Improv Beginings

I got the Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters by Sherri Lynn Wood early this year, and I've just been dreaming about different ways to follow the scores. I find the concepts in the book so inspiring, yet I kept putting off starting a new quilt.

I have to finish the three I've got in progress...

I can't start a new one until I quilt these basted ones...

I've been telling my sister I'd finish her quilt for months...

The excuses just keep coming.

Even though I'm really excited and inspired by improv quilting, it is kind of intimidating. I tend to quilt with a rough idea of what I want to accomplish. General blocks I want to use, and a general layout for those blocks. I don't really write things down anymore, and I haven't sketched in while either. The compositions just come from my head. Following this method, my compositions have been getting looser, but still, I work from a plan. To start with some fabric selections and have no idea what will become of it - that's a little intimidating.

This week I took the plunge.

First attempt. 

I'm using Kona Ice Peach and Kona Black with some of the Alphabet Panels from First of Infinity by Kumiko Fujita. I didn't like how much peach there was, and then how big the black 'filler' sections were. That's the beauty of improv. I was able to change it in my next iteration. And now I like how they complement each other. I'm almost out of ice peach now. If I want that to be consistent throughout the quilt I'll need to order more, but maybe I will want to change it. I like being able to play around like this. I like it so much I had to share before I could get good lighting!

The bottom half was added after I modified my process. 

This is not to say I'm done with drafting patterns before I sew. I have a quilt that I'm itching to make - I just need the fabric for it. I'm so excited for just an idea that I can barely contain myself. Just as I'm very excited to see what comes of this quilt - because at this point it could go just about anywhere. 

Since I've finished my first panel, I'm going to share with Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday. 

A Two-fer

That's right, I've got a post that is BOTH a Finish it up Friday AND a Free Motion Friday quilt! I've finally taken pictures of my completed Star Jump Quilt.

Just hanging in the grove. 

I finished sewing the binding while at the regional science fair (the binding took an hour or two, the science fair took 20. We have 3 teams moving on to state! It was worth it). 

Star Jump Quilt, Pattern by Jess of The Elven Garden

I made the Star Jump Quilt as a pattern tester for Jess of The Elven Garden. I really liked the chain elements of the pattern, and my color choices gave the whole quilt a kind of a vintage feel. I was going for a genderless baby quilt, although it is probably a bit mature for a baby quilt. 

The background fabric is Carolyn Friedlander from Doe, and I also backed the quilt in more of her fabrics. 

Back of the quilt

I also added in a Lotta Jansdotter fabric that I absolutely fell in love with. I was so happy to have some scraps left over after quilting this guy!

My traditional label. Stamped! Also, close up of Lotta Jansdotter fabric.

Here you can kind of see the quilting. This is the first quilt I've free motion quilted. I learned with a Craftsy class, and now I just need to keep practicing. For this quilt I just radiated figure 8's from the center. 

Quilting texture

It's modern, it's traditional, it's textural. I love the effect. I just need to keep practicing so that I end up liking all the 8's. It stinks when I get a wonky one and that's all I can see. 

Center quilting.

For the center square I did long wiggles back and forth. It was good practice, and I like how it's a little different from the rest of the quilting.

All rolled up with nowhere to go.  Now I've got to find a home for it. So far, I've got two potentials, but I'm not sure who to gift it to. 

All the pictures are taken pre-wash. I just haven't had time to wash it AND take pictures! I also have to wash it because so far the cat's claimed it and he's leaving plenty of hair behind to prove it. 

I'm going to link up with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday, and this quilt is on my Q1 finish along list, so at least I can cross one thing off!

As an endnote, here's a crazy link I found while searching for the original link to Jess's Star Jump Quilt Post. Apparently it's an image of my version of her quilt top and people vote if they think it is 'funny', 'cool', 'interesting', or 'stupid'. So far, stupid is winning! Who comes up with this stuff?
 

WiP Wednesday {Scrappy Birds}

Bird bod.

After I finished my 'The Birds and the Butterflies' quilt I continued to gaze upon those border birds. They just catch my eye, and I can't stop staring. I think it's because they're just cute enough to love, but not so old fashioned that they feel dated. 

100% scraps!

As mentioned before, I used a tutorial from Block Lotto. It's pretty straight forward, and you can personalize details like the beak shape and leg arrangement.

That blue Amy Butler print is one of my favorites!

I made 8 all together, and am going to use them as a border for the Pineapple Blocks I made the other week.

I like the movement the leg angle gives this birdie. 

I'm following along with Meadow Mist Design's pattern design series, and I think I'm going to adapt this block into a baby quilt size.  I've got a co-worker with twins on the way... maybe that is the motivation I need for a test quilt (or two!) 

Linking up to WiP Wednesday with Lee of Freshly Pieced. 

WiP Wednesday {Pineapples}

I love finicky, time consuming, old fashioned blocks. Which is funny, because I also love the free-form unpredictable nature of improv blocks. Anyway, I like finding shortcuts to traditional blocks. I'm working on a baby quilt, and I decided that I wanted to start with square-in-square blocks as 'I Spy' type blocks.

Some fussy cut centers. 

I took some of my novelty fabrics and added on some of the Melody Miller Apples from her Picnic collection I had on the top of my stash. From there, though, I wasn't sure where to go. I decided I wanted to make pineapple blocks. I didn't want to foundation piece them though! I adapted the tutorial by Crazy Mom Quilts for foundation free pineapple blocks. For mine, the centers ended about 6" square. I added 2.5" strips to the sides, and would trim as needed to get the pineapple growing. 

Octopus center.

I sewed for 5 rounds, and they finished about 17" square. Since I didn't do any math before I started I'm not sure if they were supposed to end that size. I know I wasn't being as precise as I could be as I sewed along.

Monaluna Llama Love center. 

I used scrappy fabrics for the blocks. I tried to keep it to the more primary colors: yellow, blue, red, grey, alternating with scrappy low volume fabrics. 

Melody Miller Mustang, with a little Charley Harper peeking out. 

I liked seeing these grow, but I was over it after I finished 6 blocks. Since these are going towards a baby quilt, I decided to stop for now. 

Meow! Cat from Austria. 

I'm almost finished with the next component of the quilt. It was inspired by a relatively recent finish. Can't wait to see how they look together!

Monaluna Roost center. 

Linking up to WiP Wednesday with Lee from Freshly Pieced!

Free Motion Friday {#1}

So, I've started a Craftsy class on Free Motion Quilting (FMQ) - Free Motion Quilting Essentials with Christina Cameli. I like her, but let me tell you, it's hard! When I started quilting I took a class because I wanted to know how to do everything 'right'. The way my brain works, I need to understand a process, and then I can start playing with it. So, I learned about 1/4" seam allowance, and how to square up a block, how to follow patterns, and how to draft blocks. Since that class, the only patterns I've followed have been for the Fat Quarter Shop, and one test quilt. Turns out I don't like patterns, but since I learned how to draft my own and make my vision a reality on the first try, I don't have to follow them. And I'm good at making up my own designs. By good, I mean I like my own aesthetic, and I feel satisfied when I complete a quilt top.

And then comes the quilting. I thought the design part of quilting would be the hard part. Turns out it's the quilting. I've gotten better at straight line quilting. Part of that was getting a new machine that is better at keeping even stitches. But now I'm trying to FMQ. I like a good even stitch length. And it's so hard to maintain! Even when I make straight lines with my FMQ foot they're all over the place. So. What to do? I just keep practicing. I'm using unloved cuts of fabric basted right sides together so I can see the quilting a little better.

I'll start with what I'm 'good' at. Loops and the back and forth zig zag.

Some figure 8 loops. The stitches still get so small in the loop!

