2010 Projects

As mentioned in yesterday's post, I've been on a huge cleaning kick lately.  I've decided, while I'm at it, to clean up my blog a bit.  As 2010 is drawing to a close, I've decided to change all the individual headings of my major finished projects this year to "2010 Projects."  Here is a list of finishes this year that now "live" under this heading.

Puppy Dog Tails:

Cherish:

Haunted Home:

Modern Haunts:

Autumn Daisies:

Eva Striped Runner:

Falling Leaves Table Runner:



Martinique Twin Quilts:

(only surviving picture ... bummer!!)

Incognito

In the Jungle:

Allspice Quilt:



Northern Solitudes Table Runner:

Grandma's Birthday Quilt:

Valentine Disappearing Nine-Patch:



(Any other finishes for the year will go here)

I have to say, it's been a great year so far!  I think this is my largest number of finishes to date.  Yipee!

Introducing - Cherish: A Quilt Pattern

I'm so excited to (finally) be releasing this quilt pattern!  The quilt finishes at 40" square and features square and diamond checkboards offset by sleek, brown polka dot borders.  One of the things I really love about this pattern is that it works equally well either using fabric yardage or 5" Charm Squares (my fav!!) -- instructions for both methods are included.

Fabric requirements are as follows:
Brown Print: 1/2 yard or 24 - 5” Charm Squares
Blue Print: 1/2 yard or23 - 5” Charm Squares
Green Print: 1/2 yard or 23 - 5” Charm Squares*
Brown Polka Dot Print: 1/2 yard
Cream Print: 1/2 yard
Batting: 44” x 44” piece
Backing: 44” x 44” piece or 1 1/2 yards

Note for using Charm Packs:  There are typically about 42 charm squares per Charm Pack.  I used 3 Charm Packs in Cherish Nature by Deb Strain for Moda Fabrics for the sample  As different lines have different numbers of blocks per colorway, you'll probably need 2 - 3 Charm Packs to finish your version ... and you'll have some leftovers.  Feel free to use fat quarters or yardage to augment you supply of charm squares if you find that you're still a little short.

The sample quilt is off to welcome a sweet, little girl who's ready to make her debut any day now, but if you'd like to make the quilt to welcome your little one, you can purchase the .pdf pattern at either my etsy shop or my bigcartel shop.

Pattern Review: "Hot Cross" by Carrie Nelson

Pattern: “Hot Cross” in Schnibbles Times Two, by Carrie Nelson, of Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co.

(Carrie Nelson's Version)

Quality of Pattern: As mentioned with the “X-Rated” and “Plan-C” reviews, I’m a big fan of Carrie Nelson’s patterns. They’re straightforward and concise – no extra fluff, which is nice. It’s inspired me to go back and re-work a couple of my own patterns.

Difficulty Level & Technique: I feel that I can classify most of the patterns I write and the other designers’ patterns I try somewhere in the range of “Confident Beginner to Early Intermediate.” I feel like this baby is more firmly in the Intermediate range. Perhaps I was a little cocky in thinking this was a super easy pattern that was going to go together really quickly – and don’t get me wrong … the blocks just fly together. The re-sizing and assembly, however, were a bit tricky.

I figured that based on the instructions, I could just measure 3.5” from the center of the block to the edge, trim, and I would be ready to put the squares together. Um … nay nay. Now, perhaps this is because maybe I wasn’t as careful or meticulous while I was putting the blocks together, or I wasn’t super-careful while I trimmed the first two blocks, but my corner-stripes were nowhere near the centered right angles they were supposed be. I had to scrap those first two. For the remaining blocks, I used my water-soluble marker to draw lines down the center of each X, and then used those lines, plus my measurement from the center to correctly square the block. I was much happier with the results.

Adaptability: Because I was using fat quarters, rather than layer-cake squares I opted to start with 9” squares to make better use of my stash, rather than the 10” squares the pattern called for. I left all the other measurements the same and just trimmed off the extra fabric.

