Quilting and other Things

After 5 years of working off and on, I completed my Common Bride quilt top yesterday.  I finally started at a Sit 'n Sew at Elaine's back when she was doing fund raising for bike rides and would press and rip for us during the day.  That was the end of November 2014.  When I search the blog for Common Bride, I see reference to wanting to start it for two years before that.   Here's the completed top and a look at the final border that was my goal for this month.  I'd wanted to atleast get the the borders completed.  They went together very easily at a Sit 'n Sew last week and over the weekend I was able to add 3 of them to the top.  Yesterday morning at a Monday Sewing group, I made the corner blocks then added the 4th border and the 4 corners.  There may have been a small happy dance after I put the top down to show it to the ladies. These are the little sections that needed to be joined to make the borders.  O...

These little checker boards now have a white quarter square triangle at one end and a coloured quarter triangle at the other.  I've started to sew them into pairs and then need to assemble them into borders.  In September I'd like to get the borders pieced and added to the centre.  There are 4 corner squares that will then need to be completed.  Ideally by the end of September my quilt top (below) will be completed but I'll be happy to have the borders and corners ready to add. Linking up with Patty's OMG

My goal this month was to finish appliqueing the other 16 triangles required for my Common Bride quilt.  When the first 8 were finished, I added them to the 4 from last month and put them up on the design wall.   When the last eight were finished, I added the corners to the design wall. Last week Elaine had a sit and sew day at her house so I took the quilt with me to add the triangles to the centre.   My star blocks turned out slightly small so I knew I'd need to add a small strip to make the triangles fit.  So first I pieced the three triangles for each side border.  They all turned out to be 51 1/4 inches -- I was thrilled with the consistency.  I spent some time making sure I cut the strips correctly and then added the triangles.  They all fit beautifully.  The corner triangle pairs also turned out consistent and fit very nicely. I'm thrilled with how this top is progressing.  One last border t...

I spent some time last week prepping the other 16 triangle blocks for Common Bride.  One is now complete.  My goal is to finish the other 15 before the end of the month.  Once they are prepared, they are quick to stitch so it should be easily done.  The 8 that need a smaller inside leaf still need their leafs but I've trimmed the template and just need to ensure its trimmed enough so I think I'll have them finished this month.  I'm using Freezer paper on top and needle turn the shapes as I go.  Each shape is pinned in place with tiny applique pins.  Ready to be cut out All prepared Linking up with Patty's One Monthly Goal . 

I sorted through the 20 triangle flower blocks and found 8 have the large leaf positioned so that the smaller inner leaf (circled) won't fit in.  That will work as I need 8 blocks for the corners so I won't re-position the big leaf.  When I get to those blocks, I'll look to see if a smaller version of the leaf will work or if I'll just skip it. I did get 4 of the blocks finished.  These are now ready to sewn together for a border. I'll wait until the other blocks are finished so I can sort the colours how I want around the centre medallion. I'm making good progress on this quilt.  I took the 4 blocks to a sewing day yesterday and finished the last little leaf just as we were ready to tidy up for the day.  I'll have to make sure I have more blocks prepped for the next Monday sewing day. Linking up with Patty's One Monthly Goal July Finish

I'm making good progress on this quilt and I'd like to continue.  There is more applique to do on the triangle blocks I put together last month.  When I looked at the first few blocks I pressed,  I've miss positioned the big leaves.  I need to assess how many blocks have a mis-placed leaf and whether I'll move the leaves or leave them.  The two large lower leaves should have the stem pointed down more to make room for a medium sized leaf that overlaps the seam.  If all the blocks have the problem, The medium leaf won't make it on the block.  A third small leaf goes near the top covering the end of a missing stem.  The little leaf is similar to the small green one and batik on at the top of each triangle.  I have an appointment to go quilt a top later this month so I'm making progress on my goal of getting some tops finished.  My goal this month is to assess whether I'm ripping and re-positioning the big leaves or going ahead and...

My goal for the month was to finish the applique on the squares so they could be added to the blossoms.  All of them did get stitched, cut and added to blossoms.  I still need to add the stems and other leaves.  The stay stitching seems to have worked well to stabilize the edges judging from how it felt when I was adding the triangles.   During Monday sewing sessions, I also got all these little patches for the outer border pressed and the seams swirled.  I would stitch for a bit then press ten of them.  Back to sttiching until I needed a break then press ten more.  Over two Mondays all 180ish were pressed and are now ready for their triangles and to be stitched into the outer border. The big press over the last two weeks has been to actually get a quilt finished for the Cherrywood Fabric 2019 challenge .  This morning I took the photos and have just finished submitting the info to the website.  It was nice to see this m...

My goal for June will be more progress for Common Bride.  I'd like to get the applique added to the 10 large squares so that they are ready to trim and added to the flower blocks.  Ideally, I'll get the triangles added to the flower blocks and the last appliques added but I have a challenge quilt to work on in June as well so I'm not sure there will be sufficient time.  Applique needs to go from this to this in order to be cut apart and added to the flower block.  One of nine blocks is completed.  I've started on the second block but need to cut more shapes before the others can proceed.  I also have an appointment to go quilt my Grand Illusion quilt in June.  It will be nice to have that quilted and bound.  I need to look at the list of tops and make an appointment for July or August to go quilt another one.  I do much better when I make an appointment before I leave for the next visit.    Linking up wi...

I completed a fair amount of sewing this month which feels really good.  I was able to join a group of ladies sewing on Mondays which also meant I was able to combine my stitching with some social time.  Its fun and I plan to take advantage of as many Mondays as I can. I finally got a set of red and cream blocks completed for QOV Canada.  I also have one of the pieced kit blocks on the design wall that I need to get to them.  I think I can deliver both to a couple of ladies at guild next week so I need to confirm something on the kit block and then contact the ladies to see if they will be there. The strip sets for the outer border of Common Bride got made and cut.  I've since sewn them in pairs and they are waiting to be pressed.  The stems also got made as well as the pieced leaves so the flower blocks are pieced and the triangles to go on either side are ready to be appliqued.  After looking things over carefully, there isn't a way of redoing...

I didn't get a post done for the One Monthly Goal for April but I did make progress.  Grand Illusion (Bonnie Hunter's 2014 Mystery) is now a completed top.  It was stalled for several years as I used the wrong greens originally for the checkerboards that form the sashing so it was a very busy quilt.  The value was wrong.  This winter at the guild retreat, I finally remade the checkerboards in very pale greens and it works much better.  Scrappy pink binding is ready for this once it is quilted.  I need to pickup some backing and book a time to go quilt it. I also finally got the stars sewn together and added to the centre of Common Bride . (the link goes to the designer's pattern page, no relation just an easy way to look at the complete design)  I'm not sure whether my stars are too small or the centre is too big but the coping strip I originally added made the centre too big for the stars.  I did need a small strip but it really was very...

I’ve made good progress this month although I won’t get as far as I had hoped. My goal was to finish all the appliqué for the centre and get it attached to the stars that form the next border. This is where I was last Sunday. It needed buds and flowers. Today I have all the buds done and two of the flowers. I need to prepare the petals for the other two corners and then centres to the flowers The stars have been rearranged and I think I’m happy with the order. I don’t think it will be very long before I can add the stars.  Linking up with One Monthly Goal

All the baskets have leaves and branches now. Later this afternoon I'll cut out the buds and flowers and get started on them. My goal is to have all the appliqué done on this section by the end of the month and to have it joined to the next border. I'm not sure I'll be able to get all of it done but it will be close. We'll see how this week goes. Before I start the preparation I’ll go for a walk.  I live in the city and there’s a creek nearby.  For the last couple of weeks there’s been a beaver under the bridge along the route.  I’m hoping to see him again today Linking up with  Kathy’s Slow Stitching Sunday

