KatyQuilts

Design Wall Monday

Posted on December 15, 2014 by katyquilts

Our family is still here and we are having so much fun! I did steal away for a few minutes to sew yesterday and today though. I have been doing my design work at the frame.

I’m afraid my feathers look more messy than whimsical but I am not ripping them out!

I am practicing free hand continuous curve in the blocks.

Yikes! I need a lot of practice here too! Good thing this quilt is for me!

Check out what others are working on today at Patchwork Times for DWMonday. Also linking up with Modern Traditional Quilts for Keep it Simple, Make it Fun.

Posted in Free Motion Quilting, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Finish It Up Friday

Posted on December 12, 2014 by katyquilts

ETA: I have had many inquiries regarding a pattern for this quilt from those who have found it via Pinterest. I am NOT the author of this pattern. It was from a quilt along hosted by Lori at Humble Quilts. You can check there to see if the pattern is available. I changed mine somewhat, but I am not giving out any measurements or instructions as it is not mine to give. Thank you for your understanding.

This finish is from last week but it is a finish none the less. My Cascadia Mystery quilt, from the QAL hosted by Humble Quilts, is done. All the clues were out before I was done with the first one so I could see where this was headed. As a result, knowing I was short on time, I simplified mine a bit.

These seminole type strips were supposed to have 5 squares across and I used three. The center columns were supposed to be 4 squares across and mine has only two. Here is my version.

I machine quilted this very simply. Here is the back.

Don’t you love that binding fabric? It was a gift from my bloggy friend Kathy at Inspired by Antique Quilts. It is the perfect color/print to go with everything vintage looking. It enhances but never takes away from the whole.

I so appreciate the time and effort that Lori at Humble Quilts puts into her QALs. Thank you, Lori!

I do have some squares left over. Think I will use these as leaders/enders. Who knows what they will become!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it Up Friday, Richard and Tanya Quilts for LAFF, and Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop?

Also linking up with Lori at Humble Quilts for the Cascadia Mystery Finale!

Checking in

Posted on December 11, 2014 by katyquilts

We are having a great time with family this week. Life is a bit crazy with lots of extra people, babies, dogs, jobs, etc. but so very worth all the chaos that ensues! Yesterday morning I got up early and slipped down to the sewing room. I managed to get 6 more of my sawtooth blocks done.

Still no quilting inspiration on this though.

The first holiday puzzle of the season was finished this week.

And we have been having lots of fun with these two little men.

They both move so fast, it is hard to get a good picture!
Sadly, I have to work this morning but I wont complain too much as I will be off at 1.

Linking up with My Quilt Infatuation for NTT.

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Have Yourself a Quilty Little Christmas!

Posted on December 9, 2014 by katyquilts

Since we have family in town, we had our Christmas celebration this past Sunday. My kids know me so very well! #1 Son and Daughter #3 got me an iPad cover made with one of my quilts on it!

It matches the notebook she got me earlier.

And Daughter #1 spoiled me right royally with FIVE Downton Abbey charm packs!

She also got me this FQ bundle of Dear Betty.

Aren’t they beautiful? I am so spoiled!

I’m already using my new iPad cover and thinking up new projects with my new fabric!

Linking up with Connie at Free Motion by the River.

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Busy, Busy

Posted on December 8, 2014 by katyquilts

Too busy for blogging much this week! Spending all my time with family. Baby L is here from Arizona!

Along with his adorable parents.

And Baby E has been here as well.

They’ve been enjoying getting to know each other!
I will be back with quilty content soon!

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Finish it up Friday

Posted on December 5, 2014 by katyquilts

Last Sunday, I finished quilting the last of the Quilts of Valor that I will complete this year. I have three more tops ready for quilting in January safely tucked away. This one was pieced by another quilter from the Stitching Sisters QOV group.

This panto was a bit of a challenge for me! I couldn’t wrap my head around “writing” the words backwards so I ended up working left to right instead of the usual right to left.

Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?, Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday, Richard and Tanya Quilts for Link a Finish Friday.

