Halloween Postcard

I like a little seasonal fun. The Rochester and Ithaca Modern Quilt Guilds are exchanging quilted postcards for Halloween. I've seen quilted postcards, but I've haven't made one...until now. They're kind of fun to make.

I stitched a spooky Sugar Skull!

I fused a piece of orange fabric on to some Fast2Fuse and then just FMQ the sugar skull. I was just going to fuse a piece of white fabric on the back, but you could see the stitching through it, so I fused a second piece of Fast2Fuse and the white fabric. Then I just stitched around the edge.  I used textile markers to write on the back. I might have to make a few more of these, they are fun and quick.

I will send this little fellow on his way later this week. Gotta make sure he gets there by Halloween.

Today I'm linking up with Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch and with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

How to Resize a Quilt Block

My quilt guild (Ithaca Modern Quilt Guild) is in the middle of a scrap bag/block exchange. Everyone makes up multiple bags of scraps and exchanges it with someone else and they each make the other person a 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" (unfinished) modern block in return. I exchanged with 6 other members, so I have 6 blocks to make. I thought it would be fun to make some of the blocks for Tula Pink's book 100 Modern Quilt Blocks.

This is a wonderful book with lovely modern blocks. The only problem is that they are 6" finished (6 1/2" unfinished) blocks. A bit too small for me. Sew, I needed to resize the blocks to 12 1/2"x 12 1/2" unfinished block (12" x 12" finished).

WARNING: Math ahead!!!!

Block No. 16 from 100 Modern Blocks. The penciled in numbers are the new sizes for each block component to
make it 12" 12"

This is the formula for resizing any block, making it smaller or larger!

Desired Finished Block Size/Current Finished Block Pattern Size =  Block Multiplier

Example to convert the above block:

Desired Finished block size = 12"
Current Finished block pattern size = 6"

12/6 = 2
Block Multiplier = 2

This is the part that stumps most people, you have to remove the seam allowances on each component of the block because the seam allowance never increases or decreases with a pattern. It is always 1/2" (1/4" on each side).

The first component of the block is 1"x 3 1/2" for the 6" block pattern

1"(dimension) - 1/2" (both seams allowances) = 1/2"
1/2" x 2 (block multiplier) = 1"
add back the 1/2" seam allowance = 1 1/2"

3 1/2" (dimension)- 1/2" (both seam allowances in this dimension) = 3"
3" x 2 = 6"
add back the 1/2" seam allowance = 6 1/2"

The new dimensions for the first piece of this block  = 1 1/2" x 6 1/2"

You will need to do that for each of the pieces of the block.

If you want the whole formula:
((block multiplier) x (current component size dimension - 1/2")) + 1/2"

This block now measures 12 1/2" x 12 1/2"

This also works to make a block smaller.

Example: You would like to make a 12" x 12" finished current pattern sized block into a 9" x 9" desired finished block size.

9/12 = .75 would be your block multiplier. Use the same formula above to convert all of the pieces of the block.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions!

Today I'm linking up with Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch and with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Cut To Pieces

I do love fall, the start of serious sewing season. I worked on two different quilts this weekend, my MQG/Michael Miller challenge and my Galloping thru the Meadow quilt. I'm not ready to show you my challenge quilt, it needs some serious changes made...time for the seam ripper! But my Meadow quilt, I'm quite pleased. I have all of the pieces cut and the flower centers pieced. Yippee, skippee!!!

The outer edge is navy, not black! Really hard to take great pictures with it still dark in the morning!

Only the first two blocks are pieced and with the curved pieces the rest will take some time. But so far, I am really pleased with how this quilt is turning out. Love the fabrics and the colors.

Today I'm linking up with Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch. 

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Lizzy House's Meadow Quilt

What fun, what fun! I got to take Lizzy House's Meadow Quilt class on Friday. If you don't know who Lizzy House is, she is a fabric designer, among many other talented artistic talents. She also designed a very cool quilt she calls the Meadow.

Isn't this a gorgeous quilt!!!!  I had to learn how to make this quilt and the Rochester MQG was sponsoring the class. Yippee, Skippee!!!

 Lizzy is a wonderful teacher. She kept the class on track and explained so many details.

 She gave us the templates for this quilt with the express understanding that we will not share the pattern in any way. This was just for our use. Since she is not going to sell this quilt pattern, the only way to make a Meadow quilt is to take her class. So if you get the chance, you really need to do it.

 She was even kind enough to pose for pictures.

I got two blocks done in class, but have been working on it this weekend. It's kind of addicting.

Once the rest of the navy fabric around the outside of this is on, it will be the size for a double bed. Don't you love the Cotton and Steel "Mustangs".  Hopefully it will be done the next time my friend Kate comes to visit, she's a horse person. I think she will love to sleep under it.

Any how, today I'm linking up with Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch.  Marelize mentioned that she's in a bit of a funk lately, so be sure to stop by her blog and give her some cheer. :)

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

A Modern Scottish Design Wall Monday

I'm making pretty good progress on my Modern Scottish Baby quilt. It's going together fairly quickly and easily.

