Some of This; Some of That

The Stash Report:  Made 53 blocks out of scraps for 3.66 yards.  Made my On Ringo Lake  Part 1 units using another .25 yards for a total of 3.91 yards used for the week.  That brings my YTD total to  72.04 yds destashed. 

Here are my units for Bonnie Hunter's mystery: 

They took longer to do as I had to dig into my scraps and some I assembled as 1 1/2" pieces to get the nine-patch.

 And I've started to quilt my Baby Quilt.  Just have most of the small squares to quilt and then I can bind.  I'm aiming to have this done by Friday.  We'll see.

Last, but not least - here's a cactus I photographed in my husband's greenhouse last week. These flowers last about a week before they lose their beauty.  That color is something!

 On my design wall is still the Mother Goose medallion quilt.  I have made the last 24 units and hope to get those sewn together quick, too.  Then maybe I'll have time to get back to my Christmas WIP.  But first I must add some quilting to a Wall Hanging that will be a door prize at our Sewdality's reception after the Anointing of the Sick mass.  Always something - good thing I can carry over my WIP list into 2018.

What are you up to?  Come by and I'll visit to see your work. I'm linking up to Oh, Scrap!, Design Wall Monday, BOMs Away, Moving it Forward, and Monday Making.

My First Machine Quilted Quilt

Having fun with my company! While they're off to visit a friend at Simple Simon's (a local outdoor cafe) in downtown Riverside, thought I'd post a quickie.  This quilt is the first one I quilted maybe 15 years ago - mostly stitching around the design motifs and before the days I had read anything about machine quilting and basting the quilt with safety pins - hence the puckers and pleats on the back. I did the middle and then put it away as I didn't know how to stipple. It's been finished a couple of years now after having found it in a bag tucked in a drawer.  It's got lots of mistakes, but Alan and Leo don't mind those so it is getting used.  This was a panel.  I used matching yardage on the back and for the binding.

Quilt as I go Part III

Sorry it has taken me so long to post another part on this method. Life got in the way and I had to take things one challenge at a time. Last weekend I was finally able to devote some time to this endeavor. Here goes:

Section 1 - first one quilted. Section 2 - quilted and to be attached to 1.

1. Lay section 2 wrong side up and pin backing away from edge to attach - here it is done and both sides showing photo A.

When you lay it flat the excess batting will show. You will cut this off flush with the quilt top - photo B. Unpin the backing and cut it measure 1/2" larger than the quilted section. Set this section aside for now. - photo C

2. Now lay section 1 on your cutting table right side up and true up seam you are joining to section 2 as you cut off excess batting and backing - photo D.

3. Now to section 2, pin batting AND batting away from edge. Place the two sections right sides together wish section 1 on bottom, match seams and pin. The sandwich will be 4 layers thick now - photo E. Sew a scant 1/4" seam. When done, lay the quilt top wrong sides up and unpin th batting only. Pull the sections apart and smooth, so that the quilt top is flat. Now cut off excess batting close edge of the sewn batting - photo F. I use applique scissors so I don't accidentally cut the backing, or you could fold the top in half (right sides together) with the batting sticking out to trim. The two battings will now butt up to each other.

4. Fold the 1/2"of backing in half - raw edge under, pin to quilt back of section 1, hiding the seam and and whip stitch closed - photo G.
This may sound complicated - practice on two quilted squares before you do this on your quilt, but once you've done it - it will be easier than it reads.






My top is done - need only add the borders now!