Inlaid Table Runner Project Quilted!

I still haven't tackled the Mitered border table runner, but this one I finished up this week.

I have a semi large table. But the pattern for this and the other table runner make my table seem very small.  I decided to take the extra squares and make place mats.  But, when I went to make the borders, I found that it would still make this WAY TO WIDE.  I put just one small border on the table runner, and no borders on the place mats.

I used one of the patterns from my quilt samples, and quilted at home on my machine! lol. This is the first one to tackle on my own machine, as I have been renting the long arm machines at the quilt shop.

I marked with a green pencil marker.

And, did the place mats first, gaining momentum and encouragement. I quilted first through the center going both directions.  I used my tack gun and didn't have any trouble with puckering.

So, I moved on to the table runner.  I feel like this is as big as I would like to manage under the small throat space of my machine.  It worked fine, And, I marked just like the smaller place mats and quilted the same way.

When I attached the binding, I cut it a bit smaller, figuring a 1 1/4" would be plenty. However, I didn't account for that 1/4" very well.  First, it made a big difference when attaching the strips together.  This allows for only 1/8" seam allowance, and , well, have you tried to get diagonals to go straight with only 1/8"??  The worst part was when I sewed them onto the place mats, I didn't remember 1/8", but used the usual 1/4" and this is what happened.

Can you even see the edge of the binding?  ha. very little.  No way was it going to wrap around the sandwich and let me sew to the back.  I got out my familiar seam ripper, and had to remove all three bindings from placemats!  Luckily, I hadn't done the table runner yet.

Lesson learned?  Use the guides in the book! Adjust the seam allowance when you adjust the size of the binding strips!

I'm so happy to have finished this project. I had started it back in the Spring of prior, thinking these fabrics would be happy spring/summer colors.  THIS spring/summer it will be on my table!

Double Nine Patch Quilted and Finished

Another  project finished this week!  I'm on a roll and I can see the end of Freshman Year is getting close.

This project was a bit larger than previous projects. It ended up 60x60 with the borders, a true throw size quilt.  Previous projects were more of wall hanging size, or samplers.

I bought some backing fabric when I saw it on sale a while back at Joanne's. It was a green Paisley, and I thought it would be perfect for this quilt top, but as I pulled it out to use I realized it wasn't enough. I didn't have the measurements yet when I bought it, as I hadn't put the borders on.  I went back this week and the green was still there, but not on sale. I found a black "backing" fabric which is 108" and thought that would work real nice because I wouldn't have to make a seam to get to 60" on the bottom. There was only 61" left on the bolt and in the moment, I thought "YES, Just enough!"  Now, that would have been perfect if I was basting to quilt, but on a long arm I need at least 3" on each edge.  I spent way too much time trying to figure out how to make the outside edges cut straight with SO much fabric!  I could NOT figure out how to fold it that many times to get a good cut. And, do I add just a small panel on the edge? No, because if I ended up having that quilted onto the pieced top, it would look funny.  I've done that with the top and bottoms of several quilts.  In order to be able to attach the backing onto the zippered leader clothes, I sometimes need to add a strip across the top and bottom just for space.

Then, I had the "Ah, Ha" moment while doing dishes. .  .   Rip the fabric down the center!  Harriet has us rip fabric along the grain to find the straight edge.  Why not rip it down the center and add a middle panel?  YES!  And, I have just the fabric to use.. the green paisley!

By ripping it, I have a straight edge to work with, and I was able to cut my 10" strip of green easy 

enough. This is the first time I've had to piece my backing fabric. And, I'm now debating what color thread I'm going to use for quilting because black on the back would be nice, but green is the preferred top color, and I know I can't put two contrasting colors together or I have a hard time with getting the tension exact so the wrong color doesn't show up.

Making the backing was the biggest hurdle with this quilt!

I was going to try a different batting this time too. I've been using Mountain Mist 100% cotton from Joanne's. But, I thought a thicker poly blend might be nice to try.  The quilt store was all out! I'm really glad I threw the batting in the car just in case.

Again, I chose a pantograph to use and I decided to use green thread on both top and bobbin.  My quilting is good enough now that although the quilting will show up boldly on the back, I won't be embarrassed :)
Here it is finished:

And, this is the back!

And, here is the close up of the pattern I used.

I think there is improvement with all the practice I've been getting.

So, another project finished. That leaves 2 more quilts and 2 table runners remaining.

Harriet's Town Square Quilted

Another project competed!

With this project, I finally felt comfortable with the entire process.

• I was able to get the borders measured and straight no problem.
• I got my angles correct for the binding without any seam ripping.
• The Long Arm Quilting Machine didn't give me any fits with tension, and I was easily able to   find a pantograph that fit the proportions fine.  I was actually able to find the same fabric used   for the inside border still at the fabric store, so I was able to use it for the backing.  That made   choosing thread color for top and bottom easy... they were the same :)  It is much easier to pick the same or near same color thread for top and bottom so that tension is easier to adjust without noticing the wrong color on the other side.
• I was also able to come straight home and cut the edges and attach binding in the same evening!

Here is a close up of the quilting.  I felt comfortable with the stitches, and how well I'm able to get them to be continuously fluid. Its a big improvement from my first quilt.

As much as I appreciate not having to baste the quilt, and force it to go through my small machine, I'm having trouble with taking my time to do any free motion at the rental machine.  Pantographs are faster and easier on the long arm frame system, unless you were to have one at home where you can stop and start easily enough.  My dream would be to have a long arm at a sit down table, APQS: George, or HQ: Sweet Sixteen are the two I dream about when I think about browsing Craig's List and forums :)  First step is to find one to see, touch and try!  If anyone out there reading this has any experience with either of these machines please leave me a comment and let me know what I should be aware of, consider, and how you like yours after years of use!

This week, I also opened up the book to the "Final Exam".  Since I am getting close, I thought it would be nice to at least start working on it.  It is simply a picture of a quilt that we must figure out how to replicate!
First step was to choose a size and figure yardage.  I'm glad I'm starting now!

I've got my borders done for Harriet's Double Nine Patch, and I picked up the backing fabric when I was out this week, so when I was at the quilt shop yesterday quilting, I went ahead and made my next appt. for Wednesday this coming week.  It is sure nice to be able to finish all these project tops.  I will have used up all my rental hours on my first 10 hr. card with my next quilt.  That leaves 2 quilts and 2 table runners remaining. I'm hoping to gain the courage to work my home machine for the table runners. LOL.  But, I'm saving them for last.  Still having anxiety over the mitered borders for that runner!

Interlacing Circles project complete

Next quilt finished!

I was planning on getting it done last week, but I had a surprise visitor!  As most know, my quilting room is also my guest room, so I took it all down and stored all the tables against the wall in our family room and set up the  air mattress guest room :)
It was fun week spending time with my sister and was an easy reassemble when she left this morning.
I had everything put back together before noon, and at 8pm I can show you my finished quilt!

Last week I brought my sister along to the quilt store while I used the long arm machine to quilt this. We picked out a pantograph called Flower Power.  It was labeled "Advanced" because it had a lot of tight curves.  I was only planning on an hour rental, but this took 2 hours, but I think it was the right design for this retro colored quilt.

Today, I was able to cut the edges straight, make the binding, sew it on, and finish by hand.
Another crossed off the list!  I'm getting closer to that Final Exam :)

Cutting Binding angles and the Binding of Log Cabin Project

I am SO excited. The 3rd time really is the charm :)
My first two quilt bindings I had a terrible time with the 45 degree angle and the strips being even. Remember? They looked like this :

 

I just couldn't figure out how to get them to come out straight!

But, this time, I've got it! Look! They are perfectly straight!

 Since I'm more visual, and the instructions just didn't give me what I was looking for, maybe this will help someone else.  Since I don't sew anything else, I'm not that knowledgeable in how this works, except by what the instructions say. So, now this is a visual of what I have learned.

My ruler has a 45 degree line.  I lined it up perfectly against the top edge and cut off the end of the strip, both ends, wrong sides together.

 Now, I ran through the small piece that I cut off BEFORE I attempted to run my strips through. I think that trying to run the strip through by itself, it would get bunched up, and not pull properly through.  I was able to use my 1/4" guide somewhat, but mostly I made sure after I put them together as the book outlined, I sent them through sewing exactly from notch to notch, like this:

 The notches are more important than the 1/4" seam. And, make sure to finish with the piece of fabric also. It also helps to use the end of the seam ripper to hold the fabric in place as it is going through the needle. You can see that I don't use the seam guide here, or else it would not be straight when opening.

 

Press seams open, and press binding in half and press the end 1/4 " to the inside, I sewed the first layer to the front of quilt about 4".

And, the quilt lays perfectly on my table!  After I sewed the first 4", I cut thread and started again almost 2" away from where both layers come together. This is for the end of the strip to fit inside when you come back to this end.

When I got to the edge, this was tricky. Another part that wasn't that clear in the instructions.
Stop sewing about 1/4" away from the end. Leave the needle down. Lift presser foot, and turn your quilt to go the next side down.  Like this below.

Now, put presser foot back down, and push the back up button to sew back off the edge.

Next, fold the binding up, and turn back down so you have the nice square end.  You can pull a little thread through to make room if you need to, as it will get buried inside the binding, but DON'T cut it. I think the instructions did a good job of how to do the folding part. Now, sew straight onto the edge just as before.

 When you come to the end, you will simply tuck the end into that beginning opening, and keep sewing until you have it completed. It will then look just like all the other 45 degree angle seams!


This is what the front side looks like when you turn the binding over to back side and sew. A nice mitered corner!

 This is the back side of mitered corner!

So, after the 3rd time, I think I finally understand how to apply those instructions that seemed to miss a few key visuals.  

Another project complete.  I have an appt. at The Quilt Crossing for the Long Arm Machine next Thursday, so I better go get the borders on my next piece.  

Until next week......