As with my “Plan C” quilt, I also opted to skip the piano-key border. I wanted this quilt to be more of a lap-sized quilt, so I kept the cream middle border, and added just a top and bottom famed checkerboard border so that it was more rectangular.

Speed: This blocks in this quilt go together really quickly, but accurately trimming the squares takes some time, especially if you use my method of marking the centers of the “X” before cutting. Still, without Carrie’s border, my quilt top went together in about a week.

Would I make this pattern again?: Despite the problems I had with trimming my first couple of squares, I definitely think I’ll be revisiting this quilt soon. I’m planning a red-white-and-black quilt as a Christmas gift that might be super cute with this pattern, and I have an idea inspired by this pattern for more of a latticed type quilt floating around in my head as well … so we’ll see!

Pattern Review: "Plan C" by Carrie Nelson

I'm so disappointed!!  I've been putting off posting my two Schnibbles quilts reviews because I couldn't find the photos we took of the finished quilts.  After searching every computer, zip drive, and camera card in the house, I think I just have to accept the pictures were accidentally deleted somewhere along the line.  I can't tell you how bummed I am because I was so pleased with the way the turned out.  So, here are my pattern reviews anyways, and if by some miracle, I can find the original pictures, I'll post those too.

Pattern: “Plan C” in Schnibbles Times Two, by Carrie Nelson, of Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co.

(Carrie Nelson's version)

Quality of Pattern: I was just as happy with this pattern as I was with the “X-Rated” pattern – everything was clear and concise. I really only used the cutting instructions and then referenced the assembly diagram to lay everything out on my floor. I did have to do some planning before I cut into my stash so I could create a bit of a pattern

Difficulty Level & Technique: This pattern is fairly easy, although much like “X-Rated,” I would say that it’s better suited to quilters who have a little bit of experience under their belts.

From this pattern, I learned a new technique for assembling the flying geese blocks 4 at a time – the process is also outlined on this great blog. This method requires some prep-work, but works great – however … you have to be very careful to reshape and straighten your flying geese units as you press them to make sure that the fabric doesn’t bow out of shape. I obviously wasn’t paying very close attention as I ironed, as I had a bit of problems with wonky blocks. I was able to get them to work with a bit of steam and some starch, but I would have been a bit happier if I had just done things better from the get-go.

Adaptability: I didn’t really change very much on my version of this pattern. Because I unexpectedly had to go out of town for a couple of days, I opted to leave off the piano-key border and used the time for some free motion quilting instead.

You could easily replace the piano-key border with a pattern of your own choosing, thanks to the middle “white” border between the body of the quilt and the border. With a little math, the middle border could be increased or decreased to the specifications of your new border.

Speed: Like the “X-rated” quilt, I feel like this one took me awhile. The quilt is assembled row by row, rather than block by block, so maybe that’s why it feels like it takes quite awhile. I also worked on various stages of this quilt while starting and completing a bunch of other projects, so maybe it just seemed like this one took forever, when in reality, I only worked on bits and pieces here and there.

That being said, this pattern is more of a “commitment” pattern than a quick “weekend” pattern.

Would I make this pattern again?: Probably some day, but not any time soon. I absolutely adore the way this quilt turned out and I love the Martinique line, but I’m not in any hurry to do it again (at least right now).

Introducing - Falling Leaves Table Runner

I’m so excited to introduce to you this cheery fall table runner pattern, "Falling Leaves." This table runner uses basic machine appliqué and quick piecing to create a runner that will look great on your table from now until Thanksgiving!

Here are the stats!
Finished Runner Measurements: 12.5" x 42.5"

Fabric Requirements:
White-on-Cream print: 1/4 yard
Dark Brown Leaves print: 1/3 yard
Orange Leaves print: 1 Fat Quarter
Dark Green print: 1 Fat Quarter
Brown and Red print: 1 Fat Quarter
Gold print: 1 Fat Quarter
Red print: 1 Fat Quarter

This table runner pattern is being offered at a debut special of 50% off the regular asking price ($8.99) in my etsy shop!

