I have a certain weakness for fabric.

Even.....

The Old, The Unusable, The Unwanted.

Maybe especially for the

Old, unusable, unwanted...

This fabric was not ever destined for greatness.

It was used for samples!

(Decorator Samples)

Poor things!

These scraps couldn't even DREAM about

becoming something usable!

But I DREAM.

Yes. I do.

 I added a loose weave cotton/linen like fabric to the back...

without any batting.

I bound it with something shiny...

Who knows what kind of fabric????

I won't use it again!!

I found out it is

NOT USER FRIENDLY.

:/

But....

Again...

It was an OLD unused piece leftover from

someone else's project.

I found out today during my Sunday nap

that this coverlet works perfectly.

Not too heavy...

Not too light....

JUST. RIGHT.!

Three down!

Every year I head-up a project at church.

We like to give the graduating high school seniors a quilt.

Everyone gets a chance to make some blocks.

Today I have three of the FIVE needed ready to go!

I blogged about this blue one already.

Then I was able to get this one quilted this week.

AND bound!!!

;)

 I like this fabric on the back.

Since I was using white thread to quilt it.....

I wanted something that WHITE thread would blend with.

Sometimes you've got to think about THREAD color when you're

choosing fabric for the backing!

I was also able to get this one quilted and bound this week.

I know!!!.....

I can't believe it either!

Part of the reason is the many hands that helped me

PIN this on Wednesday morning!

and....

Of course.....My quilting is on the minimal side!!

;0

I was able to "hobble" the back together with

fabric I have on hand.

THAT's always a blessing in MY book!!!

Three down.

TWO to go!!!!

Pillow Power!

If you can't make a quilt....

 Make a pillowcase!!!!

Or TWO!!!!

These are for a 9 year old boy who just

underwent a FIVE organ TRANSPLANT!!!

Talk about AMAZING!

Even better....

Here's an idea from my friend.....

Make pillowcases for the siblings who are at home and healthy.

They could really use some special attention too!!!!

I used an old pattern that is VERY similar to this one.

I made my accent strip wider though...

Instead of 1 1/2" like some patterns call for...

I cut mine 3"(much LESS fiddly). ;)

Another note about these pillowcases:

Be CAREFUL using directional prints!

I had a VERY hard time figuring out ...

wrapping my brain around....

which way to cut the fabric

so that the horses and cars were going side to side

and not UP AND DOWN!

I'm sure YOU won't have THAT problem though!!!!

;/

Scraps and Strips

This quilt began with that little red square in the middle.

I went ROUND and round.....

strips....blocks....etc...

Kind of a large Log Cabin block...

Hodge Podge style!....

I think it's a FUN kind of baby quilt!

After getting it BIG enough....

I kept going!

I was having fun...

and couldn't stop!!!

After all...

The scraps were Already OUT!!!!

Covering my table...

Covering my FLOOR....

I think you get the picture. ;/

I made some 8" wide blocks....

Any length...

 and then added them all together.

Columns of COLOR!!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

The beginning of ANOTHER quilt!!!

Hmmm....

White sashing???

Still thinking......

As I CLean up the explosion of color

in my sewing AREA!!!!

LOL!

:)

Practical project

While digging through sorting the scraps yesterday I found

a small, already quilted, unfinished project.

I can't even remember WHAT it was for!!!

I cut it up.

Added binding.

Admired my practical project.

and then.....

Had a coffee break with my new

Itsy Bitsy quilts!

Monday

Another baby quilt has been quilted and given!

Woo Hoo!

I thought I'd be mailing this one...

but when I found out the new mommy and baby were in town...

I dropped if off and was able to get a BIG HUG!!!!

Isn't that why YOU quilt???  :0

The babies, weddings and graduations

JUST KEEP comin'!!!!!

And my scrap bin just....

Keeps GROWIN'!!!!!

I tried to do a little sorting last night...

and someone at MY HOUSE

thought it was PICTURE worthy!!!

I don't know....

but.....

I bet there are OTHER people with BIG scrap bins too!

Aren't there?????

LOL!!!!

S.

 Saturday afternoon.

Scraps.

 Slippers.

 Sipping Something Steamy.

Storage?.....Stash?....MESS!!!!

 Scissors.

Still Sewing....

Stay Tuned!

:)

a Good Day

 A good day contains a quilt.

Blocks and strips sewn together with friends.

 I had an idea for the design of this quilt...

and am happy to say the patriotic fabric that I didn't like....

Turned into a pretty GREAT quilt!!!

I figured I could experiment with

a design and not worry about

USING up fabric that I love!

I DID say yesterday that I don't like

matching and measuring...

Well....

Sometimes I DO it anyways!!!

Thankfully this quilt didn't require

too many of those stars!!!

;)

All those 2 1/2" strips filled in nicely.....

Don't you think?

A good day begins with a quilt...

 

And ENDS with tomato basil soup.

A very good day indeed.

Half Log Cabin....FREE STYLE!

I like to make quilt blocks that don't require

a lot of matching or math.

This block suits me.

All it takes is ONE piece of paper (I used a phone book page)

one square (any size) of color.

Strips of color and strips of white varied in width.

I began by cutting my paper foundation to 8 1/2" square.

I set one little square of color in the corner....

making sure it hung off the edge a little bit.

That way.....when you're sewing..... it doesn't accidentally

move in away from the edge!

I added two white strips.

My white strips are NOT ALL THE SAME width.

Neither are the colored strips.

THAT's why this is called a FREE STYLE block. ;)

Press as you add strips.

(Notice the new ironing board cover.)..... ;)

If you're strip is TOO LONG....sew it on...

and then trim.

Don't trim RIGHT next to the edge of the paper.

We'll trim it up when it's ALL DONE!

 Here it is!!!

Notice...

You can end with a white strip on the outside....

or....

You can end with a colored strip...

IT DOESN'T matter!!!!

It IS helpful to make sure your outside strips

are not too SKINNY!

You don't want to LOSE your strip

when piecing the blocks together!

Turn your block over and trim along the edge of your foundation.

You've completed ONE BLOCK!!!

Easy....huh?

Blocks can be arranged like this.

Or like this....

Or...

LIKE THIS!!!

A Free Style quilt!!!!

Mitered border

Success!!!

After finishing up my stars...

I found the perfect border fabric in my stash!

But.....

This border fabric was screaming "miter me!!!"

I hesitated a bit....and then......

I did it!!!!

Since I didn't take pictures of the process...

 I found THIS tutorial to share with you...

It's very close to the way I did mine.

;)

I will NOT be afraid to miter again!

Woo Hoo!!!!

Another TOOL in my quilting belt!

seeing stars

I'd really like to make a couple more stars today.

I'm using some new fun fabric...

and a background of blue that's been in my stash

For.ev.er.

I think the blue is a kind of seersucker.

It has a little dimension to it...

and I like it.

Sooo....

I'd really like to make some more happy stars...

but every time I go to press a seam....

My ironing board cover accuses reminds me.....

It's a hard working part of my quilting...

and...

IT DESERVES a little LOVE TOO!!!!!