Project 3: Log Cabin Quilting

The holidays are over, and I'm back to the sewing room!

Here is my log cabin pieced top, 32" x 32":

I spent 2 weeks on trying to figure out how to quilt this top.  I got 2 new quilting books for Christmas, Thanks Sis :) : Shape by Shape by Angela Walters, and Quilting Inside the Lines by Pam Clarke.  My goal with this quilt was to quilt from the front in a free motion style. My last 2 have been by pantograph, which I'm comfortable with and find rather easy and not very exciting.

I decided to use these two patterns:

The top one I decided would be for all the smaller squares.  The bottom pattern I wanted to use for the big center block of 4 squares.

The idea here is to only make the guidelines through center, with dots to help know where to make the rounded circles.
I chickened out, and made a few marks to help with the center square.  However, I think for the first time on free motion, I would have done better to pick a pattern that I could draw on the quilt first! But, that isn't my goal to follow lines, and draw them all over, so I kept to the guidelines and dots.

Because this is my first attempt, I am giving myself some leniency.  I could be practicing the Long Arm Quilting on large sheets of fabric, and never get anything done, or I can use these "learning" quilts and learn both aspects together along the way.  I've decided to use these quilts :)

So, please, don't be too critical... I'm going to show you my progress!
This is my first square.  It only took me 45 minutes to set up the machine and actually do this one square. LOL.  I practiced moving the machine in the manner I thought would get me there. It was a good thing to do that, as it was very different than practicing with my finger at home.

I found it was very hard to bring up my bobbin thread and take the small locking stitches to start.  And, I couldn't see where I was going when I was at the bottom and working back up to the left and top, which is why you see such a rounded left side in the middle.  

It took me the entire top row to get used to going slow, pausing at the corners, and figuring out how to see beyond the machine when I was at the bottom going back up. Sometimes, I didn't even get the quilting in the right square.  Twice I went into the next square with my point :(
This is much different than a pattern you follow by laser from the back of the machine!

Here is my center square:

I drew in the arcs, since I wasn't sure I could make the arcs consistent.  I didn't need to do that, since that wasn't really my problem.  I was supposed to come to within a couple stitches in the middle, so there wouldn't be big knots of thread, but I didn't get nearly close enough. I liked the design for the square though.

And, by the time I was done, here is my last square:

I see much improvement, but its far from good.  It will take much more practice before I can say I know what I'm doing.  This took a total of 1.5 hrs. I'm amazed at how much can be accomplished on the Long Arm.  I LOVE the no basting aspect.

Now, off to binding and it will be another project completed from Quilter's Academy Freshman Year.

I made another appt. at my Local Quilt Store to quilt my next project next week. I plan on skipping the table runner for now, and move onto the next one, which requires a border, so I better get sewing!

Goals for 2015

Happy New Year!

At this time of year, I reflect on what I accomplished last year, and think about what is still important to me and what I want to concentrate on this year.
I have a simple piece of paper that lists different areas of life: Financial, Health, Spiritual, Hobbies, etc.....
Last year I fell off the wagon half way through.  I was fairly intentional in my daily happenings, until I went on a road trip in the summer with my son.  When I got back, I just never got back into my routine :(  The Very Important things got done, but too much got left behind.
And, I wasn't doing the quilting at all last year, because I just didn't sit down and figure out what I wanted to do about the finished project tops and their quilting. It was a procrastination thing.

So, it is a fresh start. Don't you just love that about every January? I have my list of important things and quilting is one of them. LOL

My goal this year is to finish all the unfinished quilt tops from Quilter's Academy 1. There are 8 of them remaining. Two I finished in December.  And, I want to get started on Quilter's Academy 2, which I received as a gift this Christmas. Thanks Mom :) I don't believe I can finish the entire book this year, but I'd like to be working on projects weekly.

My hope is to be finished with the Academy 1 tops by May 1 before a house full of guests arrive for my son's High School graduation.   I hope to start on Sophomore Year soon so I can get back into piecing! Here is the list I used for my quilting goals:

Speaking of old projects.. I got out my project tops and was planning the quilting and I've already come up with the first problem.  I don't have backing fabric that goes with the tops!  We were given information about yardage needed for the project itself, but nothing was ever mentioned about the backing.  I have lots of wonderful fabrics I used for the tops, and would have wanted fabric to match on the back.  Now, it has been so long, I cannot go back and find any of these lines of fabric. :(  It will take me a little while to gather fabric for the backs.

Problem 2 comes with the dreaded table runner with the pointed ends.. (project 4)  I remember having to email Harriet about the instructions for this table runner.  Now, as I have it up on my design board, I realize I am really stuck with figuring out how to make mitered points on the border!  GRRRR. She simply says, this requires 6 mitered edges! I think if I were to do this all over again, this table runner doesn't belong with the other projects.  It is definitely a level 2 or 3 skill. lol  Too hard.  I may just put it away and wait until later to finish it.

So, what am I doing this week? I get to hunt down fabric! And, I am reading through Freshman Year again, to refresh my mind on what I have learned so far!