12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop

Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict is once again hosting the 12 Days of Christmas in July Blop Hop.

This is my third year participating:  2018 project and 2017 project.

My project will be featured this Saturday, July 20.  You'll have to come back to see what I'm sharing and to enter a giveaway.

Here is the list of blog participants.

Sunday, July 14th

L’Fair Quilts

Vrooman’s Quilts

Monday, July 15th

Sea of Estrogen

Mel’s Quilting Blog

Tuesday, July 16th

Days Filled With Joy

The Colorful Fabriholic

Wednesday, July 17th

Pampered Pettit

Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting

Thursday, July 18th

Kathy’s Kwilts and More

Selina Quilts

Friday, July 19th

The Quilted Snail

Cloth and Paper Studio

Saturday, July 20th

The Inquiring Quilter

Anja Quilts

Sunday, July 21st

Riceford Streams

Seams to Be Sew

Monday, July 22nd

Katie Mae Quilts

QuiltFabrication

Tuesday, July 23rd

Made by Marney

Selina Quilts

Wednesday, July 24th

From My Carolina Home

 Karrin’s Crazy World

Thursday, July 25th

Christina’s Handicrafts

Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Turnabout Patchwork QAL - Flying Confetti

You may recall that I participated in a blog hop back in February (click here to see my quilt) for a new book by Teresa @ Sewn Up, Teresa Down Under -- Turnabout Patchwork.

Teresa is currently hosting a QAL for Flying Confetti, one of the patterns in her book.  I've been wanting to try this pattern so I decided to play along.  I had some scraps of Island Batik fabrics from my Ambassador box.

I used my Bloc Loc ruler to trim my HSTs.

The blocks sew together very quickly.

Then you cut the block in half horizontally and vertically.

A quick turn of each quadrant and then sew back together for a new block.

I pieced one block to see how it worked.  It was so easy and quick, so I made all the blocks.  I'm making a baby size, just 9 blocks, so it didn't take long to sew all the blocks, cut them, and then re-sew them.  At this point, I thought I might as well sew the 9 blocks into a top and be ahead of the game in the QAL.

And then I remembered why I wanted to sew along with Teresa.  She was going to show us how to quilt as you go without sashing.  Well damn.  I either had to take all my blocks apart or start another quilt.  So I grabbed some charm squares in my stash and some Kona Seafoam.

And now I have another set of blocks.  Lesson learned....it doesn't always pay to sew ahead.  LOL

Tereas has some tips on chain piecing, pressing, and trimming half square triangles.  Head over to her blog to see the video.  There's still time to join in.

TGIFF - Yonder Quilt and Pillow

I finally finished my quilt I made during the Yonder Quilt Along hosted by Briar Hill Designs.   I used the leftover block to make a pillow, which I shared here.

Both have been gifted to a friend who is expecting a baby in the coming weeks.

When I made the pillow, I just let myself go and did free motion quilting, no worrying about how it looked.  I tried to mimic some of those FMQ motifs in the quilt.

I thought I had chosen a suitable thread colour, but it blended so well in some of the prints.  I did wishbones and loopy flowers.

I found it challenging to quilt wishbones and swirls on angles.  Definitely something I need to practice.

The quilting created great texture.  I'm pleased with how it turned out.

I took my Singer and Pfaff machines in for service today.  What am I going to do for a week???  😊  I have some EPP to keep me busy.

If you have a finish this week, consider linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Chris Knits Sews

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict 
Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty 
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting

WIP Wednesday - Summer Sampler 2019 Update

I am more or less up to date with my blocks for the Summer Sampler 2019.  Block #8 was just released on Monday, so I have the rest of the week to get it completed.

You can see my first five blocks here.

Block 6 - Cul de Sac
Technique:  curved piecing

Block 7 - Sparkler
Technique:  challenging paper piecing

Linking up with:

Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts
WIP Wednesday @ The Needle and Thread Network

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter

Broken Panes Quilt Along - Quilting Prep

It's time to get our Broken Panes Quilt Along quilt tops prepped for quilting.  Head over to Jen @ Patterns by Jen to get the pattern and more details about the QAL.

Here's my quilt top if you missed last week's blog post.  It finishes around 50-inch squares because I decided not to add the borders.

Jen has a great blog post on getting your quilt top prepped.  Pop over to Jen's blog to get some helpful hints, whether you are going to be quiting on your domestic machine or sending it to a longarmer.

My backing is pieced -- the majority of it is the teal fabric on the right.

I'll be using the sashing fabric for my binding.

