New Vintage Tops!

Posted on August 14, 2018 by katyquilts

Recently, someone on Instagram posted a couple vintage tops she had found while at an antique shop. She didn’t want them for herself even though they were a great deal. I commented that I wished I lived closer. Then she offered to pick them up for me. Quilters are the best! Here is the first.

It has some really fun prints in it. And I love the teal/peach colors!

Here’s a look at the hand stitching on the back.

This is the second top.

It needs a few small repairs and there are some stains on the background fabrics, but overall, it is in nice shape.

Those triangles are tiny!

Here’s the hand stitching on this one.

I’m so pleased I was able to purchase these from across the country with the help of a quilty friend!

Have a great day!

Posted in Uncategorized, Vintage Fabrics, Vintage Quilts | 13 Comments

UFO Progress

Posted on August 13, 2018 by katyquilts

Remember this UFO?

I finally got back to work on it. I cut out pieces for more blocks using my Accuquilt die cutter.

Now I am up to 48 blocks.

They finish at 5 inches. I don’t really know yet what this will grow up to be. For now, I’ll just keep making a few here and there.

Have a great day!

This post contains affiliate links.

Posted in Accuquilt, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Progress!

Posted on August 12, 2018 by katyquilts

I’m finally using my rotary cutter a little bit. I’m making a few of these blocks every day.

I also started quilting a larger top on the long arm for my friend, Zenia, from A Quilted Passion .

I’m trying to pace myself, but this is such a fun quilt that it is hard to leave it alone!

Have a great weekend!

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Canadian Smocking

Posted on August 11, 2018 by katyquilts

Since I picked up this pillow at the thrift shop, I’ve done a bit of research. I purchased a pattern on Etsy to make one like this.

I found that this type of smocking is called Canadian smocking. I found other similar patterns and YouTube videos. I had to try it. So I chose a simple pattern and went to work. The first step was to draw a grid on the back of the fabric.

This is the pattern I tried.

The diagonal lines indicate the direction of the gathers.

I was amazed that it really worked!

This is what the back looks like.

Next I tried to pleat the edges with pins so I could stay stitch around the outside edge.

I added fabric around the edges.

And voila!

I used a leftover piece from upholstering my rocker for the back.

The hand stitching was slow going so I worked on it in bits here and there. It’s definitely a project I would try again some day.

Have a good one!

Linking up with Sew Can She

Posted in Crafty Things, Finishes, Uncategorized | 16 Comments

Finish It Up Friday ~ the Cowboy Quilt

Posted on August 10, 2018 by katyquilts

My first quilt quilted on the long arm since my surgery. Not gonna lie, loading it wasn’t the easiest. But I got it done.

I really loved this cowboy print, and the fact that I had so many bits in my stash that coordinated so well!

Here is the back.

I kept the quilting simple

and used a poly batt.

This is how I did it. I free handed a large meander.

And then I went back over it weaving and crossing back and forth. I think it looks a bit like twisted ribbons.

Or a cowboy’s rope.

I had originally cut this binding for a different quilt and ended up not using it. That was handy!

This quilt finished at 42 by 52 inches. I will probably donate it. It really is out of my bailiwick, but it’s good to work that way sometimes.

Have a great day!

Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict , Busy Hands Quilts , Powered by Quilting

Posted in Baby Quilts, Finishes, Free Motion Quilting, HQ Forte, Long Arm Quilting, Longarm Quilting, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

TBThursday ~ Vintage Doll Quilts

Posted on August 9, 2018 by katyquilts

Today I thought I would share a few vintage doll quilts that I have. I didn’t make any of these. This first one used to live at my sweet MILs house. At one time or another, one of my kids brought it home to cover a stuffed animal. I have no idea who made it. It is entirely made of feed sacks.

Hubby bought this one for me at an antique show. It is so sweet!

And this one Daughter #3 picked up for me at an estate sale. I love the fan quilting.

Actually, I love everything about it! This last one is a two for one. This is the front:

And this is the back:

How cool is that?

Have a great day!

Posted in Doll Quilts, Throwback Thursday, Uncategorized, Vintage Quilts | 6 Comments

A Little, Wonky Finish

Posted on August 8, 2018 by katyquilts

While sorting stuff in the sewing room, I found the pattern I used for the flag in this little quilt . I gave that one away so I decided to make another.

I even found enough HST blocks laying around to complete the top! I loved it at this point.

I started quilting and things didn’t look quite right. Of course, I forged ahead anyway. See how my flag waves?

Yep, that’s bad. I got all done and realized when I went to put the binding on that I never put the walking foot on my machine! Good grief! Apparently, I’m not spending enough time in my sewing room!

Daughter #3 picked up this lovely backing fabric for me at a garage sale.

People always say I shouldn’t share my mistakes. But I think it gives others permission to be themselves and share their work, even if it isn’t perfect. I put this on an end table in my family room. I’ll set my coffee cup on it. It’s still useable. I value good workmanship, but things don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful or useful.

I do wish I could blame this on pain meds though…..

Have a great day!

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Doll Quilts, Finishes, Uncategorized | 14 Comments

This and That Tuesday

Posted on August 7, 2018 by katyquilts

Alycia is collecting blocks for Quilts of Valor in honor of a friend who recently passed away. I put a couple together to send. You can find details here if you would like to make some too.

I listened to this while working on them. It’s a short novella, but I enjoyed it. I think most book lovers would.

Notice anything different from the first picture to the second? Both were taken on the same day.

I hate to lose a tree, but a big one had to go. I’m still trying to get used to the change.

My sister and I saw this the other day. The entire vehicle was covered in duct tape!

You’ve seen this quilt before. It will finally go to E3 this week. I waited to give it until I could make the label.

Hand sewing this label on was easier than the handwriting on it! Kind of messy, but it will have to do.

Have a great day!

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Snow Balls in August

Posted on August 6, 2018 by katyquilts

I’ve been wanting to make another snowball quilt ever since I finished this one. I started cutting with this layer cake.

I’m using this die from Accuquilt . I’m thankful every day for my die cutter. Even though I can’t use my rotary cutter much yet, I can still cut quilt pieces!

I’ve started a project box for this as it will be a long term project.

The scraps left from cutting the snowball pieces were cut for other projects I have going so there was very little waste. I have 2 by 3 1/2 inch rectangles, 2 1/2 inch squares, 1 1/2 inch squares, and those little triangles are about to be cut with this die.

I have a few more layer cakes from different lines set out to dice up next.

Have a great day!

Linking up with Love Laugh Quilt

This post contains affiliate links.

Posted in Accuquilt, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Antique Shopping!

Posted on August 5, 2018 by katyquilts

My sister was here visiting this past week. We had a great time shopping thrift stores, outlets, and antique shops. Here are a few of the quilty things I found.

This doll quilt almost came home with me. It was fabulous!

This pillow was a thrift shop find that had to come home with me. My grandma had orange pillows like this. It’s a bit faded, but goes well in my family room. I also have to make another like this! I found a pattern on Etsy so this will happen.

I didn’t have room to fully open this Trip Around the World quilt, but you can see how beautiful it was.

I did bring a couple things home. First, I fell in love with this little quilt. It is about 48 inches squarish!

I really want to recreate this.

It is now hanging in my family room. And you may remember this quilt top that I looked at a few months ago. It still called to me so I had to bring it home as well.

Have a great day!

Posted in Thrifting, Vintage Quilts | 5 Comments