Traditional and Modern Mix for Post #200!

So this is my 200th post!  Yay!..Hooray!...Thank you! 

I tried to think of something really creative to mark this (albeit small) milestone, but much like the weather today, I just seem to be feeling dull and dismal.  So let me just share with you, like I usually do, what a pleasure it has been to meet all of you and share my quilting journey with you.  You are all  AWESOME!

Now let's look what's been going on in the quilt studio. There seems to be a mix of traditional and modern projects occurring at the same time.  So appropriate for my 200th blog because this is the way I roll! LOL

First up - I got the Oak Leaf & Reel blocks pieced together with the sawtooth borders.  Looks nice, no?  I am a little concerned about those borders not laying completely flat... but I will worry about that another day. :-).

So I thought I was done.  Add a nice red and white border fabric that I had chosen, and I was done.  But of course, as happens, the quilt had other ideas.

I started listening to this quilt - your quilts talk to you, right? and it was telling me it needed appliqued borders.  So .... of course I had to listen.

I decided on a vine that included a smaller oak leaf and some larger leaves that were in the blocks.  Not quite sure what I am going to do in those corners... again, another day.  I am open to any suggestions.  I used my Golden Threads paper to make a pattern for the shape of the vine. I am thinking of adding the year and my initials.. but need to think about that.

Next up is the string quilt star blocks.  I have been experimenting with all the suggestions you all were so generously shared. I tried each one with varying degrees of success. 

 I finally decided on the lightweight interfacing.  It is very stable, no odor or residue, it can be cut to any size (my blocks are 6" finished), and it is inexpensive.  It also adds very little weight to the quilt.  It is a winner!

My blocks are now very flat with no stretch on those bias edges.  Yay!

I am not sure how many of these star blocks I am going to make - but they sure are fun!

Check out Bonnie Hunter's blog today on sting quilts for a look at what inspired me to try string piecing. .

Meanwhile, Lucy has been staying cozy under one of her favorite quilts.

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Paper, Plastic, or Fabric?

First, thank you to all of you that left comments on my last post regarding working with string blocks and bias edges.  I got a lot of wonderful suggestions and lots of positive feedback. So, Thank You to all of you!!

First block done.

I have been experimenting with the suggested ways to decrease the stretch caused by the bias edges around each block.  Lots to consider. 

First option tried, as you know, was the telephone book paper.  Pros: I like this option because it is readily available and FREE.  Nice bonus.  Thanks to your suggestions of leaving the paper in until I sew the blocks together. 

Cons: Having to deal with this.  I removed the paper in the seam allowances so I could press my seams open.  This does not inspire the creative process......

Here is the center section ironed.  I like the flatness here.... and the colors, of course!

Second option tried was muslin.  Pros: natural cotton option that does not need to be removed after sewing and is very stabilizing.  BIG pluses.

Cons: It does add quite a bit of weight.  Actually doubling the weight of the quilt with that added layer.  Also, as you can see in the picture above it makes the seams bulkier.  Not sure why this is, but you can see the ripples here. 

Third option was dryer sheets.  I am not a big fan of dryer sheets in my laundry so I picked up a box without any fragrance. 

Pros: Very lightweight.  Pretty good stabilization of that bias edge and does not add any substantial weight to the finished block. Cons: The sheets are 6.4" x 9" and my blocks are 6 1/2" square.  So after using the dryer sheet it is slightly smaller, making my foundation smaller than my finished block, but not by a lot. Also, I keep hearing about all the chemicals that are in dryer sheets.... hmmm.  Should this be a concern... is it any different than polyester batting?  Jury still out on that one.  I also have to be careful with the heat setting on my iron... they do melt. :-)

So I now have a mix of foundations going into my blocks.  The muslin and dryer sheet foundations seem to play well together. 

I can tell you I have definitely ruled out the telephone book paper.. at least for this quilt.  Just too much tedious removal for me.... And it still does not eliminate my problem of a wobbly edge.. even with leaving the paper in until all the edges are sewn. 

You can see the blocks on the outer edge of my larger block have a bit of a 'wave' even though the paper is still attached. 

My fourth option, still to be explored, would be a light weight interfacing. This would be the most costly option, but maybe the best!  I will let you know... stay tuned.

Finally, I wanted to show you the large glass jar I got from Sally when she closed her quilt shop.  I filled it with my perle cotton spools and it is just so colorful, it makes me smile.... and think of Sally.  Happy Retirement!

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Linking up this Monday at Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag.  Check out what other's did over the weekend!

 

Mojo Therapy

I happened to watch a Bonnie Hunter QuiltCam video the other day.  Perhaps you saw it too, it was on string piecing.  QuiltCam is on Bonnie's blog, Quiltville.  If you didn't see it, you can see it here on her blog.  Anyway, I have seen string quilts on other blogs, etc. and had this piecing technique on my 'gotta try it' list.  The video was perfect to get me started - Thanks Bonnie!

So yesterday afternoon, since I was trapped inside the house with Blizzard Jonas visiting us, I pulled out some scraps out of my little basket of modern scraps. I found an old phone book to use for foundation papers and away I went.....  PURE FUN!

Soon I needed more strips and variety so I was cutting through my scraps and favorite bright and modern fabrics.  The pile on my sewing table next to my sewing machine grew!

The view from our front porch toward our neighbor's house across the street about 2PM.  The walkway and most of the garden has disappeared. 

It was the perfect remedy to brighten up a day that looked like this.  We ended up with about 24" of snow.  Pretty good for the first significant snow fall of the season. 

I was delighted by this new piecing technique and soon I had a nice pile of finished blocks.  I was thrilled with each block as it was completed and this was definitely what my quilting mojo needed.  Not sure what this will look like eventually, but I sure am having fun!

These are 6 1/2" blocks.  

I removed the paper from the back and pieced two blocks together.  Hmmm.. then it occurred to me that I had made blocks that had totally bias edges.  Eek!

And there was quite a bit of stretch with these blocks. Eek again!

So I am asking for your help.  I know many of you are string quilt aficionados.  

When do you remove the paper?  Before or after you sew your blocks together?

How do you deal with the potential for stretch and distortion?

I appreciate any feedback!  But in the meantime let me get back to my sewing machine and my 'strings'!

Happy Stitching

Deb


Linking up at Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag