Slow Stitching

Several weeks ago, I pulled out the resale shop crib quilt to work on in the evenings. I finished the applique, then I removed the green embroidery and re-embroidered the alphabet with a lighter green color. It didn’t make any difference, it still looks teale colored. I also embroidered the pink outline.

Earlier I had sprayed water on a section to see if the ink disappeared, it didn’t. So this is an old top that must have been printed 30 plus years ago. Back then they used permanent ink. Why? I don’t know but they did. Anyway, I think the blue ink makes the light green embroidery thread look more teal and it doesn’t match the green applique ribbon.

I asked DIL #2 what she thought. The greens didn’t bother her, but the ink did. Funny how we all notice different things. I had planned to add a border on the outside but she suggested just leaving it like it is, so I did. This winter I will attempt quilting it on my sewing machine.

Then I pulled out the pink hexies I started months ago and I’m hand sewing more of them. They will end up in a crib quilt too. People keep on having babies and I like having crib quilts ready to go for gifts.

Neither of these crib quilts will be WOW! quilts, but they will be loved and used. Nothing is better than that.

I’m linking up to Kathy’s Slow Stitching Sunday and then on Monday I’ll link up to Super Mom – No Cape! Stitchery Link Party.

An Embroidery Project

I find hand work in the evening very relaxing. Until I get Red Radiance marked for quilting, I’ve have been working on a couple other projects.

I sewed these 1″ hexagons flowers. Sometime I’ll use them in a crib quilt.

 

 

 

 

 

I was at a local resale shop last fall and stumbled across this crib quilt to be embroidered. The large letter A had some royal blue embroidery but wasn’t completed. I didn’t like that color and easily removed it. I’m going to embroidery the alphabet with the pink and green embroidery floss.

You can’t see it very well but there is a quilting design with a sash and hearts. I plan to applique the sash and hearts with the fabric displayed, a pale green and pink floral.

I’m hoping the outside embroidery row washes out because I don’t like it, but I have come up with Plan B in case it doesn’t disappear. A pink border will be attached after the inside is completed.

These are small projects and can easily picked up and laid down anytime.

Star Quilt Border, Fussy Cut Friday

Selecting the fabric for the border has taken me months! I’ve looked at all the fabric stores in our area and couldn’t find that just right fabric. It has been frustrating!

One day when I was at Lolly’s checking out the civil war fabrics, a friend told me to use one of the Jinny Beyer fabrics. Well, duh, why didn’t I think of that?

I think the prettiest fussy cut stars are these purple stars made from Jinny’s Renaissance Garden line so I ordered some to be used for the border. (None of our local fabric stores carry Jinny’s border prints, you have to order it from her site.) But once the fabric was here, I wasn’t sure. It is very dark and I didn’t think the design would show from a distance. Now what?

Son 2 was here for a visit and he always asks what I am working on. I showed him my quilt center and the border fabric. He immediately said that fabric is too dark, confirmation is nice. I pointed to another of Jinny’s fabrics, a blue border print and he said “No, go with the red one.” So I did.

Here is the Star quilt with the borders. 

The border fabric is from the Bordering on Brilliance II line. I used some blue fabric from the same line for some of the stars also.

It is definitely hard to see the design on the purple stars, so the decision not to use that fabric is the correct one.

It feels really good to have this quilt top pieced. At this point she measures 49″ by 58″. Now the decision is how to quilt her. I think I want to hand quilt her, but haven’t decided for sure. I’ll lay her on the extra bed upstairs so I can look at my leisure and think about it.

And, for the last time, here is the link to the Temecula Quilt Company’s Fussy Cut Friday.

Star Quilt Center, Fussy Cut Friday

I write some of the posts ahead of time and sometimes mistakes happen. You might have received a not yet completed rendition of this post in November, 2014. That was because I wrote 2014 instead of 2015. Now this post in completed and ready for you to read. Enjoy!

I need 3 more stars to complete the center. Two of the stars are ho-hum, but the 3rd star can be arranged in 2 different patterns; arrangement 1 . . .

 Arrangement 2.

The final three blocks. Doesn’t the 3rd star look different? 

The stars have been attached to the body, the paper pieces removed and the entire center has been pressed.

Using a Frixion pen, I’m marking a line 1/4″ from the star points on the quilt sides.

To add stability, I’m stitching the marked line. 

The side borders have been sewn onto the center, pressed and trimmed; then the top and bottom were trimmed. 

Now it’s ready for the final border, I’ll show you that next week.

Star Row 9, Fussy Cut Friday

Here is row 9.

And row 9 attached to the main body.

It is getting closer to being completed.

Star Row 8, Fussy Cut Friday

Sorry about the weird placing of the border fabric in Mondays post. It is where it is supposed to be on the draft page. Oh well, that’s the way it is!

Here is row 8 of my Star wall hanging.

And row 8 attached to the body.

Star Row 7, Fussy Cut Fridays

Here is row 7 . . .

And attached to the main body.

Yes, I know, it looks like the bottom row is wider than the top row. That is just an illusion, I don’t have a good place to display it on the wall to take the picture. Just 2 more rows to sew!

Star Row 6; Fussy Cut Friday

I’m sorry, I forgot to take a picture of row 6 before I sewed it to the quilt body.

Star Row 5, Fussy Friday

Row 5 is sewn together.

The first 5 rows; it is halfway completed!

Did you notice I have the top corner fabric inserted? They are kind of a goofy shape, but don’t worry, it will be trimmed and you will never know it was a strange shape.

Star Row 4, Fussy Friday

Row 4 is sewn.

And attached to the main body.