Quilted Placemats

Another WIP complete!  I have completed a practice project started 2 years ago.  I had gone to a class for free hand quilting and started a project to make some placemats, to practice my new learned skill.  I chose fabric that would go with the kitchen decor.  I completed the quilting almost a year ago but had never bound the mats.  Since I now have a pushing reason to learn how to bind off a quilt.....I found a nice tutorial video on the web from Leah Day(www.youtube.com/watch?v=wprg5vzkuGw) and the binding is complete.  I did a very tight meander free hand quilting, using some large fruit embroidery patterns from Embroidery Library.com.  The color scheme of yellow/red would have gone very well with the kitchen decor on the day the project began.

Sad to say, the kitchen  is in the throws of a major renovation and this color combination will probably not work any more.  I have not made the final choices for color.....but at this time, I am moving away from yellow.

The push to learn the quilt binding technique is shown below.  Also another WIP from 2 years ago.  Julie's quilt top is complete.  The backing has been put together and it is now time to quilt and bind.  I have practiced the techniqe of binding and I am now ready.

I am going to meet with Cheri Weber, quiltedbird, in Tupelo next week to discuss the quilting.  Plan is to have this ready for Christmas. I am very excited about it. 

I have take time off from sewing clothes for several months to complete many dream projects that I have started/planned over the years.  These are 2 of many WIP's moving off the shelf.  Will keep moving on to clean the shelves.  Have more thoughts in my head.....but will not allow new project starts until some are complete.

Surprise! Surprise!

I have, over the years, started many sweaters both in crochet and knitting but never completed them.
While we were in Texas in July, I purchased the yarn for a sweater and it is finally complete.  It was a pattern from Interweave Crochet, Spring 2011.

I hope that it will fit Ally, my 2 year old granddaughter.  Since I am not an accomplished needleworker, so whoever it fits, gets the sweater.

Maybe the next one will be more planned, and sized accordingly.

Still learning, but it was satisfying to complete a crochet project.

Surprise coming soon

I have not posted in a very long time.  Work has consumed my time for the whole year.  I took August to go back to a project started nearly 2 years ago.  This is the quilt for my daughter-in-law, Julie.

Here is the progress, I have just a little left to do on the borders and then I will begin to put the batting and backing together.

These are not very good pictures. but I am very excited about this project.  This is only the second quilt top to ever piece.  I have never quilted one, and I am not sure that I will get this done.  It is large enough to be a queen bed coverlet.  I am going to try something smaller on machine quilting before I attempt this.

Easter

Easter came and I did get the sewing completed on time.  It has been a push. Working has been long and arduous this spring.  And looks like there will not be a letup any time soon.  I have not had time to even read many of your post that I enjoy so much.

I will share some of the pictures and hopefully I can get back to posting more regularly.

Lola's was a Sew Beautiful pattern.  She selected the white fabric from the stash and the pattern from the drawer.  Angela(Mom) was not thrilled but said, "Nana see what you can find to highlight it and work your magic."  Below is what we have and I think everyone was well pleased.

Julian's was a pattern from an older Ottobre magazine.  If you haven't taken a look at those, you might be surprised.  They have some really nice, different patterns for little boys.  Something that is hard to find.

  He looked really "dapper" in his blue linen.

I did not make Nora Ruth and Allie's easter dresses but did monogram these little Just Blanks for them to wear to the Easter Egg Hunt and their church.

This is Allie and her dad Clif(my youngest)

Becky and Nora Ruth below, I think that Becky purchased the girl's dresses off of Etsy.  They were very cute little paint splash prints.

Lola and Julian with my Mom, with David, my hubby in the background.

I have made about 6 pairs of shorts for Nora and Allie out of scraps just for playtime.  I am going through my stash and anything that is large enough for shorts, the kids are getting.  Trying to use up the left overs before they get too large to use them.  I have a stack set aside for Lola and Julian that I will get busy on this week.

Hope you all had a great Easter and were able to celebrate our eternal hope with the ones you love.

Hooray!!

I must share with my friends the excitement we had today.  Many of you may not know that my grandson Julian has cerebral palsy.  He will be 5 years old on March 12.  He cannot walk unassisted and he has not been successful with knowing and being able to relate to others when he needs to potty.  Today he hit a large milestone in his development.  He made his first complete day at school, in "big boy" britches.  He did not wear a diaper! Little things like this are tremendous development advances.  Yea!! Julian.

Now on to sewing projects.  January and February, I designated to do something different other than clothes for the grandchildren.  I seem to have a hard time focusing on a project to completion.  I changed from the quilt for Julie to a quilt for me.  This was to be a "quick" project.  But, I never do anything simple, I can always add more.

This quilt is quilted as you go.  The circles are put together in this order:
layer 1 is the batting,                      
                         
Layer 2 is the quilt back place face out.

layer 3 is the quilt front turned face down on the back.

Sew the complete circle, then cut a slit in the front fabric to turn the circle.

I am running an embroidery pattern in the center of each circle, using the same thread both upper and bobbin threads.  Therefore the quilt will be reversible.

Then you begin to sew the circled together.

The ears that fold back will be tacked down and as 4 circles are connected a flower design will form.  I do have all the circles sewn, just have not completed the embroidery.

My next project was to tackle making a shirt for myself.  I have not been successful making me clothes in 15 years.  I chose a NEW Look Pattern that has some fullness, therefore I just need to fit the shoulders and underarms now and will deal with the hipline on other things when I get this mastered again.

The fabric was from the existhing stash, a soft poly-cotton plaid.
The yoke is cut on the bias, pleated giving a little change in the pattern.

