WIP Wednesday - 2 quilt tops!

I am so excited to have both of these quilt tops finished to show off today. I had hoped to have another finished, but I'll take what I can get!  It has been nice to have more time for sewing this week - last week I had lots of paperwork stuff and other deadlines to attend to, so it's nice to have a somewhat relaxing week!



Now I just need to decide on backing for both of these and get them basted! I bought 10 yards of batting the last time it was on sale at JoAnn's, so I should have plenty for these two and the other I'm working on.



Linking up with Lee this week!

Baby Cardigan

I recently finished up this sweet little cardigan for friends of ours who are having a baby girl this spring. The pattern is Anya's Cardigan from Vintage Knits for Modern Babies. I used Ella Rae Baby Cotton that I found at Tuesday Morning for $1.99/ball! What a steal!

I actually had started this for Ellie but it was put aside for some reason. But it worked out to be the right size for another little girl!

I think it is very cute, but be warned there are several small errors in the pattern, and if I knit it again I would change the button bands because they have a great deal of stretch as written and it is hard to match them to the sweater fronts.

Modern Half-Square Triangle Quilt-a-Long Block 25

Welcome! If you are just joining us, information about materials can be found here, and here are the previous blocks: Block 1, Block 2, Block 3, Block 4, Block 5, Block 6, Block 7, Block 8, Block 9, Block 10, Block 11, Block 12, Block 13, Block 14, Block 15, Block 16, Block 17, Block 18, Block 19, Block 20, Block 21, Block 22, Block 23, Block 24.

Materials:
8 3.5" squares of Color A
8 3.5" squares of Color B

*note* these are the essential materials for each block, so you can cut several blocks worth of fabric at once to save time!

Create your blocks, following the same procedure as last week. If you need help making your blocks, please see this post. You should end up with 16 2.5" squares. Ready to lay out your block? Here we go!

ROW 1

ROW 2

ROW 3

ROW 4

After you have sewn your squares into rows, press your seams. I like to press odd numbered rows to the left, and even to the right. It helps to use a small piece of paper to number your rows. I like the tiny post-it notes. 

After pressing, you are ready to sew your rows together! Pin, if necessary, but I find that these short rows don't require pinning.

Press one final time, and voila! Another finished block! Only 47 to go! Pat yourself on the back! Remember to add your blocks to our flickr group!

WIP Wednesday, the slow edition

At the first of the year I decided to conquer my fears of English Paper Piecing. I got out my hexie shapes and some hoarded Wee Play, and got busy! I was hooked right away! I have been stashing bits and pieces of all of Sandy Klopp's American Jane lines just for this project. A few days ago I started joining my hexies. Slow going, but very enjoyable!
I'm also planning to make Vanessa Christensen's Bloom quilt (which I cannot find anyone on the Internet has made yet), which will also take some time. I'm in the midst of tracing my petal shapes onto the fabric, which is the first step. Another slow project I'm looking forward to!

Patchwork Heart

I had hoped to get this post up last week for Valentine's day, but life seemed to get in the way. But love is an every day thing, right? So it's OK to make one of these anytime!



I originally had the idea for this heart from a similar one I had seen on pinterest. Sadly, I don't think the link still works (it was to flickr, and the user is no longer active). However, it was easy enough to recreate my own version!

I cut my squares at 2.5 inches and my HST's at 3 and trimmed them down after joining into HSTs. If you want to make your own heart, I don't have a tutorial (I forgot to take pictures while I was sewing this up!), but it is fairly self explanatory.

You'll need 5 3" white squares and 5 3" red or pink squares. Make HSTs however you would like. Trim down to 2.5".

Next you'll need 14 2.5" pink or red squares and 6 2.5" white (or your choice of background color) squares.

Lay out your heart by following the picture. Ignore the border at this time - ie: don't start each row with a white square - you won't have enough!

Join your squares into rows, press, and then join your  rows into the block.

After your block is completed, choose the size border you would like (I went with 2.5" again), and sew it onto the sides and top and bottom (measure your finished size of the block - it should be about 12.5" wide by 10.5" high).



Back, Baste and Quilt as desired! I quilted straight lines about 1/4" away from the seams using light pink thread.

If you want pockets in the corner to hang your heart, attach them before (or during) you sew on your binding. I forgot, so I'll be adding a sleeve later.

I was excited to use all scraps from my stash for this project! The backing is left over from the girls' valenteine's dresses, and the pinks and reds came from the scrap basket. I even had just enough of the dark pink binding left over from another project. It was nice to make something without a trip to the store! :)

Modern Half-Square Triangle Quilt-a-Long Block 24

Welcome! If you are just joining us, information about materials can be found here, and here are the previous blocks: Block 1, Block 2, Block 3, Block 4, Block 5, Block 6, Block 7, Block 8, Block 9, Block 10, Block 11, Block 12, Block 13, Block 14, Block 15, Block 16, Block 17, Block 18, Block 19, Block 20, Block 21, Block 22, Block 23.

Materials:
8 3.5" squares of Color A
8 3.5" squares of Color B

*note* these are the essential materials for each block, so you can cut several blocks worth of fabric at once to save time!

Create your blocks, following the same procedure as last week. If you need help making your blocks, please see this post. You should end up with 16 2.5" squares. Ready to lay out your block? Here we go!

ROW 1

ROW 2

ROW 3

ROW 4

After you have sewn your squares into rows, press your seams. I like to press odd numbered rows to the left, and even to the right. It helps to use a small piece of paper to number your rows. I like the tiny post-it notes. 

After pressing, you are ready to sew your rows together! Pin, if necessary, but I find that these short rows don't require pinning.

Press one final time, and voila! Another finished block! Only 48 to go! Pat yourself on the back! Remember to add your blocks to our flickr group!

WIP Wednesday

I feel like I've had these same WIPs for weeks-but I really have, from the planning, cutting and now the piecing. More pressing and trimming to come, but fingers crossed these are quilt tops by next week! :)
Linking up with Lee!

Valentines 2013

This year for Valentines Day, I decided to channel my inner Martha. You can guess how well that went! I tried to make these cute lollipops, but mine didn't turn out quite as cute. Still perfectly acceptable as a four year olds valentines!

For teacher gifts I wanted to do something nicer than a generic box of candy. I saw these little glass containers marked down at Target and scooped up two. I filled them with kisses, and I'll tie a bow around them before gifting so the lids don't fly off. Now I'm just sad they only had two-I wish I could have one to store cute things in!

My apologies for the blurry/crummy pictures. I should know better than to take indoor pictures at night! But sometimes you really want to write a blog post that's not about a quilt. :) 

Modern Half-Square Triangle Quilt-a-Long Block 23

Welcome! If you are just joining us, information about materials can be found here, and here are the previous blocks: Block 1, Block 2, Block 3, Block 4, Block 5, Block 6, Block 7, Block 8, Block 9, Block 10, Block 11, Block 12, Block 13, Block 14, Block 15, Block 16, Block 17, Block 18, Block 19, Block 20, Block 21, Block 22,

Materials:
8 3.5" squares of Color A
8 3.5" squares of Color B

*note* these are the essential materials for each block, so you can cut several blocks worth of fabric at once to save time!

Create your blocks, following the same procedure as last week. If you need help making your blocks, please see this post. You should end up with 16 2.5" squares. Ready to lay out your block? Here we go!

ROW 1

ROW 2

ROW 3

ROW 4

After you have sewn your squares into rows, press your seams. I like to press odd numbered rows to the left, and even to the right. It helps to use a small piece of paper to number your rows. I like the tiny post-it notes. 

After pressing, you are ready to sew your rows together! Pin, if necessary, but I find that these short rows don't require pinning.

Press one final time, and voila! Another finished block! Only 49 to go! Pat yourself on the back! Remember to add your blocks to our flickr group!

Madrona Road Challenge

Our local quilt guild took part in the MQG's Madrona Road Challenge this winter. We were each given a stack of prints from the Madrona Road collection, and our guidelines were that we could add more of the Madrona Road prints, and up to three solids.



I used Ashley's tutorial to make my blocks. I made 30 blocks and sashed the blocks with 1.5" strips. I added 3" borders. My background print was Kona Snow.

For the backing I really wanted to use the cute truck/donkey print from the line. One of my local quilt shops had it in stock, so I couldn't resist. I mimicked the front block formation by inserting sashing of Kona Coal down the middle and across one side.



I quilted inside each block. I bound it with Kona Medium Grey. Used all three of my solids! :) I really like the way this one turned out! Now to decide who to gift it to!

Upcoming Knitting Classes

I am really excited about how well the knitting classes I have been teaching have been going! We had a great January full of students eager to learn how to knit their first sweater, how to use Ravelry, how to knit two socks toe up, and even those learning to knit for the first time! February, March and April are bringing many more exciting classes!
I'm teaching a great class on learning to knit your first lace shawl. We did a beginner lace knitting class back in the fall that used worsted weight yarn. This pattern, the Shetland Triangle Shawl, calls for fingering or lace weight yarn.



I'm also teaching beginning knitting again this month, as January sold out! Yay for new knitters!

In March we are offering classes on how to knit the Willow Cowl, which has a fun picot edging! The shop just got in a bunch of Koigu, so we're offering the Koigu Linen Stitch scarf. I'm also teaching the Baby Surprise Jacket class again.



We're also offering a class on the Daybreak Shawl, the Cabernet Hat, and classes on how to Magic Loop, how to fix mistakes and how to finish your garment!

I'm so excited to teach all of these fun classes!

Modern Half-Square Triangle Quilt-a-Long Block 22

Welcome! If you are just joining us, information about materials can be found here, and here are the previous blocks: Block 1, Block 2, Block 3, Block 4, Block 5, Block 6, Block 7, Block 8, Block 9, Block 10, Block 11, Block 12, Block 13, Block 14, Block 15, Block 16, Block 17, Block 18, Block 19, Block 20, Block 21.

Materials:
8 3.5" squares of Color A
8 3.5" squares of Color B

*note* these are the essential materials for each block, so you can cut several blocks worth of fabric at once to save time!

Create your blocks, following the same procedure as last week. If you need help making your blocks, please see this post. You should end up with 16 2.5" squares. Ready to lay out your block? Here we go!

ROW 1

ROW 2

ROW 3

ROW 4

After you have sewn your squares into rows, press your seams. I like to press odd numbered rows to the left, and even to the right. It helps to use a small piece of paper to number your rows. I like the tiny post-it notes. 

After pressing, you are ready to sew your rows together! Pin, if necessary, but I find that these short rows don't require pinning.

Press one final time, and voila! Another finished block! Only 50 to go! Pat yourself on the back! Remember to add your blocks to our flickr group!