sampler shuffle update

I've been sewing a lot more lately than I expected to be able to! Some days, there just isn't time, but I've been surprised at how much I have been able to do. I've gotten my pieces cut out for my Shimmer quilt (pattern by Allison Harris) and I've sewn together 3 blocks, and I've gotten some progress made on my sampler. I've finished 23 blocks so far, so it's coming right along!

I'm using the patterns from the Moda Sampler Shuffle. I'm planning to omit the appliqué blocks (I don't love appliqué, and I don't think they're the style that I want), and I made one twice because I messed up. The one below on the right was my first go, and instead of sewing the components in two different orientations, I sewed them all the same way. I like it, though, so I finished it up and I'll use it. And then I had the idea to do the chevron block in an ombre-esque style, and I like how it worked.

Here are a few others I've finished and really like.

I decided to change the layout on this one; the quarters in the original all face the same direction. I like how it turned out.

Before I started this project, I pulled out a pile of scraps to use. I wanted to limit the color palette to give it a cohesive feel without using a single fabric line. I wanted it to look scrappy but not too mismatched. I think it's working out. But I'm really surprised at how I really haven't made much of a dent in the scrap pile I pulled. Which is fine, of course. But I expected to bust more of my scraps! :-)

I really like this one, too, and it reminds me a lot of one of the quilts I made for my babies.

I still haven't decided how many blocks to make, and I'll pick up with The Splendid Sampler project organized by Pat Sloan when I've finished the Moda Sampler Shuffle blocks. And I haven't decided whether I want to lay them out on point or horizontally. I've never done on point, so a part of me wants to just so I can try something new. We'll see!

Majestic Mountains Mini Quilt

I grew up here in Utah surrounded by beautiful mountains. I went to Olympus High, named not after the Greek Olympus, but after Mount Olympus on the Wasatch Front (okay, okay, so our mountain was named after the Greek one...). We had a great view of it from our front yard, and it's a central feature of the landscape of my childhood. No doubt this was due to my dad's love of the mountains. He loved the mountains. For him, it wasn't only that he appreciated the beauty of the mountains, but also that he felt God in the quiet of the mountains and appreciated the beauty of God's creations most while he was there.

This summer, my dad died. He had suffered for 9 long years from a neurological degenerative disorder and he finally died two weeks after having a mild stroke. It was heartbreaking, of course, and made even more difficult by the fact that I was pregnant with twins. I was a hormonal, emotional wreck. I was around 25 weeks when everything happened, and by that time, I was already struggling to get around. I yearned to mourn by retreating to the mountains, to honor his memory by hiking in his beloved mountains where I knew I would feel close to God and to him. But, my body wasn't in any shape to allow that. I was able to drive up the mountains a few times for picnics, but it was painful physically and just wasn't exactly what I had hoped for.

Around that time, Amy Ellis posted about her Majestic Mountains mini quilt and was in the process of developing the pattern. I had, for years, been searching and planning various ways to make a quilt to honor my dad and everything he gave me, and had never settled on what I wanted. I had wanted to make it before his death, but couldn't settle on a design. When I saw Amy's design, I knew it was what I wanted. It was modern enough to hang in my living space. It looked enough like mountains without being too pictorial. It was perfect. I ordered the pattern as soon as the sale went live and turned to my Kona color card to pick colors, hoping that sewing something in his memory would provide a way for me to properly grieve.

It was so much harder than I expected to pick colors from the color card, and I determined to cut up my card before I picked colors, which helped a lot. Maybe someday I'll get around to posting about that. I got my yardage ordered and set about sewing it. The pattern is paper pieced, and my only gripe with it is that she didn't specify any cutting instructions. I found this difficult to work with and ended up just cutting tremendously oversized pieces because of the sharp angles. I used my scraps to piece an improve backing. The top went together pretty quickly because there aren't very many pieces, and I loved it. But I couldn't figure out how to quilt it, and by that time, about 30 weeks, I wasn't even able to get to the store to pick thread. I was really in bad shape, and basically on bed rest (self-imposed). But, the whole process had really been therapeutic. I set it aside while I considered quilting, not really in a rush to decide because I didn't have any thread nor way to get any.

I delivered my babies the day before my birthday (yep, I got to spend my birthday in a hospital bed, hobbling around from my recent surgery), and my husband surprised me with an Aurifil color card! I'd never even sewn with Aurifil before, but I was pretty happy. It was a pretty thoughtful gift; he knew the only thing holding me up from quilting this mini was my inability to go buy thread.

