Cutting, Cutting, Cutting….

This is my bin of Denyse Schmidt fabrics. I have a couple ideas for these and finally decided to have a cutting day. I think there are around 50 different prints here.

I start by layering 5 different prints and cutting a strip about 12” wide from each. This is a total of 10 layers. I’m using my AccuQuilt Studio Cutter here. I love cutting 10 layers at a time!

These are the AccuQuilt dies I’m using.

I started with 3 1/2” squares. This is way more than I need for the project I have in mind, but I’m sure I can come up with ideas for the leftovers.

Then I cut pieces for bow ties (I still need to cut the background pieces). I think I have enough for at least 100 here.

Whatever is left after that gets cut into 1 1/2 and 2 1/2” squares (no pictures). Finally, the strings go in this bin.

I’ve reduced the contents of my big bin, but I have plenty left for future projects!

Have a great day!

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Layer Cake Tumble

Fat Quarter Shop is coming out with a new pattern! Lucky me, I got to try it out! These are the fabrics I’m using. They are available from Fat Quarter Shop .

These blocks are super quick to make.

I love this pantograph.

Time to bind! I’ll be sharing this finish soon!

Have a great day!

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Slow Stitching Sunday ~ Essential Tools

I’m still working on this bit. Today I thought I’d share what I consider to be my essential tools for hand piecing.

I just started using this. I know it’s for hand quilting, but I love it for piecing. It doesn’t tangle or shred.

I bought this thimble years ago. I love the brass lip on it. I have no idea of the brand. I did buy it at a quilt shop, but that’s all I remember.

Dear friend Ila sent me these scissors. I LOVE these!

When I hand piece, I always mark seam lines. I’m kind of OCD about it. Wait, can you be kind of OCD about anything? Never mind. I use a small piece of sandpaper, a ruler with a quarter inch seam line, and a mechanical pencil. I have a small 6 x 6 stiff cutting mat with a piece of sandpaper glued to the back, but apparently it is vacationing in AZ at the moment.

Such a sad pin! I just use one pin at the first intersection that I sew to. When I get there, I move it to the next intersection. And yes, I use the same pin until it’s dead.

Needles…..everyone has their favorite. When I see older packs of needles like this at a garage sale or thrift store, I grab them. They are inexpensive and it seems they last longer. They are also easy to thread. I do like betweens for piecing.

There you go! Anything you think I missed? I’d love to know what you feel is essential.

Have a great day!

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This and That

I spent a good chunk of this week visiting my Mom in Wisconsin, so not much sewing was accomplished.

I was asked how I would add the triangles to my leader/ender project. I figured a picture was the easiest way to explain. I hope this helps. Eventually, I will add a triangle to the end of each strip as shown, the. Sew the strips together.

I completed my second block for the Humble Quilts Welcome QAL.

While in Wisconsin, we visited the cemetery. This is the grave of my paternal grandparents.

I think this detail would make a lovely quilting design.

E3 got a new construction worker outfit that he is pretty pleased about!

I left these two hooligans home this time. I sure missed them!

Have a great day!

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Finish It Up Friday ~ TQC QAL

My little bit is done! Of course, I didn’t follow directions. They called for pieced borders. I like this little piece, but not enough to do that much border work.

I did add one more row of four patches to make it rectangular instead of square. It fits my doll bed quite nicely!

I quilted this on the long arm. A random freehand grid was the perfect finish.

A fat quarter was the perfect size for the backing and I found enough leftover binding to boot!

This has been a fun little project and a great way to end a busy week.

Have a great day!

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Leader/Ender Project

I decided since the bow tie quilt is finally done, it was time to start a new leader/ender project. I grabbed this bin of squares cut 2”.

I will be sewing these into strips 8 squares long. Eventually, I’ll add a triangle to each end to create columns of scrappy on point squares.

This was my inspiration quilt. The pin is a dead link on Pinterest. In my mind, I thought the squares were on point, but clearly, they are not!

I like the on point plan, so I’ll stick with that. But I definitely love the green columns.

Have a great day!

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Welcome QAL

I decided to go ahead and use fabrics from the bin of shame. They’ve been co-mingling in that bin for over a year now, so apparently they are happy together.

I’ve also decided that I will substitute pieced blocks in place of the letters spelling Welcome.

I hadn’t tried out this die yet and it was a good size.

I substituted a single piece of fabric for the center. I thought I was so clever using a stripe fabric for the thread. Until I finished the block and realized I had it positioned wrong.

Oh, well. It will stay like this. Moving along….

I pulled the pieces above out of a parts bin. So step one for me is now done.

Have a great day!

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Humble Quilts QAL

Lori at Humble Quilts s hosting another quilt along! This time she is using this pattern.

This is a quilt she made with this pattern. She will be remaking it with different fabrics this time.

I was going to use recycled shirt fabrics, but then I remembered the “bin of shame.”

This has been hanging around since I finished my Rooster Medallion over a year ago.

I pulled all these fabrics and shoved them in a bin instead of putting the, away. Perhaps if I use some of this, I will have less to put away?

Have a great day!

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TQC Update

This little guy is so handy!

I used this die from my AccuQuilt 5” Qube.

I cut extra triangles. I don’t mind having them on hand.

That was easy!

Here we are so far. I wonder if there will be finishing instructions next.

Have a great day!

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Slow Stitching Sunday

Until I picked this project back up, I hadn’t done any hand piecing in ages. I’m really enjoying this again, even though it is vvvveeeerrrrryyyyyy slow stitching for me.

I have found that adding one row on any side and then stopping to press seems to work best.

I lay out a row.

Then clip it together to keep things in order. Curiously, when I machine piece, I sew a row left to right. When I hand piece, I go right to left. I have no idea why; it just feels right.

Once the pieces for the row are sewn, I add it to the main piece. BTW, I’m not sure I shared the dies I used for cutting. Or maybe it’s just my old brain. Anyway, these are what I used for cutting.

Hubby discovered a new series on Amazon, so maybe I’ll get more done on this in the evenings this week.

I’m not gonna lie, this is kinda weird. But I love Sissy Spacek and JK Simmons and the beautiful relationship between their characters.

Have a great day!

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