HAPPY HALLOWEEN

This was the first quilt I blogged about two years ago when I joined the word of blogging.



Happy Stitching!

Harvest - October's Entry in AYOS

Introducing Harvest!

This month's Schnibble pattern was Hubble - a beautiful quilt made with HST.  It contained an option in the back to make it with squares, instead of HST.  When I saw this option, I decided this was the Hubble for me!

I modified the pattern to use 2 1/2 in squares (instead of 4 1/2 in) and didn't put the border on.  This finished roughly 36 inches square and is going to hang over a small desk I have in my bedroom.  It fits perfectly between two windows.  I am very excited to hang it there.

The fabric used was Sandy Gervais Late Bloomer.  This was all with ONE charm pack - cut into 2 1/2 squares along with the background fabric.

I did all straight line quilting first starting at the outline of the star and working in.  Then I switch thread color on the top only and worked out to the edges.  The straight line quilting got a bit boring towards the end but the final effect is one that I just love!

Looking forward to the parade Thursday at Sinta's and Sherri's and and the challenge for November.  I've some holiday charms I want to use for whatever challenge comes our way!  



Happy Stitching!

V4W - Block 8 - Brick Pavement

With election day fast approaching, reading the history of how hard women had to fight in order to vote has been very interesting.   Even if you aren't making the blocks, read along with us on Barbara's Grandmother's Choice blog.

This week's block was a lot of fun to put together.  It is in honor of a march on Washington DC where the women rounded a corner and met men determined to block their way.

My DD was in the mood for cupcakes this weekend so I let her loose.  These are yummy looking - she is going to bring them into school to share with her buddies but promises she'll leave a few at home for us!

Happy Stitching!

FNSI Results

FMQ was on the agenda for last night's FNSI.  I

SewCalGal's FMQ challenge this month was fun.  I practiced writing my name and then wrote the alphabet.

Before I even had this much success, I struggled with tension issues on the machine.  After thorough cleaning, rethreading, needle changes, different bobbins, I put one color (red) in the bobbin and white at the top thread so I could see what was going on.  This picture is FMQ.  Shouldn't be seeing this on the top.

 I put my regular foot back on and started adjusting the tension until I could no longer see the red thread on top.  I had to put the tension dial lower than I've ever had to before to get the line white on top.

My baby is going in for a checkup.

To finish out the evening, I put my real FMQ project aside and decided to hem my daughter's halloween costume.  She took a skirt that I wore 25 years ago and cut 12 inches off the bottom.  I remember wearing that skirt - it had been a favorite - and I had donated it to 'dress up' clothes years ago for my girls.  I was hesitant to cut the skirt - did I really think my waist would ever be that size again? - until I looked at it up close.  It was filled with little holes.  Great for a costume, not for anything else.

Finally, I pressed my Marmalade strips - I just love this fabric from Bonnie & Camile.  Yummy!  These are going to be beautiful 9-patch blocks.

Happy Stitching!

Pure & Simple - Bloggers Quilt Festival

If this is your first visit, welcome to A Stitch In Time.  I love making new friends in the world of quilters.

I always enjoy participating in the Blogger's Quilt Festival sponsored by Amy and getting inspired by visiting all the other blogs with entries.


My quilt this year is call Pure & Simple.  

The pattern is a modified version of Schnibble Lincoln.  (I modified the proportions of the star block to allow me to make more accurate flying geese.)

My LAQ is Cathy Kirk.   Fabric used is Sweetwater's Pure - this is one of my all time favorite fabric lines.  I love the text print.  

The quilt is queen sized and it looks fantastic on the bed.

The backing fabric - which you can see right below the water mark - is the argyle print from the line.

Blogger’s Quilt Festival Stats

Finished quilt measures : Queen sized

Best Category : Bed Quilt

Happy Stitching!

TARDIS

My youngest daughter (14 years old) enjoys science fiction and keeps herself busy with dance classes in ballet, jazz and tap.  She does many, many things well except maybe one tiny little thing - a very small thing actually - she can't ever find anything including where she left those various dance shoes each week!

For her 14th birthday in August, I handed her a yard of fabric with an IOU for a  bag that combines two of the things she enjoys most - dance and Dr Who.

See how the shoes fit nicely inside with room for even a book - she always has one at her side.

This bag is completely my own design and finished 17" by 12" by 3".  I added handles on the side and a long shoulder strap.