Weekend Update

***Please pardon the poor picture quality. I'm not sure what happened with my uploads, but will fix them as soon as I get home***

I'm so excited!!  Look what came in the mail this weekend!!

Two of the cutest Christmas projects from Cinderberry Stitches!  I've had my eye on these patterns for quite a while now, and a great sale at Burgundy Buttons gave me the (little) incentive that I needed to finally purchase them.  I have all sorts of Christmas gifts in mind now!!!

However ... I have a number of projects that need to be finished before I can even start thinking about Christmas -- it is only the middle of August, for goodness sake!  First, however, here's my latest stash update.

Stash Update (August 1st, 2010 through August 15th, 2010):
Used:  1.86 yards went to the fabulous winners of my first giveaway.
Purchased: 4.38 yards, including a couple of charm packs and fat quarters of Haunted Mansion by Sanae for Moda Fabrics for a jaunty little table topper -- more on this in a minute!
YTD: 58.30

A stash updated wouldn't be completed without an update on the status of my five little boxes -- a system, which has been working GREAT for me so far!

Box #1:
Pattern: Cherish (Poplun Patterns)
Fabric: Cherish Nature by Moda

This quilt is coming along slowly, but surely.  I've been working on it mainly at my Thursday night sewing group, but don't have any new pictures to share this week.  The middle checker-board border is done, and the outer border is almost ready to put on.  Yipee!!


Box #2:
Pattern: Plan C from Schnibbles Times Two
Fabric: Martinique by 3 Sisters for Moda Fabrics


This pattern calls for a bunch of piecing, and will showcase 25 little 6" stars showcasing this great fabric line!  I can't wait to show you the finished project soon.  The pattern should be available for sale right around the beginning of September in my etsy shop.  Stay tuned for more sneak peaks!!

This quilt is HUGE!  It's finished size is a whopping 80" x 80" - which is GIANT when compared to the baby blankets I've been working lately.  I've finished and attached 3 of 5 rows, and made quite a lot of progress on piecing the 4th row tonight.  I can't wait to see the whole thing pieced.  


The pattern calls for a piano keys border, which I'm not quite crazy about, so we'll see how it will actually finish up.
Boxes #3 and #4 still have Country Inn, and Candy Stripes Table Runner.  Both of these projects are on hold until September.


Last week, Box #5 had the pieces for my upcoming pattern, Autumn Ohio Star Table Topper.  With the purchase of my Haunted Mansion charm packs, however, Autumn has been temporarily sidelined for a new Halloween table topper pattern.  Here's a sneak peak at all of the pieces!

Little Boxes ... an update

A whole lot of sewing has been going on in my studio over the past couple of weeks, so here's my stash update!

Stash Update (July 17th - August, 2010):
Used:  3.43 yards, for my Schnibbles finish (again, used a Target sheet for backing, so the yardage was lower), Block #1 for the Fat Quarter Shop Designer Block of the Month, and a set of potholders for a shower gift for a family friend.  It was a great couple of weeks!

Purchased: (hubby, if you're reading, please skip down to the next paragraph ...) 15.73 yards, mainly comprised for a beautiful fat quarter bundle of Martinique and some coordinating yardage for two big projects ... more on that later ...


YTD: +55.88 yards






Over the last two weeks I finished two quilts (here and here), so I have some new projects moving into my 5 Boxes.


Box #1:
Pattern: Cherish (Poplun Patterns)
Fabric: Cherish Nature by Moda

Cherish is coming along really nicely.  After feeling like I spent so much time on my Schnibbles Contest piece, this quilt feels like it's flying together.  I had cut all the pieces out last month, and was able to get the main panel and the first of three checkerboard borders on this afternoon.  I'm hoping that the quilt will continue to go together quickly.


The pattern will be available the weekend of August 21st in my etsy shop, so stay tuned!!


