{Post 1,440} And Then There Were Two

I finished the center of another ornament tonight.  As much as I hate paper piecing, one does get some fabulous little pointy pieces!

These finish at 3-1/2" square.  I am very pleased with these so far.  My 15-year-old son already claimed the one on the left.  He thinks it looks like Captain America's symbol.  *sigh*  The comic influence!

{Post 1,439} Christmas Shirt 9-Patch Ready to Web

These are the blocks for my BIL's family's Christmas quilt.  I've only known him 29 years, no need to get in a rush about making him a quilt, right?

I will sew these into a top on Saturday at Second Saturday Sewers.  That's sewers as in seamstresses, not waste water runoff!

There is a possibility of adding more blocks to this, but I'll see how I like it as is.  This will be 54" x 72".  I think a couple more rows might be in store, but this will give me 3 hours of sewing to do for the sew-in on Saturday.

{Post 1,438} Seam Guide on Featherweight

Just put the seam allowance guide on my Featherweight.  It's much smaller than other ones I've seen. Works like a charm.

I'm making some crumb blocks from shirt crumbs.  I'll leave it set up in my office in case I get a few minutes to sew in here.  It's on a TV-tray table.

Just realized I've never shown the picture of the bee-you-tee-ful plate on the end of the machine.  I think this is what sold me on it.  It's gorgeous.

{Post 1,437} One Down, Seven To Go

I have made my eight children Christmas ornaments for many years.  I don't remember when I started, but then I don't remember most things.

When we were at the quilt show last weekend, my husband asked what I was doing for the kids' ornaments this year.  I told him I had purchased some laser-cut wooden stars.  I was going to paint them with glitter gold paint and be finished with it.  He inferred that that wasn't bringing my "A" game.  Soon thereafter we saw some paper-pieced ornament patterns at the show.  They finish 3-1/2" square.  

I made this one tonight.  I did a single-fold binding, and I love the way it looks.  I hand-sewed the ends of the binding together, as getting such a small piece under my sewing machine foot would've taken a miracle.

I will attach a jute hanger with a couple small upcycled shirt buttons.

{Post 1,436] New Layout for Shirt Strings

This is really what I was looking for with those blocks.  Now I can plan how many blocks I want for a large throw and get cutting.  It looks like I'll have a lot more piecing time away from home, so I need to have a stack of pieces cut and ready to sew!

{Post 1,435] Sew'cializing

I went to a new-to-me sewing group last night from 5-8:30.  It's called the "sew-cialize" group.  I got all 99 blocks for my Christmas gift quilt finished as well as 3 of the shirt string blocks shown.  The 9-patches are 5" square; the string blocks are 6-1/2" square.

For the first time, I used my Featherweight exclusively and for a l-o-n-g time.  It performed like the workhorse it is, and did it beautifully.

The blue 9-patch quilt top in the back of the first picture is the same design as the one the green blocks are going to be used in.  I wanted it to be lighter overall, so I switched where the cream and color go in the 9-patch.  It was sooooo boring to use the same two fabrics over and over, but having others to chat with certainly made it more interesting.

The natural muslin was a purchase made at a textile warehouse near me.  I like the color with the shirts.  I was going to make a different setting with the blocks, but this one appeals to me.  Time will tell as to where this quilt design goes.

{Post 1,434} Grandmother's Flower Garden Update

Here is what I have so far on my GFG quilt.  In the picture, it is laid on top of my queen-sized bed.  I took it with me standing at the head of the bed on top of the mattress.

After taking this picture, I decided I'd like it better if it hung down the sides with whole blocks.  I hope that makes sense.  I originally was thinking I'd just make blocks for the top, but then I'd have to decide how to quilt large, open spaces.  I guess cross hatching would look nice.  Well, I don't need to decide right now.

Until I need to make a decision, I'll just keep plugging away on the body of this large piece.  I really, really like it.  Each block is my favorite!