Mystery Quilting - Clue #3

This is the third post about my adventure in mystery quilting.  Go to Bonnie's blog to learn more about this fun quilt mystery.  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 and Clue #2 from the last couple weeks.

This clue worked up quickly since it is just strip piecing and then string piecing the cut strip-sets.  Easy doesn't mean fast by any means.  Bonnie gave directions for pressing after the strip units were stitched.  I had a little bit of trouble with them before they were pressed, so I pressed them before joining.  It might seem like an extra step, but I think my piecing and pressing was better for the effort.  I cut all of my strips from fat-quarter pieces.

Here is another first for me.  That's right, cutting both of these strip-sets at the same time.  Risky!  I was pleasantly surprised with the results.  I think the precise cutting, pressing and trimming made the difference here.

I've learned a great deal about my own cutting method and my own perfect 1/4" seam.  The secret is in the testing and trimming.  If you test, learn your own methods and allow for them you can turn out accurate blocks again and again.

Even though I cut these together, I did mix and match a little as I went along.  Since I was using fat quarters I would have ended up with only 12 different units.  I consistently got 10 square-sets out of one pieced strip-set.  Not enough variety for scrappy.  Well, not to me.  I ended up sewing seven of each of those ten as cut.  The other three got swapped around with others to create a little variety. 

Before I was done there was a terrifying moment when I realized I'd somehow ended up with an extra black strip that got sewn to one of the oranges.  I had a lonely white strip without a mate.  It seems I'm destined to rip a little with each clue.  Last time it was 5", this time it was closer to 22".  Not too bad, in the grand illusion scheme.

Linking up with Quiltville's Link-up Party!

Mystery Quilting - Clue #2

Last week I shared about my adventure in mystery quilting.  Go to Bonnie's post to learn more about this fun quilt mystery.  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.

This is where my post left off last week.  

I managed to work through that bin of pieces and ended up with 98 finished blocks and this.  Somehow two extra black squares had made their way into my bin and I used them leaving those two brown pieces lonely and afraid.  I rarely rip.  I mean that, too.  I would rather make an entire new block than to rip most of the time.  In this case, though, I made an exception.  I decided that ripping five inches of stitches was totally worth it to not have to make two more half-square triangle blocks.  

Clue one was finished up before Friday but not by much.  Then clue #2 was published on Friday.  It wasn't easy being at work all day thinking about the clue and the fun I would have when I got home.  I made it, but it wasn't easy.

For clue #2 Bonnie provided three different directions for how to make the block.  I looked at the different directions and decided that the one that used the Easy Angle ruler was the one I wanted to go with.  This meant I needed to print out the template she provided.  Since my printer went mad -- and refused to do anything -- I had to make my own template.  I started from the size the half block should finish at (2.5" by 4.5") and drew out my template and added seam allowances.  Then trimmed along the cutting line for the center diamond.

Then I used Bonnie's instructions to tape my template to back of my Easy Angle ruler.  I only have the 4.5" Easy Angle, so it was a very exacting fit.  From here I made a couple test blocks using some holiday prints I had handy.  (More about that holiday quilt later in the week).  With my test blocks done, I was ready to get cutting.

And boy did I cut.   This is what six hundred tiny quilt pieces looks like all lined up.  It took me over two hours to cut all these and I'm pretty quick with my rotary cutter.  To learn more about this ruler you should check out some of Bonnie's tips.

When I had pieced the halves of the block I used my Tucker Wing Clipper to trim the dog ears and make sure the halves were the right size.  I think my blocks would have been a disaster if I hadn't done this step.  Trimming block pieces to make sure they are accurate really makes a difference.  Is it an extra step?  Hells yes.  Is it worth it to stay away from the seam ripper?  Even more hells yes!

I did have more than a little bit of sliver trimming to do, which was totally fine with me.  My critic Waldo waded through the trimmings with a disgusted look.

I worked through most of Sunday to get all of these pieced.  I didn't need to trim them at all once the two halves were together.  

Not every seam is perfection.  I'm okay with that.  Why?  Because my goal is to learn some new techniques and to make a quilt.  I'm not going to lose sight of either of those goals by worrying about every seam.  I've got better things to do with my time.  Like make more quilts!

When I was done with that I put all of clue one and clue two into my bin to save for next week.  I'm going to need a bigger bin!

Linking up with Quiltville's Link-up Party!

Mystery Quilting - Clue #1

Bonnie Hunter over at Quiltville hosts a mystery quilt every year.  Last year was Celtic Solstice, a mystery I didn't know about until after the big reveal.  This year is the Grand Illusion.  Go to Bonnie's post to learn more about this fun quilt mystery.

In her introductory post Bonnie talks about why she picked the colors she picked.  Unfortunately, they didn't speak to me.  This isn't a real surprise.  I often go my own way in picking fabrics.  I figure this is just my own creative nature stepping in to say what I like.  

I decided to go with a collection of colors that did speak to me when I was picking up paint chips for fabric selection.  What?  What does this have to do with paint chips?  Well, go check out my post about how they can be helpful.

I shopped for these colors during the Quilters Quest.  I really like the colors and how they work together.  I can only hope that holds true once the quilt is done.  This is a real risk with a mystery quilt.  I fall in love with every quilt I've ever made so I'm willing to take the chance.  

