March 8, 2013

Yesterday I went to the Bullhead City Quilter's Guild workshop. The project for making was called the Sunset Runner. I previously purchased the fabric but knew my choices were wrong the moment I saw the finished table runners displayed. The object of the design is to showcase the center with dark fabrics and to edge the sides with light fabrics. In choosing the jelly roll and charm pack that I did, I matched colors rather than darks and lights. So I stitched the charm pack squares together to form the borders and then went to JoAnn's Fabrics & Crafts afterwards and purchased different fabrics for my center. Because the border squares were all prints, I chose only solid colors for the center. I finished sewing the center strips together and then attached the borders. Not as pretty as the design pattern, (my opinion), but still a very presentable (and different) runner for this pattern. Truly, whatever is created is fine because there are no specific rules that apply. As long as I like it, that's all that matters. I can use whatever colors, fabrics and changes to any design, because I am making it. It is really amazing to see how one pattern looks so different with all the choices made by each maker. One MAIN lesson I am learning is to purchase only the colors that I like, not necessarily what the pattern design requires. That is true for yarn in knitting and crocheting, too. Finishing a project that I don't like is too expensive.

As you can see, the colors in the center are also in the border squares. The borders go from darker colors to the lighter ones, so I reversed the center panel by placing the darker colors in the center. Today I will prepare the batting and the backing, hoping to attach both. I will cut-out the binding and maybe get it sewn on today, too. There is an appliqué that is sewn on opposite sides at each end of the edging. I hope to get that cut-out and attached, too. May be too much for one day. Especially since Steve will be arriving soon after the quilting group ends. He will be here for five hours and then leave again. So probably, this project will still takes several days before completion. That's okay!

While I was still at the guild workshop, I went ahead and started one purse after I finished the squares for the table runner. I learned how to make the fabric/batting tubes and stitch them together. This is a gorgeous design. I bought jelly rolls for each one, but I really prefer the way I saw two other purses quilted by two guild quilters. They cut their strips from matching fabrics, not from jelly rolls. Then they used the strips in a light to dark pattern (one design) and with matching handles and pockets. My designs will be good, too; but not the same. My strips are color coordinated and will blend beautifully. When I am done with the four already prepared for sewing, I think I will make one for myself using the dark to light design. We'll see.

The fabric and batting are folded to the centers and then stitched to form a tube. Then each tube is zigzagged to another one until a solid rectangle is formed.  

I just asked the ladies in my quilting group which appliqué method they would recommend for my stem and leaves on the table runner. Should I appliqué then quilt, or should I quilt and then appliqué? The overall consensus was to appliqué first and then quilt. Although as I stated above I can do whatever I want. The reason to appliqué first is that the stitching won't show on the backside when the quilting is finished. So that is the next step. Here is what the table runner looks like with the pinned appliqué attached.

Now to the stitching... No wait, Steve just arrived. All goes on hold NOW!!!!!!
Such a wonderful visitation with Steve. Just too short. Too late today to do any further sewing. Will sit and knit. <grin>

March 5, 2013

Another lady in the park, Cathy, joined Wendy and I for The Needlers. She was working on quilt pieces. She was making yo-yos and adding them to each piece. Then she will sew the pieces together for the quilt top. Wendy is embroidering and I cut out the batting strips for the purses. I also added the elastic to the Sasha skirt. Now I will wash, dry, wet and shape it.

Completed Sasha Skirt
(before washing, drying, and shaping)

Since I have the Sasha skirt done, I must decide what the next project(s) will be. I am still working on the tank top but I will continue it now only at home. Because I am still designing it and keeping all my notes in one place, I don't want to carry it anywhere. I think I will begin preparing for this next winter when all the snow birds return after summer. I would like to teach knitting and crocheting. To do that I will use the block(s) system. Each block will involve learning new stitches and techniques. Then when all the blocks are completed, they can be combined to make an afghan, a vest, a skirt, or whatever. I need to get the blocks done now so I can use them for display and demonstration later.

I changed my mind! I went through my stash yarn and couldn't settle on any I really wanted to use for the demonstration afghans. This would mean that buying more yarn would be necessary. Well I don't want to do that right now. So I went through my pending projects and decided to start the vest that is knit with 1/2-inch fabric strips. I cut one non-selvaged edge every 1/2-inch and then tore the fabric for the six-yards making long strips. Then I stitched each strip together overlapping the ends. I rolled the strips into two balls - 1/2 for knitting the front and the other for the back. Now I'm ready to begin.

