Quilting the Sashiko Project --post 2

Backing fabric

Goal number four on my June list was to prepare the project for quilting and to figure out the quilting. For two weeks, it hung on my design wall. I didn't hear what it wanted. One day, I decided to pick a scrap fabric for the back. I bought it for a project in the early 1990s which I gifted! Scraps from this fabric have made their way into several projects since. 

Auditioning pink

As I began to measure the scrap for piecing, it struck me that the handwork piece was too plain. I felt it needed a border. I pulled pink strips for a border. While the pink brightened the project, it overpowered it. Next, I auditioned dark strips. I even auditioned a scrap of the sheet that I''m weaving into the rug! I wasn't "sold" on my options. 

Auditioning a dark border and half square triangles

Then I remembered I had some half square triangles (HSTs) in the parts department. These finish at one inch so they were the right size. I had used pink and white fabrics. While the idea was good, the white wasn't right. Gertie, my inner squirrel, decided the project needed white.

White border added

I cut an inch strip of white fabric from my white scraps. After squaring the top, I stitched the white border to the top. I auditioned more dark strips. I decided the white would not make it obvious that I didn't have enough of the background fabric for an outer border. I also decided that a dark blue and pink HSTs in the border would be a great add. The HSTs remind me of rose thorns!

Ready to be layered

I almost cut the border strip at 3/4 of an inch; but, decided that the inch border was better. Now, I'm second guessing my decision! In person, the border looks great.

Background and curved lines around central motif

To quilt this project, I pulled silk thread for the needle and a cotton thread for the bobbin. I'm using a constant 50 weight blue cotton thread in the bobbin. I stitched around the motif in a dark blue thread.  Silk thread is wonderful. It adds texture and sheen in a subtle manner. I don't use it often because it is expensive!

I stitched a line a quarter of an inch away from the motif so that the quilting stopped before the motif. I framed the motif with three rows of stitching. I used two templates and a chalk pencil to make the placement line. It took me several tries before I had a shape that I found pleasing!

Template combination used to quilt the curved lines

I used a brighter blue thread to quilt the background around the motif with a filler stitch that resembles flowing water. I quilted pebbles around the motif to give the hand work depth. I did leave a quarter inch space between the motif and the pebbles.

Pebbles quilted around the central motif

l did quilt around the "veins" in the leaves and along the lines in the roses. I added a continuous curve to the half square triangles.

The array of threads used to quilt the project

In the border, I quilted straight lines, some horizontal and some vertical. I quilted a line in the middle of the white border. The project measured about 16 inches square. 

View of the quilting texture

The quilting provided great texture. You do need to stand close to see the texture. 

View of quilting texture on the back

The label is yet another that I picked up from the free table. The embroidery motif sure was perfect for this backing! I named it Sashiko and Rose. I bought a book, paid the class fee and purchased the class supplies. I spent about $130 to make this tiny piece! I also have about 50 hours of work into the project!

The label

I needed to piece the sleeve because I didn't have enough of a scrap to cover the width of my project. Other than the class supplies, I purchased nothing for this project. Even the batting was pieced from leftovers.

Sleeve and back of quilt

I bound the project in the fabric that I used for the outer border. I cut the binding at two inches so the binding is narrower than I usually make.

Front view

I'm loving this finish. Documenting the finish was goal number five on my July list. Finishing it was goal number 2j on my annual list. I've had ten finishes this year with eight finishes from my annual list! I used half a yard of fabric to finish this piece which reduces my stash overall to 74 and 3/4 yards. I have used one yard of fabric from my stash so far this month!

Two Reversible Aprons For A Special Granddaughter

Doll blankets AKA Fat Quarters

When I was visiting my youngest granddaughter in London last March, she showed me her doll blankets that one of her special aunties had gifted her. I tried to explain that I knew her blankets as fat quarters and asked if she would like to have an apron out of the fabric.

