Finished Steps and Stars with Dwirling

Ready to go into the dryer...

Dried and on top of my queen-sized bed below. I estimate this finished at about 68" x 86". You can really see the machine quilting in this one. It is the dwirling pattern from the Pajama Quilter DVD. It was very difficult on a DSM, but I think it would be easy on a long-arm. Too many starts and stops on a DSM for me.

Here it is in its entirety. I had thought about giving this away, but I want to enjoy just looking at it around the house for a while.

Test driving a new Parker house Roll recipe (for Thanksgiving) this AM. Not that all our rolls aren't Parker house rolls, but these are the genuine article.

~Joan

Steps and Stars Just Needs Hand Sewing

I know--the above picture isn't a quilt. But it is one of my lovely offspring! Wearing my cow apron! And my chef's hat. What is going on there? Cookie baking, of course. Just a pic for my post. I left my camera in GA last weekend so I borrowed this from my daughter's blog.

I did a lot of sewing this past few days. I machine quilted a quilt for a customer (Ruby Slippers) and made then sewed the binding onto the front by machine. Then I also finished the quilting on my Steps and Stars quilt. I have about 1-1/2 sides hand-sewn to the back, so that is coming right along.

I tried to get my ancient Singer free motion quilting machine up and running, but the thread broke after just a few inches of stitching over. and. over. and. over...very exasperating. I am debating about whether to try to get it repaired (again!) or just pitch it.

Anywho...pics to come when my camera arrives home. I wish I had taken a pic of the Ruby Slippers. I just did loop-de-loops on it, but it did look lovely.

~Joan

Steps and Stars Machine Quilting Started

Here is the progress on the Steps and Stars. These first two pictures show the dwirling from the front then the back. I am getting the hang of this. It is different for me...well, new is the word, I guess. The quilted lines are about an inch apart.

Here is a triple paisley shape in the border with thread matching the border print. Again, this is from the front and the next picture is from the back.

I am taking a break for now, but hope to do more tonight. I have had lots of questions from other home quilters using a domestic machine. I feel like all of us quilters should help each other do our personal best. I have a lot to learn, but here are some tips from me. Maybe you will find some of them useful...

*I use straight pins to baste the quilt. I put all the pins going in from right to left. They are about 4-6 inches apart in a grid. The reason I use straight pins is that it is so quick to whip them out as I quilt and toss them towards the magnetic pin cushion.

*I often quilt the border first to get rid of a bunch of pins so it's less like wrestling with a porcupine.

*Pick a design that gives your a place to stop (with needle down to keep the quilt from slipping) so you can reposition your hands.

*There are times I don't use any aids in moving the quilt. I just purchased a pair of Machingers and LOVE them. They are snug but not warm, give enough fingertip control to remove or place pins, and are inexpensive.

*Practice drawing new designs on paper or a whiteboard to imbed the design in your mind.

*Plan ahead for where you're going to quilt toward so you don't "paint yourself into a corner".

*Keep as much of the quilt up on your sewing surface as possible to prevent drag on the quilt as you sew it.

*Prefill as many bobbins as you think you will need.

*Practice practice, practice!

That's it!

~Joan

Steps and Stars on Deck Today

I plan to start machine quilting on this quilt top today. I've had a productive last few days. Today it's just my husband and 3 youngest boys home. I will have to make a couple meals, do a little more room clean up (Susanna will be expecting great things when she gets home tomorrow), and a little more putsy-ing around (it's been a long time since I've heard someone say "putsy")...

As I searched for an inexpensive place to buy the new Pajama Quilter DVD (and didn't find one!), I came across Dawn's gallery. I am going to do dwirling on this top just because I've wanted to try it, and it looks so cool on this quilt.

Off to the races, and thankful for the energy to get things done today. I pieced a backing for the Steps and Stars last night. Had to make the backing 4" wider than it would have been just using width of fabric pieces, so I used some more 4-patches from the "where did these come from" drawer.

~Joan

Two Tops Ready to Machine Quilt

I am going to be getting machine quilting thread for the borders of these two quilts in a few minutes. I can't find a picture of my 20th Century Bull's eye with borders, but they are dark brown inner border and a orangy/dark red for the outer. Stay tuned--it will be machine quilted before you know it. Hahahahaha...

Here is the center of my Steps and Stars...I added the outer two borders this AM...

I will be looking for a matching green thread for the outer border.


This measures about 70" x 90"...much bigger than I originally anticipated.

Eager to get started on these, but first, a trip to the quilt shop for thread.

~Joan

Steps and Stars...All Blocks Finished

Here are my blocks laid out the way I want them. The only thing I did with the layout was made sure that the light blue logs weren't near each other and that no two same-color star blocks were neighbors. I might make a few more changes, but I'm happy with this. After a 5" border, it will measure around 60" x 80".

In more quilt-related news, I pieced, washed, dried, and ironed a flannel backing for my Grass is Greener quilt. It's a beautiful Thimbleberries light green.

The reason I like blogging is that it is a journal for ME. I can look back at the progress of my projects in living color!! I just realized that I never posted a picture of the completed Grass is Greener quilt. I used the same darker green as the sashing for the inner border, then used my favorite (now out of print) Thimbleberries medium green for the outer border. The blocks for that were so much easier than I would have thought they were.

Before I even get a quilt finished and bound, I start piecing two or three more. Is it possible I need therapy??

~Joan, who really doesn't want an answer to that question.

Steps and Stars...20 Blocks Strong

Finished a few more blocks last night so I could see a larger portion of this quilt. I really like it, especially when I squint a little!! I like the way the stars look like squares on point because the tans blend in with them. Then the other stars are surrounded by a jaggedy dark box on point. Quilters understand this, right??

There are 17 star blocks total for the size I am making. I am cutting these from one strip of 6" wide fabric, which leaves me with a couple logs for the steps blocks to boot...makes it all match a little more. The cream star backgrounds are all the same.

Saw two more projects I want to make soon in a fabric catalog this AM. I need to stop looking. I want to make a table runner for my secret sister from church. I have some units ready, so that shouldn't be a problem. Stay tuned!

~Joan

Another Must-Have Quilt

Saw one of these on someone else's blog a few days ago and remembered that this is another pattern I would like to have a quilt made from...a spool quilt!! Hers was the perfect size, so I am making mine the same. The blocks finish at 4-1/2" square. I have a stack of 2" strips already cut, so I am cutting a few blocks at a time. Here is what I have so far.

We finished school in record time today, so while I was cooling down from an exercise DVD, I pieced a few more blocks for this quilt. It's coming along nicely.

Two of my girls and one son were sick today. One of those girls was resting in my bedroom. That is where my quilt frame is, so I did not get a chance to machine quilt today. It would have interrupted her rest.

~Joan

Steps and Stars

Thus beginneth another quilt. I had some pieces cut out for this quilt, Steps and Stars, and just had to sew a few blocks together to see how it would look for real (as compared to the magazine picture). I've been saving this pattern for years and years. It is pinned on top of an I Spy my daughter pieced on my design wall. I was sorting through scraps and cutting some pieces for this...won't be long before I have another quilt top to quilt!! The blocks are 12" finished.

~Joan