WIP Wednesday 6.19.13

Posted: June 19, 2013 | Author: Melanie | Filed under: quilting process, quilts | 6 Comments »

I haven’t had much time to work on quilts this week, but when I have, it’s been all straight line quilting. I really loved the angles in Wyatt’s quilt, so I’ve been bringing that to other projects.

Late last week I got together with Peggy from the North New Jersey Modern Quilt Guild to plan out our charity quilt for people affected by the tornadoes in Oklahoma. There was a quilt top already assembled using challenge blocks made by our members (the challenge was to make a block using one or two colors that you don’t usually use, the “lonely crayons”), so it just needed some finishing.

I just outlined the blocks to give them a good foundation, then tied within them. Nice and quick so we can get it in the mail.
It’s being bound as we speak.

Yesterday I finished quilting the top of the new skyline quilt. I made angles up as I went along. It was nerve-wracking at first, but when I relaxed it was really fun, and I love the way they came out.

There’s some puckering, but I think that will even itself out when I wash and dry the quilt. This sucker is big– it’s such a workout moving it around.

From the front:

That means I just have to square it up and bind it, then assume a more relaxed schedule for the summer. I’m looking forward to all the fun we have planned.

Linking up with Freshly Pieced:

Wyatt’s quilt

Posted: June 14, 2013 | Author: Melanie | Filed under: finished quilts, quilts | 13 Comments »

This is a very special baby quilt for some wonderful friends living on the west coast. Little Wyatt was born at the end of April, and his parents are photographers and camera operators who know design, so I put some pressure on myself to make this quilt extra chic and modern.

(that crease is killing me)

I had extra blue in my stash, including a bunch of these great feathers from Anna Maria Horner, so I used that as a base fabric and put in angles of all shades and widths using the same technique as the back of the Technicolor quilt.

I had so much fun quilting the angles.

The striped yardage was just a tiny bit too small for the back, so I inserted some of the fabrics from the front, plus my favorite navy chevron, to the back in a woven design.

I loved how the quilting looked from the back.

I know that Wyatt won’t need to keep warm in L.A. in June, but I love this size for tummy time.

As always, my boys had to dance on it before it could go to the post office.

Special cameo by Gonzo

Hooray for a finish! Have a great weekend.

WIP Wednesday 6.12.13

Posted: June 12, 2013 | Author: Melanie | Filed under: quilting process, quilts | 14 Comments »

This week I’ve been quilting the new skyline quilt. It’s about 72 x 86, bigger than anything else I’ve done. I’m so excited to see it coming together.

Jut to recap, here’s the top before basting:

I did some straight lines with my walking foot in the stripes and some all-over FMQ square meandering loops for the negative space. My favorite part of the quilting is the skyline.

I started outlining each building and then echoing the shapes until they were all filled. I originally thought I would use the walking foot for this, but thinking about pivoting the entire quilt for every angle pushed me toward free motion, and I’m so glad I did it that way. It was kind of like coloring, so much fun.

It’s kind of hard to see the thread, but this quilting isn’t meant to be showy, just to accent the overall design. I’m using a medium gray, Gutterman 110.This Instagram filter showed the quilting on the back a little better.

I still have to do the negative space above the stripes. I’m thinking about some radiating lines. But I need to take a little break– I was not thoughtful about how physical it would be quilting a big quilt, and I strained my neck and upper back a little trying to power through and get it done quickly. I needed a little self-imposed down time. Thank goodness for some great TV and books. I’m reading David Sedaris’s latest and watching Veep, Breaking Bad and my summer fave, So You Think You Can Dance. That show makes me so happy.

Linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

Catching up

Posted: June 9, 2013 | Author: Melanie | Filed under: fabric, quilting process, quilts | 4 Comments »

On Thursday night, Ashley came over to baste a quilt that was bigger than her workspace (wait til you see it– its gorgeous). It was so nice to have some quilting company! I finished the blue baby quilt, so when it reaches its destination I’ll be sure to give it a proper finished post.

I can show you this corner:

I finally made labels! I love them. I used this tutorial to make them in Word and print them onto printable fabric. I would love to learn Illustrator, but for now, these will do. It’s clip art and standard fonts for me. The one that I used for my name actually looks like my signature, so I like that I can now sign my quilts.

Yesterday was my local quilt shop’s third birthday. The women at Rock Paper Scissors, especially Beth and Emma, have literally changed my life with their knowledge and support of my quilting. It was great to have an excuse to head over, say hello and do some shopping. Check out their birthday cake:

The boys came along with me. They are the greatest. They played so nicely while I chatted and got fabric cut.

So I got something a little special for them:

Yes, I know, I didn’t need any new projects.

So I was excited to finally get quilting on the skyline quilt! It had been awhile since I free motion quilted, and I have big plans. I put some straight lines in the angles with my walking foot…

… and realized that I left my FMQ foot at the shop. I. Was. Pissed. Now I have to wait until Monday or Tuesday. I had my podcast loaded, my bobbins wound and my strategy set. I had to pout a bit before I decided to use that time to baste the Glam Garlands. I guess I’ll have a little extra quilting to do next week.

I hope your Sunday is lovely. Luckily I”ll be distracted until it’s time to get back to the machine.

WIP Wednesday 6.5.13

Posted: June 5, 2013 | Author: Melanie | Filed under: fabric, quilting process, quilts | 8 Comments »

I have way more works in progress than I am comfortable with. I’m going to use this post as inventory and figure out how to get some finishes.

The blue baby quilt just needs a binding, which I’m hoping to get done tonight. I’ve shown some pictures of the quilting, but I just love it, so here’s one more of the back. I’ll do the full reveal when it’s in its home, hopefully early next week.

Next up is the skyline quilt, which is basted but not quilted yet.

Then there’s my Glam Garlands, which lost some momentum when I messed up a design I had planned for the backing. I could easily get this one back on track with some strategic fabric surgery.

This is what I want to do, without the white selvedge strip and crease lines, obviously.

Next up is a girly strip and flip, which I made using a tutorial from Cluck Cluck Sew with a few adjustments. I have the top and back, but haven’t basted yet. This one’s been in the closet because I don’t quite have a recipient in mind yet.