Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday Design Wall - Card Trick Strings
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Final Stash Report for 2010
FINAL REPORT FOR 2010:
Purchased year to date -- 307.20
Used (Finished) year to date -- (397.10)
Net Busted -- (89.90)
A special thanks to Judy Laquidara, who hosted a weekly link for sharing our stash reports. This was my first year participating so I was pleasantly surprised how it became such a great motivator. To see how others faired 2010, visit Patchwork Times -- then stayed tuned, 2011 will be a Scrappy New Year!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Dresden Border for Card Tricks
Today is a work day, then comes a long weekend for the holidays. I have two tops ready for quilting, however I want to finish this top and catch up with Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Clues before changing the machine. BUT, tonight I really need to stop everything and finish wrapping presents!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Geralyn's Quilt
Monday, December 20, 2010
Monday Design Wall -- Card Tricks Growing
For more design walls, visit Judy at Patchwork Times. I bet after the holidays, we will see the activity pick up again. For now, we all have our little secret projects.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Stash Report -- I Slipped!
Stash Report:
Finished this week, -0- (Almost, but not close enough to count)
Used To Date, (394.60)
Purchased this week, 17 yards (ouch - but worth it)
Purchased year to date, 298.90
Net Busted, (95.70)
For more Stash Reports, let's all visit Judy at Patchwork Times!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
"Kendra" Pattern for L'Fair Quilts
Finished Quilt: 68.75 X 82.50
Finished Block: 13.75
FABRIC REQUIREMENTS
Kona Cotton Rollup (as pictured below)
4 yards of black print (Used 4 - 1 yard cuts of different black prints from the Northcott, Califon collection by Mark Lapinski), for blocks and binding
1 yard white print for block centers (from Califon collection)
5 1/4 yards backing
CUTTING REQUIREMENTS:
Kona Cotton Rollup (contains 42 - 2 1/2" strips) -- Pull 30 strips and cut each into 4 - 10" strips (total 120 - 2 1/2" x 10" strips)
Black Print --
- Cut 30 LOF (length of fabric), 2" strips, subcut each into 4 - 10" strips (total 120 - 2" x 10" strips)
- Cut 30 LOF, 1 1/4" strips, subcut each into 4 - 10" strips (total 120 - 1 1/4" x 10" strips)
- Cut 8 LOF, 2 1/2" strips for binding (joined together diagonally)
White Print --
- Cut 5 LOF strips 5 3/4", subcut into 30 - 5 3/4" squares
As the strips are sewn, use a design wall to arrange each of the strip-sets.
Sew each block using a "half-seam" method of starting and finishing the block.
The center white print block (5 3/4" square) is attached first to the left strip set --- NOTICE THAT THE SEAM STOPS HALF WAY DOWN --- ENLARGE TO SEE DETAIL IF NEEDED.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Introducing - "Kendra" for L'Fair Quilts
The Free Pattern for "Kendra" (finished at 68.75 x 82.50) will be posted this weekend with a few sample blocks in different fabric choices. Perfect for the Jelly Rolls, because it uses 2 1/2" strips -- in fact, this used the Kona Roll-up I won (Sew Fresh Fabrics) participating in the Blogger's Quilt Festival, hosted by Amy over at Amy's Creative Side. The other fabric came from Mark Lapinski's Califon Collection in black and whites.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Multi-tasking quilts
String Card Trick: 6" finished string blocks, still working on the border surrounding the center Card Trick.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Monday Design Wall - Dec 13th
I removed the 9 blocks in the bottom right quarter of the Card Tricks to take a picture of the pattern I want to use as the upper left pieced border. I did the same for each of the other three quarters. This way, the card trick blocks are repeated in the border. Using the picture, I started laying out a few of the 6 1/2" string blocks made over the weekend -- see picture below. Stay tuned and I will show you as I make more string blocks.
The String Blocks are fast when you only sew one seam on the foundation paper -- my method shown here. Never thought this would come in so handy. I was already making blocks for my string card trick quilt (needing 144 string blocks) and now I need 60 for Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Stash Report - Dec 12th
The above quilt is done except for the binding, so I counted the fabric as used. I have been working on more string blocks for the border of the Card Trick Top and decided to throw in a few larger strings for Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt. I have been cutting the fabric for each step, and may start sewing the blocks together later today.
Finished (Used) this week, (11.50)
Used To Date, (394.60)
Purchased this week, -0-
Purchased year to date, 281.90
Net Busted, (112.70)
For more stash reports, visit Judy at Patchwork Times. We are closing in on 2011, so there are just a few more reports -- let's see how much I can finish before December 31st.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Card Trick String Blocks Done
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Progress on blocks
Monday, December 6, 2010
Monday Design Wall - Dec 6th
And....here are the string blocks I have been making using the tutorial I posted here Sunday. I make these as "leaders and enders" (Bonnie Hunter's method) while working on the blocks above. I will continue to work on them until the "Card Trick" evolves. I have also noticed that Bonnie has posted the 3rd clue in her Roll Roll Cotton Ball Mystery quilt that uses strings blocks. I just might throw in a few 8 1/2" paper foundations and save them for later. I have been pulling fabric as the clues are posted, but won't be able to really start anything until after the first of the year.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
String Tutorial / Stash Report
- Used (as in Finished) this week: (13.25)
- Used To Date: (383.10)
- Purchased this week: 4
- Purchased Year To Date: 281.90
- Net Busted: (101.20)!!!!! 2010 Goal of 100 yards.
For more Stash Reports, visit Judy at "Patchwork Times".
Paper Foundation - String Tutorial
Tutorial for quilters who hate tearing all those little pieces of paper from string piecing. I no longer cringe when I see "using a paper foundation" in pattern instructions. Update: I cut my strings as I go, so the paper foundation is an important tool acting as the square ruler. I lay the string across the foundation and scissor trim before sewing.
Step 1: Cut your paper foundation to the desired size -- I keep a stash of 6.5" squares of newspaper on the side of my machine. You will not need to change the stitch length, you will not need a larger needle using this method.
Step 2: Sew the first two strings to the center of the paper foundation -- THIS WILL BE THE ONLY TIME YOU SEW THE STRINGS TO THE PAPER FOUNDATION.
Step 3: Line up the next string on the foundation, but before sewing --- fold back the paper. Continue sewing the strings on both side, lightly finger pressing (no iron needed until done) -- each time you fold back the foundation paper to sew another string, it will make the removal that much easier.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Challenge Quilt Done
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Quilting Closeup
The "Fabric Challenge" is coming to an end tomorrow. We will reveal the quilts and pick up the fabric for next year's challenge. Because the quilt is very busy -- the center quilting was a basic all-over flower pattern. The borders were feathered. The top and backing -- very scrappy and very purpley! I am always amazed at the amount of scraps go into a scrappy quilt WITHOUT making a dent in my drawers.