Triad Quilt - The Quilting is Done!

I got the quilt loaded onto my frame Saturday morning while skype sewing with my friend Marilyn.  However our skype sewing session mainly turned into a skype chatting session so that was as far as it got.  All of our talking was for a good reason though.  We are going to be the Co-Chairs of Program for our quilt guild next year so we were bouncing all kinds of ideas off each other.  It is going to be fun!

On Sunday I started quilting with light thread in the light coloured zigzag background sections of the quilt.  Ainsley came over for a little bit and we decided instead of switching to a darker thread in the main darker coloured triangle/diamonds, we would go with light thread everywhere, which certainly makes it easier.  Ainsley took pictures of me again.....

And again.....  I did all the quilting with a ruler foot and a ruler to get nice straight lines, for the most part anyway.

And here's a picture of the first couple of rows done.  We are both really liking how it's turning out.  It is slow going though stopping at every point where the line changes direction and re-positioning the ruler.  I only got a few columns done on Sunday.  Ainsley also tried her hand at quilting on the frame for the first time and got about half a row done.

The quilt is loaded on the frame sideways so that the quilting which will run vertically on the finished quilt could be accomplished horizontally.  There are no stops and starts anywhere on the quilt so no thread ends to bury.  Well, except for a few places where I had to rip out when the line was really crooked, or when I ran out of bobbin thread.

On Monday, however, I got into the groove and even with doing other things around the house, by shortly after four, I was texting both Ainsley and Marilyn that the quilting was done.  Here's a picture of the quilt hanging on the line, I haven't even trimmed it yet!

The surface of the quilt was in shadow, so I pinned it on the line facing the other way.  There was a bit of a shadow from the trees, but here is an action shot of it blowing in the breeze.

And one last picture.  A close up when the quilt was blowing towards me.

I plan to bind it today and then make a cushion cover with a few leftover blocks and it will be ready for gifting to Ainsley's girlfriend Victoria for her wedding on Saturday.

Dear Jane Quilts, J5, J6, J7, J8 & I9, 35 of 225

I made block J5 on Wednesday, trying to get a few more blocks made before my Dear Jane group met on Thursday.  I sewed the central square and black inner frame and then sewed the outer cones and wedges into an outer frame.  I was then able to sew the seams where the black units touch each other and top stitched the tops of the cones.  This was a difficult block because of the odd angles.

And here's the close up.

I got J6 done on Thursday at my Dear Jane group.  I find sewing on my featherweight not quite as precise as my heavy duty home machine, but decided it was acceptable.

And the close up.

I also got J7 done while with the group.  Also a little wobbly, but not enough to warrant doing it over.

And the close up.

I started J8, but didn't finish it until Friday.  A couple of my triangle tips got cut off, but I really like those cathedral windowed orange peeled corners.  Oops, I posed my block the opposite way to the picture.

And the close up.

As mentioned in a previous post, I made I9 in error instead of J9, so when it came time to make J9, I replaced it with I9 instead....  I chose to paper piece it in three sections first.

And then put it together with two strips.  I also redrafted the block a bit by making the triangles all right angle triangles and making the final corner triangle one entire triangle right out to the edge.

And the close up.

And, here are the first 35 Dear Jane blocks all attached together.

I completed ten blocks so far in May which means I am behind by two with my goal of finishing three per week.  Still having fun though!  Our group won't meet again until the last Thursday of September, but I hope to continue making blocks over the summer.

Linking to Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday!

Triad Quilt Top Is Now In One Piece!

Last night Ainsley came over and we worked on the quilt for her friend's wedding again.  Here is Ainsley sewing the final seam in the top.

Here is a picture showing the length of it.

And here is one closer in.

I don't normally take pictures of myself, but Ainsley insisted we should have our picture taken in front of the quilt.

My husband is going to be away for the weekend running a relay race.
I hope to get a good chunk of the quilting done while he is gone and have the quilt bound before he starts his vacation leading into retirement next Wednesday!

Linking to Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday!

Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt Step 3 and a Few Notes

First, let me show you what was made in step 2.

Note #1 - The first part of step 3 is to cut setting triangles from squares.  At first I was confused because the side setting triangles were smaller than the corner setting triangles.  However, the side setting triangles are added to a block which makes
them into bigger triangles.

Note #2 - Block number one is created using two sections you have already made with the addition of some background rectangles.

There is a wrong way to put them together.  Ask me how I know.....

Note #3 - Block number two is created using two sections you have already made with the addition of some main print squares.  I really like this block.


















The next step is to sew your blocks and setting triangles together into the quilt top.  You can stop there, or you can add a border if desired.  I'm not going to show the finished quilt to preserve the mystery.  Hope to see lots of finished quilts at the September meeting!

As promised in my first post, here's the link to Debbie Caffrey's Free Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt from her website Debbie's Creative Moments.

The Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt - Step 1
The Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt - Step 2
The Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt - Step 3

More sewing on the Triad Quilt

My daughter was over last night and we were able to get all 15 columns of this quilt sewn.  I could not get a picture of the entire quilt, you can only see about 12 of the 16 row of triangles.

Now all that is left is getting the columns sewn together into a top and then quilting and binding.   All by June 2nd! 

Touch Base Tuesday

Last Wednesday, I worked on the Basket Quilt Blocks again.  I was using turquoise and green fabrics.  I didn't quite get them finished so decided to do that this morning.  You can't see all of the bottom row, but here are all 72 baskets with set in triangles cut and ready to assemble. 

I will leave them on the wall for a day or so before sewing them together in case I decide to move any of them around.  I deliberately placed a basket of each colour along the four sides of the quilt, but for the most part just tried to place the blocks randomly without any basket in the same colour family touching.  I also tried to not have identical prints, albeit in different colours touching each other, but was not totally successful in that endeavour.

My daughter and I also worked on the Triad Quilt for her girlfriend's wedding.  We sewed most of the triangles into pairs and the next day, I finished sewing them and ironed them all.  Here's a sampling of the 113 pairs.

This is my #1 priority this month as it needs to be finished for a wedding in early June.

My friend Marilyn also came over last Sunday and stippled a colourful slab comfort quilt.  Here it is right off the frame.

Early June, twenty-five days from today to be exact, is when Victoria's wedding quilt has to be finished.  I think I better check with my daughter when she can come over next so we can get the quilt block layout completed and get this quilt top sewn together and ready to quilt!

Dear Jane Quilt, D-5, D-6, D-7, D-8 & D-9 - 30 of 225

I made block D-5 on Tuesday, but my measurements were off and the little squares would have had their tips cut off when the sashing was added, so I remade the block today.

D-5 close up.

I then made block D-6.  I miscalculated this block too so my diagonal lines are closer in than intended but I am not remaking the block.  When the black sashing is attached the black lines will no longer attach in a square.  This is the blandest block so far.

D-6 close up.

I then made block D-7 which went together without any issues.

D-7 close up.

On block D-8 I did a combination of techniques, by cathedral windowing the orange peels and machine appliqueing the kite shapes.

D-8 close up.

I made block D-9 with strips and then trimmed the edges and put borders on.

D-9 close up.

And here are the first 30 blocks together.  I haven't added the sashing between the blocks on the top row yet.

I was skype sewing with my friend Marilyn while making four of these blocks and we both made a few booboos on what each of us were working on, so we were keeping each other going instead of calling it a day and in the end we both got done what we wanted to accomplish.  I decided to continue sewing after we were done and got the fifth block finished so I can say that I got five blocks done this week beating my goal of three!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday.