Random Blocks

I've had these five churn dash blocks hanging around forever. I decided to trim them, add matching borders, and put them into a charity quilt. Some left over blocks and I had something I liked. Now to piece it together and add some borders.

I've been gathering some 3.5" by 6.5" bricks to make a super scrappy quilt. I really like being able to pull a quilt together from a large selection of prints. Expect to see more of these.

My favorite tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle 

Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Creative Grids Quilt Ruler 6-1/2" Square

Fiskars Rotary Cutter

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

Dritz Craft Pins, 1-3/4-Inch (250-Count)

Electric Quilt

Project box: IRIS 12" x 12" Portable Plastic Storage Cases with Built-in Handle, Clear (storage)

Letter Openers

Fiskars Rotating Cutting Mat 14 inch x 14 inch

Creative Grids Stripology XL Ruler 

Diabolical Jane

I finished the Diabolical Jane quilt top in June 2021. I picked this great pink for the quilting. 

Mostly because it coordinated with the quilt top and the backing. 

I loaded it onto the frame. 

I used this great all-over quilting design called Lace Agate Meander by Bethanne Nemesh. Her quilting is so inspiring. (Yes, that photo is blurry. Dreary winter days do not make for good lighting or photos.)

The backing fabric is delightfully colorful. 

Now it can go in the stack of quilts waiting for binding. 

If this style is something you would like to try I recommend you head over to Jesse Aller's Diabolical Jane tutorial. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle Fiskars Rotary Cutter

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades

Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

Dritz Craft Pins, 1-3/4-Inch (250-Count)

Am I Blue

I've been working on this quilt for a long time. This past weekend I finally attached the binding. 

I accordion fold my binding to keep it from getting twisted while I work with it. I know there are loads of tricks people use when winding their binding but this has always worked for me. 

Many years ago I switched from attaching binding by machine and finishing by hand to machine-finished binding. You can check out my binding tips and tricks. I work with 2.5" binding. This results in a wider finished binding (3/8") that I would get using 2.25" wide binding. Again, do what works for you. 

Now I finish binding almost exclusively by machine. I can quickly finish the binding and that means I can move on to new projects. 

I'm pleased with how this one turned out. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle 
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Tucker Trimmer III
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Diabolical Jane

I think it was a couple months ago that I saw several people posting their Diabolical Jane quilt tops. Jesse Aller posted a free tutorial for this quick and striking quilt on her blog in 2016. I had that tab open in my browser for what seemed a long time. It was time to start cutting and planning. 

I started with this one little square. Granted, that's the idea, but it's so small! This isn't even the center square that found its way into the final quilt. Because that's how design works. 

I've been trying to work through my collection of batik fabrics and this is likely the last large project I get. That isn't to say I don't have any batiks left. Only that I'll be down to a bunch of 4.5" squares, 5" squares, and 2.5" strips. This isn't quite right, either.  

I expanded until I ran out of enough fabrics to continue. This is the basic idea. I did move some fabrics around before sewing it all together. 

Once I had the center assembled it was time for borders. Again, I pulled from my collection.

I think the pattern called for a 9.5" border but I didn't have enough of this black fabric to pull that off. It was leftover from the backing on another quilt which was great because I could cut each border in one continuous piece. I just had to fit in some cornerstones to make it work. 

I think it came together nicely considering it was constructed with what I had on hand. Now it needs a backing. 

If this style is something you would like to try I recommend you head over to Jesse Aller's Diabolical Jane tutorial. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle 
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Wrights 4.5" Easy Angle ruler

Fiskars Rotary Cutter

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Plaid-ish Quilt

I'm still working on my Plaid-ish quilt. This quilt took all week to cut and lay out. I'm sure it will all come out in the end. 

Once I had it all cut I made a few changes. 

At this point I'm not changing anything. A block put wrong will just be part of the finished quilt. I didn't assemble individual blocks. I webbed the entire quilt. It took most of Saturday. Bonnie Hunter has a blog post on webbing a quilt if you want to learn more about it. It's great! I used the technique every chance I get. 

I spent Sunday sewing those webbed rows into a finished top. I haven't decided if it needs a border yet. I'll let it hang there for a little while until I decide. I don't have backing fabric so it isn't like I can quilt it right now. 

