KatyQuilts

Work in Progress Wednesday

Posted on October 23, 2013 by katyquilts

Not much time today but this is what is in progress in my sewing room.

Finally got this loaded. Hope to get it quilted yet this week. Good thing too, since NBC aired a story on QOV, requests have been pouring in!
I am also thinking ahead to two more QOVs using these panels.

I will use one panel in the center of each and these quilts will go to two brothers that served in Iraq.
Wonderful hubby bought me a huge new monitor for my sewing room! I can get EQ and my embroidery software up at the same time.

I haven’t used my Embroidery machine in a while so I am stitching some samples to get back in the groove.

I’ll be linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

Posted in Machine Embroidery, Quilt of Valor | 2 Comments

Productivity

Posted on October 22, 2013 by katyquilts

I am making good headway on my list of goals for the week. I finished the presentation cases for the QOVs and got them both shipped off.

I also got my hat for a sailor mailed out.

I chose the red star border for my current QOV and finished the top.

I hope to get this loaded on the frame before work.
I spent some time cleaning up scraps. I cut all my red, white, and blue bits into useable pieces with my die cutter and discarded the trimmings.

I did end up with a box of strings that I kept. I like string quilts, just not sure I want to make one!
I even pulled out this hexie project and added one row.

Then I noticed this:

Ugh! Oh well. It is staying. Apparently I need to do some more cutting for variety.
I cleaned and oiled my Featherweight before calling it a day.

I have gotten a lot done sewing wise lately and there is a reason for it. I’ve had a bad case of itchy hives for over a week now. Shots and meds have not helped. It has prevented me from getting much sleep and sewing has been a great distraction from the itchies. I do not recommend this course of action for boosting productivity! LOL!

Here’s to making the best of a bad situation! Have a great day!

Posted in Accuquilt Studio Cutter, Hexagons, Life, Quilt of Valor, Scraps | 3 Comments

Coffee Cup Quilt

Posted on October 21, 2013 by katyquilts

Kathy Tracey shared a photo of a coffee cup quilt that hangs in her husbands office building. She visited a quilt guild in Michigan and was able to speak with some of those that helped make it years before! It is a great story and you can see a picture and read about it in her blog, A Sentimental Quilter.

It reminded me of my own coffee cup quilt. I appliqued my blocks VERY early on in my quilting journey. I found the pattern in this book published in 1983:

I really had no idea what I was doing. I completed only 9 blocks and set them in a box. They were not well done enough to finish but I put too much work in to just throw them away! Fast forward about ten years and we were living in France. I pulled the blocks out, despairing that none were centered or ever would be. So I decided to make them intentionally wonky and set them into a top.

I was pretty new to machine quilting then and figured I had nothing to lose practicing on this top.

It is fun to look at this now! I have learned a lot since making this but I do love it now. In the border I quilted the words to a little song my kids made up for me. It says:

Coffee, coffee
Oh I love my coffee
Can’t go to sleep
Because I drank all the coffee!

They used to sing this to me to the tune of a Veggie Tales song. Such great memories! I think it is time to hang this one up again.

Do you have any coffee quilts?

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments

Design Wall Monday

Posted on October 21, 2013 by katyquilts

I had quite a productive day in the sewing room yesterday. It felt good. First, I got the center of my QOV pieced and auditioned borders.

Before church, I finished my hat for a USNavy sailor.

This is the yarn I used:

It was very generously given to me by Aunt Marti of 52 Quilts fame. If you have never visited her blog, you are in for a treat! My hat is packaged and ready to mail off today.

I also got my little “Faithful” quilt from the Humble Quilts QAL finished.

As you can see from the photo of the back, it is very simply quilted. Nothing fancy to compete with the piecing.

I labeled the two QOVs that I need to ship this week while watching a movie with my hubby. As soon as I get the presentation cases made, they will be ready to go.

And just for fun, our church has been having silly dress up days. Today was Dress up Like a Rock Star day. Here is a pic of hubby and me.

He makes a great ZZ Topp, no?
LOL!

I am linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday and Marelize at:

Also Elizabeth at:

Have a great day!

