Scrap Quilt

This is my last finished quilt of 2019. I did make one other quilt top last week, but it will not get bound or quilted this year. I started this quilt without a specific pattern in mind and was letting the size of the small scraps guide me. Most of the fabrics in this quilt are scraps from a jelly roll I used to make this quilt, but of course, I ended up raiding the scrap bags for complimenting fabrics as well.

There is no specific top or bottom to this quilt

For the backing, I pieced together some fabric from my Aunt Ellen's collection. It had been sitting in a drawer for too long, and by creatively piecing it together I was able to use up most of the scraps.

These were leftovers after Ellen cut a toddler size dress and pants

Quilt top and pieced backing have same colors

Basting went quickly on the dining room table

I was looking for a hand quilting project and this quilt seems perfect for that. There was plenty of gray background and not a lot of seams to quilt over. I decided to do a chevron style pattern. The V's of the zig-zags are spaced 1" apart, but since the columns/rows are not the same width it gives more of a lightening bolt effect. The quilting does not go through the color blocks and the stitching itself went fairly quickly.

I used my smaller Q-Snap frame

When all of the chevrons had been put in, I studied the color blocks for awhile to see what they needed for quilting. I decided that only the ones of a certain size or larger needed any quilting and those would get a border 1/4" inside the block.

Only the larger color blocks got additional quilting

The binding for this quilt is the same gray I used for an earlier baby quilt. It's a bit darker than the background, but provides a nice border accent.

Lainie is hard at work pinning the binding

Pictures for this quilt were taken on a walk around the block.

Hanging on the fence

Still deciding on which way is up

Pieced back looks great with quilting

Soaking up the sun

Quilt of Many Squares #2

I started with 100 squares of all different fabrics from the flour sack and vintage scrap bags. I sorted the squares into 9 color families with anywhere from 5 to 12 squares in each. Most of fabrics were older, but there were a few contemporary ones that could blend in where more of a certain color was needed.

Rows of color

Originally, I was planning to do a postage stamp quilt, but it became clear that I didn't have enough unique fabrics to make anything of useable size. I let the 100 square marinate for about a month and then sat down to figure out a different layout. I knew that I would need to incorporate repeats of fabric, but I wanted to keep the 100 squares together as a focal point.

100 different squares

I started with piecing the square together and then backing them with white rectangles. Then I decided to do another row of the block pattern around these 4 in the center, but I didn't want to cut hundreds more squares, so I used rectangles and repeated some of the fabrics.

Taking shape

Stewie guarding the scrap bin

The piecing was all done on my Bernina 1230 and I was grateful to have the ironing board nearby as there was a lot of pressing during construction. As I added the 12 outer blocks, I hoped to be able to complete the quilt using the scrap bags/bins only. That worked for all 16 of the blocks, but I ran out of white scraps before cutting 12 rectangles for sashing between the blocks. Fortunately, I had some Kona cotton still on the bolt.

Using white scraps until the very end

16 blocks total

Center blocks are made up of squares, outer ring of blocks are rectangles

I ended up adding a white border so that all of the color blocks would be framed. The backing and the batting were scraps left over from other projects and the basting went quickly on the dining room table.

Backing is white cotton

There were so many seams in this quilt that I never entertained the idea of hand quilting it. For a little over a month, my Bernina 1230 was in MN at the spa. Fortunately, I had plenty of backup machines to keep me sewing. I put my 830 in the 1230 table and did all of the quilting for this quilt on the 830. I did consult with mom for quilting ideas on this one though. Acknowledging that there were many seams, small pieces in some of the blocks, and lots of colorful fabrics, I still wanted a design that wouldn't involve too much stopping and starting with the machine.

Mom's idea

Quilting on the 830 with walking foot

For the center squares, I traced a template and then cut that out of cardboard. Marking only the corners of the squares with a chalk pencil, I free-handed the sides. The quilt was small enough to maneuver under the harp easily and there was only one start/stop place to finish for each square. I tied off the threads and stitched them back into the batting.

Marking squares

The finished quilt hung in my classroom for the week before winter break and then it came home. 

Reminds me of Christmas ornaments

Quilting on back

Closeup on square details

Glittery Faux Fur Vest

Here's a festive vest ready for the holidays. As of now I don't have any parties on the calendar, but I'll be prepared if that changes. The fabric came first on this one and the pattern ended up being self-drafted. There was only a yard in the remnant bin and I was inspired to try my hand at a different type of fabric.

Shining in the remnant bin

I drafted a pattern that would require minimal cuts. This fur and the glittery streamers in it spread everywhere as soon as they were touched by scissors. I trimmed the fur in the seam allowance so that the seams would go together easier and then had to vacuum three times to try to pick up all the trimmings.

Drafting and adding seam allowance

Laying out pieces for cutting

Pinned and ready to sew

The back of the fabric was a bit rough and was getting caught on any shirt I wore under it. To help minimize this, I decided to add a lining.

Thrifted dress had plenty of fabric for lining

Cutting out the lining

The neckline, armholes, and hem were finished with the serger in white thread and then the vest was ready for an outing. For Spirit Week at school the week before winter break, one of the days had a theme of holiday socks, hair, or hats. I didn't have any of these, but I did have a great excuse to pull out this vest. I don't have any pictures from work, but I do have a few that were taken a couple weeks earlier by my sister-in-law, Victoria.

Putting up the lights

Warm enough that no coat is needed

These better work when they're finally plugged in

The lining is almost as fun as the outside of this vest

Quilt for Soon-to-be Grandmother

A co-worker is expecting to meet her first grandchild this month. I made this quilt for her to share with her new grandbaby. There are strong patterns in the fabrics of this quilt and since babies don't see color for a first couple months, I'm hoping the little one will appreciate looking at the contrasting white, black, and shades of gray.

Two different sizes of squares

Fabrics are from a few prior quilts, the scrap bag, and a grab bag of remnants that I got off the sale table of a local quilt shop. 

The gray was originally bought for backing, but I don't remember which quilt it was for

I keep plenty of white Kona cotton on hand for sashing and binding, but in this case I think the gray helped calm the intensity of the black/white combo.

Basted and ready for quilting

 All of the quilting was done with my Bernina 730 using the walking foot. I set the machine up on the dining room table and it only took a couple hours of work.

Never a hiccup with this machine

Evenly spaced lines for the sashing and border

Close-up of the finished quilting

I did not have enough of the gray fabric to do the binding. A trip to Vogue yielded a shade of gray that was a bit darker. Now that I see it though, I think that may have worked out better than the original plan. The quilt has been washed a couple times and none of the fabrics ran so it is ready to meet baby. Machine quilting also means it should stand up to as many machine washings as will be needed.

Finished pictures were taken on sunny day in December. I had taken the day off from work and found myself walking around my neighborhood looking for new picture backgrounds.

Neighbor's fence with vines

Holiday decorations on the next block

Backing for quilt has sunflowers and bees, no shortage of color there

Ready to be gifted

Blue Knit Jacket

Out in the garden

I'm not sure if this was a 2019 or a 2018 make, and I don't have any pictures from when I sewed it up. When I first made the jacket, it went unworn for a couple months because I thought it was too big. The knit is very stretchy and the fabric drooped more than I was expecting.

I'm not sure what finally made me pull it out of the closet again a couple months ago, but I have found that I actually enjoy the flowy fabric now. It makes a good light-weight layering piece for fall and spring temps and I like that it has no front closures so it hangs open.

Homegrown pumpkins

I'm pretty sure the pattern is a free cardigan pattern I found online, sorry no idea where, that I lengthened. I think I also remember lengthening the sleeves. It seems likely that the fabric is a Joann purchase. This was one of the first projects on a serger and I used the white thread that was already on the machine. That is visible when the jacket hangs open.

There is one place on the inside of one of the front panels where I knicked the fabric when trimming a seam. I ironed on some interfacing and then used a fabric marker to color it blue. It's noticeable from the inside of the garment, but not from the outside. I continue to wear it with this self-created flaw.

Suitable for pumpkin lobbing