Design Wall Monday: The Ugly Christ Sweater QAL

There's a story behind this quilt. Isn't there always?

A long-time friend hosts a cookie exchange each December. And she usually has an "ugly Christmas sweater" contest -- who can find the ugliest of the ugly Christmas sweaters? I've won several times! [And the prize is always a bottle of something delish!]

So when I saw Lorna's "Ugly Christmas Sweater QAL" on her blog, Sew Fresh Quilts, I knew I had to make this quilt!

I have 16 of the 20 blocks made:

This is my favorite block:

I love the way the birds show up in the background.

I cut out all the pieces before I went on vacation last month. That is the way to get a quilt pieced quickly -- I just started making the blocks last week, and I should have all 20 finished by tonight! These blocks are addictive, it's just so fun to see how each will turn out!

Lorna used a wide-long three-step zig zag to quilt her quilt. I've been trying to visualize how to do that as a "quilt as you go" method. I think I'll piece each row together, quilt them, then join the rows. I used this method for "Strip to Shore" awhile back, and it turned out very nice.

What's on your design wall today?



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Something New: Design Wall Monday

I believe the word is "meh." 

According to Wikipedia, " meh" is defined as:

Meh /mɛ/ is an interjection used as an expression of indifference or boredom. It may also mean "be it as it may".^[1] It is often regarded as a verbal shrug of the shoulders. The use of the term "meh" shows that the speaker is apathetic, uninterested, or indifferent to the question or subject at hand. It is occasionally used as an adjective, meaning something is mediocre or unremarkable.

And that's just how I felt when I put the first three blocks of this quilt up on the design wall. [The fabric license plates above are from my Row-by-Row trip to Idaho. Not part of the quilt!]

Meh.

I've mentioned before that I make a quilt for each of my Mother's great-grandchildren when they turn 12. The last male great-nephew turned 12 this month. His Dad told me the celebrant likes "yellow and orange, but not prints. And he really likes lions."

So I pulled  out every yellow and orange in my solids stash. I originally planned to make a "Jelly Roll Race" quilt from them. But then I saw this tutorial from Rob Appell of Man Quilting. It looked like so much fun, I decided to give it a try.

Rob is right: sewing curves is really easy when you use the Man Sewing technique!

Now, I love quilts in which the colors, or shades, progress from light to dark. I made these three blocks from shades of yellow. When I hung them and asked the men in my house (DH and Elder Son) what they thought, both were -- to say the least -- not impressed.  Elder Son recommended mixing the colors rather than using shades of a single color.

And this is the result:

The DH suggested having all the block oriented in the same direction, rather than alternating as in Rob's sample. I think his idea was spot on!

I moved some of the blocks around to get a better color spread:

The carpeting in the Mexican restaurant where we had lunch yesterday has a curves-and-circles motif that I think will make a perfect quilting design. I ordered a Lion print fabric for the backing. Can't wait to put the blocks together and start the quilting!

So, what do you think? Will Luc like it?



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Tardy Monday Design Wall

Oops, I wrote it, but forgot to click "publish!" Here's what's on the design wall this week.

The pattern is "Chevron News" by Brigitte Heitland of Zen Chic for Moda. The original pattern calls for "Citrine" -- bright yellow -- but since I'm making it for an Air Force Academy graduate, I decided to use royal blue as the accent color.

There's a bit of a story behind this one. While I was in Texas last summer, I ordered a half-yard bundle of Zen Chic's "Paper" from Fat Quarter shop. I didn't have a plan for it, I just liked it. And it's OK to buy it just because you think it's pretty (thus saith the Elder Son. Smart guy, huh?(.

When May 1 rolled around and I realized I had one month to finish Blake's graduation quilt -- fast pattern to the rescue! First, I had to buy assorted yardage of "Ink" for the dark HSTs. Ruth's Stitchery to the rescue! I cut the required 10" squares. stitched those puppies together on my 1500 stitchesperinch Juki (her name is Zippy) and started to trim.

Then, this happened:

You know, the funny thing is, it didn't start to bleed immediately. When I realized I had caught the edge of my finger with the rotary cutter, I held it up and said, "Damn, that's going to hurt." Can you tell I was cutting with my left hand? Thanks to Barb Shie, I can cut with either hand.

Lucky for me, the cut wasn't too deep. So I finished up the quilt yesterday, and it's going to Denise to long-arm tomorrow. And it's still more than two weeks until graduation!

The moral of the story: Don't watch sad movies while trimming blocks!

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Design Wall Monday

Spring might  come to Colorado before the month of May -- but we don't count on it!

When the DH saw this quilt on the design wall, he commented, "Oh, that looks like Spring."

Well, yeah! The pattern is called "Springtime!"  It's a free download from Windham Fabrics, and uses the Modern Country Collection by Mary Elizabeth Kinch. The colors in the fabric are more bright and clear than they show in this indoor-lighting photo. Ruth's Stitchery carries the entire line of Modern Country -- and they have cut obese eighth bundles of the  lights and the darks.

