Why make just one?

I enjoyed making my first small comfort quilt so much that when asked to join the ladies on Fridays, I jumped at the idea.  We meet every other Friday at Grove United Church in Barrie, Ontario, Canada to make comfort quilts to cover the isolettes in the neonatal unit in Royal Victoria Hospital.  We sew/quilt from 10am to 3:30pm and accomplish lots.  I am meeting more quilt guild members and have learned new tips, techniques and ideas. 

1   Some of them have been how to make half triangle squares by overlapping two fabric strips together, right sides facing, sew down both sides, center your ruler's 45 angle on the seam and rotary cut the two sides, flip open and press.  Then cut the next triangle form the opposite seam and alternate along the strip.

2  How to quilt as you go to make up the quilts even faster.  Joan showed me how to do the backing in squares, with one inch seams which you fold over in the front and top stitch down to look like sashing in the front.

3.  When sewing on bias when you come to a corner instead of stopping a quarter inch from the edge, turn the quilt and sew the seam along the 45 degree angle to the corner.  Then turn the corner fabrics as usual and continue along the next seam.

4.  During one of their meetings last year each person was asked to bring in 1m of fabric.  They cut that piece of fabric in half, put one half in their bag under the table and passed the other half to the left.  Then everyone took that half of fabric, cut it in half  again, kept one piece and passed the other to the left again.... and so on until everyone  had some of each fabric, but in different proportions.  The challenge was to make a quilt using all of those fabrics.  They were allowed to supplement with other fabrics two, but must use all the fabrics from the exchange.  Sounds like fun!

So far I have been to two sewing days and have made up the following two quilt kits.  This farm scene print quilt used a diagonal 4 patch pattern which was easy to do... a little more time consuming than the teddy bear one I made after it.  These were both made in January.

I loved the bight border print and simplicity of  this Teddy Bear quilt kit.  The wording on the border reads... "Everything in !"  How true.  I hope some child will come to love it as much as I had fun making it.

More sewing/quilt projects from December

20.  A Half Apron for Katelyn

Katelyn and I spent part of a day, designing and sewing this half apron for her.  It was a fun Mother/Daughter time.  The star print on the ruffle is her favourite of the two fabrics.  I had fun making the ruffled heart pocket.  I don't think the apron is particularly functional, but it's cute!

21.  A Binder Cover

I made this quilted cover for my friend Trudy, for her 50th birthday.  I put some clear page protector sheets inside with a few patterns.  I also added a crib/craft sized pkg of warm and natural quilt batting.
I purchase the printed quilt panel 2 years ago and was just looking for the right idea for its use.  This cover turned out quite fun.  I have enough panel pieces left over to make two more binder covers.  Hmm... I'd like to make one or two for myself.

22.  Pink Purse for President's Challenge

At my first guild meeting, back in September, our president issued each member a challenge... to make a quilted item out of fabrics that matched the paint chip card in the sealed envelop that was placed on our seats at the start of the evening.  My original impression was that the pinks were outdated and that I'd never find anything to match.  Well, I was wrong.  The first store I walked in to had these two floral fabrics that had all the paint chip colours in them.  I designed this purse based on a wool one I saw in a library book.  I have made so many changes to it, that I don't think it qualifies as the same purse any more.  I believe, I can confidently call it my own design.  I added the pinwheels and stitched around some of the flowers in the fabric so that it would qualify as a quilted item, not just sewn.  I also added a cell phone pocket and a zippered pocket.

Although I did not win the Viewer's Choice at January's guild meeting, I have a cheery pink purse for spring and summer!  The paint chip card was a neat idea to use for selecting colours that will go well together.

The Next 2 Blocks

So I still don't have a clue as to what the final quilt will look like, but my curiosity is stirred.  I'm finding it a challenge to select fabrics when I don't even know which blocks go next to each other.  It is also liberating to have to let go of my control over design and colour selection.  Who knows how this quilt will look when completed?  It really is a mystery.



October BOM
Tree

November BOM
Four Patch / Broken Dishes



Sewing Projects for December

15.  More Receiving Blankets

I fell in love with this penguin Christmas fabric and made this receiving blanket for my new nephew Gideon.
I also loved the frog fabric.  This one went to a co-worker of my daughter's.

16.  Knitted Baby Socks

I just love knitting these things... especially if the yarn is patterned.  Its always a mystery as to how the sock will turn out.

17.  Large Purse

This was a Christmas gift for my sister-in-law, Rebeka.  It is large enough to double as a diaper bag if she wishes, but not baby enough to look like one.

18.  Sugar Loaf Purses / Bags

I made two of these cute purses / Cosmetic Bags for Gifts... one to match Rebeka's purse, and the other as a Birthday gift for my neice.  I filled it with a package of Skittles, some Skittles flavoured Lip Smackers, some small Toblerone chocolates and a gift card.  What fun!  She loved the fabric.

19.  Baby Slippers

I came across a free pattern on the internet to make these baby slippers.  I had fun making them for my new nephew, Gideon.  I made a size 0 which just fits snuggly if he has thin socks on.  I will be making him another pair in a larger size.  Note to self... make at least a size 1 for newborn gifts.

I've reached my Decluttering Goal of 50 bags but the job's not Done!

Today, with the 3 us tackling the basement for 1 1/2 hours we were able to rid ourselves of 5 bags of garbage and 3 boxes of stuff for Habbitat For Humanity.  Steve dismantled his model railroad... smashed it to smithereens!  We also got rid of old painting supplies, some counter top laminate and old tools, nuts, screws, bolts, etc.

The thing is, now I've already gone past my goal of 50 bags of stuff, but the decluttering is only about 1/2 done.  Now I have to rethink this one... double or nothing?... well double it anyway... aim for 100 bags decluttered... sounds like a good idea... after all I don't turn 50 for another 2 1/2 years!


Reached my goal of 50 bags today!
Decluttered 53 bags so far ... now aiming for 100!