Finally, I’ve been able to get back to some of the UFO’s in my stash. Each year I vow to finish them – but seem to just add more projects to the box than I actually do finish. This wall-hanging has been ‘crying’ to be hung on the wall in my family room, for some time now.  Featured in the Spring/Summer 2005 issue of Quilt Sampler, it was designed by Calico Gals Quilt Shop in Syracuse NY.

'From the Field'

I did get as far as fusing the applique pieces, but never got around to the machine applique part of the quit.   I normally like to hand applique.  It’s so relaxing as well as portable.   I can pick up a block and take it on a road trip or work on it while enjoying a summer afternoon on the back deck. I really like this pattern but haven’t done much machine applique.  Off to my library to find some help.  A while back I took a class from Sue Nichols on her Raw Edge Applique technique.  I pulled out the book – practiced some same stitching.

Blanket Stitch - Double/Single

My Bernina has two choices of blanket stitch.  I think the single stitch will be best for this piece especially around the flowers.  Possibly, the double stitch will add a little more interest to the vase.  We’ll see what it asks me for when I get to that element.

Inside and Outside Points; Curves

And now I’m on my way to begin working on the actual wall-hanging.

Tuesday evening our Guild held it’s annual dinner and we were  treated to a presentation by Barb Robinson.  Barb’s trunk show features many of her beautiful quilts.  In addition she gave us a handout noting her favorite tools, batting, fabric and tips for rotary cutting, piecing and pressing.

One of the quilts in the trunk show features her hand-dyed fabrics.  These were pieced  into 9-patch blocks and then put together with strips of a bold tulip fabric.   Quite a dramatic Quilt!

Hand-Dyes & Tulips

In addition I was interested in the stitch and thread she uses when  machine appliqueing.  The small zig-zag stitch and invisible thread looks like the perfect way to almost invisibly attach the applique pieces  to a background.

Machine Applique

It gave me a good preview of this technique.  I’m thinking that I may finish my autumn leaves quilt the same way.

One of her many tips was how she washes fabric.  I always wash my fabric before it is stored away.  I just like the feel of the fabric after the sizing has been removed.

I’ve always thought that fabric should washed the same way it will be washed when the quilt is finished.  Instead Barb suggests that you run fabric through the a warm rinse cycle only, adding  a Shout Color Catcher with the fabric.  The will ensure that the fabric shrinks and bleeds thoroughly.  In addition, she suggests that you only dry the fabric until it is almost dry; not crisp dry.   This will eliminate the need for ironing.  The material can then be folded and put away.  Sounds like a good idea to me!

Every year we show appreciation to our outgoing guild president by making blocks of her favorite theme and/or colors.  This year we made sunflower and 9-patch blocks  for Lisa.  The sunflower blocks were a pattern from Cathy Van Bruggen Designs.  It always interesting to see how different quilters execute the same block.  I was able to combine needle-turn and invisible machine applique with embroidery to finish my block.

At first I appliqued the leaves, stems and flower centers by needle-turn applique.  I tried to use the same technique with the pointy sunflower petals. but wasn’t happy with the result.  There are too many changes from inside points to outside points in a very small space.

Lisa's Sunflower Block

(I wish that I had the skills of someone like Elly Sienkiewicz. I’m sure she would have produced a perfect needle-turn flower.)

I decided to use Kim Diehl’s invisible machine applique technique and think that it turned out well.  I decided to embellish the center of the flower with french knots – and even put a few yellow knots for interest.  I think she liked it – at least she said that she did when I gave it to her on Tuesday.

After seeing all her beautiful blocks I had to pull the blocks for my President’s Quilt out.  Guess I’d better start working on my quilt. I added sashing strips to the blocks and decided on the layout when I received them.  But then put them away.  That was 2 years ago!

Guess I’d better get working on my quilt.  I need to have it ready to hang in our President’s Corner at our guild’s July 2010 Quilt Show.   -   A New Year’s resolution already!

Every year we (the members of the Thumbstall Quilt Guild) are challenged to make a mini quilt.  We are given a theme and specific instructions on such things as size, technique and/or colors.  “Do Not Touch the Quilts” is the theme for this year’s challenge and it must be 11″ x 11″ or smaller.  We are able to use the technique or fabric of our choice.

These small quilts will be used at our biennial quilt show as a reminder  not to handle the quilts. It’s such a temptation to pick up the corner of the quilt in order to see the quilting detail.  I’ve found myself putting my hands in my pockets, or walking with my hands behind my back while at a quilt show so not to take a quick peek.

My quilt, Please Keep Your ‘Paws’ off the Quilts, is just about finished.

Do not touch the quilts

I only have to attach the binding.  I am definitely going use the Binding Thingy to make those ‘perfect’ mitered corners.  What a great tool.

At our annual picnic  this month the membership will vote on their favorite quilts.  First, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons  will be awarded.

There’s always time to quilt!

Quilt top is almost finished!

The Autumn Pennies table topper uses Kim Diehl’s invisible machine appliqué technique.  This two block quilt, alternates quarter-square triangle blocks with penny blocks.  A project of fabric squares that are five inches or less, the finished penny’s look very much like those in a wool penny rug.

Each penny block consists of 4-different sizes of circles.  With Kim’s technique, the circles are attached to freezer paper; the seam allowances pressed to the waxy side of the paper and the largest circle stitched with mono-filament thread onto a background square. Each of the remaining three circles are stitched on top the previous circle.

Now that the blocks are assembled, all that is left to do is to add the borders.

The book, Simple Seasons, contains projects and recipes for each season: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.  The next project in the book that I would like to make is a table runner of yo-yo’s and appliquéd tulips.  Reminding me of Spring, it is appropriately called  Tulips and Tossed Greens.   Even though the appliqué pieces are to be hand appliquéd, they are prepared using Kim’s freezer paper technique. When the shapes are appliquéd in place, the edges have already been turned under, eliminating the need to needle-turn the fabric.

Also included in the book are recipes for each season.  Two look especially good to me:  Summer’s Dilled Pasta Salad, and Winter’s Raspberry Truffles recipes must simply be delicious!

Until next post…

Happy Quilting.