The border makes the quilt - and a few new patterns

 

I decided recently that I really needed to add borders to the tops before I hang them in the closet.  Doing the borders is definitely one of my least favorite parts of making a quilt.  I get excited with the pattern idea, selecting and cutting the fabrics.  And I love watching the blocks come together.  But then.... what to do with the border.  Ugh.  And even once you decide, sewing borders is soooooo boooooring - like driving I10 between Las Cruces & Deming (my home town).  Sigh.  The result is I end up with a closet full of tops that I can't quilt because they need a border and I'm stymied with how to finish.  I've got to stick with the tops until the borders are done so I don't have a bunch to deal with. New years resolution - ha!

This top was finished several months ago but I like it much better now with this border.  The narrow inner border adds the right amount of contrast.  And the fireworks fabric is a great match to the fun novelties.  I have found that part of the difficulty with borders for novelty quilts is finding that balance between contrast to the center and overwhelming or underwhelming the novelties.  So I'm always looking for good candidates for novelty borders.  This one works pretty well.  (Pattern is Rick rack by MSQC)

I always have LOTS narrow scraps left from fussy cutting.  So for several years I've been making them into piano key strips.  Frequently they get used in the body of a quilt but they also make great borders. After my recent push to add borders to all the unfinished tops, I now am officially out of piano keys.

Sometimes piano keys are too busy if the center is especially busy, but on this one with all the white space, I think it works exceptionally well.  

One other thing I want to note on this pattern is how easy it is with a ruler I purchased last summer.  I have made a large number of patterns that use what is called a folded corner triangle.  The typical method to construct this uses a background square, draw diagonal across the corner of the square, sew & trim.  But I've never liked the wasted background fabric, plus I never seem able to get it lined up properly.  For years I've been using oversized triangles & trimming, but still drawing the line on the base fabric.  This new ruler, called Simple Folded Corners, takes out that drawing a line step.  Instead it is marked with the seam allowance so you can just cut off that corner & sew a regular seam.  I still like sewing an oversize triangle then trim - but that's my perfectionist side coming out.  That new ruler made sewing the above quilt so quick and easy.  Some specialty rulers get used once then put away.  But this one I've already used multiple times. It is also great for snowball blocks or any block where you are sewing a triangle across a corner.

Back to borders. This nested friendship star is a repeat pattern, but still a favorite.  It works pretty well with the piano keys, but looking at this picture, I wish I had made the inner border larger or white or something.  Or maybe the chopped off stars just bother me.

This quilt is such a fun pattern.  And it is just a standard attic window block, but with half the blocks turned to form a secondary pinwheel.  I really love secondary patterns, they are like little surprises.

As a contrast, this quilt really didn't need a border at all.  It looks great with just a simple matching border, anything else would detract from the pattern.  This layout called Floating Squares is one I've made several time and one of my favorites.

Not novelty, But I have to BRAG

 About a year ago I joined my first quilting guild, a relatively small country guild near my home.  Prior to Covid changing my work schedule so dramatically, I was never able to make any meetings regularly so I only connected with other quilters online.  Joining this local guild has been lots of fun, meeting new people.  They have a quilt show once every two years so I decided to enter five of my quilts (many discussed in previous posts here).  Well I was so thrilled to win ribbons on every applique quilt and one of them even won Judges choice. It was so amazing to walk in and see my quilt at the front of the room with that big ribbon.  And even more fun to talk with people about the quilts.

My Christmas Frame quilt won a 2nd place ribbon and Judges Choice.  The judge was extremely complementary, even going to far as to say she admired my work.  Wow.  And my quilting was Outstanding.  Really? Didn't she see all the places were the beads weren't round or crossed over the line, or where the stitch in the ditch wobbled?  Lesson learned - at least at this local show - perfection isn't required - even though sometimes I expect it of myself.  Every stitch doesn't have to be exacting, the overall effect is what is important.  Not saying I'm changing to the "back of a galloping horse" camp - I still like precision.  And I always want to do my best.  But sometimes things are good enough.  I'm the only one putting my nose up to the quilting and expecting machine perfection.  Ok, enough introspection.

