Mini Quilt Challenge

My quilt guild (Dalemead Quilt Guild) is having a quilt show this October. Part of that show is going to be a display and auction of mini quilts made by our members. Last week, we had a work bee to get started. 

I picked this pattern from Issue #45 of Miniature Quilts from 1999. The pattern called for 1.25" scrap squares, but I decided to use the 1.5" squares I've already cut and collected. 

I randomly picked squares and sewed them together into 4-patch blocks. Then I cut 2x 2 3/8" cream colored squares and cut them once diagonally. 

These triangles were sewn to the sides of the 4-patch making a square in a square block. 

I find these blocks tend to stretch a bit so I will square them up before I use them in a quilt top. These should be 3.5" unfinished, but my seams are not always a scant 1/4" and often they end up just a bit smaller. 

I need 35 of these blocks, so I am going to cut all the cream squares I need and sew them in between the other projects I have on the go. 

-Ann

Strippy Baby Quilts

Recently, I received some great fabrics from a customer for some baby quilts. There was enough fabric to make much more than the 5 baby quilts she wanted, including the batting and the thread! I felt extremely spoiled to have more than enough of everything to make the quilts she wanted and the best part is that I loved the fabrics she had chosen!

Modern Strip Quilt from Holly and Olive

The pattern chosen was from the Holly and Olive blog - Modern Strip Quilt. This is a super pattern to show off some of the larger print fabrics that are out there for baby quilts.

Strippy Baby Quilts

I varied the width of the strips and cut them from the full width of fabric, so these baby quilts are a little wider than my other baby quilts. There are still 2 quilts left to finish and I think I'm saving the best for last - they feature sock monkeys and are bright and colorful!

This will probably be a pattern I return to for quilts to stock at Magpie Quilts as I really enjoyed making them!

--Ann

T-shirt Quilts

One of the more popular memory quilts that are made are T-shirt quilts made from shirts collected over the years, either school or sport shirts or travel souvenirs. There are tutorials all over on line, so do a search if you want to make your own! I started this one with a collection of T-shirts and sweatshirts from a friend who has been all over the world. 

Blurry picture of pile of T-shirts! (Sorry for the bad photo!)

All that stretchy goodness that makes T-shirts so comfortable is not what makes for a great quilt. So the first step is to stabilize the pieces with some light weight fusible non-woven interfacing. Pieces are cut a little larger than needed, stabilized and then trimmed to size.

A few T-shirts trimmed down with stabilizer on the back

Some of these will be cut down even more and some extra fabric will be added to join everything together. This is not the final layout! My process is to put pieces up on the design wall, look at them for a while, and then decide on a final layout. Pieces will be moved and shuffled around until they look balanced (color, scale) and then they will be pieced together.

All the T-shirts, now for a layout!

I originally thought I would piece these together with a black cotton, but I have some dark gray that will look good and maybe I will pick up some burgundy to add a bit of muted color.

Look for a finished top sometime in the next few weeks - this will be a project that has to simmer a bit and not finished in a hurry!

--Ann
edited to add:
Linking here to Quiltsy Team http://teamquiltsy.blogspot.ca/2014/04/wips-on-wednesday_16.html

More Baby Quilts

Last week, I put the pedal to the floor on my sewing machine and finished up some baby quilts. I managed to finish 3 baby quilt tops with 9-patch blocks, in blue, pink and purple. The blue and pink ones are completely finished and the purple one is waiting for some batting so I can quilt it!

Pink 9-patch Baby Quilt

Blue 9-patch Baby quilt

The 4th one is a custom quilt that I made for a customer in neutrals. I normally quilt the baby quilts myself on my home sewing machine, but this one had so much open space, I opted to have it quilted by Marie from Blueberry Hill Quilts in Chestermere, Alberta (she does all my large quilts!) and love how it turned out.

Low Volume Baby Quilt - SOLD!

I have one more baby quilt that's in progress and you will have to wait to see it!

--Ann

2014 Central Alberta Quilt Show

Friday was road trip day for me and one of my quilting friends. The Central Alberta Quilt Show is always a great event, well-organized with plenty of quilts for eye candy and a great selection of vendors to clear the wallet of any loose change! Here's a few examples of the eye candy!

 This quilt caught my eye as the rural lifestyle has always been a large part of my life, throughout my childhood and my adult life. These draft horses remind me of the team of Percherons that my father-in-law had towards the end of his life and the stories he told of when he was young, farming with the horses.

 I have signed up on Craftsy.com for the Gloria Loughman class to make this landscape quilt. My friend has made this one too and if I can snag a pic next time I'm at her house, I'll show you hers too. I love the way the piecing provides the perspective and Gloria Loughman is a great teacher - this online class is worth every penny as you not only get to make this quilt, but there are tons of other tidbits of knowledge there too.

I love quilts that combine traditional piecing with handwork of any kind. Usually this means applique, but here's a great example of a lovely Halloween themed embroidered piece framed by quilting. I'm not a huge fan of the bright oranges that usually accompany Halloween pieces, but this one could find a spot in almost any decor and not scream "Halloween".

And this was just a simple patchwork quilt with some sweet embroidery and yo-yo flowers to dress it up. This would look great on a little over the shoulder bag don't you think?

There were many more quilts, but also people to visit with as I met up with quilting friends from all over Alberta who were also there to look and shop!

What's the best quilt show you've been to? Do you spend more time browsing the quilts or shopping at the vendors?

--Ann