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Design Wall Monday, Doll Quilts, Knitting, Quilt of Valor | 8 Comments

Sunday Morning in Michigan

Posted on October 20, 2013 by katyquilts

I got my sashing cut and my rows sewn for my current QOV yesterday morning.

My hubby helped me to figure out how to scan fabrics into EQ7 also. This will be great for larger print fabrics.

We did some shopping and came home to watch the Tigers game. Sadly they lost to Boston who played a great game. I did make good progress on my hat for a sailor.

Two more rounds and I will be ready to start decreases. It looks long and skinny because it is all rib knit. This will make it very stretchy and accommodate more head sizes. It is long because it is intended to be rolled to a double layer over the ears.

I have been thinking of all I need to accomplish this week. I need to go back to list making! This week, I want to:
1. Finish the sailor hat.
2. Label, make presentation cases, and ship two QOVs.
3. Finish current QOV top.
4. Quilt current QOV top.
5. Quilt and bind my Faithful quilt from the Humble Quilts QAL.

I am not sure I can do all this, but I sure am going to try!

And I will leave you with some pictures of Michigan in the fall. God is the most amazing artist of all!

Posted in Goals, Knitting, Quilt of Valor | 2 Comments

Quilts Beyond Borders

Posted on October 19, 2013 by katyquilts

Just a quick post here…I see that an online friend, Deb, and I have quilts featured on the Quilts Beyond Borders blog. I found out that this last batch that I quilted for them will be headed to Syria. You can read the post and learn more about Quilts Beyond Borders here.

You can find Deb’s blog here. Her blog has a WEALTH of information on long arm quilting. I have learned SO much from Deb. Her quilts are lovely and she is one of the most helpful people I have “met” online!

And because no blog can be posted without pictures, here are a few from my QBB files.

Posted in HQ Avante, Quilts Beyond Borders | 2 Comments

Weekend Edition

Posted on October 19, 2013 by katyquilts

I am really bad at coming up with blog titles! Today is the first Saturday in a long time that I have not had to work. It feels good! This is what I worked last night.
First I finished the last border for the QAL Lori is hosting at Humble Quilts.

I got a little further on my hat for a sailor.

I finished the last two QOV blocks for this set.

And I got EQ7 loaded and spent some time playing with that and watching tutorials. Here is a quick shot if a quilt designed with paper foundation pieced blocks that are preloaded into the program.

This morning, wonderful hubby made me breakfast.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Doll Quilts, EQ7, Knitting, Quilt of Valor | 4 Comments

Hobby Quilter Pics

Posted on October 18, 2013 by katyquilts

This post will not interest most of you. I have a few people that are interested in buying this machine and have asked for more pictures. I thought it would be easier to post the pics here than to e-mail them all.

The original post with sales details can be found under my Sewing Things for Sale tab at the top of this page.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Friday!

Posted on October 18, 2013 by katyquilts

What a busy week! I have made progress on my QOV blocks. I am up to 18 now and I really like them.

One of my biggest concerns with getting a die cutter was the waste of fabric. Here is the wast from cutting a bunch of triangles.

Yeah, I can live with that. Especially since it improves accuracy so much.

Here is my little sewing friend and her finished tote at. She did a great job!

My wonderful hubby not only set me up with a new computer this week, he also ordered this for me!

Yep, I know, I am totally spoiled!

No time to play with it yet but I will this weekend! And lastly my hat for a sailor is making slow progress as well.

Now, I am off to work! Happy Friday everyone!

BTW, I am linking up with Sarah for:

Posted in Accuquilt Studio Cutter, Quilt of Valor | 4 Comments

Needle and Thread Thursday

Posted on October 17, 2013 by katyquilts

Only time for a quick post as I have a very busy day ahead. Here are some QOV blocks I have been working on.

They are 10″ finished and all bits are cut with my studio cutter. I love that thing!

I was accumulating quite a pile of red, white, and blue scraps and thought this looked like a great scrap pattern. I will make 20 blocks and sash them with a navy solid.
I hope to get these hand sewn to a couple finished QOVs today also.

I work this morning, have my sewing time with my young friend this afternoon, and Life group for church tonight.

Time to get moving!

BTW, I am linking up with Kelly for Needle and Thread Thursday. Check out what others are working on.

Posted in Accuquilt Studio Cutter, Quilt of Valor | 3 Comments