Apron making in process

She looked at me like I had grown horns on the top of my head. First, there was not "fat" in the fabric and it was "whole" not a quarter! She is four years old. I couldn't argue with her logic. She was NOT letting her blankets become an apron! I returned home sans the fat quarters. A month later her uncle visited. Her mama managed to slip the fat quarters into his luggage with a note to make the aprons! She and her mama will be here in a few weeks for a visit. It was time to make the aprons!

Pocket detail using a coordinating fabric

I found a free child's reversible apron pattern on line which used three fat quarters. I rummaged through my fabrics and found fabrics to coordinate with the fat quarters so that I could make two aprons. The prints with the people characters was printed horizontally. Using the fabric as per the pattern meant that the girls would be sideways on the apron. That orientation wouldn't fly with my granddaughter!

One side of two reversible aprons

I added a little fabric to allow the girls in the print to be vertical! It took some time to make the straps and apply the pocket. The yellow pocket is smaller than the printed pocket because that was all the fabric I had!

Second side of two reversible aprons

I hope my granddaughter will like the aprons so much that when she travels to her godparents home she will pack one. Her godfather is a chef. She does get to do a little meal preparation with him which she loves. At the least, I hope trying to decide which apron she wants to wear and then which side she wants to wear will be at least a five minute activity here!

Miss A

Making these aprons was goal number seven on my July list. I used the equivalent of two fat quarters to make these aprons from my stash. I have now used half a yard of fabric from my stash this month. I've a net loss of 74 and a quarter yards of stashed used this year. 

Linking to.Sew and Tell and To Do Tuesday.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge Aqua--post 8

Scraps and leftover chunks

Angela, the creator of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color, chose aqua as the color for July. I didn't have many strings of aqua so I looked through Martha's scrap bag. I added a few. Then I pulled the chunks I had remaining from past projects.

Piecing the aqua

To have enough fabric, I needed to throw in a few teal and turquoise strings to have enough string material to piece all the rectangles. I believe I managed an aqua vibe to the block! 

Strings leftover

I had few strings remaining, which is great! It makes me so happy to be using instead of collecting!

One block

Then it was on to piecing the gray and black bits to the blocks. Gosh, my table gets to be such a jumbled mess as I work through the blocks! 

Four blocks sewn into one big block equals two big blocks

I spent a day piecing the aqua part of the block. I spent a day and a half piecing the grey/black part of the block and piecing the sections together. Matching the intersections has improved since I began gluing the center string.

I need four more blocks. Gertie is thinking that for two of the blocks, I piece one additional big block of green and an additional big block of yellow. She is likely right; but, I'll piece purple next and then decide! It is shaping up to be 60 x 96 inches. I've asked Gertie to think about ideas for getting it to 72 inches wide. She said she would appreciate suggestions from you. She is such a cheeky squirrel!

Blocks so far

To answer a question I've received about the foundation that I use to sew the strings--it is newsprint. Weekly grocery circulars and the voter's pamphlet from the May primary are my current sources since it is "free." I use a short stitch length--12 to 15 stitches per inches or 1.5- 2.0 setting when I'm stitching the strings to the paper. I do try to back stitch at the beginning and end of the seam. Removing the paper is easy, although it is messy. I tend to remove the paper when I'm ready to sew a big block together. I do take a victory lap around each big block to discourage any seam from "unsewing" itself!  Piecing the aqua strings was goal number two on my July list.

Linking to Finished or Not Friday, Patchwork and Quilts, Rainbow Scrap Challenge and Oh Scrap.

Piecing Strings--post 2

The string bag in June

That string bag was calling to me. I was thinking about goal number three on my July list which was to sew strings from the 6 1/2 inch and 4 1/2 inch string bags. I was curious as to what I would find in Martha's scrap bag. 

The pile of fabrics to sort

To start, I pulled about five inches from the bag of scraps to the sorting table. Any aqua fabrics when into the Rainbow Scrap Challenge strings. There were a few of those.

