Fun and Done Zip Strip Quilting Class

This is the sample that I created in the Fun and Done Zip Strip Quilting Class tonight.  What a fun way to make a quilt!

The Fun and Done series of quilts are ‘quilt as you go’ patterns where the backing, piecing and quilting are completed all in one step.  There are numerous patterns out there now using this technique.  This 4 square sample was completed in a 4 hour class.  However, the fabric kit was pre-cut for us by the instructor.  It would go much faster with a little more experience.

No, it is not traditional quilting, but it is a fun technique!  A 2 X 3 square quilt would make a perfect size for a placemat.

Sampler Quilt — Update!

Tomorrow is the final day of the Quilt class that I am taking with my Mom.  I am a little bit behind schedule as we are supposed to have our quilt sandwich complete for class tomorrow — that isn’t happening, I am afraid.  However, I do have the top completed!

The quilt is supposed to be 5X5, but I added an additional row so that it would not be square.  In my post here the red and white fabric will be the back and the green/white/yellow/blue stripe will be the border.  The fabric came from Connecting Threads.

So far, I am happy with my first quilt top!

Sampler Quilt – a Work in Progress

I am taking an intro quilting class with my Mom.  My sewing experience spans many years doing primarily garment sewing with some craft sewing and just a tad of home dec thrown in.  Around 10 years ago, I purchased a combo sewing/embroidery machine and have had a lot of fun learning machine embroidery.  Now, there are beautiful digitized quilting designs and designs that incorporate piecing and quilting in the hoop of the machine.  Before I go crazy with something like that, I thought I should take a class and learn the basics.

I should mention…. this is not my first quilting class.  I took a class a few years ago and nearly finished the quilt top.  It was a super easy jewel quilt.  I do want to finish it because I bought very nice, expensive batik fabrics for that quilt… anyway, on to the sampler.

We are using Alex Anderson’s Start Quilting book pictured here.

Bow T-Shirt for Mom

I embroidered this t-shirt for my Mom last night.  This design is from a very old Amazing Designs Beadwork collection.    Because it is a light-weight design, I hooped a piece of Wet and Stick stabilizer and positioned the shirt onto the stabilizer.  When I use a Wet and Stick type of stabilizer, I always do an outline stitch around my design to help ensure the fabric/garment does not shift during embroidery.  The bows are stitched with varigated thread from Superior Threads.  In addition to the Wet and Stick, I slid two pieces of light-weight tear away under the hoop before beginning to embroider.

Peacock T-Shirt for Mom

Here is my latest embroidery project. This is an applique peacock design augmented with a metallic fabric and a few crystals.  There are 7 crystals in the swirls on the peacock tail.  The design comes from the Anita Goodesign Peacocks .  The design was stitched on a purchased t-shirt for my Mom using Maderia rayon embroidery thread.

Blueberry Placemats and Napkins

Thanks to Nancy Zieman and her ‘No Math Miter’ set, I am able to create beautifully mitered corners. Here is the latest set of placemats and napkins. Yes, these would have been nice in June or July during blueberry season, but they are still nice in early fall!

The embroidery design is from Embroidery Library. I embroider on single-sided pre-quilted with no-sho mesh cut away and a medium tear-away. Once the design is complete, I square up the fabric and fuse to fusible fleece to create a nice substantial placemat. To finish, I spray with Best Press clear starch and give a quick press. Best Press gives a great finish and allows any food spills to easily release in the wash.

American Sewing Expo!

Yesterday was a fun day at the American Sewing Expo!  I made a few purchases (I will need to add a photo later) and thoroughly enjoyed looking at all of the contest entries.  The couture club entries were great as were the art quilts.  It was quite inspiring which is a good thing considering I have 4 classes coming up in the next 10 weeks!

7-Block Quilt fabric has arrived

My mom and I are taking a 7-Block Quilt class at Sandy’s Maket-it-Sew in Livonia.  The class starts soon and we were fearing the fabric we ordered for the class would not arrive in time to pre-wash and iron for the class.  Our worries were for naught as the fabric arrived today!