Fabric before making strips

1/2-inch fabric strips rolled into a ball for knitting a vest.

Well, I just took the Sasha skirt out of the dryer. It is VERY soft and drapes beautifully. BUT I don't like it now. I loved knitting the skirt and am kinda disappointed that I don't like it. It really looks good for a younger person, but on me, it doesn't. So I guess one of the granddaughters will receive it now. Sigh!

No regrets, however. The joy of knitting is the experience, first and foremost. The wearing is just "icing on the cake".

Drove to Kingman, AZ today and sat with the "Wednesday Purls" at the knitting shop The Spinster. There were about 2-dozen ladies sitting around in a circle knitting and crocheting. I was welcomed warmly and everyone was interested in seeing my fabric-strips project. The woman sitting next to me on my right is named Happy. She was learning to knit. There were two sisters sitting next to me on my left. The one closest to me is a children's book author. She has written a book about a cat. She and her sister were knitting tiny mouse bookmarks to sell with her books. They were very cute. The little mice, I mean! The sisters were cute too. Ha!! The rest of the ladies were a mixed set, from young (one with her baby) to old. I was very pleased with the meeting and I think I will give it my best to attend each week. I asked about the group that Robin, the owner, had previously shared with me who meet weekly in Bullhead City. But she still didn't know any names and the other ladies didn't either. It takes almost 45-minutes to drive there from here but for right now it is the best and closest weekly meeting to me.

I just watched a video excerpt on Facebook about Beyonce's demonic possession and the name of that demon is Sasha. Surprise! That is also the name of the skirt pattern I just finished. Yuck!!! I may throw away the skirt just for that reason alone. I don't want ANYTHING associated with demonic forces in my life.

March 4, 2013

Hooray! The quilt has been delivered to Hilda Reck for the final quilting on her long professional quilting machine. It was really neat to meet her and to see where she lives. She has her commercial long-quilting machine set-up in her garage with a large cutting table and lots of storage shelves. Because she has several projects current and pending for the "snow birds", who want their projects done before they return to their homes between now and the end of April, she probably won't have mine ready until May 4th. So it will be a while before I can surprise Bruce with his gift.

She explained several neat items for me.
1.  Push - don't pull the border fabric through the sewing machine when stitching it to the top. Reason: the fabric stretches otherwise and then bunches when quilted. She said I did a beautiful job and she didn't expect any problems with mine.
2.  The different brands of batting. She showed me several she would never use. Then I explained I only liked the natural fibers. She recommended Quilter's Dream Cotton that can be ordered online. They carry the 100% cotton and also 100% wool, which either can be ordered in varying weights and sizes. She also said that JoAnn's carries Warm & Natural, which is a comparable brand and doesn't need to be ordered.

Went to JoAnn's and got the batting I will need to make the purses.

Carolyn (her and Nancy went with me to my first guild meeting) came by so I could assist her in completing another microwave bowl holder. She finished one and the second one didn't look right to her. We fixed it and drew the measurements for the darts on a third one.

I finished the Sasha skirt with the exception of the elastic in the waistband. I will finish that tomorrow.

March 3, 2013

I went yesterday and purchased some more fabric to make additional microwave reversible bowl holders, the project that the Quilting Guild did last Thursday. I liked it so well, I want to make several more to give as gifts. Steve really liked the holder and chose the fabric he wants me to make for my kitchen. I had a lot of the 100% cotton batting and thread leftover from the two I completed, so this will be a good way to use those.

Choices for gifts

Steve's Choice

I also got the fabric that will be used in this Thursday's project. It is another table runner but quite a different pattern. The pattern is called "Sunset Runner". It introduced me to "Jelly Rolls" and Charm Packs". Jelly Rolls are packages of pre-cut 2 1/2" strips. Charm Packs are packages of pre-cut 5" squares. Each package uses fabrics that blend well together.  I hope my choices work well together since I didn't exactly choose the same patterns in each package. The colors look compatible to me, but the proof will be with the finished project. <grin>

I also bought fabric to make Vickie and her girls purses. The pattern is a little more advanced than what I might be able to do but I'm going to try anyway. It is called Bailey Island Hobo from Aunties Two Patterns. It features batting stuffed fabric strips. <yikes> I will make the small one.