My reverse applique won 3rd place.  The looped binding was a big hit with the other quilters.  Lots of discussion around the quilt, almost as much as the Christmas Frames. I got to explain how the loops were made and also how reverse applique works.  This wonderful pattern is from Eye of the Beholder Quilts - they have so many wonderful patterns.

This next was a prepared edge applique quilt I started 10 years ago on a trip with my daughter.  The pattern by J. Michelle Watts was very intricate & I only ended up making 4 of the 12 blocks.  I had been too afraid to quilt it, that I would "ruin" it, so I had my sweet friend Ami quilt it for me.  Her quilting is amazing.  The quilt won honorable mention - my other quilts had already won 2nd & 3rd, so I almost swept the category.  

My hand pieced forever project won 3rd place in the medium size category.  The judge especially appreciated how I did the border.  Which I have to admit, I am pretty proud of my solution there.  That border is the reason why it took me so long to finish it as I was stumped how to solve the problem of that uneven edge.  I kept thinking I should applique it but couldn't figure out how to do it so it would be flat & even.  Finally the light bulb moment was when I decided to just piece it the same way I had pieced the flowers, drawing special shaped templates from the originals.  Easy as could be, kind of embarrassed it took me so long. 

I'm thinking about entering the Christmas Frames in the Dallas show in the Spring.   I'm a little nervous about trying a big show, but who knows.  In the meantime, I can't wait to decorate for Christmas this year - looking forward to enjoying it through the holidays.

Catching up - AGAIN!

 Where does the time go!  I guess it's a good thing that I get busy sewing and don't notice how much time has gone by.  Means I'm having fun, right?  Once again I noticed that I hadn't update my blog in forever, or at least I hadn't posted any new I Spy quilts since October of last year.  And here it is mid August and I'm way behind.  Hmmm.  Too many to put in one post, so I'll break it up into those actually FINISHed.  That leaves a bunch in the closet but I'll snag those later.  

Below is a recent quilting binge - I had volunteered to donate some "baby quilts" to our local guild to be sold at an upcoming quilt show in the "country store".  Well oddly enough I didn't have a single finished I spy quilt ready, just some 15 tops hanging in the closet.  Better get quilting.  Then of course since I already had the bolt of fleece on the machine, I might as well keep going.  The result is eight finished tops - though I'm only donating four.  The rest will go into the pile for future gifting.  Several of these are the result of a bunch of kits I put together to work on at a recent quilt retreat - I do love to put kits together in group - makes it nice to just sit and sew later.  

Many of these were patterns I had made before years ago but wanted to do them again.  This disappearing 9-patch is one of those.  It's so easy but always looks so cheerful and happy with the tone on tone colors to set off the novelties. 

This pattern is just an idea I had - what would it look like if you made a sort of snowball block on two corners, then combined with another, and offset the rows.  I think it looks a bit like either strings of beads or perhaps hourglasses.  But it's a little busy, not sure how I feel about it.  But it did use up a large number of 4.5" precut squares and lots of scrappy piano keys from left over fussy cutting.

This pattern called Key to my heart by Busy Hands Quilts also utilizes only 4.5" squares.  I love being able to use those precut squares - no measuring, just pulling them out of the drawer.  Four of similar color are grouped into a large snowball block of 8".  The other block is sashed with 2" strips, also making an 8" block.  I love how such simple construction makes a complex looking pattern.

Last fall I got a "wild hair" and thought I wanted to make some rectangle star blocks.  Hmmm.  Well I did make a large number and put them together in sort of dancing star layout.  The novelty fabrics ended up being pretty small pieces so I don't think it works all that well as an I spy quilt, but still interesting.  I definitely won't be doing this one again  - those rectangle triangles were too fiddly - I had to think too hard to keep it straight which direction they were going.

I sewed this one at a recent retreat.  It is sort of a cheater majestic mountains pattern.  You start with a large square, cut it on the diagonal, then sewn into a large half square triangle block.  Then you cut that into strips and sew them back together in the opposite order, making the points of the "mountain".  You end up with a rectangle block.  I have done this one years ago and wanted to do it again.  It is pretty fun to sew and the other retreaters were impressed.  I think I want to do this one at some point with batiks, the novelties distract a little bit from the pattern unless looking from a distance.

