FMQ...“Bears In The Air” baby quilt

A while back I was given some baby quilt panels one of which is a Daisy Kingdom print of some teddy bears in a hot air balloon.  I matched this panel up with some dinosaur flannel because of both pieces have the primary red, blue, yellow, and green colors. 

After sandwiching these up with some 80/20 cotton low loft batting, I tried a new basting technique.  I did use spray baste to keep the layer secure while I added machine basting. 

First I marked the approximate centerlines (vertical and horizontal) and then I proceeded to stitch those lines with a very long basting stitch and my free-motion foot.  I set my stitch length to 6, but I made it even longer by lowering the presser foot, taking a stitch, bringing up the needle, lifting the presser foot, and then moving the fabric.  I stitched this way about every 1/2- to 1-inch.  After a bit I got into a rhythm and was grateful for my new sewing machine knee-lift feature which raises and lowers the presser foot.  I spaced the stitching rows/columns about 6-inches apart.  The only thing that I would say negatively about this technique is that occasionally as I was free-motion quilting the basting thread would get caught in the presser foot.  In that case, I would stop and cut the basting thread and continue on with my quilting.


For the most part I used Coats & Clark 100% cotton 50wt thread for quilting with Presencia 60wt 3-ply cotton in the bobbin.  I have tried to use other brands of 60wt but they tend to fray or break perhaps because they are only 2-ply.   I also used various brands of colored thread, whatever I had on hand, to quilt the outlines around the balloons and ribbons.  I was concerned that if I used white it would show where two colors meet. 

Another first for me was the diagonal cross-hatching I did in the quilt interior.  At first I made the lines 2-inches apart, but later added the intermediate lines to make the spacing 1-inch.  I like the smaller hatch much better. 









For the interior border area I made my own design using hearts and ribbons which I marked using a Frixion pen.  When I quilted only a single line for these features it seemed dull so I added a second echo line about 1/16 to 1/8 inch away.  That made the ribbons and hearts stand out more.  I love how the Frixion pen markings just disappear when heat from the iron is applied. 






In the outside borders I quilted a simple hearts and loops design and tried not to get the quilting too dense.  I was concerned that some areas of the quilt would been heavily quilted and others very sparsely. 

At the moment I have four baby quilts that are done except for the binding.  It’s funny, I’m enjoying seeing them hanging around together so much that I keep putting off the final step of adding the binding.  Each quilt has it binding all cut and pressed and ready to be applied.  I think I’ll just leave them there to admire a while longer......or I could finish them and hang them back up.  These will be donated in July.    

I'm linking up with FMQ Project Link Up over at The Free Motion Quilting Project.

Happy Quilting!
       ~Diane

FMQ ... Ahoy Baby quilt

A while back I was given several flannel pieces each measuring about 38" x 48".  I intend to use them as backings for the donation baby quilts I'm making.  Then another friend gave me a lot of fabric which she scored for free at an estate sale.  In that batch of fabric were nine baby quilt panels which I promptly washed and then matched up with flannel backings.  I'm hoping to get all of these small quilts completed by end of summer.

The first quilt, which I named "Ahoy" was a bit small so I added a 4-inch borders all around to the original panel.  I like all the really bright colors of this panel which has Paddington Bear sailing around in his boat.  

This week I assembled the backing, batting (Soft & Crafty 80/20 low loft), and panel.  Since there are no seams in the panel itself, I stitched the outline of the major areas using The Bottom Line  60 wt poly in the bobbin and So Fine 50 wt poly for the top thread.  For the interior of the panel I simply stitched the outline of the major elements.  

When it came time to quilt the borders I used my new Frixion pen to mark the waves, boats, clouds, and a sun in each corner.  I used matching gold thread for the stitching.  The markings disappeared when I applied heat from my iron.  

    

This quilt came together so easily that I almost immediately started on the next one.  Perhaps I will get all these baby panel quilts done before summer starts.  

Thanks for stopping by.   I'm linked up with FMQ Fridays over at The Free Motion Quilting Project.  

         Happy Quilting,

                 ~Diane

FMQ...Scrappy Baby Asterisk quilt

This week I was able to get the quilting completed on the Scrappy Baby Asterisk quilt.  Yeah!  

This baby quilt top has been sitting in my "To Quilt" pile for a couple of months.  I used leftover scraps from previous baby quilts. 

 Although you probably can't see it clearly, I used the white bubble fabric I got a while back for the sashing and outer border.  

 This is the third ? asterisk baby quilt I've made.  The pattern evolved from a Craftsy.com block of the month from 2012.  I've found that this is a good pattern to use up scrap bits.

Here's a pic of the completed top.

I used pins for basting the quilt sandwich together.  My preferred method is to use spray baste and then heat set it with an iron.  

But this time I followed Cindy Needham's technique of tensioning the quilt back and that worked really well...for the backing.  I did get some shifting with the top which showed up in lots of ripples when I did my ditching to secure all the layers.  Perhaps I didn't have my tensions set correctly with my walking foot.  

At any rate, I picked out all the stitching I had done, which took me the better part of a day.  After that I set my maching stitch to "baste" (6mm) and only stitched down the center of the sashing.

Then I stitched around each triangle using my quilting foot instead.  Yes, I had to go really slow to get a straight line, but I was glad I did and pleased with the results.  

I began with quilting flowers in each quadrant.
Later I decided that they needed more emphasis so I went back and echoed each flower.

I had a lot of fun making the bubbles in the sashing.  I didn't want to overquilt that area so I did a single column with larger bubbles in the intersections.

For the outer border I did a simple accordian style wavy line.  It was hard not to try to make straignt lines with equal spacing in between, but I forced myself to go "Organic".





"Organic" is my new mantra this season in my quilting journey.  I define this concept as:  not structured, not perfect.   

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

Thanks for stopping by.            Happy Quilting!
                 ~Diane

FMQ Baby Blocks quilt

It seems like it's taking me forever to get this baby quilt finished.  Progress has been made this past week and I'm happy with my design choices.

This is also my first attempt at free-hand quilting text.  I wanted the blocks to look like the real thing, so I angled the letters and used a pencil to draw the lines on the quilt.  Some of my stitching got a little too dense, but I'm not going to pick them out and do it all over.

I believe this is the first quilt I've quilted without using my walking foot.....not even once!  My goal was to do all the quilting using only my embroidery foot.  That means that my sewing speed has been greatly reduced.  I've found that it is possible to stitch a straight line but the trick is to go slowly.  Most of the time I use the foot as a guide to achieve a 1/4-inch echo.  There were some areas that my lines got a little wonky so I occasionally used a pencil to mark where I needed to go.

For the most part I used white Coats & Clark 100% cotton 50wt thread, top and bobbin.  But when it came time to stitch inside the tumblers, I switched to Gutermann's Invisible thread so my misses wouldn't be as noticeable.  I still used the white cotton in the bobbin.

This was the first time I've used Quilter's 80/20 low loft (up to 3/16 inch) batting.  The package states the recommended quilting distance to be 2" - 4" so I felt I could get away with just outline stitching inside the larger blocks.

For me, looking at the stitching on the back side is almost as pleasing as the front.  Periodically I flip the project over and inspect how things look back there just to make sure I didn't miss any areas or outlines.

 


Next up is deciding on a border stitching design.  I put together a test sandwich so I can audition ideas.  Here's what I've come up with so far.  Oops...the pic is upside down!  Sorry 'bout that.

Anyway, this is one idea I had.  I'm looking for designs that allow me to travel down the border with little or no re-positioning of the entire quilt.  I had enough of that when I was doing the interior of the quilt.  Also I want to restrict some of the motion because my machine (always blame it on the machine) tends to make bad stitches when I move in a circular motion toward the left and upward.  I guess if it were a map, then my problems happen when I move into the northwest quadrant.  It's probably me, but I've tried slowing down and adjusting tensions with the same results.  I figure it's just best to find a design that works with me instead of against me.

Well, that's all for now.  Thanks for stopping by.  Be sure to visit The Free Motion Quilting Project blog for links to other quilting project blog posts.

Happy Quilting,
    ~Diane

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

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

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

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

Design Wall Monday - Sept 23, 2013

This past week I've been sewing asterisk blocks for another baby quilt.  A few months ago I cut all the leftover scraps needed and made a kit for myself.  At this point, I've completed the first step of the block assembly, sewing the triangles to the diagonal sashing strips.  There are more squares to be pressed and trimmed before I lay them out on the design wall.  Next step will be to add the vertical and horizontal sashing.  I think this will be the third asterisk baby quilt I've made.

Another piecing project I'm working on is a tumbling blocks baby quilt.  Recently I made a large tumbling blocks block (approximately 18" square) which I plan to use as the center of the quilt.  After making a test block I now have templates to use in cutting out scraps for the smaller individual tumblers that will surround the larger block. So far I've cut pieces for five green blocks and one orange block.  

Thanks for stopping by today.  I'm linked up with Patchwork Times.  Happy Quilting!

