The results are in....

Yes they are! Last night was the monthly Friday Night Sew-In hosted by Heidi and Bobbi. Did you join in?

As noted in my last post, I had to take my machine in for a little tune-up so I was working with my second machine, my Husqvarna. I didn't want to work on my WIP's that I started on my Elna. Every machine is different and I just didn't want alignment issues. So last week I cut out some fabric for a new project.  Here is what I have finished after sewing last night ~ 48 blocks.


Edit: After reading several comments, I realized that I inadvertently lead you to believe that I finished all 48 blocks on Friday night. I actually had finished 16 blocks during the week and 36 blocks for FNSI for a total of 48 blocks. 

I saw this project on Sew WE Quilt when Allison from Cluck Cluck Sew was featured for the Wantobe Quilter campaign. 

It seemed like a simple project to use up some of my 'less preferred' stash. 

You see, I have a dresser full of many yards of 'less preferred' fabrics some which was inherited from my mom, some from the years I was sewing clothes for my family, and some even donated to me.  I have pretty much gotten rid of anything that was not cotton but much of what is left is leaning towards becoming 'vintage.'  Do you have a stash like mine? 

Hope I'm not alone...

Since I am pretty much running out of room for my newer, much preferred stash, I challenged myself to use my 'less preferred' stash in every other quilt.  This is actually my 2nd project...I joined Summer Bow Tie Quilts, making them only from 'less preferred' stash, but that is a WIP from my Elna. Pictures soon.

The busy, bright, cheater crazy quilt fabric was any inherited piece of fabric. To tone it down some, I partnered it with Kona Champagne. The technique is a stack and whack. My blocks started out 8" and will finish at 6 1/2", a little smaller than Allison's. There will be 72 blocks, 9 rows of 8 blocks. I'm pleasantly surprised at the results so far!

I also am getting ready for...

a project using this fabric! Ghastly isn't it? Stay tuned...

and 

a project using some of these.

I do have a finish for September! My Birdie Stitches BOM is done. 

Only 3 months to go....

I'll be attending a local quilt show today! So excited!

But first, follow me over to Heidi's blog to see what everyone was up to on Friday night...

Work seems to get in the way...

Once again it has been a long time since my last post.  Since school has started, my time has become sew limited.  I have been sewing some but nothing to show quite yet. Several WIP's but no finishes.

I also needed to take my beloved machine in for a cleaning and tune up.  I was aghast when they said that he (the repairman) was 12 days out in his workload.  What was I going to do? Yes, I do have another machine but nothing like my Elna! I love it sew!! My second machine is a Husqvarna...not a shabby machine but in comparison...oh how I miss my Elna!  And yes I have a third machine and a serger but...

A couple of things of note...I have joined the Ghastlies Blog Hop! Watch for some great project from this wonderfully disturbing line of fabric by Alexander Henry.  Madame Samm over at Sew I Quilt is our host. Here is my Ghastlies signature.

Secondly, this month's Friday Night Sew-In is September 16th. Won't you join us?  Hope over to Heidi's blog and sign up. It's a great excuse to stay in a sew. 

Finally, I signed up for a swap on Flickr called Little Quilt. This is round 2 and I'm joining (if they want me.) I'm new to this so hopefully will figure out all the technical things...which is not one of my fortes. 

I leave you with some pictures of wedding sewing/crafts that I have not shared. What's a post without pictures?

I spent many hours [they were kinda addicting] making these fabric flowers for the headbands/barrettes/veil for the bridesmaids, flower girls and the bride. As well as the flowers on the flower girl dresses [which I also made.] 

I also hand stitched this pearl and lace cuff for my daughter.

in progress

Last weekend, we were camping in WI for the long weekend...an annual event with friends! This weekend is a 'bees and honey' weekend. We (not I, but my DH and friends) will rob the hives today and Sunday is the day we harvest this year's honey. YUM! 

Well, I'm hoping for some quilty finishes soon! In the meantime...

My first tutorial

In the spring, I featured this red herringbone quilt in the Spring Blogger's Quilt Festival. YOu can read more about it here.  

I was asked for a tutorial and I promised I would work on one after my busy summer... so here it is...my very first tutorial!   I first made this quilt in a class at a LQS which is now closed. The tutorial is written (and fabric requirements figured) for 5 bands like the flannel version at the end of the post.  I added a 6th band to the red herringbone above to increase its size. 


Be aware that this tutorial is picture heavy because I am a visual learner :D

Tutorial for Herringbone quilt  

finished size approx. 50” x 56”

All seams are scant 1/4”

Fabrics:

1. Between 6 - 12 different fabrics, fat quarters in pairs of at least 2 of each fabric or 1/4 yard cuts, totaling  3 yards. 
2. 1/4 yard for end triangles - could be a fabric from group A or a coordinating fabric. 
3. 3/8 yard for small squares to coordinate or contrast with fabric from group A.

Organize:

Determine how your fabrics transitions from one to another. Arrange them in desired order.

Note: From each 1/4 yd cut (0r pair of fat quarters) you will get 10 pairs, enough for 2 herringbone strips across the quilt. Therefore your order of fabrics will repeat once along the length of the quilt.

Cutting:
        Group A:   If you have 1/4 yd cuts, cut each piece in half as if cutting into fat quarters (9” x 20”).

        Group B:   ~Cut 5 - 8 1/2" squares*

~Cut each in half diagonally to make 10 

triangles 

~Cut 5 of these triangles in half to make 

10 smaller triangles.

You should have 5 large triangles remaining.