Boxes #2 & #3:
Patterns: Plan C and Hot Cross from Schnibbles Times Two
Fabric: Martinique by 3 Sisters for Moda Fabrics

(thanks to Fat Quarter Shop for the pictures!!)

These two (almost) twin quilts will be going to my hubby's grandmother and her twin sister, in honor of their 80th birthday next month!  Cutting and assembly should be starting next week, so I'll try and post pictures as I go along, but I can't tell you how much I love this beautiful fabric.  I'm not sure I can stop at just two quilts!

Boxes #3 and #4, which hold Country Inn and Candy Stripes Table Runner didn't get any love last week, and with three big projects to finish in August, plus three more patterns releasing, they might be on hold until September.  I'm not giving up on them yet!!

Box #5:

Pattern: Autumn Ohio Star Table Topper

Fabric: assorted fall-ish pieces from my stash!!

I cut out all the pieces for table topper and pattern over Thanksgiving break last year, but moved on to Christmas-y stuff before putting it together.  I'll be happy to have it together ahead of time this year, so it can spend Thanksgiving on my table, not in a box with all my other fall fabric.  The pattern should be available in my etsy shop starting the second week in August!

In the meantime, though, don't forget to check out my potholders giveaway.  You can enter here!  A winner will be chosen on Saturday, August 6th! Giveaway is now closed.

Five Boxes Update!

As promised in this post, here is an update on the contents of my five little boxes.

Box #1:
Pattern: X-Rated (Schnibbles Pattern - Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.)
Fabric: Verna by Moda

Here's a glimpse at my entry for the Schnibbles contest at one of my favorite local quilt shops, Bear Paws and Hollyhocks. I'm really pleased with how this quilt is coming along -- especially since it was a 2:00AM revelation!  I've called my version of this quilt Airy X's as I replaced a number of the X-blocks with embroidered X's.  I had a little difficult with how to orient my embroidered X -- and unfortunately didn't catch the problem until I had incorrectly finished ... and cut ... several X's.  Now that I've fixed the problem and finally finished the 9 embroidered blocks, the quilt is flying together -- probably because Miss Rosie's Schnibbles patterns are a cinch to follow!  If you don't have it already, I highly recommend her latest book!

I have at least four more quilts planned from it!


Box #2:
Pattern: Cherish (Poplun Patterns)
Fabric: Cherish Nature by Moda

With my In the Jungle pattern finished and the quilt gifted, Cherish is next up to bat after Schnibbles.  The fabric has been cut and is currently residing in little ziplock baggies, so here's a sneak peek at the center panel.  It'll be surrounded by a round of squares, and then another round of diamonds.

Box #3:
Pattern: Country Inn (McCalls Quilting Magazine, May/June 2010)
Fabric: Sophia by Karen Neuburger for Quilting Treasures

I started this quilt back in April with some of the fabric I picked up on the spring Renegade Run Shop Hop.

I love how classic and home-y the quilt looks, but wanted to make a version of it for my own home using more modern prints.  The color scheme in my living room is currently teal, chocolate brown, and tan.  I'm planning on using the same tan and a purpley-grey in our guest room, which is right off of the living, so this quilt can be used in either room, and will help to tie them together.  Here are a couple of the stars:

As this quilt isn't a gift, and therefore has no deadline to finish, it's quickly becoming the project that I work on for a few minutes when I need a break from something else.  I'm hoping to have the quilt finished this fall, right in time for snuggling when the weather starts to turn!

Box #4:
Pattern: Candy Stripes Table Runner (Poplun Patterns)
Fabric: Northern Solitude by Moda

I finished the pattern for this table runner last year using Moda's A Little Romance Fabric line.  Unfortunately, I wasn't totally thrilled with the color scheme, once it was finished.  The white background really made the purples, pinks and greens of that line look neon, rather than soft and romantic.

