Granddaughter Sleepover with Guest Writer Miss K

Peach/blueberry crisp oven ready

Hi, this is Miss K, and I had the pleasure of a sleepover with my Papa and Gran. I'm writing the post today while my Gran recovers from knee surgery.

Contents of the bag of solid scraps

For lunch Papa made us BLTA (Bacon Lettuce Tomato Avocado) sandwiches with chips. It was the perfect lunch! I baked a yummy Peach and Blueberry Crisp recipe. The recipe turned out to be super easy to make. It was delicious! If you have any peaches and blueberries, I would suggest this.

Marking the pieces

Gran taught me how to make curvelets, picking through all the colorful scraps, and finding pieces that were the right size. They were so easy and fun to make using templates and extra scraps! We used a thin needle and small stitches. We don't know how they will be used; but, they are fun to make. . .well, the small stitches are hard! I like the gluing part though! I showed my sister how to make them too.

Cutting the pieces

After we watched a show, we had an appetizer of tater tots and an entree of Gran's famous chicken noodle soup made by Papa! It was amazing and very filling! We next had our crisp with ice cream and all I can say is it was great.

Teaching Miss J where to place the glue

Go Beavers! We turned on the Beaver football game. Miss J and I went to bed just after the second half. That morning we woke up and had pancakes, bacon, and orange juice. Our mama came around ten to pick us up. I had an amazing time!

The first three curvelts before trimming and pressing

Goal number four on Gran's October list was to share the information about a new handwork project. Gran wanted to link to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday, Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts and to Cynthia at Oh Scrap.

Play--The Finish--post 3

To quilt this piece, I first stitched in the ditch in, as Cindy Needham says, "Every Stinkin' Seam!" I used a monofilament thread in the needle and a navy 50 weight thread in the bobbin. As I stitched in the ditch, I thought about the quilting I have seen on Modern quilts. There often aren't leaves, stipples or tiny hearts. There are lines. Often the lines are repeated evenly across the quilt. Some lines are straight. Some lines are curved. Sometimes there are grids and sometimes, there are bubbles. Often there are ghost blocks like nine patches, flying geese and triangles.

Getting ready to stitch bubbles

Bubbles seemed like the place to begin. I used a template from Westalee Design Starter Set that Sew Steady distributes. I liked the openness of the design. I used a light grey 50 weight cotton thread. In between the bubbles I added a few curved bumps. 

Completed bubbles

I'm coming clean here, there are even a few curved filler motifs, The variety gives the eye something to view. It was a challenge to not stitch more filler designs!

Free hand pebbles

I moved on to quilt another grey section. I like to make as few thread changes as possible so I'll often stitch with one color thread as long as I can. This time, I chose to free hand quilt large pebbles. The pebbles are a little more dense than the bubbles. I did leave a quarter inch of space around the blue X so the pebbles had a border. I also stitched down the center of the skinny grey strips I had pieced in the project.

Blue X shapes

As I had finished the blue X area quilting, I had "X" on my brain. Actually, my inner squirrel, Gertie, wanted to quilt X's. She liked them in the previous modern quilt that I finiahed. I decided to use a blue polyester 40 weight thread to quilt several large X shapes in the pumpkin shaded fabric of the lower left quadrant. So the stitching stood out more, I stitched over the lines four times. No ideas were coming to mind, as to how to fill in the space around the X. When that happens, I move to another space. Often an idea or two will come to me when I'm stitching in another space. I did use a template ruler to help me make the lines appear straight.

More blue Xs

Once completed, I looked at the piece to see where I could repeat the shape, but, on a smaller scale. I settled on a pumpkin curve in the upper left quadrant. I did chalk the Xs as a way to audition my idea and to evenly disperse the motif across the area.

Stitching a grid

There were more areas to use the blue thread; but, I was out of ideas. I switched to a dark green thread and stitched a grid in the upper and lower right quadrants.

Stitching another style of X

There were some other areas in upper left quadrant that I stitched an X and then echoed the design. 

Stitching a motif on the triangle bands

I also stitched a simple shape in the dark green triangles. I echoed this shape and stitched ghost triangles into the remaining area of the curved areas.I started with the light grey band and later, I switched to the grey thread and stitched triangles in the dark green bands. Again, chalking the line allowed me to audition the shape.

Straight line quilting

Using a couple shades darker orange thread than the fabric, I moved on to quilting the lighter orange areas. I decided to quilt straight lines as often as possible. I decided that I would use straight lines to outline the blue Xs that I had stitched earlier. I decided to keep the spacing the same; but, orient the lines in different directions. Changing the line orientation gives the eye some interest.

