Blogger's Quilt Festival - Modern Entry

This is my second entry for the Blogger's Quilt Festival, to see my first entry please click here.

My second entry for the blogger's quilt festival is for the modern quilts category.

I wanted to enter my Space Invader's quilt.

I loved making this quilt so much.  It took me quite a while, but every time I completed an invader I did a little dance....and named them.  :)
It was amazing, to me, to see it all come together.

For the front (the invaders) I used 2 inch finished squares. 

For the back (my favorite part) I used 1.5 inch finished squares.

The quilt finishes at 58x64.  I machine pieced the quilt, and machine quilted it (on my home machine) with an all over boxy pattern. 

I gave it to my nephew for Christmas and he will not (according to my sister) sleep without it. 

I have Elizabeth Hartman to thank for the inspiration.  She made a space invaders quilt on her blog Oh, Fransson!  way back in 2012.

Thanks for stopping by!

- Katelyn

Game Over

I lost my mind when I decided to make this quilt. Tiny squares and miniature half square triangles filled my brain and invaded my dreams for a while there. 

I posted a bit ago (read= months ago) about starting a space invaders quilt for my nephew (link to that post here).  I have worked on several things in between then and now.  But still it seemed like it was taking me forever to finish this quilt.  I finished sewing the binding on the day after Christmas (I wasn't giving it away until the 29th of December so I was ahead of the game...I guess).

I put a quilt label on ...Did a really sloppy job of it too.  I wanted to give a hand quilted look to the edges...with purple thread (Because I am the horrible Aunt who forgot that my nephew's favorite color is purple and didn't put any on his quilt).  I will do better next time is all I can say.  I couldn't figure out how to end the stitch after I had gone all the way around with it...any suggestions?

This quilt was quilted with an all-over free motion stitch.  I tried to make the quilting be squared and boxy.

Up close of the quilting - after wash

Honestly...I'm in love.  I am going to need to have visitation rights or something.  I look at this and can't believe that I made it.  It seems way too cool to have come from me.
That being said, the practically stolen inspiration came from the amazingly talented Elizabeth Hartman and her blog Oh, Fransson!  Way back in 2012 she made a space invaders quilt for her nephew and I have wanted to copy it ever since.   I did draw out my quilt myself...and it is slightly different.  Mine finishes somewhere around 58x64.  The squares used to construct the front finish at 2inches.
But I think that the back may be even better than the front.  At least it seemed to take longer...and might be my favorite.

It was constructed using 1.5 in finished squares and a 6in finished border around the "explosion."

I wish that I had thought to take more close up pictures of the space invaders and the different prints mixed in with the solids...I might have to do a separate post on that next time I get to visit my nephew.  He would have fun helping me take the photos. 

In all the anxiety and frustration with little pieces...I enjoyed making every bit of this quilt.  It may be the neatest thing I will ever make.  Thanks to Elizabeth Hartman for her never ending genius and inspiration! And I am excited to say that my nephew seems to love it. 

*This was my 4th quilt finish of 2013*

I'm off to study now...boo.

XXOXO -

  Katelyn

WIP

*warning: this post is picture filled ;)

I have no finishes...just tons of WIPs (Works in Progress).  When I first stared quilting (oh, 2ish years ago), I was a "work on one thing at a time" kinda girl.  But now...not so much.  There are just so many things that I want to try, I may be developing "crafter's ADD."  Most of my WIPs I would love to have completed by the winter months (i.e. Christmas - several are supposed to be gifts).

 

Not a gift, but it would be nice if I got around to quilting it.

 

We've got some new kids around here who need stockings.

 

Christmas ZigZag quilt

 

Space Invaders for the nephew...haven't even started on the back.  EEK!

 

Virtual Quilting Bee Blocks

1600 quilt

 

Learning the art of Cathedral Windows

 

Trying my hand at English Paper Piecing

 

Fabric Polaroid Swap

So many projects...so little time.  School work calls to me - but hopefully I will have a finish to share soon!

Toodles!
     Katelyn

The Invasion has begun...

I have grand plans.  Those plans include making almost everyone in my immediate family a quilt.  I know it sounds nuts.  It is nuts (if you know me).  Yet, those are my plans.  I have made quilts for three people so far my momma, my niece Leah, and my nephew Isaac.  Still to go - Dad, grandparents (x2), Sister, Sister-in-Law, and Two more nephews and two more nieces.  Plus my best friend might be getting one too.   Whew.  That sounds like a bunch to me.  Well...Its Asher's turn to get my quilting attention. He is my oldest nephew and I have been planning his quilt practically since I started quilting.  He doesn't know about it and it better stay that way.  He is seven so I don't see him getting a hold of this post.
 

I remember playing space invaders on the Atari, in my sister's room, when I was little.  When I saw Elizabeth Hartman post about the Space Invaders Quilt she was making her nephew, on her blog Oh, Fransson! I knew that this was the one.  I bet my nephew has never heard of Space Invaders, but his mother taught me how to play - so it works for me. 

I basically decided to copy Elizabeth's colors - cause I love them. 
However, she did not make a pattern, so I was on my own.  Space Invaders are easy because they are pixelated.  So I researched and drew out my own pattern.

This was so much fun to draw out and color.  lol

Then I purchased and cut my fabric.  I have been sewing ever since. 

I have three, out of five, invaders completed.  I have decided to name them.  I was going to go with Tom, Dick, and Harry (being a fan of Kiss Me Kate) but may have changed my mind. 

Ignore the fact his ear is off...I'm thinking of leaving it - he is special.

I am in love.  I hope I have enough time in my life to finish this by Christmas.  But his birthday is in May - so I may (pun intended) change my due date. 

**I will never use black fabric again...it is such a drama queen

XOXOX
 Katelyn