A Rainbow Nine Patch Flimsy

I'm excited to have a finished Rainbow Scrap Challenge flimsy to add to the stack!  I had a few distractions, so it took a couple of weeks to get all the nine patch variation blocks sewn together. 

 

I assembled the blocks in sections instead of rows, but there were still some long seams to pin and sew before the entire top was assembled.

 

The flimsy measures out at 60" x 72".  I'm don't think borders will add anything, so I'm stopping there.  I'm contemplating some bright polka dots or a stripe cut on the diagonal for the binding.

 

Now that our weather has finally cooled off, I can no longer procrastinate on binding some quilts.  I've got 4 quilts that need the binding completed in the next 4 weeks - if I stay focused, I can get 'er done!

 

Somewhere in Blogland, I read about wrapping bias binding around a cardboard tube to help prevent tangles while stitching.  Since I usually struggle with a wad of binding and throw it over my shoulder as I sew, this idea sounded promising.  I pronounce it very useful - just unwind the binding as you stitch.  Of course, it also helps to have a sewing machine with a built-in walking foot - my favorite feature on my trusty Pfaff!

I can't wait to see what finished project the other Rainbow Scrap Challenge stitchers have to share today!

 

 

 

Quilty 365 Loves Halloween

 

October's Quilty 365 circles had a lot of Halloween influence!  Here they are, laid out to mimic October's calendar page.  I started making circles for Audrey's project last November, and as of October 31, I've completed 362 circles.  I thought I might sneak my last few circles into October's post, but decided to wait and officially finish in November.  Maybe I'll even have time to do some block layout before it's time to post November's results!

As always, I tried to have my daily circle reflect something that was going on in my life - even if it was only a weather update.  Since my memory ain't what it used to be, I've been writing snippets about each day in a journal, as well.

 

The weather this October has been unseasonably warm.  There have even been some record-setting temperatures during the past 4 weeks.  I'm ready for boots and sweaters, not more sandals and t-shirts!

 

There were lots of events to commemorate this month, too.  Birthdays, vacations, homecoming football games, Important Baseball Games and even a quilting trunk show and workshop.  Sadly, the entire state of Louisiana mourned the loss of the beloved LSU football mascot, Mike (VI) the Tiger.

 

And where would October be without Halloween?  It has always been my favorite holiday!  I love collecting Halloween-themed fabrics - maybe one of these days I'll actually make a Halloween quilt with them. 

I'm linking up with Audrey's Quilty 365 post for October.  I haven't checked it out myself yet, so I'm looking forward to seeing lots of fun circles!

 

 

 

Scrappy Nine Patches Never Fail

Thanks to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, I've been creating scrappy 9 patch blocks every month for the past two years.  I'm pleased to have completed a rainbow collection of blocks, but now it's time to assemble them into a completed top.

 

I needed 8 blocks with yellow centers to round out my collection of blocks.  These went quickly, as I pulled the centers from my box of 2 1/2" strips and squares.  I've run through all my white on white fabric scraps, too.  I've been cutting yardage for the last few sets of blocks.

 

All the completed yellow 9 patch variation blocks.

 

The design wall was empty once again, so I quickly worked out an arrangement and pinned up all the 9 patches.  I color-blocked them in sets of four, which works out to a 10 x 12 block arrangement.  That should make a decent sized quilt, 60 x 72.  I'll decide later if it needs borders.  I started stitching the blocks together last night - working in blocks of color instead of sewing long rows.  

I still have another unfinished RSC project - the Sugar Bowl blocks I started a year or so ago.  I kind of came to a standstill on that one because I wasn't happy with how the different fabric styles were working out.  Maybe that will be an RSC project for next year.   

More Rainbow Scrap Challenge inspiration at this week's linky party!

 

 

More Sawtooth Stars

 

The design wall was empty this week, so I pinned up all the 4" Sawtooth Star blocks I've been making for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Ninety-six blocks made it into this design, and I still have some left over!

As I mentioned last week, I want to do an appliqued block in the center, hence the large blank space.  I think I've decided on an applique design, but before I start that, I have several quilts that need their bindings hand-stitched.  If our weather would just cool off, I wouldn't mind having a quilt on my lap while I stitched on it!

More rainbow inspiration can be found at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge link-up.

Sawtooth Stars ISO Applique

I've been making 4-inch Sawtooth Star blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for over a year.  It's quite a nice collection now - lots of colors and fabric bits. 

 

I rounded out the collection with a few more yellow blocks for this month's RSC contribution.

When combined with blocks from last year's RSC, they make a happy group!

 

Since the other RSC color for October is orange, I grabbed the orange stars and laid them out medallion-style with some yellow stars in the center.  My plan for all these stars is a medallion setting - with an applique piece in the center.  I keep looking for the perfect applique inspiration, but just when I think I've found The Very Thing, I see something else that would make a great center!  Now that I have all the stars finished, I think I'll just have to make a decision and start appliqueing.  Whatever the design, it will be bright and colorful!

For more orange and yellow scrappy inspiration, there's a Rainbow Scrap Challenge link-up at Angela's blog.

Quilty 365 Loves Autumn

Another month of Quilty 365 fun has come to an end.  I'm up to 331 blocks now!  I started my circular journal on November 4th last year, so the year-long journey is almost done.

I keep tweaking the exposure on this picture to get a better representation of the colors and fabrics, but it's just not helping.  I will admit I had Autumn on my mind as I chose many of my fabrics, so browns and reds and golds figure prominently.  As always, I tried to choose my fabrics to represent things that were going on in my life, but sometimes I just picked a fabric because I liked it!

The color red figured prominently in this month's circles.  It was the main color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this month, as well as the color for an online swap I'm participating in.  

 

September weather in south Louisiana tends to be a lot like summer weather - hot and humid.  On the days I was wishing for cooler fall temperatures, I looked for some autumn-inspired florals.

 

These circles marked some events - a birthday, a shopping excursion, getting caught in a downpour without my umbrella, a relaxing weekend at the camp.  

 

And of course, American football season really gets going during September.  Many of you know I'm a die-hard New Orleans Saints fan and their colors are black and gold.  My youngest son happens to work for a rival football team.  I don't have any of that team's licensed fabric, so I used an appropriate toile fabric to mark his team's season.  

I'm excited to start making October's circles; you can bet I'll be using lots of orange and Halloween fabrics!

Last but not least, I'm linking up with the other Quilty 365 stitchers at Audrey's Quilty Folk blog.

 

 

A Little Red & White Stitching

My recent blogging output pretty much reflects my recent quilting output.  I've been keeping up with my Quilty 365 circles and working on some red and white Broken Dishes blocks for Barb Vedder's current swap, but that's about it.  I haven't lost my quilting mojo - lots of ideas are percolating around in my head - but I've been short on stitching time.  I'm looking forward to next weekend when Dear Husband has to work and I can have a mini quilt retreat at home!

 

I made these Sawtooth Star blocks a few weeks ago for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  

 

They will join other red and white Sawtooth Stars I made for last year's RSC.  

My ultimate goal is to make a medallion-style quilt with these blocks.

 

I would like to report we've been having lovely cool weather here on the Gu'f Coast, but alas, Autumn is only teasing us.  We've been spending weekends at the camp, though, so I dug out my hand-crank Singer Model 99 to stitch some HSTs for a block swap.  I'm using Star Singles Triangle Papers to make my blocks - this type of sewing is perfect for using a hand-crank sewing machine.  

 

I'm using this wonderful empty candy tin to store all the parts and pieces for my swap blocks.   I thought it was The Very Thing for red and white blocks.

 

 

 

Nine Patch Finish in Sight

I believe I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with these 9 patch blocks!  This has been an ongoing Rainbow Scrap Challenge project.  I only need to complete the blocks for one more color - yellow - and I'll have all the rainbow colors represented.  

 

I finished the white/red center blocks last night.  I already had all the components cut, so it was a quick job to assemble the blocks.  

When I finish the yellow 9 patches, I'll have 128 blocks.  I'm thinking I may make a few more so I can do a 12 block x 12 block arrangement.  I already have lots of parts and pieces cut, so it shouldn't take much time to add the additional blocks.  Maybe I'll have another flimsy completed before the end of the year? 

There's more red Rainbow Scrap inspiration to be seen at Angela's Soscrappy blog.

Red, White & Blue Scraps Revisited

Back in June, I blogged about some red, white and blue scraps that were struggling to become Scrap Jar Star blocks.  My plan at the time was to find some additional fabrics that "read" as solids, in an attempt to calm down the busy-ness of the red, white and blue prints.

After hours of play and experimentation, I ripped apart all the SJS blocks and changed direction.

 

This medallion of 16 patches and pinwheels was the result.  

 

I still had a huge batch of red, white & blue HSTs, so I was inspired to do yet another zig-zag border.

 

Before adding the zig-zag border, I wanted to enlarge the quilt a bit and make the math for the zig-zags work out evenly.  I auditioned this red fabric with white stars, but it reminded me too much of Minnie Mouse's polka dots. 

 

This isn't a great representation, but the fabric is red with small dotted stars - it works much better as the inner border.  

 I still have to stitch all the HSTs together for the zig-zag border.  Although today is a holiday in the U.S., I won't get to enjoy it by stitching.  It's time to return my grand-dog to my son, so I'll be driving half the length of Louisiana to meet him.  

David & Jozy

It's been great having Jozy Labrador (named after a U.S. soccer player) visit with us this summer, but it will be nice to be back to our usual menagerie of just two dogs and one cat!

 

 

 

Quilty 365 Does NOT Love Rain

 

Quilty 365 circle stitching continues.  As of August 31st, I'm up to 301 blocks.  The end is in sight!

My fabric journaling this month focused primarily on bad weather.  There was the day I drove through a tremendous thunderstorm and skirted a tornado on my way home from work.  And then there was a week of almost constant rain - so much rain it seemed half of the state of Louisiana was going to wash away!*

 

On a lighter note, I added some pet-centric circles.  I felt my cat, Moxie, was getting short shrift in this quilt, as the dogs seem to get all the mention.  I made a cat circle just for her.  And in observance of National Dog Day, I used some dachshund fabric in honor of my mom's rescue doxie, Oscar.

 

I used a bit of vintage handkerchief for another circle.  I stabilized the lightweight hankie fabric by using some fusible interfacing.

 

One of this month's favorite circles: some blue & white teacups.  This marked a day I spent re-organizing my display of blue & white china and cobalt blue glass.

 

New Orleans had two somber events to remember this month.  Early in August, clarinetist Pete Fountain died.  Pete was often called "Mr. New Orleans", so I used some of this antique New Orleans map fabric to remember him.  The end of August always marks the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the flooding that followed.  The dotted circles on navy fabric reminded me of the symbol for hurricanes, so that became my Katrina anniversary block.

There are still some resilient Quilty 365 circle quilters sharing their work at Audrey's Quilty Folk blog.  I'm linking up with them as we stitch through the home stretch!

*Louisiana has a history of floods and resiliency.  This song by Randy Newman is one of my favorites - I think almost every Louisianian knows this song by heart!