A few weeks later, I had selected thread colors and finally settled on a quilting idea, and once it came, I got to quilting. It's funny that the actual sewing of this project was really so fast, but I spent months on the project due to my inability to make decisions. I decided to quilt the sky with horizontal wavy lines with swirls and loops to represent wind, I quilted pebbles on the rocky mountain side, and I quilted vertical lines (really long vertical zig zags) for the grass.

I bound it up and hope to get it hanging on my wall soon. I like to think that my dad would like it; in any case, I think he would appreciate the tribute. He was always a creative person and I think he'd appreciate that I used my creativity to create a mountain design in his honor. Truth is, I miss him terribly, even though he hadn't been himself for quite some time. He was a great man. And his death brought back all the grief we had experienced over the course of his illness.

Until we meet again, Dad. All my love.

Double Windmill Table Runner

So, in case you didn't know, I had twins! They arrived a tad early in mid-September. Towards the end of the pregnancy, I was increasingly sore and fatigued--imagine that! It was hard for me to do anything besides sit in bed all day. As you can imagine, I wasn't sewing much toward the end. I did a few things, here and there...sewing really is therapeutic for me. But, I just didn't have the stamina or strength to sew for more than a few minutes at a time.

After I delivered, I felt so much better and was itching to get back at the machine. And I realized that I had really made a mistake before delivering. I was determined to leave my sewing room in as good a shape as possible, and in my mind, that meant leaving as few WIPs as possible. What I didn't count on, though, was that without WIPs, I didn't have projects to jump right back into when I was ready. I did have a couple: my sampler project being a big one. I also had plans for a fall-colored version of Allison Harris's Shimmer quilt, but my progress on that was limited to picking fabric and sewing one practice block. I had nothing cut out. I had a Majestic Mountain mini quilt (designed by Amy Ellis) pieced and waiting to be quilted, but I couldn't get to the store to select thread (my sweet husband fixed that by buying me an Aurifil color card for my birthday).

I didn't have anything prepped to jump right into. Which proved to be a major bummer because I didn't have a ton of time to escape to my sewing room, I really only get 20 minutes or so at a time. One day, while flipping through some of my favorite quilt books, I came across a pattern in Vintage Quilt Revival that has been on my list for a long time. It's a cool table runner, but I've never been able to figure out what colors I wanted to use. Looking at it that day, though, I realized how great it would be as a Halloween table runner.

That afternoon, I auditioned some fabrics and printed the paper piecing pieces. The next day, I sewed the paper piecing together, and got the blocks sewn together the day after that. It went together so quickly, which is a huge benefit of sewing table runners! I elected to do wavy lines for the quilting, and that took a few days, but I had the table runner totally finished, including binding, just over a week after I started. I love the quick return on investment you get with mini quilts and table runners.

I really love how it turned out, even though there are few things I would have done differently. And it matches the Halloween banner I made last year. :-)

Holiday Banner {tutorial}

My oldest daughter has accused me of a being a Grinch because we didn't have any Halloween decorations. She's probably right...I don't put headstones or skeletons in the front yard, I didn't even have a wreath until last year. I did have a Halloween quilt, but it's a bit big to hang on the wall, so it just lays across one of the chairs. But, that's been it.

I thought that was good enough. 

But, I understand kids like to be festive. I sure did when I was their age. I went fabric shopping last year a few days before Halloween, looking for some very specific charm packs, and while I didn't find them, I did find that my local shop had their Halloween fabric on sale for 40% off. I picked up a couple cuts and planned right then and there to make a Halloween banner, like a birthday banner I made a few years ago.

And, I thought, since it's a really easy project, that I'd share here how I make banners! I know there are faster methods, but I like mine to be really finished. Quick, lightweight banners don't often have finished edges, and I like mine to be durable. It doesn't take that much longer to make them right.

Before I get to that, though, I wanted to point out two tools that I used with my second banner that made it so much easier. They aren't essential, and I certainly wouldn't suggest you go out and buy them for this one project, but I love them and they make a lot of projects I do a lot easier. And, no, this isn't a sponsored post in anyway, nor are any links affiliate. I just wanted to share about my tools.

