Got It Done–October 2013

Here is my list of goals for October:

1.  Piecing the Scrappy Asterisk baby quilt.

2. Quilting the Scrappy Asterisk baby quilt

– Not even started.

3.  Knitting October washcloth.

 
Another fun washcloth knitting experience.  If you want more information about this project, check out my previous blog post Here.

4.  Piecing Craftsy BOM. 

This month the blocks are flying geese and half-square triangles to use as fillers in assembling the sampler quilt.  I am not creating a sampler from the blocks I made so I passed on this month’s exercise.  I did, however, work on two other Craftsy BOM items from previous months.
I did free-motion quilting on my applique Flower Basket block. 








I also turned my Tumbling Blocks block into a baby quilt by designing and piecing a border of smaller blocks.  For more information about this, check out my previous blog posts, Here and Here.   The quilting is partially done.




There are several other quilty projects I worked on this past month.  For example, a friend donated flannel pieces, enough to make 10 boy and 10 girl baby quilt backs.  Then I was given a whole bunch of fabric from an estate sale.  In that box of goodies was 9 baby quilt fabric panels, most of which were from Daisy Kingdom.  I spent the better part of a day washing and ironing the fabrics and matching up the panels with flannel for the backs.  So now I'm ready to make donation baby quilts as soon as I get the batting.


Thanks for stopping by.  I'm participating in the Getting It Done challenge over at Patchwork Times.

Happy Crafting,
     ~Diane

Design Wall Monday - October 28, 2013

On my Quilt Bucket List is the Double Wedding Ring.  I've always liked the look of this pattern and hoped someday to make one.  Well, time has come.

Recently I found a blog posting by Cristy at Sew Much Like Mom.  She is hosting a Double Wedding Ring Quilt Along.  If you click on the link, it'll take you to her master page with the schedule and links to her posts.  This was just the incentive I needed to get started.

As usual, and because I can, I set out to create my own pattern using my CAD software.  Since 1997 I have worked as a CAD drafter in architectural and structural engineering fields.  The nice thing about CAD software is that you draw in real dimensions even though you may print at a smaller scale to fit the paper size.  Even though I have EQ7 software I tend to draw up my designs first in CAD.

I decided that I wanted to make a smaller block, basically so my pattern would fit on 8-1/2 x 11 paper and I could use up a bunch of the smaller bits of fabric leftovers from the baby quilts I've made recently.  

My first pattern attempt did not work well so I eventually ordered the Double Wedding Ring Block pattern by Sharon Schamber and I'm so glad I did.  The pattern comes with a CD and full instructions on her Piec-lique technique as well as full-size freezer paper templates.  I was also able to get a 15% discount.  If you are interested check out this link.

With good instructions I was able to adapt my pattern and so far it's worked like a charm.

I'm making four rings so I cut and prepared 48 different scrap fabrics for the arches and two different fabrics for the corner stones.

Over the weekend I finished glue basting the arches so they are ready to be sewn.

My test assembly of one applecore worked great so now it's full steam ahead.

Thanks for stopping by.  Be sure to check out the links to other Design Walls over at Patchwork Times.
Happy Quilting!
        ~Diane

Free-Motion Quilting - Baby Blocks quilt

I had made it a goal to get this baby quilt quilted this week.  Unfortunately, I still don't have a clear vision of the quilting design.

After stitching in the ditch around the outside (between the yellow and the blue borders), I echoed the blocks at 1/4" away.  I really liked how it made the blocks pop off the surface of the quilt and give a 3D effect.  Because the angles are different between the center blocks group and the border blocks I can't just continue the diamond shapes I created in the border area.  At any rate, I know that I'll come up with a solution...soon.  Invisible thread will be my choice for stitching inside the colored blocks.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Be sure to visit The Free Motion Quilting Project blog for links to other free-motion quilting posts.  There are some really talented quilters out there in blogland.

Happy Quilting!
      ~Diane

On The Needles - October 18, 2013

It's a Finish!!!   The "Just Like Honey Dishcloth", the pattern I chose to knit this month, is done.