The design calls for quarter-square triangles. Here is my tutorial for one quarter-square triangle method. I'll try to post a different method for Tuesday Tutorial. I made extra QSTs so the quilt will finish at about 75" X 85" -- big enough for a full bed.

My little peach tree is blooming. And I think it escaped the last freeze. 

Spring is coming!




From the desk of your

Design Wall Monday: I do love yellow!

I know that many people don't  like yellow. But I think every quilt needs a "touch" -- or more! of yellow.

The Robert Kaufman Fabrics company has chosen this dynamic yellow, "Highlight" as their Color of the Year for 2016.

And I've chosen to make this quilt with it!

This is only the first four rows -- because I was distracted and mis-cut the yellow fabric! I had a half rollup, but cut the yardage into the 2½" strips. Which meant I didn't have enough to cut all the larger strips I need!

Lucky for me, I got the fabric from Ruth's Stitchery, and I'll be able to get more tomorrow. Here is the pattern I'm using, from "Quilts from the House of Tula Pink." Ruth's has ordered the book, too.

Robert Kaufman is hosting a block challenge on their Instagram page. Sadly, I don't think I'll have mine finished in time for the March 1 deadline. But you're going to love the surprise I have planned for this two-color quilt!

Hope to see you tomorrow for the March UFO Parade!

From the desk of your

Design Wall Monday

What should be my last UFO of 2015 is on the design wall today.

It's "Aunt Sukey's Sampler" from "Five is Fabulous" by Marti Michell.

This was the 2014 "Block of the Month" project at Ruth's Stitchery. 

As with many UFOs. now that it is nearly finished, I could kick myself for taking so long to finish it! As soon as I finished the last block, I put all the blocks on the design wall. And fell in love! Every bit I added to this quilt, I liked it more. And now that there is just the last border (the medium blue), I can't wait to get it to the quilter and onto my bed. I especially love the tiny gingham checks in the setting blocks and cornerstones. 

Here's a closeup:

Most of the other fabrics are from Maywood.

 

Shoot, I cut off the selvedge identifier when I cut the setting triangles. And I must have trashed it back then, because I don't have any left. I don't know who the manufacturer of this pretty border fabric is -- but I do know I bought it at High Prairie Quilts in Parker. They still had some left last week when I stopped by on my way to the airport to pick up my co-author.

My 2015 UFO list has 15 projects on it. And only TWO have been crossed off! How is your UFO list looking?

Come back tomorrow to see the new "A Quilt Block a Day." I promise, it's an easy one!

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Design Wall Monday and Leaders & Enders

By special request, today's "Design Wall Monday" also includes a bit of a tutorial on using Leaders & Enders.

Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.com popularized this clever method of making a second quilt while chain piecing. Many quilters stitch off onto a scrap of fabric, sometimes called a "spider," to avoid having to hold the threads at the beginning of the next row of stitching. Bonnie took the idea and made it productive -- why not use pre-cut squares, rather than a scrap of fabric that you will throw away?

She calls her method "Leaders & Enders." Leaders, because you sew from the small squares onto your quilt piece. Enders, because you stitch from the quilt piece onto the smaller square.

And the Leaders & Enders don't have to be squares. Each summer, Bonnie proposes a different quilt block design as the year's "Leaders & Enders" challenge. This year, it's tumblers. I cut up a lot of scraps into light and dark tumblers and stacked them in a plastic shoe box:

The note on the side of the box reminds me how many tumblers I need to make each row, and how many rows to make a lap-size quilt. 

Each morning when I sit down to sew, I stitch a light and dark tumbler piece together. 

When I've stitched across the tumbler, I place the first block of the day's project under the presser foot, and off I sew! 

It is amazing how quickly these little "Leaders & Enders" become a whole quilt! Storm is lurking in the doorway, nervous because she knows I don't like dogs in the bedroom!

I'm also using the cut-off triangles from a Flying Geese project to make tiny half square triangles.  When I get them all stitched, I'll square them up using my littlest Bloc-Loc ruler to make 1" HSTs. Then I'll stitch them together to make a little bag.

I just a week, I've collected quite a few HSTs!

The "A Quilt Block a Day" Facebook group is making "Birds in Flight" blocks this season. October 2 was the 10th day of Autumn, so I'm right on target with my block count. I haven't decided which layout I like better -- but it's early days, yet!

This diagonal set will require setting triangles, but it will also make a larger quilt.

Which layout do you like?

From the desk of your

Design Wall Monday

I'm working on the May Jelly Roll Party sample today.

I fell in love with the new Bonnie & Camille collection, Day Sail for Moda. When I saw this pattern on She Quilts Alot Facebook page, I knew it had to be a Jelly Roll Party quilt!

So far, I have only one block made. The directions are well done. I am so appreciative that they include pressing instructions.

Ruth's Stitchery has ordered the pattern, or you can order it direct from She Quilts Alot.

Tomorrow is My Little Sailor's birthday -- it's already March 10 in Japan. Happy Birthday, Jacob!

Duncan misses you -- so does Mama!

