Save the selvages…

October 30, 2014October 30, 201411 Comments

A good friend of mine has come up with a great idea for saving and

using the selvage edge of the cotton fabrics that we use.

Here are a few samples of what she has come up with. The selvages

have been collected and sewn together onto a piece of batting. Once

the batting piece is totally covered, a freezer paper template is ironed

on and the shape (ie. tree, star etc) is cut out with pinking shears or

scissors. The outside edge is straight stitched and then a button and

cording or thread are added. What a great recycling idea! These can be

used as a tree ornament or as a gift tag. I wonder what else you can do

with them? Any ideas? This next quilt was made by Isabel and she did

a great job! I can’t imagine all the hours it took to piece this baby. Wow!!

I think the name of this quilt is The Washington Star? If I am wrong, please

let me know. Isabel’s only request was to have feathers in the brown center

around the star.

Of course, I had to add more feathers in the light and dark borders too. I like the

gentle curve that is in the outside border area too. I used polyester thread for

the top and backing.

I was running out of time for this post so I will show more pictures next week.

In the border area, there were 10-20 different star blocks too. Each one was

different so I tried to use the same motifs throughout the quilt so that it would

tie together.

Alot of straight stitching and ruler work but I think it works well with the

feathers and swirls.

This week was the big Quilt Show in Houston. Any word yet on the winners?

Let me know if you hear anything. And don’t eat too much candy on the

weekend.

Have a great weekend.

As promised…

October 21, 201410 Comments

As I promised from last week, here are a few more pictures of what I was working

on for Northcott.

This runner was designed by Diane MeGregor of Castilleja Cottons.

Diane wanted a fairly simple quilting design so I decided to play up

the squares and quilted straight lines.

The stitching almost looks like a picture frame.

In the outer orange border, I carried the stitching into that area too.

It emphasizes the square shapes as well. I don’t think that any motif

would have looked good in this border area.

Ah, the backing. What great texture on the back as well. A 40 wt

embroidery variegated thread was used for the top and the backing.

I am learning that it is a good idea to use the same weight of thread

for the top and the back, less tension issues that way. The thread brand

varied from Fantisico, to So Fine, to Bottom Line. All seemed to

work ok but it shreds alot on the back so you have to make sure that

you secure it well when starting and stopping.

My second Bargello runner. Again, Diane designed this runner. What a

great job she did too. Intially, I thought that this would be so simple to quilt.

Boy, was I wrong. The lines are simple but do you know how hard it is to

stitch a large curved smooth line? You can see every squiggle you make. I did

pick out the really bad squiggles and re quilt them but overai, it worked out well.

Don’t you just love the lines? I used a 40 wt variegated thread on the top and backing.

What great lines and texture that the quilting created. Can you tell that I love

texture?

I know you saw this one last week but I really like how it turned out.

Daphne Greig, of Patchworks Studio is the designer of this runner.

This block is one of my favorites. Yes, the texture again

is calling to me. Feathers were included too because it felt like the runner

was a little traditional and classy, all at the same time. Swirls were added

too, to break up the straight lines and add some variety to the runner.

And the backing shows off the quilting and the texture as well.

A 40 wt thread was used for the top and backing too.

Have a great week!

A Short Post..

October 17, 20142 Comments

These past few weeks have been a little crazy around here. The upcoming

Quilt Show in Houston, Texas is reaching even into my little corner of the world.

Patti Carey, of Northcott, in Toronto has contacted me to quilt a few more

pieces for her. What a great opportunity. Because of how busy I am, this will

be a short post. This is just a teaser-there will be more eye candy when

the deadlines are past.

This piece was designed by Daphne Grieg of Patchworks Studio.

I love the colors on this runner and felt it was a little formal so I used alot

of straight lines.

Feathers were also incorporated. I love feathers and they dress up

any quilt.

What a great shot of the runner. It fits the season to a tee.

I had to show you the quilting around the block. I love, love, love

straight lines and the texture they produce.

Have a great week.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

October 8, 2014October 8, 20143 Comments

Carol has made another fantastic quilt. Can you imagine the hours she spent

creating this beauty?

There is alot of small pieces in the sashing area. I don’t think

that I would have the patience to cut those all out and then sew them back

together.

It is incredible.

For the outside border area-the light yellow section-Carol wanted

staright lines. I do think that they are great in this area too.

In the triangular area, I did the straight lines too.

In the purple sqaure, I quilted straight lines to mimmic the shape.

Carol likes straight lines alot and I do too.

In the sashing area, I SID around all those little pieces. Yes, it did take some

time but it is worth the time and effort. It is amazing how the quilt transforms

when the quilting is complete. It makes it come to life.

I used a purple polyester thread for the purple squares and a variegated thread

for the sashing area. A light yellow polyester thread was used to SID around the

yellow sections though.

And for the backing, a light tan thread was used. The texture of the quilting

is really evident on the back. It looks great!

I love the back as much as the front – all that texture.

The backing with the border included. I forgot that there is a small

purple border too. In that section, I quited two straight lines. It seemed

that it didn’t need alot of fussy motifs in this area because there is alot

going on in the main section of the quilt.

Hope you enjoyed the eye candy.

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends out there.

Stitching along…

October 2, 2014Leave a comment

Here is a photo of what I have been working on this past week. This 12 1/2″ block

is for the 2015 IPM Quilt. The theme was “Autumn Splendor.” After looking at the

five fabrics for the block, I thought of sunflowers. I had some pictures I had taken

of sunflowers a few years back and used one of those. I am discovering that I like

working from photos.

The background is pieced and the petals are all sewn on with a zigzag stitch. In

the center, there are alot of French Knots. I didn’t care to count how many but it

did take me 4-5 hours to stitch them all on.

I like the block but I would change it next time round. I would have used the

orange fabric for the center,instead of the green. And I would have stitched

the French Knots more like the way sunflower seeds are in real life. It is

completed now and I am not picking out all those French Knots.

This is a charity quilt for our local hospital. Our Guild makes these for the ICU

Dept. I think they are all so cute and it is amazing how generous quilters are.

This shows a close up of the free motion quilting I did. I tried to incorporate

feathers, swirls, and flowers. I am trying to be more spontaneous and

adventurous with my quilting. Charity Quilts are a great way to practice.

Another close up of the quilting. I did forget to take a photo of the backing.

It is usually a dark color, it was a dark purple. It helps the babies to think

that they are still in the womb and they will continue to grow and thrive.

Stitching Impressions

All aspects of longarm quilting

Month: October 2014