Roses for Roxie

Some readers may remember that this little quilt started off in March as an exercise prompted by a chapter in Victoria Findlay Wolfe's book '15 Minutes of Play'. (See Playing with Scraps )

The challenge was to make something useful from scraps and recycled fabric......I pulled out bits of furnishing chintz and scraps of flannel and made improv squares which I then trimmed to approximately equal sizes and joined together in rows.

The borders were made with some larger strips of flannel leftover from other projects.

In the spirit of re-purposing I pulled an old mattress protector out of the linen cupboard to use as the wadding......

......and a length of cloth (polyester I think) which likewise had been in a cupboard for years to use as the backing.......These were (somewhat roughly) pin basted together,

I had decided I wanted to try a circular design using a walking foot (or in my case Dual Feed) so it was back to my Craftsy class with Jacqui Gering. (Creative Quilting using your Walking Foot - I can highly recommend this class. Jacqui has just released a new class taking this concept further and I will be joining that one soon, too).

Jacqui stresses a couple of things (note to self - pay closer attention next time) such as careful basting to avoid puckers and taking your time - going SLOWLY! I was in a bit of a hurry by this point and felt Roxie wouldn't be too critical of the quilting......the whole project was after all an exercise to make something useful out of scrap and to keep me occupied until I was able to get back to normal programming........

I stopped the quilting 1" from the edge so that I could use the front border as my binding. I turned to YouTube for this and found (among many videos on self binding) this one by Lorena's Quilting  called Quilt Binding Without Binding. What?

Usually this is done using the backing as the binding but I wanted mine to be the flannel rather than the poly print on the back. The flannel is a bit bulky, especially as I had random seams in odd places but for my purposes that didn't matter. (I don't pretend to be a perfectionist - sometimes I can't even draw a straight line with a ruler so why give myself unnecessary stress?)

I think the next pics are pretty self explanatory but a quick look at the video will clarify any niggling questions.

All that was left to do was machine stitch the binding down. I did 2 rows to try and make sure it would stand up to wear.

Final thing to do was product test.......

Did it pass the test?

I think so.

Was it worth the effort? Yes, for a number of reasons.

• It kept me occupied through a difficult time.
• I made something useful from scraps that most normal people probably would have tossed out years ago.
• I learned how to quilt a circular design using my walking foot.
• I learned how to make a self binding.
• I picked up tips on what I need to improve when I use these skills on a 'proper' project.
• The dog has a new quilt........(which hopefully will help to keep a bit of dog hair off the furniture.)

This is the first of a planned series - for other dogs in the family - which so far consist of bundles of scraps and titles. ('Lollipops for Lily', 'Balls for Breitling' and 'Bones for Bo'). It might be a while as it seems like a winter sort of project - we'll see what eventuates.......

Sue xxxx

Playing with Scraps

By yesterday afternoon my design wall was looking like this.....

It should of course be still looking more like this.........

.......as I work towards the summer quilt intended for our bed. The sewing is not difficult and I can tackle it bit by bit when energy allows but the laying out is what takes the longest - and it had been the same (ish) view for quite a while. I had made a resolution to finish the top before I started anything new. (But I know from experience that resolutions and me don't mix.)

Alas the next shiny new thing came along and all that changed (at least temporarily). That shiny new thing largely revolves around the work of New Yorker Victoria Findlay Wolfe and her books which I first mentioned in posts here '15 Minutes of Play'  and here 'Double Wedding Ring Quilts' . I also saw two programs on Nancy Zieman's show 'Sewing with Nancy' ( see under videos 2015) and by then my appetite was well and truly whetted....... There are direct links to these programs on Victoria's website  where you will also find a link to her blog Bumble Beans Inc. (You can subscribe to her newsletter and be advised by email when there is a new post). The  other site she established and moderates is based on her 15 Minutes of Play book and ideas. If you subscribe to The Quilt Show (with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims) you will find another program there based on 15 Minutes of Play - Program Number 1404. And of course you can follow her on Instagram (search for victoriafindlaywolfe) and twitter etc if you use them......(Is this beginning to sound like stalking? I hope not - but do yourself a favour and have a peek.......)

