Garden Flowers--post one

Fat quarter, parts and scraps

Goal number nine on my July list was to determine what to do for our book club quilt project. We are discussing "By Her Own Design" by Piper Huguley. It is the story of Ann Lowe, a black woman dress designer, who created Jacqueline Kennedy's wedding gown. Lowe was truly an artist when it came to dress design. From the time she was a young girl, she liked to make fabric flowers and attach them to the dresses.

Fussy cutting the flower motifs

In the stash, I had a fat quarter that was printed with large flowers. I decided to use it as well as some green strings, pink half square triangles (HST), a few leftover parts from a previous project and pink strips. I fussy cut the whole printed flowers. I was able to cut out six flowers.

Possible layout

After fussy cutting, I started to work on a layout. Because the flowers were different sizes, I used a variety of pink strips to frame the flowers. Then I trimmed the blocks to one consistent size. I continued to arrange the blocks as if they were photos on a wall.

Flowers framed

After seeing all the pink, the project needed green! I thought the green bits I had were crumbs; but, it turns out they were strings. I started piecing two and a half inch strings strips of fabric to use as sashing. I also pulled the leftover pieces from a previous project to audition into the mix.

Leftover parts to possibly add to the project

I added a few HST to the layout as well as a yellow background fabric. I made an X from four of the leftover parts. I changed the layout so the flowers circled the X.

Adding a background fabric and changing the layout

I decided that I needed one 4 1/2 inch string strip to be placed at the bottom of the project. I pieced that strip. Maybe half of this strip will be on one side of the triangle leftover with the other half on the other side of the pieced part. 

Center block on point, adding HSTs

Looking at that center block, I decided it needed strings. I pieced more strings. These strings are two and half inches wide. After contemplating the layout yet again, I turned the center block on point and auditioned the pink HSTs as a border around the center block. 

Additional flower block added

I needed another flower block. I was able to piece one from the scraps of the fat quarter. In the photo below, you have to zoom in to see the piecing line! The design needed the additional flower block.

Pieced flower

I've created a math challenge for myself. I want to piece the flower blocks around the center. How to make the design work will be a challenge for another day! I hope to be able to inset the flower blocks around the center block with straight forward piecing.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Finished or Not Friday,

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.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge Pastels--post 7

First a shout out to Chantal over at "The Corner of Scraps and Quilts" who mentioned my scrap organization in her post as she was sharing sewing small scraps into fabric. Her posts inspire me to dig into my scraps and use them. 

Second, a shout out to Linda at "Texas Quilt Gal." She e-mailed me for permission to use a statement I had made to her as well as a photo from my Triple Treat post in her upcoming blog post. I said YES to both requests. To make it easy for her, I e-mailed her the photo.

Many quilters have assisted and continue to assist me on my quilting journey. I've smiled from ear to ear as their requests are two examples of giving back to my quilting community. I am humbled and honored that two fellow bloggers, whom I respect and follow, would share my thoughts! I believe sharing your knowledge with others makes the world a better place. Thank you Chantal and Linda, my heart is full of gratitude!

Yellow strings

Goal number seven on my June list was to make the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) blocks in the color of the month. This month, Angela at Scrap Happy picked pastels as the color for the RSC. Don't misinterpret me, pastels are great. I've used some lighter values of the color in my block. I thought, "this is going to be a challenge." Gertie, my inner squirrel, agreed. It was. I pulled pinks that were pastel and when I stood back and looked, it was blah. I pulled blues and had the same result.

Beginning the piecing

What to do? Gertie, my always busy and always at the ready with an opinion "friend," replied, "No problem. Choose yellow." So that was what I did. Next month or in a few months, yellow could be the color picked. When that happens, I'll have to figure out a different color!

Rectangles pieced

It took me a couple sewing sessions to finish piecing the yellow part of the block. I've found that piecing the color of the block first works best in my sewing space. I sew four rectangles at a time. I clip these together. This group will eventually become a block.