The top is done, except for some fine trimming around the reverse applique'

I like how the Thistle "tattoo" turned out. The fleece will be really tactile for baby.

I still want to trim out more of the fleece. I don't want the dark grey to show through on the front.

Now I just need to play around with some straight line quilting to make the yellow check more plaid-like.

Today I'm linking up with Red Delicious Life for Anything Goes Monday and Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Design Wall Monday

Last week had started designing my MQG Michael Miller challenge quilt. Not only did I finish the quilt top, I've gotten quilt a bit of the quilting done.

I think this design could be called a Deconstructed Pinwheel, a modern graphic design (at least that is my intention).

Front - Deconstructed Pinwheel

Back

Now I have a new quilt started up on my design wall, well actually just some pieces of my next project. It too is another baby quilt. The theme is "modern Scottish".

A very simple tonal plaid

A Celtic Thistle "tattoo" The thistle is the Scottish symbol.

 Three soft yellows.

Today I'm linking up with Stitch by Stitch for Anything Goes Monday and Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Designing My Michael Miller Challenge Quilt

I love to design quilts, it's my absolute favorite part of quilting. I even like it better than free-motion quilting, and that's saying something. The only question is; does it turn out like what I see in my head vs. reality? This is for the Michael Miller quilt challenge through the Modern Quilt Guild.

My sketch of the design, inspired by this graphic design I found on Pinterest

I don't have all the pieces cut yet (many of them are just set in as color blocks at this point) and I had to order some more the coral/clementine color fabric. Each of the members of our modern quilt guild (IMQG), got an eighth of a yard of 6 different fabrics. We could add solids or Michael Miller prints. Needless to say this will be a fairly small baby quilt about 35"x 39". I'm already planning the FMQ.  So I ordered Aurifil thread to match some of the fabrics and I've already decided to use Quilters Dream Wool batting. LOVE both so much.

Today I'm linking up with Stitch by Stitch for Anything Goes Monday and Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

The Cancer Resource Center Quilt

Well, my part is complete! I think it turned out nice.

Each block was created, pieced and quilted by members of the Ithaca Modern Quilt Guild. I joined the blocks with QAYG methods. The theme was the emotions around cancer. The quilt is for the benefit show at the Hangar Theater to be raffled off and proceeds to go the the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes. The dimensions are approximately 65" x 62". I think that even the back looks great.

I'm linking up today to Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch

 

Color Me Quilty

Pat

A Special Project

As some of you may know, I'm a member of the Ithaca Modern Quilt Guild. We are working on a very special quilt for the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes to be raffled off at a benefit show at the Hangar Theater on April 19th. Yikes, that's less than two weeks away. Guild members each made a quilted block that will be joined by a QAYG method. Oh yeah, and they asked me to join the blocks together. How can I say no to this fabulous group, for such a good cause?

Some blocks still need to be trimmed and I'm waiting to add one more block. So this may not be the final layout. I should have the last block tomorrow and I'll determine the final layout and start joining the blocks.

Some of the stories behind these blocks are amazing, I really need to make sure we document them.

I'm linking up today to Anything Goes Monday at Karen's Quilts, Crows and Cardinals

 

Color Me Quilty

Pat

A Weekend of Sewing

 Well, the weather here is back to winter. I guess that means more sewing, so not such a bad thing. I finally got started on my Mod Olives project, after everyone else has finished theirs. I must say I really like it.

I struggled a bit with it, but I think the next one will be easier, especially if I keep working on it.

I also finished off quilting the trees on my Tree quilt.

I'm quite pleased with how the trees turned out. I'm ready to move on to the next section of quilting, I just need to order some more Aurifil # 5004 grey thread before I run out. 

And speaking of yummy Aurifil thread, my Pantone quilt top won the Pantone Challenge. Yippee, Skippee, I have some Aurifil thread coming my way! Check out the other winners On the Windy Side.

I'm linking up today to Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch

 

Color Me Quilty

Pat

FMQ Trees

I didn't have a lot of time this weekend to spend quilting, but last night I did have a few minutes. Since my Tree quilt is ready to quilt, I thought I would give it a go.

Quilted with Aurifil 5004. I just love quilting with this thread!

I had to practice a bit before I got to the quilt, make sure my tension was set properly.

Which, I'm glad I did take the time to practice first. My tension was bit off, but I got it sorted out and practice quilting a tree.

Front

Back

I'm linking up today to Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch

 

Color Me Quilty

Pat 

 

Also, make sure you check out all the Quilts, Minis and Quilt Tops entered into the Pantone Quilt Challenge and vote for your favorite in each category. To vote, just click on the heart in the corner of the picture of the quilt.

FMQ Samples

For the January meeting of the Ithaca Modern Quilt Guild, I showed the group a few methods of how to do Quilt-As-You-Go (QAYG). It was lots of fun and I created this sample.

All of the orange strips are joining strips.

Now the Rochester Modern Quilt Guild has asked me to do the same demo for them. Why did I have to finish up this piece? So I needed a whole new set of samples to join together.

What a great excuse to FMQ!!! It should be fun to decide how to join these.

I'm linking up today to Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch

 

Color Me Quilty

Pat