Learning is Hexy

I taught a short lesson on English Paper Piecing to my local quilt guild recently.  I brought everyone some 1.5in Hexagon paper pieces (we are a super small guild - though trying to grow - so it wasn't a big deal to make 7 Hexagon paper pieces, each, for everyone). 

After I thread basted two for demonstration, I went home and basted the rest of my hexagons with my brand new Sewline Glue Pen.  

I liked using it.  It was certainly faster for me (though not by as much time as I thought it would be...there is always a chance I was doing it incorrectly - I just don't know what could have been done differently.  lol).  After I basted the hexis I tried to use the glue pen to baste my diamonds (posted previously here).  I hated it.  This just did not hold the way that I thought it would.  I guess the way that the fabric is folded is just so different that I had a rough time with it.  Back to thread for those.

Anyway, hexis...
I sewed them together and then hand appliqued down to a nice teal color fabric (first time!).

it's a bit blurry...but that just means you can't see my white thread so much.  lol

Next I had to hand quilt it.  This is a big "first-time" project for me, glad I put it on a small scale.  

Wee bit of my Instagram progress:

And now it is bound, washed, and in use!

I used many fabrics from my bed quilt and pillows... So it matches!

The back looks pretty bad...oops.

But I love how the front turned out!

Loving my hexi mug rug.  Do you have any eep tips for me?  Or perhaps some hand quilting advice for this newbie? ;)

- Katelyn

Quilt of Valor Top

Awhile back (I start a lot of my posts like that don't I?) I posted about making a Quilt of Valor.  Well we (the Memphis Area Modern Quilt Guild) didn't quite all get our blocks finished by April.  But that was fine because I was super busy.  lol.  So when I got all of the blocks I tried laying them all out to see what pattern/order they should go in.

When I got to this stage ^, I knew I had it.  So I started sewing.  Lots of family visits and other crazy obligations kept me from finishing the top, until this past Sunday.

I love how all of the blocks stand out and kinda blend in at the same time.

Our state's Quilt of Valor representative lives on the exact opposite side of the state...So we will be working with our local VA Medical Center to give this quilt to a local OIF, OEF, or OND veteran (Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, or Operation New Dawn).  After speaking with the VA's volunteer coordinator and finding out that they don't get many QoV (due to the fact that the representative is so far away - we have a long state) I really want to make another.  But we will see...There is so much going on.  

Like finishing this up, for starters.  I put the top together, Janet over at Simply Pieced is making the back and will be basting it too, Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation is going to be quilting and binding the quilt, and then our newest guild member, Carolyn, will be making the presentation bag for the quilt to go in.  I am SO EXCITED!

Here is an up close shot at some of my favorite blocks from the quilt.

Made by Jenny

Made by Susan

Made by Janet

Made by Lori

Made by Sarah

Made by Kelly

Made by me

Quilt of Valor is truly a great project.  What a way to say thanks.  Not all of the recipients will really know what it means or what went in to it, at least not at first.  But they will someday.  And then they will get that we said thank you and really meant it.  You should check the organization out.

- Katelyn

Pretty Pink Princess

Can you get more girly and princess-y than pink and gold?

I wasn't sure I was going to love so much glam, but I do!
 I added a 1in border so I wouldn't lose any of my points in binding.  So the quilt top became 50x50. 

I practiced a regular swoon block here, before doubling the block size and making this quilt.  I'm a tad ocd, but it was most likely not necessary.  The block is super easy, just a bunch of steps/pieces.

In fact, it really took no time at all to put this together.  The quilting, however, is another story.

I chose to FMQ in a Stipple pattern for this quilt.  I wanted something that would no detract, but that I could practice at the same time.  I picked a pretty light pink thread that matched the pink background.
It was going great...until I turned it over.

I was devistated.  The front looked amazing.  But the back - was a monster.  My bobbin tension was all kinds of OFF.  I had quilted 3/4 of the quilt and 1/4 of that - looked like this.

I cried.  I threw the quilt.  I went to sleep.  The next day I got to unpicking my mess.  It took me days.
Then I finally got to get back.  I checked my tension and set to work.
 Until this:

I don't know what happened.  Honest.  I did not sew through this pin.  Yet it still got stuck...in the bobbin thingy (I know - be astounded by the technical jargon). 
And it broke my machine.

Not sure if you can see - but the needle wouldn't go down because it was hitting the bobbin thingy.
There were more tears, some cursing, and complete boredom.
Don't you hate it when you CAN'T do something - then that one thing becomes the only thing you want to do.
Alas, my local repair shop fixed it first thing on Monday and I got to get back to it.

Of course, I am sure that you realize that by the time I got the machine working again, all I wanted was to finish this quilt.  To get it out of my sight and never see it again.  But, I still love it. 

She crinkled up so nicely in the end. 

And you can't see any mistakes on the back - so glad that light pink blended so well on both sides.  lol

Truly fit for a princess - Stubborn, pitiful, full of drama and high maintenance, and fabulously beautiful. 

 

Quilt Info:
 washed -  it's about 48.5x48.5
 Fabrics -
    Top ->    Michael Miller Glitz Metallic Quarter Dot Pearlized Blush
                  Michael Miller Mirror Ball Dot Sunshine
                  Kona Cotton Medium Pink
    Back ->   Michael Miller Glitz Metallic Confetti Single Border    
                  Pearlized Mist
    Binding -> Michael Miller Mirror Ball Dot Sunshine
Pattern - Swoon (by Thimble Blossoms)

I Only hope that the princess this quilt now belongs to doesn't give her mother as much trouble.  ;)

 - Katelyn

Happy Mail - Mini Swap Version

I posted earlier about the mini quilt I made for the Schnitzel and Boo Mini quilt swap here and here.

It was rough mailing it off.  But Look what I got in the mail:

A gorgeous mini and fabulous goodies!  Its blues...I love blues.  ;)

I love what my partner Katie made me!

Those are some cool fabrics and neat quilting.

And her quilt tag is so cute.

Check her out on IG and Flicker.

I have enjoyed this swap SO MUCH!  It has introduced me to so many new IG friends and tons of new blogs too.  @sewgoclimbing and I keep saying we have tons of new minis to make now.  lol.  They were all so much fun and so beautiful.

Thanks so much for Kristy at Schnitzel and Boo for putting it all together!
This has been such a wonderful and eye-opening experience.   I just can't wait to do it all again (I think I have said that 5 times.  opps.  But you know it's true.)

Have a lovely weekend!

 - Katelyn

And Then I Gave it Away...

*Picture Heavy Post

I finished the quilting and binding, sent it off, and waited... 
My partner was out of town.  But she got it yesterday!
I am so excited.  She told me that she loves it.  So that is...well...fantastic!

I went with baptist fans for quilting.  I don't think I will be doing that again.  Perhaps I just need practice, but it was crazy hard and time-consuming.  I do love the affect though. 
Then my gray binding pulls it together. 
I adore my finished mini-quilt.

I worked hard to pick all of my scraps - I wanted them perfect. 

reds

pinks

oranges

yellows

greens

aquas

navys/darker blues

purples

Then I had to go for a rainbow low volume in the center...cause how could I not, right?

I didn't have anything orange (and that is lime in the green).

Then I had to gather some goodies!

two fat quarters - Lotta Jansdotter and Anna Maria Horner

Then a tiny pin cushion, it is 4inches.  The pattern is by Kelly at Jeli Quilts.  I got it on Craftsy - You have to check her patterns out.

I made a small boxy pouch too.  SO much fun.  I need to make more.  I used the kelbysews tutorial. It was pretty easy, though I think that I will use a heavier interfacing next time. 

I added some nail polish too.  Cause I went slightly overboard.  But it was too much fun. 

of couse I made a card...

I enjoyed this process so much.  I LOVED making new friends and creating new things that I have never made before.  I can't wait for next year. 

See my original post here. 

The Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt Swap has been a blast.  I cannot wait to do it all again next year. 

 - Katelyn