Step one was to cut and piece 280 half-square triangle blocks.  Easy!  This was the first time I've used the Easy Angle ruler by Sharon Hultgren.  It wasn't difficult to learn to use, it made the cuts simple and I think it really made a difference in the quality of my finished HST blocks.  I did have a few rejects, but only four or five.  Not a bad failure rate.  This tool is readily available online, at quilt shops and chain fabric stores. 

My Tucker Trimmer got a good work-out, too.  While the point is to make the block right the first time, I'm totally behind the process of trimming the block down to the right size for the sake of accuracy.  I did have less waste with this method than with other methods.  The Tucker Trimmer is still my favorite trim-up tool.

I managed to finish up all 280 HST blocks and cut my solid squares to join with them.  I've only sewn up a couple of the blocks at this point.  I'll fit in the piecing during the week.  I don't know if I'll have all 100 broken dishes blocks finished by Friday, but I know I'll at least have them all cut and ready.

Linking up with Quiltville's Link Party.  Follow the link to go see what others are doing.

The Laughter Quilt

I've been following Megan The Bitchy Stitcher (yes, that all gets capital letters) for a while.  Not forever, but long enough to know that she has a great sense of humor and wants to share it with all of the quilting world. She recently asked for some blocks to make a quilt.  I finally set myself the task of making some of these blocks.  I know, how hard can it be?

I won't go over the instructions.  You can find all the instructions over at The Laughter Quilt blog post.  For the record, one 3.5" strip cut width of fabric will square up into 12 blocks.

If you decide to join in, you'll have to go there to get The Bitchy Stitcher's address anyway.  I paired my Kona White with some leftover charms from the Fossil Fern collection.

I even used my new thread snipper to snip apart those units.

She asked for bright and cheery colors.  I hope I managed to stay within the guidelines.

Again my piecing skills were saved by the Tucker Trimmer.  I love this tool!  Sometimes quilting is like writing.  It isn't about the first draft, it is about the editing!

Before I knew it, I had a cool dozen of these cute little blocks.

I backed them with a piece of freezer paper to stabilize them while I wrote on them.  I didn't back all of them at once since I had things to say early in the process and freezer paper is easy enough to move to the next block once it has served its purpose.

I won't share what I wrote on these until much later.  Heaven forbid I ruin the surprise.  I am looking forward to the finished quilt.  This will be a wonder to behold.  Or, it will just be a bunch of snarky blocks sewn up into a quilt.  Although, I think that would be pretty awesome, too.

Are you joining in the block-making?  Do you have something that makes you laugh that would be a good addition to this quilt?  I know I have more to say.

Quilt Shop Shopping

Today I went up to Bear's Paw Fabrics.  This great shop participated in the Quilter's Quest last year and is on the list again this year.  You can find out more about the Quilter's Quest at their site. It doesn't start until November and I'm already excited.  I should hurry up and finish the quilt from last year.  I have the top finished but need to get the back pieced so I can quilt it.

I couldn't pass up some coordinating prints for the charm pack from Moda called Mixed Bag by Studio M.  Such a fun line of fabrics.  The origami print could not stay on the shelf.  It had to come home with me.  I also picked up a couple pieces of wool felt for a simple project.  A skirt pattern that I thought I had to have.  The two rulers from Jaybird Quilts are something I wanted to try, too.  I was really looking for the Mini Hex N More ruler, but I figured coming home with the big ruler wouldn't hurt me.  

I need to quit admiring my ability to break my fabric diet and go finish my Big Bold quilt.  I did piece the borders today.  I hope to share the finished top soon.  I am still thinking and planning my custom quilting for that one.

I'm in love with the HST!

I have been teasing people with this quilt for over a week.  Today, I finally finished it.  The quilting the, binding, everything!  This is what happens when you get a second snow day!

I really like how this one came out.  It is so playful. 

I used different quilting in each area of the quilt.  The pink border got a small meander.  The pink areas got swirls, large and small.  The red has echoed hearts and little swirls to fill in around them.  The white has simple parallel lines that really help define it as a background area. 

Once I started adding borders, I realized I had outgrown my original backing.  I had twenty of the charms left over, so I pieced them into the backing fabric.  I love the effect.  If you look closely, you can see the shape of the heart in the quilting stitches.

I used a variegated thread on the top in pinks and reds (King Tut from Superior Threads) and a very light pink for the bobbin thread.  I even finished the binding by machine.  Otherwise it wasn't getting finished today. 

Made with two charm packs, about 1/2 yard of red solid, about 1/3 yard of pink dots and one yard of white-on-white for the backing.

For the Love of the Half-Square Triangle Block

I keep seeing all these great patterns for quilts celebrating love.  On Wednesday I didn't like the look of the weather so I stayed in to sew. I'm not a fan of freezing rain and icy roads.

I dug around in my stash and found some charm packs I've had for a while, the coordinating fabrics and an idea.  This is Always & Forever by Deb Strain for Moda.  When I got these charm packs as part of the my monthly club through the Fat Quarter Shop, I was a  little let down since there were so many duplicates of the prints.  For this project, though, they're perfect!

I did up my design in EQ7 and got to sorting the white, pink and red charms.  I did entirely too much math for this one. I think I started this too late in the day so it seemed like it took forever.