Draw, Drop, Hoop, & Stitch

Having just done the Two Circles Squared [see previous post], I noticed that you end up with something akin to a framed canvas on the contrasting back piece. This made me wonder if I could use the center of the contrasting piece for a bit of embroidery. Rather than experimenting with hand embroidery, I chose to also attempt the regular sewing machine, free motion embroidery demonstrated by various YouTubers. 

First I chose a picture to trace/transfer onto the predetermined  four inch mid-section of  my eight inch contrasting circle. Having penciled it in, I dropped the feed dogs on my machine, and removed the presser foot, all the while reminding myself that the lever that lowers the foot must be lowered when stitching actually begins, due to tension issues. Next I hooped the fabric in an ordinary embroidery hoop, as tightly as I could manage. Then I set to "drawing" with the machine stitches, following the lines drawn. 

The resulting picture was fine for my purposes. It might have been better to stabilize the fabric prior to hooping, but for an experiment and first run, I was pleased.

Oh! And just for fun, here's a postcard my mail carrier left for us a year or so ago:

 Something inherently precious about a little girl mailing a missive, I suppose.

Two Circles Squared

The tutorial for this intriguing little bit of fabric magic didn't catch my eye until after the holidays, but decided to give it a try because 

1. It (end product) looked difficult. 
2. Sounded easy (per instructions)
3. Took next to nothing by way of fabric committed
4. Gave me a chance to TRY to justify having purchased a circle cutting ruler, not to mention all the Christmas-themed yardage I never brought myself to cut into. (Sigh. I have to get over that!)

Mine turned out a little wonky, but I think it was due to my lack of care in doing those final folds. 

This one was made using two 8 inch circles, which resulted in a 4 inch square.

1. joined face to face using 1/4 inch seam, leaving an inch and a half open for turning right side out
2. once circle is turned right side out, flattened and pressed, the 1.5 inch opening is closed off as a 1/8 inch top stitch is sewn around the perimeter.
3. the circle is then folded in half. The ends of the resulting "taco" are pinched to make a middle line just at those ends, which are then joined with two or three stitches (hand sewn)
4. rotate a halfway and bring the two other opposing side together to join as well. result should be something that looks kind of like a crab rangoon wrapper
5. flatten the "wrapper" centering the stitched end joins forming a square.
6. flip the petal-like extensions inside out and over the outer corners and even out for the finish.
7. the back side will be a square with contrasting corner tabs.

The video walk-through which served as my instruction may be found here: 

folded fabric ornament

I hope to give this a whirl with a smaller circle than my first run-through. Yes, I tend toward miniaturization. 

Related ideas for/with this:

• Use serger for the initial seam.
• Use finished square as a pocket for an apron or doll's dress
• Join several for a tree skirt.

Five to Ten

From left to right, row by row, these blocks represent HOPE, CONFESSION, the CROSS, BIRDS OF THE AIR, STAR, and LOVE.

There are to be fifteen blocks in the sampler once completed. These are block numbers 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 (not shown in order). Blocks 1 through 4 were in my October post. 

Since I have not used a theme fabric for this project, I've found myself mired in indecision at the point of fabric choices as each block's instructions come up. I was actually considering doing a hodgepodge piecing from which to cut the red portion of the heart, but finally found some red fabric that looked more red than orange.

Counting My Chickens

Over on the Quilting Board I found a very fun tutorial for cute little "funky chicken" pin cushions. The poster used selvage for some of her creations, and had a truly funky topknot, comb...or whatever that thing on top is called. I just used some trimmings from some red batik that I had on hand. This was fun to make, and the tutorial is very easy to follow: selvage/funky chicken pin cushion tutorial link. 

Here's the one I made:

"Gertrude"?

She's stuffed with rice, a bay leaf and hot pepper flakes to dissuade bugs, and BBs for a bit of heft in her setter. Not sure, but I think she looks like a "Gertrude".

Sample of Sampler in Progress

Wow! That bottom right one is looking pretty wonky. Hmm. ANYway... these are the first four of fifteen blocks that will make up my first "sampler quilt". I had decided I would not go fabric shopping for this one, being determined to delve into my stash and use it exclusively. No need to be a spendthrift, right?  I've already gone shopping a little bitty bit since having made that determination. So much for my resolve. 

The pattern for this quilt is named "Roman Road", but the blocks are not paired with Romans scripture exclusively on the pattern sheet provided, so I may call mine a "Scripture Quilt", instead. Also, the pattern has a church building as the central block, but I may redesign that block as a Bible with a cross and dove. Not sure, yet. Still in the planning stages and since that block is number 15, I have some time.

Swans in Lemonade

Remember the story of the ugly duckling, or the saying about what to do when life gives you a lemon? Well the "Ugly Quilt Challenge" of the summer of '13 was a lot like that, as it turned out.

The night group of quilters decided to have an independent challenge over the summer break. The rules were:

1. Each participant must bring one yard of their ugliest fabric from their existing stash, cut into fat quarters to be placed in four "grab bags".
2. They must blindly draw four fat quarters of the garnered ugly fabrics. They are not allowed to draw their own, nor to draw a duplicate fabric.
3. Using the four fabrics drawn, five fabrics from their own stash as well as one neutral color (black, beige, white) can be used in combination with the "ugly four". [Maximum fabrics - 10].
4. A quilt top must be completed by the end of summer break, or before the scheduled "Big Reveal".
5. Size restrictions: no larger than 54" x 54".

Honored to be welcomed in to their big reveal on their reconvening the other evening, I snapped pictures of the lovely ladies' lovely creations. Two of the pictures show the four "ugly" fabrics one lady drew, and the five fabrics she used to combine with them from her own stash. The rest are sheer "Swans in Lemonade".

Enjoy the pageant with me:

Yes, indeed!  If anyone could make a silk purse from a sow's ear, it would be these gals!

This "or" That

One of the above blocks was foundation-pieced onto paper, the other patch pieced.Can you tell the difference?

              In the Volume 1 Summer 2013 issue of Quiltmaker Classics (magazine) on page 39 a quilt named "This and That" is featured. Liking the on point centered square for use with some fabric I had on hand, I thought I would give that pieced block a try. The magazine included both a foundation piecing pattern and the dimensions for patch piecing. I up-sized the dimensions so that I could use some fussy-cut Winnie the Pooh fabric for the center square to best effect. Having paper pieced two of the blocks, I decided to try patch piecing one.  Well, above you can see the two blocks side by side. Can you tell a difference?
     The sewing of the foundation pieced block, using paper as the foundation, made obtaining accurate placement much easier, even though it did use more fabric. Also, I can tell that when I begin to join the blocks, by leaving the paper in place for the join, I will know just where to place the 1/4 inch seam. So, yes, I do like paper-piecing, EXCEPT for the fact that I use up more fabric than would otherwise be needed. 

   Oh! Which was which? Below are the same blocks positioned the same way, only flipped. Did you guess correctly?