Another area of grid quilting

Then, I decided to move on to the blue section and create another grid in that area. I used a one inch grid on the diagonal. I wanted to stitch water in the other large blue area; but, I thought it would be better to add some stitches to the lime green areas first. I've found if I distribute the quilting as I work on the piece I have less of a chance of having to ease fullness later.

Stitching flying geese and a few curves

Using the triangle shape as inspiration, stitched triangles in the green band. I was careful to stitch the shapes in the same direction so I had a sort of flying geese effect. I measured inch and a half segments and marked each segmentwith chalk. I eyeballed an chalked a line in the center of the green. From there I used a ruler template to stitch the geese.

I also switched thread and stitched a curved shape into a light orange section of the quilt. I spaced the curves apart to give the area an airier feel. While the orange thread was in the machine I stitched a few flying geese in another section. I now had geese in three of the four quadrants.

Adding a few flying geese in the orange.

In the phot above, you a see my audition of some curved lines around the dark green triangles. 

View of the various textures

I did stitch the water. I used gently curved lines. I sewed about a quarter of the lines with the polyester thread and the remaining lines with a cotton thread that read the color of the fabric. In this piece, most of the time, I chose thread that matched the fabric. My goal with the quilting was to add texture. 

Stitched some ghost triangles in blue 
polyester thread

With each piece I stitch, I hope the initial design will catch your eye from across the room and you will want to view the piece more closely. I hope the quilting will keep your eye busy so that you will stay a while!

A section of the quilting motifs

It took me days to quilt this small piece. I contemplated what I'd like to stitch. Then I'd stitch it. Sometimes, I wasn't able to capture "the look" I had in my head or the stitching was too wobbly. In those cases, I spent some time unstitching. For the amount of thread in this piece, the unstitching was minimal.

View of the "water" lines

I added a few more lines in the green arcs. This time, I curved the lines slightly.

Adding a few more lines in the green arcs

When I found myself in an area that needed something, I often added large pebbles.

Transitions between motifs and shapes

When I became stuck with what to insert in one of the green arcs, I decided to add some petal shapes with pebbles in the background.

Adding some petal shapes

When I became stuck with the large lime green space, I followed Cindy's advice of dividing the space into a smaller unit. I eye balled some triangles that I filled in with a pattern and surrounded with pebbles.

My favorite section of the quilting

On I went, stitching shapes into each section. I did make an effort to relate the quilting to another part of the project. I also made an effort to tweak the quilting so it was similar; but not a match. I made the shapes smaller or larger. I changed thread colors. I moved the lines into a different arrangement. Sometimes, I used curved lines.

Added Xs in the cream fabric

I spent a little time in a light orange section and stitched a section of match sticks.

Did a little match stick quilting

I had fun quilting this project. I used a few ruler templates--12 inch arc; four inch arc and two inch circle from Westalee Designs.

Most of the thread used

While I am pleased with the final quilting, I am now wondering if I achieved the modern vibe.

Blocking in process.

I did need to block the quilt. Once it was dry, I squared the edges and readied it for a facing.

Back

With the leftover backing, I could have either used the remainder for the sleeve or for the facing. There wasn't enough for both. I decided I would use the remaining backing for the sleeve. I picked out a red solid for the facing.

Label

I used a leader/ender block I made during the process as the label. I estimate I used 3.75 yards of fabric from stash. To date, I've used four yards of fabric from stash. Total fabric purchased since my February fabric ban is 16 yards. I need to continue with the finishes to be able to count the fabric I've been using from my stash! This project finished at 37 inches wide by 34 inches high.

Front

Finishing this project was goal number 12 on my July list. If you missed the previous two posts on this subject, the links are: Post 1; Post 2 It is my entry for the small group modern challenge which was to take a traditional block and modernize it. It is also my entry for the book, "Prayers for Sale" by Sandra Dallas.

I'm linking to: Carol at To Do Tuesday; Alycia at Finished or Not Friday and Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilting.

Baby Quilt--Saturday Workshop #6 (Free Hand Cutting Gentle Curves)

Fabrics for the baby quilt

Next month, I'll begin posting about the other virtual Saturday Workshops that my guild has held this year. 

Before COVID, Saturday Workshops were held one Saturday in January at a church. Members led the classes. There was always a great variety of classes. Some were three hours and some were six hours. At most you could take two classes. A half day class cost $10 and a full day class cost $20. The fee went toward facility rental.