Make your own using the free pattern Plaid-ish from Kitchen Table Quilting.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle 
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Tucker Trimmer III
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Plaid-ish

I have so many batik fabrics. I keep making quilts and I still have so many. I decided to grab them and get to work on a new quilt. This time I'm going to use the free pattern Plaid-ish from Kitchen Table Quilting. I've had it on my list for a while. I sorted my fabrics into dark, medium, and light. 

How do you know if you have good separation between those darks, mediums, and lights? use the filter on your camera to see them in black and white. This makes it easier to see the differences without seeing the colors. 

Time to fill up this canvas. I love my design wall. 

I'm just getting started. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle 
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Tucker Trimmer III
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Border the Blues

This week I managed to squeeze in a little sewing time. I finished sewing the blocks together. 

I also managed to attach one border. I have one more border to attach. Evening photos have such poor lighting. Sorry about the quality.  

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle 
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Tucker Trimmer III
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

The Blues

I've been working on this one for a while but picked it back up this month. 

I'm almost ready to join the rows and add a couple borders. This part of the quilt is about 72" by 72". Stay tuned to see how this one finishes up. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle 
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Tucker Trimmer III
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Picking Up the Pieces

Sometimes a project will get set aside. 

I'm not even sure when I stopped working on this quilt. It must have been at least a year ago. It was time to pull it out and make some more blocks. 

So much fabric and so many more blocks to go. I don't know if I'll finish it this time around but it is nice to pick up the pieces and keep moving. 

Like batiks? Want to see another of my quilts made with batik fabrics? Check out this post from 2018. My Jewel Box Stars was made using a wonderful free pattern by Bonnie Hunter. 

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
6.5" Easy Angle Ruler
Creative Grids 6.5" Square Ruler

The Mermaid

Part 5, the finale.

I used the trimmings from the backing to make the binding. I did have to add a short strip to make it work. 

I always accordion fold my binding. This makes it easy to store and easy to use without getting twisted like it does if it is coiled. 

Bound and hanging sleeve attached. It might be overly big as a wall hanging but that's what I intend on doing with it.

Read more about this quilt and the techniques used in these previous posts:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Cheryl Ann's Quilting Design Wall - 72" White
Reynolds Freezer Paper Plastic Coated 50 Sq Ft
Elmer's Liquid School Glue, Washable, 4 Ounces
Crayola Ultra-Washable Markers

The Mermaid

Part 4 - Quilting

It has been a while since I updated you on this fun quilt. This post will have loads of photos as I tried to capture the quilting as I went. I pieced the backing for this quilt. The backing doesn't even really matter since my plan is to hang this quilt once it is done.

I used a matching pale blue for the background quilting. I tried to capture shapes you might see underwater. Waves. 

Seaweed and underwater currents. 

Green to accentuate the tail fin. 

Echoes and echoes. 

Fish scales. 

I try to match my top and bobbin threads so you get an idea of the mermaid from the back. 

Trimmed and ready for binding and a hanging sleeve. 

I tried to use the thread to add details to the raw edge applique. This quilt has taken so long but is so worth it. I'm not sure all of the quilting choices were perfect but at least it is done.

Read more about this quilt and the techniques used in these previous posts:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Cheryl Ann's Quilting Design Wall - 72" White
Reynolds Freezer Paper Plastic Coated 50 Sq Ft
Elmer's Liquid School Glue, Washable, 4 Ounces
Crayola Ultra-Washable Markers

The Mermaid

Part 3

This is going to be so many parts. I'm still working through my collection of batik fabrics. I didn't expect the hair to read as red as it does in this image but I really like it.

Building up the layers from the bottom.

I finished up the hair. 

I don't know if I would have picked these fabrics at the fabric store, but when you shop your collection of fabric you make do. 

The applique is finished. Next up will be the quilting. I'm going to let her hang so I can think about layering the thread.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Cheryl Ann's Quilting Design Wall - 72" White
Reynolds Freezer Paper Plastic Coated 50 Sq Ft
Elmer's Liquid School Glue, Washable, 4 Ounces
Crayola Ultra-Washable Markers