Trying Something New

So far in my quilting I've mostly followed patterns and used yardage. But an ever growing pile of scraps and a need for order brought me to Amazon, hoping to find a solution. I searched for "Modern Scraps" and came up with a few results, one of which was this book, "create your own free-form quilts". It sounded interesting and got good reviews, so I ordered.

Create Your Own Free-Form Quilts

The author of this book Rayna Gillman encourages you to sew, not think, kind of hard for me, but fun to do. She calls it Therapy Sewing, just cut and organize strips and start sewing them together. Try not to think about it too much, just pick quickly.  You sew strips together of any width by trimming them at the same time and then matching them together. There are no rulers used during the initial sewing process.

One interested side lesson has been sewing curved seams, which I've never attempted because it seemed too hard, but the way you piece the curved seams together in this book without perfection and stress, is a great intro to curved piecing without all the pressure. I may actually try that double wedding ring I've been avoiding for years.

So here are a few pictures of my results.

Green palette

variety of strips and cut up UFO blocks

Thanks for stopping by!

Heather

Scrappy Triangles

I've been spending a lot of time lately making these little 4.5" half square triangles for a scrappy quilt I'm making. The last time I counted I was sure I had at least a million, turns out it's only about 380. Each of the two piles are exactly the same, so unless someone decides they want to trade triangles with me, it looks like I'm making two very similar quilts.

I've cut into every fabric in my stash, and got through two massive tubs of scraps a friend dropped by the other day. For a true charm quilt I need 802. Starting to wonder if I care if it's really a true charm quilt or not. The girls in quilt group have promised to raid their stashes in search of suitable squares so I may still get there, only 420 more to go!

Some Wonky Log Cabins

I've been trying this technique with some success. As I do more I think I like the results a little better. 

This first one is not my favorite. I ran out of room with the strips so it's got super skinny strips on only two sides. That bottom strip is probably going to disappear when it's sewed together.

This one I like better, it's wonky but a little better laid out.

This one got a little rectangular, but I like the colors.

I'm planning to complete several more to finish up a round robin quilt.

Thanks for stopping by!

Heather

Baby Blossoms is Complete

I just finished binding and labeling this one. It will be off to school tomorrow with my son for his sweet teacher who is expecting. I used straight line quilting and washed it. It's super light weight and soft, perfect for a new baby in fall.

Hobo Progress and Nook Sleeve

I've been working on a few projects this year. Some of the ladies from my quilt group and I are making a quilt from the book Hobo Quilts. In order to have it completed by the end of the year we need to do six blocks per month. There are 60 6.5 inch blocks. There are a few mistakes in the cutting instructions for some of the blocks in the book, but it hasn't been too difficult to overcome. There are mostly pieced, a few applique and even fewer paper pieced blocks. I decided to go with a lighter, more modern palette, and I think I like the way it's turning out.

I also sewed up this gadget sleeve for my son's Nook Color. It came together very quickly and fits like a glove.  You can find the tutorial here on DixieMango.com. I think I'm going to do one for my Kindle too.

New Year - New Goals

The past year has been a tough one for me. After loosing my mother on Christmas 2008, my interest in quilting waned for quite a while. My sewing room sunk into disrepair and my sewing machine sat idle the majority of the time.

But, it's a new year! I'm feeling stronger and my ever growing fabric stash calls to me. My Quilting resolutions include, using up the fabric I have and buying only sustainable or organically produced quilting cotton and cotton blends. Cotton growing uses more pesticides than any other crop grown in America. As I find new places to buy organic and sustainably produced fabric, I'll post them here.

So I'm ready, time to turn on my sewing machine, watch less TV do my part to save the world and get sewing again!