From the desk of your

Design Wall Monday

Snowbound Day 3. Starting to get cabin fever. Dogs don't want to go outside. Cats do. I do. 

The DH has shoveled off the driveway three or four times. One of our neighbors owns a snowblower, and loves to use it. Lucky for us! He clears the sidewalk all around our cul de sac.

The good thing about snow days is that I get a lot of sewing done! The blocks for the next Jelly Roll Party sample are complete and hanging on the design wall.

I used a new tool for the sew-and-flip corners, tutorial tomorrow. The white corners are not pressed, because I want to press them such that the seams nestle. So I had to lay out the blocks before I pressed the corners.

The pattern is "Drop Diamonds," from Cozy Quilt Designs. The fabric is April Showers from Bonnie and Camille for Moda.

Just in case you're tired of snow also, here's a photo taken by My Little Sailor while on the USS George Washington. Doesn't this make you want to run away to sea?

New tool, new tutorial  tomorrow. Keep warm!

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On the Design Wall

I have a tradition of making a quilt for my great-nephews and great-nieces when their 12th birthday rolls around. 

The next one is in February. This particular great-nephew is a big Legos fan. I found this kit for "Bit 'o Color" at NaLa's after-Christmas sale. The blocks went together in a single day of sewing and watching the New Year's Day snowfall. I'm enjoying looking at them so much, I almost don't want to take them down and sew them together!

What's on your design wall today?

New on the Design Wall

I finished my first 30 "A Quilt Block a Day" Shoo-Fly Blocks. So I'm starting a baby quilt of more Shoo-Flies.

These blocks will finish at 12", so each plain piece is cut to 4.5". I'm using some of my hoarded Lizzie House collection.

It takes more time to choose and fussy-cut each block than it does to sew it!  But who can resist hedgehogs?

Or butterflies?

The rest of the blocks may not be a single main color like these, but I'm having fun choosing the prints for each.

I need to get caught up on my BaDs, so I can finish the Transparency Quilt I started at Quilt Colorado!

From the desk of your

Design Wall Monday and Destash Report

This morning it's 41 degrees (that's Fahrenheit) and windy windy windy. I am SO not going for a walk this morning, looks like I'll have to dust off the elliptical machine!

Design Wall

There's a new kid in town today. OK, not really new. And not really a kid. But there's something new on the design wall:

It's 24 blocks for my "Toes in the Sand." I started it last year with the BOM from Quilt Asylum. The fabric is Tula Pink's "Saltwater." I love this fabric so much, I accidentally bought the fat quarter bundle also. In a few years, it might make its way to my De-Stash offer!

Here are the blocks with the background fabrics. It's impossible to photograph this fabric, but it's a very pale lemon-green.

Even Tula Pink's website doesn't really show the true color, but you can see the design in this photo from her website, ihearattulapink.

I was lucky to be able to cut all the background pieces from this same fabric, even though the kit included a different fabric for the outside half-triangle setting pieces. I think it looks like the blocks are floating on the sand!

If the stars align and My Little Sailor comes home on leave in September, and if my friend's beach house is available, and if it doesn't snow (hey, that's a real possibility in September!): this quilt will be a hostess gift for the beach house!

Linking up to "Anything goes Monday" at Stitch by Stitch. 

Destash Report

I was amazed and pleased that more than one person was interested in my Vin du Jour destash! It will be on its way to the first taker as soon as the wind dies down.

And vaf, I'm sorry but I can't take a check. Not that I worry your check isn't good, it's just that I don't do the bank thing!

I have more, so I'm thinking each Sunday until I empty the "this needs to go" bin, I'll offer another destash bundle.

Since the wind is blowing and it's cold, I'm going to hide out in the upstairs sewing room and work on A Quilt Block a Day. As of Saturday, we should have 80 blocks finished. Oh, I have them finished, all right. And they're scattered all over the sewing room! That's what happens when the window is left open and a severe thunderstorm blows through Colorado!

I have a new product to test for the Sew Steady extension table. Come back tomorrow to see if it's worth the purchase price!

From the desk of your

Monday Design Wall: And a Lesson

Know how lots of people advise "change the photo to black and white" to see if there is enough contrast in your quilt? 

Well, they're right. I just didn't know how to do that, until my boys got me an iPad for Mother's Day. And there is a black and white "filter" right there at the bottom of the screen.

So, I'm making a baby quilt for a my BFF's co-worker in Texas. She needs it fast, and I needed it to be easy. I've been seeing these "pixellated hearts" all over the internet, so I decided to whip up one. And really, it is fast and easy:

I'm thinking it looks pretty good, no?

Well, while photographing it with the iPad, I noticed the "filters" button, and clicked on the "Mono" option.

OH, NO! My "heart" is lop-sided!

Well, too late. The top is pieced and it needs to go in the mail tomorrow afternoon. So, lesson learned: Take the black and white photo before sewing all the pieces together! Luckily, Holly will think it's beautiful and the recipient isn't a quilter, so she won't notice!

Oh, look! I just noticed this is post #499. That means a giveaway with the next post!

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