Blue and green diagonals delivered

      As soon as I quilted the Blue and Green diagonal variations, it was bound and the comfort quilt package was put together and delivered by the person who referred the recipient. I think that works best as I stay out of it and it strengthens the bonds between the recipient and the person who requested.
      I do not usually hear from the recipient, but the woman (who is also named Linda), sent me a beautiful letter. She typed it as she is too weak to write. Here is an excerpt of what she wrote about the quilt, "My quilt is the most beautiful quilt I have ever seen! The jewel colors of the blues, purples, and greens are stunning. The intricate and somewhat whimsical stitching is so awesome."
     Now what better motivation to keep making comfort quilts can there be than that? I don't really need to be motivated, but it makes me determined to keep finding a way for resources and time to keep it going as long as I have breath.

Comfort quilt package, XXL ziplock will seal it up to be clean and protected.

Quilted with Glide thread, Sky

Detail

Back

Two quilts on the design wall at the same time, yikes.

Diagonal Crazy

      This is not the first time I made this pattern, but it is a very nice balance. I used a jelly roll of mixed white type solids and cut my own blues and greens from scraps. It uses two strip sets- a light-color-light and a color-light-color and then the two sets are seamed together, top and bottom. The strips are cut with a strip tube ruler or 45 degree one, opened up and then trimmed to size.

     I wanted it to be a good size comfort quilt, so it is 8 x 9 blocks, 8 1/2" finished blocks. This is the very first layout, so I will let it sit on the wall and think about it for a couple of days before I mark the rows and clip it for webbing. 

    I personally like the few lighter green strips and a couple of the odd ball strips I added. I want the quilt to have some surprises and move the eye around and not just see one area as just a repeat of the previous. I  did not realize this was a problem for people, but I took an online class today that said your colors have to "go together" and match like a collection does. I guess I might get a fine or something.

 

Thinking it through

     I so much appreciate when quilt bloggers show and explain their process of making and thinking. I learn a lot that way- adding to my bag of thinking strategies. In this quilt, Diagonal Variations, I used precut white strips from jellyrollfabric.net  (free pattern frome them). I  bought a Kaffe precut jelly roll from MSQC when it was on sale. Right away, I know I have lost some as they don't buy precuts. (I do hate pinked edges, come on, cut them straight.) My thinking is I need to find quilts my mom can help me with. She is not a quilter but can sew straight seams and wants to help and is always asking to make something. If I use precuts, I can give her something that I don't have to spend a lot of time prepping. Also, to get a selection of that many Kaffe prints, I would have to have invested in a lot of yardage. So, I wait for sales. I had my mom sew a black jelly roll version in this post  (near the bottom).
    She sewed all the strip sets into tubes for me (and she doesn't think she is a quilter). When I was at my daughter's house new baby sitting, I cut the tubes with a strip tube ruler, pressed the blocks open, and trimmed every one of them to 8 3/4" making sure the diagonal was in the center, and used lots of Magic Sizing because of all the bias. I had 68 blocks. 
    When the dust settled back home, I laid them up on the design wall thinking I could get two lap quilts out of it. My first arrangement was 7 blocks by 8 blocks. I then used the leftover blocks to make an arrangement for another quilt. The second quilt was really small. Hmm. I think the 7 x 8 was too short as I am  more convinced a comfort quilt should cover your feet when you are laying down. During my heart attack episode week in the hospital in February, there were no blankets to be had. Someone brought me a comfort quilt at home, but my feet stuck out when I laid on the couch. So, I am not making any short comfort quilts anymore.

7 by 8

Leftover blocks, maybe some sashing?

     So, I used most of the blocks and made an 8 by 8 layout. Somehow the symmetrical design was not very dynamic and lost some punch. And then there is the fact it is a big square. Maybe not for a comfort quilt.

    So, then I tried a 7 by 9. I liked the way it looked even though the sides are not symmetrical. It has some punch in the design. I used all by a couple blocks. I will use one of them for the pocket on the bag. I put painters tape numbers at the top of each column and will sew them as a web that Wanda taught me. 

    Even though the sewing is easy to make the blocks, there is a ton of trimming and careful pressing. When I get the web sewn together and pressed, I will do a row of stay stitching around the outside stretch to keep the bias in check. So that is my thinking on this diagonal variations quilt.

Work, work, work retreat

     Our guild has two retreats per year from Thursday to Sunday. Last weekend was one and I spent a lot of time packing quilts that just needed assembly. I also cut 8 pillowcases and sewed all. I had a little project I called Phony Dresdens for the participants, another woman did hanger covers out of fleece and another did zipper pouches. So, lots to do. Someone cooks the food and cleans it up. It is of cafeteria quality, but I am not there to eat. There is always our snack table...
     I have been having issues getting photos off my camera card in the laptop. I have to keep taking it in and out many times before it registers- doesn't matter the camera card. I also miss Picmonkey since it went the pay monthly route and have been using Pixlr which does not have a white balance. I need to find a good editor with just the basics. So, doing the blog has become frustration. I was not able to get the pillowcases or projects off, so another time.
    First, the exploding squares. One quilt started with 6" center squares, the other with 4". When I got the 6" one home on the wall, I thought it needed a border and put one on. I think the 4" one may need another row although I have no more right now.