I started with fabric I ordered from Spoonflower - Dr Who fans will recognize the TARDIS!

(BTW, this is her favorite Doctor.  And for those that don't watch - the TARDIS is a time traveling machine disguised as a Police Box.)

I did straight line quilting. Before I assembled the bag, I made a pocket pouch and then sewed it to the inside - sewing straight across on a quilt line at the top and bottom.  This leaves the pocket very accessible but it isn't flapping away inside.

The top zipper sites nicely inside a casing - my favorite way to do zippers with quilted bags.

My DD loves the bag and no more last minute scramble to find her shoes for class!

A few weeks ago I blogged about the pouch I made for my DH for his Nexus - he saw the fabric I had on my sewing space and asked for a pouch made from that fabric.  This is a first - my DH making a fabric selection!  Clearly he has good taste!

Linking up this finish at Such a Sew and Sew.

Happy Stitching!

Rocky Road to Kansas

Bit of a rocky road to block 8 as well.  First, I tried to scrap piece the strips - I was not at all happy with the result and abandoned things partially done.  The extra fabric bulk was contributing to my issues.

Then, I started over by cutting 2" strips of two of the fabric and sewed them together, pressed seams open and then cut out with the template.  This one went together much better.

I am happy with it.  It is relatively square - not sure if the photo actually shows this and different enough from the first time we saw this block.

Beautiful weekend of sunshine.  Took a walk with my daughter to see how the trees are just starting to turn here in NC.  Have a great week.

Happy Stitching!

Churn Dash

I've been busy making churn dash blocks (5" square) using the mini Schnibble pattern Jot and two little charm packs of Harvest Moon.   I just love these little blocks - they are so cute.

I made 13 blocks so decided to assemble two mini quilts - one with 9 blocks and one with 4 blocks.

Last weekend, I assembled my mini's, created my quilt sandwich and then sat down to FMQ.  After almost an hour of frrustration, mixed with rethreading, new needles, cleaning, adjusting tension, I just could not get the tension right.  I rarely have this problem and usually a second pass through a cleaning, rethreading, new needle, new bobbin solves this.  Not this time.

So I decided to hand quilt the 4 block mini.

In all my time quilting, I've never done quilting by hand.  It is relaxing and I think this mini works well for a hand quilting.

My mini measures 14 by 14.  I may cut an inch off all around from the border - I'll decide this as I figure out how to quilt.

I will give my machine another chance tonight and hope the tension issues are behind me.  I would like to FMQ the 9 block version of this one.

Have a great weekend!




Happy Stitching!

A Mailbox full of F-A-B-R-I-C!!!

I love it when the mailman delivers boxes for me.  (The rest of my family is surprisingly not very excited.)

First up - I decided make my middle daughter a new quilt for her bed.  One of my favorite designers is Bonnie & Camile so I decided to go Marmelade.  This line will come with some flannel prints which I intend to use for the backing.  I am going to make an Irish Chain pattern so a jelly roll should work well.  (Those charm packs just jumped into the electronic cart, not sure how that happened.)  I also bought some Bela Solids yardage for this quilt

Then, on the recent blog hop sponsored by Mdmn Samm, I was one of the lucky winners.  The prize package arrived in today's mail.   First, check out the envelope!  Isn't it great?

But even better, is what is inside!

There was a delicious fat quarter bundle, a silicon sheet for applique and a couple of other goodies thrown in.

Quite exciting.  Thanks, Mdmn Samm.

Now my mailbox has a package going out.. 

Congrats to Vicki (#8) who won my mini-basket giveaway.  Here is a sneak peak of your basket - hope you like it!  It is in the mail and on the way.

Thanks to everyone else who entered - I really appreciate all my followers.

Happy Stitching!

Mini Basket Tutorial

Several folks asked for a tutorial so here you go!  Before you get started, I will warn you that these are very addictive.  If you have made any kind of bag before, you'll put these together very, very quickly.  (Giveaway for a mini kit to either make one of these baskets or let me make one for you can be found here!)

For my bags, I used squares from Happy H"owl"oween layer cake.

And labels from Sweetwater.

Choose 4 squares from your layer cake - 2 of these squares should match as they will be your lining fabric.  

From square 1, cut 2 strips 3 1/2 by 9 1/2 (the green in my photo) for the side of basket.