Leftover strings

I used a lot of strings; but, I still had strings leftover! Still, I had less than when I began!

One block finished

After I added the gray and black sections. I trimmed the rectangles. I sewed the group of four rectangles to make a block. Finishing each block is like mini reveal. 

Auditioning which four blocks to stitch together

I placed the blocks on the design wall. I determined which four blocks I wanted to combine. Then I stitched the blocks together ending up with two super blocks!

View of the blocks

I added the blocks to most of the other blocks on the design wall. I didn't mix the yellow blocks with the other blocks. I like the addition. I like the interest that the gray/black sections of the blocks provide. This project has outgrown my design wall. Future block additions will be photographed from my floor!

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

Piecing Strings--post 1

The string bag

Goal number nine of my June list was to begin piecing the strings from my two gallon zip lock bag containing strings in the sizes of 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 4 1/2 and 6 1/2 strings. A quart size zip lock bag contains each size of string. Cynthia at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework, Chantal at At The Corner Of Scrap and Quilts and Angela at Scrap Happy inspire me to use scraps the scraps that I've "harvested" after completing a project..

Contents of the 2 1/2 inch zip lock bag

The bag is almost at capacity so it was time to begin making "fabric" out of the strips. The largest amount of "precuts" was the 2 1/2 inch zip lock bag. I cut newspaper strips that were 2 1/2 inches wide and began piecing the strips to the foundation.

Piecing away

Our oldest granddaughter came for a visit. She wanted to string piece. She has experience string piecing. I gave her my seat! She created  fabric strips for about half an hour. I noted that since she had a machine, she could sew these at home. Which she replied that she didn't have fabric to sew! What she really meant was that she didn't have a project! I asked if she wanted to work on these at home because we could make a project bag for her. She said yes! So that was how I lightened the amount of 2 1/2 inch strings out of the bag!

K's string progress

In the week since, she texted me a photo of her progress after her first sew session. She was excited that she was able to remember how to use her machine! She was excited to be using her packet of paper strips and strings! She knows that next time we see one another, she can take home more strings. I do have ideas to run by her should she desire to turn her strips into blocks. Do I dare hope that she will become a quilter? My fingers are crossed!

Celebrating commencement 

Speaking of the granddaughter, she was one of ten students in her eighth grade class to speak at her commencement. We proudly watched her speak. Last week, we took her out for a birthday lunch. She choose the restaurant. It was a great day. We decided since she is 14, she is old enough to know when she "needs"  a coffee, a pastry, a lunch or a time away. All she has to do is call or text and set a date. She seemed excited about that option. Let's see if she takes advantage. I know she has another restaurant in mind!

Three and half inch strips trimmed and ready for paper removal

Back to the strings! The next fullest bag was the 3 1/2 inch strings. I found that I wasn't using the two inch by 3 1/2 inch scraps that I saved early in my scrap saving journey so I had added these to the bag. I had at least five quart size bags that were partially full of scraps by color! I pieced the 3 1/2 inch strings on a piece of newsprint that was about 18 inch long. I sewed a lot of strings!

Bag at the end of piecing

I created about 240 inches of 3 1/2 inch string fabric! I still had strings left; but, the variety wasn't great so I'll wait until I have more strings in that size! I did like seeing one bag with lots of room at the end of the piecing session!   

6 1/2  inch strings

I tacked the 6 1/2 inch string bag next. I actually had two of these zip lock bags. I cut more foundations from news print and began.

Piecing the 6 1/2 inch strings

So many bits! Yet, and this I found hard to believe, wasn't enough! There was plenty regarding amount; but, there wasn't enough variety. So after piecing five strips, I located one of my friend Martha's scrap bags. 

A scrap bag of Martha's collected in August 2018

This bag was almost 15 inches high and weighed five pounds and eight ounces! It is full of rectangles, squares, strips, triangles and bits! That five pounds converts to about 16 yards of fabric!