4" center square start

6" center square start

With 3" cut border

     I had some leftover squares from a MSQC pattern, Disappearing Hour glass, so I added some sashing and a border for another comfort quilt. I brought border fabric which did not work, but a visiting quilt store brought some yardage with a demo and I found the right one.

     The diagonal variations also was sewn and I decided to stay stitch 1/8" around the perimeter to help it stay truer when I put it on the long arm. Hope it helps.

     Alas, I could not assemble Sapphire Stars because I was short two blocks with yellow triangles. I know I made enough as I recounted them, but nowhere to be found. I made the two blocks last night and sewed the large large block so I can start sewing on the sashing.

Diagonal variations quilt

     This quilt is a free pattern from jellyrollfabric.net. It uses 2 1/2" WOF strips and half (the long way) of a WOF 2 1/2" strip. The strips are sewn WOF fat, skinny, fat, skinny and then the strip sets are sewn as a tube. The blocks are cut at 45 degree angles to the strip sets. I used my Cozy Quilt tube cutting ruler triangle. Then you just arrange the blocks. Use a lot of spray starch as there are bias edges. 
     I quilted in a variation of designs. It needs binding yet.

Back

Detail of back

Detail of front

Piecing along progress

     I think it is no secret that I have a lot of projects going on at the same time. I track them and have them in separate bags with notes. Depending on my time and head condition, I choose different quilts to work on. The Calico Rose from Wedding Dress Blues is a quiltalong that I use as a leader and ender quilt, so its progress is slow, but moving. Here are the two alternate blocks from the quilt. I am making the pieces for them a bit at a time. 2" scraps, the smallest I have ever used.

    Also, I have sewn all the blocks together for the diagonal tube quilt and it is ready for backing and quilting (join the line).

A layout to sew and some pillowcase presents

     These diagonal variation blocks have sat in a plastic bag for a while. I think because I was going to make 2 comfort quilts out of them and have to add a lot of borders. The border fabric choices had me hung up. I put all of the blocks, but 4, on the wall, and I like the way it looks without any borders. It is a bit bigger than the comfort quilts I usually make, but that is ok, it looks good. This is easy block that I got from Liz at jellyrollfabric. It uses WOF strips, 2 1/2" colors and white WOF cut in half the long way. I sewed a fat, skinny, fat, skinny together using up all the jelly roll. Then, the strip sets are paired right sides together and sewn into a tube. The tube is cut at 45 degrees into triangles that open up into blocks. I marked the tops of the rows with painters tape and will sew them into a web first.

Blocks will finish at 7"

     My son in law, the other half of the chemistry professors duo, had a birthday last week and I did not get these done in time. They are finished now, and he will get them when they visit tomorrow.
     I can sew quilts and flat things pretty good, so pillowcases are up my alley. I take a lot of time and thinking to choose the body, sleeve and accent stripe, but sewing goes quick.

Animal skin quilt and Rainbows

     I was able to finish the Animal skins quilt, made with strips of animal skin prints and other white and blacks strips all from jellyroll fabrics.  I used the diagonal variations pattern that was from jelly roll fabrics (freebie). My mom pieced the tubes, I trimmed the triangles and sewed the blocks, did the borders and FMQ with Glide thread. My mom sews on an old Brother that she bought when I was born. I have replaced cords and the foot controller on it, but the battered thing still sews a great straight stitch. My mom is not a quilter, but will sew 1/4" seams around squares and strips for me. She sews clothes. So, this was sewn on an old Brother, a Singer 201, and a Bailey Home Quilter. 

   My mother also sewed some strips for me to make this rainbow quilt. I sort of came up with this by watching a Tula Pink video on the Quilt Show and fooling around with some strips. I used a rainbow spectrum jelly roll from jellyroll fabrics and white strips from them. I cut the strips in half to make them 20 inches. I numbered with painters tape the order of placement. I layered a white strip on top of a color one, and had my mom sew the short ends together to make a tube. Then I cut the white strips to stagger the colors. I did this one at time to make sure I got the strips shifting well design wise. Then I pinned pairs and labeled the pairs with numbers and an arrow to what side was to be sewn. I gave them back to my mom, and she sewed the pairs on the long edge I had arrowed. She was very adventurous and pressed them open and matched the inside numbers and sewed all the pairs together making the complete top. I then added a 6" white piece on the long sides to make the quilt 56 x 66. Now, if an 82 year old lady can sew this who is not a quilter, this should give you some motivation to get sewing.
   I am thinking, since I have more spectrum rolls, of using light gray instead of white, and maybe increasing the plain fabric by 12" so even though the tube won't be even, I won't have to add a border. Hmm.

As sewn by my mom, blue painters tape numbers on side

6" white borders added to edge to make comfort quilt 56 x 66

HST sewn and other finishes

     I spent a lot of time sewing. I was able to finish the top of my HSTeria quilt along quilt. I will not put borders on it. Although a black one might look nice. Hmm. Now I have to figure out the backing. Backings are my least favorite part of quilting. I like all aspects except this.

2 charm packs and yardage cut squares

    In addition, I put borders on a floral Exploding Squares and an animal diagonal tube quilt made from jelly roll strips. Borders are fussy and time consuming, but they are the frame and make the presentation stronger.