Floating Triangles

Last spring, I took a class for this quilt, Floating Triangles.  It's a fast, easy quilt to do and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's a perfect pattern for a "layer cake" fabric bundle (10-inch squares).  I purchased this one on eBay.  At first, I didn't like the colors very much because it's sometimes hard to tell on the internet.  And that's also why it's sat unfinished for nearly 6 months.

Using a paper template, the squares are cut into 4 pieces and then sewn back together using a center triangle from one of the other blocks.  It's really easy to put together.  The pattern calls for 25 blocks, a narrow stop border and a wide outer border.

I don't follow instructions very well because I used all the squares in the layer cake (42), put on a 2-inch stop border and a 3 1/2-inch outer border.

I thought it turned out very well until I realized there were 2 big "mistakes."  One was that the stripes in the backing were going crosswise instead of lengthwise.  The other is that the top thread I was using to quilt is actually thread for embroidery machines!  And I've used it on not 1 but 3 quilts!!!  Is there such a thing as a perfect quilt?  Or will I ever learn all the "right" ways to make them?  Maybe I should just quit sweating the details and enjoy the process.

P.S.  When folding the quilt to put it away, I discovered that one end was a 1/2-inch wider than the other.  I thought I'd squared it up properly before adding the binding, but I wonder how that happened?  Stretching during the quilting process maybe?

Floating Triangles

Last spring, I took a class for this quilt, Floating Triangles.  It's a fast, easy quilt to do and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's a perfect pattern for a "layer cake" fabric bundle (10-inch squares).  I purchased this one on eBay.  At first, I didn't like the colors very much because it's sometimes hard to tell on the internet.  And that's also why it's sat unfinished for nearly 6 months.

Using a paper template, the squares are cut into 4 pieces and then sewn back together using a center triangle from one of the other blocks.  It's really easy to put together.  The pattern calls for 25 blocks, a narrow stop border and a wide outer border.

I don't follow instructions very well because I used all the squares in the layer cake (42), put on a 2-inch stop border and a 3 1/2-inch outer border.

I thought it turned out very well until I realized there were 2 big "mistakes."  One was that the stripes in the backing were going crosswise instead of lengthwise.  The other is that the top thread I was using to quilt is actually thread for embroidery machines!  And I've used it on not 1 but 3 quilts!!!  Is there such a thing as a perfect quilt?  Or will I ever learn all the "right" ways to make them?  Maybe I should just quit sweating the details and enjoy the process.

P.S.  When folding the quilt to put it away, I discovered that one end was a 1/2-inch wider than the other.  I thought I'd squared it up properly before adding the binding, but I wonder how that happened?  Stretching during the quilting process maybe?

Postage Stamp Basket

Last night, I was watching Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims on the computer and Alex made one of these Postage Stamp Basket blocks and has a neat trick for the handle.  So I played around with a few scraps.

This on is my first try and ended up a little wonky.

Each try got a little better.  Finished size is 4 1/2 inches.  I'm not sure I have enough "stick-to-it-tiveness" to do a whole quilt, but it's a great way to use up scraps.

Yesterday I found some batting I'd put in a safe place and forgot about it. Now that I have 4 tops waiting to be quilted, I can get started on them (after the laundry gets done)!

Postage Stamp Basket

Last night, I was watching Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims on the computer and Alex made one of these Postage Stamp Basket blocks and has a neat trick for the handle.  So I played around with a few scraps.

This on is my first try and ended up a little wonky.

Each try got a little better.  Finished size is 4 1/2 inches.  I'm not sure I have enough "stick-to-it-tiveness" to do a whole quilt, but it's a great way to use up scraps.

Yesterday I found some batting I'd put in a safe place and forgot about it. Now that I have 4 tops waiting to be quilted, I can get started on them (after the laundry gets done)!

Pinwheel Baby Quilt

I've been busy the last couple of weeks.  My sister, Patti, is a brand new grandma as Kingston Quin Ball was born July 16.  Today, I finished a baby quilt for this new addition.

This was a kit from Connecting Threads.  I was so excited to get started on this one that either the instructions were confusing or I read them wrong.  I prefer to think it was the instructions...anyway, I cut the cream fabric wrong, ruined a bunch of it and had to reorder.  One of these days, I will learn to take a deep breath, read the instructions at least twice, before I even pick up the rotary cutter.

With this pattern, the pinwheels are actually prairie points and they are not sewed down but left to flap in the breeze so that baby can play with them.  So I could not put this one on the frame because I had to sew around the prairie points.  I also stitched in the ditch, which I HATE to do because I don't do it very well.  Why on earth did I not do an outline stitch???  Would have been lots less frustrating.

I'm glad it's done and I think it turned out well.  I hope Kingston and his new parents like it.  Congratulations!

Pinwheel Baby Quilt

I've been busy the last couple of weeks.  My sister, Patti, is a brand new grandma as Kingston Quin Ball was born July 16.  Today, I finished a baby quilt for this new addition.

This was a kit from Connecting Threads.  I was so excited to get started on this one that either the instructions were confusing or I read them wrong.  I prefer to think it was the instructions...anyway, I cut the cream fabric wrong, ruined a bunch of it and had to reorder.  One of these days, I will learn to take a deep breath, read the instructions at least twice, before I even pick up the rotary cutter.

With this pattern, the pinwheels are actually prairie points and they are not sewed down but left to flap in the breeze so that baby can play with them.  So I could not put this one on the frame because I had to sew around the prairie points.  I also stitched in the ditch, which I HATE to do because I don't do it very well.  Why on earth did I not do an outline stitch???  Would have been lots less frustrating.

I'm glad it's done and I think it turned out well.  I hope Kingston and his new parents like it.  Congratulations!

One Block Wonder

In between several projects, I am still working on this One Block Wonder.  After spending weeks rearranging the blocks into some type of rhyme or reason (I've since decided this is impossible.), I finally gave up and just started sewing.  I got all the strips put together today.

Now I've got to square it and go shopping for border and backing fabric.

I ran out of blocks that matched the purple section and pieced one to fit.  I thought it turned out pretty well!

I will be SO glad when this one is done......