Friday, August 3, 2012

Cabins Built and Garden Being Planted

So many projects -- so little time!  When I think back to what I've had a chance to work on, I'm pretty happy I was able to get all 64 log cabins blocks pieced.  You may remember from last week that these are from a good friend's sons' boxer shorts that they outgrew.  I had never really paid a lot of attention to how a boxer was constructed but there are lots of plackets and small pieces of fabric.  In order to make the most of available fabric, this ended up involving a lot of individual cutting of one "log" at a time.
You can see the layout here.  I've laid it out on a sheet to try to minimize snippets of thread on the back.  I hate show through when I'm quilting and then find a random thread between the batting and top and showing through a light fabric!  ARGGHHHH!  So, I've starched the fabrics to minimize raveling but decided to layout on a sheet vs the floor since my design wall is too small.  Each block will finish at 7" so the quilt will be 56" x 56" which is a decent size for a lap quilt.  I'll back it with a great chocolate minkee knockoff to make it extra cozy.
And, I couldn't help myself and had to finish cutting the squares for my disappearing nine patch out of all my florals.  I'm hoping this works.  Each square is cut 3" and my 3" x 18" ruler was a lifesaver for the cutting.  It was a lot of ironing, starching, and cutting.  And, an unabashedly bragging moment is that all the scraps are cut into squares or strips and put away.  Happy to have that done at the same time.
Since I'm going to do a dark in the middle, mediums on the corners, and lights in between, the piles above are divided in the appropriate value.  I have no idea how many I have nor how many I need but I'm thinking I should have roughly four times as many mediums/lights as I do darks.  That's not quite the ratio here so I will play it by ear.
This is the proverbial test block (actually, the second).  The first I did had the mediums and lights switched and I wasn't sure about that.  And let's be realistic, when you cut a floral fabric, values are a bit subjective as you can see here in the lower right hand corner block.  No sweat -- I'm going for a mis-mash of happy color.
Here are a few of the blocks that I sub cut and put on the design wall.  Hmmmm.....I don't dislike it but I don't love it -- yet.  The fabrics are such fun and very different from other types of fabric that I normally work with.  And a bin is empty!!!!  This will entail mindless sewing and a lot of it.
Finally, the sky scarf for Mr Iquiltforfun is done.  I mentioned this earlier this year.  I have knit one full row in popcorn stitch everyday since January 9th.  White for snow (or one day of total fog), gray for rainy or overcast, charcoal for stormy, blue for blue (obviously), and blue/white heather for those days when the sky is blue and peppered with white clouds.  You can see the impact of the drought with all the blues at the end vs the gloomier days of winter when I started it.  The last "charcoal" stripe you see in the lower left hand corner was the day of tornadoes that took lives in Kentucky and southern Indiana.  We will never forget that day.

I'm not sure where I'll put my energy for the next few days.  Probably in complete and total anticipation for our trip to Toronto next week.  We are finally getting up to see our son and his family who moved in early June.  We have not seen our grandson in person (thank you Face Time!) in four months.  For all you grammies out there, you know this is way too long to go without a reading a story, playing with Thomas the Train, or getting a hug and and kiss!  I'll probably take my knitting and some handwork and wait about taking my little machine until I get the lay of the land.

I hope you are having a wonderfully creative week and getting hugs and kisses from those you love!  Jan

26 comments:

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I think the floral Dis. 9patch will be successful as long as you keep your values in the right places. I have hundreds of florals so if you need a value for fill in let me know.

Miri said...

Wow, you've been busy! Terrific log cabin-love the setting- and a great start on the D9P.

Nancy said...

I love your Sky Scarf and the stitch that you used. I started mine on Easter. Isn't it amazing how the sky changes from day to day.

Garage Sales R Us said...

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Robin

Heather said...

Jan,
Such a great way to "upcycle" the boxers. I have to say a log cabin is one of my favorite quilts! I love the white as well!

Heather

Captain StitchyPants said...

I love those log cabin blocks! You'd never guess where they came from :)

Hitch and Thread said...

Wow. You've achieved so much! The sky scarf is awesome.

Erin @ Once Upon a Donkey said...

Adorable scarf. What a fantastic idea! Thanks for linking up to TGIFF. :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful work!

Alyce @ Blossom Heart Quilts said...

Oh my goodness you're a good friend... I don't think I'd want to touch/cut/sew anyone's boxers, not even my husband's, lol! But it does look very good :)

Sarah Craig said...

Love the boxer shorts quilt - it's looking amazing!! A true labor of love. I also like your idea for a floral D9P, but reading your comment about not "loving it" yet, had you thought about using a single solid for the center of each block to give a place for the eye to rest in all that mish mash of happy color? Your sky scarf is an amazing idea, one that I may give a try! Have fun with your grandson - I'm blessed to live close enough to my granddaughters to see them many times per week, and don't know what I would do without all those hugs and kisses! Whoop whoop!!!

Vicki H. said...

Those projects are fab. You have more patienct than I do to cut out strips from boxers, wow. I think you idea for the scarf is awesome and I am going to do that for me!! I have a tiny hook made by clover that is for pulling threads through a quilt and it is perfect for those dark threads that are glaring up at you under a light fabric!!

Dar said...

I really like the outcome of your boxer quilt. I made a quilt with cotton pj's from my uncle for my aunt after he passed away. It turned out good and no one would know where the fabric came from.
Your scarf idea is very original. I may try that next year. Thanks for sharing.

Sue Daurio said...

I just LOVE the boxer quilt!!!!

Nina Marie said...

Tips about value - remember that value is relative to what's next to it. Some what might seem like when you originally sort them - might not seem right when you are doing them. You can squint and see if they are right as you sew them up - or use a red stick to look through - or in the end use your digital camera on grey scale and you can pick out any problems right way. What a great and fun project!

Sara said...

As you stated thanks for "bragging" about your progress---so much work and it is pretty!!

Andrea @ Mouse in My Pocket said...

I like the pattern you've made with the log cabins. The color scheme is also very interesting.

Cyn said...

Love the log cabin blocks. A friend made one out of boxer-bits and called it "twisted knickers". Too cute.

Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD said...

Love this fun idea for reusing fabric :)

Adrianne Surian said...

So glad you shared at Happy Hour Friday, I'll be featuring your quilt blocks at this week's party! Great re-use of material!!

In case you haven't seen it already, there's a quilt block challenge going on right now at my blog for any 12x12 quilt block creation. Here's the details, I'd love to see you join in the fun! http://www.happyhourprojects.com/2012/08/submit-your-squares-to-quilt-block.html

Adrianne

Etcetorize said...

Wow, you've got a lot on the go! Love all those florals together. Can't wait to see the whole quilt top once it's done. Thanks so much for sharing at Etcetorize this week!

Jill said...

Some beautiful fabrics and another amazing quilt project!! Enjoy your trip to see your grandson!


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

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

What great projects and I just have to laugh every time I think of your quilt made from boxer shorts! Talk about recycling! Have a wonderful time on your trip and thanks for sharing.
Quilting at the River Linky Party Tuesday

Melissa Corry said...

So many great projects. You are a busy lady!!

Be Colorful Coastal said...

All of your designs are spectacular. It would be hard to pick a favorite. Thanks for sharing on BeColorful.
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Angie in SoCal said...

What an impressive log cabin quilt! Those floral D9P are giving me ideas - it should be fabulous!