Posted in Finishes, Quilt of Valor | 9 Comments

Border Decisions

Posted on December 4, 2014 by katyquilts

I said the other day that I wanted to quilt one quilt for myself this month. I really wanted to get the cheddar top quilted but got sidetracked by the needed repairs. Here is another vintage, machine pieced top I considered.

This is one of the tops hubby gave me for Christmas last year. I love this top! It does have some issues as well. A few seams need repair and it doesn’t lay quite flat. I need to come up with a quilting plan that will enhance the top and yet, stay in the background.

Since I had the perfect backing, and this top has aged enough, this is the top that actually ended up in the frame.

But I still don’t have a quilting plan for this either!

I want feathers in the border, but I am not so precise that formal feathers seem a good idea.

I’m hoping inspiration will hit today. I need to get this out of the frame so it is free as soon as Daughter #3’s project is ready to go.

Linking up with My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday and Pretty Bobbins for IQuilt.

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

A fun surprise and and the mystery block….

Posted on December 3, 2014 by katyquilts

Isn’t this awesome?

Daughter #3 surprised me with this early Christmas gift! She took a photo of one of my quilts and had it put on the cover of this notebook. She knows how I love notebooks! Beautiful empty pages, just waiting to be filled….

Here is the quilt:

In case you are interested, she ordered this via Shutterfly.

Knitnkwilt left me a comment yesterday regarding the block pattern in my vintage quilt top. She found the block ( or one very close to it) in this book:

Here is the block in the quilt.

Looks like a pretty close match to me! Thanks, Clare! I wonder if the maker of this top made a mistake in those corners and decided to change he pattern instead of rip. Sounds like something I would do!

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let’s Bee Sewcial.

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Hmmmmm……what to do…..

Posted on December 2, 2014 by katyquilts

I mentioned yesterday that I wanted to quilt one quilt for myself this month. Yesterday, I pulled out the top I was thinking of to take a closer look.

This is a vintage top that I purchased for a whopping $15 a few years back. This top is all machine pieced.

And I think someone was quite proud of her new sewing machine; just look at the detail added to the pieces!

This detail stitching was apparently done before the piecing. I think it is charming, but it does present an issue. How to quilt this without taking away from the stitching? It has taken me a while to come to an answer. I decided a close, all over crosshatch would be a great way to finish this top without taking away from the maker’s design ideas. I absolutely love the cheddar!

In taking a closer look, I discovered it was not quite ready for quilting. The borders have ripples and it would be easier to remove and reattach them than to deal with that in the quilting stage. It also has this:

I am not sure the best way to tackle a repair right here. I hate to just remove this since it has the stitching on it. Any suggestions?

Also, any idea what this block is called? I don’t think I have ever seen this one before.

I know many would cringe at the thought of finishing this vintage top with machine quilting. However, the quilter here clearly loved her machine and used it as much as she could. I think she would approve.

Linking up with Free Motion By the River for Linky Tuesday.

Posted in Uncategorized, Vintage Fabrics | 7 Comments

November Finishes/December Goals

Posted on December 1, 2014 by katyquilts

I never did set goals for November. That might be a good thing. I did finish a few things though. Here is a quick run through.

I finished this baby quilt for Daughter #3 to take to a baby shower.

And I quilted 7 Quilts of Valor:

There really is a seventh one. I will show that later this week. I also started a couple three new projects.

Now onto goals for December. Seems a bit foolish to even make any! But here goes:

1. I want to complete the SQT challenge quilt for December.

2. I want to finish the Cascadia Mystery QAL quilt from Humble Quilts.

3. I want to complete 12 more sawtooth star blocks.

4. I will help Daughter #3 compete her not so secret Christmas gift for her someone kinda special.

5. I want to quilt one quilt for myself. I am not yet sure what it will be. I hope to decide this week and get it in the frame so I can work on it here and there.

Linking up with Lily’s Quilts for Fresh Sewing Day.

Posted in Baby Quilts, Finishes, Goals, Quilt of Valor | 5 Comments