On my wall

 

I was busy quilting most of last week, so by the weekend I felt in need of some piecing time.  I’ve always admired the Seattle Streets quilt pattern.  I wondered how it would work as in a small size.

What I learned was that it would be MUCH quicker to make this following the directions.  Laurie’s instructions guide one through strip piecing fairly large blocks and making a large quilt.  But I wanted to use some small scrappy bits, and even my black fabrics were from the scraps – small chunks and odd strips of various sizes. 

I made nine blocks that finish 10”.  These still need the black strips between them, of course. A small border will make it up to the right size for a preemie quilt for our regional hospital. 

I’m sure those are the last bits of a few of the fabrics that have been lurking in the stash for years (or decades?) – remember when we had collections of celestial fabrics?  and how about those happy faces and the rainbow stripes, and the dinosaurs!   Surely no one will notice that I’ve used about six different black fabrics (so far).

Technorati Tags: scrappy,preemie quilt,Seattle Streets

Scraps too small to use

 

I know everyone’s idea of how small is “too small” is different. 

One of my favourite tools in the sewing room is the waste basket – when the snippets of fabric are really too small to use, that’s where they end up.  I feel real progress in using up fabric when I watch the mound of scrap grow in the waste basket.   What gets tossed varies with the type of fabric, the style of fabric and probably the phase of the moon – some days I am able to drop a fairly big piece in there, and on other days I can’t part with anything wider than about 3/4 of an inch.

Yes, I know some people could use those thread ends and tiny bits to stuff pillows or to make pet beds, but in my house, this is THE END.

Technorati Tags: scraps

Hexagon quilt

When my friend brought me an old quilt top and asked me to machine quilt it with an all-over design my first reaction was horror.  Phrases like “vintage quilt”, “preservation”, “treasure”, “hand-quilting” came to mind.

We examined the top carefully.  The hexagons are fairly large, about 2” on a side.  The fabrics obviously come from a scrap bag.  The centre flower is made from fabric that looks like Grandma’s Sunday best.  One of the outer rows might be Grandpa’s pyjamas.  The solids are very finely woven broadcloth.  There are pieces in the outer corners that seem to be from feedsacks.  The entire top is hand stitched neatly with sturdy white thread. This top was probably intended to become a utility quilt that would have been seen good use in the home. 

The top has sat uncompleted for more than 50 years.  Grandma did not find time to complete it, and neither did her daughter.  Now the grand-daughter is looking to complete her own quilting projects and does not have the time or inclination to take on those started by someone else.  If we did not finish this now, it would have gone back into the cupboard to be dealt with (or discarded) by the next generations. 

So it has been quilted with a panto called “Feathered Hearts” by  Beany Girl Designs. At last the quilt maker’s hard work will be displayed and enjoyed by a member of her family. 

As I worked on this quilt I tried to imagine how I would feel if this is what became of one of my own projects. Though I am making an effort to complete the things that I have started, it is entirely possible that my UFOs could turn up somewhere many years from now.  I think I would be delighted if some were resurrected and put to use.

Technorati Tags: hexagon,vintage quilt