My gauge must be really off, because the finished size is supposed to be approximately 8-inch square and mine turned out 11-inch square.  That's O.K. because I have big hands.  The pattern was easy to do.  I like the thickness to the fabric, it's heavier and denser than most of the other patterns I've made.  For more information about this washcloth see my previous blog post Here.  

I've also made some progress on the test shawl I'm knitting.  I still have about 15 more rows of stockinette stitch to go before I start the actual lace rows.

So, what's On Your Needles today?  I'm linked up with Patchwork Times.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Knitting!!!
             ~Diane

Baby Blocks borders

Yesterday I finished adding the pieced border surrounding the large Tumbling Blocks.  Since the center block is odd sized, I added about 3 inches of background all around it and then trimmed it down to the size I needed for the pieced borders to fit properly.  I'm pleased that it all worked out.

Thanks for stopping by.

I'm linked up with Needle and Thread Thursday over at My Quilt Infatuation and Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.

      Happy Quilting!

               ~Diane

On The Needles - October 11, 2013

I've been wanting to knit a lace shawl and I think I found just the pattern to try.

The Holden Shawlette by Mindy Wilkes is a free pattern download on Ravelry.  You can find it Here.  

I'm using size 6US circular needles and white Spring Song 100% Acrylic yarn from my stash.  This yarn was purchased at least 25 years ago at Super Yarn Mart.  It seems to be the right weight for this project so I'll use it to work out the pattern before I get some really nice luscious yarn.

I'm linked up with On The Needles over at Patchwork Times.

What's on your needles?

      ~Diane

W.I.P. Wednesday - Baby Blocks

I have a couple of unfinished baby quilt tops that I've been working on.  This week I'm concentrating on getting the pieced border blocks completed for the scrappy Baby Blocks quilt.

Now that I have the block pieces cut and sewn together I can cut the background fabric.  These smaller blocks will measure 4" x 7" and surround the center Tumbling Blocks block I made for Craftsy.com.

Here is my quilt plan.  I created this in EQ7 so the colors do not match the actual blocks I have.

The final quilt will measure about 44" x 44".

Thanks for stopping by and visiting.  I'm linked up with W.I.P. Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced.

       Happy Quilting!
           ~Diane

Free Motion Quilting - Flower Basket

Today I worked on quilting the flower basket block from Craftsy.com BOM class.  This will probably be a sewing machine cover sometime in the future.

For the backing I chose some old Christmas fabric I bought several years ago.  I made another thrifty choice for the batting.  Deep in my batting bin is some leftover fusible that I've had for at least seven years.  It kept staring at me every time I'd paw through the bin and now it has a home.

I used Superior Threads So Fine #50 in the bobbin and for the background quilting and an 80/12 topstitching needle.  For the colored threads I used whatever I could find in my stash that best matched the area I was quilting.

 It's projects like this that challenge me to be more creative in my quilt stitching designs.

Thanks for stopping by.

I'm linked up with FMQ Friday over at The Free-Motion Quilting Project.

               Happy Quilting!

                               ~Diane

On The Needles - October 4, 2013

For this month's washcloth I'm making the "Just Like Honey Dishcloth" pattern by One Crafty Mama.  I found the pattern Here.

As you can see I'm using Sugar 'N Cream yellow 100% cotton yarn and size 6US needles.  Actually, I'm using a 16-inch circular double-pointed needle, but slipped the stitches onto a straight needle to take this pic.  The straight needles make the work lie flatter for the camera, but I prefer using the circular needles for this kind of project.  I've been using circulars for so long now that when on occasion I use straights it feels like I'm knitting with broomsticks.

So far, I like the fabric this pattern is creating.  It's thick and tight so it should be great for dishes.  The pattern is easy to follow and only requires knit, purl and slip stitches.  If you're looking for a new dishcloth to knit, try this one.

Thanks for stopping by.  I'm linked up with Patchwork Times and this week's On The Needles postings.

Happy Knitting!

       ~Diane