Last Sunday I spent the day at Elaine’s for a sit ‘n sew day.  I spent the morning and a bit of time after lunch making the 9 patch blocks for the flowers which are the round after the stars for this quilt.  I had the half square triangles all prepared so it was a case of laying them out and stitching.  In the end I ended up making a few extra half square triangles. I hadn’t used any of the blue ones and didn’t want just three of the 20 flowers with blue.  I’m considering make some additional half square triangles as the next lot will be combine with a large triangle to be stylized leaves for the flowers.  I’m not sure I want royal blue and sky blue leaves After getting these done, I started to trace the appliqué pieces for the baskets.  I trace onto freezer paper, cut them out and then press to the right side of the fabric. Sometimes I then trace around the freezer paper so that I don’t need to use it as I work.   Some times I turn under the ed...

I'm linking up with March's One monthly    I'm still making really good progress on Common Bride.  Since posting for the February finish the other day, I’ve added the feathered star to the centre 8 pointed star and the baskets have been added and are ready for appliqué.  Since I took this photo, I've fixed the orientation of the baskets and sewn the baskets to the centre.  I'll prep the appliqué this week.  The goal for March is to finish the appliqué in the centre and then to add the 8 pointed stars border to the centre so I'll need to sort out what order I want those star blocks in around the edge. Helen Anne

Last weekend, I went to a guild retreat.  There were 26 of us spending the weekend away enjoying stitching away and chatting.  It was a wonderful weekend and I'm so pleased in everything I accomplished. About five years ago I purchased some fabric to make a one block wonder quilt.  About four years ago one of the guild workshops was a One Block Wonder class with Maggie Butterfield Dickenson.  Two years ago, I finished making all the hexagons for the quilt.  Last year I did very little quilting.  This year I decided the top needed to be finished.  I finally put it up on the design wall several months ago and start to move the blocks around.  I didn't have enough of the original fabric to do a border so decided to include the original fabric in the center of the quilt.  I spent last week sewing columns together then packed everything up to take to the retreat.  I stopped at Len's Mills on the way to look for a fabric to look for a borde...

Today I’m working on stitching star blocks for Common Bride.  The seems are 1.5 inches long and need to stop and start 1/4 inch from the edge so I find them easier to hand piece ... at least until I get to the final corner pieces which can go side to side.  I need 25 of these.  Today I finished 2 more up to  needing the final corner and have two more to work on after my walk Adding outer ring of diamonds Waiting for the outer ring of diamonds I need to cut and mark more diamonds to make the centres and edges.   Many of the four patches have their corners marked but there are still a few handfuls that need their dots.  So that will also be for after my walk so that I can have something in my purse for handwork his week. Inserting four patches Once the four patches are added, more diamonds surround the outside.  I’m using a simple running stitch on the pencil line of the diamond aligning the edges.  Every few stitches I take a ...

I'm still working away at the blocks for Common Bride.  I need 25 of the stars.  I have 8 up to needing corners and 4 more in progress.  The quilt also needs 304 half square triangle blocks.  I've sewn these and split the squares but they need to be pressed and trimmed. My goal will be to get 12 more star blocks up to needing corners and to press and trim at least half of the half square triangles.  The stretch goal will be to get all the stars completed (including corners) and to press and trim all the half square triangles. Linking up with Patty's OMG at Elm Street quilts

A very successful month. Both quilts are bound and labeled. Pinwheel and Rail Fence Done as Guild Mystery Gravity Quilt I was surprised to find that there wasn't binding already made for the mystery quilt but that was quickly fixed. I was a bit concerned when adding the binding to the mystery quilt because I started to run short. Fortunately there was just enough Leftover binding bits. I also made good progress on the stars. Three are ready to be pressed and the corners add. The fourth needs two more diamonds added to the outer ring.  These are hand pieced up to this point because the seams are so short I find it easier than using the machine.  I'll add the corner pieces by machine I think.  I also have the half square triangles made and ready to be pressed and trimmed for this quilt. Three more Stars for Common Bride I'm linking up with OMG over at Elm Street Quilts