Donna's Second Quilt

Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You

 A good way to decide how to quilt a top you haven't seen is to iron it and let it "speak" to you.

Donna sent another quilt for long arming. She is making this one for Cousin Cynthia, Uncle Everett Lee's daughter. This one has borders and small blocks that look like glass tiles. The blocks are arranged in an interesting and pleasing pattern, that invites the viewer to study it and admire it for some time. It is a very pretty quilt and will be gorgeous on a bed. The quilt top was flat and even (good things for a quilter) so it was easy to long arm. I did an overall, free form meander, vaguely like petals and vines in the border, and quilted each block either in a floral pattern or a pattern that compliments the piecing. I used a 100% cotton thread. At first I had problems with the top thread breaking. A search of the Internet suggested a larger needle. I went from a size 20 needle to a 21; problem solved!

Size: 92" x 103" King size
Quilting: Quilted the borders in an overall, free form meander, vaguely like petals and vines and quilted each block either in a floral pattern or a pattern that compliments the piecing. Used white cotton thread for the entire quilt (King Tut from Superior Threads-named "Temple").  18 bobbins total.  Quilting by Patty.

Backing: Printed dark blue fabric--wide for quilt backings. 

Batting: 100% natural cotton--from Donna. It was good quality, no bearding or distortion.

Binding:  To be done by Donna
Pattern: Piecing by Donna. 

Binding by Donna. 

The time frame:

September 14 received quilt in mail

September 16 measured top, back, and batting

September 19 ironed top and backing and repaired 2 seams

September 21 pinned quilt into machine and basted across top

September 23 made first 6 bobbins

September 28 started quilting

October 7 finished quilting

October 9 buried thread ends and packaged quilt for mailing

October 11 mailed quilt to Donna

Location:County Line Quilts

Lightning

 

We saw quilts from this book on a Sewing with Nancy program. So we bought the book and Mother selected this one to make. It uses her strips that Frances organized. Plus it is cute. The 2 layers of batting made it very difficult to quilt, but very puffy and soft. Given to Aida to give to her workers or church friends.

 

Size: 42" x 42" Crib size Quilting:  Meandering waves like a potato masher. Followed a stripe down. Used light blue polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Harbor Sky"). Free form quilting. 4 bobbins. Quilting by Patty. Backing: Nursery print fabric from a JoAnn's sale. 

Batting: 100% polyester. 2 layers of a low loft batting from a JoAnn's sale.

Binding:  Blue print fabric from Mother's inventory. Same fabric used for back of Sally's Many Steps to the Sewing Machine. Pattern: "Barn Cabins" from Cabin Fever by Natalia Bonner and Kathleen Whiting.  

Piecing by Mother.

Pinned into frame August 24, 2016. Quilting on long arm quilter August 24, 2016. (Patty). 

Binding by Patty. 

QC by Spencer.

 

 

Location:County Line Quilts

Bright Stars in Texas

This is a quilt made for Texas cousin Everly Elizabeth Grace Baxter, cousin Karina's baby and resident of Lubbock. We made quilts for Everly's sisters (see 2013--Spring Hearts, Side-by-Side Dog and Cat, Cabbage Patch, and Garden Gate), so we couldn't forget Everly who was born this year. The challenge with this quilt was to use only those fabrics already in inventory. The blues and yellows came from both my inventory and Mother's.  Some of the blues were from Layer Cake collections.  I did buy a back (Craftsy sale), but that was all. The pattern used was "Wonky-Stars" from Fresh from the Clothesline by Darlene Zimmerman. It's a book I've used before (see "Brown Bear" 2014 for a picture of the book). This is my favorite quilt in that book. It looks cheery and bright and, indeed, "fresh from the clothesline".

Size: 49" x 58" Crib size
Quilting: Quilted closer than I usually do. Meandering loops in the blue sashing and yellow areas. Close stipple in the off-white background. I did not quilt the stars, so they will puff out some. Used off-white polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Pearl White"). Free form quilting. 7 bobbins. Quilting by Patty.
Backing: Blue, green, and yellow print fabric from a Craftsy sale. 

Batting: 50/50 cotton/polyester.

Binding:  Plain light blue fabric from my inventory
Pattern: Wonky-Stars" from Fresh from the Clothesline by Darlene Zimmerman.  

Piecing by Patty.

Pinned into frame August 10, 2016. Quilting on long arm quilter August 12-15, 2016. (Patty). 

Binding by Patty. 

QC by Spencer.

I washed the quilt before mailing to remove the QC residue.

A Block Before Washing

The Same Block after Washing

I love the puckery old-fashioned quilt look after the quilt is laundered.

Location:County Line Quilts

Spice

The pattern for this quilt came from a mail advertisement for quilting publications. To Mother it looked like another good chance to use her organized scrappy strips. And again she was right! The funny thing about this quilt is that I put the label on the top instead of the bottom, essentially upside down! The quilt is designed to be viewed like fans and I viewed it the way the old crocheted potholders hung that I remembered from our house in Superior. I just slapped the label on it without consulting the pattern! Mother was a bit upset! I must be a bit dyslexic! This quilt was added to the donation bin. Given to Aida to give to her workers or church friends.

Size: 68" x 80" Twin bed size

Quilting: Quilted in a meandering loose stipple. Used tan polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Sandstone"). Free form quilting. 8 bobbins. Quilting by Patty.

Backing: Tan print fabric from Mother's inventory. Bought at a JoAnn's sale. 

Batting: 100% polyester.

Binding:  Brown print from Mother's inventory

Pattern: "Spice Market" by Vicky Wozniak from a McCall's advertisement.  

Piecing by Mother.

Pinned into frame July 13, 2016. Quilting on long arm quilter July 13-15, 2016. (Patty). 

Binding by Patty. 

QC by Spencer.

 

 

 

Location:County Line Quilts

I Spy With My Little Eye . . . (For CJ)

This quilt is similar to the "I Spy with my Eye" quilt that I made for Madeline this year. This one was made for Cousin Tricia's son CJ (Cameron John). See the first "I Spy" quilt for details about the pattern. The jars were made slightly longer to better accommodate some of the larger prints and I added one more column since CJ is no longer a baby. He will be 2 this year. CJ and I share a birthday, October 6. CJ comes from a "mixed" union; his mother is a Packer fan and his dad is a Viking fan. So, I added a "jar" for each them. CJ spends time on his grandpa's farm, so I added some cow, barn, and tractor prints. Also his grandma went to Hawaii this year, and brought him back an Aloha shirt, so I added a "jar" with a scrap left from the Aloha shirt Mother made Keith. The signature rabbit was quilted in a "jar" containing carrots. CJ seems to like his quilt. There have been several pictures of him playing on it posted in Facebook. I am so glad that it is being used and used as a play blanket on the floor. That was exactly what I hoped would happen as I made it. 

Size: 50" x 62" Child or Play Blanket size
Quilting: Quilted in a meandering loose stipple with loose spirals. Used brown polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Milk Chocolate"). Free form quilting. 7 bobbins. Quilting by Patty.
Backing: Chocolate brown and yellow print from a JoAnn's sale. 

Batting: 50-50 cotton and polyester.

Binding:  Dark chocolate fabric from my stash. 
Pattern: Jars from a Missouri Star Quilting Company video.  

Piecing by Patty.

Pinned into frame July 11, 2016. Quilting on long arm quilter July 11, 2016. (Patty). 

Binding by Patty. 

QC by Spencer.

Rabbit in the Carrot Jar

Posing on the Blanket

CJ and His Uncle Jake Playing with the Quilt. 

Notice how the toys are arranged on the jars.

Location:County Line Quilts

Westward Ho

The Binding Wound Around a Card and Ready to Apply to Quilt

Mother liked a pattern she saw in a quilting magazine. She thought it would be a good use of her organized strips (the ones Frances organized for her) plus it could use some of the Sari scraps and other scrap inventory and bonus--it is a very attractive quilt. So, I sent for the pattern. As usual Mother was right! The binding was a striped piece from the Sari endowment. Mother cut the fabric on the bias and it made a striking binding, perfect for the quilt. 

In the meantime Ann reported that our friend Landy's husband is not doing well and could use a quilt to rest under. This one seemed like a good fit, being more masculine plus all the scraps providing visual interest and cheer for someone more or less bedridden. The quilt was given to Rick. 

 

Size: 65" x  82" Twin bed or nap size
Quilting: Quilted in a meandering loose stipple with some cattle brand "R's". Used a brand theme to go with the western look of the quilt. Brands include a lazy R, reverse R, tumbling R, and so forth. I selected "R" for Rick's first initial. Used rusty polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Rusty"). Free form quilting. 8 bobbins. Quilting by Patty.
Backing: Flowered print from a wide quilt back Connecting Threads sale. The back was pre-shrunk and came out of the dryer not requiring any ironing. It was such a nice fabric that I bought another piece before the sale ended.

Batting: 100% polyester--Soft and Bright.

Binding:  A stripped print from the stash Sari gave us. The fabric was cut on the bias. 
Pattern: "Saddle Blanket" by Marcie Patch from the November/December  2015 magazine McCall's Quilting.  

Piecing by Mother.

Pinned into frame July 4, 2016. Quilting on long arm quilter July 4-6, 2016. (Patty). 

Binding by Patty. 

QC by Spencer.

Examples of Brands and How They Are Named

The Pattern

The QC and Pointing to the Rabbit

Location:County Line Quilts