A Very Quick Finish!

Posted on August 17, 2018 by katyquilts

I purchased this baby quilt top at a yard sale this summer. Since I’m always needing baby quilts, I decided to get it finished up.

I love the 30s prints. Like my new gloves? These anti vibration gloves were recommended by my doctor to prevent further nerve damage in my hands. I’m supposed to wear them any time I’m using something that causes vibration. So that means when long arming.

I have small hands and these are a bit big. If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate it! The pantograph I used is called Yarn Tangle and it is available from Urban Elementz .

My machine binding is slowly improving. I found this backing fabric in my stash.

I was able to finish this up in no time at all since the top was already done for me! I hope the original maker would be pleased.

Have a great day!

Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict , Busy Hands Quilts , Dizzy Quilts

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Posted in Baby Quilts, Finishes, Pantographs, Uncategorized | 15 Comments

Work on Seven Sisters Begins

Posted on August 16, 2018 by katyquilts

I have decided that this Seven Sisters Top will be my next hand quilting project.

You can probably tell that this top has some issues. Those borders are very friendly. See how much they wave?

And those “corners!” I decided to remove the borders and reapply them.

Look how much longer the borders were than the rest of the top!

That explains things! And this is why you should measure and cut your borders to size. That is my next job.

I do have a cute helper.

She has great taste in quilts.

Have a great day!

Linking up with My Quilt Infatuation

Posted in Vintage Quilts | 14 Comments

One QOV Top Done and Another on the Wall

Posted on August 15, 2018 by katyquilts

I finished this QOV top yesterday and got it loaded on the long arm.

I had four blocks leftover. I decided to see if I could use them with one of the panels I have. I sometimes struggle with panels because they are often not printed straight.

They are also long and narrow.

Looks like I need to make some more blocks.

Have a great day!

Posted in Quilt of Valor | 4 Comments

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