More Thread Experimentation and Giveaway Winner

Inspired by a few amazing quilt artists blogs (Patsy Thompson, MarveLes Art Studios, and Ferret Fabricates to be exact) I have been glued to the sewing maching playing again with thread and quilting.

Wish these pictures could be better and show the true colors of this little project.  The thread is much more vivid in person.    I goofed up on my feather and where I turned the feather I had planned on ending and beginning a new feather, but instead ended up with this sort of wonky change in direction.  The first part of the feather I am in love with though.

I think this would be the perfect little project to experiment with bobbin work.  I have heard so much about Ricky Tims line of thread, Razzle Dazzle (Superior Threads), and I think I will place an order and try it out.  I am really liking the shade called icicles.  It is described as "white" and "pearlescent"...sounds like it would work wonderfully with the swirls I have already quilted into this with dark purple thread.

Here is what I used so far...three inexpensive poly trilobal embroidery threads from Coats & Clark, and Dritz invisible monofiliment in the bobbin (for all three colors).  I had a lot of skipped stitches and just plain wierd things happening when I began using the poly thread...I don't know if it's thread weight or my machine or what, but I started using the monofiliment and I haven't had any of those problems.  I am very good about changing my needle and use a size 14 sharp needle so I don't think that was the issue.  In any case unless I really need the underside to be as colorful as the front I like the way things went much better with this combiniation.

GIVEAWAY WINNER

Well, I didn't reach my goal of 100 comments (or ANYWHERE near it LOL*) but hey, who can complain about 26!  LOL*  That's 26 times you took out of your busy schedules to pay me a little attention and participate, so for that I thank you all very much.  ;)  I also really appreciate all of your thoughtful and encouraging words...you really cannot know how truly motivating and inspiring they are!

The winner for a free copy of my very first lil' pattern, Spring Blooms, is Marj from Eclectic Quilter!  Thank you Marj for participating!  I hope when you make your lil' quilt you will share a picture with us.  ;)

3D Pinwheel Block Tutorial

Several of you have asked for a tutorial on the 3D pinwheels I used to make my youngest daughters baby quilt.  So here you go!  ;)

Step One:  Cut yourself 4 squares of each your focus fabric, and background fabric.  You can pick any size square you want, depending on how large you want your pinwheel.  I chose 3" squares - my finished block size will be 5" x 5".

Step Two:  Layer your squares right sides together, placing your focus fabric on top, like this...

Now fold the focus fabric down, like this.  Fingerpress with your thumb or thumbnail.

Now fold again, like this...again use your thumbnail to fingerpress.

Pin in place.  :)

Do this with all four layered squares.  Arrange into a pinwheel to prepare for sewing.  :)

Step 3:  Now take the top two squares...or the bottom two, doesn't matter...

Line up the edges to be stitched, being careful not to lose the point of your pinwheel in the process!  It may help to place an extra pin on that loose piece there...

Pin...

Sew!

Now you should have something that looks like this...

I like to press my seams open for this block...it gets VERY bulky.

Here's a picture of what NOT to do.  I got a little excited and didn't match up myseams well.  Now if I were to sew this there's a pretty good chance I'll sew the point of my pinwheel off.  If you look at the quilt top I made, I may or may not have done this a few times.  LOL*  *blush*  I'm not going to admit it if I did.  ;)

Now repeat for the remaining two pieces...and layer right sides together again to finish the block, taking care to match up that inner seam.

Sew and press.  For the completed block i like to spray a little water or Best Press back there when I press to help it stay open and reduce bulk.

Turn it over, and, TA-DA!  A perfectly cute little 3D pinwheel block!

It Feels Like July and Another Table Topper

WOW is it hot tonight.  Well, this morning -  it's about 6am right now.  My lil' booger is supposed to be sleeping but has discovered her little voice instead!  LOL*  She's in her bassinet creating a little baby symphony of sounds...so cute!  But they will be even cuter once I've had my coffee!  Lol*  UGH.  This heat is getting to me.

I made another little table topper yesterday.  I really love this and am SO tempted to keep it...but I'm saving up for something special so...goodbye little quilt and hello Etsy.  It was really fun to quilt though.  I keep telling myself, if I can do ALL of this on my little Simplicity Quilter's Classic...just imagine what I could do with a Bernina or better yet...a LONGARM!!!  Oh to dream.  ;)  Some day I will have my long arm.  I think it would make feathers SO much more fun and versatile for my quilts...right now the most frustrating thing about the feathers is I can only make them so big and once I go beyond that they start to look wobbly and distorted because I have to stop and get another grip on the quilt to move it under the needle. 

Oh look, I just noticed my TOE is in that picture!!!  LOL*  I was trying not to do that!  Way to be professional Valerie!  LOL*  Oh well, I'm not going back to take new pictures, so my toe will just have to stay in there.  LOL*

It seems really slow around blogland, is it just me?  There are a few of us quilting up a storm but it's kind of been a lull on the reader.  Is everyone too hot still to quilt?

**Next post will be a little tutorial on how to make that pinwheel block.  ;)

That's a Whole Lotta Pinwheels.

I finally finished Emma's pinwheel quilt top.  If you attempt to make one of these, let me make a suggestion.  Don't use a psychotic amount of pinwheels as I did here.  This is supposed to be a baby quilt for my four month old daughter...without backing, batting, or any kind of quilting whatsever, this little quilt would probably smother her!  LOL*  I am thinking I'm going to back it with minkie and leave out the batting alltogether.  I will do something VERY simple for the quilting, just to keep it from shifting when washing.  For now I think it will just be a throw for her to lay on, play with, and to put over the side of her crib...but I don't think I'm going to put it over her unless it's like, -20 degrees outside.  LOL*  Lesson learned.  ;)  Sometimes more is just...MORE. 

It still turned out kinda neat didn't it?  Can't you just imagine a little baby who's just learned to sit on their own and touch and feel playing with all those little folds and shapes?  I think this will be such a great little blankie for playing on. 

If any of you would like me to I can do a little tutorial on how to make this block.  I know when I first started the quilt a lot of you asked for patterns and instructions.  :)

Fall Runner

Another finish...I am really proud of the quilting on this one!

A Little Etsy Item

Getting a little more of that feather practice in while I'm at it...  ;)

Back to School

Today was the first day back to school for my babies, oh how bittersweet!  I barely know what to do with myself and all the free time, it's just me and the baby today.  I've already pittered away most of my day making phone calls and talking about how much I miss them - before I know it they will be home!  I suppose I will go weed that garden, it was hard not to notice the weeds as I took the girls' photographs by the morning glories and black eyed susans.  Then chores, then hopefully a little time for sewing. 

After hearing all about their very exciting first day of school of course!