KatyQuilts

Nearing the QOV finish line!

Posted on November 26, 2013 by katyquilts

I got the QOV quilted yesterday and hope to get it bound before work today.

I used Glide thread in the borders, Superior’s monopoly in the center, and Superior’s Bottom Line in the bobbin. I am out of Magna Glide bobbins so I have been winding my own with Bottom Lone and so far, so good!

I did an all over teacup in the center, except for the Army seal in the center, and used my Handi Quilter Swag set to create the border design. I need to do labels and presentation cases yet this week and then I will be done with QOVs until February. I love making them but I need to make some Christmas gifts. Also, January will be reserved for me and the quilts I want to make. Sounds pretty selfish, doesn’t it?

I need to get a label on the Star QOV as my state coordinator will be presenting it this weekend. I purchased a panel of labels and this is the last one left.

I also picked up a couple flannel remnants for burp cloths and a big bit of fleece to make a dog bed for one of the grand dogs.

I am linking up with Connie for Linky Tuesday. Check out what others are up to today.

Posted in HQ Avante, Quilt of Valor, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Design Frame Monday?

Posted on November 25, 2013 by katyquilts

My designing today will happen at the frame as I try to finish this QOV.

I finished my two little UFOs for the SQT November challenge yesterday. Here is the one I can show you:

The pieces are pretty small!

I will show you the other one after my swap partner receives it. I am linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.

Now I am off to the grocery store before the crowds descend!

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Slow Stitching Sunday

Posted on November 24, 2013 by katyquilts

The Small Quilt Talk yahoo group decided that our November challenge would be to finish a UFO. I have two small ones that have been bugging me. Remember this one?

In analyzing why I couldn’t bring myself to finish this, I realized that I hate the background. If you will recall, I redid the background once already. Today I came across a fabric that I could be happy with so I took it apart again.

So this afternoon I will hand appliqué this down for the third time!

I have another little hand pieced top that I machine quilted after church today. I will hand stitch the binding today.

I can’t show you the front as I have devil used this will be a gift for my Secret Santa Swap partner for the SQT group.

I am linking up with Kathy at Kathy Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday.

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Doll Quilts, Hand piecing, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Good Morning Sunday!

Posted on November 24, 2013 by katyquilts

I couldn’t sleep so I got up early to have coffee with Jesus and then get a little sewing in.

Are you sick of this quilt yet?

I admit, I am getting there! I am ready to sew something that is not red, white, and blue for a while. But I will push through, add borders, and hope to get this in the frame today.

It was frigid for the parade yesterday!

The theme was Christmas around the world.

Have a glorious Sunday!

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Super Saturday!

Posted on November 23, 2013 by katyquilts

At least I hope it is super! And I hope it warms up! This morning I will be walking in our town’s annual Pride Parade representing the library. The forecast shows a high of 30 degrees. Yikes!

I did get a little sewing done. I finished piecing the center of this QOV. I need to decide what to add to make it 12″ longer than it is wide.

I will add a 6″ border after that.

While thrifting with my daughters, I found this fun set of apple pottery dishes.

And last but not least, today I received a prize I won from the Blogger’s Quilt Festival. A set of Aurifil thread!

Isn’t it beautiful? I have never used Aurifil before but I have heard wonderful things about it. I can’t resist one last shot just because it is so pretty!

Have a great day!

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

TGIF!

Posted on November 22, 2013 by katyquilts

So much for great plans of lots of sewing! I did get my triangles pieced and pressed and thrown up in the wall.

This QOV will go to one of the Army vet brothers that served in Iraq. I wanted it to be similar bit different. Most if the fabrics are the same but I am NOT using the same red! This is a bit too bright for my taste but it is what it is.

I was going to spend the day sewing this top together but I am going to spend it with my daughters instead. Some things are just more important! I love my girls and just wish the other two could be here also. I miss them!

Have a wonderful Friday and hug your kids!

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Thankful Thursday Finish

Posted on November 21, 2013 by katyquilts

I am thankful this quilt was finished….and salvaged!

I prewashed all my fabrics and have used this red before so I didn’t expect a disaster yesterday. Sadly, the red ran onto the white background fabric. I used color catchers and they turned out like this!

I washed the quilt a total of three times. I added this to the second and third washes along with more color catchers.

Normally I use the original blue Dawn but I was all out. You have to be careful using this in a front load washer and only add a tablespoon or so. It finally worked! I am not much for name brand stuff but Dawn is the best for so many stains. I also use it when washing out hand dyed fabric as it can keep the dye from resettling on the fabric in places you don’t want it!

Relief! It came out.

No Army veteran wants a pink quilt!

And here are a few more shots. I have been playing with settings on my iPhone camera and wanted to know how they look on the blog.

Okay, so they are all bad when taken at 5 in the morning! I will try again later today when the sun comes out….I hope that happens…..

Anyway, a shot of the back.

Gemma talked on her blog today about forgiving quilting patterns. She quilts with a domestic machine and I quilt with a mid-arm machine but the same principles work for both in this regard. There are times when even a frame can not remove the lumps and bumps in a quilt top. This top was pretty flat but the swag border is very forgiving as are many other “swooping” type designs. Curves can help you take advantage of the bias in the fabric to help tame some of the lumps and bumps. Meandering is a good go to for particularly rebellious tops, and believe me, I have seen them!

I am linking up with Kelly for Needle and Thread Thursday and Gemma at Pretty Bobbins.

Also Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict for:
https://katyquilts.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/thankful-thursday-finish/

Because that is exactly how I feel after getting the red out!

Posted in Machine quilting, Quilt of Valor, Uncategorized | 17 Comments

Work in Progress Wednesday

Posted on November 20, 2013 by katyquilts

I have been working away at quilting this QOV and hope to finish the quilting before work today.

I also washed the rest of the fabric for the next QOV and hope to finish cutting pieces for the center of the medallion before work too.

Now I need to get to work to “make it sew!”

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

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A finish and an oldie

Posted on November 19, 2013 by katyquilts

First, the finish. I bound, washed, and dried the 16 patch yesterday. Sadly, the weather is too nasty to take pictures outside. These will have to do.

The panto I used is called Airborne by Barbara Becker and was purchased through Digi-Tech.

While I was getting ready for company, I found this quilt that I made for Daughter #1 long, long ago! Sorry for the bad picture.

I made all the little Sues with vintage fabrics. She took it home with her when she came to visit last night and was quite pleased to see it again. Perhaps she will have a little girl who will use it some day.

I am linking up with Connie at Free Motion By the River.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Design Wall Monday – Late Edition

Posted on November 18, 2013 by katyquilts

I started working on the second QOV for a pair of brothers that both served in the Army in Iraq.

Obviously, this is not the whole quilt but I got the idea for this layout from Mary over at Making Scrap Quilts from Stash. Mary makes MANY MANY MANY quilts to give away through her organization called Heart Strings. She is also very generous with ideas and free patterns. If you haven’t seen her blog yet, you are in for a treat!

I also got the first one in the frame and I started quilting it.

I haven’t yet decided how I will quilt the hour glass blocks. Maybe I will dream something up while I am sleeping tonight!

I would really love to get both of these QOVs all finished before Thanksgiving. I need to start working on some Christmas gifts but feel like I need to get these out of the way first.

I am linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times for DWM.

Posted in Design Wall Monday, HQ Avante, Quilt of Valor, Uncategorized | Leave a comment