Last year, we had virtual classes every Saturday in January. It cost $5 for a half day class and $10 for a full day class. While it was fun to be able to attend all those classes, it was also exhausting! (Kudos to those instructors who figured out how to make their classes virtual!) 

This year, we had three classes in January. From February through June, one full day or two half day classes are scheduled. Class fees are the same as last year. 

Second cut

If you renewed your $40 annual guild membership by March 31, Saturday Workshops were free. (The board thought this would encourage members to sign up early.) I paid my membership and was money ahead. There were eight half day classes and three full day class scheduled. Each class that I've attended has been fun. I've picked up some great tips! 

Last Saturday in a three hour virtual technique workshop, Rosanne H shared how to create and to stitch gentle free form curves. I've made these before; but, I always learn tips. I had two take aways after class: 1. You can't go wrong, it's only fabric. 2. I've practiced enough now that I will no longer be tentative about how to place the fabrics to be able to stitch the curves!

I had planned to only listen to the class because I wasn't feeling well. Gertie, however, was not satisfied at all with that approach. I didn't want another project. Gertie wanted to play. I didn't. She suggested that I could start the baby quilt and use this technique to construct the top. I sighed. I told Gertie "Okay."  She did back flips of joy!

Center panel of top finished

A neighbor, who lives across the street, is expecting a little girl in July. Some of these fabrics were in my friend Martha's stash and some came from my friend JoJo. I purchased the two gray flannel fabrics.

My favorite fabric is the duck print. I considered cutting it into two sections; but, Gertie suggested it would make a bigger impact if I left it in one piece. I had to admit that I agreed with her.

I pieced the yellow to make it wide enough to fit the area I wanted to fill.  I loved being able to use the larger chunks of the scraps. With about 40 minutes left of the three hour class, I had pieced the center of the top. At this point, Gertie reminded me that if I were making a pattern, I might have a few blocks stitched!

Top at the end of the first sewing session

I did share my progress with Rosanne and she shared my photo with the class. It was fun to see all the different fabrics, orientations and curves that people constructed. The variety was amazing!

It was tricky to cut a curved border that was longer than my cutting mat. I found using a pin to hold the layers together above the cutable area allowed less shifting of the fabrics.

About 40 minutes after class ended, I had pieced the top. I stopped for the day at this point. The last border on one side had ripples. I wanted to think about how to fix it over night.

The following day, I tried making a deeper curve; but that didn't help the ripple issue. What did help was to take a few seams in the strip. In the end, I managed to remove most of the wave in that border.

Pieced back

I pieced the back. I knew I wanted to use the grey dotted fabric for the binding. To ensure that I had enough to go around the quilt, I cut the binding before I started laying out possibilities for the back.

Because I hope the child will drag this quilt everywhere, I used the plain gray flannel fabric for the back. Gray won't show the dirt as much as yellow would have! Of course, I didn't have enough grey fabric. I also had a curved edge on one side the grey flannel.

I needed all the fabric I could get, so I laid a yellow strip along the edge; but, it wasn't long enough. No problem, I pieced it with a piece of the dot print. I still was a few inches short of having the back wide enough. I was able to cut a strip of the gray dotted fabric. When I added it to the back, I was relieved that it was big enough for my top! 

Backing ready to receive pieced batting

If I had had another brighter fabric chunk, I would have pieced another curve into the backing. I love the interest effect the curve provided for the back. 

Next, I pieced some chunks of 80/20 batting to make a piece large enough to cover the top. I piece the leftovers of my batting together. I'd rather purchase thread or fabric so I use every bit of the batting leftover from a previous project possible.

I laid the backing on my kitchen table. When the backing is larger than my table, I use clamps all around. When the backing is smaller that my table, I use masking tape to hold the backing in place. 

Basted and ready to quilt

In this case, the backing was a little larger than my table on one side. I used a combination of tape and clamps to hold the backing in place! I laid my batting on top of the backing and smoothed it in place. I laid the top on top of the batting and smoothed the top again. I got out my basting safety pins and pinned all the layers together at medium intervals.

In about an hour, I had pin basted this 40 inch x 42 inch top! Perhaps, over the next couple of days, I will complete the quilting. My plan is that the quilting will be simple and add texture.

I plan to use my walking foot to stitch wavy lines as the quilting. I think that a yellow and gray thread would blend well in the light and dark fabrics respectively. I plan to use polyester thread in the needle and cotton thread in the bobbin.  My goal is to keep the quilt soft and snuggly.

This was goal number 10 on my February list. It has been a fun and a relatively quick project. I definitely will use this technique again! Thanks Rosanne H for sharing the curved piecing technique!