Rainbow Scrap Quilt 2.0

Another 2012 Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt has reached completion!  

I was inspired by Cathy Tomm's Greek Square blocks and dug through my scraps each month to add more blocks to my challenge pile.

I planned from the beginning to give this quilt to one of my nieces.  I found out her favorite color was red, so it was a no-brainer choosing a red batik for the border.  I'm so accustomed to not pre-washing fabrics, it didn't even occur to me the red batik might not be colorfast.  I didn't think about it until it was too late to pre-wash, so I did a test on some scraps.  They didn't bleed, so I think it will be OK.  I do plan to do a quick washing with LOTS of Color Catchers!

My local long-arm quilter, Cindy Braiwick, did the quilting.  She used a wonderful fleur de lis based design that really looks great with the Greek Square blocks.

Here's another look at the quilting from the back.  She used gold thread to help pull all the crazy colors together.

I'm still experimenting with what type of label I like best.  For this quilt I did a simple, triangular label.

As always, many thanks to Angela of soscrappy for the inspiration and to all the other Rainbow Scrap quilters for their weekly words of encouragement!

Auditions

I'm so happy to finally have this top pieced!  The 16-patch blocks are from last year's Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I knew I wanted to use an hour-glass alternate block, so I cut some of them as the challenge went along.  But since the quilt had so many colors,  I couldn't assemble them until I had the blocks in the final layout.  It seemed to take forever to get everything sewn together.  

At this point, the top measures about 60" x 60".  I'd like it to be a little larger, so I'm auditioning border fabrics.

I found two great fabrics hiding in the stash.  They're both 1995 Alexander Henry Fabrics and I have plenty of yardage for borders.  Did I mention this quilt is for my sister-in-law, a former pre-school teacher and now child advocate?

I like the colors in this one, but since it's an obvious Easter fabric, I think it will stay in the stash a bit longer.

This is OK, but the border fabric doesn't have anything to do with the main quilt, so I think it looks a little awkward.

I also have some of this Project Linus fabric in the stash.  It might work as a narrow border.

This is working out better.  AND I have enough of the red fabric for borders.

A little investigating with my nieces and I found out their mom likes green and teal.  I found a neat piece of Stonehenge fabric in shades of teal.  I like it - I think it adds a calming influence to the quilt.  Unfortunately, it's only a half-yard piece, so I may be making a trip to the LQS tomorrow!

Rainbow Scrap Quilt 1.0

Last night I put the final stitches in the binding of one of my 2012 Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilts.

I used the blog-popular Granny Square quilt block and made multiple squares throughout the year, following the Rainbow Scrap Challenge monthly color inspiration.

The blocks were assembled with sashing and cornerstones.  I added a freeform pieced scrap border for additional interest and size.

My local longarm quilter Cindy Braiwick helped me out by quilting a flowery-feathery all-over design

Early on in the challenge, I decided this quilt would be gifted to my niece.  It was fun thinking of her every week as I constructed the various blocks.  I included this fussy-cut one to honor her profession of teaching.

I tend to be lackadaisical about labeling my quilts.  Not so with this one - although I've digitally removed the inscription 'cuz I'm funny about sharing personal info and mushy stuff.

Many thanks to Angela at Soscrappy for the year's worth of inspiration and to all the Rainbow Scrappers for their words of encouragement!  It was wonderful fun to share with everyone!

DIY: Design It Yourself

I've been working with another of last year's Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects.  Simple 16-patch blocks were my first-ever RSC blocks.  I dug into my bin of scrappy 2 inch  squares and strips and pieced a year's worth of rainbow blocks.  I knew from the beginning I wanted to set the 16-patch blocks with hourglass blocks, and in the early months of the challenge I also cut the hourglass triangles as I went along.  The triangles fell by the wayside as the year went on though, so I have some catching up to do.  

When I'm piecing a quilt by the seat of my pants I always wish I had a reference book with instructions on how to cut the blocks or block components I need.  I have a few books with great instructions for certain blocks or borders, but no one reference with everything in one handy place.  Wouldn't a Dorling-Kindersley type book on quilt block construction be great?!

