30 Quilts in 30 Days - day one, total--3 quilts

Yesterday, Connie and I took my quilt machine to Springfield to finally get looked at.  I have been having problems breaking thread for several years and for the past year have hardly quilted anything on that machine.  In fact the last 6 months I only finished two quilts.  Simple fix, the hour drive to Springfield  Friday morning was repeated by 5 pm to load the machine and head home.

My first project was to finish the small quilt that was pinned in earlier this year.  First row- wonderful.  2nd row broke a needle and bent the throat plate.  Would you believe everyone I called to help fix it was out of town this Saturday.  I  didn't want to waste the weekend so I ran to Friend Tire to see if they could/would help me.  Danny is a friend to our oldest son,  He knew just what to do, 5 minutes of his time and I was on my way to a fun filled day of quilting.

Now that the machine is running well, I want to challenge myself to finish a pile of UFO's and other TO DO's.  I normally don't do very well completing projects if I feel pushed to do so.  I am going to take exception to my normal routine and make a schedule and stick to it.  There is something to be said about writing one's intentions down and reporting progress.

Normally if I think I want to start a long range goal, I get distracted waiting for the perfect time to get all my ducks in a row.  This quest was thought of and started today, so today is day one.

I am not going to argue or negotiate with my self over what the word "IS" is.  So for the record-  a quilt is defined as 2 or more layers (with or without batting), Pieced or panels, machine quilted or tied, either way(s) I get a Talley mark when one is finished.


Quilts- 1, 2, and 3

This small top has been pinned in to quilt for several months.

Last row and I buried the sewing foot in a loose seam--my bad

This top is small so  it will end up being a baby quilt or a pet quilt.

I added the dog applique to cover where I ripped the fabric getting my foot out.

Instead of loading another top to be quilted I worked on my raw-edge applique borders for Austin and Nichole's wedding quilt.

Did you know that in a pinch you can use your GO mats to trim up fabric.  My regular mat had too much stuff covering it.  I was too lazy to clean it off just for a couple of corners.

Here is the top--Thanks to all the ladies who sewed units.  Special THANKS to Deb. H. for setting the top together.  We started this project over 6 months ago.  It as been gotten out and put away many, many times.

Please don't find any typos in the wording.  I kept meaning to spell check.

This is a line from a song Austin taught the church.

#2  Small quilt for Sarah to use for neighbor girls that are moving away tomorrow.

#3  another one left over from a round of donation tops.  These two will be tied and gifted.

The library class is going to do this pattern for a donation project.  I hope to teach the class next month.  I cut out blocks to practice with.  Easy, chisel, sqs and triangles.

We have a baby shower coming up soon.  I found a yard of pink to use for a back and made enough  9 1/2" blocks to fit for a top.  I think this will be a fun pattern to try in different colors and settings.

I sewed light purple triangles to the top right and bottom left on all blocks.  Then I sewed darker  triangles to the other two corners.  I added 3 inch strips on the sides to widen the top to fit the yardage I picked for the back.

I like the center sqs.  Light purple with cats- so cute!

I might just have to quilt this one tomorrow.  Baby shower is in a week.  It will feel good to have one done in time for a change.  I can 'steal' it back for the class on first Tuesday in Sept.  lol

Working on a wonky die cut star

Deb H. wants to do a quilt for her grandson.  I was sure I had dies that would cut out an easy wonky star.   Made myself a few test blocks to make sure I had interlocking pattern understood.  Cut out 6 sets of stars before I realized I wasn't laying the print good side down.   SEW, so I set 5 stars together rotating the wrong way.  I had to keep looking at my pattern from the back side to figure out how to piece the block--lol  
Now that I have the center completed, it is growing on me.  I have cut out enough stars correctly to make another full size quilt in the future.

Kinda a strange way to set the stars but once you figure it out, very easy.

Corner pieces, easy to do

Center 5 stars-  starting to like it, now to make it larger.

I had just enough of the brown w/circles to do a border around the center.

Triangles on the chisel die for the next border will bring this close to 60 x 60".  I like sq. quilts for maybe a couple of more borders and this will be ready for a bed!

Two more Chisel tops

Another late night of sewing- lol  chisel circles is almost done, just need to decide if I want another border and if so, what.

 I had started to do a ribbon border but didn't think there was enough contrast.  So....I sewed the ribbons together and bordered them for a small couch size piece.

I am down to the bottom of my chisel pieces, I either need to get on a different kick or bust some stash.  Maybe tonight I can cut up some blues and make the chisel flowers.  Wonder if that will get it out of my system.  Wonder what die I am going to play with next!!  What would you do?

chisel circles die cut

Not a real tutorial but if you are like me and can get inspired by photos- here goes---(yes I know you get the same effect by adding triangles to the opp. corners of a sq)  I already had the chisels cut so I am working this shape-  you can use different fabrics for the two pieces.  Mix it up it all turns out great.

The stripes matching is purely accidental- just goes to show how accurate this die is!

 I am slowly getting to the bottom of my chisel bin.  Looks like I have just enough for a couple of more scrappy tops after this one :)

I pulled a handful of light colored triangles for my corners.

chain sew, make sure you have bobbin thread every once in awhile- lol

I had 80 sets pre-cut so this top will be sew 8 x 10 blocks

If case you are wondering why my machine is set on a place mat.  The answer is I am sewing on the dinning room table and I can just push the machine out of the way if I need the space.  This machine is a cheapie from Walmat and I have gotten a lot of mileage out of it.  Great stitch and good speed.  Scrap quilting doesn't need to be expensive.

borders borders border! Thanks GO dies

I have been having fun with the Chisel die.  I love that you get lefts and rights when you cut multiple layers.  I have an on going 'pile' that I am working my way through.

 The majority of this top was made using all the same shape.  Even in a scrap quilt you can control several elements and get a great over all look.  For this one I used 4 same fabrics in each 'star' and used same orange triangles with each star.    The borders are made using both rights and lefts of the prints with random orange triangles.

 This top was made awhile back up I 'found' the perfect material for the outer border (it was precut in a stash that was gifted to me- lol)  I did purchase $5. worth of black.  Almost all from stash.

I had two yards of this green with sunflowers on my shelf, Now half is on the quilt and the rest is going to get worked into another scrappy quilt!

I wanted to play with solids, I think I wanted to sew more then cut.  This will make a nice size baby quilt.  Next time I will power through and cut enough for a bed size.  I think I have a grand kid or two that would enjoy colorful and scrappy!

Chisel die, great for making braids!

A couple of summers ago, I die cut a bunch of chisel shapes.  I think I was trying to get material for my Dear Jane and had time to try out my die cutter.  I made a back for my Dear Jane (finished the back but the DJ is still a work in progress)
To make a short story longer, I pulled out the chisels and played a bit.  Now I have two tops to add to my get it quilted and give it away pile.

This braid looks like it needs some applique, wish I had thought of that before I sewed the top together- lol  Flowers, birds, dogs or cats?  I would say let me sleep on it, but I bet I forget in the morning!  As is this top is about 72" x 72"  I may do one more border of the cream and bring it up to 84 x 84.