Too small or just right?

I wanted to make a table runner for my #birthdayclubhandmade friend Tiffany.  I haven't ever made a table runner before.  And I didn't even try to think about how long it should be. 
I decided on a pineapple block because she loves Rita from Red Pepper Quilts.  And her fav fabric combos are b&w and rainbow. 

I had no idea how long this little paper pieced block would actually take me!  With my limited sewing time, her birthday quickly came and went without a finished table runner.  

Then I had these four cool pineapple blocks and realized that would not be enough. 

So I made some others.  Its pretty cool how by changing the order of the fabric colors the block looks entirely different. 

I do love the way it turned out, but I would like to make a pineapple something - not a big something - someday that really has that pineapple block look.

The table runner is 14x28.  That is fairly small.  But I told myself that she might have a small table AND you don't want food to actually go on it, right?  :)

Backing - Jay McCarroll Center City Los Angeles  and Binding is Kona Cotton in Slate

 

 

 

 

These kids thought it should become a toy - lol.

So have you made a table runner before?  What is your go to measurement?  How how to you decide how long to make it?

 - Katelyn

Practice Block: Caesar's Crown

I did a practice block for my swoon - Sorry I haven't posted anything about the non-practice, it is a gift and I haven't gifted it yet...I am not so patiently waiting.

But in the meantime, I made another practice block.  This time a paper pieced block by Sew What, Sherlock? called Caeser's Crown.

 I wanted to practice it, because  (1) it was paper piecing, (2) I needed to know how much fabric it would take, and (3) I have it in mind for something special. 
So I called my mom up and had her pick out some fabrics from my stash.  I knew that I would print the pattern a wee bit smaller to have a smaller block (they regularly finish at 24 in), so I planned on turning it into a pillow for my mom (hence her picking the fabrics). 
She chose oranges - Two from Happy Go Lucky and one Timeless Treasures print.

Then I set to work making the block...

Cute, right?  But once I made it, I wasn't sure that I wanted to use it (the pattern, not this specific block) for my original purpose anymore.
Then I quilted it and everything changed.

I am in LOVE.  I am super proud.  Apparently quilting small is easier for me.  I wondered...quilting my sister's quilt was easier, more fun, and turned out better than anything else I had ever tried. 

Now I feel a need to make and quilt more small things.  I think my mom's new office may need a mini...


And perhaps a few pillows.

- Katelyn

Quilting Bee

Some of you might not know what a quilting bee is...I certainly didn't before I participated in one.

The definition is "where people gather together to make a quilt."
Well, I recently participated in a Virtual Quilting Bee hosted by Amy Smart over at Diary of a Quilter.  So instead of gathering together to learn to make new and different blocks, I just logged onto her blog every two weeks and made a new one from there.  I used a fat quarter set that I already owned for the project, Oh, Deer!  by Moda.


You can still get the fat quarters at a few places, one that I know of is Lily Bella Fabrics.

The Bee just finished the 16th, and final block.  It has been so much fun to participate!!!  Now in a few weeks Amy is gonna come back and tell use how to put the blocks together to make a quilt.  Though I have some idea how it will look because of a previous quilt she made from a different quilt-along.
Here are my blocks:

 Busy, right??  I don't feel like this is what I am drawn to usually, but I kinda love them.  And I think that once I put a solid sashing between the blocks they will calm down a tiny bit.  All of the blocks (unfinished) are 8.5 inches and the quilt will be about 70x70. 

There are three blocks where I used a cream solid (towards the beginning of the bee), but I think I will still use the cream for a sashing - those three may just pop out more.  Then I'm thinking a red and blue for my squares and borders (if we really put it together just like the one Amy made).  Thoughts???


I decided to go back to the same color scheme for my last block that I used in my first block...tie it all in for me:

Block 1

Block 16

 And I had so much fun learning new techniques, like paper piecing (which I talked about in this post):

Block 15 - Paper Piecing

And fussy cutting:

Block 12

Block 6

I just can't believe that its almost over.  It has been so much fun!!

 - Katelyn

What is a Mug Rug?

I keep seeing all of these fabulous quilters on Instagram talking about mug rugs...
Turns out a mug rug is like an oversized, quilted coaster.  I have been wanting to make one since...well since I heard of them.  But I hadn't done it.  Till now.  I was tasked to make something with a paper piecing pattern .  Now I had never done that before either, so I needed to practice before pulling out my pricy Oh Deer by moda fabric.

Good thing I did.  I messed up in at least one place and didn't match my seams in a couple others.  but after I cut it down...not so bad.
 

I just pulled from my scraps stash.  I kinda hate the binding, but I couldn't figure out anything else from my stash to use.  The quilting is an echo of the star that extends into the middle.

The back is a vintage sheet I got from a friend. 

The paper piece pattern came from the Virtual Quilting Bee (link on my sidebar) and was created by Lynne Goldsworthy of Lily's Quilts (click to get the pattern).

 I am gonna love using this!

And when I made the block with my moda fabric it turned out fabulously (picture to come)! Practice makes perfect.