View of the inside of the bag

I have no idea how many projects are in that bag; but, I did begin to pull the strips from the bag. After I had pieced eight strips of 6 1/2 inch strings, both Gertie and I were ready to give this project a rest! 

Pieced 6 1/2 inch string units

The string bag looks as full as it did when I started. The completed strips are in the bag so that is the reason why there isn't a change in the amount of strings in the bag! 

String bag at the end of piecing

Gertie and I do have ideas of how to use the strings; but, we need lots more inches of pieced strips.We will return to this project later in the month or next month. In the meantime, I've some Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks to make and quilting to do!

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

Read--post 1

First pencil sketch; hands too low; poor fingers

Goal number six on my May list was to figure out what to do for the current book club book which is "The Last Bookshop in London" by Madeline Martin. With each project I make, I try to challenge myself in some way. For the last several projects, I've used scraps and blocks from the "parts department."

Second sketch: hands okay; too much like a newspaper

As I read this book, I had several thoughts about projects I could make. Those projects would take more time than I had to spend on the project. I thought some more. 

When I was in London earlier this year, I was re-listening to the book. In the story, the main character takes a position working in a London Bookshop just before WWII began. When the bombs fell on London, she would read to those that were using the tube as a place to shelter. Reading in the tube became a way for her to connect further to her community. 

It's been a while since I played with line.  I pondered that I could make a line drawing of hands reading a book. I could call the project "Read." I could use some of my grandmother's narrow bias tape to define the line. I looked at people holding a book, holding a paper, holding a newspaper. I asked my husband to hold a book. I reviewed examples on Pinterest. I drew a sketch. 

The hands were too low and the fingers weren't visual enough. I couldn't draw the right perspective with the arms. The book curve was okay, I wasn't successful making the drawing one line as I had picked up my pencil and redrawn or back tracked in some areas.

I tried a second time. This time, I did achieve a single line. The hand and fingers were much more believable; but, the book now looked like a newspaper.

Third sketch: more book like

For the third try, I erased a few lines and added a curve. A few lines overlap; but, the design is doable. I enlarged my sketch on my home printer. I used a black Sharpie marker to darken the lines. I chose a medium gray solid fabric from my stash for the background and a blue grey bias tape. The price on this package was 85 cents.

Auditioning a few strings to represent stairs

As I reviewed the layout, I thought that I needed to add some interest to the top and bottom of the piece. I auditioned a few grey string blocks and decided to place those across the top and bottom of the piece. The strings could represent the stairs where the people sat. 

Bias tape

While I was piecing the orange blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, I pieced the remaining three string blocks I needed for the borders. I added the blocks to the background. Using a light box and pencil, I transferred the pattern to the background. Using Elmer's School Glue, I glued the bias tape to the background. 

Offray ribbon

The plan to use bias tape while a good plan, didn't work. The tape wasn't narrow enough as I lost the definition of the little finger. Gertie, my inner squirrel, and I thought some more. We could couch a ribbon, yarn or maybe stitch heavy lines of thread or maybe a combination of thread and couching? We decided to try gluing black offray ribbon to the lines. That idea worked.

Read and auditioning the lower string border

As I stepped back to view the hands reading the book, Gertie and I both exclaimed it needs the word, "Read!" I like the add as does Gertie! We then auditioned the string border for the bottom of the quilt. Neither of us liked it. I tried auditioning only the lower border. I tried auditioning string blocks around the entire perimeter. I didn't like that either. So in the end, we both decided the upper string border was enough. The strings can either represent the steps the people sat on in the tube or the rubble that they found when they emerged from the tube.

Ready for a backing and layering

I selected a backing and a sleeve fabric from the stash. These fabrics have been around a long time. They were "gifted" to me. They must have been waiting for this project!  

The backing and sleeve fabric

I layered and glue basted it. Because this is a wall hanging, I used Warm and Natural batting. The letter R looked lonely so I added a bit of ribbon. I'll attach the ribbon as I quilt. 

Ready for quilting

Now to determine the quilting! Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.