Quilt as I go - Part II

Okay, I've ironed the backing section and smoothed out the batting. I place the backing with wrong side up and position the batting piece on it. Then I lay the sewn quilt blocks (3 rows by 7 blocks) on top and smooth all over. I pin the sides of the sandwich, turn it over and check the back to see that it is smooth and then pin the entire top.

Now I take the sandwich to my machine. I will use the same kind of thread in the bobbin as on top. I am using wonderfil Invisifil white and a 60/8 needle. I have the straight stitch plate and my darning foot ready for free motion quilting. You can see this segment is just the right size for the throat of my machine:

Since these are pieced blocks I'm going to do a medium meander across the rows. I just have to remember to slow down my movement on the curves and I'll have more even stitches. I get tense when I'm free-motioning and I have to remember to relax my shoulders and drop my arms to a more relaxed position. Helps, too, if I don't hunch over the machine and breathe - LOL. I'm going to quilt the middle row first. Here's a close up of the meander.

I'll finish quilting this section and make the other 3 row one. Then I'll be back with Part III of Quilt as I go.

Finished Charity quilt

I demonstrated binding at our last guild workshop, so I started a quilt to use the edges for the binding demo. Afterwards, I went home and took out the french method binding to finish the binding by bringing up all four sides from the back. This will go to Riverside Life Services . It was a split nine-patch block pattern. After picking out the fabrics, and once it was made, felt the dark was too dark for my choices. Maybe if I had used a more medium yellow it would have looked better to me. What do you think?

Back again

Have been off vacationing with family, hence no posts or quilting for a while. Though it was 101 by Noon we went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Fortunately we got there by 9am when it opened and were able to see quite a few animnals on the tram ride around the perimeter of the park. A great way to see most of the park. Here is part of the creche of giraffes they have that are one of the most successful of their breeding programs. The park has lots of shade in places and "wet zones" where one can cool off - not to mention shows that give you a respite from the heat, but still it was hot! Here is grandson #2, Frank, cozying up to Mama Gorrilla. And last but not least, they put quilting blocks on the posts giving directions. Would make a great African quilt border.

Garden spot

The summer days continue and soon I will need to think about autumn chores to get ready for winter starts. In the meantime, I roam the yard (my DH's part) and look for photo ops of his holdings - he is a cactus and succulent nut. Found this one I like. They only bloom in the morning, but they are a nice surprise when I go out to get the morning paper:

Quilting as I go, Part 1

Hello, I went to see Julie and Julia the other day, and I just loved it. Since I can't get a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking at this time (Borders has sold out, all the copies at the library are on loan - can't even interlibrary loan it), I'm going to set a quilting goal rather than a cooking goal (I was only going to make a few recipes - LOL) like Julie in the movie.

I've decided to chronicle my "quilting as I go method" for getting quilts done with my Bernina. Yes, I have taken some to long arm quilters to do, but I've become intrigued in doing these at home. I read an article by Diane Gaudinski and she has me in awe for the fabulous work she does on her home machine. So after reading books by Diane, Kaye Wood, Marti Michell, Georgia Bonesteel, Betty Cotton, Sharon Pederson and others, I decided to try quilting my own tops. Here are two I have already done this way - posted in order made:

So first thing I do is take out the batting I will need for the quilt, wash it, dry it and plan how I am going to cut up the batting for the number of sections the quilt will have. I like to use batting that is 80% cotton and 20% polyester. I find that this doesn't shift as much as others and makes for smooth backs.

For UFO #5- I have decided on seven sections. I've already taken the blocks down from the design wall, so I can't show you that. So on paper I figure out what I need. This is just breaking the quilt down to segments that are easy to handle in my machine. The center has 70 blocks, so I decided on three sections. My squares are 6"squares finished. So one section is 4 rows by seven blocks And there are 2 sections 3 rows by 7 blocks. The other 4 sections will be borders. I add 2 inches extra to the batting and backing sections so that they extend beyond the quilt segments. With planning on graph paper, I can cut all segments from a twin batting measuring 72"by 90". It's not a complicated as it reads once you've done it.

Now I like to have a patchwork back, so I look in my stash for three interesting fabrics to be the backing for the center of this quilt. If I can find something big enough, I'll use one fabric for all the borders. Off to my stash. Time for cutting batting, and picking fabrics = 1 hour.

Part II later.

Another Soldier Angel quilt

bound and ready to get packaged for delivery. Didn't make it, I just bind 'em. See more at

http://www.soldiersangels.org/ .

Mini quilt

Here's a small quilt I've finished from one of our first BOM patterns in 05. My neighbor put the blocks together and I inherited it from her. I finished it. Going to use as a table topper somewhere. The name of the block was Hatchet - really easy to make. If you'd like the pattern, leave me a comment and I'll send it to you.

Love at First Block

Here's a block I've fallen in love with. Can't you just see it as a scrappy quilt? And it's so easy!! The BOM Lady in our guild offered it to us as our block of the month for September. She saw it at a quilt store now out of business, so I don't know who came up with it. If anyone knows could you let me know? I'd like to give them credit. I'm itching to make some more! But that's the last thing I need another QIP - LOL.

Here he is!

Presenting: Leo Laban Nudge

8 lbs, 5 ozs, 20 inches long.

My first pictures

I'm a happy buela!!

It's a Boy!

Stephen called this morning and said Baby Nudge arrived at 4 AM. He weighed in at 8 lbs, 5 ozs and was delivered by water birth.

We are so excited! And no, don't know the name yet - they're seeing what fits him from their list. He has dark hair and blue eyes at this time. Pictures coming - they are so tired. Ay de mí!

Both baby and mom are fine. I'm posting a pic of a coverlet I made for DGS3. It is just cloth and flannel quilted at the squares and around the figures. I thought they could use it for the summer. Guess I'll have to get busy and make a real quilt promptly, and put the Sunbonnet Sue quilt away for later--LOL! More news as it comes.

Morning surprise

Up at 5:55 this am and what a surprise when I went to open the west facing window in our kitchen! Much brighter when I first saw them, but still there when I raced back with the camera. You can just see the second one to the right of the brighter one. What a good morning blessing!!

UFO #4 now complete

We're still waiting on grandbaby #3 to make an appearance and here is one ufo I finished to give to baby if it is a girl. My mother embroidered the squares and put the top together about 7 years ago when we were waiting for grandbaby #1. After two boys (which we love dearly),

I sandwiched the top, and quilted and bound it. All we want is a safe delivery for both mom and baby. Label will read: Made by Great Grandma Mary and quilted by Grandma Angie.

Latest Charity Quilt

Hello, here is my latest charity quilt - a 30" square one for the local regional medical center's neonatal unit. It is to cover a preemie incubator so that the light won't bother the tiny ones. The parents get to take it home when the baby is ready to go home. They are quick to make and give me a small piece on which to practice my quilting.