*NOTE: if you can’t get 5 - 8 1/2” squares from your WOF, cut the last 

2 squares 8” but use the 8 1/2” squares for the 3rd step above - see diagram

    Group C:  ~Cut into 6 - 2” X WOF

                    ~ cut each into 2 - 2 x 20” strips 

Sew and Subcut: 
~For each pair of 9” x 20” fabric, sew a 2” strip from Group C onto one of 

   the pieces matching the 20” sides. Press seam toward C strip. 

~Subcut both pieces into 2” strips. You will have 10 - 2” x 9” pieces and 

   10 - 2” x 10.5” pieces.

~Pair one strip of each ~you will have 10 sets.

~Arrange into 5 piles in the order that you want them to go together 

    - See  Organize.

Sewing:

You will be using one of your piles of strips, one large triangle and 2 small triangles.

       ~With the large triangle arranged with its point facing up, sew the 

          strip without the small square to the left side of triangle 

        - see picture. Press seam toward triangle.

~Sew matching strip with small square to the right side of the triangle, matching seams carefully ~see picture. Press seam toward strip.

~Continue in this pattern in the order you arranged your fabrics until 

   you have used all your sets.

~Add a small triangle to each each side ~ left first, then right. 

Picture for illustration only. You should have 24 rows.

You have finished the first band of the herringbone.

Trimming:

~Lay your band out flat on your cutting mat. Using your ruler and rotary cutter, measure 5 1/4” from the center of the small diamond to each side and trim. 

Picture for illustration only. 

Follow the directions for each of 5 bands making sure you keep your fabrics in the same order.  

Once all 5 bands are sewn and trimmed, sew bands together, matching seams carefully. 

Quilting:

Sandwich, quilt and bind as desired.

Enjoy!

If there are any questions or something is unclear, please let me know and I will try to clarify.  I have made this quilt in flannel and in homespun cotton with lam′e triangles and squares. Both with beautiful results.  If you make this quilt, I would love to see it!  Thanks!

Edit: Click here for a PDF link to my tutorial.

Remember this?

 A while back...in fact way back in February, I posted about my Happy Camper Too quilt. You can read about it here.  I had finally finished piecing the top but wasn't sure what to do for the backing.  

I search the internet for a backing that would be camping related yet go with the main camping fabric, Happy Camper from Clothworks,  
(this fabric was no longer available.)  

I decided on the Happy Camper fabric from Moda in blue however when it came, I wasn't quite sure if I liked it.  So it became a MUF (masterpiece under fermentation) a while longer.  

It wasn't until after the wedding and related sewing were finished that I was able to pull out this quilt to finally finish it.  

I decided to go ahead and use the backing fabric I purchased.  I did not piece the back because the front and back fabric were so different.  I started quilting it earlier in the week but was determined to finish the quilting and binding for FNSI.  Here it is... 

almost all finished

I still need to hand stitch the binding and then add a label...but I'm pretty happy.  It will be ready for our camping trip over Labor Day weekend!

For those interested...the quilting is stitched in the ditch as to frame around each of the campers. In the yellow border, I free motioned quilted the names of places we have camped and the outer border is quilted in a diagonal pattern. I bound the quilt in the blue bandana print. 

This week I took a little break from quilting the above mentioned to make this little tote.  

With the help of the students at school, I collected quite a few of these juice bags.  Thought it would be a fun idea for a beach tote.  

Cute don't you think? 

Can't say too much more as it is a gift for someone special.  I think I'll make some more!

Has it been that long?

Yes it has! 

I haven't found the time to post since summer remains busy.  
Too soon summer will be over 

and DH and I will once again become empty nesters.  

Our recently married DD and SIL have been living with us since they returned from their honeymoon.  They thought they would move to Indiana where they went to college to hopefully find jobs however 

those plans changed as the job opportunity came from Austin, TX.  

They will be packing up and moving at the end of August.  

That same weekend, our youngest DD will be heading back to Indiana for her senior year in college. 

 The house will suddenly become very quiet.  

My DH and I also had a few days of R and R in Houston, TX where my sister and brother-in-law live. They have a beautiful home and a pool in their backyard.

  We purposely didn't plan much activity so we could really enjoy a relaxing time.  The only planned activity was to head to San Antonio for a day. 
The Mexican Fiesta Market was full of color!

Then a visit to the Alamo...

reenactments

And the Riverwalk

Before we left for TX, I did manage to finish my July Birdie Stitches BOM and on the plane to TX I finished the August block.  YAY!

Waiting for me when I got back was the quilting and binding of Simple Things QAL...and it's a finish!

See my new label!

I love this quilt ~ so pretty in Charlevoix by Minnick and Simpson ~ kinda has a vintage feel. Thanks Kelly and Carol!

Another finish is the baby quilt from Vanessa at V and Co. This pattern is free over at Moda Bake Shop. It is so cute and it will be going to a sweet baby girl soon!

eat. play. sleep. repeat.

Love the backing fabric ~ too pretty to piece the back but I pieced the scrappy binding.

And finally, I had so much fun creating this name pillow for the baby's brother. 

I was inspired here.

You got have something for the big brother even if he is only a toddler.

If you are still with me, give yourself a pat on the back...sorry about the long, picture heavy post.  

I guess that's what happens when you don't post often.  I will try to be better...we are off again this weekend to Indiana to move the BIG things into DD3's dorm.  

I hope everyone is enjoying the Wantobe Quilter Campaign over at Sew We Quilt.  You don't want to miss out on the chance at some fabulous prizes.  Sign up with me ~ I'm a blog sponsor.  Go here or here for more information. 

More to share soon!