              ~Diane
 

Got It Done - Summer 2013

I thought it would be best to combine my Got It Done posts for June, July, and August since I really didn't accomplish much.  

For the past five years I've been blessed to be able to spend the summer months at Pine Point, our single-wide mobile home located on a lake in northeastern Washington state.  Even though I took lots of fabric and my good sewing machine, it was hard to get motivated.  The weather was awesome.  Lots of friends came up to camp and fish.

JUNE

Here was my list for June:

1.  I was able to get all of the interior of the QOV star quilt pieced.  Then I set it aside until I was satisfied with the border design......finished on September 8.

2.  June washcloth

3.  Craftsy BOM

4.  Inchelium Star quilt.....not started.

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JULY

Even though my goals were more realistic this month, I still struggled......But, the fishing was GREAT!
 

1.  July washcloth

2.  Craftsy BOM (Tumbling Blocks)......not started

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AUGUST

This month was a little more productive.

1.  August washcloth

2.  Craftsy BOM.  This month is the foundation basket.  September will be making and applying the applique flowers.

3.  Baby quilt. I did the quilting on "Boy It's Spring" baby quilt which I finished piecing in May.

4.  "9-Patch Posies" baby quilt.  This top was pieced in March and finally quilted in August.

Design Wall Monday, Sept 2, 2013

Here are the quilt labels I will be putting on some baby quilts I recently finished quilting.  The labels will include the quilt name, my name and the date.  I considered printing the labels but will write them out by hand using Micron pigma pens instead.

I made templates with word processing software and will use the printouts to trace over the lettering.

Thanks for visiting.
I'm linked up with Patchwork Times "Design Wall Monday".

Happy Quilting!

            ~Diane

Free-Motion Quilting–August 29, 2013

Back in March of this year I completed piecing the top of a baby quilt, “9-Patch Posies”.  This flimsy sat in the WIP pile for several months but has now moved to the top of the stack.

Quilting these swirls is a first for me.  I’ve practiced a few times but this is the first time I’ve actually stitched them on a quilt.  Things are going well so far and I’m liking the outcome.  All my quilting is done by me on my domestic machine so there are some quilt patterns that I just am not able to accomplish.

I have to say that deciding on the quilt stitching is one of the most difficult choices to make – at lease for me.  Picking blocks, colors, and fabric is fun; but when it comes to the actual quilting, I tend to stumble a lot.  All the choices I’ve made up to this point have created a certain “look” and “feel” and I want to be careful and deliberate in choosing a stitch pattern that contributes to that “look” and doesn’t distract or work against it.

How do you choose your quilt stitching patterns? 

I'm linked to the Free Motion Quilting blog.  Check it out!

Have a great quilting day and thanks for stopping by.
   ~Diane

Got It Done-–May 2013

In keeping with Judy L’s Getting It Done challenge of posting a list of goals each month and also posting a progress report, I am presenting my list of completions for the month of May.

Here is my original goal list:

May Baby Quilt top

“Boy It’s Spring” is the name I gave this quilt top.  It measures 37” square. 

This was a fun and easy quilt top to piece.  I like the combination of bright and pastels.

For more information about this quilt, check out my blog post.

Craftsy BOM

This month’s block is called “Strippy Spools”.
I chose to make mine with patriotic fabrics in honor of Memorial Day. 
The block measures 8-1/2” but I it to 7-1/2” as instructed.  This would be a good block to use for Quilts of Valor.

May Washcloth

The pattern I chose to knit for this month is called the Bee Stitch Cloth.  I blogged about it here.

I used a light blue variegated 100% cotton yarn.  The finished size is 9”x10”. 

QOV Quilt Top

Not done yet.  I still have some red star blocks to make and then sew the rows and columns together.  I may have to put this on my list for June.

Bonus Completion:

Thrifty Washcloth

This washcloth is made homemade variegated yarn.  My blog post of May 24 gives all the details.

Get It Done – June 2013 goals

Here is my list for next month. 

Design Wall Monday - May 13, 2013

This week I'm working on piecing "Boy It's Spring" baby quilt.  All the smaller blocks are made so now it's a matter of assembling the rows and columns.

Now that I'm up at the lake, I don't have a nice design wall like the one at home.  The blocks for this quilt have been laid out on a portable flannel design wall by Fons & Porter on top of the guest bed.  I have my eye on a wall in the guest room that I might be able to use after I rearrange some furniture.

Thanks for stopping by.  I'm linked up with Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday.

UPDATE:
I just finished hanging up my new design wall.  Here's a better photo of the quilt blocks.  A couple of the blocks need to be switched around.