Scottie's Reunion

My goal for the week was to finish 1 block . . . yip, that's it, just 1 block, UNO.  

And I'm so happy . . . I even exceeded my goal w/ 2 blocks !!

 I always exceed my goals :0

This is going to be an awesome quilt!  The color contrast is different from anything I've done before.

burp clothes tutorial

You will need:  

1.  Gerber pre-folded 6-ply cloth diapers from Target, 10 pack.  

I have seen a 3 ply and a 4 ply, but I prefer the thickest diaper.

2.  Your favorite flannels.  Cotton fabric works but flannel is softer to the skin, and absorbs more.

Pre-wash cloth diapers.  Make sure they're fully dry, they shrink quite a bit.

Either pre-wash flannel fabric or iron with lots of steam (lazy method).  Cut rectangle 19x6 inches from flannel.  These diapers tend to vary in size, so make sure the 19 inches gives you about an inch extra on the length of the diaper.

Press sides of flannel under 1/2" on 3 sides, leaving 1 end unpressed (*see note below).

Center flannel on diaper as aposed to directly over the padded section (which isn't always exactly centered).  After pinning, hold the diaper up to make sure you like the placement of the flannel.  

*It makes it easier to leave 1 end unpressed and to sew that end down last.  From the picture above, start sewing on the right just below your "unpressed"edge.  Sew 1/8" from edge down the length of the diaper, around both corners and back up.  

When you're a couple inches from the top, stop and turn under and pin the last edge (if your put your needle down and lift your presser foot, you can pivot the diaper to finish pinning.  You'll get your flannel closer to the edge that way. 

ok . . . call me OCD.

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play quilt

Fresh Modern floor pillows

This week's finish includes new floor pillows which needed some serious updating.    I don't like making fussy pillows.  This is my easy way to make a cover for a pillow.

Easy Pillow Tutorial:
I like to use canvas fabric.  These 2 canvas fabrics come from Sweetwater's Hometown and Reunion lines.

If you are not using canvas, I would suggest making your pillow an inch or so smaller than your pillow form to help support the shape.  If you're working with canvas, the heaviness of the fabric gives the support you want.  

When measuring my canvas for cutting,  I add a good 3 inches to one side.  This is a key factor in the "non-fussy" part of this pillow.  You will see further along the importance of adding these inches.

I don't pre-wash my fabric.  Plan on pressing with heavy steam at the end.  

With right sides together, sew 1/2 inch seam around 3 sides.  Clip the 2 corners furthest from the opening.

Zig Zag around the 3 sides you just sewed together.  Zig Zag the 2 pieces on the open side, separately. Turn right side out, press with steam.

On the open end, measure 3 inches, fold in and press.  

Stuff the form in to your new cover.  Push your pillow form into the pillow, giving you some extra room to work with while sewing the end closed.  Move your needle as far as you can to the left.  Stitch closed, reinforcing at the beginning and end, close to the edge. 

A couple times a  year, I rip out that last seam on my pillows to wash the covers.  Then I sew them back up.  It's fast and easy.

Tanner Reunion

. . . another Reunion sneak peek 

  hope to be quilting soon

I'm so excited about this wall hanging . . . still working through some details for it.

NAM Scrap Quilt

This quilt is made from scraps of the quilts I made last year.  You can read about how to make "scrap blocks" in this post.  The ladies from church tied it, and then I FMQed the squares.

Last Saturday, the Klein Stake from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) hosted it's 17th Annual Interfaith Charity Quilting Bee.  Over 30 local congregations spend the year prior making quilts, and at the annual bee, the quilts were collected and turned over to Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM).  Over 300 quilts are donated each year.  

At the bee, all the different congregations gather to tie their last quilt to be donated.   A nice lunch is served, including the famous "Nancy's Chocolate Chip Cookies" (see recipe).  I think they're famous because they're so big, and you get a whole one to yourself!

After the lunch there is a short program in which the quilts are presented to the NAM organization.  The quilts will be given to local families, including people from NAM's Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN), families in transition from homelessness, Meals on Wheels, the Children's Clinic and the Family Violence Center.

I remember several times through the years, we were able to hear personally from some of the recipients of these quilts.  These dear people had gone through tragic times, loosing jobs, homes, family members, everything, even their dignity.  They were given the opportunity to go through NAM's 9 week IHN program which helped them get their feet back on the ground.  

At the end of the program, they are taken to a big closet and the family members are each asked if they would like to "choose a quilt".  It is touching to hear their humble stories and gratitude in person.


Nancy's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cream together: 
  2 cups sugar
  2 cups brown sugar
  1 cup butter
  1 cup margarine
  4 eggs

Add:
  4 cups flour
  1 tsp. salt
  2 tsp. baking soda
  2 tsp. baking powder

Mix and stir in:
  5 cups oatmeal
  1-2 cups walnuts
  One 12 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips

For large cookies, place 1/4 cup dough on un-greased cookie sheet.
Press down slightly.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Individually wrap each cookie.  Makes 40 large cookies.

Reunion Sneak Peek

Reunion by Sweetwater, Quartered Logcabin almost ready for quilting.

sneak a peek:

Monaluna Ellie

Another logcabin on white finished.  You can see the first one I made here.

I originally found this log cabin design here.

quilt stats:

43" x 43"

9 - 15" squares

2 1/4" border

Warm & Natural cotton binding

fabric: Monaco in pink by Monaluna (link below)

You can find scrappy log cabin instructions here.

It began with a pile of 2 1/2 inch strips.

The white logs were 1 3/4 inches.

The last row of white creates the sashing.

quilted on the HQ Sweet 16, but any sewing machine with the capability of letting down the feed-dogs works well too.

finished:

I got the idea for this curling design from Angela Huffman in this YouTube video.  

sashing quilted in straight stipple.

I started having withdrawals when I realized this was the last of my Monaco in pink by  Monaluna.  So I got online and hunted down 2 more yards for my stash :) 

Free Motion Quilting

I have been working on my free motion quilting skills.  I like to look at FMQ pictures for ideas of how to quilt my next quilt.  All of these FMQ pictures are from this blog.  To see more, go to my PINTEREST and look for the FMQ board.

Sunkissed Sally:

Hometown Charm

To "stitch in the ditch" means to stitch in the seam on the fabric which is lower.

Ken's Cats

 When you quilt around your figures on the front, look what you get on the back !!!

Olivia Apron

 Small stippling around images makes them pop.  Pebbles.

Calico Calvin

I quilted around the whirley gigs, including the seams inside, and stippled all the white.

African Safari

I found this design on Day Style Designs.  She has lots of fun designs and video tips for FMQ.  I found it helped to have a blown up picture of the design on my computer next to my machine to refer to.

washed.

Sherbet Pips

before washing . . .

washed.

 My HQ Sweet 16.  Love it!

Straight line quilting.

Monaco Log Cabin

echo flowers

Sunkissed Sally

open center circles.

more Hometown Charm

I love the idea of a quote on the back of your quilt.  Carrie of Miss Rosie Quilts taught me that.

Boys will be boys

circle rulers.

Pear Decadence

straight stipple

Greek Square Quilt

I guess this isn't technically "free motion", but it took so dang long,  I've got to put it in.

I had to create my own stencil.  I'd like to try this again some time.  I'll use a pounce pad.

What a great idea for a sewing machine cover.  Great practice too!

"Don't Look Now", Kelly Wulfson is an amazing FM quilter.

Riley Blake display at market

Notice the quilting below the road (ground) and above the cars (sky/clouds).

Laura's fish