Tuesday, January 31, 2012

stitching along


I am hand stitching my 4 hearts mini quilt and it is going well.   Except for a sore thumb....I am now wearing a thimble on my thumb and that is helping so much!





Do you wear a thimble?    I guess I will be wearing one for a while, anyway.....

I am planning to have this mini quilt finished by Friday : )
I am linking up to Fabric Tuesday and WIP Wednesday.

piece,
elizabeth

Sunday, January 29, 2012

little quilt monday~~~4 hearts mini quilt


Little Quilt Monday

I have a WIP that has been patiently waiting for my attention.  The heart appliqués are begging to be hand stitched before Valentine's Day : )  The four hearts are raw edge appliqué and the fabric is an older Moda line called Paris Flea Market.


I am going to use bright pink crochet thread for my hand stitching on this little beauty.  The big stitches are going to look great.   Although this is not the most modern looking little quilt in the world, I am linking up to Sew Modern Monday.   I think the big stitch quilting will make it a thoroughly modern mini....hehe.


I think this 4 hearts mini quilt is going to be a cute addition to my Valentine decor this year, and it always feels good to finish a WIP that has been hanging around for a while!



Now it is your turn to link up something to

Little Quilt Monday


1.  This link-up party is for any small project.  For example, mini quilts, doll quilts, baby quilts, place mats, mug rugs,
wall quilts, table runners, etc.
2.  They can be a WIP(work-in-progress) or finished.
3.  If it is something from the past there is no need to write a new blog post, just link the one that you have already written, and, please link back to my blog post.
4.   If you are interested, you can add your pictures to my flickr group here, or join my Facebook group here. 

Let's inspire each other!

piece,
elizabeth


Friday, January 27, 2012

friday finish

I finished my quilted bathmat this week that I first showed here.  It is a practical finish that will add a little charm to my bath.  It is a simple 4 X 6 five inch square mat, but the fabric is gorgeous.  I quilted in the ditch of each row and also along the edge.



It is funny how one little change can make a difference in a room : )


My other finish this week was my velveteen pinkeeper.  I posted my tutorial here, and although it was another simple project, it is proving to be very useful!


I am linking up to Finish It Up Friday and TGIFF.


piece,
elizabeth

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

velveteen pinkeeper tutorial


I have been wanting to buy some of Anna Maria Horner's velveteen and today I found some at my LQS.  I couldn't wait to make something and decided on a magnetic pinkeeper.   First I looked through my magnets and made sure that it would hold the pins through the fabric.  This one worked great.


Then I cut a 3 inch hexagon(one of my favorite shapes lately) out of the beautiful velveteen.


I cut some batting a little bit smaller than the velveteen and glued it to the wrong side of the back.  Then I  sewed around the hexagon, leaving one side open so I could turn it right side out.



After I turned it right side out, I placed some glue on the magnet and put it inside the hexagon before sewing the opening closed.



Now the fun begins : )  I picked two colors of crochet thread and big stitched around the hexagon.



 It is going to be a fun pinkeeper to use!  It will travel well and not take up much room because it is flat.
This was such an easy, quick project.  Simple and soft and satisfying : )



If you make one, I would love to hear about it....

piece,
elizabeth


Tuesday, January 24, 2012

wip wednesday~~~ quilted bathmat


My first WIP is another rose bud hexagon, but this beauty is destined to be a star : )  I am going to add a few more petals to this one to make the rose star block.  This hexagon is larger than the one I am using here, making it easier to piece the smaller sections of the rose star block.


I am also working on a quilted bathmat.  The fabric squares are from a Moda Etchings charm pack and the backing will be white terry cloth.




It appears that I will have to cut the terry cloth another day : )

piece,
elizabeth

pinwheel mini quilt process post


I took some pictures while I was making the mini pinwheel quilt, using the Lil' Twister tool.   I began with twenty-four  5 inch squares that I cut using my Go!Baby fabric cutter by Accuquilt.  I sewed them together, using a 1/4 inch seam allowance in a 4 X 6 pattern.


I added a 3 inch border.  When I add a border I measure from the middle instead of the edge.  In a small quilt it doesn't make too much difference, but the larger the quilt, the more likely that the edges will be a little bit larger.  By measuring in the middle, you can keep your quilt top square.  I pin the border at each end and then find the center, and pin again.  Then if you have to, you can ease the two pieces as you sew to make them flat.  I know this may sound weird, but it works : )





Next I cut my pinwheels using the Lil' Twister tool.




I started at the top left and cut them in rows.  It is important to keep the pieces in order.  I found it is easier to cut the squares if you put your cutting mat on a table that you can walk around as you cut.  Once you begin cutting you can't really pick up the fabric or move it around.  






I'm not sure what I will do with the scraps, but I kept them and I may use them with the back of my mini quilt.  Next, I turned each square to make a pinwheel and I am ready to sew each row together.




Now they are sewn together and ready for some hand stitching!




I am glad that I finally used this fun tool, it makes the pinwheels easy and uniform.
I am linking up to Tutorial Tuesday at a darling blog called Lawson and Lotti.  

piece,
elizabeth

Sunday, January 22, 2012

little quilt monday~~~pinwheel mini quilt


Little Quilt Monday

I have been wanting to try the Lil' Twister tool for making pinwheel blocks.  I bought mine at an Oregon quilt shop in December and have finally had a chance to use it.  I will show my process photos on my next blogpost.  Today I want to show you my finished mini pinwheel quilt top.


I used some bright, cheery Kaffe Fasset fabric from my stash.  


I plan to hand stitch with some turquoise crochet thread.



I haven't decided what pattern to use when I big stitch this mini quilt, so any suggestions would be appreciated, as always : )

Now it is your turn to link up to

Little Quilt Monday

1.  This link-up party is for any small project.  For example, mini quilts, doll quilts, baby quilts, place mats, mug rugs,
wall quilts, table runners, etc.
2.  They can be a WIP(work-in-progress) or finished.
3.  If it is something from the past there is no need to write a new blog post, just link the one that you have already written, and, please link back to my blog post.
4.   If you are interested, you can add your pictures to my flickr group here, or join my Facebook group here. 


Let's inspire each other!

piece,
elizabeth