Table Runners

I've been busy stitching this week.  Other than buying matching zippers for the Project Bags, I haven't worked on those anymore. 

At my March guild meeting, someone put a completed table runner top on the freebie table.  I grabbed it quickly.

table runner top from freebie table

It was time to finally baste and quilt this.  I pulled some red polka dot fabric for the backing, and some red Kona for the binding, and proceeded to straight line quilt this.

completed table runner

showing backing fabric

 I think this will be fun to use under one of my vintage sewing machines.


 Back in February, I designed and made a table runner top for a friend.  After I finished the top, I put it aside to make 7 purses.  It was time to baste and quilt this table runner, too.

finished table runner

showing backing fabric

I'm in two 'Ugly' fabric exchanges.  One of them is for the Michigan TOGA.  This is one of my vintage sewing machine gatherings.  The next TOGA is in June.  I have to have a project made with the Ugly fabric by then.  It was time for me to finally start.

I had got a pattern off the freebie table (I LOVE the freebie table) at guild, back in February.

I liked the star in a star blocks, and thought I could make a table runner, using my Ugly fabric.  My Ugly fabric is a black on black.

Ugly fabric for MI TOGA

I don't think this is ugly.  I didn't think my fabrics last year were ugly either (both large scale polka dots). 

I made three blocks, using Civil War reproduction scraps to go with my ugly fabric.  Here are my blocks

I was going to add the sashing, like in the pattern, but, I don't know if I want to do all that applique or  not.  I also don't know if I want to make more of the center stars, that are the cornerstones.

up close of sashing and blocks on pattern

I was thinking I might set the blocks on point, instead.  Decisions, decisions.....

On Tuesday, I went to sew at Kelly's quilt shop, Sewing, Etc.  Kelly was cutting up fabrics to make a demo quilt with 10 inch squares.  She gave me the scraps.

scraps from Kelly

I'd just looked up a block on The Quilter's Cache.   I hadn't finished the star in a star blocks yet, and was still thinking about the Ugly fabric exchange.  I found a block, called Michigan, on the site.  What a great block to use some of those scraps.

Michigan block from The Quilter's Cache

I was supposed to come up with a 12.5" block for another groups Block of the Month, and, this works for both projects.  Here is my finished block, using the ugly fabric, and Kelly's scraps.

Michigan block, finished

I decided that this block needed something, so that it could become a finished project.  I added a small border, using the ugly fabric, and then, cut 2 large squares, that Kelly had left with the scraps.  I machine quilted it, and bound it with the ugly fabric, to make a 19" square table topper.

finished table topper, using 'Ugly' fabric from MI TOGA

up close of the quilting

showing the backing fabric

Woohoo!  Another finish!  That makes 3 finished table runners/toppers, all using fabrics from my stash, scraps, or Ugly fabric, from the exchange.  I've never considered myself a 'scrappy' quilter, since I don't usually use my scraps.  Most of the time, my scraps just sit in boxes or bags, when I finish the quilt.  This year, I've been using scraps for several different projects. 

Now to get back to those Project Bags.  One of the reasons I hadn't done anymore on them, was that the vinyl was 'folded' and I've been trying to get it smooth.  That takes time, and heat, and more time.  I think the vinyl is ready to be cut now. 

Busy Stitching!

Thursday night was my large quilt guild meeting.  I found these two blocks on the freebie table, and rescued them as the meeting ended.

orphan block from freebie table

2nd orphan block from freebie table (smaller than first block)

I know, not pretty, and not well made, either.  Neither lay very flat, but, I figured I could maybe make a tote bag with them.

Well.....I've been wanting to make some project bags, and I decided I'd better get started on them, since one of them will be made with the 'UGLY' fabric from my little quilt guild's Ugly fabric exchange.

This is the pattern that I will be using.  'Project Bags' from byannie.com.

pattern

I've been seeing the dozens (yes, dozens, she just finished an order for 25 project bags) of these bags being made on a blog I read.  I finally decided that I had to make some for myself. 

The pattern makes 4 different sizes of project bags.  I wanted the largest one.  It calls for quilting a 18"x 18" square, then trimming it down to 16.5".  I started pulling fabrics from my stash, and, got a bit carried away....  I ended up with 8 different squares to quilt.  I just finished the machine quilting on all of them.  Some are heavily quilted, and some are very lightly quilted (depending on the fabrics). 

First is the block from above.  It was wonky, so, I quilted it heavily.  I think it looks better now, than it did.

front of wonky block

backing of wonky block

The other, matching block will be used in the project bag, too.

Next is the 'Ugly' fabric from my little quilt guild's exchange.  I don't think that it is ugly, but, I wouldn't know how to use it cut up in a quilt, since it has a large pattern.  We got 1/2 yard of each Ugly fabric, so, I decided to put something else on the back, and make 2 project bags.  I quilted each piece differently.

Ugly fabric, 1st block

Ugly fabric, 2nd block

back of Ugly fabric blocks

Then I started working with some of my larger prints of my vast Sewing Themed fabrics.  I can never figure out how to use fabrics with larger prints, since you lose the print when it is cut up.  The first one, I made 2 matching blocks (front and back are the same) and I made one block of the 2nd one.

