bricks and Blocks quilt along week 5

This week we are quilting our quilts. Because I have problems with my upper back in my shoulder area, I use a machine quilting frame, rather than quilt on a domestic machine. So I am going to show some samples and explain how the quilting is done. The first thing I would like you to do is stabilize your quilt. To do this stitch in the ditch along every other block. So start in the center and quilt on either side of that row of blocks all the way down. Then go onto the next one. Repeat all the way across. Then you can do the rows across. You really only need to do what you need to be able to keep the back from getting all puckery.

The first example of quilting that I think would look good in the "bricks" is called back and forth. With this one you start in one corner of the brick and go straight across, and then turn, and go across and repeat. Very easy and fun.

Another option you can do is called "wishbone" with this one you start in the top corner and angle slightly, then when you get almost to the opposite edge of your brick, make a loop, just a small one, and angle back to the other side. Repeat.

For both of these I like my free motion foot. When I can't decide what I want to do, I just do loop-de-loops. They are always fun or even just a meander or a stipple. Something like this is fun. I am doing little cloud shapes.

For the big squares you can do a heart in there, of course you have to start and stop a lot. You could also do an "x" in there. You could also do a large meander in there and a little bit of stitch in the ditch to get to another large square. I am only giving you ideas. This is your quilt and you need to quilt it the way you want it quilted. One of my daughters has chosen to handquilt hers. It is a queen size and there is no way she could do it with her machine. This is her quilt.

I currently have a quilt on my frame, but keep watching as in the next week, I will start quilting the crib one my daughter put together for me. 

throw back thursday

Today is thursday, and I decided it would be a great day for blogging. I was reflecting on some of the quilts I have made and today I want to share about this one.

This quilt was made back in 2010 for a great nephew. It is hard to believe it was that long ago. This was the 2nd quilt I quilted on my domestic (home) machine. I used my husqvarna viking lily 550. Very small throat to put a quilt in. I know there were mistakes in it, but the parents didn't seem to notice. One of the things I told them is that this quilt, as all of mine are, was made with love. It is a simple 4 patch pattern, and I did a meandering in the center and the borders have hearts all around. This was a fun quilt to do.

What I am working on Today?

Today is the 3rd and final day of my first weekend off in a month. We got bombarded at work. So, I have been spending time this weekend trying to get some things out of the way and get my sewing room cleaned up. I finally finished quilting this tardis quilt that I made for my son in law. The story about how it all came about and was quilted is coming soon. I may try to get this bound today so that I can gift it.

I am also trying to get this cute little quilt quilted. I pattern tested this for a designer and I can't wait to get it quilted.I will be posting later about this quilt as well. I love the colors I used for the balloons. Now, I just need to decide how to quilt it. It is almost loaded on my frame.

Today, I am linking up with Monday Making over at lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com Later today I have a family dutch oven dinner planned. Hope you all have a great day.

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bricks and Blocks quilt along week 4

This week, we will just be sandwiching our quilt. We have a long weekend, and I am sure we want to spend time with our families. I know I do, as I have been on major overtime with my day job.

First off we need to prepare our backing. If you are using 45" fabric, you will need to piece it. First, measure the length of the quilt and cut 2 pieces that are 8" longer than the quilt. Measure the width of the quilt and add 9 inches. We will use the extra inch for our seam. Cut the selvages off the backing fabric. The selvages are woven tighter and can make it hard to quilt through. Sew your two pieces together with a 1/2 inch seam, and press open. Not sure why I use a 1/2 inch seam, that is just how I was taught.

I am going to share 2 ways to sandwich your quilt.

The first way is the way I have always done it. First make sure your backing is well pressed. I like to starch mine a bit. Lay it on the floor with the right side against the floor. Smooth it out. If laying on a hard floor it may help to tape it. When I do mine on carpet I use the T-pins that are used for blocking doilies. Then use a spray adhesive made for quilts and spray your backing. Do this in a well ventilated area and hold the can away from your quilt. Make sure the backing is smooth. Then lay your batting on top and spray that. Make sure the batting is smooth. You can even let it dry a bit if you need to. Now, lay your quilt top on top of that and make sure it is smooth. I like to get the quilters safety pins, and pin a hand width apart. This just helps me to make it more secure. Work from the center out.

If you are doing a larger quilt and using the 45" wide fabric, you will follow the above, but when you cut your fabric pieces for the back you will make sure the widths are equal sizes.  Just because I prefer not to piece my backing, I use the 108" wide backing.  Yes, I may have extra, but it always gets put to good use.

The second way to sandwich your quilt is from my friend Christa at www.christaquilts.com. Her directions can be found here:  http://weallsew.com/super-simple-strips-quilt-along-part-3/. I have not tried this way yet, just because of the way my sewing room is, I currently don't have a wall big enough.  Also because I usually quilt on my machine quilting frames.

Next week we will start quilting our quilts.  I hope you have a great Memorial day weekend, and are able to spend some fun time with your family.

Bricks and Blocks quilt along week 3 - let's put it all togther

Hi friends,

Hope you are enjoying this quilt along. This week we are going to put it all together. Take your blocks and sort them into piles based on color. Because we have only 3 colors, putting it together won't be too hard. I usually alternate the colors. You will put them into rows. For the crib/lap size you will put them in a row of 5 and will have 6 rows going down.  For the twin you will have 7 blocks across and 9 down. For the queen you will have 9 across and 9 down.

When I do this part, I like to lay them all out, and then take a picture that I can refer to. I will also number my rows and blocks. So for row 1, I would put on a piece of paper row 1 block 1, row 1 block 2, row 1 block 3 and continue all the way across the first row, then do each succeeding row. Use a 1/4" seam  to put the rows together.

Quilt along week 2: let's sew

Hi friends,

Welcome to week 2 of our quilt along. Today we are going to sew and we are going to learn a technique called chain sewing. I like to use this whenever I can, because it goes faster.

Some general information first. Use a 1/4 inch seam.  I usually use a 1/4 inch piecing foot for my machine. However, one of my machines doesn't have this foot, so I do a test sample and make sure I know where a 1/4 inch is, when I am using that machine.

Divide your squares into piles of 10 for the crib/lap quilt, 21 for the twin and 27 for the queen. Keep all your rectangles separated by size and color. Now, take the first pile of squares and half the first color of short rectangles and start stitching. Because we are doing chain piecing we won't be back stitching so shorten your stitch length just a bit. Sew your first half of your first color of short rectangles to the right side of your first pile of squares.

 Take your second pile of squares and second color of rectangles and do the same. Then repeat with the third pile.   Take a break, get a drink and take a walk. Clip all of your squares apart and press am the seams. Press towards the center square or your darkest fabric.

You will now take the squares you just pressed and sort them so that you have all the same color rectangles with your squares. Take your long rectangles and sew to the top, just the same way you did the short rectangles. Chain piece all squares. After the top side is done, then turn and do the bottom side. Just make sure your rectangles on each square are the same color, because if you don't, you have to make friends with the seam ripper and that really is not fun.  Next week we will put it all together and sandwich the quilt. Yay!!!!!
Remember to share your progress by going to instagram and tagging me @kathyskwiltsandmore and using the hash tag #bricksandblocksquiltalong