I have a Pfaff mounted on a frame.  I generally add an extra four inches on all four sides for the batting and backing so I can clip them into place.  Sometimes I "cheat" and use less if I don't have enough fabric...don't tell the quilt police.  😊

Stop by next week to see what quilting motif I used.  I'll also be sharing a tutorial on machine binding in the coming weeks.

My QAL journey:

• QAL Announcement
• Cutting Fabric 
• Sewing Strip Sets 
• Block Assembly 
• Quilt Top 

July OMG - Wire Flowers

I almost forgot to set my goal for the July OMG hosted by Patty @ Elm Street Quilts.

My goal is to quilt my Wire Flowers quilt top.  I did piece the blocks together but realized just now that I haven't taken a photo of the quilt top.

I sewed the blocks together in the layout I shared here.

It's a small project, about 25 inches square.  I need to take my sewing machines in for service this month, so I'll be limited with my sewing time.  I think an all-over quilting motif -- time to stop overthinking and get projects finished.  Stay tuned.

Quilt of Valour

Note:  All fabrics in this post were given to me by Island Batik as part of their Ambassador program.

Jen @ Dizzy Quilter organized a Quilts of Valour blog hop for the Island Batik Ambassadors.  I quickly volunteered to make a quilt.  It's the least I can do to support those who serve to protect us (family members included).  A few Canadian Ambassadors volunteered, so Island Batik said we could donate our quilts in Canada.

Island Batik generously provided the fabric to make the Quilt of Valour.  I received a package of 10-inch squares and yardage of the new Freedom collection created by Kathy Engle.  I encourage you to click on the link -- these fabrics are fabulous.

I wanted to use mostly red and white fabrics since this would be a Canadian Quilt of Valour.  So to maximize the fabric I was given, I went with a simple checkboard pattern with a blue star in the bottom right-hand corner.  Thanks for the suggestion, Dena, but start your blog already!!!

A simple all-over stipple in red thread for a quick finish.

I used my go-to batting:  Hobbs Heirloom Premium 80/20.

I enourage you to visit all the Ambassadors participating in the blog hop, but make sure you visit Jen as she has a giveaway for some of the Freedom fabric.


July 1
Becca Fenstermaker -- Pretty Piney
Denise Looney -- For the Love of Geese
Gail Sheppard -- Quilting Gail

July 2
Pamela Boatright -- Pamela Quilts
Anne Wiens -- Sweetgrass Designs

July 3
Bea Lee --Bea Quilter
Carla Henton -- Creatin' In the Sticks

July 4
Emily Leachman -- The Darling Dogwood
Joan Kawano -- MooseStash Quilting
Jen Strauser -- Dizzy Quilter

July 5
Steph Jacobson -- Steph Jacobsen Designs
Leah Malasky -- Quilted Delights
Anja Clyke -- Anja Quilts
Maryellen McAuliffe -- Mary Mack Made Mine




If you have a finish this week, consider linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Slice of Pi

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict 
Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty 
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting

Broken Panes Quilt Along - Quilt Top

And then there was a finished quilt top.  I've enjoyed sewing along with the Broken Panes Quilt Along hosted by Jen @ Patterns by Jen.  There's still time to join in -- the final link up will be in August.

I made the smallest size, so it didn't take long to sew my four blocks together.

There is sashing between the blocks with an accent cornerstone block.  I didn't take any photos during the process because it went so quickly.  But you can head over to Jen's blog to get some tips on adding the sashing and borders.

You'll see that I was a rebel and didn't add the borders.  I had the border fabric cut, but I liked how it looked without borders.  So I cut the border fabric into the binding strips.  This finishes around 50 inches square.

It's been hard to get photos because we've had so much rain.  When the sun finally came out, it was so windy that it was near impossible to get good photos.

Now to decide on a quilting plan.  Later this month, I'll be sharing a tutorial on how I machine bind my quilts.


You can follow my progress during the QAL:

• QAL Announcement
• Cutting Fabric 
• Sewing Strip Sets 
• Block Assembly

OMG Finish - Blooming Wallflowers

Procrastination at its best...I quilted and bound my June OMG (hosted by Patty @ Elm Street Quilts) today, which is the last day of the month and the last day of the link up.  😊

I had all the best intentions to get this quilted earlier in the month, but I couldn't decide on a quilting plan.  I often struggle because my "longarm" (Pfaff Grand Quilter mounted on a frame) only has a 6-inch depth for quilting, and I don't like to do too many starts and stops -- who has time to bury threads.

In the end, I did an all-over loop in a variegated thread -- Connecting Threads Primary Variegated #21223.

While searching the internet for inspiration, I happened upon a blog post that made me very angry.  It was about free motion quilting, but instead of starting her post with encouragement, the blogger basically said no one should be doing an all-over motif.  Are you freaking kidding me????  I have no idea what she said next, because I quickly left, and I'm glad I don't remember where I was.  Sometimes an all-over motif is what is best, and sometimes I just don't have time for anything else.  Don't judge me because I don't quilt like you.  Maybe offer some helpful tips to help me get better at free motion quilting and share your knowledge.

I wasn't sure if the variegated thread was the right choice, but once I started, there was no stopping.  It blended in quite well, but there was good contrast in the background.  The loops give it wonderful texture.

My efforts to get quilt tops quilted do not seem to be working.  Even with this finish, I still have 11 unquilted tops....seriously??  Clearly, I'm not working fast enough.

This was the last of my FAL Q2 goals.

Broken Panes Quilt Along - Block Assembly

It seems like we just started the Broken Panes Quilt Along hosted by Jen @ Patterns by Jen.  But yet here we are so close to having a finished quilt top.

It's time to add the background strips to the strip set units.

Chain piecing makes quick work of making these small blocks.

But it's very important to follow the pattern and sew the background strip to the right side of each colour.

Head over to Jen's blog to see how she keeps her chain pieced units stitched together until she presses the seam.

Sixteen of these mini blocks are sewn together to make the larger block.

I'm making the small size, so I only had four large blocks to make.

Next week, we'll be piecing the blocks together into a finished quilt top.  There's still time to join in if you're interested.

You can follow my progress during the QAL:

• QAL Announcement
• Cutting Fabric 
• Sewing Strip Sets

Try It Challenge - June Island Batik Ambassador

Note:  All products in this post were given to me by Island Batik as part of their Ambassador program.

It's once again time for the Island Batik Ambassador monthly challenge.  June's challenge is:  Try It!

Have fun going outside your box to try a technique that is new to your sewing toolbox.

I received two yards of Island Batik Spring Sunflower -- a soft rayon.

I decided months ago to make a piece of clothing, but I didn't decide until the last minute on what to make.  But then, I hit a road block.  The top I wanted to make was a free online pattern.  I splurged and paid to have the pattern printed on large paper at Staples to save the time and effort taping sheets of paper together.  I cut out the pattern pieces and laid them out on the rayon.  Ummm...not enough fabric.  I seemed to have missed that you required 54-inch wide fabric.  Back to the drawing board.

I then remembered a pattern I had in my stash -- New Look #6527 by Simplicity.  Unfortunately, the pattern didn't call for rayon, and I didn't have enough fabric to make the size I needed in the style I wanted.  But I decided to go for it.  I made the size in the style for which I had enough fabric.  I figured the top didn't actually have to fit me...and besides I didn't have time to figure out a new project.  LOL

I had a late night consult with @goldenanddelicious on the finer points of reading patterns and laying out the pieces.  I cut the fabric one night and then made the top the next day.

Step 1:  Stay stitch - Really???  It couldn't have started with a simple step.  The pattern did have explanations, and I was able to figure out what to do.

Step 2:  Edge finish - Ummm...what???  I'm definitely knee deep into the try a new technique at this point.  But I kept sewing.

I figure at this point, it's gotta be smooth sailing.  That would be a no.

Step 3:  Layer seam and understitch.  At this point, I have flipped back and forth on the instructions so much, I figure I was going to wear off the printing.  I had to read and read...and then read again...but then I figured out what I was supposed to.  Or at least I convinced myself I had figured it out.  I used Aurifil thread #2886 Light Avocado.

I also learned narrow hem and ease stitch.  I will definitely make this pattern again.

Disclaimer:  I tried on the top before adding the sleeves...it was a tight fit, but I was able to get it on.  I knew there was no way the sleeves would fit, so I sewed with a 1/2-inch seam, rather than a 5/8 inch.  I am so glad I did because the sleeves just barely fit me -- I can't cross my arms.  I noticed a tiny sewing error from attaching the bodice to the bottom.  So I redid the seam, reducing the seam allowance.  This gave me more room in the bust, so the top more or less fits.

The back is longer than the front.  I'm debating re-making the sleeves in the right size by piecing some of the leftover material.  I do like the top, and I want to wear it.

I learned a lot from making this top.  I'm sure there are ways I can improve (aka do correctly) when I make my next one.


If you have a finish this week, consider linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Storied Quilts

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict 
Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty 
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting