... marching right along ...

Whenever completing a huge project and before beginning another I like to "wind down" by working on something easy. I decided on a simpler and "already started projected" gifted to me when #2 daughter moved out of state. A easy block pattern using up some of her stash. Luckily she had cut blocks, labeled the rows AND provided layout pattern ... Yeah, my type of project (no thinking required)!

I got this far ... she had only laid out the center of quilt. It only measures 30 inches square so will become a lap quilt. All I need to do is search through my stash and find fabrics appropriate for two borders ... darn ... I need to focus ... guess I didn't think this project through after all!

Tyler's Finished T-Shirt Quilt!

It was truly another labor of love! Finished quilt is roughly 100 x 100 inches, the second largest I have made to date. Because of its size it was "sent out" to be long armed ... "stippled" or an allover roving design. I am very impressed with how it turned out ... t-shirts were well worn and spanned several years. Their quality was still good and once reinforced with proper stabilizer they were sturdy! I must say, I love this quilt ... probably because it is for grandson Tyler.

 

Dubber Ann's Nebraska Quilt ...

 

Because I don't want her to ever forget her roots!

 

... the infamous t-shirt quilt ...

Well now ... another quilting project coming to an end. One of the tasks I do not enjoy is the binding! Cutting off the excess fabric after a quilt has been long armed is labor intensive ... especially when said quilt weighs over five pounds AND your work space has been reduced ... hmpf!!!

The quilt is big enough for a queen bed, but could also fit on a king - if one isn't to particular about the length of the "drop". I set up a table and move machine over so that I can accommodate all the "fabric" of the quilt. While this photo may make it look awkward, it works for me - 

I lost much of my "cutting room" space when mid-arm machine and frame came back to live in our basement. The up side is that money will be saved by doing the machine quilting myself ... mid-arm does have a computer so it should be easy-peasy!!!

Once the handwork for binding has been completed the finished t-shirt quilt will be ready to share.





... mini banner ...

 

It's a "mini" Big/Little Red Banner ... only measures 5 x 15 ... but it speaks volumes!

Go Big Red!!!

"Shop Hop within the Shop Hop"

Many of the participating shops, working together, designed a shop quilt block, using the Nebraska fabrics, that when combined could be a finished quilt, thus a “Shop Hop within a Shop Hop”. Block kits were available for sale by each shop so "hoppers" could also do the same!

Group 1 = Western Nebraska shops contributed quilt blocks to create this quilt (Cambridge, Ainsworth, Hemingford, Arapahoe, Gering, Cozad, Scottsbluff, Holdrege, North Platte, Ogallala, and Valentine).

Group 3 = Southeastern Nebraska shops contributed quilt blocks to create this quilt (York, Seward, Lincoln, Grand Island, Hebron, Hastings, Aurora, and Syracuse.)

Not all shops contributed to the area quilt, they did however design smaller projects also using the Nebraska fabric selections. Projects ranged from hot pads to table runners.

(left contains Nebraska quilt blocks, right contains smaller projects)

As one can see … I took advantage of both offerings! I see several Nebraska quilts in my future!

2013 Nebraska Independent Fabric Shops - Shop Hop

This year's hop offered five Nebraska fabrics by Timeless Treasures.

a border - featuring Nebraska's assets

a backing fabric - with scenes featured in border fabric

and three featuring Nebraska counties in rust, tan and green colors

 

39 shops participated in this year's hop. My goal was to visit all of the shops, collecting the necessary card stamps to enter the annual drawing. I did visit all 39 shops, collecting all of the stamps AND dropping a little $$$$ at nearly every shop!