Before releasing the pattern, I decided to make it in a second colorway, using the leftover fabric from the quilt I made my grandmother for her 94th birthday, last January.  I'm much happier with the second color line.  I have a few triangles left to iron and to attach to the border, and then the pattern will be available in my etsy shop.  For now, here's a shot at the center panel:

Box #5 ... is empty ... GASP!  It's just asking for a new project now that In the Jungle is finished!  Huhhhhh. :)

Introducing - In the Jungle Quilt Pattern

I'm so very excited to introduce to you the latest Poplun Pattern: In the Jungle.

To celebrate the release, I'll be offering the pattern for sale in my etsy shop for 50%  for a limited time.  You can purchase a .pdf file or the pattern can also be printed and mailed by special request.  Hope you enjoy!!

Here are the stats:

Finished Size:      46” x 46”

Fabric Used in Sample:     Safari Jungle Baby by Kate Honarvar for Timeless Treasures (available here)

Skill Level:            Confident Beginner -to- Early Intermediate

Fabric Requirements:

Avocado Marble: 1 yard

Sand Marble: ¾ yard

Tan Stripe: ½ yard

Jungle Print A: ½ yard

Jungle Print B: ½ yard

Jungle Print C: ½ yard

Batting:       50” x 50: piece

Backing:      50” x 50” piece -or- 1 ½ yards

MIA...?

I don't know 'bout you, but summer is flying by way too quickly for my taste.  I can't believe that July is here this week!  Yikes!  While hubby and I have been enjoying camping, BBQs with friends, and family gatherings, my poor, neglected (and might I mention, nameless!!!!) sewing machine has been sitting by his lonesome self -- however, not for long.  He'll be kicking in to high gear to finish two quilts for two cousins having babies this summer.

Baby #1 is a little girl.  When I purchased fabric from Moda's Cherish Nature line (thanks to FQS for the picture!), I wasn't sure how I was going to use them, but loved them too much to pass on getting my hands on some.

Last week, I started playing around with a pattern I had started writing about two years ago.  While I liked the middle checkboard portion, and the outer diamond pattern, I just couldn't get the center of the quilt to work.

Once I loaded these fabric swatches into my ElectricQuilt 6 program, and started playing around with the design, something just seemed to click!  The fabrics and my new diamon-square-diamond pattern feel like they were made for each other!  The pattern should be available for sale in my etsy shop by mid-July.  I'm really excited about this new pattern, too, because it includes directions for make the quilt with charm packs or with fabric yardage.  Stay tuned for more details!!

Baby #2 is a little boy.  I don't know about you, but I always have such a hard time finding fabric I like for little boys.  I hate using fabric that is so baby-ish, it's only age appropriate for a short period of time.  My fall-back fabric of choice always seems to be jungle animals.  This blanket will be made with Timeless Treasures' "Safari Jungle Baby."  I absolutely love the colorway, and the animals are cute, without being too kitschy.

I wrote a brand new pattern for this quilt, and it should also be available in my etsy shop in mid-July, as well.

Stay tuned for more sneak peaks!!

Odds & Ends

Greetings!  To be quite honest with you, not a great deal has been getting done in my little sewing studio.  My schedule has been busier than usual for this time of year, but I did manage to finish a very important project over the weekend ....

... the ring-bearer pillow for my sister-in-law's wedding, this coming Saturday!  Her wedding colors are black and ivory with hints of purple here and there, so we chose a deep purplely-black dahlia accented by little bits of lavender and some greenish-purple grass on an ivory silk pillow.  Hope she likes it!!

Not much will get done in the studio until after the wedding, but I've already got an idea in mind for my next project!  I'm planning on using my Sophia Fat Quarters, acquired during last Friday's Shop Hop, to make a lap-sized version of the Country Inn quilt featured in the May/June 2010 issue of McCall's magazine.  Hope to have some pictures to show you really soon!!!!

Holy Unfinished Projects Batman!

