Hooked on Piping

I finally finished the blue quilt . All that was left was the binding and I was being lazy about it.

The main reason was it is so big and I just didn't feel like tackling it.

But I finally bit the bullet and just did it.

I do like adding the piping in the binding. I think it gives it some definition.

It takes a little longer to do but it is worth it. 

Here is a shot of the back.

The quilting shows up better than I thought it would. But it would have been much better if it was a solid.

I really try not to use prints for backing. 

And of course here is the top again.

I am glad this one is finished - it took longer to quilt than most.

I did learn a new lesson on this one. -------------

 Pink water soluble markers don't disappear like the blue ones.

Lady Bugs are Done

I finished my Lady Bug quilt on Friday - put the binding on Saturday and now it's just a matter of time before my customer picks it up.

I really wasn't happy with the way it was quilting out - or should I say the way I was quilting it out.

(But I guess that's an old song of mine.)

Anyway after I took it out of the fame and bound it I was much happier with it.

I used the piping on the binding again and I really like that technique.

Now on to other things.

I cleaned my areas over the weekend and I'm all ready to finish another something.

Now just deciding on which something.

What was I thinking???

This quilt definately comes under the heading 'What was I thinking?'

I did so many things wrong.

The biggest thing was using a floral backing.

I knew better when I started that my stitching wouldn't show up but it was the best match I had on hand at the time. So I should have just done an all over design - mistake #2.

I definately shouldn't have quilted in so much detail.

If it's not going to show then why do it.

I did get in alot of practice. 

This is called 'Strips and Salsa" and was real quick and easy to put together.

There are alot of choices to make when deciding how to quilt a quilt.

I knew I was going overboard but I did it anyway.

Another Block

As you can probably tell this is paper pieced.

When I got home from work on Monday I didn't feel like quilting so I decided to work on my forgotten BOM.

It took all evening to do this one block.

I have seen something called Fun Dation for paper piecing. Has anyone used it and how good it it?

It is like a stabilizer that you put the pattern on and you don't have to tear it off if you don't want to.

I would love to know how it works in a project

Blogger’s Quilt Festival

Festival will run May 17th – May 31 2013

Amy's Creative Side is hosting the Blogger's Quilt Festival where we have the opportunity to share quilts we have made and be inspired by all all the great quilts entered.

Each person can enter up to 2 quilts and there are multiplw categories.

Once the quilts ore linked then they will be nominated on then voted on.

It would be nice if you voted on mine.

I have decided to enter my wall quilt I recently finished using Anita Goodesign's Roosters and project design.

I worked up all the pieces in the hoop and basically did a 9 patch.

Then I chose 4 of the Roosters and embroidered them onto the 9 patches.

I then had 4 quarters that I sewed together.

And I decided to add a piping around the edge.

This turned out so nice - It was such a good design from Anita Goodesign.
It was quilted in the hoop and worked out to be about 36" square.

I will be entering it on the Blogger's Quilt Festival.

It would be great for this wall hanging to win.
Mine is in the wall hanging category on Blogger's Quilt Festival

Go vote for your favorite.

Go to the Wall Hanging Quilts page to nominate and vote

Quilter's Favorites

I thought I’d join in on Geta Gramma's (Geta's Quilting Studio) Quilter’s Favorites and impart some of my habits.  I’d like to say they were tips but they are just some of the things that I do that seem to work well for me.

Some of my favorite notions………..

Like most quilters and sewers a good seam ripper is a must. In my case many seam rippers.  I have a tendency to lay them down, knock them on the floor, under the sewing machine or behind the machine and I spend a lot of valuable time looking for one.  

Another item I like to have around is basting glue with the pinpoint tip. This comes in handy for many purposes.  My original use was for applique.  Then I started using it when I match up the ends on my binding.  Now I don’t have to trial and error it to get the perfect seam.  I also use it when I piece my backing fabric.  This keeps my seam from rolling on me.

When piecing a quilt I love my ¼” foot.  I use it on the entire quilt top and I know all my seams are the same.

Precision cutting. All the years I have been quilting I would make the pieces fit.  After all they were all cut the same so they should work out – right?  Wrong.  It might take a little extra effort for trimming up but it is so worth it – the pieces fit together so much better and the top will lay a lot smoother.

Then of course Iron – Iron – Iron.  I like to spray starch my fabric before I cut.  I do this by spraying on the top side and ironing on the bottom.  This way the spray starch gets absorbed into the fabric.  Then I iron my pieces as I sew – precision cut and then iron again before I put all the blocks together.  I also use a pressing cloth – which for me happens to be a cloth diaper.

Like I said earlier these are some of the things that I do that make my quilting easier – these are my habits. They might not work for everyone but they seem to do well for me.

For more sharing of tools, tips, tricks and tutorials go visit Geta's Quilting Studio for the complete list of bloggers participating in Geta's Quilting Favorites.    

Giveaway Winner

Before I announce the winner of my Giveaway I'd like to say I'm sorry for not replying on all the commnts and for being so late in announcing the winner.

I had a family emergency and left town last Wednesday and didn't get back til last night.

I really appreciate all the comments and all the followers - thank you

And for all the mothers out there Happy Mother's Day

 

Now the winner is.......................

 

Happy Cottage Quilter said...

Wow what a great giveaway! My favorite color is probably pink. Although it would be a toss up with Blue :-)

May 6, 2013 at 12:20 PM

 

Thank you everyone - Hope to hear from you again on the next Giveaway

 

 

Giveaway Day

Actually it's Giveaway Week.

Swe, Mama, Sew is hosting

The giveaway starts today and ends on Friday May 10.

As usual I have gathered up a few things I thought could be used.

An apron kit................

A fat quater bundle with 5 fats..................

A 2 yard cut of fabric.............

and a fine line fabric marking pen.

Now for the details--

To enter just leave a comment stating your favorite color.

For a second entry let me know if you are a follower (old or new)

I will draw a winner on Friday (May 10) night.

Thanks for stopping by.