Back To Work

This is "RS5, Geisha Girl", an intermediate-level block that I paper pieced and then appliqued the melon shape using the raw-edge machine-buttonhole stitch method. One more triangle remains to be done on the right side of the quilt and then all 13 on the left. Plus the four corner kites.

What bugs me the most about making most of these triangles (and most of the DJ blocks, for that matter), is that I could make a quilt top like this in the time it takes to make some of these triangles!

Buying in Bulk

I've now cut all the batting for the three quilts in my previous post, so all I have to do is quilt them...that may take a while because I have other things I want to work on, including another DJ triangle. My favorite batting is usually Thermore, but several months ago I bought a 20-yard bolt of white flannel using my 50% off coupon from Joann's online. Even with shipping added, it was a deal. Price per yard (90" wide) was $8. I've used it as batting in a number of quilts this year, and so far I've liked the results. I still use Thermore for my "special" quilts, but this is great to have around when I need batting.

Extreme Stashbusting

I just figured out that the fabric I used for these recent three charity tops, backings, and bindings totals at least 15 yards! And I'm proud to say that about 14 yards was all from my stash and about a yard from fabric donated to my guild. No recent fabric purchases at all...just using up what's already available.

I am amazed, however, at how much fabric I still have in my totes....

Sewing With Friends

I'll be spending the day sewing with fellow members of the Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild...This is what I'll be working on. The blocks originally started out like this, more than two years ago. And here's another post about the blocks and their issues....

Stash Busting Continued

As promised in yesterday's post, here is my large version of the first Sew, Mama, Sew Modern Block-of-the-Month. I had to change the proportions of the pieces a bit because I didn't want to make a square quilt, but I think it looks pretty close to the original. You can see my small block here.

And here is the pieced back....I didn't have any more of the lavender fabric that was used in the front, so I just substituted a very pale pink solid.

Apologies for the bad lighting and the unpressed fabric!

Using Up Stash

A few weeks ago, when I blogged about the first block that I had made in the Sew,  Mama, Sew Modern Block-of-the-Month, my friend Susan said that the photo made my block look like a whole quilt rather than just a 12 1/2-inch block. That comment got me to thinking and then to sewing.

I decided that as I make the BOMs, I will also make a charity quilt using the same or similar pattern. What you see above is my large full-size quilt version of the block that I showed last week. And below you can see the backing, just made out of leftover fabric. Both are just improvisational piecing.

Once it's quilted and bound, I will donate this to Project Linus. It will be perfect for a teenage girl, thereby continuing with my plan to make charity quilts for teenagers (as I blogged about here).

Most of the fabric for the top and the backing came from my stash with a bit from the stash that was donated to my guild.

I've also made a large version of the first Modern BOM...I'll blog about it once I finish the backing....

A Smile for Quilters

Today's giggle.