Nice back and forth. The row above it, kind of wonky. 

As you can see above, I struggled with the ribbon candy. But, want to know what I'm absolutely terrible at? The good old standby for many a quilter: the stiple!

Colors edited to see the quilting lines better. 

I quilt myself into 'corners', I can't keep it smooth. Sometimes I go fast, sometimes I go slow! EWWW!!! Must. Practice. More. 

Yucky stiple, nice back and forth. (also edited to see the 'quilting' better) 

So, while I have been complaining for most of this post, I must admit I am very happy with my machine. So far (this represents a few hours of practice over a few days) I have not experienced any broken threads, nor have I experienced tension issues. Which means it's all on me! My machine doesn't have a stitch regulator, so I need to learn how to move my hands and the presser foot in unison. Yikes. Well, wish me luck! And if anyone has tips for a newbie, please pass them on!

2016 Q1 Finish Along

Looking back at my entries I haven't participated in the Finish Along since the first quarter of 2015! That's a whole year ago! It's because I ended up traveling for 2 months, and then made the huge life change of moving to Texas and becoming a teacher. I still find it hard to find time to sew, but I'm getting better at accepting I can't go on a sewing binge, I have to take the small increments of time I have free and make them count!

This quarter I've got 4 quilts I would like to finish.

Baby sized Star Jump quilt by Jess of Elven Garden Quilts

First up is this baby quilt I made as a pattern tester. I just need a back and to get started with the quilting. It's going to be my first FMQ practice!

Star Cakes by the Fat Quarter Shop

Then it's on to this quilt I did for the Fat Quarter Shop. I've got the backing, I just need to baste, quilt, and bind it. So, basically everything. 

Birds for a border.

I'm piecing together a baby quilt, and I've got the central blocks, and now I've got some birds to incorporate. I need to finish the top, and finish the quilt!

Stash Bee cranes. So pretty!

Finally, if I'm so inclined, I'm going to finish my Stash Bee blocks from this year. I was a terrible hivemate, and ended out dropping out near the end of the year. I just had too much on my plate last year, and couldn't balance everything. My goal is to put these blocks together and make a quilt for my sister. I think it will have a lot of meaning for her, and it will make me feel better to use these blocks instead of keep them hidden away. At least everybody's work will not have gone to waste!

So, 4 complete quilts in three months. Doable. I'm on a decent slow paced sewing timeframe, and I think I'll be able to do it. Plus, as I keep mentioning, my motivation is to start working on the Improv Quilter's Handbook, but I can't do that until some of these WiPs are out of the way!

I'll leave you with a pic of my handsome doggie-doo on top of some completed quilts!

Linking up to WiP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced, and with the 2016 Q1 Finish Along!

Trunk Show - Ahh, Memories!

I've been wanting to blog, but haven't been sewing! I am nearly done quilting up the baby quilt commission that I wrote about previously, but I just haven't been making any headway into my WiPs or my wish list. I just bought The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters by Sherri Lynn Wood, and would love to jump into it, alas it'll have to wait.

In the meantime I thought I'd reminisce about quilts and other projects that I actually did have time to finish. How I miss those days. And while I'm at it, I'm linking up to the Trunk Show at Whims and Fancies.

Broken Umbrellas Mini Quilt

This is probably my favorite project. I love the texture from the hand quilting, and the way the umbrella prints fabrics blends and jumps from the background. It finished pretty small, about 18" square. 

Instagram Quilt

This is my first quilt. Entirely hand pieced and hand quilted. I didn't even own a sewing machine, or an ironing board! I just ironed everything on a towel on the dining table. Those were the days...

Liberty Trip

I had a growing collection of Liberty of London prints, so I decided the best way to showcase them was with a Round the World strip pieced quilt. So simple, and so effective! It was one of my quicker finishes, and it's such a luxuriously simple quilt. 

Night Music in the Desert

This is my favorite 'normal' sized quilt. It finishes at a small twin, and is currently what I'm sleeping under. I loved the fabric play and the color choice, and that I made the whole thing myself, from drafting the pattern to quilting it. Just wish I had taken a better photo to do it justice!

Pineapple Pillow

Gotta share the love with the non-quilts. I'm a big fan of pineapple blocks and throw pillows. I made this one au naturale (no paper piecing!), and quilted it up. It is living with my parents now, I believe. 

Computer Case

A more recent finish. This computer case fits my MacBook like a glove. I love the Cotton + Steel fabrics I used, and am so happy I get to look at it every day!

Eyeglass Cases

Last, but not least, I have my sunglasses cases. I drafted them myself, and really like the feather one a lot. The only issue is I keep losing my sunglasses, and now I need more to put in these cases!

Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane as much as I did. Don't forget to check out the other links at the trunk show, everyone's got some good things to share!

Star Cakes Shortcut Quilt with the FQS!

Today I'm sharing my finished flimsy that I made following the Fat Quarter Shop's Star Cakes shortcut pattern. I'll admit that I did it slightly differently, but that's mostly because I didn't have all the notions that they had. It was still a pretty easy way to make a twin sized quilt! They've even got a YouTube video to show you their shortcuts!

Here's the whole thing laid out in the back yard. 

I made this quilt using a layer cake of Kona solids in Citrus Burst, and for the background I actually bought some yardage. I knew I wanted the main background to be the Kona Bluegrass, but I wanted to add some interest so instead of a layer cake of Bluegrass I purchased 3 yards of that plus half yard cuts of Glacier, Asparagus, and Celadon. The Celadon wasn't as different from the asparagus as I had thought it would be, but I just stuck with both of them. I feel it keeps the variation subtle, which works because some of the yellows and oranges are only slightly different. 

Since I am a trimmer, I tried using the amazingly simple FQS method for making 8 HSTs at a time, but mine kept coming out wonky. My solution was to simply keep the starting squares at 10 inches, follow the same methods and trim down at the end using my creative grids bloc-loc ruler. It may have been an additional step, but at least everything came out the right size and shape in the end!

So many half square triangles!

My method regarding color selection was to randomly pair the colors, and with each progressive step I maintained that randomness. I never pre-planned any placements, or laid out any of my blocks. I just crossed my fingers and hoped the ratios of the colors I had chosen worked out!

My favorite part is this darker plus!

I'm pretty happy with it. I went on a photo shoot around my yard, though still using the iPod camera. Someday I'll get a new DSLR. It's hard adjusting to the Texas landscape, and getting whole quilt shots without so many fences or fire escapes to hang the quilt off of. I tried though!

Hanging off the grapefruit tree. Fits right in with the citrus theme. 

I'm pretty sure I'm going to bind this in leftover scraps, but I'm not sure what I'll back it in. I was thinking maybe some Freefall by Tula Pink, because you can't go wrong with a double wide fabric for backing. No piecing involved! Though, I just saw there's Meteor Shower available, and I do love that print - just not sure if it would fit in as well. Oddly enough, I'm not even a super huge Tula fan. Though I love her fabrics they tend to not fit into my piecing style, so I don't usually buy them. Or, if I do they languish in my stash. They do make excellent backings though, because you really get to appreciate her artistic viewpoint when you don't break up the fabrics.

Enough of that sidetracking. I enjoyed making this quilt and participating in the blog hop. I hope that I was able to show a unique take on this simple pattern, and that you try your hand at it as well! To make it more affordable to start working on this, for 3 days only (through Sept 9, 2015), Fat Quarter Shop is offering 20% off all layer cakes.

All rolled up - just waiting for quilting inspiration to hit!

Thanks for visiting!

Cotton+Steel Computer Case

So patchworky!

Well, I've been really modernizing around the house. First a new sewing machine, and now a new computer. I got the new macbook, which is super cool, and it's nice and light. Only 2 lbs! I can carry it in my purse too, which is great. I just wanted to make sure that I don't scratch it all up, so I decided to make it an improv patchwork case.

All the pieces. 

I will admit, I'm totally smitten with it. The majority of the patchwork is done using newer Cotton + Steel prints, and I love them so much. I got some from the Black and White collection, and then there's the Moon Cat from Spellbound, Horseback from Honeymoon, and Mystery Food from Tokyo Train Ride. I added in some dots that I can't find the provenance on, and my very favorite print (and carefully hoarded!) Hananonaka by Yuma. 

Back. I love those little bunnies! And the drippy trees!

The back is some Trainride from Tokyo Train Ride in a cotton/linen blend. I like how the texture is a bit different. I quilted in a square grid pattern. I basically eyeballed it, aiming for a slightly imperfect grid, but one that isn't totally wonky. Quilting on the Juki is amazing, so much better than on my old machine, and really makes me feel good about purchasing it. 

I added in a label and a metal zipper. My first attempt was too small to fit the computer in, so I ended up finishing the zipper as though this was an 'open wide pouch' by Noodlehead. Now my computer fits in just like a glove. Of course I added a little leather for a zipper pull. Gotta make it as luxurious as possible!

Zipper, ends with one of my favorites from Doe by Carolyn Friedlander. 

I might need to make a pouch for my power cord and adapter. So many things to make, not enough time!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday!

Morning Star

In addition to the bitty blocks, I'm jumping back into my feathered star project. It's my slow sewing project, although it feels like most of what I'm working on is slow sewing. I've actually got two rather tight deadlines I need to work on, but with all this learning to be a teacher skill building I don't have as much time to sew as I thought. It is nice when I can sneak a few minutes in here and there.

View from my machine. And a finished Star, of course!

So far, this is the third start I've completed. This one is called the Morning Star, and I've been enjoying playing with the color placements. Maybe for the next block I'll do a dark background and a lighter star.

Some details. Not as precise as I'd like, but not too shabby. 

Because these blocks are pretty difficult to get precise with using the freezer paper method (it's better for larger sections, I think), and being my first paper piecing in months, I can live with the imperfections in this block. Plus, I kind of like how it gets a little character. 

In all it's glory! Or at least as much as I can capture with an iPod. 

Still thinking about what kind of camera to get, so my pictures are fairly low tech. I did get myself a new toy to ease me into South Texas life: a brand new sewing machine!

New Juki TL 2010 Q

I'm so excited and wish I had more time to sew! My old machine was a workhorse, in fact in the 40ish years it's been in the family it's never been serviced, and it's never shown signs of needing to. The biggest complaint was a foot pedal that was starting to stick, and some other general wear and tear items. I'm super excited to get to know this machine. So far, so good. Super smooth sewing, and I love how easy it is when there's an automatic thread trimmer! So fancy!

Linking up with WiP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced!

WiP Wednesday: Bitty Blocks are Back

So, as part of my commitment to blogging once a week, I figure I'll try and link up with WiP Wednesday or Finish it up Friday, depending of course on how productive I've been.

This week I started catching up on my bitty blocks. I made the houses from several months ago. Though not my favorite of the bitty blocks, I worked through them all. These are my favorites:

My favorite houses!

The bitty blocks are a fun project, and definitely got me motivated to sew again. I've got a few surprises coming up that I can't wait to share. For now though, here's a few more houses. They will finish at 3" square, and I made 16 of them. I left most of my scraps back in Massachusetts, so now I'm using my 'less loved' fabrics. I am a little apprehensive that I won't love the quilt in the end, but I have faith in the magic of scrap quilting. Also, I've got some ideas about alternative layouts, so I don't think I'll use the row method that Quiltmaker's Magazine suggests. 

Pile o' houses!

Love these fabrics!

Linking up to WiP Wednesday