Thursday, August 16, 2012

More to Bind


This pair are too small to be table runners and too large to be mug rugs.  So I'm not sure what I'll call them.  Maybe candle mats.

I had extra room on the frame when I quilted the last twister, so I decided to use up a few scraps.  I looked at the backing to see what colors I could use.  (There really is a bit of lime green in the back.)





These are easy take-along projects.  They're small enough that I can get them done while I'm waiting.  Tonight, we're going to a premier of the marching band's half-time show.  I'll grab some green thread and see if I can finish at least one of them.  : )

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Long Term Project is Nearing the Finish Line

This little one is basically a four patch with a shadow frame.  It was fast to piece it and so much fun to decide how to arrange all those sets.  Then I decided to try a new product - fusible bamboo batting. 

Some people love this type of batting.  I found the fusible very difficult to work with.  Once the top was ironed on, the back had wrinkles.  So I flipped it over and worked out the wrinkles on the back.  Now the front side had wrinkles.  I'm sure it's just user error, but I won't fuse batting again.

So I decided to use my home sewing machine, since the Tin Lizzie is designed for the 3 layers to be separate, not glued together.  I made lots of securing stitches and then worked with a variegated thread in the blue background.
When it was almost finished, I got distracted and this project ended up in a closet for a couple of years.  It was a great take along project when my mom was sick in May, so I had the opportunity to finish the swirls.   Then, I decided to load it on the frame to quilt the 4 patches and the light shadows.  That part went very fast and was done in a few hours.

The binding fabric is ready.  Looks like I'll have several projects to ready for hand stitches.  I made a little progress yesterday waiting to pick up a few teens from band camp yesterday.
from the back side

Here's the entire back side

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars

Friday, August 10, 2012

Another Twister ...

This pattern is so much fun to make!  With a charm pack, it's a perfect baby quilt kit.
I'm taking it with me when I anticipate time to wait or sit and listen.  It helps me find the time to hand sewing the binding.   Some of us love to hand sew this final touch while others prefer to get it done quickly with the machine.  I think the recipient is thrilled either way.

Here's a close up of the quilting.  I used the design in the White-On-White border as the inspiration for the quilting motif.  It was fairly quick to stitch and I didn't paint myself in a corner.
My nephew and his wife are expecting a baby girl soon.  So this one will get wrapped up and sent to Colorado to keep a sweet little girl warm and cozy.


I made a label by folding a square in half diagonally and machine stitching it down with the binding along 2 of the sides.  Once the binding is hand-stitched down, I'll write on the label with a pigma marker.  Not as fancy as a machine embroidered one, but I'm happy with it. 

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars