Blogger's Quilt Festival Fall 2012

Welcome Everyone to Amy's Blogger's Quilt Festival!

If you are new, thanks for stopping by,

and if you've been here before, 

I'm showing you a quilt you have already seen,

so thanks for being patient! 

This is my Triangles Galore Metro Mod Bee Block Quilt.

I just finished this quilt a few weeks ago, and I love it!

(70" x 50") 

My fellow Metro Mod Members helped me with the blocks.

Didn't they do a lovely job?!

I was July's Queen Bee.

I sent everyone very bright fabrics and asked them to make

Victoria's Triangles Galore Block.   The only thing that needed to remain

constant was the purple fabric in the corners.

On the back I used a Brandon Mably fish print.

It is so fun and whimsical.

I did a lot of free motion quilting on this one.

I wanted to practice that skill because it's been a while.

(I tend to do a lot of straight line quilting.)

This quilt was the perfect one to practice on because 

it is so bright and busy.

I tried pebble quilting, (for the first time!),  in the little border and I LOVED it!

So forgiving, but the result is tremendous.

I did do some straight line quilting on the outside border, 

you know "old dog, new tricks!"

 I am very pleased with the way it turned out.

This quilt now lives with the kid. (my daughter)

I know she will love it and use it and snuggle under it for a long while.

Thanks to Amy for putting this festival together.

I so look forward to each festival when it comes along. 

I know it's a lot of work and Amy, WE APPRECIATE IT!

And thanks to all of you for stopping by.

I hope you are enjoying everything you see!

Cap Tutorial

I made a bunch of these caps last March . . .

Recently I was asked to share the pattern or tutorial.

Haha!  I didn't have either.

So here goes . . . my first tutorial.

I used a LL Bean fleece hat I had as inspiration.

First up, pick out three fabrics,

outside, inside and binding.

I used a plate I had to trace the crown of the cap.

This plate is 6 1/4" in diameter.

You will need to measure your head to see what will fit you.

I used 23", including seam allowance for the circumference of the cap.

(If you need a different size for your circumference, please substitute that number 

for the 23" through out this tutorial.)

Here you see: 

The circle crown, 6 1/4" round, cut from both fabrics.

The band for the cap is 7" wide by 23" long, cut from both fabrics.

The binding 1 1/4" wide, by 23" long.

Take the first set of pieces for the inside of the cap.

You'll need to mark the top piece in quarters for pinning.

I used an iron and just folded the circle and pressed.

(Think I need to wash my ironing board cover?)

Next, take the band piece and sew it up the sides, rights sides together.

(Sorry, I didn't take a picture of that.)

Then, press the seam open.

Fold the band in half and then half again,

lining up with the seam, and press the top for markings 

to line up with the top piece.

Here you can see how the press marks will guide you.

With right sides together, pin the four pressed marks.

Then carefully pin the rest of the seam.

You will have to make little tucks here and there to make it fit.

I think I had one or two tucks per quarter.

It's not an exact science.

Then off to the sewing machine!

You'll need to repeat this process with the other fabric for the outside of the cap.

Carefully press the seam to the band side.

Now that you have both sides done,

it's time to layer them.

The lining should be right side in,

And the outside fabric right side out.

Line up the two seams at the top and bottom of the cap and pin.

This will keep it straight when you pin and sew.

Take the binding piece and close the end and press open.

Pin the binding to the hat right sides together on the outside fabric.

You will be sewing through all three layers, like a quilt.

Sew around the rim and press to the rim side.

Carefully tuck and roll the binding over and pin.

(This is like a quilt binding.)

I used hand sewing to tack down the edge.

You could use machine sewing or a decorative stitch it you liked.

And there you have it.

The cap is reversible too!

I hope that is clear. And that you enjoy making these little caps.

They are quite fun!

This and that . . .

There was a little bit of sewing this week . . .

I finished the quilt for my new niece!

I did simple straight line quilting a half inch from each seam.

I love this easy and quick quilting method.

I still need to wash this, but it is already soft and crinkly.

I also did a little exploring with a friend of mine.

We stopped at a roadside gardening place that

I have driven by a hundred times . . . 

Very inspiring! I wish I had seen this bird bath before I moved

out of my house.  How cute is that!?  My bird bath always had

a film on the bottom, this is a great solution to an unsightly

problem.  But of course, there would be no water for the birds!

And these lovely glass jars in three pieces. . . 

I can see a terrarium in my future!

The perfect thing for apartment living.

Love those colors!

on another note . . .

Halloween is only about a week away.

Don't you love this enthusiasm? 

I'm so glad others have the drive to do this.

It is fun, but . . . 

So much work!

Do you see the body on the roof wrapped in spider webbing?

Very inventive.  Hahaha.

Hope you had a great weekend and had some fun!

A quilt for a new niece!

My darling little niece was born a week ago.

She is bright and healthy, mom is good,

and the Little Man, my nephew, is thrilled.

So time to make a quilt!

I had bought a fat quarter pack of Heather Ross's new Nursery Versery 

a few weeks ago, and thought this would be the perfect 

fabric for our newest baby.

I added in some other fabrics from my stash

and let the chain piecing begin.

I few hours later,  voila! 

a cute, bright top for our newest star.

Now to pick out a backing at get to work on the quilting.

On another note . . .

Mocha joined me for the day on Friday . . .

We went for a nice long walk, and then settled in for 

a movie and sewing.

Mocha is the sweetest little companion!

I'm so lucky she can come to visit now and then.

How was your weekend?

Do anything fun?

A Finish!

I finished my Triangles Galore Bee Quilt!

There was much more quilting on this one than I usually do . . .

I was practicing my FM skills,

and I have to say I am pleased with the results.

You can see more about this quilt here.

It all came together in the end.

The borders, the quilting, the binding . . .

I tried pebble quilting for the first time, in the small inner border.

It certainly uses a lot of thread, but I love the effect,

and it is very forgiving!

My border was kinda of floppy, so the heavy quilting

made it lie flat again. 

I love this quilt!  So much color!

It is headed to one of my favorite people.

But it's a surprise, so I can't tell you who!

Our Metro Mod meeting was this past Saturday,

and I sat on the floor finishing up the binding

just in time! 

(photo from Victoria)

You can see all the show and tell from the meeting here.

Our last meeting in Victoria's loft. 

We will have new digs in December.

I will miss her cozy loft, but we have gotten too big in membership!

What did you do this weekend?