Friday, July 6, 2012

Miscellaney

In spite of the heat, I've managed to sew a bit everyday this week and get a few things done.
I'm happy to say I'm slowly making progress on my Kaffe jelly rolls.  Thus far, all the jelly rolls have been cut and sashed on two sides.  There were 30 separate fabrics in the roll and here is one sample of each.  I think the roll was entitled something about the "sea" and you can see it is primarily greens and blues.  But there are some fabrics in here I have never ever seen -- and they are breathtaking.  You know that you can cut one strip of a Kaffe floral into 2.5" squares and it can look like 4-5 different fabrics.  Such wonderful colors!!!!  Just what the doctor ordered.

I need to iron all the little blocks (open of course to minimize see through on the little green polka dot fabric).  They will become pairs who will become four patches that eventually will be end up in 16 patches.  My challenge will be not to over think this as I put fabrics together.  It would be easy to spend too much time deciding what to put together.  I think I'll try to live with the "rule" that no two pieces in the same pattern in the four patches -- and leave it at that.  We'll see if I can do that!
I also got the back pieced for the birthday quilt -- and the batting as well.  These are wool pieces that I had and I just love the "lightness" that comes with a wool batt.  Personally, I've never been satisfied with piecing battings on my machine.  I always end up with some bunching as one piece moves through the machine at a different rate than the other -- even with a walking foot.   

I've gotten into the habit of trimming my batting pieces up into strips when I trim my quilts after quilting.  The strips may be 4"-12" and they go in a tote.  Many of the six quilts I took to Chicago to quilt two months ago were "pieced" like the one above.  I bought one roll of 1.5"of "batting tape" but it's a tad pricey.  So, I bought some lightweight interfacing, cut it into 1.5" strips, and it's worked like a charm.  Both in the "piecing" and flatness and in the quilting.
The birthday quilt is quilted (on my domestic machine) using a great variegated Valdani thread.  Binding is also on -- with the corners sewn down.  If you've read my blog much, you know that I've developed an aversion to binding (irrespective of how hot it is right now and having a quilt on me is almost smothering!).  One of my head tricks is to sit down and do all four corners first -- then it's just about straight binding.  Faster and no worry about how the miter will work -- I've already done those when I was "fresh".  I adore this polka dot fabric with the solids.
The birthday quilt has a lot of fiddly piecing so I needed a lot of leaders and enders for my starting and stopping.  I'm in a swap with friends from Chicago that requires 800 four patches.  Strips are cut at 1.25" and the four patch will finish at 1.5".  I do love finding a use for 1.25" strips that are leftover from other projects (or even in my string bags).  I also love that it lets you cut some less than favorite fabrics into teeny tiny pieces which minimizes some of their offensiveness.  Either way -- I have between 400-450 done and the deadline is January.  I'm in good shape with this commitment!
And since this is about miscellany.  Here's a washed out picture of my African violet.  Isn't she lovely?  I have wanted one since we moved and picked this out around Mother's Day -- it had a few blooms which were near the end of their peak but the leaves were beautiful.  I haven't fertilized her -- she sits on a glass shelf in my kitchen and I am enjoying her colors for now!

I hope you're finding time to create!  Jan

28 comments:

Ginny said...

Your Kaffe jelly roll looks great, the colors are very "cooling" in this heat!

Kristy QP said...

Gorgeous colours in your jelly roll quilt!

Never thought to sort the binding corners out first - might have to try that next time!

Captain StitchyPants said...

Those Kaffe blocks are looking good! I love Kaffe prints, but have hesitated to use them because most of them are so busy. I like the way your sashing calms them down so they each shine instead of being lost in the crowd.

Kat said...

Your Kaffe quilt looks beautiful. Those colors are delicious! Thanks for the tip about interfacing to attaching batting strips. I usually butt mine together and hand sew them (with a very long stitch) but interfacing sounds much easier.

Pattilou said...

Your quilt is lovely. Those colors are so comforting for this hot summer weather. I love using interfacing for attaching batting strips. In fact of got it on my list of things to buy at JoAnn's next time I'm there!

Anonymous said...

Can you believe, I have never pieced a batting? I didn't clearlt understand how people do it. Now I do, LOL! I'll have *free* batting for a while!

Laura said...

I use interfacing to join binding - it's terrific! Love that variegated thread. thanks for joining up!

Quiet Quilter said...

Great projects. Your ongoing lots-of-pieces top is looking good. I have one and I have to keep my wits about me as I work on it....

Sara said...

Love the thread colors, very pretty and you do beautiful work!

Sarah Craig said...

Lots of pretty eye candy - it looks like you're having fun, even in this heat! Whoop whoop!!

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Great quilt and love all the beautiful fabrics!

JanetK said...

I bought a Kaffe Fassett jelly roll awhile ago, but haven't done anything with it yet - your patchwork is really inspiring!

Unknown said...

Hi there! I'm visiting from Share Your Cup Thursday. I love your blog. This is such a lovely quilt. Amazing you are getting things done in the heat! I am now a new follower and would be honored if you would visit and follow me back at http://lifeofblocks.blogspot.com/ Thanks!

Amanda said...

The jelly roll colors are so nice. And I think fabrics that look different depending on where they are cut are so cool. I have never done anything with a print like that though...hmm....

Julia Graber said...

I like your quilt and I enjoyed browsing through your blog and finishes. Great work!

Gari in AL said...

I have been thinking of joining a "Kaffe of the month" club and your jellyroll blocks are inspiring me to go ahead and jump iinto it. I LOVE Kaffe fabrics but hesitate to buy because I think "what would I do with them?" However, if some just showed up every month I think it would eventually speak to me just like my other fabrics do. Thanks for the inspiration.

Vicki H. said...

Love the quilt pictured and I am an over thinker myself so I can relate. Relax and let the block just come together!! Enjoy your week.

LuAnn said...

I love those Kaffe fabrics. It's going to be a great quilt.

Michelle @ Delicate Construction said...

Wow you have been busy!! That all looks great, I keep saying someday I will make and finish a quilt, I should just get started! Thanks so much for sharing and I am a new follower!!
Hope you have a great day!
Michelle
www.delicateconstruction.com

Laura said...

The little Kaffe pieces are gorgeous! Great idea!

Anonymous said...

Hello, I'm dropping by from the WIP Wednesday link party.

Love you Kaffe jelly roll quilt blocks... the finished quilt is going to be so bright and colourful. I really like that you sashed them with white because it makes the colours pop even more.

Etcetorize said...

Looking Great! Good for you for working through the heat. I've been looking at inspirations in magazines but that's about as far I get. Thanks so much for sharing at Etcetorize this week!

Jill said...

Fabulous quilting projects you've got on the go there! and that African Violet is beautiful!


Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Lynne said...

Thanks for linking to Thursday Think Tank! Lovely violets...

Be Colorful Coastal said...

This is stunning. What a wonderful way to bring a dazzling dose of color into a room. Thanks for sharing on BeColorful.
p

Allison said...

wow, thats a lot of itty bitty 4 patches! :)

Angie in SoCal said...

Woohoo - you've gotten a lot done. Love that Kaffe quilt. I just bought the same charm pack.
Love your African violet.

Melissa Corry said...

What cute little 4 patches and I love your Kaffe jelly roll quilt!!