The hourglass blocks were easy.  They're really just quarter-square triangles, and there are lots of methods for constructing those.  From my old standby Template-Free Quilt Making, I know quarter-square triangles can be made by adding 1 1/4 inches to to the size of the finished block.  Since my 16-patch blocks finish at 6 inches, I cut 7 1/4 inch squares and then cut the squares on each diagonal to make 4 triangles.  Match the appropriate color triangle to its adjacent 16-patch and the hourglass blocks are ready to go!

Since I had already cut batches of triangles, my method of choice for making flying geese blocks (for the end rows) was limited.  Fortunately, I had bookmarked a great flying geese tutorial on Marcia Hohn's wonderful website, Quilter's Cache.  

Geese are under construction.  I only need to make 10 more of these!  

That's OK, it gives me the opportunity to also make the 8-patch rectangle panels as a leader-ender project.

These are a no-brainer to construct, but I think we can all thank Bonnie Hunter for raising our awareness about leader-ender projects!

When it comes to Design It Yourself quilt projects - do you have any favorite reference books or websites?  I'd love to hear about them.  I'd love to compile a list and share it with everyone!

Slow Sunday Playtime

Today has unintentionally turned into a quilting play day.  I have two projects that are now clamoring for my attention, but they're still in the planning stages.

My husband's niece is expecting her first baby in March.  I had always intended to make a baby quilt, but yesterday I finally got info from her mom about nursery colors, decorating ideas, etc.  Her color choices and design element (owls) reminded me I had some Tula Pink Hushabye fabric stashed for future baby quilts.  I have more colors than pictured above - go here if you want to see all the different colorways.  So sad this fabric is no longer in stores!

I thought I might make a baby-size version of this quilt by Roslyn Mirrington of Bloom.

But Kim Brackett's Picnic quilt from Scrap Basket Sensations would look really cool in the Hushabye fabric, too!

Then I got an email from my LQS announcing Kate Spain would be visiting and promoting her latest fabric line.  And oh, by the way, she designed a free pattern.  Hmm, couldn't I substitute a pieced owl for the bee in her pattern?

At the same time all those ideas are bubbling around in my head, I'm trying to decide what layout to use for my next set of Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks from last year.  These Greek Square blocks were fun to make and they used up lots of scraps!

I played with various arrangements and snapped quick pictures with my iPad.  A straight-up grid might work, IF I could find the right fabric for sashing.  I tried white and some colorful prints on a white background, but it's just too blah.  Maybe some Kaffe Fassett Paperweight fabric?

Colorblock layout?  Narrow dark colored border followed by Kaffe Fassett Paperweight?

I think turning the blocks on the diagonal is much more visually appealing.  Not sure what fabric to use for the  end and corner triangles, though!

I think this is my favorite, although I need to tweak the color arrangement a little.  If only I could figure out what fabric to use for the corners and ends.  I tried a few black prints, but that's too overwhelming.  I guess that means a fabric shopping trip is in the future!

Have you stuck with me this long?  If so, please feel free to share your thoughts on your favorite baby quilt pattern and/or Greek Square layout.

As for me, I need to settle my brain!  I'm going to go claim my favorite chair and do some hand quilting.  This little quilt is is begging for completion before Valentine's Day.  I'll be joining up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, another source of inspiration!

It's Carnival Time!

Today is Epiphany, or as it's better known in New Orleans - Twelfth Night.  Twelfth Night marks the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas, reminding us of the visit of the Magi to the Infant Jesus.  Twelfth Night in New Orleans has additional meaning - it marks the beginning of Carnival Season!

Carnival Season is celebrated with all types of festivities, from neighborhood crawfish boils to formal balls and city-wide parades.  Carnival Season culminates with one big day of merriment on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) - the day before the season of fasting and penance known as Lent.

Two of my favorite Carnival traditions are related to Twelfth Night:  Phunny Phorty Phellows and King Cake.  The Phunny Phorty Phellows are a group of Carnival enthusiasts who celebrate Twelfth Night by masking (costuming) and riding the St. Charles streetcar to usher in the season.

King Cake is a cinnamon-y pastry decorated with colored sugar in the Carnival colors of purple, green and gold.  A small, plastic baby is traditionally baked into the King Cake and provides a surprise for whoever receives the slice.  The King Cake baby recipient is either designated the king or queen of a Carnival ball, or at the very least has to supply a king cake for the next gathering of friends!

So what does all this have to do with quilting?  Not much really - only that I had a King Cake-fueled afternoon of sewing and have a finished Rainbow Scrap Challenge project to show for it!

I finally finished assembling the Granny Squares I made during the 2012 Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I had to remake several of the grannies as they just didn't fit right.  Then I decided the blocks and sashing alone did not make an adequately-sized quilt.  I added additional borders and I'm happy as can be with the result.  The picture doesn't do it justice (it's rainy and dreary here, so no chance of natural lighting), so just to help you visualize I also snapped a pic of the border and sashing fabric - confetti!

It's off to my local longarm quilter for some overall swirly quilting.  This will be gifted to a family member I will be visiting in February, so I now I have a deadline for finishing!

A Little Progress

My "Sew Sixty" inspiration did not help me accomplish much sewing this week.  Too much time was taken up with work, family events and social activities.  I enjoyed the family events and social activities, so all was not lost! <g>

Some progress has been made on sashing the Granny Squares and here's a quick and sloppy iPad photo to prove it.  I am debating machine quilting this myself or sending it to my local longarm quilter.  I'm strictly a straight-line gal when it comes to machine quilting - utilitarian and fairly quick.  On the other hand, I do think this design would look good with a swirly type design, which would mean longarm quilting.  We'll see what the quilt tells me when it's finished.

I'm off to share this with the Rainbow Scrap quilters at Soscrappy's blog and then I think I need a bit of a nap to recover from my Geocaching adventures this morning!

Sew Sixty

Thanks to my Dear Husband and Dear Sons we watch a lot of American football at our house.  In self-defense, I became a football fan too.  To be honest, it's hard not to be at least a casual football fan in New Orleans, because it's almost a sin to not be a New Orleans Saints fan!

As a result of watching all this football, I've developed my new personal motivational strategy for quilting.  I call it Sew Sixty.  I stole the name from the National Football League's fitness campaign aimed at kids (and adults).  Called Play 60, the program aims to get kids playing for at least 60 minutes a day, promoting an active and healthy lifestyle.

My program is aimed at getting me to sew at least 60 minutes a day.  We all know how difficult it can be at times to get motivated to sew: we're tired, we're stressed, we're distracted, we feel guilty for taking time for ourselves.  You name the excuse - we've all been there!  But it's so simple to just go sit down and start sewing.  Whether sewing by hand or stitching at the machine, it just takes that simple step of getting started.  Before you know it, you've accomplished one step in a project and are ready for another.  And the satisfaction of making that effort and having something concrete to show for it makes it all worthwhile.

So now in the evening (sometimes even in the morning before work) I head for my sewing room mentally chanting my new mantra: "Sew Sixty!  Sew Sixty!"

I finished my multi-colored Granny Square blocks this week.  These round out my Rainbow Scrap Challenge Granny Square quilt.

All the squares waiting for sashing.

Sashing and cornerstones for the Granny Square quilt.

A few more leader-ender spools in black.  I love that reproduction fabric with the mauve flowers.  Wish I had more - those were the last scraps!

And some seasonal green and red leader-enders.

A few other projects also got attention this week, but I'll hold off on sharing until there's a little more pizzaz to show.  I'm looking forward to another week of challenging myself to Sew Sixty - won't you join me?!

Saturday Sew Far

I'd like to list all the things I've already accomplished on a Saturday morning, but most of the things checked off my "to do" list involve never-ending household chores.  At least those things are taken care of and I can look ahead to sewing!

Today's major sewing focus is assembling Rainbow Scrap Challenge Granny Squares into a quilt top.  

I plan to sash the blocks with this multi-colored dot print, and use different colored cornerstone blocks in the sashing.

In order to get the layout square, I need to make four more Granny Square blocks.  I've decided to use some multi-colored prints for these last few blocks.  

I've also been working on leader-ender spool blocks a la Bonnie Hunter.  Even though these are small, they're a very satisfying way to use up scraps!  I'll definitely be carrying this project over to next year's Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

So I think I might need a slice of Pecan Pie to invigorate me for all that sewing.  I've got plenty left over from Thanksgiving, so please have a virtual slice with me!  While we're enjoying our pie we can stop by Soscrappy's blog and see what all the other Rainbow Challengers have been creating this week.