Quilting Up Leftovers

Way back in February I shared this little quilt made using the leftovers from last year's mystery quilt from Bonnie Hunter. I finally got around to quilting it. To keep with the modern theme, I went with a modern all-over quilting design. 

Now I just have to remember if I made binding for this little quilt back in February.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
4.5" Easy Angle Ruler
Creative Grids 6.5" Square Ruler
Cheryl Ann's Quilting Design Wall - 72" White

Grand Illusion Mystery Big Finish!

This is the last post about my adventure in mystery quilting.  Go to Bonnie's blog to learn more about this fun mystery quilt.  It's time for the final update to show you the finish and to link up with the rest of the quilters participating this year.  You can go back and check out my work on Clue #1, Clue #2, Clue #3, Clue #4, Clue #5 and Clue #6 from the last few weeks.

I'll fill this post will loads of photos of the quilting.  It took me a couple days to get this one quilted.  Quilting is not my full-time job so I have limited time to work on the long arm.  

I did all the quilting on this with my Pfaff 18.8 Grand Quilter on a Grace Imperial frame.  

When I started I didn't want to do custom quilting because the piecing is so crazy I knew the majority of the quilting would be lost.  Then I put needle to quilt to baste and ended up doing a semi-custom job.  The outer border has a long drawn-out meander that reminds me of gentle waves.  With this quilting I defined a top and a bottom of the quilt.  The label helps with this, too.

The inner border has these little S-curves that travel all the way around the border.  

Each of the corner squares for the internal sashing has this kind of wavy line that goes in different directions with each one.  I think it matches the four-patch center blocks and how they seem to oscillate.  

The rest of the field is filled with this meander in orange thread.  The scale for the quilting is between 1/4" and 1/2".  All quilting is hand-guided without stitch regulator.

I finished the binding by machine for this quilt.  After weeks of working on it I didn't want to spend another week finishing the binding.  

You can find the tutorial for my method (I didn't come up with it, it's just the one that works for me) in the sidebar or at this link.

The quilt is slightly smaller than what I prefer on my queen-size bed.  It's just a little too short to get a tuck at the foot of the bed.  I did sleep under it to make sure it worked properly.

The texture that was created after the quilting was done and the quilt was washed is just amazing.  I love the wrinkled look of a freshly washed quilt. 

Here is the label that I embroidered directly onto the backing fabric before quilting.  The embroidery machine tested my patience but it does give all the particulars.  You can see the different quilting motifs from the back really clearly.  

When I put the last of stitches in for the gray (outer border) (I quilted with three different colors of thread for each area of the quilt) I pulled the bobbin case to find that I had less than 1 yard of thread remaining.  This almost never, ever, ever happens.  It was a great feeling.

I received one comment and wanted to share the response.  I respond to each comment or question privately in email (that's how I handle all comments, so if you are a no-reply-blogger you will never get an answer to your question or a response).  I was asked about my colors.  I did a straight substitution for Bonnie's colors.  Here is the breakdown.

My color = Bonnie's color

• black = black (I picked blacks that read towards a brown/gray)
• white = white (my whites read more silver gray than blue or brown)
• red = blue  (the blue and green had pretty much the same value so I made sure my substitutions did, too)
• orange = green (my red and orange replaced Bonnie's blue and green)
• green = pink (I'm just not a pink person)
• brown = yellow (with all the other changes I pulled a really neutral brown for my constant)

If you want to know more about my color choices you should go back to my first post about the mystery quilt where I talk about how I came to choose the specific colors.  

I'll be linking up with the Grand Illusion Mystery Link-Up.  Be sure to pop over and look at all the amazing quilts people have made.  I love seeing all the different colors and fabrics that were chosen.  Each one has a heart of its own and I love that.

Tuesday Tool Tip: LED Work Lamp

I have a Singer Spartan that does not have a lamp attached (hence the name Spartan).  I have one of these LED lamps from IKEA on my nightstand for bedtime reading and figured it would make the perfect lamp to add to my sewing tools.  Here is a link.  Some assembly is required, but a screwdriver is all you need.

This lamp costs $10 and has about 20,000 hours of use.  You can do the math yourself, but basically you can turn it on and leave it on for about 2 1/2 years.  I'll wager that the solid state components will outlast the mechanical switch. They come in many colors.  I picked this one because it matches the Spartan.

Here it is all set up and providing more light than I need to get some blocks sewn.  I used this machine to stitch up Clue #5 of Bonnie Hunter's Grand Illusion mystery quilt.

I've read a few people on various boards ask about changing the bulb in these lamps.  The truth is it is a soldered in solid state component.  It just isn't something you take out and replace.  Besides, did you read the part about 20,000 hours to failure?  When are you ever going to use all those hours?  I sew almost every day and I don't think I will ever use them all.

Do you have a favorite lamp for sewing?  I have a wonderful floor lamp that is about shoulder height when sitting on the couch.  It is the perfect height for hand-sewing while watching television.

Mystery Quilting - Clue #6 - the Reveal!