 

~~~ more later ~~~

"Maple Leaf"

After completing the 30+ year "Maple Leaf" quilt I found myself with two extra leafs ... how that happened I have no idea! I hated to waste AND I had several yards of the various Dimples fabrics left over ... so another idea was born!

 

It lacks the personality of the quilt ... but it looks "oh so nice" on the bed in the big bedroom! Now I too have a memento of the quilt.

Dancing Cranes

The symbol of fidelity and long life.

GO BIG RED!!!

No matter where you go in life

once a 'Husker

always a 'Husker!

What was I thinking?

Talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire! While perusing a quilting catalogue I found a "most excellent" pattern ... title more than block layout caught my eye. So I ordered it!

Upon receiving I opened up the pattern ... to 14 sheets of newspaper "foundation paper piecing" print ... each measuring no less than 22 x 32 inches! I knew when I ordered it that it would be paper piece-ing (which I am comfortable with) ... I just did not envision it being so --- detailed and elaborate. The instructions are in a 12 page pamphlet. Designer r-e-a-l-l-y goes into great detail. Which is nice ... spelled out very clearly, and maybe a little more info than my tiny little brain needs ... too many words? Overkill?

Reality has set in. I will need to think long and hard about how I will want to approach this project. While the quilt will only measure 60x66 when finished ... the "Maple Leaf" took me 33 years to complete! Just saying. This pattern looks to be a little more labor intensive and mentally challenging. So, if I decide to do two (as I have "2 baby sisters") what will that time frame be?

Hm-m-m-m-m ... I'm gona have to really think this one through!

Latest "challenge"

This has been an "interesting" project. I was way out of my comfort zone on this one. New technique, etc.

More to follow ...

"The Jake Cave"

Jake's quilt is finished and ready to give him. Thought about popping it into a box and mailing. Was reminded that I will be going to Denver with him for basketball games ... so it will be personally delivered!

I'm loving how it turned out ... simple quilting so as not to detract from the center "O" (Ogallala Indians)! This should keep him warm AND give his "cave" some ambiance.

February ... Road Trip

Spent a week in Ogallala when #1 daughter and spouse were in Florida "for work". Dog sitting, Jake-watching and s-e-w-i-n-g! While Jake and grandpa did their own little week-end "road trip" for Jake's travelling basketball team I was able to begin and finish a quilt top project!

Jake has a "man cave" and needed a themed quilt to add to the decor. I got this far with layout before adding two outer borders. First border is another grey, with a wider black as second/outer border. Jake selected an orange for backing. Now that I am in my own sewing environment I can do the layering and quilting myself. Of course that will happen after Tyler's t-shirt quilt is at long-arm-quilters!

T-shirt quilt progress

I'm liking the look ... good choice of fabric Tyler!

Every square inch of usable t-shirt was put to good use!

"Southeast High School"

I am very proud of my progress! I didn't wait 30+ years for this one, just 3 years. I could state several reasons for the delay -  my inexperience working with a t-shirt fabric; not wanting to screw it up because it is for "my Tyler"; disruption of life with foundation repairs; or the ever popular "life got in the way". But for whatever reason here is the progress thus far.

Rows 1 and 2. The felt wall is 8 feet wide, another HUGE quilt.

Rows 1 and 2 joined with sashing. I've over-lap layered

the rows on the felt wall so I can see sequence without

having to look at my notes (not lazy, just being smart).

The "kid" is a Lincoln Southeast High School graduate.

T-shirts making up the quilt are from those high school

years, thus the metallic gold on black and gold dimpled

 fabric choices. Loving the fact that my cornerblock

seams are matchey-matchey.

 

Rows 3 and 4 are "awaiting" to be joined with sashing.

Sashing strips are all cut and ready for stitching.

Once rows 5 and 6 are joined, I will join the three panels together (1/2, 3/4, and 5/6). THEN I get to test my math skills (again) to see if I have enough of the gold metallic/black dimple fabric for the outer border! The fabric had been discontinued so ordered what was available from my favorite online quilt shop "Ladyfingers Sewing Studio" in Oley PA.

The finished quilt will be six blocks wide by six blocks long ... roughly 8 feet square. I'm sure the long arm quilter can handle this one too.

Pointer Sisters and "Shout"

Gotcha! This "Shout" is a color catcher fabric dryer type sheet you could use when washing garments that may bleed when laundering. I've used it when washing those bright colored sweatshirts, etc. It's also something to be used when washing a quilt the first time.

I do not pre-wash fabrics before cutting and sewing a quilt. I prefer manufacturers stabilizer vs me washing and starching, mostly because I'm lazy! One exception would be making a t-shirt quilt -- t-shirts are typically pre-worn and laundered many times. Complimentary fabrics being used for sashings, corners, borders and backing should then be laundered. The "Shout - Color Catcher" is always used! I've never had any bleeding problems. I do toss in a second sheet if I'm concerned about whether one would catch all of the dye.

So there you have it, my two cents worth ... regarding the first laundering of that new or favorite quilt.

Sent and Received

Maple Leaf Quilt ... continuing progress

Was so excited to receive the phone call from Kris (the long arm quilter) that the quilt was ready for pick up! She had promised it by December 31st and I had it in my hot little hands by our Christmas Eve-Eve celebration (a new family tradition?).

Tackling the final step is a very "heavy" process. The quilt measures roughly 104" x 132", add to that the backing and batting ... this thing must weigh at least 100 pounds ... yes I exaggerate, I'll weigh when finished. I was able to get binding cut and sewn onto quilt. Hand stitching is not a favorite task as needle slips off thimble and fingers get pricked. I am past the half-way mark ... yeah!

(I wad it up for easier handling...it's doggone heavy!)

This quilt became a labor of love. I began it over 30 years ago, the pattern given to me by my mother. It contains fabric remnants from her stash, Grandma Bessie's, Grandma Elsie's and my own. I used an old sheet (as pattern directed). I traced the maple leaf by hand, cutting and appliqueing. For whatever reason it sat in a small storage tub on a shelf in my sewing room cupboard. Something this past year gave me the inspiration to get it out and finish it up. That is when the fun truly began. As I appliqued the final blocks and assembled the quilt top I was reminded of the family members no longer with us. I took my time selecting the sashing, border and backing fabrics that would compliment the final project.

There is still a little work to be done ... creating a label ... erasing pencil marks ... cutting loose threads ... etc. It's next posting will be it's final, it will be gifted and off to a new life!