Sunday, June 12, 2016

Sweetpea Pods & Sit & Stitch

Last winter I bought a couple of patterns to make some small projects. I finally got around to them this week.






First I made the Sit & Stitch Pincushion. I've had my eye on this fabric at Pumpkinvine ever since they got it into the store. 

The patterns calls for fat quarters, but I bought yardage. The pink binding was leftover from another project. I whipped up the yellow binding, it make a nice contrast.


You don't need to use bias binding for edging on the pockets. I had the blue left over from another project.

You are supposed to sew in the center of both sides to make more pockets, but I only sewed on 1 side. I wanted some longer pockets. In the center is a long pincushion filled with walnut hulls. 

Updated 6/12, 7 pm - I made some modifications in the pattern. The pattern calls for only 1 pocket on each side. I cut the first pocket 5 1/2" and added a 2nd pocket which I cut at 3 1/2". Also the patterns calls for fusible fleece. I stuck leftover cotton batting to the fabric with Elmer's school glue stick. 

One of the kits is for me and the others will be gifts. 


You get 2 Sweetpea Pods from 1 10" square. I made 14 pods. Four of the pods will be used as Christmas presents (filled with little treats) for the granddaughters at Christmas time. The rest of the pods will be given as small gifts here and there. I just like having items like this on hand so they are ready to go when the occasion arises.

These little bags were fun to make and sewed up quickly.

Update - This pattern also called for fusible fleece. Again I used leftover batting attached with Elmer's school glue stick.
Another Update - Here is more information about the bags from the Lazy Girl Designs website.


I prepped the last 7 applique blocks for Sweet Surrender. I'm in the home stretch! The rest of June is going to be very busy for me so I don't know how much sewing I'll accomplish. Hand applique will definitely be happening in my down time though. 

Linking to - Kathy's Slow Sunday StitchingQuilting is More Fun than Housework, Main  Crush Monday, Em's ScrapbagLove Laugh QuiltQuilt StoryEsther's Wednesday WOW!My Quilt Infatuation, A Quilting Reader's GardenCrazy Mom Quilts

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Three Finishes & Sweet Surrender

I've been in finish it up mode since I got the log cabin quilt top completed.


The hand quilting on my Fussy-cut Star quilt has been completed for several weeks. I finally got the binding and label attached. I EPP'd these stars in 2014 and finished sewing the top in 2015.  This was a sew along through Temecula Quilt Company.  I posted about my progress on Fussy Cut Fridays. 


The stitching doesn't show on the stars but that is what I intended. I want the stars to stand out.







The backside looks interesting since I used 4 different colors of thread. I didn't quilt the outside border very closely. I just can't see black thread on a dark fabric anymore. I'm actually surprised the quilting looks as good as it does, I thought the stitches might be too long.





And a close up of the quilted stars from the back.
The Resale Shop Crib Quilt has been quilted with my sewing machine. I started with a curve in one corner and just kept going back and forth, alternating the direction I sewed each curve. It lays flat! 









Pink flannel on the back makes this crib quilt nice and cozy.
And a close up of the front.

She was quilted with variegated thread to add some sparkle to the quilt.

I don't know what I'm going to do with this quilt. She will probably end up being donated to charity.



Several years ago I pieced this Amish crib quilt. I had seen a picture in a book about Amish quilts but it didn't turn out quite like I had envisioned and I was tired of it laying around. I decided it would be a practice quilt 


Before I started quilting the practice quilt, I practiced stippling on some scraps. I need a LOT more practice before I'm comfortable stippling a quilt, even one that is going to charity. This quilt was a practice quilt but the quilting practiced was quilting 'markings'. The clam shells and Baptist Fan quilting aren't as smooth as I would like, but they sure look a lot better than my first attempts.


I've completed 4 more Sweet Surrender blocks. The pattern calls for the hexie flowers to be fussy-cut, but most 30's fabrics don't lend themselves to that idea. I did come up with some fussy-cut flowers though.

This flower is cute but doesn't really WOW! me.




I do like this butterfly flower better.










I decided to do another yo-yo flower with this block. The yo-yo's add some depth to the blocks.










But this flower is my favorite so far. In my opinion, these circles make the best flower.

There is a Sweet Surrender facebook group who show the progress of their applique. I'm not a member, I just don't do facebook. At the Jane Stickle quilt retreat, a friend was showing me all the blocks people have posted on the site. Cindy was making her flowers with the circles. They were so pretty that I decided to go with the idea. You will be seeing more flowers made with this technique.

I'm linking up with - A Quilting Reader's GardenKathy's Slow Sunday StitchingQuilting is More Fun than Housework, Bits & Bobs, Em's ScrapbagLove Laugh Quilt, Super Mom - No CapeQuilt StoryEsther's Wednesday WOW!My Quilt Infatuation, Crazy Mom Quilts