This is now what it looks like beside my sewing machine as I construct circles from the the cutouts I saved from a drunkards path block I used in a quilt I made for my sister a couple of years ago (back tray) and as I cobble together pink fabrics for another project I have decided on as a gift for some very important people currently in my life. (The colour is probably a clue.)

I'm using (my take on) Nancy Zieman's method for making circles to applique .......

......and I have to say for this purpose it seems to work well......

Another project using the concept of play is the first of several planned dog quilts / floor mats....they may not all be made but it's a way to use up hoarded scraps and try out sewing and design techniques where I can concentrate on the process. I don't know any dogs who will complainn about mistakes in the sewing. 

This is all part of one of her challenges to use what you have on hand - scraps, old clothing etc.......

Improv blocks (yes they are meant to be wonky) using offcuts of chintz curtain fabric given to me YEARS ago in a big bag of remnants) and flannel leftovers from finished quilts.

Working out borders on the design wall....

The finished quilt top.......

A couple of new treats also arrived in the mail to add spice to the mix.....

And this one bought on the strength of the chapter on Double Wedding Ring Quilts - yes, you guessed it VFW again.......

This traditional version by Shelly Pagliai of 'Prairie Moon Quilts' is just beautiful........

However, whilst I have a newly engaged daughter it is unlikey to appeal to her, though something like this one might......

Yes, you guessed it again - Victoria Findlay Wolfe........

Inspired by this quilt below of Victoria's - A Summer's Day - from her Double Wedding Ring Quilts book (and also explained in the videos) by this stage I had to try out a test block with whatever was on hand before I burst.

(And I do mean whatever....) A little wonky but I learned a lot in the process.

At the same time I was given a bag of fabric by my quilting friend who was clearing her stash of flannels and fabrics from the French General range, (bits of projects she knew she would never finish, including this large block and quite a few improv pieced blocks as well as some larger pieces of fabric).....that set the challenge in motion.

This large block will become the centre piece of a new medallion quilt

Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of it on its own but you'll get the idea.

Testing fabric for sashing strips........

Some of the blocks in the bag......(along with the charcoal piece)

Testing the piece on point. 

One of the large pieces - the birds will become the focal point of the new blocks.

The other large piece....

Pattern traced and cut out to try a single block using 'made' fabric and old jeans - another test piece......

My quilt design inspired by Victoria's...........

The first cut was the scariest.......

Keeping the pieces in order.......

Sashing strips sewn in.......

On point......

A test flower - I intend to applique one in each of the main corners - probably buds on the others....

Coming from this book which I've had for years but not yet used - I knew its moment to shine would eventually come.......

Looking something like this. The circles are made and ready to become flowers.

A bit of close 'stash interrogation' revealed fabrics from the same company squirreled away and others that might work with them if required.

Leading to this basket of stuff in preparation of starting in earnest when the template set I ordered arrives....

Some of the 'made' fabrics under construction for my gift quilt......

These will be cut to fit the shape I will applique to the quilt......

Centre piece for single large ring under constrution....

Along with several other baskets and tubs of WIPs (Works in Progress) the rocks on this landscape are ALMOST ready to be fused on and stitched.

Under my enforced grounding I have also been keeping myself amused (and educated) with online classes - mainly from Craftsy.com, including one by Aussie quilter Sarah Fielke - Big Techniques from Small Scraps - largely based on her most recent book below. (Which I have also had for some time and is now exactly what I need at this particular time.)

 

And, as Craftsy is having a sale I bought two new classes this morning. Would you believe it - one of them is about Double Wedding Ring Quilts?.......Of course you would.

Progress may not be swift but bits and pieces are happening- and it's actually less chaotic than it might sound.

Off to view Lesson 1,

Sue xxxx