More Quilting!

I had planned to post over the weekend but I think I forgot all about it! Oh, well! There isn't too much going on over here. I'm still quilting this quilt on my longarm. I'm using straight lines, arcs, curved cross hatching, etc. This middle block was difficult only because it's a regular block with these triangles and squares around it to make it even larger. I came up with the design as I got to the longarm and started to doodle. I just couldn't decide on anything until I was at the machine and had to do something!

I already had a plan for this block and the quilting was fast! What a difference when you already know what you're going to do! I quilted lots of arcs with ribbon candy. So fun!! I have 4 more pieced blocks as well as the borders. I guess I am making progress although it doesn't always feel that way!

We had great weather over the weekend. We're expecting rain the next few days. That's okay. We need it!!

More Quilting/Ruler Work

I've been working a little bit each on day Whiskas N Catnip Quilt. It's 97" square so it's big and each square is different except for the corner squares in one of the borders. It's a little bit of a challenge coming up with a new design for each block. As you can see, I am using ruler work with all sorts of loops and arcs.

There's some curved cross hatching as well as ribbon candy and more arcs.

I treated these 3 rectangles as one big rectangle that measures 6" X 12". I made that big diamond in the middle and then free styled the rest of the block. I had to take a picture so I could remember what I had quilted. I think I have 8 of these blocks throughout the quilt. It's easier and it will look better if I just do the same thing to each area. 

I'm starting the center block which is much larger than the rest of the blocks in the quilt. I'm hoping to come up with ideas for that one soon! I feel I'm making pretty good progress. It's just not very easy to come up with new ideas!

 

I Like Thursday #318

It's time once again for I Like Thursday! I actually have a Thursday that's not too busy so I can post today. Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to link up with more participating blogs. I finally put a label on my Facets Quilt, washed it and put it on our bed! I love this pattern. I got sick of making these blocks but they do look great! I really think a variety of scraps really makes a quilt look shine. I'm very happy with this one!

I turned the heel on the cable socks I've been making for my daughter-in-law. This is such a wonderful pattern. The pattern uses lots of great techniques including a Japanese method to make an eyelet. I guess I can still learn new things!

Our vegetable garden is coming along really well. I have to admit that this is all my husband's doing. He loves being outside and planting. I tend to forget about plants so I'm not the best. I'm lucky he loves it so much!

This week's conversation starter asks what makes a good picnic lunch. I don't go on many picnics but I do have cookouts often outside on my deck. I'll have to say it's the food! I've been at friend's cookouts and if the food isn't good, it's just not fun. I feel a nice variety of foods is the best choice. Some cookouts work whereas some others are just a chore. It's funny, but you tend to remember that over the years. 

Have a great weekend!!

More Quilting FMQ/Rulerwork

 I've spent the last few days working on the Whiskas N Catnip quilt top. I've been quilting the corner blocks. I wish I could say I had everything planned before I started quilting but I ended up just sort of improvising as I went along.

These 2 pictures are the same pattern but 2 blocks on either side of the quilt. I think some things are easier to see in one picture than the other so I thought I'd show you both of them. I quilted up and down loops in the large triangles, straight lines in the smaller triangles, 2 large arcs in the squares and arcs with pebbles in the middle. Phew!! Again, this thread blends so well that it's difficult to see but it's there!!

I'm quilting feathers on either side of the flying geese. They look good except for one area where I'm thinking of fixing it. We'll see. 

I couldn't decide on one design for the flying geese so I settled on 2 designs! One is a very small feather and the other is ruler work. The sides just have parallel lines. I thought the small feathers would be great practice!

I'm enjoying working on this quilt. I'm itching to sew at my machine but I really don't want to start another project. I'll have to try to control myself!

Hope you're staying cool!

Border 3 Quilted WNC Quilt

 

I finally figured out what to quilt in the third border of the Whiskas N Catnip quilt. I quilted triangles using the blocks in the previous row as a guide. Then, the next hurdle is what to quilt in these triangles. I decided to quilt curved cross hatching in the upper triangle.

Then, I went back and echoed the triangle line 2 times and followed that with a wishbone pattern. Both triangles are filled!

I went back and forth so many times as to what I should quilt in this space. I wanted to use 2 different motifs but wanted to make sure it would all work around the quilt. Since my quilt is loaded, I had to resort to paper. I tried to use Electric Quilt but it was taking me too long. I used my old reliable graph paper and it looks like it should work out. (I hope!) So, I'm done the 3 outer borders and I'm actually making my way into the center of the quilt where all the pieced blocks are. This is definitely a process!!

Quilting WNC Quilt

 I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!! It was a hot day but we had a nice cookout with lots of great food. I did manage to start machine quilting the Whiskas and Catnip Quilt. The outer border is made up of swags with ribbon candy inside and straight lines finishing up the area. It's hard to see since my thread blended so well with the fabric. 

Once the outer border was done, I started on the border made up of cat's cradle blocks. I quilted arcs around the inner area and a variation of arcs in the larger triangles. I hate making decisions on how to quilt different areas, but since this is such a large quilt, I'll be doing lots of that! It may slow me down but I like taking the time to figure out which motif to stitch.

Ooh, I almost forgot! I quilted stars in the corner blocks. This is so quick and easy but always looks great! I'll post more pictures as I make more progress.

Heat and Projects

 It was a hot day today and it's only getting hotter. I finished making the Whiskas N Catnip quilt top last week and I really don't want to start a new quilt. I started to load the quilt top on the longarm. Since it's so big, I've been loading it very slowly! I loaded the backing yesterday and the quilt top today. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow so I'm not sure if I'll get to it. I'm just taking my time. I bought a light grey Fil-tec thread for quilting. I'm looking forward to custom quilting this top. There's some nice open areas that will be fun to quilt!

I started a pair of socks for my daughter-in-law. We bought the yarn together when we went to the yarn show a few months ago. It's a very pretty lace weight Berocco Vintage Sock yarn that is pink. Hard to tell from this picture.

I hope to stay home and keep cool!