This pattern is also a repeat.  I got the idea several years ago (15?) from the blog by Melissa Corry of Happy Quilting.  She called it Jelly Beans.  I really liked the effect of the black vs white diagonal stripes.  The top uses two blocks, one made from four 4.5" squares, the other with a 4 patch in the center surrounded by 2x4 strips & 2" corners.  The layout is critical to get the colors in the right places on these blocks so the design wall was critical.

Another repeat here, just large (six inch) half square triangles, arranged in a large swirl.  Quick and Easy.  I did repeat the fabrics, but mixed up the triangles.  Not only can you play I spy, but you can play matching with this one.

I love how this next one turned out.  Another very simple idea with great results.  Just 4 patches, surrounded by diagonal fabric sashing, then turned on point with narrow black sashing.  I had that diagonal fabric forever but it never seemed the right thing to use but it looks great here with the black contrast.

There definitely is a feeling of accomplishment seeing all these completed quilts stacked up so pretty.

Adding borders - tips

Back in 2000 I made my first quilt.  One that quilt I made the discover that you can't just add a long strip of fabric to the edge of the quilt to make your borders, sewing it on without measuring.  Those borders waves like a flag in the breeze!  That was one of my first lessons that sewing quilts was NOT the same as sewing garments.  

Over the years I've seen several different instructions on how to add borders in a way to avoid those rippling edges.  This is my favorite and you do not need a measuring tape or calculator.  I'll also show an easy way to add multiple borders using strip piecing.

Fold your quilt top in half, lining up the edges.  Fold in half again so that the bottom corners line up with the center fold on your quilt.  If you don't meet EXACTLY, you can give them a gentle tug.  Hopefully if your piecing is moderately accurate they will be pretty close.  If they are more than 3/4' off, consider making a few seams just a smidge larger to take up the difference.  Adding a border won't correct that much of a difference. 

Take your 1st border strip, laying it right side down along the edge of the quilt top.  Cut to the width of the top - you can just fold it back at the edge and use your scissors.  

Cut two strips this way.  While it's laying on the top, you can easily pin the 1st edge.  Pin starting at each end, then in the middle, then fill in pins about 4 or 5 inches apart.  Push them in far enough that they don't get pulled out while you move the quilt around.  Then flip the edge back and pin the other with the second strip - no need to unfold the entire quilt.  Take the pinned quilt to the machine and attach the first border along both edges.  Press this border.  I like to "set" the seam first before pressing open. I think it opens better, presses flatter if you iron the edge flat first.

Once these first borders are pressed, fold the quilt the opposite direction in the same manner - in half and then in over again so that the edges align with the folded center of the quilt.  At this point I take the next strip and get a rough idea how long I need for two strips by measuring against the edge of the quilt.  Then I take that strip along with the wider border to the machine and sew them together.  That way when I attach them to the quilt, I've effectively attached the second border at the same time.

Once the two borders are sewn together, I again measure them against the edge of the quilt, fold & cut with my scissors.  

Press the strip set open & pin to the edge of the quilt on the first edge. 

 Fold this edge back to expose the other side & pin that one as well.  No need to unfold the quilt.  

Attach strip set to each quilt edge.  Press open.  At this point you'll have two borders on opposite sides and one on the other.

Refold the quilt in the opposite direction.  As previously, match the edges, then fold again, matching the edges to the center fold.  If needed you can gently tug to get the edges even and flat.  Now attach the final wide border.

You can alternate attaching two borders multiple times, until the last single border.  I find it easier to sew the two strips together and then attach to the quilt rather than dragging the quilt to the machine for each border.  But you need to attach the first and last border singly so that the corners overlap correctly.

Learning something new

 Our local quilt guild recently included the following article in the newsletter on a way to organize your blocks for sewing in the correct order.  I was skeptical at first because I've always used my little flannel flags.  But pinning them on my latest quilt last night felt like a big project ( 8 x 13 = 104 blocks).  So I gave "booking" a try and I have to admit, it was pretty fast and easy.  I'm generally not a big fan of keeping the threads in place when chain stitching but it's pretty critical for this method.  It's always nice to learn a new method to try.  I will likely still use my flannel flags in some situations such as when packing a kit - but for short term or smaller projects it's definitely a good way to "organize" your blocks and your sewing method.

Booking a Quilt - Written by Rex

Booking is a method of stacking individual quilt blocks in 1 pile to allow you to stitch the

blocks together correctly into a quilt top.  The top may be sewn immediately or later. 

For the purposes of this instruction columns are vertical, and rows are horizontal. 

Booking is also useful when piecing a multi-unit block, which I’ll show here.  

The process is the same.

Lay out your blocks on a design wall or on the floor or bed. 

Be sure all the blocks are turned correctly, and you are happy with the layout.

Put a straight pin in the upper left-hand corner of the upper left block. 

It does not matter which corner you choose; it provides orientation while you sew.

Place column 2 blocks face down on column 1 blocks.

Flip them as if you are closing a book.

Touching edges stay together.

Gather column 1/2 into a neat pile beginning at the top so that the top block remains on top

of the pile. Work neatly so all blocks remain oriented correctly.  

Place column 1/2 pile at bottom of quilt in #1 position.

Stack the remaining columns straight down, do not flip.

Be sure to keep the piles oriented correctly and in order with top block on top of the pile.

Gather the piles with column 1/2 on top, then on top of 3, 4, 5 and so on.

Again, stay correctly oriented.  

You will then have 1 pile of blocks with a straight pin in the second block from the top. 

Move to your sewing machine or to storage. 

You can store this stack for as long as you need and will be able to come back to it later

without problems.

Though you may want to clip them together in case they are dropped.

When you are ready to sew, place the pile of blocks to the right of the sewing machine. 

Feel around the pile until you find the straight pin.

Place the pinned corner to the upper left

.

Pick up the first two blocks (face together) and sew along the right edge.

Do not cut the thread. Feed the next pair of blocks sewing along the 

right edge. Again, do not cut thread. Repeat until you see a face-up block,

which indicates that you have sewn the first two columns in all of your rows.  Cut the thread.

Pull blocks toward your body until you reach the top of the column. 

Open and add the next block from the stack to the right edge, taking care not to rotate.

Do not cut the thread.

Continue until you reach the end, cut the thread, and repeat.

When you run out of blocks, your completed rows are held together by thread. 

Take to the ironing board. Press seams opposite on each row so they nest. 

All that’s left is to sew the rows together!

A special “Thank You” to Anita Ruthenberg,

who taught me this technique!

And another thank you to Rex Shrauner for writing this up!

Another flurry of ideas

 A couple of months ago I was browsing through the several books written by Kim Brackett.  I drew several of them in EQ, printed them and them stuck them in a folder of Future Ideas.  And then forgot about them.  After working on a very intensive hand applique & embroidery quilt for several weeks, I needed a break.  So I pulled out my idea folder and started cutting, putting together seven kits that I could work on when I felt like piecing.  Well of course those kits just kept calling me and calling.  And now I've pieced all but a couple of them.  All in a row, kind of binge piecing.

For this pattern, called Scrap Basket blues, I wanted to try using some of my white novelty stash.  They don't seemed to get used very often, so I gave them a try.  The contrast isn't as good as I'd like.  It looks a bit of a muddle.  If I make this one again I'd use a white TOT instead, and I probably will as it was fun to sew.

Instead of mixing colors on this next quilt, I decided to make the center pinwheels in black novelties only.  But when I put the blocks together, the colors really did not standout as I had wanted.  So I played around with the sashing and borders to add some more punch.  I'm pleased with the final result, plus I got to use that rainbow fabric that I always seemed too bright on other quilts.

I was very intrigued with the pattern for this quilt, called Candy Canes.  It's one of those patterns that is much more complicated than it looks.  And what a fun result.

I've been calling this one Pez because it reminds me of those childhood candies.  It would make a great album quilt too.

And here is another candy quilt - I'm seeing a trend.  Three quilts with candy themes!  And very easy to piece.  The hardest part of this one was figuring out the layout so that the HST's had enough contrast between each half.  As you'll notice, there are tons of HST in all these patterns, resulting in a gallon sized bag of waste triangles.  I can't bring myself to throw them away, but they are pretty small, all cut from 2.5" strips.  Someday I might make another tiny triangle quilt - later....