I'll post photos when I complete these projects. <fingers crossed>

I bought the remaining fabric needed to complete the backing for Bruce's quilt. I will prepare it tomorrow and then see about getting it to the quilter. Then I will need to prepare everything for Thursday's Guild class. <whew>

March 2, 2013

Good morning! Today is Saturday and Steve arrives home in a short while. He doesn't get to stay long but a few hours with him will be wonderful.

I have done much since last Tuesday. I am now working on the last layer of my Sasha skirt. In fact, I only have one more pattern repeat to complete and then I will finish that layer. After that I insert the elastic and can begin wearing it. I will wash and dry it first, however, to relax and soften the flax/linen fibers.

It is difficult to see the actual color of that top and last ruffle layer. It is a light green. This pattern was much simpler and more fun to knit. I liked it better. The dark cranberry at the very top is the waistband. The skirt is crumpled and lying on the top of my knitting bag.

On Thursday, I attended my first meeting with the Quilting Guild here in Bullhead City. There is a business meeting and two class offerings each month. I think it costs $20 to join from June 1 - May 31 each year. That's cool. While at this meeting, which was a class for making microwave pot holders for bowls, I made two. Really cute, I think.

Everything had to be 100% cotton because of the use inside a microwave. I bought two packages of precut fabric and a bag of the batting. Then I found some 100% cotton thread. Each piece is a 10-inch square. There is a piece of batting that goes with each fabric square. Each side is stitched and formed with darts and then stitched to each other. Once turned, the topstitching completes the design and helps with the shaping. As you can see, the holders are reversible. They are also washable.

I also discovered that Carol Neff, who is a member of the guild, lives in my park and is a year-rounder like me. That means, if she's willing, that I will have a quilting partner year round. Hooray!

I also called two quilters who own the long-arm quilting machines to see if I could have one of them schedule me for the completion of the quilt I made for Bruce. Paul's machine won't handle the size of the quilt but Hilda's will. She has agreed to quilt mine for $174 which includes attaching the binding for me, too. I plan to purchase the 3/4-yd of fabric to finish the backing today and then take everything to her ASAP. She says she won't be able to get to it for about 2-months. That's fine with me.

So once Steve arrives, I am off to purchase the remaining backing fabric and will soon have a completed quilt for my son.

February 26, 2013

I am not expecting anyone to actually read my postings. I usually just use these to capture my thoughts about the stuff happening in my life, especially as it relates to knitting and now quilting.

Steve is gone for 8 days and so I have lots of time to use for my projects. I am also walking three times a week with my father-in-law. This is good for both of us. It helps me get outside the house and makes it easier to take Christy, my dog, for a walk, too. Otherwise, I might never leave the inside.

Yesterday, I baked lots of fruit nut bread. It was an orange and pecan mixture. Very yummy. I also keep a sourdough starter in the fridge and yesterday I set it out to be fed and to ferment. Last night I mixed up the dough and left it to rise overnight. Now I have two loaves rising and will bake them later this afternoon. Steve loves sourdough bread. I have now acquired a taste for the chewy texture, too. It makes great toast.

I have finished the top of Bruce's quilt. I am now ready to pin the backing, the batting and the top together. But when I was measuring the backing material, I discovered that I am 3/4-yard short. So I must wait until Steve arrives home with the car so I can go to JoAnn's and purchase what I need. So that is on hold for right now.

TOP LEFT CORNER

I added a dark border around the entire pieced portion. Then I added the border displaying the logo. I finished the top with a white border to showcase the entire top. The binding will be from the logo fabric after the quilt is quilted on a long-arm quilting machine by a professional quilter.

BOTTOM LEFT CORNER

I need to leave in about 10-minutes to go knit with The Needlers, my group I started here in the community. So far, only Wendy and I attend, but that is a good start. Wendy crochets and I knit the Sasha skirt. Many of the other residents and some visitors poke their heads through the door to see what we are doing. Some actually come inside and ask questions and visit for a while. As interest increases, I am sure the number of participants will too.

I have enjoyed knitting the Sasha skirt. This third ruffle layer has caused me more re-doing (tinking) than usual. The pattern is simple enough but I keep adding parts of the pattern in places where it is not supposed to be knit. Then I don't discover the mistake until two rows later. Sigh! But at least I am still knitting. Smile.

February 23, 2013

Wow, it has been a while since I posted. But then I have been quite busy. I have been knitting the Sasha skirt and quilting several projects. Most of the ladies here in the RV park are more interested in quilting than knitting. I enjoy this craft, too, but not enough to give up my knitting. So I have been doing both.

I am working on the third of the four layers of the Sasha skirt. If you notice in the photo, I have completed the underskirt (the cranberry) with the lace ruffle. Then the lighter pink is a different pattern ruffle and the forest green is the third layer ruffle, the one I am currently knitting. I really hope this looks as good on me as I am anticipating. <smile>

The Sasha Skirt

I have completed several quilted projects, which has surprised even me. I only began this two months ago.

Place Mats

Fall Inspired Reversible Table Runner - Side 1

Hot Pad

Fall Inspired Reversible Table Runner - Side 2

Fall Inspired Reversible Table Runner

Fall Inspired Reversible Table Runner

A second Fall Inspired Reversible Table Runner - Side 1

Side 2 of the above Reversible Table Runner

A Mystery Quilt Project

The mystery quilt was fun. The instructions are partially provided so that the next step is always a mystery until revealed after completing the previous step. I learned about fat quarters, which are pre-cut pieces of fabric that can be purchased in a variety of colors. I bought 20 for this quilt and you can see the randomness of each in the pattern. The pattern is called a "scrappy quilt" because the leftover pieces of fabric from other quilt projects (the scraps) are used to piece this quilt together. I didn't have any scraps so I bought the fat quarters, which were suggested in the pattern. I quilted this on my sewing machine rather than pay to have it done professionally. I also could have hand-quilted it but didn't want to since the sewing machine is quicker. If anyone is interested in how I did this, just ask.

Because most of the residents are snow birds in our RV park, they will be leaving and returning to their permanent homes in the next couple months. I don't want to stop quilting just because everyone leaves so I will be visiting the local Quilting Guild that meets three times each month here in Bullhead City. Two of the ladies in our park group have been attending the meetings and invited me to join them this upcoming Thursday. It will be interesting to see what is available to me during the summer, hot months here.

Steve just left this morning to drive three tours. He will be gone until next Friday, so I will have plenty of free time to knit, knit, and knit. He took the car and that means I will not be moving to far from my front door. I went to the grocery store last night and stocked my cabinets. Everything else is close to me and available within the RV park. 

I will also be finishing the quilt I started for Bruce. When he discovered that I had finished the mystery quilt, he expressed a desire for a quilt made by me for him. He said it didn't need to be KY blue. Sure it doesn't. So I found the U of K logo fabric online at JoAnn's Fabric & Crafts site. I have finished 4 of the 6 rows of the pieced top. I will be able to finish all of this quilt by myself except for the quilting. It is too large to handle with my sewing machine. I will either need to tie-quilt it by hand or pay a professional to do it on the large quilting machines. Haven't decided which I will do yet.

The pattern is called BQ2. It seemed perfect for the logo squares. I bought a matching KY blue and white fabrics for the light and dark sections of the quilt.

Bruce said he would like a king size quilt, but this pattern only makes a queen size and that is almost more than large enough for me to handle. But because he is my son and I love to do things for him especially when I know he will be pleased, I am stepping outside my comfort zone a lot here.

The logo fabric came in a 4-yard length. There are two different logo patterns, and I had to fancy-cut them, which means I cut-out each square by hand individually rather than use the rotary cutter cutting through several layers at a time. This took one full day from early morning until well after dark to cut-out the required 30 squares. Now I am joining the squares to the light and dark sections and then combining the finished squares into the rows.

This is the first square pattern.

This is the second square pattern, which is a mirror image of the first square.

Because of the different patterns in the two squares, the placement of each became important. Fifteen were arranged in a 1,2,1,2,1 pattern for the 1st, 3rd, and 5th rows and fifteen were arranged in a 2,1,2,1,2 pattern for the 2nd, 4th, and 6th rows.

Needless to say, I WILL BE BUSY for a while. But I love that.