Monday Making

This week I hope to add a border to ALL these scraps!

Wonder what color it will be??

I could choose almost ANY color

and it would WORK!

;)

This quilt uses a lot of older fabrics...

and to me, it looks like it belongs in a cabin somewhere.

The quilt block I used is called a

HALF log cabin.

I had some leftover blocks from a class I took

a LONG time ago.

One thing led to another...

I began making more blocks

and NOW there's almost a QUILT!!!!

What are YOU making???

Sewing day

Aren't they pretty?

Half log cabin blocks with scrappy blues and greens.

I had fun sewing with the church ladies on Saturday.

The blocks ADD UP FAST when there are MULTIPLE machines going!!

In my last post I mentioned we'd be paper piecing these.

Some liked the paper piecing method...

some did not.

 

 Goes to show.....different strokes for different folks!

The old saying holds true for sewing, doesn't it?

Isn't that WHY we all like quilting???

So MANY options!!!

So MANY WAYS of doing it!!!

No hard and fast RULES!!!!

;)

Yep.

We had fun sewing together.

 

I think I need to schedule this kind of day More OFTEN!!!!

Paper piecing

I'm sewing with the "church ladies" tomorrow.

:)

Here's the sample block.

We'll be making a few quilts for High school graduates.

We do it EVERY year!

The block is simple.

Perfect for the newbie sewer.

8" square of phone book paper.

One square 2 1/2" or so placed in the corner.

I place mine slightly OFF the paper....

Just IN CASE it shifts in and doesn't cover the paper.

 

LOTS of strips of fabric.

LOTS of scraps....

added Half LOG cabin STYLE.

:)

 

I'm looking forward to a GREAT morning!!!

In OTHER  news....

One thing led to ANOTHER

and I found myself making another KNITTED cap this week.

 

I had the yarn.

My son has winter camp this weekend.

It HAD to be done!!!!

I finished it 1 hour before the kids left.

Whew!!!!

 

Things I learned while making my SECOND knitted project.

*using variegated yarn is helpful to the NEW knitter.
you can easily see the rows of stitches and figure out WHERE you ARE!

*Adult sized caps take quite a bit LONGER than baby caps.

*GOOD quality needles are SOoooo much better than the cheap ones.

They say.... QUALITY is the BEST value.

It's certainly true about knitting needles.

;)

 

Have a GREAT weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday

A finish!!!

It's even quilted!!!

I had fun digging around here for the "right" colors!

Does your sewing area get as MESSY as mine

when this is going on????

EEEK!!!!!!

 

It was nice

because the scraps did NOT have to be

any CERTAIN size.

Skinny and fat strips together

make a

VERY pretty quilt!!!

 

I did my ol' standby swirly lines for quilting......

 

Added some binding

(from some old fabric that I LOVE!

It's so dainty and sweet...

JUST like the bride!)

 

And next....

 

I'm going to sit down with a NICE HOT cup of COFFEE

and sew that binding down

on the back!!!

 

Wedding shower for friend is Saturday.

I'll get it done

JUST in time!!!

 

 

 

Free piecing on Friday

It's Friday.

;)

 

I'm beginning a quilt!!!

I love beginnings.

This time I'm FREE piecing.

Here are my first THREE blocks.

 

It's easy to free piece.

It begins with pulling scraps.

If they look good all piled up on your table....

Then they will look GOOD in your quilt!!!

 

That's MY theory.

 

I try to get some contrast as I move out strip by strip.

Sometimes there's a LOT of contrast when white is added...

sometimes there's not much contrast at all.

 

The only thing I'm aiming for is...

2 blocks with a LIGHT center.

(half log cabin block)

and....

 

2 blocks with a DARK brown center.

Put 'em together...

and what do you get????

 

A funny four patch in the middle

and some happy scraps...

because THEY found a HOME!

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Do some FREE piecing....

and WATCH!

Your pile of lonely scraps will become a QUILT!

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!!!!