Partial blocks, block parts, chunks of fabric

The pile contained partial blocks, blocks, squares, rectangles, triangles, crumb triangles, strips and strings! There were even a few pieces of similar fabric that might have been cut for a border for a small wall hanging. I started a bag for triangles and another for floral fabric squares. The black fabrics went into my Scrap Challenge project bin. The chunks went into my chunk drawers.

Strings, strips,  squares and a couple heart blocks

I sorted strips, squares and strings. I put the strips and squares into my scrap saving system. The strings went into my 6 1/2, 4 1/2, 3 1/2 and 2 1/2 inch bags.

Progress in July--reduced by almost half

Progress at the end of the sorting session was great. Maybe after one more sorting session, I will empty the bag! While I applaud Chantal (At the Corner of Scrap and Quilts) for her ability to make blocks immediately from the scraps, I contented myself to stitch the strings. My plan was to stitch four strips of strings in all the sizes but the 2 1/2 inch size. I'll save that stitching for when my youngest granddaughter is visiting.

6 1/2 inch strings

I started piecing the 6 1/2 inch strips to the paper foundation. I pieced four strips for a total of 88 inches. Of course, I had strings left to save for another sew day! The photo below contains all the 5 1/2 inch strips I have pieced so far!

I pieced the 4 1/2 inch strips next. I have another 88 inches of fabric!

I moved on to the 3 1/2 inch strips. Yep. . .another 88 inches of fabric!

I sew from the largest to the smallest because sometimes, there are bits left that will work in a smaller unit. Sometimes, I've miscalculated the correct size strip. This way, I make better use of my strip sewing time! 

The string bags are manageable so that means that they are ready to receive more strings as I make them.

I believe I'm close to having made enough "fabric" for string borders for a project!

Linking to: Oh Scrap, Sew & Tell and To Do Tuesday.

June Recap and July Goals

Goal number 1

My June goals were:

✔1. Make progress on my guild challenge project--I'm considering adding words and/or graphics. . .

UPDATE: I took the project to one of my small group meetings. I explained the challenge rules. I talked about my inspiration behind the challenge and the symbolism in my project. When I talked about adding graphics and words, the hands down response was "Stop." "Layer, baste and quilt it!" I took their advice as I tend to over work an idea! It is ready to be quilted!

✔2. Finish Good Fortune. 

✔3. Determine the quilting for "Read," the project for the book, "The Last Bookshop in London."

✔4. Determine the quilting and the backing as well as layer and glue baste the sashiko project.

✔5. Finish my small group challenge project.

✔6. Publish a post of my sourdough bread

Goal number four 

recipe tries.

✔7. Make string blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This month the color is pastel. 

✔8. Make progress on my rug weaving project. I spent a few days at the end of the month making progress. I think I might be getting the hang of the process!

UPDATE: I spent four days this month weaving. The photo in this post is progress after using one of the flannel pillow cases. The rug measures 15 inches in diameter!

✔9. Begin string piecing bits from the bags that over time I've gathered 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 4 1/2 and 6 1/2 inch segments. The bag is over full. The time has come! 

✔10. Process the leftovers of the backings and battings from Good Fortune, Dash and Beyond the Surface.

✔11. Determine which Bonnie Hunter project to work on next. Will it be a leader/ender or a started project?

Goal number eight

Wahoo. . .I had THREE finishes this month! I have thoughts of a quilting plan for my guild challenge. I made fabric strips and blocks out of strings. It was another great month!

Fabric Accounting:

Current Month:

Fabric in: 18 yards (I bought wide backing fabric)

Fabric out: 29 1/2yards

Net loss for the month:  11 1/2 yards 

Year to Date:

Fabric in: 42 3/4 yards

Fabric out: 116 1/2 yards 

Net loss: 73 3/4 yards 

Best Book of the Month: The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery.  I was

Apron fabric

surprised to learn how solitary their lives are as well as how interesting their lives are.

My July goals are:

1. Make progress on Triple Treat. I cut more blocks to piece at my in person Maven sew day.

2. Piece the string blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This month the color is aqua. I've pulled my scraps which aren't many!

