Knit One Quilt Too

Inside, Outside

 

 

Posies Top

I made the flying geese and got the borders put on yesterday!  I like this one a lot.  Part of it's the colors, but I also loved making these pots.  I've been wanting to do some of Gwenny's baskets and they'd be just as much fun.  In case these look like cups with straws, just imagine big yo-yo's for the flowers.  Since I don't have space for a design wall in my sewing room, I came up with this idea of pinning the top to an existing wall quilt.  Why didn't I think of that before?  

Log Cabinning Along

I've mentioned quilter Sarah Kaufman here before.  She's a local quilter who happens to live in my neighborhood and I was fortunate to take a class with her last week.  Her claim to fame is these fabulous folded log cabin quilts.  She started using this technique many years ago after having issues with arthritis.  Small quilting needles were too hard for her to handle.  So she developed her method of folded log cabins which creates a top that is thick enough to not need batting.  Then she does a small amount of large stitch embroidery for the quilting.

 

I love this one above, including the pennies in the pockets (she calls this one Penny Lane).  The center of the log cabins make a space just big enough for a penny or nickel to tuck in.  And, yes, she has done some wonky blocks.  Everyone in the class liked them so much she was inspired to finish them.

 

It was a thoroughly enjoyable class with a wonderful teacher.  Great news is that Sarah's book about this technique is due to be released in July.  Below are my blocks from the class.  I plan to make 12 blocks, so I'm not sure when they'll get done.  I'm working steadily on my Collaborative Chicks quilts right now.  I did find this to be a really fun way to make log cabins and the resulting blocks are great for all sorts of small projects including potholders.  I came away with all sorts of ideas for playing with these blocks.  If you are interested be on the lookout for Sarah's book!

 

Collaborative Quilt #5:: Spider Web

The Spider Web class was really fun.  It was the class I was most excited to do.  What makes it easy is the Kaleidoruler we were using.  These are 16" blocks when finished.  Above are blocks of a classmate.   Below is my first one.

 

The quilt below belongs to the teacher and is the class sample.  She used a lot of leftovers for this great quilt.  I really like the secondary circle in the middle.

 

And here are mine on the left and my classmate's on the right.  She's a lot faster than me!

  
It's going to be a bit before I get back to this one, but I plan to make it a 9 block quilt with the black and white background triangles.  I'll try to get some photos in better light soon.  Today I had a wonderful class with a teacher I've been longing to work with.  And it turns out she lives right in my neighborhood.  More on that later!

Collaborative Quilt #3:: Liberated Wedding Ring

So, I'm finally getting back to these blocks even though I'm feeling a little bit blah about them.  Perhaps it's because Christmas is over.  However, I made a commitment to have this one done (at least the top) by March 1, so I am forging ahead.  Today I laid out the blocks without regard to the light corner squares.   I do intend to randomize them more in the finished top.  At this point I wanted to see how many rings I had and whether or not to have sashing.  

 

I've decided I like that green sashing, so will do something sort of like that.  It does look pretty cool with the rings bumping into each other, but I like the addition of the green to make it definitely Christmassy.

 

Now, all I have to do is remove the papers (aargh!) and sew it all up.  Oh, and I want two more rings.  So, yup, that's all I have to do, then make a bunch of flying geese for Posies and complete a bunch of Spider Web blocks.  What's that you say?  Haven't seen the Spider Web blocks yet have you?  I had that class last Saturday.  It was a fun one.  More on that soon!

My Year of Applique

My year of applique is moving right along.  The first week of the new year was spent on the sofa with a lot of applique in  my lap.  I had a lot of fun getting back to this Sue Spargo design.  Unfortunately, I did a bit of embellishing and then realized how hard it will be to sew the blocks together.  Might have to take out some of the beads.  Oh well.  It's not done though, there's at least one more round of blocks, I think two.  There will be more embellishment too.

 

When I got the Sue Spargo quilt out I found a bunch of other projects in various stages of done-ness.  This little house above was started on a trip to Hawaii in 2008.  I loved adding the serpentine borders- a la Gwen & Freddy.  I think that's my new favorite technique.  They are done on the machine.  Quick and easy.

 

This little house was started in a class with Tonye Phillips last year.  I only had a bit more to do in the center and then added the circle appliques in the corners.  I'm quilting this one now.  I've got lots more to show, and hopefully more time to blog this week.  See you soon!

The Year of Applique

I declare 2010 The Year of Applique!  I have several applique projects that have been in hibernation for far too long.  Then again, the one you see here was just started at Christmas time.  I have found over the last few years that I love to work on Christmas projects at Christmas time, but lose interest afterwards.  So it's best to work on them when you are inspired.  Anyway, this little Santa's Village quilt is beyond cute!  It's a great use of all those little pieces of Christmas fabric.  

 

I plan to personalize this one after the blocks are all done, with signs on each building that incorporate family names.

 

And there's the book.  I've had it for a while and haven't seen too many versions of it online. There are a few on Flickr and they are all great.  One nice thing is that I've learned some tricks to get those tiny pieces done like the windows and some roof lines in a block I haven't take a photo of yet.

 
In addition to this I've been working on my wool quilt and several old applique quilts from way back.  Photos of more applique to come over the year.  If you are so inclined to join me in my Year of Applique please do leave a comment!

Collaborative Quilt #4:: Posies

I think I kind of skipped past CQ #3, but for now, let's look at this one in progress.  This is called Posies, from the book Freddy and Gwen Collaborate Again.  I think the pots and stems without flowers look rather like drinks with straws.

 

The posies are going to be made with yo-yo's.  These are quite large, so I'll make smaller ones to place on top and then perhaps a button on top of that.  

 

The border will be made of flying geese.  I had a lot of fun with this one.  The fabric is from the Folklorica Collection by In the Beginning Fabrics.  I think it's the first time I've bought such a significant amount of fabric from one collection.  I got it with my birthday discount at the Stitchin' Post last November.  I just love these colors.  And, by the way, on that link I just noticed some other fabrics in the collection that the Stitchin' Post didn't have.  Wish I'd had the yellow dot when I made this.  Well, I've got lots of this fabric left over, so expect at least one more quilt in these colors.

Beech Wood Cowl

This Beech Wood Cowl was done with the knitting in early November, but I had to take out a round to bind off.  Finally got to that the other day.  This is some of my handspun, "Annabelle", from a local merino sheep and sold by Baarbara's Wild & Wooly.  It was a delight to spin and knit and is super soft to wear.  

 

The pattern is by Ilga Leja who has lots of beautiful patterns at her website.  I had to dig around online to find this pattern, which had been offered for free.  Now, it is apparently available in the 2010 Knitting Pattern a Day Calendar.