From square 2, cut a strip 6 1/2 by 9 1/2 for the bottom of the basket.

Join together creating one piece of fabric.

Cut your 2 matching squares to get 2 pieces which measure 6 1/2 by 9 1/2 and put aside for lining.  (Note you can use the leftover fabric from the lining for the sides of your next basket!!!)

Cut a piece of iron on fusible fleece to the back and iron to wrong side of fabric.

After the fusible is secure, iron on your label.  This is an optional step but important you do this after the fusible because these labels can get scorched by the iron.  (Don't ask me how I know this.)   You can choose to also top stitch the label but I didn't think it was necessary for mine.

Fold in half (right sides together) and sew side seams.

Next step is to box the corners - you can experiment here to get the dimensions you want.  For a basket that measures 4 inches high, I measured a rough 1 1/2 inches from the point and then sewed across - roughly where the pin in.   Do this for both corners.

You can experiment here and create a basket that is taller than 4 inches and skinny.  After you box the corners, turn the basket inside out and sit it on your sewing table and make sure you are happy with it.

Now create the lining.  Take your 2 matching squares (cut 6 1/2 by 9 1/2) and sew the bottom seam and one complete side seam.  For the other side seam, sew from top edge about 1 1/2 inches and backstich.  Then sew up from bottom edge seam 2 inches and backstitch.  This should leave an opening roughly 2 1/2 inches which should be large enough to turn things inside out once lining is attached.  Box corners on lining the same way you did above.

Nest your basket - right side out - inside your lining - wrong side out.  This puts RIGHT SIDES together.  Pin along the top edge.

If you want handles, you can use ribbon (7 1/2 inches) or you could make handles out of fabric.  They should be positioned between the lining and basket to either side of the side seam.  In this photo, they are tucked inside - sorry I don't have a photo that shows this.

Sew completely around top edge.

Find the opening in the lining and then gently turn basket inside out.  If you have to, you can always make that opening a bit wider.   Once turned, hand stitch the opening. 

I really like how you can see the top edge of the lining in this photo. 

Fill with candy and enjoy!

And, if like me you can't make just one, you can build a tower!!

Happy Stitching!

V4W - Alice's Flag (block 7)

Easy block this week (block 7) from Barbara Brackman's Grandmother's Choice - Votes for Women Block of the Week.  This one is called Alice's Flag. 

I did try piecing the star but the end result wasn't going to lie flat.   Here are all my blocks so far - when I see them together, I wonder if I should have gone with 2 strips of white and the grey dot in the middle.

The fabric is Vintage Modern.

Happy Stitching!

Seaglass - block 10

The October block from the HST BOM from In Color Order - chevrons!

Playing with solids is so much fun.  My current plan is to assemble this without any sashing.  I'll like then do a white border around the edge, add a border all around it of perhaps flying geese and then another white border.  

Just loving this!!  I am so glad I started this BOM program - it is just so much fun.  I really look forward each month to see the blog post and the reveal of the next block.

And, if you haven't yet entered my little giveaway, see this post to enter to win one of my little baskets - or a mini kit to make your own!

Happy Stitching!

Boo!!! Giveaway anyone?

Recently, I won a layer cake from Material Girl Quilts

and teamed it with the latest in Sweetwater Label club

to make a whole bunch of these little baskets.

Each of these takes 4 layer cake squares from the layer cake.  2 of these squares should be matching..  

• Lining: Two matching squares each trimmed to 6 1/4 and 9 1/2 wide.  (The remaining 3 3/4 x 9 1/2 can be used for the sides of another basket).  
• Bottom: Cut a piece 6 1/2 by 9 1/2
• Sides Two pieces cut from one square, each 3 1/2 by 9 1/2.
• Fusible: 12 1/2 by 9 1/2
• Handles (optional): Two pieces of ribbon 7 1/2 long

If you've done any kind of bag assembly, you can build one of these in 30 mins.  They were so much fun to assemble!  They finish roughly 4 1/2 inches high.  (I can post a quick tutorial if anyone is interested - let me know.)

Now, for the giveaway.  I will send you a mini kit to make you own little basket or I will make the basket for you!   To win, just comment on this post.  Contest ends Tuesday, Oct 16 at 6 pm est.

This is a followers only giveaway.  

To enter, please comment on this post and tell me that you are a follower and whether, if you win, you would like the kit or whether you would like me to make the basket for you.

Happy Stitching!