This is the sixth post about my adventure in mystery quilting.  Go to Bonnie's blog to learn more about this fun mystery quilt.  It's time for another update to show you where I'm at and to link up with the rest of the quilters participating this year.  You can go back and check out my work on Clue #1, Clue #2, Clue #3, Clue #4 and Clue #5 from the last few weeks.

On New Year's Day I woke to find that Bonnie had released the last clue, the grand finale!  I pulled out my bin with all the clues and started working.  This is a plastic bin designed to hold 12" scrap booking paper.  I think it is great for quilting projects because it will easily hold 12.5" by 12.5" quilt blocks until you get to put them together.

The first step was to lay out a single block so I could piece the 25 blocks.  I did do some repressing before piecing just to make the seams nest better.  This is a hazard that can't be predicted with a mystery quilt.  Not because the designer didn't tell you how to press, just that everyone has a different workflow and may not press the same.

I used one of my design boards to hold a block until I could get one pieced.  Then I put the pieced square on the board until I had pieced all 25 of them.  

I admit that I sewed one block together incorrectly.  Considering how much care I took with keeping everything organized I was surprised it happened.  While piecing the blocks I used the sashing as enders.

I did a bunch of trimming of the blocks when I was done.  I should have checked and double checked my seam allowance but I just wanted to get moving.  This means I sacrificed a couple points.  I don't mind, though.  I don't want perfect.  I just want a quilt.  

Once all the blocks were trimmed it was a matter of crawling around on my design floor and sewing the rows together.  The sashing for these blocks was very different in that you only had one seam to line up.  I really like the sashing and I think the results are great.  When I got to sewing the rows together I pulled out the outer border and used those as my enders.  It was great to use the next step as the enders and keep moving.  It also kept me engaged so it didn't seem too monotonous.  

The movement that results from the smaller checkerboard sashing is just great.  I'm going to need a bigger design floor.

I did consider using a different color for the cornerstones but I decided to stick with the red because, well, I like red.  This quilt is huge.  Yes, I can read and I know Bonnie said 88" by 88" but until I'm working with a quilt that big I forget how really big that is.

I rarely do pieced borders so this was a little different for me.  I pinned and pinned to make sure these lined up nicely.  I'm sure there is a little fullness that I will have to deal with when I get it on the long arm frame.

I changed the layout of the border squares to make them look more like stars along the edge of the quilt.  I really like how the outer border cornerstones worked out with my change to the border.  I think my brown (my substitute for Bonnie's yellow) is really close to my neutrals.  I don't think it is a problem and tones the quilt down a little.  It was a risk picking that color.  Photos don't do it much justice.  Those neutrals really are more towards gray than they look in this photo.

All that remains is to pick the backing, the quilting thread, load up the long arm frame with all the parts, quilt all 7744 square inches of it, make and attach binding and a label.  Just a quick little project.  This is probably one of the most time-intensive quilts I have ever made.  

I am so thrilled that I did this quilt in different colors.  (Go back to my first post to see how I chose these colors.)  I know that so many quilters think they are poor at color selection.  I think they are much better at it than they give themselves credit for.  I think the world would be a very boring place if everyone made every quilt exactly like the designer made it.  Just like if we all wore the exact same clothes every day.  Sure, it might be outside your comfort zone, the world isn't about being comfortable.  Sometimes you have to take a chance.  It's only fabric!

Did you join in the fun?  Did you change up colors?  Did you learn something new?  

Linking up with Quiltville's Link-up Party! 

Thread Thursday: Counting Spools

I've mentioned my love affair with Superior Threads before.  It does bear mentioning again.  

Sadly, this will be the last month of Magnifico as a club purchase for a while.  I've been working with So Fine! #50 for a while now and I love the blending qualities it has.  It stitches up beautifully on both the long arm and my other sewing machines.  As a long arm quilting thread I just like it better.  I'll continue to use the Magnifico I have but I'd like to add more colors of So Fine to my collection.  I love the shine of Magnifico but sometimes I want something so much more subtle and So Fine gives me that.  So I shifted my club membership to So Fine!

I added in a cone of Omni in a green that should be very easy to match with other threads.  Omni is perfect for so much.  I've used is as a bobbin and top thread in the long arm.  I've used it as a needle thread in my serger.  I'm sure it would work beautifully in my domestic machine for simple piecing or quilting.  It is just a great thread.  Not as fine as So Fine, but really nice to have for just about everything else.

I also got another of their thread holders.  It is on sale until the end of December for only $19.95.  This thing is totally worth it, even at full price.  I use mine all the time and wanted to get another one for the embroidery machine so I wouldn't have to move mine from machine to machine.  If you don't have one, and want to use cone threads I recommend you go watch their video.  

I did this last year and wanted to do it again.  Here are all the spools and cones I emptied in 2014.  I think a couple of those belong in last year's count.  This year I emptied 46 spools or cones of thread.  I can't tell you how much thread I actually used, only that these are my empties at the end of my sewing for the year.

Last year I cleared a total of 21 spools or cones.  I've more than doubled that and there are way more cones in the bin this year.  Some of this is because I've had so much more time to work on long arm quilting and some is because I've been using my serger more.  I've also been piecing much more.  I've been using up some of my older thread, too.  I've been able to use much better threads to piece and do clothing construction.  I don't buy Coats & Clark thread any more.  