3. Spend a few sewing sessions piecing string blocks. The 4 1/2 inch and 6 1/2 inch string bags need emptying!

4. Layer and baste butterfly quilt number four. It was on my annual list last year.

Aqua fabri

5. Document finishing the sashiko project.

6. Make progress on my rug weaving.

7. Make an apron for the youngest granddaughter.

8. Begin quilting the guild 250th/50th anniversary challenge quilt.

9. Figure out what to do for the next book club quilt. Our book is "By Her Own Design" by Piper Hugely.

Linking to Patchwork and Quilts.

Read--post 2

Project to determine the quilting

Goal number three on my June list was to determine the quilting for Read. I started stitching the center of the ribbon. Eventually, I stitched on each edge of the ribbon. I knew I wanted to do some dense quilting on the book and around "Read." 

Space divided; ghost strings quilted

I was stuck with what to do in the rest of the space. While I pondered, I stitched in the ditch around the strings at the top of the project. I was still stuck. When that happens, I divide the space. This time, I was stuck with how to do that! 

Gertie, my inner squirrel, and I had a conference. I thought, "What is already in the project that I can use as my guide?" My eyes lit upon the strings. I could divide the space into segments the size of the string blocks! Using a chalk pencil, I divided the space like that. 

I stepped back. I liked what I saw. I had some thoughts about what to put into the rectangles. Gertie chimed in with why not create ghost strings? Good idea, I replied. Gertie raced off doing her happy dance.

Filler stitches behind Read

I pulled a grey thread that was similar in color to the background and began stitching lines. I used the lines from the strings as my guide. Except, I matched the lines at the intersections because it lends better fluidity to the piece. It didn't take long to stitch the lines. I did use a ruler and ruler foot to quilt the lines.

Fillers used to quilt the book cover

After the lines, I stitched a couple filler stitch designs behind the word Read. A few pebbles within the word and some swirls in the background felt right. Then, I began quilting the book cover. I quilted pebbles down the spine. I used a darker gray cotton thread to quilt the floral motif. To make the design standout, I stitched over the lines three times. I switched thread to the lighter gray and quilted leaves in the background. I quilted a few pebbles in the space above the book as a fill. I quilted straight lines in the curved small sections at the top of the book to represent pages.

X's were a no go

I had considered hand stitching X's in the bottom four rectangles to represent the people that the character read to during the air raids. I didn't like how the X's looked so I switched to a simple running stitch. 

Back view of the hand stitching

I used one thread of black Aurifil 30wt thread that I doubled so I could begin the stitch without needing a knot. I popped the knot into the batting when I finished a line. I started with a no knot technique. I chalk marked some lines and I used masking tape to mark other lines. I still couldn't manage to stitch straight with either marking method!

Stitching the lines 

The hand stitched lines leave my mark as the maker. I decided the lines represent the text in a book.

The project waiting for facing

I hand washed the project in the sink to remove the glue basting. I blocked it. I was surprised at how wonky one side of the project was! 

The sleeve

After trimming the project, I added a facing. I had enough of the gray fabric to make the facing. I did make an inside mitered corner for the facing. 

Sleeve stitched in place

The sleeve was a fabric that arrived in my stash around the same time as the backing. I had considered using it as a neutral; but, decided it was too busy a print for that purpose.

The leftovers after adding the sleeve and facing

The little bit of gray leftover went into my Rainbow Scrap Challenge tub to use next month! I cut the leftover sleeve fabric into five inch squares.

Label

I added the label. Yes, I picked it up from the free table! Now I have another finish! I realized that this is number seven in my line series. I need to add that information to the label!

Thread used in project

I did give the project a final steam. The project measures 24 x 33 inches. 

View of the finished back

I used one and a half yards of fabric for this project. I have a net loss of 11 and half yards of stash this month!

View of the finished front

Linking to: Oh Scrap, Sew & Tell, To Do Tuesday, I Quilted This and Finished or Not Friday.