WEEKLY UPDATE

I have no new quilty pictures to share this week.  I have put new sleeves on four previously made projects that will be going as part of an exhibit later this summer for the AQS Quilt Week in Chattanooga. 

In addition, I am trying to complete three more projects for a different exhibit as part of that same week.

I have also been busy cutting fabrics for projects for my small group round robin and workshops.

My next quilting retreat is coming up this month too.

Still plugging along with "the list" that I put up at the first of the week.  Did a little more quilting on my QAYG Improv project.

 These blocks are waiting for more attention, too!

Hoping to get more finished for pictures next week!!  Want to see more sunshine this week!

                               -sandi
 

THIS WEEK'S UPDATE

I decided to share with you some of what I have been working on this week.  I have three projects going using solids.

I think solids can be challenging because there is not fabric pattern design to hide any flaws in quilting and piecing.

One of the things I am finding that I like about the "modern aesthetic" is how straight line quilting and spiral quilting play such an important role in the quilt design.

Nowadays I start thinking about how I will quilt a piece as soon as I start making the components --  and, sometimes, before I even cut out the first strips, etc.

This first piece I will show you is a quilt I am making for my grandson.  I don't know if I will be able to quilt this one on my domestic machine or not.  More about that in a later post.

The second one I am working on is a Gee's Bend style quilt.  I am fairly certain I will quilt this one with straight line quilting and change thread color for each color section.

This last piece is my Modern BOM.  I am a little behind.  This is the last block.  I have started sketches of the quilting.  I plan to do a QAYG technique.

 

Maybe I will get a finish of one of these before too long. 

 

-sandi

BOM PROGRESS

Okay, I now have my third block finished on my Modern Block of the Month and I am loving it more and more. 

This month was a modern version of a Drunkard's Path block sewing half circles.  There was a little challenge with the template.  Once I had that figured out and that my printer was a little bit off it went together as easily as the two previous ones.

One of the things I like to have when I must copy a template from the computer is one of those 1" squares to check the measurement by.  Then I know if my printer is playing tricks on me or not.

I did not have that on this pattern, so it took a little sewing with  a practice block to see what I needed to do to get the proper sizing.

There are six blocks in this project and I am thinking that I want to do two runners with three blocks each and use them as window treatments in my family room.  I shall decide when I see the other blocks.

But, this looks interesting to me with the first three.

If you would like to join me doing this project, take a look here:


 Pile 'o Fabric blog written by Alyssa Lichner http://pileofabric.com/blog



                                     -sandi

 

LET'S GO MODERN

Summer sewing for me will be slower than winter and fall.  My husband and I do Flea Marketing and we participate in 3 major Long Yard Sales.  Our first was in May and our next is in June followed by the Longest Yard Sale in August.  I am only able to squeeze a little sewing in here and there so I have to choose projects that will work with this kind of schedule.
I do get a bit of hand quilting and piecing done while we are on site at the Sales.

For a while now I have been thinking about doing a quilt using solids.  As I was browsing blogs recently I came across the
Pile 'o Fabric blog written by Alyssa Lichner
http://pileofabric.com/blog

She introduced the 2013 Modern Block of the Month and I loved it!  Working with solids with a modern approach to a sampler 
quilt -- what more could I ask for?

 I now have two blocks done.  The blocks finish at 24 inches which means it will become a quilt much quicker. 

This is the first block.  The background fabric is Kona Charcoal with Kona Khaki, Kona Azure, Kona Curry and Kona Snow.  I love this palette.

The second block is a Stained Glass block.  I am excited about how this turned out. 

It is not a difficult project but precision is key.  Sewing long lines can be tricky if you are not careful. You must make sure your cutting has been accurate and your seam measurement must be 1/4 inch with no wobbly lines.

Also, I think that working with solids  requires you to have a strong design and great quilting at the end.  The quilting cannot be "buried" in the fabric patterns.  This gives me a challenge to improve my machine quilting on my domestic sewing machine.

I am waiting to see how this sampler comes along.  Maybe I will do a Quilt As You Go technique.  Never have done a QAYG, but it is on my bucket list.

Stay tuned for more of these blocks to come.


                                     -sandi