Two Scrappy Serendipity Quilts

I got lucky and scored an open time slot on the long arm this week! I quilted the original multi color Scrappy Serendipity on Saturday during my original reserved time. Just an all-over free motion meander, with light taupe thread. It came out great, and no hiccups with the new machine.  

When I went into the reservation system to book my next time slot 21 days out, I saw that there was an opening on Tuesday, so I nabbed it. Per the rules, jumping on an open time slot in the current week doesn't count toward or against your 21 day allowed reservation. Whoo-hoo! 

So with my bonus time I was able to quilt the blue and green version. This time I had a helper, which was great (thanks, Paula). I used a medium blue thread on this one and it worked well with both the pale background prints and all those blues and greens. 

Both have mostly the same backing, a wide back fabric in newsprint, but I had to add in a little of another grey print to bring the second backing up to size.  Both quilts are 60 x 80", good for teens or adults. They'll both go to the local family services agency, which typically experiences an uptick in need at the end of the school year. 

Always one to take a pattern and make it better, Paula suggested using black prints where the whites are, along with bright colors. I'll try that in EQ and see how it looks. I'm sure I'm not done with Scrappy Serendipity yet. 

Link ups: My Quilt Infatuation 5/29,  Alycia Quilts 5/30

Scrappy Serendipity

I might have been a little obsessed with the block I was making for the top shown in my previous post. 

The block is satisfying to make because each block's palette is designed individually, so it doesn't get boring. My scrappy version was fine, once I landed on the half-drop layout, but it would probably look even better if I used an analogous palette. I might have gotten carried away and I started another version. Cutting ensued. 

I had pretty much depleted my low volumes and nicer scraps, so pulling from stash was needed. I cut a 2-1/2" WOF strip of 40+ different blues, greens, teals and purples.  I also cut strips from an unknown number of pale low volumes, probably at least as many. I cut the strips into the small pieces needed and made up packets for 43 blocks. I was so involved I forgot to take photos. 

After cutting, these blocks are quick to make, and sewing them in pairs helps for chain piecing. Within a few days I had another whole top's worth of blocks on the design wall. After a bit of tweaking the layout, I ended up with this finished top. 

Like the first one, it's 60 by 80", a suitable size for an adult or teen throw. It's pretty gender neutral, so it could go to any of the charities we support. Backs for both are ready.  I'll get the first one quilted next week, and this one later when I have my next booking on the long arm. 

I'm calling this quilt Scrappy Serendipity, sort of a nod to all the Scrappy Celebration quilts my friends and I made last year. I'm sure this won't be the last time I make this pattern! 

Link ups: Alycia Quilts 5/23,  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 5/26, 

Not So Bad, After All - I Like It!

 

It's pretty amazing what just a simple block layout change can do. This went from just a boring grid to something more interesting by just changing to a Half Drop layout. The half drop layout allows the horizontal "arms" of the blocks to interlock into the negative spaces between the adjacent blocks. 

Is it beautiful, wonderful? No, not at all. But it's certainly acceptable. 

Would I make it again? Absolutely! But there are a few things I would do differently, mostly having to do with Value and value placement. I would only use the very lightest low volume prints, avoiding the ones that read darker, like the piece below the red motif at the center. I would also make sure there's enough contrast between the four small patches and both the background and the arms. I might try a more controlled scrappy palette also, such as all cool colors. 

These blocks are fun to make because each one is designed as its own palette, so it's not boring to make multiples of the same block. Want to make your own version? Here's the block plan, but avoid busy, high-contrast background fabrics like in this EQ image: 

For a half drop layout like mine you need 45 blocks and 6 end fillers. The end filler blocks finish at 5" by 10" (5-1/2 by 10-1/2" unfinished). They're made of 2-1/2" by 5-1/2" low volume pieces, 5 per block.  The finished top measures 60" by 80", a good size for an adult or teen throw. 

I have backing ready and time booked on the club's long arm at the end of the month, so this will be finished and ready to donate in June. Since we know that one of the agencies we support has an uptick in need at the end of the school year, this will go to them. 

Link ups:  My Quilt Infatuation 5/8,  Alycia Quilts 5/9,  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 5/12

Half Drop Layout to the Rescue

The scrappy blocks I wrote about last week are fun to make because each one is designed individually. From a selection of cut pieces, I can lay out two blocks, chain piece them, and have them finished in a half hour. It didn't take very long to make most of the blocks I need for a 6 x 8 block layout. Here they are on the design wall: 

How disappointing! Disjointed. Boring. And no matter how I move them around, they don't look any better. 

I was shooting for a 60 x 80" throw size for a donation quilt, so I still need two rows of blocks. Not a problem to make the blocks, but the resulting quilt will not be one that I'm proud of. So I played with layout options in EQ and landed on Half Drop Blocks. 

After changing the layout on the wall, I need 45 blocks, not 48, and 6 end fillers. Here they are laid out on the wall in the Half Drop configuration, still a 60 by 80" quilt: 

Much better. Still not the most beautiful quilt, but much improved from the first version. I have time booked on the long arm at the end of the month, so I'll get this quilted and send it on its way to the local family services agency PCQ supports. While not a beauty, it can still bring comfort to an abused teen. 

Link up: Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

April Stash Report and Goals Update

A lot of sewing happened this month, using a lot of fabric. On the other hand, a lot of fabric was added to the stash. Surprisingly, more fabric went out than came in. 

A four day retreat resulted in the completion of two tops. I have given them, along with backing fabric and binding, to two of the quilter friends who were at the retreat.  

to Edna

to Judy

At the retreat I also got all the blocks finished for my Almost Postage Stamp quilt. They were already started.

Since I've been home I chased a squirrel. I saw something on Pinterest that intrigued me, figured out the block, dove into my scraps, and made blocks. The good news is I'm having fun making them. The bad news is, my version looks boring. I have a solution, which I'll share in another post. 

I also finished a donation quilt this month. Most of the fabrics were donated, so I'm only counting out the ones that came from my personal stash. 

While at retreat I shopped at their little fabric shop, and a few yards came home with me. Then an on-line end-of-bolt sale caught my attention. Plus, an outing with the girls to a couple of local shops resulted in some purchases, so there was definitely some stash enhancement this month. My finishes and gifts more than made up for it for the month, but I'm still up for the year. 

April Stash Report: 

IN this month: 18-3/4 yards (Retreat purchases, 6 yards. Bernina Connection, 5 yards. Modern Quilting, 1-1/2 yards.  Online end-of-bolt sale, 6-1/4 yards.)

OUT this month: 19-5/8 yards (Navy/Pink LCT variation top, 4-5/8 yards; backing, 3-1/2 yards; binding 5/8 yard. Kaffe flying geese top 4 yards; back 3 yards; binding 5/8 yard.  Urban Jungle Stacked slabs top, my fabrics, 1-1/2 yards; backing 1 yard; binding 3/4 yard)

IN YTD: 32-1/4 yards
OUT YTD: 29-3/8 yards

YTD Net Change: 2-7/8 yards added. 

Since I started a new scrappy project and got wound up in making blocks for it, I neglected some of the other items on my goals list. Oh, well, it's just a hobby anyway, no pressure. 

Goals Update: 

April Recap: 

1. Finish packing for retreat and have a good time there.  YES!!!

2. Make progress on the Postage Stamp project. Yes, got all the blocks pieced at retreat. 

3. Make progress on the Kaffe flying geese project. Yes, finished the top at retreat using Plan D and sashing purchased from Shiela's shop.  

4. Assemble the navy and pink LCT medallion blocks. If possible, add the borders. Yes, finished the top at retreat.

5. Quilt the Urban Jungle stacked slabs quilt on April 11. DONE and donated. 

6. Prep for teaching Dancing Plus in May.  Progress; I still have to send out pre-cutting instructions to the students. 

7. Prep backing for Cherry Jubilee top. No

8. Develop new project using leftover strata. Yes, I've started a project, something mindless I can pick up as time permits. 

