air is light and the days are more conducive to a lazier pace!   In the end, I did not use the fabric on the right end. It didn't seem needed and was not really blending with the rest of my fabrics. :)  

Summer Quilt 2018 Finished...

Summer Quilt 2018 Finished! Binding is scrappy from the fabrics in the quilt, and quite narrow. All in all I am happy with the quilt. :)

Used the rest of the Seattle fabric I had made boy PJs out if several years ago, and several other fabrics in this quilt were: lady PJs, shirts, dress, and top and various scraps from other projects. This is what quilts used to be - "Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do or do without" being the mantra of the ladies who are our foremothers in quilting and in so much more. 

The backing is Kaleidoscope from Connecting Threads, the thread I used for piecing was mostly Superior Threads So Fine #50, the quilting thread was Connecting Threads Essential Cotton in a deep pink, which although very linty is always so pretty in use!!   The batting is Mountain Mist Cream Rose cotton which is soft and pliable and just lovely to sew on.  

Plans for the next quilt are formulated, and will proceed in another month or so. Summer resting....

It's Always Autumn Raglan Top with Semi-Cowl Collar...

Coming along on the quilt. I have actually finished the quilting as of last week, and trimmed it and now for the binding!

Meanwhile I have finished a navy blue knit top That I cut out awhile back!  The navy knit is from Joann Fabrics and is quite nice. The pattern is from It's Always Autumn, and is the second one I have tried of hers. I love them. I meant to make this for last winter, but it will be for cooler days and Fall this year.  In addition I added a semi-cowl collar to this garment.  I like to do that.  I use the tutorial by Sarah Veblen from Threads Magazine for the attachment of the collar.   It went together well. Autumn's pattern are always easy to download and put together and they are FREE. They come on one size - Large, and it is pretty true to a misses large in a like top. LOVE that she gives this pattern and other away  she has some really cute children's clothing patterns as well.    She has an index list of her sewing tutorials here!

Crazy Cotton Night Gown...

Crazy nightie 2018.  This was made from some fabric from eQuilter. Print with coffee cups all over it - however I didn't buy enough fabric! SO - I color blocked it with some cotton left over from quilt backing. I know - looks sort of weird, but I love cotton night wear, and this is another (I made the Paris print one, here's that linky) made from a tracing of a nightgown I made from a Butterick Pattern a very long time ago and now that pattern is in the wind! Butterick 5058.   Jumper pattern from back in the early 90s? Late 80s? Something like that.  Just a little project between finishing my Summer Quilt and sewing my navy knit Fall top. I started that top as well, but that's for later!

Summer Quilt Free Motion...

First, the one part of the finished top for the Summer Quilt....the top is done, and pretty scrappy looking!  Maybe too free form, but it's going to be happy!

Been trying out samples of FMQ to get back in the swing.  Then I started the quilting on my Summer Quilt. HHHmmm...now I remember why I started loving walking foot quilting!!!  FM on my Summer Quilt looks kinda like at times I lost the feel.   The samplers are always very much easier than dragging a large quilt through the machine! BUT the machine part is perfect with the Pfaff. It's the person in the chair that has the issues! HAHAHA.  But this is a quilt for me. It will live on the couch and be a light cover for the warmer weather as well as the in-between weather.

No movement on that navy blue knit top! I really need to get that sewn. Since I cleaned and oiled the serger I am ready to go on that but the Spring cold, damp, gray weather has been relentless and has taken a toll on the spirits at times...

Pfaff 1222E Home From Spa Day...

The tech who serviced my Pfaff for years told me that he wouldn't work on old machines any more.  I was heartbroken because my Pfaff needed a good servicing and I was afraid it had something broken as well. SO - it sat for a couple of months and then I found out about another tech.  A fellow who does sewing servicing and repair from his home. I called, he serviced my Pfaff and it is home and well and running so nicely. Nothing was broken - it was just in need of a good servicing. I am so glad because this is my free motion machine. It does the best free motion anywhere anytime. And I have other machines that do free motion, but not without issues. The Pfaff doesn't care what thread you use - it just sews.

My Pfaff 1222E is also loved by my quilting helper and all around good company, my kitty Pearl.  So now to begin quilting the Summer Quilt - the top is done and I need to pin it.

Snowy Day and Summer Quilt...

Another improv scrappy quilt on the way....sewing rows of blacks together now. Another two rows, then sewing the rows together, then laying out for quilting and pinning. Problem is that my Pfaff is going into the shop and that is what I want to be quilting this on. Preferably free motion quilting.   I did purchase some Wonderfil company prewound bobbins. Lovely pink and the thread is called DecoBob.  60 weight. Lovely stuff.  In Class 15 that fits my machines.

I mean to use these pink bobbins in the quilting with my pink thread - maybe quilting it with MaxiLock or Signature but have not decided yet.

Meanwhile we got snow! March still means Winter here. Spring has to come later though, so that is the good news!

Quilt backing...Raglan Top and Doll Clothes...

