Friday, February 24, 2017

Batik Fabric Swap Project Completed

At our meeting in November, we each brought one yard of batik fabric.  We took our yard of batik fabric and folded it in half, then snipped the edge and ripped it into two pieces.  The piece in my left hand, I got to keep. The piece in my right hand I gave to the quilter to my right.  The quilter on my left, gave me half of the piece she had ripped.  Then we each took the piece we received from the left and ripped it in half and passed half of it to our right.  We did this seven times.  We each took our pieces of fabrics home to make something and bring it in to show at our February meeting.  It was quite fun.  Many interesting projects were presented, several tote bags, organizers, table runners, etc.  I made a wall hanging using the hexagon technique I saw in Material Obsession 2.  Dimensions:  22.5" X 24.5"
Title: Cosmic Compass
I used up every bit of the 'tadpole' fabric, the gold fabric, and the grayish blue fabric, with just scraps of the blue/red left over. I used the rest of the gold fabric and grayish blue on the back of the wall hanging. I also used a couple odd scraps from my stash on the back.  I stitched in the ditch and stitched across the grayish blue, between the dark parts, so you cannot see the stitching. The binding is not a batik, but black with green dots from my stash.  It turned out pretty good for an experiment!

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Unscheduled Quilting Lesson

On October 31, 2016, my husband retired from his job.  All has been pretty well, and he is happy not to be working and traveling on his job anymore.  He got me some wonderful gift cards, to a couple local quilt shops, for Christmas.  After the holidays, he went with me to Quilt Expressions, and while I was looking at fabric, he was looking, too.  He found some panels with winter trees on them and said he would like to make a quilt.  I had not seen this coming!  I helped him choose a couple more fabrics to go with the panels.  Later I had him practice cutting 2" strips, out of some unappealing remnants, with my rotary cutter.  I had him practice sewing straight seems on the sewing machine.  I introduced him to Mr. Seam Ripper.  He needs more practice pressing.   I had never used a panel to make a quilt, so I winged it and decided they needed to be squared a little before we started.  We discussed sashing and cornerstones: of which, cornerstones are not my favorite thing.  Well, it all went well and he is very happy with the quilt he made. 
He made this to go in the library on the back of the
small sofa.  It really looks great!
He learned about the walking foot and cheaty binding. Now he wants to be my assistant and help me cut fabric for my quilts.  I have some skill builders in the works for his future!  :)


Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Japanese Scrap Coasters

Sometimes I just want to be creative with scraps.  I have lots of scrap batting, so I drag a little of that out and try piecing in different ways.  Next thing I know, I have four deliberately not-the-same-size coasters.  I use coasters more than I used to.  I want to prevent rings on my furniture, but also it makes me put my cup where I know I can find it later. 
 
I used mostly Japanese fabrics.  I stitched in the ditch on
two of them.  I was making them as a gift for a friend.
I wonder when I will give them to her.  Hmmmmm . . .