KatyQuilts

Harmony QAL

Posted on April 13, 2013 by katyquilts

Lori over at Humble Quilts has done it again! She is hosting a quick little QAL. I loved the last one and had to jump in. Hers is all done in madder prints and I intended to do the same. However, I had some bits and pieces I cut a few years back and decided to make them work.

As you can see, my triangles in the border were not the correct size. I knew that but they were cut and I decided to use them and whack off the extra ala Gwen Marston. After all, it IS a humble quilt!
Lori has posted part two but that will have to wait until after work. Until next time….

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Doll Quilts | 2 Comments

A productive evening

Posted on April 13, 2013 by katyquilts

I got a fair amount done last night. I’ve been wanting to make a QOV or two using the Take Five die for my studio cutter. I used this on my daughter’s Type quilt and it went together so fast. Usually, the T5Q is made with just 5 fabrics. The die cuts an 8″ square, three 4″ squares, and one 4″ by 8″ rectangle in one pass (finished sizes). I wanted as much variety as possible so I tried to cut from nearly every patriotic fabric I had. Here are my stacks:

I have enough here for two 20 block quilts and one with 12. At the same time, I cut tumblers using my 4″ tumbler die.

I may alternate these with white tumblers like I did in this quilt.
Next I worked on a very old UFO. I made this disappearing 9 patch top as an experiment a few years back. I couldn’t find anything I liked in my stash for a border so I finally decided to add more of the background and call it good. I found some old peach prints in my stash for the backing and got it loaded on the frame.

And last but not least, I worked on a super secret project for a lovely lady across the pond 😄. Here is a sneak peak:

I’ll be working this afternoon, but hopefully, I will get a few more stitches in tonight.
Until next time…

Posted in Accuquilt Studio Cutter, Civil War Repro Quilts, Quilt of Valor | 1 Comment

Swaps!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by katyquilts

This week I haven’t done much sewing. However, I did get back my loot from a couple swaps I participated in. The Small Quilt Talk group exchanged 6″ charms in Civil War Repro fabrics.

And the Quilt of Valor group on Facebook exchanged 12″ blocks.

You never know for sure what you will end up with when you do a swap and you have to decide going in whether that is okay or not. You will get all skill levels participating. Sometimes you need to trim or border blocks. I have been known to take apart and restitch blocks. But I am okay with that! It is fun! There is a camaraderie and the surprise is worth it. I like to send my stuff in way early and then I am delightfully surprised when I get squishies in the mail 😄.
Now I need to figure out what to do with these little bits of loveliness!
Until next time…

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Quilt of Valor | 2 Comments

Hmmmm….. QOV #13 Dilemna

Posted on April 10, 2013 by katyquilts

I have had the following panel to use for a Quilt of Valor for more than a year. I love it but I cannot figure out what to do with it! I thought I had finally come up with something in the right fabrics, but, eh….. Not so much.

Ugh. Back to square one. I do like the ribbon border so maybe I can make a stripy quilt with just those:

Or not.

I like the last two fabrics with the pieced block fabrics but the backgrounds do not match. What to do, what to do? I really wanted to have this top done this week. My goal for the year is to do one QOV for each month and this would be for May. I am still trying to work ahead and get those committments out of the way ahead of the wedding.
Until next time….

Posted in Quilt of Valor | 1 Comment

QOV #12

Posted on April 9, 2013 by katyquilts

I started quilting QOV #12 yesterday morning.

Nothing fancy here, just a basic piano key border and some loopy quilting in the middle.

I am happy with it. No tension problems. I used Glide thread in Khaki. I was able to get it bound and the presentation case made. Today it will get washed and the label added.

Until next time…

Posted in Machine quilting, Quilt of Valor, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Design Wall Monday

Posted on April 8, 2013 by katyquilts

Not much sewing happened over the weekend. I did get the QOV loaded and ready to quilt

I also started throwing some bright triangles up on the design wall. I cut these with my 6″ HST die during my cleaning frenzy a few weeks ago.

I know, I have no business starting something else. This will eventually be a service quilt for our local shelter. I wanted to do something quick so I could practice more quilting using a pantograph pattern.
I am linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times. Click here to see what others are up to.
Lots of non quilting things to do today so I best get moving!
Until next time….

Posted in Accuquilt Studio Cutter, Design Wall Monday, Fresh Modern Quilts, Machine quilting, Quilt of Valor, Service Quilts | 1 Comment

Frame Friday

Posted on April 6, 2013 by katyquilts

I have been a bit frustrated with Barney lately. But armed with some great advice and help from a new online friend (Hi Nancy!), I am trying again! She told me about Glide thread and Magnaglide bobbins. I LOVE them! It has reduced my thread breakage greatly.
Last week I quilted a quilt for QBB and did not have a single thread break. That’s progress!
Yesterday, I spent time practicing. I am still not happy with templates and rulers. I’ve decided to put them away for now. Here are a few shots of my practice. Obviously, I have a LOT to learn.

I am trying to stay away from my standard meander. I did take a run at a pantograph and liked it better than I thought.
I am loading my next QOV this weekend. There is always a risk in learning new things, a balance between trying new things and still ending up with a product you are happy with. I have a few ideas for this next one. We’ll see how it goes.
Until next time….

Posted in Machine quilting | 2 Comments

Contrary Wife

Posted on April 3, 2013 by katyquilts

Here is the final product after washing. It measures 25″ x 25.”

Have a great day!

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Doll Quilts | 5 Comments

What was I thinking? or How Sharpies Saved the Day

Posted on April 3, 2013 by katyquilts

I am working away at my goals for the month. It seems I forgot a big one on the list: taxes. Blech!!!! Maybe my productivity in other areas is a result of trying to ignore the biggie.
Anyway, the April SQT challenge was announced and it is a 4.5″ Contrary Wife block. Make anything you want with this block. I wanted to work with indigos and chrome yellow but don’t have enough of either. So I went the scrappy route yet again.

Thanks to insomnia, I started piecing blocks at 4 AM yesterday. By afternoon, I was piecing borders between loads of laundry.

Not sure about the yellow dots in the corner blocks but I forged ahead. After quilting, I liked them even less! Just didn’t go with the gold.

See how blindingly bright they are? So I got out my drab olive Sharpie and colored them in!

Much better! Here is a pic of the finished quilt before washing

I am MUCH happier with the corner blocks now. This picture is lighter in color than the actual quilt. Maybe spring will come today and I can take some pics outside before work???? Hope springs eternal.

Until next time…

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Doll Quilts, Fabric, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

First thing off the list!

Posted on April 2, 2013 by katyquilts

Yesterday, I posted my goals for April. One of those goals was to finish another quilt for Quilts Beyond Borders and to get all 5 shipped. I did it! Here is the last of the 5 quilts I sent. This one I pieced in March.

And here is a picture of the last top that I quilted for QBB.

I also got all the quilts for QBB shipped. So I can scratch that off the list as well!

Until next time….

Posted in Fresh Modern Quilts, Modern Quilts, Service Quilts | 1 Comment