Christmas Stars

Lori brought 2 quilts that she had quilted for me when she came to our mini retreat. The Christmas Stars quilt came along to retreat with me. 

I sewed the binding Saturday evening and she was a finish by 10 pm! Both sides were machine stitched. When I machine stitch binding, I sew the binding onto the backside then turn to the front for top stitching. Not all quilters do it that way but that is what works for me. When I hand bind, I stitch the binding onto the front then turn to the back for hand stitching. I only hand bind special quilts, quilts that I hand quilt. Machine stitching is so much faster!

The design Lori used was a perfect, it's a holly design with circles, so cute. And the red thread looks so nice!

I thought I had posted when Christmas Stars was in the flimsy stage but I can't find one. The last post I find is when the blocks were arranged on the display floor in August. Those blocks were on the floor for two weeks and I checked them several times looking for mis-sewn blocks.

When I displayed the finished quilt at retreat, someone noticed a block that was incorrect. They asked me if I did that on purpose. No, I did NOT!

That's a bunch of nonsense about Amish women purposely adding a mistake to their quilts. They're just like me, they don't purposely make mistakes, they just happen!

For backing fabric I used the red/beige fabric I had considered adding as a border. You all quickly dispelled that idea, this fabric was perfect for backing. The backing needed to be pieced and I added other Christmas fabric. Years ago I had participated in a Christmas block exchange. These blocks were never used so I added them here.

Here is a closeup of the quilting on white fabric, isn't this design fantastic?!

For now Christmas Stars measures 83" by 89". She'll shrink whenever she gets washed. 

I haven't decided if she's going to hang in the rafters or if she'll be displayed on a bed during the Christmas season.

Linking to Needle & Thread Thursday, TGIFF!, Peacock Party, Whoop Whoop Party, Finished or Not  Friday, Patchwork & Quilts

Lady Bug Crib Quilt

One of the projects I sewed at retreat was this ladybug crib quilt. The components have been living in the retreat bag for several years as a just in case project. Just in case means if I finish the other projects that were brought along to sew.

I thought this ladybug fabric was so cute when I saw it at Carolines Cottage Cottons several years ago. I added other bright fabrics that I thought would look nice with it. 

Some quilters won't add black to baby quilts but I think black really make the colors pop. This quilt is really going to stimulate some baby's sensory development.

It will be quilted sometime this winter. I think I'll use spiral quilting, I haven't done that in some time. 

As of now, the quilt top measures 40" by 46". It will shrink during quilting. 

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down

I'm adding the picture of the buggy next to a Christmas tree in the conference room lobby. I thought they look pretty. The Farmstead staff were arranging the decorations as we arrived, they do such a nice job.

New Hexie Project

There are so many beautiful quilts at retreat and interesting projects in progress. I usually come home from retreat ready to start a lot of new projects. This year I only started one new project.

Hanne and Deb were both working on a hexie project. Hanne marked a 1/4" line on her hexies and was sewing them by hand. Deb was EPPing her hexies. I didn't measure them but I'd say they were 1.5" hexies. I didn't take a picture of their projects but they both looked nice.

I've been wanting a portable hand work project as an easy take along. I thought this would be perfect. I'm planning on hand stitching my hexies, not EPP this time.

When I got home, I pulled some of the Tula Pink fabrics I bought at Clothesline Creations last summer during my birthday outing and started cutting. I may have purchased more fabrics during retreat also.

I have a Fons & Porter hexie ruler I purchased years ago but never used. It says right on the ruler how wide to cut the strips for each size of hexie. I'm using 2" hexies so my strips were cut 4.5" wide.

Hanne had sewn her hexies into small columns using 9 hexies. Deb EPP'd her's into hexie flowers. I arranged pieces to sew 2 flowers to take along to Maryland to stitch. I took pictures of each group so I would remember how I to arrange them.

 

There was also some striped fabric that came in the fat quarter bundles. I didn't think plain stripes would look very interesting so I cut a 6.5" hexie (which is the largest size of the ruler) and marked lines on the back to make 6 triangles. Then I cut on those lines then rearranged the triangles.

Once the triangles are sewn, I'll trim the block to size. I think these will be an interesting addition to the quilt, at least if they turn out like I hope they do.

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Design Wall Monday, Craftastic Monday, Monday Musings

Dresden Stars

The Jane Stickle retreat was held early November. The next several posts are going to be about the projects I worked on.

A year ago at the November 2022 Jane Stickle Retreat, I pieced Dresden points. This fall I added the narrow cream triangle between each point and sewed 18 Dresden plates.

This picture is supposed to be horizontal but I'm still learning how to do things with the new computer. This is just 5 of the 18 plates.

I bought this kit years ago at Lolly's sometime between 2006 and 2010. The pattern is called Dresden Star and was designed by Edyta Sitar. 

Edyta has updated the pattern with brighter fabrics that look much happier than the browns she originally used.

Another retreater was watching me piece these plates and told me she also purchased the kit years ago. I asked her if Lolly's had a quilt on display and she said yes and that it was more colorful than Edyta's original brown quilt.

Of course I didn't purchase just one kit, I don't make little throws, I bought two kits so I could make a full sized quilt which is why I ended up making 18 plates.

The next step is to applique these plates onto the background fabric then add the circles to the inside. I'm not going to hand applique these plates, machine applique will be used. That will happen sometime this winter.

Linking to Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Peacock Party, Whoop Whoop Party, Finished or Not  Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts

Totally Trendy Totes II

While attending the Sauder quilt show several years ago, I watched a demonstration on making the Totally Trendy Totes II (previously named Totally Trendy Totes 2.0) bag. The lady doing the sewing made it look easy so I purchased the pattern. I'm sure Sauder's offered a class for the bag but I live 1.5 hours away. 

That same summer I purchased fabrics for the bag. A year ago I cut out the pieces for the extra-large size then quilted the red fabric for the main body with my sewing machine. Then I read the next step and was completely lost.

I carefully put all the pieces and the body on a tray and laid it aside for another day. That day came the first week of November. My friend Lori came and stayed a couple of days for a mini sewing retreat. I chose the tote bag to work on because Lori has made several bags.

She encouraged me all along the way, I wouldn't have finished it without her. I am please to show you my finished Totally Trendy Tote II bag.

I am so glad to not have that project guilting me anymore. And did you notice, it's not BLUE! I really liked the red floral fabric the moment I saw it, it is perfect with the yellow gingham print.

The Totally Trendy Totes II pattern is available from byannie.com. I think the pattern could have benefited from more pictures and better labeling. There is also a pattern included for a project bag which doesn't have picture of the project, I need to see a picture of what I'm making. That's me though, I don't participate in mystery quilts either.

There are two small pockets on the outside of the bag but no pockets on the inside. I made two pockets with extra fabric and hand stitched them to the inside before I sewed the side seams.

Will I ever make another bag? I might, at least I know how to make this pattern now but I won't try a different pattern. I don't think bags are really my thing but I have a finish!

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Put Your Foot Down

Hearts & Wreaths

The 3rd corner of the Hearts & Wreaths border was finished before we left for Maryland and I took several pictures. I'm sorry the left side got a little scrunched but you can still see the corners!

Just a close up picture of the corner.

If you click on the link at the bottom of this page about my first post about Hearts & Wreaths, you'll see a picture of the quilt. I changed my corners and didn't add the little leaf motif. For that reason I needed the vine/leaves to dip farther into the corner than the original.

It was challenging to make the curve the way I wanted it. It took 5 tries to have the correct curve, I wasn't sure it would be right until I appliqued the leaves. 

I always enjoy seeing pictures of the backs of quilts before they're quilted. 

Here is a link to my first post about Hearts & Wreaths. This post will give you information about the pattern, it also shows you a picture of the true yellow of the background fabric.

 Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Design Wall Monday, Craftastic Monday, Monday Musings

Lady Jane Again!

My computer problems have been solved. My computer was 11 years old and didn't have the capacity to update anymore. I have a new computer now.  There is a lot of blogging catch-up to do but we're leaving this evening to travel to Maryland to spend Thanksgiving with our oldest son and his family. (This is the Pennsylvania family who have now moved to Maryland.) The next post will be next Sunday.

Lady Jane is now displayed on a wall! Aren't blue, white and gray quilts striking?

I washed the quilt after she had the binding attached to remove the markings. Washing made her do some puckering. I thought the center of this flower was interesting. 

 

Another picture, because I can.

Grandmother's flower garden quilt has been moved to another wall.

After Christmas, I'm going have a blue & white display on the rafters.

In the last post about Lady Jane, I realized I neglected give you the finished size, she measures 87" by 93", a perfect size for my wall space.

She is hand quilted with a wool batt. The fabrics were a variety of blues I had in my stash. Click here for the Lady Jane finished post to see more pictures.

Here is a link to the Lady Jane pattern.

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Craftastic Monday, Sew & Tell