"Pressed Leaves" Quilt (Table Runner/Wall Hanging)

Pressed Leaves

I've been learning to quilt and I am enjoying it so much.  My friend, Belinda, noticed there was a Quilt Expo in Castle Rock, Colorado, a few weeks back.  We went and we found some great projects.  I bought a pattern called "Pressed Leaves" by Tonya Alexander.  The vendor who had the pattern had this great news print fabric which is the same fabric that is pictured in the pattern. For the colorful leaves, I used scrap fabric I had at home.  I am really pleased with how this turned out.  I love the piecing part of quilting but I am finding it very difficult to do the quilting/top stitching on large objects.  This table runner/wall hanging was a manageable size.  We hung this wall hanging in our front entry way. 

This pattern can be found at www.stashlabquilts.com

I'm Making a Quilt: Part II

The block above is called "The Post Office

The block above is called "Ice Cream Parlor"

More Quilt Blocks...

Over the past few months, I've been learning to quilt. I made a number of 12.5 x 12.5 inch blocks from a Sampler Sew Along found on www.whitneysews.com.  Along the way, I started following another quilting group on Facebook which is hosted by Pat Sloan. She is also offering a free sew along called "Main Street" and I really liked the look of that project as well.  As luck would have it, the "Main Street" quilt blocks are also 12.5 x 12.5 inches.  I decided I would start making the "Main Street" quilt blocks until I ran out of the fabric that I had purchased for the original WhitneySews sew along. 

Pictured here are the Main Street quilt blocks.  All of the blocks are named after shops you might find along Main Street. 

The block above is called "Courthouse".

The block above is called "Five and Dime"

The block above is called "Books on Main". I was tired when I cut the fabric for this block so I accidentally cut enough for two blocks. Whoops!

The block above is called "Movie Theatre"

The block above is called "The Bank"

The block above is called "Beauty Shop/Barber Shop"

I've been learning about Quilt As You Go (QAYG) techniques.  I am planning to put this quilt together using one of the various QAYG techniques.  

I'm Making a QUILT!

BROKEN DISHES

I am making a quilt!  I found a great quilt "Sampler Sewalong" that I found on a blog called www.whitneysews.com 

So far I have made 9 of 12 quilt blocks and I am anxiously awaiting the video tutorials for the remaining blocks.  After that, I presume there will be instructions for how to finish all remaining steps for the quilt.  

I was visiting my mom and dad and sister in Oregon earlier in May. One day, my mom, sister, and I went fabric shopping.  I did not intend to shop for fabric for the quilt but I found this great charcoal gray fabric with the flowers and hearts.  It just really spoke to me!  I found a number of fat quarters in shades of green, peach, gray, and aqua that I thought coordinated nicely with the fabric. I also selected a white fabric that has tiny flecks of metallic silver for just a little bling.

I love trying out the various quilt blocks.  I can see my quilt piecing skills improving each and every block and I am thrilled about that.  For my quilt piecing, I purchased a special foot for my sewing machine.  It's a quarter inch foot that has a guard on it that helps one sew consistent 1/4 inch seams. It's not fool proof but I find this foot to be well worth the expense.  It was just under $20.00.

FRIENDSHIP STAR

RAIL FENCE

PUSS IN THE CORNER

CROSSES AND LOSSES

CHURN DASH

ROAD TO OKLAHOMA 

ANNA'S CHOICE... THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE!

There is one more block called CRYSTAL STAR.  I guess I neglected to take a photo of that block all by itself.  

Pembroke II

Pembroke II

I am calling this shawl "Pembroke II" because I've made this pattern twice.  This pattern is FREE on Ravelry and here is the LINK.  This pattern is great to knit while watching TV or traveling.  You just have to pay attention to what you are doing at the ends of the rows; other than that... it's just knit, knit, knit.  The yarn I used for this project is a dreamy merino wool.  Great to wear around your neck!  The yarn is Araucania Huasco sock yarn by Araucania and the color way is called Toco Toucan.  There are areas in the yarn which are an unusual shade of golden yellow.  We often go hiking and there is a particular lichen that looks to be the same color to me.  I love that.  The shawl is an easy to wear garment; it's a asymmetrical triangle and can be styled with or without a shawl pin.  As soon as I finished this project, I was tempted to cast on another.  I enjoy having some challenging projects on my needles, as well as a mindless, relaxing knit.

Up NEXT... I plan to show you the sampler quilt I am making!  

Norah's Vintage Afghan: Update

Norah's Vintage Afghan

A Norah's Vintage Afghan post is long overdue!

I have been working on this project since February 2016.  You can see all of the prior posts HERE.  Between February 2016 and June 2018, I completed 12 blocks.  I resumed work on this project on Easter Sunday earlier this year and whipped out the final 8 blocks. They are all blocked and ready to be sewn together. It's going to be a big job and I am procrastinating.  But I really want to be done!  My personal deadline was to finish it in May 2019, but I am writing this on May 30th.  Below you will see some photos that I snapped while some of the various blocks were pinned out on the blocking mats.  Above you can see all of the blocks layed out in the manner in which they will be stitched together.  I'll be sure to post some nice photos when it's finally complete.

NOTE:  If you happen to be making this project, you may want to reprint your pattern. There was an error in the key for the Block 20 Chart.  The orange cable stitch had the stitches reversed.  The pattern was most recently updated in January or February 2019.

Pinwheel Wall Hanging

Pinwheel Wall Hanging

In the past few months, I have really, REALLY gotten back into sewing. I mean REALLY!  So much so that I purchased a new sewing machine and a serger and I totally revamped my craft space.  I am having so much fun!  The short version of the long story is that a good friend, Kerri (we've known each other since 4th grade), sent me some amazing fabric to make her some dog bone shaped pillows. The fabric was amazing and there were lots of leftovers. I was determined to make her some nice knitting project bags but I had to make some practice bags first.  

It is absolutely amazing how many craft tutorial videos you can find on the Internet!  I have found a few ladies who were making various pouches and bags (some with zippers and some without) and I just kept building my skills as I worked my way through the various patterns I liked.

Here are my favorite bloggers/YouTube video channels:

Whitney Sews

Confessions of a Home Schooler

Charmed by Ashley

Whitney from Whitney Sews is having a quilt sampler sew along and I decided to take the plunge and buy the required fabric amounts to make the sampler. She has already put out 9 of 12 videos for the quilt and I am anxiously awaiting the next three blocks.  My excitement about quilting got me looking at other designs. I really like the look of pinwheels. I made a few that had some problem spots.  I kept looking at a variety of internet videos and I found one video that helped me make some great looking pinwheels without a big bulky spot in the center.  I made up these four pinwheels and was so proud. I added some sashing between the pinwheels and added batting, backing, and a binding.  I love how it turned out; it's hanging on the wall in my newly organized/rearranged craft room.  Soon I'll show you my quilt blocks for my quilt sampler sew along.  I love that I am learning new skills with each and every block. I am addicted!

Loquita

LOQUITA

In a few other posts, I mention how I purchased a series of kits for knitting projects and I receive one kit every other month for one year. The designer is Laura Nelkin. This is the latest project and the pattern name is "Loquita".  The kit came with yarn, two kinds of beads, a two-part metal clasp (for the back of the neck), and a dental flosser for stringing beads.  This project is less than a dozen rows so it knits up rather quickly.  The new technique I learned with the project was a long tail cast on where beads are inserted in the cast on edge.  Very cool!

I have been a crafting maniac for the past few months but have not taken the time to post much lately.  I'll try to post a few things in the next few days.