KatyQuilts

Frame Friday and SQT Challenge

Posted on July 12, 2013 by katyquilts

No sewing yesterday :(. However, I do have this on the frame. It has been there since Wednesday but still haven’t been able to decide how to quilt it, Even my little chicken scratches haven’t helped!

I can’t decide what to put here:

I really want feathers in that white space but I can’t figure out how to resolve the corners. Since I am pretty much a rookie at feathers, this is not something I can do off the cuff. Part of the challenge is that what I want to do and what I have the skills for are not one and the same…..yet!

Maybe something brilliant will pop into my head while I am at work this afternoon….I really want to present this QOV to my co-workers husband by the end of July. I have an order of thread from Superior coming tomorrow. I am going to try using a low sheen monopoly for stitch in the ditch work on this.

The challenge for the Small Quilt Talk Yahoo group is a lovely little bowtie quilt patterned by Marian. She has a wonderful blog you can see here. The bowtie blocks for the challenge are 2 1/2″ finished. I was thinking about starting this and was reminded that I had some little bowtie blocks from a few years ago that I had started. I pulled them out and realized they are 3 1/2″ finished. Part of the challenge was to use poison green, which I love, and yellow. My blocks have a similar green but not yellow. I have decided I will make a few more of these blocks and finish by setting them as Marian did. it just doesn’t make sense to start over when I have these done and just sitting there. It will be my personal challenge to “make it work”, to quote Tim Gunn.

Off to the library for the day job!

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Doll Quilts, Hand piecing, HQ Avante, Machine quilting, Quilt of Valor | 1 Comment

My Antique Quilt!

Posted on July 11, 2013 by katyquilts

I showed a sneak peak of the quilt I bought when we were up north last week. I have more pics to share with you today.

The hand quilting in this picture looks like cross hatching but it is a thallus very tiny clamshells.

The binding appears to have piping but it is now the same color as the background, binding, and backing.

This block seems to be very similar to the one Lori at Humble Quilts is using for her Christmas quilt. This was tagged as a “cutter” quilt but I fell in love with it. I think it looks great in my guest room! I paid all of $29 for this beauty and I think it was worth every penny.

If only it could tell me it’s history….

Posted in Hand quilting, Vintage Quilts | 5 Comments

Work in Progress Wednesday

Posted on July 10, 2013 by katyquilts

I finished piecing the last quarter of the BB before work yesterday. I took pics and printed them out so I could figure out where the stars for the last quarter should be.

I need to buy fabric before I go any further so this is on hold for the time being.
I woke up early and prepped and loaded the backing for this QOV.

I am having a terrible time trying to decide how to quilt it. So I started doing this.

I am really happy with this top and I don’t want to mess up the quilting. I may photocopy this and doodle for a while. BTW, loading the backing with my new system that I talked about here, went quicker this time. I think I am really going to like this!

Time to order fabric, plan dinner, do some housework and get ready for the day job.
I love seeing Works in Progress (WIPs) and you can see more of them here at Freshly Pieced.
That reminds me of a fave verse:
And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Phil. 1:6

Posted in Bed Quilts, HQ Avante, Machine quilting, Quilt of Valor, Quilting Designs | 3 Comments

The Batik Behemoth

Posted on July 9, 2013 by katyquilts

AKA BB for short. I made pretty good progress yesterday. I really appreciate all the comments and suggestions. After considering it all, I have decided to add 5″ borders and keep the center to 100 blocks. I am working the top in 25 block quarters. My house is a decent size but I do not have the space to lay everything out. This makes placing the stars a bit difficult. Here are two of the quarters I have pieced so far.

And here is the next section that I hope to get together today before work:

The color in these pics is pretty true, just slightly faded. I need to find border, binding, and backing fabric yet. Based on Vicki’s comment, I decided to go with a blend for the batting. I have Hobb’s 80/20 on hand so that may be it.

Until next time…

Posted in Bed Quilts, Fabric | 3 Comments

Design Wall Monday

Posted on July 8, 2013 by katyquilts

I have 61 blocks done in the Batik Behemoth quilt. Here are a few on the design wall.

And the rest of the finished blocks so far.

Here is my current work station with block kits laid out in the lower left of the picture.

I am trying to decide if I want to make 121 blocks and go without a border or make 100 blocks and add a 5″ border. I think my MIL prefers a border but that would require more fabric shopping. I also need to purchase fabric for the binding and backing. She said she would prefer a poly batting. Any recommendations? I only use it for service quilts and a low loft at that. She would like a higher loft.

I hope to get the background blocks finished today and figure out where I want the stars placed.

I linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times for DWM.

Posted in Bed Quilts, Design Wall Monday, Fabric | 4 Comments

Sunday

Posted on July 7, 2013 by katyquilts

Bless the Lord, all his works: in every place of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul. (Psalm 102:22 CPDV)

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

On your mark, get set, sew!

Posted on July 6, 2013 by katyquilts

And so it begins….

I cut just under a million strips from batiks last week for my MILs king sized quilt. She has called to inquire about my progress so I decided I could put it off no longer. It is time to ~~peace out~~ I mean piece out.

I am using one of my fave machines for piecing this behemoth, my 1955 Singer 201. She is smooth as silk.

For this quilt, I am piecing a “background” of rail fence type blocks. After I decide on the layout of these blocks, I will go back and add a scattering of stars.

I have 22 blocks pieced…..only about 100 to go….

Posted in Bed Quilts, Modern Quilts | 3 Comments

Sewing on the 4th

Posted on July 5, 2013 by katyquilts

Yesterday, I HAD to sew! I started out using the Old Glory mini charm pack to make this little quilt.

I loved this Repro print for the back!
I also put together a quick top to go with the backing I loaded on the frame last weekend. This is an set line of fabric from Connecting Threads.

I put on the ruler base and used a 7″ circle template to make the curves in the small blocks. I used the same template to create the spine for the feathered wreathes. I free handed the feathers. This was my first time using these techniques.

I am pretty happy with how it turned out. I want to freehand am all over feather but haven’t gotten that brave yet!

Posted in Baby Quilts, Doll Quilts, HQ Avante, Machine quilting | 8 Comments

Yarn and Yarn Bombing and the 4th of July

Posted on July 4, 2013 by katyquilts

While DH and I were up in Traverse City, we found a lovely yarn shop. Sadly, I cannot remember what it is called! The color in there was luscious. And what did I buy?

Um….yeah…… But fear not! I saw this yarn as a opportunity to play twice! I always wanted to try dyeing yarn and now I will. I love dyeing fabric so why not yarn? Can’t wait to make my own self-striping yarn. Outside the store, we found evidence of yarn bombing.

How fun is that? I did a little bit of knitting on the trip. I finished the foot on one sock. Yep, that is all folks! Too much to look at while driving and finding this set of books along the way didn’t help my productivity.

We got home last night. Today is the 4th of July, a time to celebrate the US of A and to once again give thanks to God and our servicemen and women who keep us safe and free.