Do you keep track of your used thread?  Some people have a checklist and keep track.  I just keep the spools but it isn't very space conscious.  If you do keep track what is your method?

Singer Spartan - 1962

I decided to finish up the work on this darling little Singer Spartan.  (I think I spent more time getting that little slide plate onto the spring than I spent doing anything else.)

The only thing I hadn't done was remove the bobbin case and clean under it and the feed dogs.  I'm glad I didn't skip this step.  I found more a than a few dust bunnies had made their home under there.  I've learned so much about the 66/99 machines through my willingness to do a little bit of homework and to take things apart.  These machines are brilliantly designed.

Here is the serial number for this little Spartan.  According to ISMACS.com she is a 99K, from September 11, 1962.  She sews beautifully!

I picked this machine up locally through a Craig's List ad.  It was a great transaction for a wonderfully maintained machine.  I may have paid a bit of a premium on this one, but I got an amazing machine for an amazing price.  You couldn't get a comparable machine for $75 in a chain store.

The Spartans didn't come with lamps, so I had to add a stand lamp.  (I'll share more about the lamp next week.)  I sewed up all the blocks for clue #5 of Bonnie Hunter's Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt on this machine.  Every stitch was beautiful.

Don't think this 3/4 machine is light.  I haven't put her on a scale, but I will say she isn't light.  I've read on the internet that she weighs in around 26lbs.  I should go find my scale.

Do you have a vintage machine that you love?

Charity Quilt: Jelly Roll Race

Jelly Roll Race quilt courtesy of Aunt Betty.  

Some of this fabric came from Aunt Betty.  Okay.  Most of this fabric came from Aunt Betty.  Okay, all but one of these fabrics came from one of two different Aunt Betties.  

When I pulled this fabric from the bags a friend dropped off, I knew that it would make the perfect jelly roll race quilt.  These simple quilts are perfect for quick sewing (you can find a video tutorial on Missouri Star Quilt Co's YouTube channel).  Here is the pile pieced end to end on the diagonal and ready for the first pass through the sewing machine.

I started this late in the day, so I didn't get very far the first day.  This one isn't a standard jelly roll race.  When I got the piece to 8 strips wide I cut it into three pieces so I could make it a more manageable charity quilt length.  I picked this fabric (from a different Aunt Betty) for the backing.  

Since the top was too wide, I trimmed it down and used the trimmed piece to widen the backing fabric.  I didn't need to do this, but I thought it was a great way to use up that piece of fabric.

To pull the front and the back together I used some of the backing fabric to put a border around the center of the quilt top.  If I can, I load quilts onto the frame so the selvage edges run parallel to the top and bottom rails.  This gives me a naturally straight edge to pin the backing to the leaders.  I wrote a post about how I piece backings and how I load them onto the frame earlier in the year.

This quilt didn't get fancy quilting.  I looked at the top and thought it would look great with a large swirl. There are some points in there, too, but it isn't fancy.  The piecing hides most of it anyway.

The binding was made with a coordinating piece of fabric I found hiding in my stash.  I also used a bit left over from the border.  I really like the effect.

I think this one is great from the front or the back!

I folded it up and dropped it off at the December meeting of Annapolis Quilts for Kids.  I hope it finds a wonderful home.  Thanks, Aunt Betty!

Mystery Quilting - Clue #5

This is the fifth post about my adventure in mystery quilting.  Go to Bonnie's blog to learn more about this fun mystery quilt.  It's time for another update to show you where I'm at and to link up with the rest of the quilters participating this year.  You can go back and check out my work on Clue #1, Clue #2, Clue #3 and Clue #4 from the last few weeks.

This clue was a quick one.  I think Bonnie was trying to give us all a little bit of time to decompress after the holiday and for some to play catch-up.   

Here are all of my other mystery quilt units stuffed into one project box.  I don't think I'll be able to squeeze clue #5 in there!

There is quite a bit of speculation going on about how many more square inches of quilt are left to piece and if the next clue will be the big reveal.  Still plenty of sewing left to do after the next clue!

Linking up with Quiltville's Link-up Party!

Aunt Betty Strikes Again!

Have you heard of my Aunt Betty?

Professor Pincushion made this great video that you should totally check out!

Let's just say that I have my very own Aunt Betty.  She loves to give me fabric, books, sewing machines, thread, and other things that she no longer needs, wants or has room for.  Sometimes I find new homes for these things, sometimes I fill my shelves with books and fabric.  I will not discourage my Aunt Betty.  She supports my habit as surely as she supports her own.  Last week I received these two bags of unwanted fabric.

To be completely honest, this fabric came from a completely new Aunt Betty.  It seems I'm beginning to gain a certain reputation in my local community.  All of these wonderful fabrics came to me from a friend that is trying to clean out things so she can work more efficiently.  I totally understand how having too much fabric can be overwhelming.  That's why I try to make it into things and send it out the door as quickly as possible.  

I won't be hoarding this fabric.  I've already got plans for some of it.  I want as much of it to go to good homes as possible.  Stay tuned to learn more about where some of this fabric is headed.

Do you have an Aunt Betty?