Other: 

 - Chased a squirrel: started a scrappy project inspired by something I saw on Pinterest and made 45 blocks for it. 

 - Wrote a pattern for the flying geese top shown above.

The friend I gave the flying geese top to likes it so much, she wants to make a queen size version in autumn colors for a grandchild's wedding in the fall. She asked for the pattern, so with the help of EQ8, I drafted it for her. I had forgotten how much I like writing patterns. More about this in a future post. 

May Goals: 

1. Prep for and Teach a Dancing Plus class. 

2. Finish the Scrappy 5-Patch Plus top. 

3. Prep a backing for Cherry Jubilee. 

4. Work on piecing the Leftover Strata project. 

5. Prep a backing for Scrappy 5-Patch Plus. 

6. Book time and quilt something on the club's new long arm.

Recently, new LED lights were installed in the ceiling of my sewing room. The light is so much brighter in there now and it's much more pleasant to work in there. So much so that I've been spending a lot more time sewing, mostly making blocks for the new scrappy project. 

If I continue to spend that much time in the sewing room, I'll definitely knock out everything on my May Goals list, but those are the priorities for now. We'll see what I can get done in May. 

A New Scrappy Project

I saw something intriguing on Pinterest and I thought it would be a good project for my Scrappy Celebration friends to make next. Here is a link to the Pinterest post.

I sent the girls the image, and one was interested. So I figured out the block:

I raided my scrap drawers for low volumes and darker colors, and cut a lot of pieces. I may have gotten carried away.... So far I've made several blocks. They go together easily and they're addictive to make. 

Here's the original Pinterest inspiration photo. 

Pinterest: Shonda at Calico Flower

You may notice, there are blocks that emphasize the Nine Patch, and others that feature the Plus. I'm trying to keep my blocks as random as the ones in the photo, but if you know me, you know it's hard for me to do random. 

My blocks use 2-1/2" scraps, so they finish at 10". I'm shooting for a smaller quilt than the one in the photo, a 6 x 8 block layout for a large throw. Or if I get carried away making blocks, a 7 x 9 block layout for a twin size. I have more than enough scraps! 

I didn't really need another piecing project right now, but sometimes you just have to chase that squirrel. 

Link up: Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Another Retreat Project: the Postage Stamp Quilt

 Another project I worked on at retreat was this Postage Stamp type quilt. The squares finish at 1-1/2" so it's not a true Postage Stamp, but this is as small as I care to work. Here are 32 blocks on the design wall, plus border strips.

Months ago I started this project to use up some of my yellow-green stash. I used my die cutter to cut 2" strips of nearly every fabric in my yellow-green basket, and some true greens. Then I selected some other warm colors and purples for more variety. 

The strips were sewn into strata. Then the strata were carefully cross-cut, again using the 2" die.  I laid out the strips in a checkerboard, and wrapped them up in blocks. I need 35 blocks for a 5 x 7 layout, and I ended up with enough strips for 36 blocks. Each block has 64 little squares. I didn't count the individual fabrics used, but it's a lot. 

I made one sample block and packed the rest up for retreat. With all seams pressed toward the dark fabrics, the seams nested nicely. They'll nest when I sew the blocks into rows and sew the rows together, too. 

I was pleased that I was able to get all the blocks made at retreat. I'll lay them out on my design wall at home and make sure the same fabric isn't adjacent to itself, then label them, and pack them up for a future retreat. 

This quilt will be twin size when finished. Did it make a dent in my yellow-green stash? A bit, but there's still plenty left. At least I can jam the basket into the shelf where it belongs now. 

The outer border fabric in the top photo will also be the backing fabric. It's a tiny olive-on-cream paisley. I bought 9 yards of it back in 2009 but it wasn't the right shade of green for the top it was intended for, so it's been languishing ever since. I'm glad to eventually have a use for it.

Some people don't care for yellow-green and olive shades, but I like the way this is turning out. And it's gender neutral. It will eventually be a donation quilt.  

Link ups: Alycia Quilts 4/18,  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 4/21