Scrappy Spools

 For something completely different than yesterday's post, I give you Scrappy Spools. I finished this one a couple of weeks ago, but haven't had a chance to post until now. This was a fun quilt to make!

It started out in January with these piles of scraps. Aren't they pretty?

 

While prepping for a guild workshop that required (48) 4.5" squares, I could have pulled from my stash of charms, but I was feeling inspired to use those scraps. Hooray for string piecing!

 

Christine Bagley taught the class in April and helped us embrace the Y-seam.

 Piecing is my happy place!

The top was done in June, but quilting had to wait while higher priorities were completed.

I wanted to use a thicker, visible thread for quilting, so I pulled out my collection of YLI Machine Quilting thread. 

 

I started stitching each thread color on a spool of that color, and it loops and swirls around from there.

 

Each color ends up near the ruler border, in a twisted, tangled mess. Just like real life! I left the ends dangling, which really confused my friend who was hanging it at the quilt show last week. She thought I had forgotten to trim the threads when I finished quilting. Nope, that was a design choice! There's a peak at the multi-color ruler binding below.

The week before the show, I had piles of quilts all over my house. Different quilts were going to different shows, almost at the same time. Crazy town.

 

Here it is hanging at the Ninigret Quilters show. 

 

Scrappy Spools

51" X 62"

January - October 2015

Class with Christine Bagley

WIP Wednesday

 How has it been three weeks since the my last post? Summer fun has kept me away from the blog, but not my sewing machine. I was able to complete two quilt tops recently.

My Farmer's Engineer's Wife top is done! It's great to have friends working on the same pattern to push me along. (Hi, Sharon & Donna!) Sharon started quilting this week, so the pressure is on!

The spools top is done, too. I might quilt this one first since it's a lot smaller and I can just have fun with it.

I'm finishing up another Quilt of Valor this week. Tonight, I'm burying threads while I watch TV.  More quilting and binding tomorrow or Friday.

WIP Wednesday

 Oh, my goodness. I finished a boat load of stuff this past week. I blame the snow! 

This morning, I finished the binding on The Cool Side of the Rainbow.

Yesterday, I sewed the button on my Marine Mom tote.

 

Monday, I quilted and bound the Selvage Log Cabin.

 

I needed a break, so I crocheted this adorable blue elephant on Sunday night.

 On Saturday, I made myself a tray table ironing board.

I finished the Friendship Star on Thursday night. I've been enjoying hand stitching bindings at night while I watch TV.

 

I also finished a secret little project on Thursday. (Come back on Friday for the reveal.)

 

In progress: 

I made 48 string blocks to use as "thread" in an upcoming spools workshop.

I've made a few more Wild & Goosey blocks as leaders/enders. This one might become the primary piecing project soon.

I went to a workshop with Thomas Knauer last Wednesday which was awesome! I'm not ready to show that piece yet. It still needs some tweaking.

 I guess it's time to dig out some older WIPs. What will Tina finish next week?

Rainbow Finish

What better quilt to show you on another snowy day than a batik rainbow? This quilt was pieced in early January, so it hasn't languished in the WIP pile for very long.

I quilted it yesterday when I should have been cleaning out my bedroom closet. Let's call it procrastination productivity!

The rainbow cat print for the back and the solid orange binding came out of the charity fabric bin, so this quilt will be donated to a good cause.

When my husband looked at the quilting, he asked if the thread changes color, as if he has never seen variegated thread before. Where has he been for the last 20 years?

To create that wavy line with my machine, I use stitch #4 with the widest width and a length of about 4 (5 is the longest). It makes using a walking foot a little more fun.

One more view of the quilt because I can't get enough of these rich colors.

Batik Rainbow

Started 1/9/14

Completed 2/12/14

Fabric: Timeless Treasures Tonga Treats

Pattern inspiration here and here

48" X 60"