Circling Geese and Constellation

Here are my 7 blocks so far of Arcadia Avenue. I'm truly enjoying making these blocks. I thought each block would take me longer. I've sort of devised a plan that works for me. Each block is made up of 12 wedges. I work on 3 wedges at a time. It usually takes a little over an hour to complete the 3 wedges. It takes 4 sessions to complete one block. Then all I have to do is put the block together!
(Easier said than done!) I'm actually getting better at sewing the wedges together and having the seams meet where they're supposed to meet to enhance the pattern.

Circling Geese is Block 6. This block was very easy to sew the wedges together. No seams had to meet.

Constellation is Block 7. As I made each wedge, I wasn't sure I was making it correctly. The pattern didn't really emerge until the wedges were sewn together. I really love this one. Then again, I love them all!

On to Block 8, also known as Boomerangs!! (Also working on other projects! Quilting can become an obsession!)

Happy Mother's Day!!

Wishing you all a wonderful and Happy Mother's Day! Hope you all enjoy the day.

This is what I think about today. I miss my babies! This photo is 23 years old. They're so grown up now. It's sad and wonderful at the same time.

Enjoy your day! Remember your memories and look forward to the future! There are more wonderful times ahead.

Lori Holt's Farm Girl Vintage

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I don't need another project but I couldn't help myself! There's a quilt along over at A Bee in My Bonnet that started this past Friday. It follows the directions for the blocks shown on the cover of Lori Holt's new book, Farm Girl Vintage. It's a wonderful book. So many gorgeous blocks and so many projects! It's a feast for the eyes!!

The first block is Apronstrings. You can make 2 different sizes, 6 1/2" or 12 1/2". I'll be making the smaller block. The quilt along will be making 2 blocks per week from now on. I'm not sure I can keep up at that pace but I'll do the best I can.

You can also make a pin cushion using the Apronstrings pattern. The directions are on Lori's blog.

I think it's going to be fun. I also love being able to use my stash. There's so many options with this quilt along. I had to join!!

Blooming!

Blooming, block 5 of Arcadia Avenue, is complete! The wedges were rather easy to sew but sewing them together proved to be a bit more difficult. As you can see, that center has to be just right! I tried it about 4 different times before I was satisfied. I will say "satisfied" since it's still not perfect. It's good enough and I was getting tired of doing that one seam over and over again. It looks better in the picture than it does in person! I think I'll like it better once all the paper is removed. That's going to be a fun job! (Not really!!)

Here are the 5 blocks all together! So fun to make! This quilt has to be one of my favorites so far. It's like getting a surprise with every block. I'm always afraid a block might end up being too hard for me so I'm so happy when it's done! I can actually do this! Block 6 is already underway. I'm almost halfway done!

I thought you'd like to see Molly and her cupcake! She's one year old! My little 4-patch kitty is now a cat! (But she still acts like a kitten!) She wasn't interested in the cupcake. That's okay! It wasn't a problem to get rid of it!!

 Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Can't believe it's May already. It really felt like Spring today. At last!!

Knitting Projects

 I just blocked my latest shawl. This shawl is called Monarda and designed by Jen Lucas. I found the pattern in her book, Sock-Yarn Shawls II. I have both of her books and I really enjoy them. Her patterns are beautiful and the directions are easy to follow. Each pattern has a chart as well as written out directions. I actually contacted her once and she helped me understand one of her patterns. I missed one crucial part of the directions. After she explained it to me, it made perfect sense!

It measures 18" X 56". I used sock yarn I had in my stash. I love using variegated yarn. It adds some interest to the shawl.

Here's a close up of the stitch. This shawl had a 14 row repeat that made up the actual body of the shawl. I never had to rip out once!

I also made this little dish cloth for a friend of mine. Can you see the kitty?? My friend can't have cats at her apartment so I decided to make her the next best thing! (At least, in my opinion!!)

I've already started my next knitting project but it's very early. I'll show you soon!

Spiderweb Block

I was off today and spent some of my day working on this Spiderweb Block. There were many seams to match. I tried to reduce the bulky seams by changing direction when paper piecing. I made one set of wedges according to the sequence listed on the paper pieced pattern. However, I changed the direction when I made the second set of wedges.

 

As you can see in this picture, I started with 17 and worked my way towards 1. This way my seams would go in the opposite direction of the first set of wedges.  Each block is made up of 12 wedges. There are 2 patterns per block, 6 wedges each. This way, my seams were in the opposite direction and would butt up against each other and I'd have no bulk!

 



Here's the front side of that paper in the previous picture.
 

 

 

I decided to do the harder seams first. These diagonal seams took a while to match up. I think it would have been much harder if I hadn't made the seams go in opposite directions. Still hard! The seams where everything was straight were so much easier! Once again, I tried to do the hard part first!

 

 

 

 

Here are my 4 blocks so far! I love them! I already have 6 wedges done of the next block. These blocks are addictive! I love them so far!

FMQ and Downton Abbey

I just started machine quilting Ladies of Downton Abbey. I had made a plan and practiced it a few times. I forced myself to start quilting on the actual quilt. I'm so afraid I'm going to screw it up! I tried to implement a few concepts I learned at MQX. I definitely went slower which really increased my control. I still screwed up a bit here and there, but overall, it's coming along well!

I really love the effect of the quilting on the back. The quilting is so easy to see on the off white background. It makes the back so very interesting! I'm using King Tut in a variegated beige. King Tut is a little thicker than I prefer but I just love the color so much! I'm definitely using a finer thread next time!