Just a cheery picture of the backing for my Summer Quilt. I figure any mistakes on the back stitching will be well hidden by the busy touch here in this fabric! :)  Plus it is very Summery!  There is a Nor'Easter going on out there this minute, and I would rather think about Spring coming soon. 

Meanwhile I cut out the knit raglan top I have talked about for a long time. Breezy Raglan.  From It's Always Autumn. LOVE her patterns! 

And then I measured Connie, my doll, for new clothing. I want to compare the measurements of the doll to the pattern pieces to ensure enough room to get then on her. She is a vintage composite - soft body doll and not easy to dress.  In addition, I am readying kitchen towels for embroidery - it turns out I love redwork patterns and vintage looks like we did by hand on towels all those decades ago. Towels seem to be my fav - kitchen towels. :) My SE400 is turning out to be so much fun!  Brother makes it easy for anyone to afford a machine plus to start some embroidery as well. 

Summer Quilt In Progress...

Started on the Summer Quilt in January, and I love using the light prints I have accumulated as scraps and pieces left over from other projects.  Plus the addition of some pieces I had in my stash of cottons.  Working on such light cheery fabrics in the dead of Winter is a treat! The plan is to complete the top with 12" blocks after making "fabric" from the scraps. It is an improvisational quilt of course.  After doing the quilt from the book, 15 Minutes of Play, I could see I liked the more free style of piecing, plus then there is the wonderful class on Craftsy from Joe Cunningham.   Link is to the video on YouTube about one of his classes. Fabulous ideas and it frees you up for some creative design as well.  But, of course, my work isn't anything like the pros, but I have a lot of fun doing it.

I keep a project bin now for various projects - I have two so there can be one for a sewing project or an embroidery project as well. Real buy at Rite Aid for under $3 on sale!  I got four of them to store various things on my sewing shelves. Anyhow, I recommend a bin to keep everything together yet be open for easy access. These hold the fabric you need for the project, the project itself in process and the finished blocks without any problem.

Summer Quilt - I plan on using Mountain Mist  Cream Rose batting and either Signature cotton or So Fine #50 for quilting, though MaxiLock is another possibility.  Whatever it is the thread will be a very light pink!! Light pink blends and is just such a lovely color.  I am going to use Mountain Mist Cream Rose because of its somewhat thinner body and drapy qualities.   At this point I have several blocks already made and really want to finish this before Summer!

Little Kitty Quilt and a Fun Guide Foot...

Just finished a little kitty quilt. Used up fabric from the Amy Butler shirt I had made a few years back, plus some binding I had left over made out of a fabric from my mother's stash I took home years back.  That fabric is the binding on at least two of my larger quilts. Love it.  The back of this quilty is a red flannel left over from the Shirt Quilt of 2017, and the thread is Masterpiece pink - so pale you can hardly see it. Quilted this in curves with the AcuFeed foot on my Elna 720.  Batting is left over wool from the Shirt Quilt.

Meanwhile, I ordered this foot from Ken's in Alabama.    It is a guide foot, and I anxiously awaited it. YES, it fits my Elna 720 and I think it will be fine on my Janome 8050 as well.  It does not matter if  your machine is high or low shank when a foot is a snap on!  Oddly, the foot included a different needle assembly screw than my Elna has, and the directions for the foot say to change this out to this new one. Well, I tried the foot and it works without doing that switch, so I called Ken's and talked to a tech. He says no need to change out the screw unless your machine has one that interferes with the foot itself in use - so be sure and TEST the thing out slowly to see if the needle bar screw hits the foot in use. Mine does not. 

Brother XR9500PRW Stitch Sampler...

Sampler finished and rolled on up! The machine makes a good buttonhole, and has a few different types. I stitched out two kinds. It has great deco stitching and regular utility stitches and several quilting stitches.    And YES, I did add those Hello Kitty stickers, cough...In amongst these stitchouts there are a couple places that are user error - not the machine - me. I ran out of bobbin thread twice, and once I lost track of my stitches and repeated a row or so. HAHHAaa....I did not trim the alphabet stitch out because by then I was really amazed at how tired I was of doing this! :) It took time and a lot of thread! But I had promised myself to do it.  I did skip a couple of lines which were just mirroring of the previous stitch and that is noted on the photos.  Some of the wibbles in the stitching are caused by the very very stiff stabilizer I used in the fabric roll. It was a fusible and it tended to crinkle up from time to time as I went so I tried to smooth out my fabric as I went along.

Shirt Quilt 2017 Finished and in Use...

Here it is!  Not going outside for a picture today - much too cold at 6 above today.  Quilt is in use but this is in the guest room, and this is a double bed.

I love the casual piecing and the corners....:) Binding really pops!  The differing fabric weights and stretchability really made it impossible to have perfect seaming here.

I kept the pockets and the labels in the blocks - Loved the labels - they are a nice touch I think. :) This was a fun quilt in many ways and is already in use.  Quilts should be used.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!