Quilting Class: Part 1

My first class was Monday. I have to tell you, it was soooo good. I learned so much. We talked about thread and needles for a long time. I had no idea about the differences, especially pertaining to needles. Basically quilting, denim, and embroidery needles are all good. Universal needles have a barbed point. And I had didn't know you shouldn't switch threads mid quilt because a thicker thread could make your blocks just a tiny bit smaller. 

We did work on some straight line quilting, too. Monday we will learn to free motion quilt, which is why I took the class. 

In other news I finished the top to my "Into the Blue" quilt. I used a skinny white border and then a four inch green border. The combination really brightens the quilt up and makes the green pop! 

Sneak Peek

I finally finished sewing all the blocks together on my "into the blue" quilt. I figured out how to sew the rows without having to get up every time to lay it out and pin the next blocks on. I don't quite know how to explain it but after I laid everything out I put them in column piles and marked them A, B, C, etc. I did lay out A&B but the just worked from my piles and matched the new block. 

Anyways, the quilt measures roughly 58"x66" without borders. I'm not sure what I'll do for borders. Maybe a skinny white border and a wide navy border. Suggestions? 

Quilt Love, 

Kelsie

Expanding My Mind...

I'm so excited! I just signed up for a machine quilting class at my local quilt store, Quilters Dream (www.quilters-dream.ca)! It's 4 nights of 3 hours. I know how to do basic machine quilting but would like to be able to do more, especially since I don't have an extra $10-$12 grand laying around for a long arm and frame. Someday, sigh! I called Mr. Stars Hollow and told him it could be my bday present! Funny that one night of class is actually ON my bday. 

Speaking of birthdays and Mr. Stars Hollow, today is his. We will be the same age for a month and then I resume my cougar status 😜. I threw him a surprise party last night and he was totally surprised! I made mango-pineapple salsa from the Frugal Girls, and found a recipe for restaurant style salsa too. Both were delish! We normally have bible study at our house on Tuesday so I had our friends in on it and a coworker distracted him at work til late. I think the 4 year old was the most excited though. Birthdays are epic at that age! 

Hoping to see later....

New Project: Into the Blue

So I started another quilt. I have had some fabrics in my stash for like 3 years and haven't had the "perfect" project for them. So I decided to go for it. 

Aren't they pretty together? 

I decided to do another disappearing nine patch block. I want to see what it looks like in dark colours and big blocks. I chose to do 6" blocks to make a 17.5" block, which I will then cut into four 8.75" blocks. I cut 6" strips and sewed them navy-blue/green-navy and blue/green-green-blue/green. Then subcut them into 6" strips and sewed those into nine patches. 

Sorry the lighting isn't very good. I think it's funny that the top two navy blocks and bottom two have the exact same pattern. Funny! 

I'm experimenting with ironing my seams flat. I usually do towards the dark side but thought I'd switch it up this time. I figured since the blocks will be going every which way it might be a good idea. 

Best, 

Kelsie

Wedding well wishes quilt

My brother married the most wonderful girl last summer! It was a wonderful trip. I was a bridesmaid, Luke was a groomsman, and Jackson was the cutest ring bear you ever saw! He even growled when he reached the front. My grandpa got remarried when I was about 6 or 7 and my brother the groom was the ring bearer. My grandpa told him he needed to practice his bear growl, so we told Jackson the same thing. Haha! 

Anyways, I wanted to make the happy couple a wedding quilt and thought it would be cool to have the guests sign quilt squares. It worked out nicely because we had the wedding in CA where they live now, and a reception in my hometown in MT. A wide range of guests all signed well wishes. I figured since their anniversary was coming up maybe I should start working on it. In my defence, I had a baby recently. And I'm kind of particular when I quilt. I always mull everything around in my head until I have the perfect plan. Then I sketch it out, do some math, lay out fabrics, and get to it. I had trouble deciding how I wanted to design this one. I've changed my mind like a hundred times. I finally decided to just frame the squares in strips of reproduction fabrics. But my math wasn't quite right so after I got two sides done I took the second side off because I realized I didn't have enough fabric. Now the plan is to do a scrappy look. 

Here's the beginning of the blocks. I'm completely in love with this fabric! It's Moda's playtime line with 1930's reproduction prints. I bought a Chloe's Closet jelly roll. 

And here's a cute baby! 

Quick Tablerunner

So we have these friends who have become family. (Framily?) They are so good to us and watch the boys all the time and cook for us and basically are like surrogate parents/grandparents. And like our biological parents, they can afford to buy themselves what they need/want. So giving gifts is HARD. I wanted to do something for Easter because I know the boys were getting baskets so I decided to just whip up a table runner. Procrastination last-minute sewing is my specialty! I decided to try a disappearing nine-patch because I've pinned some and like the look of it. I went with yellow because it's the colour of the dining room. 

So I had yellow squares on the corners, black in the centre, and white in between. Then just cut it into quarters and voilà! The hardest part was figuring out the layout. 

I am terrible at doing the quilt sandwich effectively. I always end up with puckers. Don't judge! I just did some free hand vertical quilting. The recipient loves it. And this is the back: 

Fun, right? We always have coffee together so I thought it was appropriate. All the fabric was from my stash. :) 

Next up: the "marriage" quilt for my brother and his wife. Since, you know, their one year anniversary is coming up. But in my defence I had a baby in January. 

Happy Birthday Red!

I Jackson was invited to a special 3rd birthday party for his friend. I happened to know her mom was buying her a crib for her dolls so I decided to whip up a doll quilt for her. I picked some heart blocks they were already cut out and just needed stitching on. I used a blanket stitch on my machine. 

Jackson had decided pink was important and if you know me at all you know this wasn't a problem. I just did an easy four patch and border. I also chose to turn it inside out instead of doing a binding. I did some stitch in the ditch quilting and voila! 

He was excited to give it to her. I'm pretty sure he opened the gift himself. Pretty fun for the first birthday party he went to!