Spin Cycle Setting

Here is the setting I am going to use. I just have to figure out what I should put in the blocks between the sashing. I have a pale pinky-peach batik in two of the blocks in this picture, but I'm thinking it might be too pale (since I can't barely see it's there). As I was putting this up, I thought maybe some more of the green that is in the sashing. Or maybe I should find a stronger pink--I'm a bit stumped on this one. I found this fabric at the local Ben Franklin's. It has dragonflies in an orangey tone--I really like it.

I have also thought of more of the kaleido-blocks, but I'd have to set up another stack-n-whack cutting stack, and I don't know that I want to do that--maybe I'll just have to break down and do it.

Haven't been sewing much this weekend, we've been tiling the kitchen. I've mostly been the fetcher and cutter, but it looks nice. Now comes the hard part, cutting the curve where it will meet the laminate in the living room. We'll see how that goes.

Notice the trashcan in the background? That's so the bears don't get it. We haven't put up a bear proof place where we can stash the cans yet. No problem during the winter, but about 2 weeks ago, a bear opened the can and found delectable things to eat. So until we build something we get to share space with the trash can. It's a motivator, I'm telling you.

Spin Cycle Fabric

I didn't even think to post the fabric the spin cycle blocks were cut from until Marilyn brought it to my attention--so, here is the fabric I cut the blocks from.

I was going to use a black background, and an orange stripe, but it looked too much like Halloween. So I bought this light green fabric instead. When I got it home I thought it might look good as the background, but I just like the black better. So it will be black with the green fabric as a stripe down the center of the sashing. If you are interested in making this quilt, here is a link to the free PDF file from the Bethany Reynolds website. I really like the way the slices are cut. Because of the method used, there is always an edge of the fabric that is being sewn with the straight grain of fabric.

This is what the pattern looks like completed.

Quilt for an Hour update and Graduation Project

I cut all the bits and pieces for the quilt for an hour--took a VERY long time. I thought the angle was 45 degrees--not so. I cut some pieces then did a trial square with the star points, it didn't come out even close to right--so back to the drawing board. I finally figured out that it has the same star points as the "54 40 or fight" block and found a site online that had templates--that lead me to the correct angles--I had a lazy angle ruler that had the right ones and so all the pieces are cut. I cut the paper template that I found and taped it to the lazy angle ruler and that worked for me.

I have started the next project. My niece is graduating from college at the end of the month. I've had the fabric for about 3-4 years and decided the time is now. It's going to be a stack n whack--Spin Cycle. The pattern was in the Fons and Porter Love of Quilting May-June 2006. I think it's going to be fun.

The colors aren't exactly right--The orange in the blocks below matches the orange behind the ruler in the pic above. I am going to have the orange for sashing--I haven't decided if I'm going to have black or white as the corner triangles and around each block. I think I'll have to try and see.

New Fabric for Quilt for One Hour

The colors in this photo aren't quite true. I played a bit with the settings to get them closer, but they'll do for now.

Well I started cutting the strips for the quilt for one hour, and I noticed that the light background fabric was pretty loosely woven, especially compared to the rest of the fabrics which are batiks. I was going to go buy something to replace it, and decided in the spirit of using my stash to look one more time.

I LOVE this pinky peach fabric. I found it on the local Ben Franklins flat fold table--it cost$4.99/yard and I had to have it. I think it bought it sometime last summer, but I'm not sure. I think it will make a very interesting light for this quilt. I know I have a couple of star point fabrics that look like they might just fade into the blue, I'll have to look again and see (now that I have a peach and pink) if I have something to replace them.

This is getting funner by the minute!

Thanks Judy!

My New Toy!

Lookee what I got! It's a Minnesota New Model A, sold by Sears and Roebuck about 1920. I have all the attachments, and the instruction book. It sews beautifully. I'm not sure why I wanted a treadle, but here it is--yippee. Now I just have to figure out a source for sewing machine needles. They look a bit shorter than the ones I currently use on my Bernina.

Disappearing 9 Patch

Setting A, or setting B--I think A because it's more regular and other folks will be able to deal with it better. I also haven't figured out a border yet, but I think it needs one--maybe in a shocking color--lime green with a fuschia binding?

I also started another disappearing 9 patch--this one is a little livelier, and I think I'll use setting B for it. I think it needs a border and binding of another color as well--maybe fuschia again?

These are baby quilts--fun and easy!

Changes....

YESTERDAY

THIS MORNING---yes that white stuff on the ground is snow.

It's snowing (well kind of snowing right now--it's the styrofoam ball snow) and melting as soon as it hits the ground, anything not already covered with snow. It's May 10th and 9:00 on a Saturday morning and 38 degrees. Ah, the wonders of Spring in the Colorado mountains.

On another note, I finished the flower box quilt. I decided to add some rick-rack to the binding just to see what it would look like. It's fun, but I don't know if it's worth the effort. I like adding the "label" using machine embroidery--free motion for me. I have the baby's name, so put that down, then my name and the year.

Next I think I'll figure out 4 or is it 5 more quick baby quilts. They're all for people at work--and all boys--hmmm, I remember reading somewhere that during times of war, often more boy babies are born than girls, I wonder if that is working here.

Quilt for an Hour fabrics

I've decided to join in Quilt for an Hour at Judy Laquidara's blog. These are the fabrics I've decided to use--all from my stash. I think it will be a calm quilt, maybe it will just be boring. I think it will be fun.

I've cut the 3 1/2" strips of fabric for the points, and have the background fabric waiting to do whatever it is going to do. I don't have a tri-recs ruler, but I'm going to be wild and use a kaleido-ruler I have that has a 45 degree pointed side with a line down the center so I can cut 22 1/2 degree star points. Probably not quite as easy, but I'm trying to be a little frugal here.