These last two are ideas I got from MSQC's wonderful videos.  I really enjoy watching their videos, even though I don't always use their construction methods.  I modified this 1st one called Half-hexi links.  I decided I didn't like the large white spaces between the "wrenches".  A friend suggested that if I added hexagons they would look like bolts.  So I made the shapes using freezer paper and machine stitched them down - easy as could be.  And just in time for my boss's 2nd grandson - great timing.

This final quilt is called RicRac, and what a great fun pattern!  I did use the white novelties for this and it worked fine, perhaps because the areas were larger.  The original design uses 2.5" strips through out but instead I used a 4x6 block in the corner.  Frequently I will adjust patterns this way so that I can maximize the novelty fabrics.  I don't want to cut through the pictures any more than necessary.  I think this one needs a border but I can't decide exactly what - I don't want to detract from the pattern.  I need to think on it for a while.

In the meantime this top is hanging in the closet along with six others, waiting for me to get the quilting bug.  I'm committed to trying some new quilting patterns but I have three Christmas project  to finish first...It is almost the end of October already - YIKES!  I need to get busy.  

Time to cull my stash

I have decided it is time to cull through my fabric - . The baskets I use as drawers are so full it is a struggle to put anything away.  I started with the novelty baskets - mostly because I have a clear idea of what I tend to use and what I don't.

I made 3 piles. First I pulled out all the small pieces (generally those less than FQ).  I was surprised how many of these had gotten lost between other fabrics. These will cut into 4.5" & 2.5" strips, squares & rectangles.   I know that almost all my I spy quilts are built using those sizes so it will save a lot of time pre-cutting these. I also pulled out those fabrics that I like but that I have had for a long time but that never seem to make it into a quilt.  Time to cut those up too as I've found if they are pre-cut I am more likely to use them. And then I made a pile of those fabrics that I just don't think I am likely to ever use. Many were inherited or gifted to me, but some where my purchases that just haven't ever gotten used or don't fit with how I quilt now. The result of this was I had a completely empty basket and each remaining drawer/basket actually had room - no more struggling to put fabrics away. Cool. 

I plan to take the "give away" bag to my next guild meeting - I 'm someone there will be able to use them.  I found a few fabrics in this stack that I didn't want to use in I spy quilts but that would make good binding, so I pulled those out. Also some yardage that will work as a border. Sometimes getting the fabrics out in the open helps to look at it differently. 

Now I had a large stack of fabrics to cut up. Ok, a VERY large stack. I spent two days cutting. Love using a new blade. 

I now have an entire drawer full (remember that empty drawer?) of precut strips that are 4.5 or 2.5 wide and at least 8" long - many are length of fabric so it will take a lot of quilts to use them up. These I can quickly cut into lengths needed for a particular quilt pattern - without the need to unfold & refold yardage. Folding is my least favorite part of quilting - especially as I only put one piece of each fabric in a quilt.  It can get very overwhelming.  Since these are already cut I will be more inclined to use them. I sorted them by size and color - aren't they pretty!  There at the top right corner you can see the bindings I made - I think there is enough for 4 or 5 quilts. 

This is the plastic drawer of 4.5 squares, 2.5 x 4.5 rectangles and 2.5 squares. I need to make some easy donation quilts from these - Trip around the world or rainbow diagonals maybe. But since no cutting is required, they go together very quickly.  But I do need to sort these by color too.  I may save that task for the next time my daughter is home - 😀

As I am cutting (fussy cutting and strip cutting) I keep anything smaller that 2.5 wide to make piano keys. And here is the result. Great for mindless sewing - I think that's what I'll work on next. There's definitely enough here to make several quilts worth of piano keys - either borders or entire quilts.

I've also saved all the tiny triangles - they now fill up a gallon size bag. I don't think I will ever use them - I've already made one tiny triangle quilt and doubt I'll do it again. But I have a friend who says she will give them a good home.

And here is the pile of little trimmings - kind of pretty.

Next I need to go through my TOT drawers. That's going to be harder. But there are definitely some fabrics that I inherited or been gifted that I don't want. And I know there are some small pieces that I keep glimpsing that I need to pull out. And then there is the scrap basket that has gotten out of control. I have gotten a couple of ideas from recent videos that I want to try that I'm going to pull from scraps. Plenty to keep me busy for a good long time.