Robot baby quilt: top done

I finished this quilt top today. It is based on a quilt from Dare to be Square Quilting by Boo Davis. However I did not have enough time to do a full scale version, 5' x 6' and 523 pieces, so I halved the dimensions and made a 1/4 sized quilt, 36" x 36". Below you can see the full size quilt my mom made for my son. I think if I were to make a bigger version I might make 4 smaller robots in different colors with different backgrounds. Now this will be sent to my mom to quilt because she is much better at it than I. I am very proud of this one, the corners match so nicely and it lays quite flat so I will keep it looking good and let some one else quilt it. I am also pretty slow at quilting and this way it might get done before the baby I made it for graduates.

Dare to Be Square

There has not been much time around here for much other than school and sleep but over Thanksgiving my husband and I did take a little vacation and one of those days was spent at Powell's. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of visiting Powell's, it is a book store (new and used) that covers a full city block in Portland, OR. While I was there I picked up Dare to be Square Quilting by, Boo Davis. This may be the first quilting book I have found where I would like to make every quilt. My mom is well on her way with three quilt tops finished so far, Guys, Robot and a third that must remain a surprise. The quilts are all amazingly cute and more importantly, easy. They are made up of rectangles and squares, perfect!

Pinafore and Sweater Blanket for Clara

I finally managed to squeeze in some time for a little sewing today. Looking at my last post it would seem it has been over a month since I did much of anything crafty, so sad. This is my tester version and I still have to finish of a couple of seams in the lining but first I need to find some matching thread. I used this pattern from heidiandfinn on etsy, and it went together smoothly and quickly. My mom says that she has seen the same little top many times over the years and I think it might be in a pattern book she has as well. It is technically reversible but I just made the lining from a plain thrifted sheet so I don't think I will be reversing this one. I made the 2T size and it seems to fit pretty well and should continue to fit through next summer I would think.

We are currently in the process of downsizing our belongings and that includes my crafty stuff. At first I had packed up some felted sweaters that I figured I wouldn't have time to do anything will but then I changed my mind and I have cut out enough 9.5" and such to make a little blanket to go in Clara's crib to keep her warm. I haven't figured out exactly how I will sew them together however. I think they may need to be stabilized but I don't know that I feel like messing around quilting each to a square of fabric so we shall see what happens. Maybe I will try hand sewing them together.

Swaps

A few days ago this beautiful little quilt arrived in the mail for me. For now I think it will live on top of the stereo cabinet, making it look pretty. I have finished 2 of the 3 blocks I need to make for this month. I made the heart shaped block using this tutorial. Now I should finish getting my house ready for visitors and for my little man to be home again.

New fabric and some coffee sleeves

This lovely stack of fabric arrived on my porch today. They are Joel Dewberry prints in 54" decorator twill. I am not sure what I will do with it but it was on sale so... I am thinking maybe baby carriers, maybe a purse like this, unless I have some other idea before I get around to using it.

My brother and I drove over to the other side of the state last weekend to visit my parents. While I was there and not busy with the kids or helping out my mom who thought she had broke her foot (turns out it was just a sprain), I made this quilt block. I found the paper piecing pattern at forestquilting.com and it is called "Chasing Geese". I think I just might have to make a rainbow sampler quilt sometime because I have been having too much fun with rainbows lately. On the drive over and back, and for a little bit at my sister's knitting group I made five coffee sleeves, one of which I forgot at my parents' house so it isn't pictured. I basically just winged it, crocheting until it seemed long enough and then increasing when it seemed like a good idea. They are mostly made from the little balls left over from knitting Pink Lady Bags. I think eventually I will get around to posting them for sale in my Etsy store, which has been much neglected lately.

Stacked Rainbow Doll Quilt

Last night I finished this little quilt for the TBW Doll Quilt Swap I have found myself heading up. I had told myself no more little quilt swaps, I was running out of places to put them. But I couldn't resist this one and I am glad I didn't because this little quilt was a lot of fun to make and it turned out so nicely that it will be hard to let it go. It ended up 17" x 24.5". It was inspired by this block and this baby quilt.

Here is shot of the label on the back, which I will hopefully remember to fill out before I get it in the mail.

Lost of blocks and a doll quilt peek

Today has been a busy day of quilting. First I quilted the doll quilt I pieced last night that I am making for this exchange. I am having a lot of fun with this little quilt and I will post a full picture when I get it bound, labeled and ready to send. Then I worked on my blocks for August's quilt block exchange. 1. 12.5" - "red, white and blue" 2. 6.5" - "aqua, red and white" 3. 12.5" - this was originally made for the aqua red and white block but then I realized it was 6" too big so now it is going to my mom for her "anything goes" 4. 9.5" - "black and white" and 5. 12.5" - red, white and black. I still have a couple of pink, orange and white blocks to make but I am waiting on some fabric I ordered for those.

1. 2.

3. 4.

5.

Layden's Play Quilt

I finally got the binding on this play quilt for my son. I was sitting doing the hand sewing on the binding this morning when I asked myself why I wasn't just zigzagging it on, he is just going to drag it around outside anyway. I backed it with some corduroy and denim scraps and for batting I used a bit of thrifted sheet. My mom did the stippling for me because I can't stipple and even if I could she would be much quicker. Now if I am lucky Clara might actually take a nap at some point today and I can get the quilting done on this quilt. I picked up some pretty variegated thread yesterday so maybe I will get it done sometime soonish. Then I can quilt my Little bits quilt, then I can get started on my charm quilt and maybe even get some project linus quilts done.

