MODERN BOM- ALL DONE!

Yay!  So excited that my Modern Block of the Month quilt is all done!  Of course, it did not go off without a hitch or two.

I decided to just quilt the sashing with an all-over meandering stitch, which was fun to do.  Sometimes I got bored and added little hearts or flowers into an otherwise random design.  I again used the sulky thread, this time in silver (1327 dark whisper grey), which blended beautifully with the Kona Silver I was using.  My first problem was a relatively minor one: the beautiful Tula Pink Freefall backing snags pretty easily on the feed dogs of my machine.  Perhaps it is because it has more of a sateen feel to it?  After dropping the feed dogs it didn’t become an issue again until I needed to sew the binding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the binding, I chose a medium grey dotted fabric that had some of the lighter silver mixed in.  I had about half a yard left and it proved to be just enough.  Once again, I machine stitched the binding on both sides.  Not as pretty as hand-stitched, but I have so little patience when I am at the end of a quilt.

My two bigger hitches were two popped seams I found in the middle of the quilt when I was picking off threads.  Not sure how this happens when I am using larger than 1/4 inch seams!  Both were sewn up with a zig zag stitch, which unfortunately is somewhat noticeable.  I don’t really see any other way to fix these at the end after the quilting has already been done.  The only other option seems to be fabric glue, and I’m just always concerned that it won’t hold up.  If anyone has ideas for the next time (and there will be a next time!) please send them my way!

Finally finished, wrapped in tissue paper, and packed up in a box for one of my best friends who has no idea it is coming!  Can’t wait to mail it!

-Allison

Up From Here Baby Quilt

After completing the Modern Block of the Month, I moved on to Sew Mama Sews’ “All-New Modern Block of the Month”.  However, the second series had only 6 jumbo blocks and two of them involved circles, which SO wasn’t happening.  I decided that I liked the simplest, Up From Here, block the best and started with that one.  I pulled out some fat quarters I had put together, half black on white patterns and half florals on white.  The first block came together so quickly and beautifully that I decided to make three more and put them together to make a 48 x 48 baby quilt.

Again, this was fun and easy to do and the cutting, piecing and trimming the blocks felt rather effortless.  I was so excited about this quilt.  In one week, all four blocks were done.

And then today I sewed them together.  Of course, they don’t line up at all.  Honestly, I kind of expected that.  

Even worse though, the four different black and white prints are way too overwhelming.  It would have looked gorgeous if I did the whole thing in just one of those black and whites.

 

 

I will press on and finish it up, but definitely demoralizing, especially since I’m still finishing up the binding of the Fair Isle Mini I loved but screwed up.  Now I have to decide whether to piece together a fun back for it, or just call it a day and back it in a solid color.

 

The good news for today: Diego the dog was adopted last night, so after I vacuum the floors, I can then start to baste some things!

-Allison

Bada Bing Bada BOM!

My block of the week challenge is complete- way ahead of schedule I might add!  My only problem is that I can’t lay out the blocks and sashing to piece because Diego the dog is still in residence.  He would find that WAY too much fun, and get dog hair all over everything.  So for now, those blocks will sit in a pile, along with the already pieced (No) Golden Shadows quilt top, which is waiting to be basted for the same reason.

So, here are blocks 9-12:

Block 9 was easy until I went to square it up at the end and realized that one corner was half an inch short.   Rather than undoing the stitching, I just modified the block and added an extra strip:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s the finished look: 

 

Block 10:

Block 11:

And finally, Block 12:

 

I absolutely loved this process and will definitely be looking for more block of the month challenges- or really, anything with real instructions.  Who knew I would actually enjoy following patterns?  Opening up a world of possibilities…

-Allison

BOM Block 8

A quick post just to show that I’m back on the regular schedule.  Block 8 was a toughie because I refuse to sew partial seems (because I don’t know how and I am too lazy to learn)!  So, I had to modify the instructions and cut everything into smaller pieces.  While far from perfect, it came out much better than the other block I had to modify.

First, I sketched it out, breaking the block into four sections. 

Then, I sewed up each part.  I cut all the pieces larger than required and ironed and trimmed between each set of piecing.

 

Finally, I sewed the four parts together.  They lined up fairly nicely, though I definitely see places that could be improved.  

And the finished block:

Fabric for block 9 has already been cut!

-Allison

Sew ahead of schedule…

I had to use that title because I am pretty sure that it is an event that will never happen again.  When I am less than six months behind on any project, I consider that a success. Right now, I am up to Month (Week) 8 of the Sew,Mama,Sew! Modern Block of the Month from 2011-12 with Alyssa Haight Carlton.  Since this is only my actual week 3, I am- as noted- ahead of schedule!  And here are the pics on blocks 3-7:

Block 3:

And the finished Block 3: 

Block 4:

This one was constructed kind of like a one-sided log cabin block- fairly simple!  The color on the white strip got kind of washed out.  It is a really pretty light pink toile on a white background.  The finished block:

And block number 5:

Block 6 is the first one that had some real issues.  I refuse to do paper piecing, so instead of simply sewing to a template, I attempted to do this freehand and “wing” the angles as best I could.  Needless to say, my best is far from perfect, but the block sneaks by at what I consider to be “good enough”.  If at the end it sticks out like a sore thumb, I may have to remake it, following instructions this time.

And last but not least, Block 7:

Block 8 is going to be a challenge again.  It requires partial seams, which again, I just won’t do, so let’s see what happens!

-Allison

Blocks 1 and 2

It’s week 2 of my block of the week challenge, following SewMamaSew’s Modern Block of the Month.  Blocks 1 and 2 are done!  Here is a pic of the completed block 1: 

And block 2, which was super-easy:

The process: cut three fabrics into strips of various sizes, sew them randomly together, cut into fourths, and sew back together till you have a piece approximately 9.5 x 12.5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then, sew a 2.5 x 12.5 strip of a fourth fabric to either side.

 Voila, complete!

-Allison

B-O-M!

My sewing has been characterized by a complete lack of discipline in every respect.  In an effort to improve, I have decided that I need a task master!  And so I am trying something new: Block of the Month.  Of course, there are pros and cons to this endeavor…

The Pros:

1. A set timeline: though I’m going to speed it up and attempt to do it at a Block a Week!
2. Someone else calling the shots
3. Some of the blocks will force me out of my comfort zone (if I even have one)
4. Planning is already done- none of my usual running out of fabric, too many or few blocks, layouts that won’t work, etc.
5. Someone has already figured out the cutting measurements- one of my weakest points

The Cons: 

1. I hate sampler quilts
2. Some of the blocks are ugly
3. Some of the blocks will force me out of my comfort zone (okay, so this one cuts both ways)
4. No creativity (though I did get to pick out the fabrics- ALL from my stash)

Since the pros seemed to outweigh the cons, the next step was to find the right Block of the Month quilt.  After looking at several, I settled on Sew,Mama,Sew! Modern Block of the Month from 2011-12 with Alyssa Haight Carlton.  I liked the simplicity of many of the blocks, which would really allow force me to focus on technique, since mistakes are hard to hide in a simple block.

Half-way through the first block, I’m really enjoying her crystal clear instructions, digital pictures and actual pictures.  Each block is also made in a second colorway, and digital pictures are given of an entire quilt of that block in all different layouts.  Can’t wait to see how this turns out!

Here’s a pic of block #1, ready to be assembled:

-Allison