2 of this block, front and back are the same

front and back are the same

Then I pulled out some of my 'fun' Sewing themed fabrics, and had to add borders to these fabrics before I quilted them.  First, are the 'Singer' fabrics, with some thimble fabric added for borders.

Singer treadle block

2nd Singer treadle block

backing on both Singer blocks

Lastly, I used some bright sewing themed fabrics, that also needed to be bordered.  I made sure to keep all the border fabrics going in the same direction.  You can read some of the fabric parts.

1st block

2nd block

showing backing for both blocks

The backing fabric shown in the picture above, was ordered online last month.  When I went to cut it, I found a rip in the center of the fabric.  Grrr!!!!  I paid good money for this fabric.  At least I noticed it before I cut the backing squares.  Because of the location of the rip, I could use the piece on either side of the rip, and get the squares I needed (barely).  I hope the rest of this piece of fabric doesn't have any rips in it. 

While preparing these blocks for machine quilting, I also prepared 2 different table runners for quilting.  I haven't decided how to quilt them yet, since they will be looked at more closely (one is a gift for a friend).  I forgot to take pictures of them. 

Now to start cutting the pieces for the rest of the project bags, and see if I have enough matching zippers. 

I hope that all of you are having a productive weekend, too.  Hubby is off backpacking, so, I don't have to worry about cooking this weekend.  Having to stop and fix supper tends to kill my mojo every evening.  I worked on these till 10pm last night. 

Misc

I've been busy sewing, but, not much to show for it. 

First, one of my groups, Quilt Along,  had a mug rug exchange.  These are the mug rugs I made for the exchange (we were to turn in 3 mug rugs, and get 3 mug rugs back).  I made 4 (one to keep for myself).

2 of my matching mug rugs

I got the idea from Jennifer O's blog, Sewhooked.  She makes lots of paper pieced patterns available (some free, some for a small charge).  She offered this pattern for free, back in February.  I'm not much into hearts, but, figured that I could change it up, to suit my needs.

free pattern I got my idea from

It was fun to fussy cut the treadles.  I added the 'plate' to the side, to give room for a snack, too.

These are the mug rugs I got back.  I got 4 back, since I'd sent the hostess a gift, and she made me an extra mug rug, wasn't that sweet.

hand applique on this one

cute Snoopy

love these colors, and the quilting

front of mug rug, with lovely quilting

back of mug rug (red is my favorite color)

All of these have been in use since I took them out of the package. 

My Treadle On group is having a Half Square Triangle exchange.  I made 4 sets of 8 HST's for the exchange. 

2 sets on this Post WWII hand crank

2 sets made on 1927 Singer 15 hand crank

The weekend of April 7-9, I was invited to join the Camp Tuckabatchee Quilters for a retreat.  The Camp Tuckabatchee quilters host the quilt show with the treadle races, that I was at, just a few weeks ago.  So nice to be invited to join this group.  I could only attend for Friday, and had to leave Saturday morning, since I had my Ladies Crafting, that I run, at my church, on Saturday.  Next time, I get to stay the whole weekend.  Here are some of the things the ladies were working on at the retreat.

One lady had been given quite a lot of completed cross stitch blocks, and asked to turn them into quilts for her granddaughters.  

cross stitch blocks

more stacks of completed cross stitch blocks

Another lady was working on a former members UFO's.  The former member died several years ago. 

9 patch and snowball blocks

Someone was quilting this cute kids quilt.

kids quilt

I didn't get pictures of the other projects.  More ladies were expected to show up, after I left on Saturday morning.

I was stitching corner triangles onto squares, for the next Family Reunion quilt.  I want to get the blocks all done before the next reunion (2018), so that they can be signed at the reunion.  I'll make 2 matching quilts again, so that I get to keep one, and the other quilt will be raffled off, to help pay for the reunion. 

I found this quilt, at The Eclectic Abuela blog. The quilt is called String Crossroads. 

next Family Reunion quilt(s)

I've finished the 1 corner units, for the border (80 units per quilt), and I'm working on the 2 corner units (196 units per quilt).  I cut 2.5" squares for the corner units from 83 different fabrics.  I kept adding fabrics, so that the quilt would look scrappy enough.  I'm using 1930's reproduction fabrics, with Kona white for the background.  It is taking forever for me to mark and stitch all the corners, but, I'm getting bonus HST units for another quilt, so, it's worth it.  The bonus HST's will go to the OMG quilt that I started a few years ago.  I ran out of pre-cut pieces for the 9 patch units, and hadn't worked on this quilt since.  One of these days, I should really get the pattern, since I'm just 'winging it' so far.

units that need to be made for the quilt

Some of the units I'm working on.

1 corner units for border (80 units per quilt) (DONE!) 2 of each fabric in the quilt

working on the 2 corner units (the solid white squares still need the first corner stitched on).  This is taking forever!

I'm going to stitch at Sewing, Etc. tomorrow, with a friend, and will be working on these.  Sometimes it feels like I haven't even made a dent. 

When these squares are (finally) done, I have to start the string blocks (200 string units per quilt).  Good thing I started these quilts a year early.  You'll be seeing these quilt parts for a l-o-n-g  t-i-m-e!