This is him saying "no taking pictures of my blanket, that's naughty!"

Swap mini quilt received.

This little beauty arrived in the mail today. It was part of the Spring Fling Round Robin 3. I made an 8" center block and then 3 other quilters added 2 borders and quilted it before it came back to me. I am very pleased with how it turned out. It was fun being part of the round robin but I don't think I will be doing any more similar swaps any time soon. I will be starting college again this fall so I will be short on time and I don't know what I would do with any more mini quilts.

I picked up this fabric today for my little bits quilt. I got a good bit of feedback suggesting an orange back but my husband was not terribly enthusiastic about so much orange in our living room. There weren't tons of great options locally but this at least is 108" wide even if it is perfect otherwise.

Quilt top finished

Well I got my little bits knock off quilt top finished today. It turned out to be about 82" x 92", which, I think, makes it my biggest quilt yet. Now I need to find a fabric for the backing, any ideas?

"New" Couch = New pillows

Last weekend was the big town wide garage sale. Basically everyone has their sale on the same day and the chamber of commerce provides a map with the locations of all the garage sales marked out. Among other things I picked up a new couch. Our current couch was incredibly annoying because of its too fluffy, yet still shapeless back cushions which like to push people of the couch. It is also fairly light in color which was maybe not the smartest choice we ever made. So when I found a couch that was comfortable, cheap and not too hideous I went ahead and got it (technically my Dad paid for it, I think he really didn't like our old one). Long story short, we got a new couch so I took the excuse to make new throw pillows. I also have enough of the grey left over (clearance $1.99/yd at JoAnn) that I will be making a quilt to match. Something simple and quick to get done, mostly likely something inspired by the "Little Bits" quilt from Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. I am thinking little bits of orange, brown and the print from the pillows.

Four of six blocks for July.

Here are the first 4 of 6 blocks for the July quilt block exchange. A scrappy log cabin 12.5", "green" 12.5", black and white 9.5" and "boys" 12.5". It has been fun challenging myself with the diverse requests for this swap. For this month I still have an "anything goes" block and a black and white with one color star block.

Charm quilt inspiration

I have not had much time for crafting lately, sadly. When Oli is not working we have been trying to get our backyard fenced and when he is working I have been trying to catch up on the house work. But today I decided I would finish knitting my brother's slippers since I only had about 15 rows left and they are currently felting in the washer. I also started the hand quilting on a round robin quilt that I need to have all finished off by July 15th (yikes!). Sadly I can't post any pics because it is supposed to be a surprise.

Today I also stopped by JoAnn Fabrics while I was out grocery shopping, I couldn't resist using my coupons and I had the excuse of a specific fabric I wanted to find, I think I have finally decided how I would like to do my charm quilt. When my aunt asked me if I wanted to look through her old quilting magazines I said sure, not realizing she had a couple good sized boxes of them. I have been slowly plugging away at them and have found a few pages to tear out for inspiration. One of them is the quilt pictured above. I think I will use the striped fabric shown on top in the left photo above for the sashing and use all different fabrics for the squares. I haven't decided how big I will make the squares yet or what I will use for the sashing squares, so I am open to suggestions.

Excuses, slippers, and quilt blocks.

Sorry I haven't posted much lately. First we went on a long road trip through Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. It was a lot of driving, some great scenery and some dinosaur museums. We visited with my Dad's siblings, went to my cousins wedding and didn't get much sleep. I did get some knitting done while we were driving and almost have my brother's slippers ready to felt. But with all the work to be done on our backyard fence I haven't gotten around to finishing them.

The last few days we have all been laid up with a lovely snuffed up nose issue. Today I am still not feeling 100% but I did get this block finished for a block swap. The request was for 12.5" girly/princess.

Here are two more 12.5" blocks I finished before we left on vacation for the same swap. The first person requested "scrappy log cabin" and the second "greens".

Quilt Block Exchange

Today I received this lovely block from Isaacsmama. My plan is to collect an assortment 12.5" blocks to use for Project Linus. Also todayI made these 12.5" blocks to send out as part of the same quilt block exchange.

Some patterns and fabric.

Today I picked up a few more shirt patterns at $.99 each. I also picked up a few yards of this brown fabric so maybe some day I will actually use one of my patterns. I also picked up some other sale fabrics, Layden picked out the WALL*E fabric and I am going to use it, with some other Layden friendly fabrics, to make him a play quilt to drag around outside, probably with back it with denim.

      

Thrift Store Square Quilt

I decided I felt the need to finally use this tablecloth I bought back in February and I wanted to make something for myself, in a selfish mood I guess. I finally decided it wasn't quite enough fabric to make a skirt or some other type of clothing with so I decided I would use it in a quilt. Yesterday I was at Goodwill and spotted some brown mystery fabric for $1.00, and then found the other fabrics for the top at JoAnn in a bundle. Since the table cloth is about 50" square I needed to piece the top somehow because the brown fabric was only 44" wide after some fiddling I decided on a nice simple modern look. As you see it here I have the three layers basted together and there are masking tapes stripes to give me a guide when I do the quilting. I still haven't decided if I will use a straight stitch or zigzag while quilting, any thoughts? As I got out the Pfaff so I could get it quilted I realized I have no pedal because I forgot to bring one home when I visited my mom so instead of quilting I was only able to get the binding sewn together.

I have decided on trying out some circles in various sizes, starting with a large platter and getting smaller, to quilt my green and pink quilt but that will have to wait until I get the pedal for the Pfaff as well because it is the only machine I have with a walking foot.