I am getting close to fitting time.

If this turns out wearable, I will model for you.

On to the machine for progress.

Winter Continues

Last weekend was a delightful break from the winter 'humdrum'.  Temps were in the 70's and David and I enjoyed the time to work outside and get some fresh air.  We did not get the complete yard clean but we made progress.  But, the work week brought another round of wintery weather.  Mississippi had cold, wet, icy weather as much of America received another blanket of snow. 

But, on Tuesday, Puxatawny(?) Phil did pop out and say that Spring is just around the bend.

I did complete the final winter clothing sewing about 2 weeks ago.  There were some corduroy pants and applique tops for NR and Allie.  This was another project that had to be completed because if not, there would not be "enough".  I purchase too many fabrics and the children grow too fast.  This little 'heart' print will be cute for Valentine's.

After the clothing was complete, I moved on to a project that was conceived over a year ago.  Thanksgiving 2009.

I had promised Julie that I would make her a quilt to be used as coverlet for her master bedroom.  She and Greg were home for Thanksgiving 2009 and decisions were made, pattern chosen, fabrics purchased, and sample made.  Then project was packed away....I am so glad that my family is patient with me.:)

The pattern was chosen from a McCalls Quilting issue 1999.  This was a magazine that I had purchased back when quilting and time for quilting  was only a dream.  I had found it on the newsstand and loved every picture in it.  I stashed it away and would take it out from time to time and drool over the beautiful quilts in the magazine.  The pattern is titled Country Christmas.  It was my all time favorite and I was elated when Julie chose this pattern.  It gave me a reason to make the quilt of my dreams.

The fabrics chosen were mostly from the Robert Kaufman "Imperial Collection" from 2008-2009.  They are very rich in color with an Asian flare. 

The work has begun

At the top of the photo you will see the center square.  It contains a 4-point star and a log cabin pattern begins to build around the star.  I am cutting-sewing one round at a time.

I have a stack ready to sew the gold strips to begin the second layer of log cabin.

Which looks like this.

The original sample was posted at the onset of this project in 2009.  As you can see below, the corners were in a solid gold.  I could never get comfortable with this.  The gold was very shocking and the solid  fabric just did not seem to flow with the pattern of the other fabrics.

So, as I returned to this project I began to "play" with other options.  I finally decided to go with the same fabric that the center star is cut from.  I quickly emailed the picture below to Christy @ Main Street Fabrics in Ackerman to make sure that she would have any and/or enough for me to make this change.

Lucky for me she had 4 yards and I purchase all to make sure that I have what is needed to complete the project.  I am sure that seems like overkill but I am only using the red/gold areas thus producing a lot of waste.  I had calculated that 3 yards would be the need.....but what if I do not know how to calculate.

I am very please with the final sample.   The corners when placed together will form an 8-point star.  When I get 4 together, I will post.  I feel that I am making great progress but still have a long way to go before I have a completed quilt top.  I have to keep reminding myself that this is a 2011 project not a winter project.

Even though we are still in the depths of winter, "Phil" has indicated that Spring is just around the bend.  And with this thought, Becky stopped by this week and chose some fabrics from the closet for the girls for Spring.

I will probably start on them soon to take a break from quilt piecing.

A selection that Becky purchased at the end of season last year for this year.

Fabrics purchased at a sale that I will smock into bishops for NR and Allie.

New patterns purchased.

Onward to Spring! 

Thanks "Phil"

Winter

The holidays were great!  Nature provided a surprise for Mississippi in the form of snow.  Not enough to play in, but enough to set the mood.

David and I had vacation time and all the family was home and well.  The house was constantly full because everyone was in an out to spend time with Greg, Julie and Nathan.  They only get home once a year. Lola was one of the little ones who enjoyed having Uncle Greg around to play and read. 

My Mom(82) was very excited to get to spend time with her 5th Great Grand, Nathan.  This was their first visit together. 

David and I had a wonderful time with the newest addition.

And hated to see Greg and Julie leave to go home to Texas.

New Year's came in quietly and then return to the normal routine.  I am really glad that there is a job and routine to return to.  Another thing to be thankful for in 2011.

Sewing: Original idea was that I would be done with the sewing for the grandchildren and have about 2 months to try my hand at completing some of those quilt projects before starting on Spring sewing.  I am running about 2 weeks behind but almost there.

The outfit I completed this week for Lola has been a challenge.  The fabric was bought 2 years ago, and I new that if I did not get busy, there would not be enough to do anything with.  Finally started before Christmas.  Cut it out, using 3 corduroy fabrics, put it together and UGH!!!!

Not something that I could complete.

I went out to Everlyn's the Saturday before Christmas week  to see if she had something I could substitute.  And this patterned piece was the only piece left in her stash that came close.  It then took me lots of thought and digging in my stash to come up with a design and fabric for the trim, the pink check.

 But, here is the result.....and I am very pleased with the top.  I think it will be very cute with a little white blouse or turtlenectk.

I then had to complete the pants....They had originally been cut out with a ruffle in the plans.  Now, with the more tailored look of the top....ruffle not an option.  Again, put on the thinking cap.....I had to come up with a new design.  I pieced the legs to get them long enough.....thus the trim that would tie the pants to top.I

Very pleased and I think the colors will take her well into Spring.

Now, one more set of pants for Nora and Allie and I will be through with clothing and on to the quilts.
I am beginning to run plans for Spring through my head daily.  Hope I do not plan more than time allows.....it's hard for me to leave off any after I have them planned.

Hope to show some quilting soon.