Curved Log Cabin Quilt + Two Baby Quilts finished this week.

I decided that this quilt needed a facing instead of a binding finish.  I thought binding it would stop the "movement" of the design.  I really don't like hand-stitching, but it's inevitable when attaching a facing.  It took a while, but I got it done, and I'm very happy with the results.

I used lots of FQs for the pieced back and I like the contrast with the front.  I kept the facing scrappy, too, in the spirit of the back.

I also finished two baby quilts this week.  Luckily binding worked well for them.  Below are photos of all three quilt backs.

 Plus, I remembered to stitch quilt labels on all three quilts!  It's like a miracle.

May your bobbins always be full,

Houston, We Have A Problem

The is the Red, White and Blue Baby Quilt top that I finished in January.  Here is the post about it.

When I posted the finished quilt on social media, I got a call from my eldest.  She and her sister and my granddaughter were aghast at what they saw on the back of the quilt.  I couldn't see what they saw until I downloaded my camera photos to my pc, and viewed the photo from a distance.  Sure enough, there's a problem.  I will get it fixed.  I can't remove it because it's already quilted, but I'm thinking applique of some sort should work.

May your bobbins always be full,

Red, White and Blue Baby Quilt Top

New quilt top. I used the leftover blocks from the Tile quilt, that's going to Quiltcon, as a starting point for this baby quilt.  It measures 42" square. I even had the red Kona in my stash! The star fabric was the backing of the Tile quilt.  It feels good to use m stash!

May your bobbins always be full,

The Stereo Baby Quilt is complete!

It's not raining!  That means I can get some outside shots.  Ben is helping.

There's a little more sun in the front yard, so I'm using the grass as a backdrop.  I love how this quilt turned out!

I love the zig zags on the quilt back, too.

A close up of the quilting.

Stats:
Size - 50" x 65"
Started - November 25, 2016
Finished - January 17, 2017
Fabric - Adventure Awaits by Spoonflower
Pattern - Stereo by Jaybird Quilts
Long Arm Quilting by Janiel Miller
Quilting panto - Old Oaky

May your bobbins always be full,

Advice for the Stereo Quilt

I'm making steady progress on the Stereo quilt for my lovely customers.  I wanted to comment on the construction for anyone who is considering making this quilt.

The first thing is Julie Herman of Jaybird quilts has developed a very useful tool, the Super SideKick ruler, and I really recommend it for this quilt.  I'm an experienced quilter and I found this tool very valuable.  She has other great tools that I haven't used because I normally don't follow patterns.

Two:  I wouldn't recommend the Stereo pattern for beginning quilters.  I think beginners would quickly become frustrated.  For example, the pattern suggests laying out the triangle and half triangle units, then sewing the rows together.  That would work for an experienced quilter but a beginner would be lost because all those 45-degree angles just don't go together easily.  You need to join two adjacent units, like above, then join them all together!  It's an easy step that I thought I'd share, in case you're a beginner and want to make this quilt

This is my progress, as of yesterday:

I took the second photo to include the fun Christmas tree I got this year.  No needles and no lights!

May your bobbins always be full,

Progress on the Stereo Quilt

It took me a couple of days to get all the pieces cut for this quiilt.  

Yesterday, I joined almost all the  half-triangles together to form whole triagles.

Today, I laid all the pieces out on my dining room design-table.  Earlier this year I bought a portable design wall, one that had been highly recommended.  It didn't work for me, it kept snapping apart!

I pieced the first three row together.  I think this is going to be a great quilt.

May your bobbins always be full,

Starting a new Quilt

Occasionally, I accept a quilt commission.  Almost 3 years ago, a couple ordered a quilt for their first baby.  The baby was a girl and they wanted a quilt she could use for a long time.

They are now expecting their second child, a boy, and they've asked for another quilt.  This one will be a different design and fabric.  The fabric they chose is from Spoonflower; so I had them order the fabric and have it shipped to me.

For their first quilt, I did an original pattern from a photo.  This time they've chosen a pattern by Julie Herman.  It's Stereo by Jaybird Quilts.  Here I go with another pattern!

I think this will be a delightful quilt.  They've requested the measurements 48 x 60", so I'll see how close I can get.

May your bobbins always be full,

Urban Life Quilt for a Baby Girl

Quilt back

Photos are not the best because they were taken inside on a stormy day.  My haircutter, Emily, who no longer works, still comes to my home and cuts my hair, whenever I need a haircut.  She and her husband are adding to their family; they have two great boys and the new baby is a girl!  I used some of my precious Central Park fabric for this baby quilt.  I love the pantograph called Jungle Animals.

The quilt measures 46 x 48 inches.

May your bobbins always be full,

Quilt Back for the Urban Life Baby Quilt

After making the Urban Life quilt top from Central Park fabric, I had 20 - 1" x 10" fabric strips left over.  I spent yesterday afternoon making these four blocks.  I'm calling them "Pick Up Sticks" quilt blocks.

Today I decided to separate them by a 3.5" strip and put them half way on the quilt back.

The quilt top is below.

I'm taking a wee sewing break.  Believe it or not, I need to clean the garage and get rid of some things.  I think February is the perfect month for that task.  I still have plenty of Bob's things to make decisions about.  Boxes and boxes of "stuff"!  I need to clean my closets, too!  Imagine that.

May your bobbins always be full,

Urban Life Quilt Top for a Baby Girl

We're having a gusty, blustery day, here in Murrieta.

There's just too much wind to get a decent photo, so I took it inside!

The quilt top for Emily's baby girl is finished.  It measures 48" x 48", and I can't decide which way I like it best.  On a square quilt, I guess it doesn't matter.  Now I need to decide on the quilt back, I have an idea, we'll see if it works!

May your bobbins always be full,

Frustrating...Warning ~ I'm not happy!

I've wanted a design wall for ages.  I thought it'd make my quilting life easier and it should.  My new portable design wall and I have gotten off to a rough start.

On the recommendation of two quilty friends, one on FB and one on IG, I purchased "Cheryl Ann's Portable, Free Standing Design Wall".  I got the large size, 72" x 72".  In theory, this should be just what I need.  I have no wall space to dedicate to a design wall, so one that can be put up and taken down, as needed, sounded divine.

My first problem when I attempted assembly yesterday was the Brace Clips did not easily snap on; they were a bear to get on, and one actually broke, rendering the use of that pole mute.

The top photo shows the printed rows of this quilt top before adding the half blocks to the ends of half the rows.  The photo above shows the rows rearranged after the rows were complete, and the design wall had tipped over, dumping the blocks on the floor.  After this photo was taken, it tipped over again!

 I gave up yesterday afternoon, I had to go teach Tai Chi.  Before I left, I moved the design wall to the guest room, and wedged it in front of the mirrored closet.  This morning I worked with the strips, placing them again, but this really isn't satisfactory, either.  The design wall is meant to be used at an angle,  The angle helps keep the blocks on the flannel better.  I'm not giving up, but I just had to vent!

May your bobbins always be full,

Central Park baby quilt

Just because I haven't been posting, doesn't mean I haven't been busy.  My wonderful haircutter, Emily, spoils me by coming to my home to cut my hair.  She has two handsome boys, and this Spring she will add a little girl to her family.  This quilt is for the new baby.

I've been saving a layer cake of Central Park by Kate Spain, for a long time.  This project will use half of the layer cake; I'll save the rest for future inspiration.

I normally don't use patterns, but I'm using the Quilt 2 pattern, from Urban Life by Crazy Old Ladies.  I'm eliminating the top and bottom borders to give it a modern look.  It's a very simple pattern but very time-consuming.

May your bobbins always be full,