Mod Bento

 It was a long time coming, but the Mod Bento quilt is finally done. This quilt started as a block swap THREE years ago!

June 9, 2010: First blocks made for swap 

June 15, 2010: More blocks made

July 2010: Top assembled

March 2013: Quilt basted

July 7, 2013: Machine Quilted

July 8, 2013: Bound by machine

It took a while to decide how to quilt these blocks.  I ended up drawing a grid across the blocks and stitching orange peels. (Scroll down to the continuous curve diagram from Carla Barrett.)

The white sashing got a vine with a loop and the borders got my standard loopy swirl.

Julia and I could not agree on a fabric for the binding, so I went with white. It works. 

I LOVE the back! I would buy a whole bolt of that Amy Butler print if I could.

 

Mod Bento

56" X 78"

June 15, 2010 - July 8, 2013

Flickr Group

Block Tutorial by Film in the Fridge

Sew Every Day- 7 & 8

I've sewn something every day for an entire week! I think this is the first time I've stuck with a challenge this long. I really hope I can make it through the whole month.

Day 7- Machine quilted Mod Bento (about 7 hours working time)

Day 8- Bound Mod Bento (all by machine)

I need to run. Busy day ahead. I'll be back tomorrow with a full Mod Bento finish post.

Sew Every Day- 6

I pieced another top that I hope reads Modern. OK, maybe Vintage Modern. I was inspired by the Strip Tube Quilt at A Bright Corner. I really had every intention of laying out the blocks the way Andy did. Then I started to play and offered both layouts to my friends on Facebook and Instagram and they liked this layout better. The pattern goes together so quickly, I might try it again someday in the other layout.

I used a pile of DS Quilts fabrics from JoAnn's from 2011 with some Kona solids. I need to get a border on it soon to control the bias stretch along the edges.

Julia has stitched almost every day, too! She's almost finished with the top of her Old Italian quilt.

 

Today, I need to machine quilt a piece I need for tomorrow. Remember Mod Bento? I'm planning to set up a table in my bedroom, one of the only rooms with air-conditioning. How are you staying cool while you sew?

Sew Every Day- 5- Improv

Day 5 was Improvisation Day! It was finally time to try out the slice and insert technique from Jackie Gehring's Craftsy class, Improvisational Piecing, Modern Design.

 I used a palette that I am continually drawn to. Sorry, there are no process pics. I was too busy sweating my butt off. (Every time I hear them mention a heat wave on the news, I get the song stuck in my head for days! Marilyn Monroe's Tropical Heatwave. Not Martha Reeves and the Vandella's Love is Like a Heatwave. You're welcome.)

 

I was really excited to do some matchstick quilting. The parallel lines are about 1/4" apart, and I used yummy white Aurifil thread. The binding is pieced from leftover bits of orange, pink and white. I didn't have much of that particular white solid left, or I would have added a border around the four blocks before binding.

Improv

21.5" square

7/5/13

Sew Every Day- 3 & 4

 Happy 4th of July!

In honor of the holiday, Julia stitched up some red, white and blue blocks. She will complete the last of her Old Italian blocks today and start arranging them soon. She's hoping to have the top done this weekend.

 I'm stitching away with Pat Sloan's Sew Every Day in July challenge.
Day 3 progress: finished the blocks for Chevron & On.

Day 4: Completed the top.

How do the Craigs celebrate the 4th? Julia and I are sewing while we watch the Bristol parade on TV. Bill is washing his car. And Pete is doing a Crossfit workout (including 60 burpee pullups) in memory of a recon Marine who died in 2006. Don't worry, there will be burgers and fireworks later!

Sew Every Day- 2

July 2: Stitched 96 HST, then joined them to plain squares. 48 half-blocks done.

I'm sewing something every day of July with Pat Sloan.

Sew Every Day

 I am accepting Pat Sloan's challenge to sew something every day in July.  I think I can do it. Julia and I have our machines set up on the dining room table, and we're ready to go!

Day 1: Stitched 63 camp ties for Girl Scout camp. 

Also, made test blocks for Chevron & On from the March/April 2013 issue of Quilty.

Will you accept the challenge?