Another Top

I finished up another quilt top.



The pattern was created by Andrea at Millions of Thoughts.  It's been in the works for a long time.  I finally forced myself to finish it.  I used Dick & Jane fabric and a shade of blue from Moda.  Hopefully I can get it quilted this week when I take a couple days off for Spring Break.

Who Knew????

Seriously, who knew that 9 year olds were so stinking smart????? Apparently I wasn't aware until mine helped me out by saying one simple thing last night - Youtube.

I was having a serious issue with my quilting machine on Monday night. Not sure what I did, but I managed to mess the tension up pretty bad.  Well I do know what I did, I decided to use different thread than what I normally use.  There is so much out there in terms of thread that I've pretty much decided I need to step out of my box and give some of them a try, which then means adjusting the tension on the machine.

So at dinner last night I told the munchkin I was going to the girl cave after we got done to see if I could figure out how to adjust the tension CORRECTLY on my machine. In typical fashion she announced, just look on Youtube mom, there's a video for everything. She couldn't have been more correct.

I found this video by Jamie Wallen on adjusting tension. Thank you Jamie, you are the solution to every problem I've created on my machine. Take a look and listen. Makes perfect sense.



Just remember the infamous words of a very smart 9 year old - There's a video for everything. (and probably some things you don't really want to see videos of)

Happy stitching.

Scrap ADD

I definitely have ADD.  I also think I'm over the top with scraps and trying to use mine up.  So this is what I spent this weekend making.

I followed Bonnie's instructions on Quiltville but realized that one of the dies I have is 4 7/8".  So I cut the triangles using my Go cutter.  I really don't like cutting triangles, so that made life a lot easier.


I saw this over at JulieKQuilts.  I did A LOT of cutting at Christmas with my Accuquilt Go.  So after reading the instructions I thought I would use some of those scraps.  I used a 3 1/2" square, 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangle and 2 1/2" strips.  Julie did hers as crumbs.  My next go round will be crumby too.


Have a GREAT week.

 

Scrappy Spider Web

I got my scrappy spider web put together. There will definitely be a few more of this quilt throw into the mix. My friends are work tell me it's just me being picky, but I don't have points. I'm not quite sure what I did to not get points, but they aren't there. Oh well. I'm sure the baby recipient won't even notice and will be more interested in the bright colors.



I'm hoping to get this quilted this week or next.  I will be using more scraps for the binding.

I believe 2013 is become my use it up scrap year.  The plastic totes are overflowing with scraps, so it's time to get busy and use them.  Right now I'm working on a Bonnie/Quiltville scrap top.  I realized that the triangles I have to cut for that quilt are the same size as the Accuquilt Go Die I have so I be using that to speed my cutting up.

In between sewing scrappy blocks, I've been doing some embroidery too.  Lots of 31 bags.  I finally broke down and made a sweatshirt for myself.





Joann's has run a sale on Hoodies since Thanksgiving, so I have piced up a few.  The design is from Katelyn's Kreative Stitches.  I didn't follow her directions and used old T-shirts that were cut up previously to make a t-shirt quilt. 

Have a great day!

Huge...Scrappy

I finished my king sized scrappy top. It's 2 1/2 inch strips, many of which were from binding. I added quite a few strips from fat quarters in an attempt to use up some fabric.

It's 120" wide by 110" long. It will have to be quilted by someone other than me since my quilting machine frame is too small. Can't wait to get it on the bed. It will definitely add a lot of color to the room.

 Next on the list is the scrappy spider web I've been working on.

 Have a great day!

 

Growing

My scrap quilt is growing. I have 16 blocks done. For my bed, I think I need 30 -36 blocks. So for now, I will keep making fabric.
 

This is my start to the scrappy spider web. While I was sewing I got to thinking, I'm definitely SCRAPPY.
 

 When you sew "scrappy" are you scrappy or do you tend to try to coordinate your scraps? Inquiring minds need to know.

 Have a SCRAPPY night!


 

Scrap Envy...

Maybe I should say scrap intervention. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm definitely hung up on the scraps all of a sudden. Before Christmas, I had 2 large tubs of scraps. Every time I make a quilt I pitch the scraps in the tub. I'm beginning to think that I'm a hoarder since I can't even throw away the small pieces.

I decided while I was off at Christmas it was time to do something with the bins. I sorted and pitched. I ironed and cut. My floor in part of the girl cave still looks like the bin threw up.

I used my Accuquilt cutter and started cutting 2 1/2 inch and 4 1/2 inch blocks. I saw a picture from a blog of a "Scrap Vomit" quilt top. I think it was I'm a Ginger Monkey. I was convinced (at the time) that I was going to start my scrap vomit quilt and it would be big enough to fit on my king sized bed.

So I cut and cut and cut some more. Both boxes were empty at the beginning of this adventure. As you can see, I was able to cut up quite a bit of fabric. So much so that I'm now down to 1 of those tubs. Because I was on vacation and had to time to peruse the internet and get caught up on my blog reading, I realized that my scrap vomit quilt was going to take A LOT of 2 1/2 inch squares. I decided that maybe I could do a jelly roll race type of quilt for my bed instead. So in between cutting, I started sewing. I have one of those large totes that is filled with nothing but 2 1/2 inch strips. Lots of left over binding, the end of fabric that's been cut for something else, somehow it all eventually turns into some sort of strip. I managed to get 7 strippy blocks done in no time. Definitely making the idea of doing a scrap quilt for a king sized bed seem more doable.  I figure I will need about 25 to 30 blocks.

But darn the internet. Darn the blogs I read. Yet another scrap project started showing up. The Scrappy Trip around the World. The pattern being used is one from Quiltville Bonnie. Again with 2 1/2 inch strips. Then it showed up on Instagram (#scrappytriparound). Just a few pictures and now well over 2000. DARN IT if I didn't start one. No pictures.

 I already had spiderweb paper piecing ready to go as well. Sure enough that's my fourth project. Yet another perfect scrappy project.  I can see using up some serious scraps this way.  Plus it feeds my love of paper piecing.

I really hope I'm able to finish one quilt top by the end of January. I also hope that some of my friends might step in and help me with some sort of intervention. Who knows, that might mean just bringing MORE scraps to my house.

Have a Scrappy Day!  Sweet Scrappy Dreams!