A Finish & A Little Help~

I finished off the last stitches on this lap quilt the other night.

I did the binding by hand on it because I was just not comfortable with the Martelli Binding System yet. (see previous post)  BUT I did try out a new binding gadget. ;-)

First the lap quilt~

The pattern is called 'Celebrate' and it is free on the Riley Blake website

You do need to scroll almost to the bottom of the page. ;-)

The 'white' areas are not really white, but a yellow dotted fabric. 

Sorry for the lighting~it was another grey and rainy day!

I put a line of diamonds down the back with some of the leftover fabrics. This is not part of the pattern and took a little bit of figuring on my part to get the side triangles the right size. In hindsight, it would have been really easy had I not had a brain cramp! I h@te when that happens! LOL

Although I bound it by hand, for the first step (machine sewing it to the quilt), I had a little help. ;-)

I won this 'Binding Butler' a while back from an online drawing. I was anxious to give it a try!

I must admit I was all thumbs getting my binding into the little gadget LOL but once I got it rolled in there, sewing it on was really slick! No more twisting!

The directions said to put it on the bed of your machine as you sewed. I barely had enough room for that set-up, but it has little grippers on the bottom, so it did stay where I put it.  It also spins really sweetly in feeding the binding off of the spool.  I didn't have a single twist! No binding on the floor or any of the other troubles I have had in the past~ it is a keeper!  :-) Next time I will try setting it right behind my machine bed and see how that works.

What are you working on?  I have a million projects on my table so need to get back to it!

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!

Binding...

I always do my bindings on quilts and things by hand, but recently I have tried machine binding smaller things

like placemats and items that might get washed a lot. 

I always seem to miss a few spots on the back when I sew in the ditch on the front. :-/

Then I go back and try to fix it and generally make it worse!

How about you? Hand or machine? Or a place for both?

Recently a friend gave me a Martelli Stitch in the Ditch binding system.

I have been dying to try it out!  Well, it does work, but I think I need a lot of practice!

This is the system attached to my machine~

Sorry for the lighting~ it is another grey day in paradise. ;-)

 

This is the front~ nicely in the ditch...

 

 

And this is the back~

 

While I didn't miss any spots, I don't like how it is a bit crooked.  Especially the edge toward the bottom left corner.  :-/  I am going to keep trying on this piece, but that corner is going to be ripped.

I am thinking that maybe if I starch the binding first, it will feed smoother?  any thoughts?

Have you tried this system? If so I would love to hear your comments!

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!!

 

I Remembered~~

...but only because my Mom called and reminded me when I was block swapping! LOL thanks Mom! :-)

I had a 6 foot table and the stairs~

I got all the blocks swapped, packed and back out in the mail by Monday.

They are starting to arrive home today. :-)  We had so many unique combinations this time.

It would be hard to choose a favorite!

 

Monday's mail also took my anniversary block to Temecula Quilts~

 

Did you make a block for their 10th Anniversary Quilt? 

You can find the info HERE.

It was a fun little block to stitch up~ and wouldn't it be cute for a milestone birthday quilt for a quilty friend?

 

I'm headed back to the sewing machine~ lots of catching up still going on here.

Until next time~

Happy stitchin'!!

 

String Blocks

Once or sometimes twice a year I host a string block swap for a group of ladies from the former HGTV Quilting & Needlework message board.  We now connect on a Groupbox board, or through Facebook.  ;-)

The latest blocks will be swapped tomorrow, so I got mine out and labeled them in prep for swapping.

Our guidelines are pretty simple~ we all sew the strings to washed, bleached muslin.  The blocks are to measure 8½ inches when trimmed down. Some of the ladies prefer to do their own trimming, so some of my blocks look larger. ;-)  Each player gets to choose the color and size of their center strip, and what colors they want for the 'strings'.  This time the choices included a lot of red. (which I love!)  I haven't made any blocks for myself yet, but I chose Seahawks colors~ bright green, navy and grey.  I want to make a lap quilt for my DS2 for Christmas. Hopefully I will get it done! 

I will try to remember to take a few pix tomorrow when I am swapping. I usually get so engrossed in it that I totally forget!  I need to wait for hubby to get home from work today to help me set up my table.

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!

What???!

My last post was almost two weeks ago?! How can that be??

Oh. Yeah. I've been sick. :-(   Bah humbug!  I do not like colds! And it seems like I caught a fun one. (not!)  Just when I thought I was better, I ended up back on the couch. :-(  This time I am better~ and hope to stay that way!!! I have way too much to do to be sick! ;-)

Yesterday I cut out a new pattern test bag. It was a quick and fun sew!

I was feeling adventurous, so I revved up the embroidery machine and added a bit of embroidery to the flap.  The flap, gusset, and strap are all in faux leather~ yeah I was missing sewing something fierce and had to pull out all my toys! LOL ;-)

 I love it! :-)

The inside has a very special hidden pocket~ easy to sew and a really fun feature.

There is also a zip pocket in there. 

This is the Sheridan Saddle Bag & is the newest bag in Nancy Stroop's Designz Collection.

Nancy is an Australian bag maker. She always includes a key chain pattern in her patterns. I didn't make it this time, but it is a fun addition~ especially if you are selling or gifting the bag. :-)

She also gears her patterns to newer bag makers~ lots of little reminders and tips to help you get great results!   

Tomorrow I am back behind my machine with a little quilt block making. I got behind in all my BOM's!  What are you working on?

Until next time~

Happy stitchin'!

ZigZags

ZigZagging is taking on a whole new meaning today! :-)

This is the ZigZag pouch by Liz of Moments Designs & blog.

There are two designs in the pattern~

 The one on the left is a little bigger and opened below~

 I put a fabric with a car track. Liz tells you how to make an actual road for cars in her pattern.

The one on the right is a little crayon pouch~

Aren't they cute?  Both will zip open until they are flat. The zipper 'zigzags' around them! :-)

The pattern also comes with an eyeglasses case or sunglasses. I didn't make it because I ran out of zipper. :-o but I do plan to make one... or more.  ;-)

You can find the pattern on Liz's Craftsy page.

She has also designed a larger pouch that could be used as an evening bag and you can get that pattern bundled with the ZiaZags pattern or separately. 

Be sure to visit her blog to see all the tester versions (they will be up soon!)

Some of the ladies used the pattern for doggy treats,  a little sewing case, etc I guess the possibilities are pretty endless. ;-)

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!

Snowin' & Sewin'

We got snow!  

Yes, I may be one of the few who is happy about it, but we have had such a mild winter, we needed the moisture. My daffodils were starting to poke their little green heads out already! :-o  This won't last~

we are supposed to be in the 50's by the weekend. 

I didn't remember to take a photo last night until it was almost too late!

That is my little quilting cottage, and our neighbors roof.  I don't use the cottage in the winter because our heating bill is high as it is, adding that would be too much. 

These are some of the blocks I worked on at retreat~

 

My Mom & I are each making two with the same outer triangle/inner square color and will exchange our duplicates this summer. 

Our rule was we couldn't buy any fabric, but use our scraps. ;-)

I didn't take along enough white-on-white to finish the outside corners of the blocks, so I sewed a bunch of centers. ;-)

The block is from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine, Issue 14 and is called 'Monkey in the Middle' by Jenifer Dick of 42 Quilts.  We thought it would be a great stash buster! :-)

A snow day means a 'sew' day so I am off to do just that!

Until next time~

Happy Stitchin'!