The first is my Silhouette Cameo. I struggle with it, to be honest, but on the whole, I'm pleased with it. It doesn't always make perfect cuts like some people will have you believe, and I'm sure part of that is me and not understanding the settings. But, it does a pretty darn good job and it's far better (and easier) than anything I could do with a pair of scissors.

The second is my Bernina Top Stitching Foot, #10. I use this foot so much. I just love it! It helps me keep my stitching close and even. I use it anytime I want to be a little more precise, even if I'm not technically "top-stitching." 

Now, onto the banner!

First, decide what style and size you want. My birthday banner uses triangles that are 9 inches tall, and for my Halloween banner, I decided to use 5x7 inch rectangles. Think about your space and where you'll hang it. My birthday banner is probably a little big as it hangs down a little low where we walk. Also make sure to think about what you want it to say. Happy Birthday and Happy Halloween are what I picked, but for Christmas, you could pick a lot of different phrases. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Peace, Ho Ho Ho, Joy (that one would be super quick!), or anything else you could think of. 

Second, pick your fabrics. If you have a stash, this is a great way to use it, as you'll only need a little bit of fabric. I opted to get 1/3 yard cuts of the new prints I bought because I wanted to make sure I had at least 9-1/2 inches and sometimes the cuts get wonky. I always buy slightly more fabric than I need, just in case. But really, depending on how many prints you want to use, you really only need around a 6x8 inch piece of each. Perfect scrap buster. Cut out as many as you need, plus a backing for each. The backing can be plain as it shouldn't be seen if you hang it on a wall. I cut out 16 5-1/2x7-1/2 pieces for my Halloween banner and 16 backing pieces.

Third, pick your font and your lettering fabric. When I made my birthday banner, I printed out the letters from my computer and then traced the mirrored image onto fusible interfacing, then cut them out by hand. For my Halloween banner, I used my Silhouette Cameo and cut them out. You'll want to make sure that your lettering fabric has a good contrast to your banner fabrics so that your lettering will be visible (I missed the mark on a couple prints in this banner). Keep in mind a few things when you pick your font. It should be wide enough to top-stitch on, and if you're cutting it out by hand, you'll need something that you actually can cut out. I like to go for chubbier fonts so they are easier to work with, and so that they will be more visible on the banner.

Fourth, fuse the letters to the banner pieces. I measured up from the bottom and tried to center them as best I could, but since it'll be hanging and they won't be lined up and scrutinized, don't fret too much over this.

Fifth, topstitch the letters down. Technically, this is optional, but I like to make sure what I make is durable. If you're going to take the time to hand make something, you should do it right.

Sixth, sew the banner pieces to the backings along two sides and the bottom, right sides together. Leave the top open.

Seventh, clip the corners (but not the stitches!) to reduce bulk. Turn the pieces right side out and press.

Eighth, prepare your bias tape. Determine how long you want your piece(s) to be and cut enough 2-1/2 strips to be that length. I decided mine needed to be 120 inches for the longer one and 110 inches for the shorter one. You can always trim this down if it's too long, but it's more irritating to try to make it longer, and it needs to be long enough to have a couple feet of excess on either side of the banner pieces so you have room to tie it. Sew the strips together, ensuring the right sides are all on the same side of your strip, and press the seams open. press the two short ends in so the raw edges will be enclosed. Press the strip in half length-wise. Open it, and press both long edges in to the center pressed line. Refold the tape and press well so that the raw edges are enclosed. 

Ninth, Find the middle of your bias tape strip and the middle of the banner pieces. Working from the middle out, pin the banner pieces into the bias tape. Once you are happy with the position, take the banner over to your sewing machine and top stitch the bias tape closed, making sure you catch all the edges.

And you're done! Not too bad, right? And what you have is a banner that can be used for many, many years to come. I've pulled out my birthday banner for numerous birthdays for the past 4 years, and it looks as good as the day I made it. There won't be any frayed edges to worry about, or fusible peeling off. 

Terrazzo Quilt

I cut out the pieces for this Terrazzo quilt last year, and never got around to sewing it. Part of that was because I never took the time to prep my paper piecing pieces, but the other part was that other projects kept taking priority. And you know, then I got pregnant. And exhausted.

When I found out I was having two girls, I decided to use the Terrazzo quilt as one of the baby quilts because I had all the pieces for the top cut out except for one print, and the colors I picked worked for a girl. I didn't realize how much bigger it was than I needed until it was really all together, but in my mind, bigger is almost always better when it comes to quilts, so it doesn't bother me.

I really love this pattern and how the blocks work together to form the design. And because all the cutting was done, it really didn't take long to finish the top, though it took longer than the other baby quilt.

And I love that the two baby quilts coordinate enough, but don't match. I used the same Kona Silver for the background on both, and the magentas are similar, but otherwise, the colors are different, even though they are in the same tonal range. While I'm sure I won't be able to resist the occasional matching outfits, I want these girls to feel different and unique, and that their twindom doesn't make up their entire identity. 

Terrazzo Quilt

completed August 2016

quilted by Abby Latimer

Times Square Baby Quilt

I've mentioned here before, and I'm sure I'll mention it again, but I believe every baby deserves a handmade baby quilt, preferably made by her mother. And so, when I found out I was having twins, I felt immediate pressure. I knew I could definitely get one baby quilt made by the time they were born, but two? I wasn't sure how I'd be feeling throughout the pregnancy. Luckily, my second trimester was pretty good, and I still have good days, even now. Because I felt the pressure of time (I knew making baby quilts after having twins was going to be a long shot at best...), I opted to make a quilt I already had cut out even though it was a bit big, and a really simple quilt I'd been wanting to make from Vintage Quilt Revival, the Times Square quilt.

The Times Square quilt was a little bigger than I needed, so I opted to change the outside border sizes and I also assembled it differently than instructed, adjusting the block sizes as well. I chose to make flying geese 4 at a time, using differently colored squares, and it worked out really well. 

I had a hard time deciding on my color scheme at first. I was really sure I was going to do magenta, mint, and butter yellow, but on a whim I tried out navy in place of the yellow and loved it. I decided to bind it in the yellow to brighten it and give a bit of contrast, and I'm really pleased with it. All the fabrics, except for the backing, were already in my stash, and it didn't use much fabric since it's such a minimalist design. The one trick was that I ended up cutting up my entire fat quarter of one of the magenta prints because, with my crazy pregnant brain, I literally could not cut it the right size. I mis-cut it three times before finally getting it right. After that, I took a little break...wish I'd taken one sooner! :-)

I wanted to back it in flannel, and found some Michael Miller flannel on Fat Quarter Shop for only $8.50 a yard, and I was totally willing to try it out for that price! It may not be as super soft as some flannels I've used, but it's pretty good. We'll see how it washes up.

The quilt finished up at 45" square, and I had Abby Latimer quilt it with a wave design that I had had in mind since I started the quilt. I really love it and I feel like it softens the straight line design really well. 

Now the only trick is deciding which baby gets it...

Times Square baby quilt

completed July 2016

quilted by Abby Latimer

Sampler Shuffle Progress

I haven't posted progress since I first posted about starting the sampler, but I have been slowly working on it! It definitely takes a backseat to other things, so I haven't made a ton of progress, but I have made a total of 13 blocks so far. I think what I'll do is make most of the sampler shuffle blocks (omitting the appliqué blocks), and then fill in with blocks from the Splendid Sampler that Pat Sloan is hosting. I'm just not sure 30 blocks (what the Sampler Shuffle produces) is really a sufficient number for a good sized quilt. I've mentioned here before, I tend to go with a bigger is better philosophy when it comes to quilts...part of that is that my husband and I are both very tall (I'm only 6 feet tall, but my husband is 6'6") and I love being able to really wrap myself up in a quilt. And I don't really see any reason to rush this project by using really wide borders or alternating blank blocks to make it larger, so I'll just take my time and make a lot of blocks.

In the meantime, they're sitting on my design wall, looking very pretty. I love most of them, but there are a couple that I wish I had done differently, such as this one. I like the colors together, but there's not enough contrast.

My favorite so far is this one.

These blocks have been taking more time than I expected to make. I forget that it really does take quite a bit of time to make individual blocks, especially when they have more than 9 pieces. But, what also is taking longer, is that I generally try to use alternate piecing techniques to save fabric. I completely understand why the instructions are structured the way they are, but I hate cutting off itty bitty triangles that are going to end up in the garbage. So, when I need to make flying geese, I make them 4 at a time. Which means I need to go to the handy table I have saved from The Quilt Pattern Shoppe via Pinterest and make them that way. Same goes for half square triangles.

But, I like making them this way, even if it takes a few extra minutes to refigure cutting. I'm really enjoying this project and I'm totally okay with it being a very long term project.