Happy Furlough Friday!  Well, I'm sorry to say, friends, that the Crafting ADD mentioned in this post is turning out to be a lingering affliction!  To further complicate matters, I'm on some new medication that makes me SUPER drowsy in the evenings and sadly, I'm usually out cold by 9:00pm.  So, teeny-tiny attention span + limited crafting time = too many unfinished projects!  It's definitely time for some spring cleaning!!!

First of all, I'm very happy to report some POSITIVE movement in the stash-busting efforts!

Weeks 8, 9 & 10: 2/18/10 - 3/4/10

Used: .44 ... yes, another point something report, but check out this next number ...

Purchased: Zero, Zip, Zilch ... Unheard-of!  Absurd!

Year-to-Date: +15.85

I finally managed to finish a project -- my cute little spring-y table topper, first introduced in this post!

Although, when I showed my hubby, the conversation went something like this:

Me:  Hey look!  I finally finished something!

Him: Nice placemat.  Are you going to make more of them?

Me: It's not a placemat -- it's a table runner.

Him: Hummm!  Maybe if you're a hobbit.

Alright.  So maybe it's more of a centerpiece or candle mat, but if you have a [small] table you think it would look great on, you'll be able to purchase it here by the end of the weekend.  Hopefully, the rain will hold off and the sun will stay out just long enough for me to take some pictures tomorrow!

As I have a number of partially finished projects sitting on either my cutting table or my sewing table (or hiding in boxes on the shelves, or hanging on hangers in the closet), I've decided that it's time to do some spring cleaning!!  The plan is to alternate working on new projects and spending some time getting reacquainted with some older [unfinished] friends.

This week's new friends are two coordinating patterns, inspired by Gypsy Rose by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda. If you love Fig Tree Quilts' patterns and fabric line as much as I do, check out owner JoAnn's blog, "Fresh Figs," listed under inspiring blogs.

Both of these new Poplun patterns can be made out of a single layer cake (or four charm packs) and some white-on-white print fabric.  Tentatively named, "English Rose Garden" and "Sweet Irish Rose," both quilts use classic block patterns to set off the brown, pinks, lavender, green, and cream of the fabric.

"English Rose Garden" is as precisely-planned as any English garden, with color-coordinated foliage in manicured planter boxes, framed by crisp, white walkways.  I finished the quilt top last week and all that's left is to decide on one of three possible borders, and to quilt and bind.

"Sweet Irish Rose" is more of a free form piece, unplanned piece, with [relatively] unplanned color-patterns arranged in a "Double Irish Chain" pattern around some rather sweet appliqued flowers.  While I had the concept in my head for this second quilt almost from the moment I started with the first, how to execute it in a quick, organized fashion took a little bit of planning.  Rather than sewing together over 1,000 individual blocks, the directions will show you how to assemble a series of larger, repeating blocks, making for a quicker (and probably more accurate quilt).

If you are interested in testing either or both of these patterns, please email me at: Poplun(at)gmail(dot)com.  I'll send you a draft of the pattern in .pdf format in exchange for your constructive feedback.

The old friend that finally saw the light of day ... after who knows how many years in the Ikea box on the shelf ... is this crib-sized quilt using the Robin's Egg Blue colorway from Moda's Allspice Tapestry.  

I can't remember whatever possessed me to make a quilt out of dozens of teeny-tiny squares, but over the last week or two, I finished assembling the last four squares, attached the last of the sashing, and got that baby layered, basted, and quilted.  As you can see, I'm in the process of removing the tissue-paper pattern that served as the guide for my free-form quilting.  

Hopefully this weekend, I'll have time to sew on the binding and list it in the store!

Sadly, not much has been done on the knitting front.  I'm still plugging along on my Embossed Leaves sock (#1) in a really nice light-blue bamboo-blend yarn.  The pattern is from the book on the left, which is the best sock book I've come across thus far.  They have so many beautiful patterns, but I knit so slowly that I'll be 109 before I get to try everything!

I've added my ravelry account information to my side-bar as well. My username is poplun if you'd like to add me as a friend.