Jelly-O

When I finished quilting this one it was a rainy day and Spencer had muddy paws, so Auntie Ann kindly did the QC for us.

The next door neighbors had a baby girl, so I decided to make a quick baby gift.  The pattern is one I saw on a Missouri Star Quilting Company video with Jenny.  The pattern is called Jelly Roll Race II and it indeed was a very fast quilt to make. 

The quilt name on the label is sort of a family joke. When my father was a little boy he once said at the dinner table when the circuit riding preacher was visiting, "Give me a little jelly-o to fill my little belly-o!" Apparently this was vulgar language and quite shocking to his parents. But the phrase has been etched in family lore. 

Size: 55" x 62" Crib Size
Quilting: Spiral, flowering  design (similar to Peace by Piece) using white polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Bright White"). Free form quilting. 7 bobbins.
Backing: Leaves on a blue-white cotton print, fabric from a Connecting Threads sale
Batting: 100% Cotton (Warm And White)
Binding: Pink cotton print from Mother's stash, used for a Tata blouse and borders on Spring Hearts quilt.
Pattern: From a Missouri Star Quilting Company You-Tube video, called Jelly Roll Race II.

Used a jelly roll of '30's reproduction fabrics called "Chloe's Closet" from Moda.  Took one jelly roll.
Piecing by Patty (took one afternoon to make!) Pinned into frame April 23, 2014. Quilting on long arm quilter April 23-25, 2014. (Patty). Binding by Patty. QC by Ann.

 

Location:CountyLine Quilts

Blue "Beary"

Selfie-aka 2 Long Arms

After a long lay-off whilst I hand quilted the Many Steps quilt, the quilting flood gates finally opened. Since it had been a while since I used the long arm and since I'd never used it in its new location in the garage, I felt I should make a small practice quilt first, hence Blue "Beary". It is a whole cloth quilt made from flannel. It quilted like a dream.  I suspect the long arm likes the basement! It probably figures it's a power tool and belongs with the big equipment and NOT the delicate sewing machines upstairs. I'm enjoying being back in the long arm business. I also used this quilt to make my first attempt at feathers.  Boy, do I have a long way to go with those.  However, I believe in "practice, practice, practice" (like my 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Messier used to yell at our class- which made a big impression with me!) and with practice I shall improve! 

Practice Feathers

After moving the long arm to the basement, Sally decided the rails that stick out from the machine were dangerous and Mother might get hurt on them, so she installed the red sock safety feature. To me it looks ever so much like the long arm has landed on the Wicked Witch.  But so far no one has run into the rails!

Safety Feature

Size: 42" x 54" Crib Size

Quilting: Meandering, free-form design, including practice feathers, using light turquoise polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Light Turquoise"). 5 bobbins.

Backing: Plain turquoise flannel from our stash

Batting: 100% Cotton (Warm And White)

Binding: Same blue flannel that was used on the back.

Pattern: Whole cloth using blue bear print flannel from our stash.

Pinned into frame April 18, 2014. Quilting on long arm quilter April 18-21, 2014. (Patty). Binding by Patty. QC by Spencer.

Location:County Line Quilts

Goals for 2014 and 2013 Year End Report

2014 Goals
- Complete 10 long-armed quilts, including 2 baby quilts
- Complete 2 UFOs, including 1 hand quilting one (Many Steps to the Sewing Machine Yellow)
- Improve long arm quilting techniques, including feathers
- Move long arm machine to basement
- Make 2 blind baby quilts for guild
- Do not buy more fabric until 10 new quilts are completed from current stash (excludes buying battings, backs, and bindings, if required)

2014 Outlook
2014 has begun slowly but we anticipate increased productivity in the later half of the year. Due to increased number of doctor visits and errands, the goal for completed quilts has been lowered from the one set last year.

2013 Year-End Report
- Completed 22 long-armed quilts and table runners, including 4 for Karina's girls and 1 for Leslie. This was short of the goal of 40, but the important ones for Karina's girls and Leslie were completed. Karina had 3 girls when the goal was set, but by the time the quilts were done she had another baby. Therefore, we made 4 for her family.
- Completed 5 UFOs, including a hand quilted table runner. This was short of the goal of 6. Did not complete hand quilting Many Steps to the Sewing Machine 1 & 2, however the yellow one was begun. The blue one may be finished on the long arm pending Sally's decision. One of the UFO's was 30+ years in the making and it feels really good to have finished it!
- Improved long arm quilting techniques, for flowers and meander. Did not learn to make feathers. This goal will be carried into 2014.
- Improved binding techniques so that edges lie flatter (less ruffled). Binding techniques, including making corners, improved a great deal. This was accomplished by better procedures attaching binding and by better quilting techniques near quilt edges.
- Made 41 Mug Rugs. 40 were sent to Miff for her church's craft fair. One was given to Sally for her birthday.
- Made 6 project bags for gifts or donation.

During 2013, 29 items were completed by County Line Quilts and associates.
The total includes 22 quilts or table runners "long-armed" on Gra'ma's machine. Five of these were UFO's (unfinished objects). One quilt was made by Cousins Kelly, Paul, Katelyn and Erik during their summer visit. One quilt was pieced by Aunt Janet and sent to us for long arm quilting. Four wool comforts were tied by-hand. 0ne hand-quilted table runner was completed. All of the quilts made by County Line were gifted or donated. Six project bags were made and 41 mug rugs.

Overall, we did not meet all our goals, but the important projects were accomplished. Therefore, our progress was satisfactory.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:County Line Quilts

Peace by Piece

Mother made this quilt for her granddaughter. She found the pattern in a Fons and Porter magazine. It was quite a challenging pattern. I have never used this many bobbins for the quilting.

Size: 99" x 99" Queen-Bed Size

Quilting: Swirly, flowery, meandering design based on the quilting pattern in the magazine. Used off-white polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Pearl White"). Quilting pattern reminds me somewhat of orchid flowers. Free form quilting. 21 bobbins. I've never used this many bobbins on a quilt.

Backing: Medium-blue cotton print with a stylized flower in darker blue. Wide (108") cotton made for quilt backs. Purchased from a fabric.com sale.
Batting: 100% Bamboo
Binding: Blue cotton print from a recent JoAnn's sale
Pattern: From a Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting magazine May/June 2013, Emily's Wedding Quilt by Liz Porter. 

Piecing by Mother. Pinned into frame December 8, 2013. Quilting on long arm quilter December 11-18, 2013. (Patty). Binding by mother. QC by Spencer.

On Leslie and Scott's Bed

Location:County Line Quilts

Location:County Line Quilts

Quilt Fun

Cousins Paul, Kelly, Katelyn(11), and Eric(9)

When our cousins came to visit in October we made a whole cloth baby quilt so they could try long arming. The material for the front was bought at a red tag JoAnn's sale. The back is a dotted flannel print, also purchased at a JoAnn's sale.

Eric selected a bright red thread which I think worked very well. Everyone gave long arming a try, even Paul. The children were quite good and followed instructions very well.
Size: 44"x54"

Quilting: Many different styles based on what they wanted to try. Everyone attempted to "write" their name with quilting. Eric attempted a Pokemon character. Used bright red polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named). Free form quilting. 5 bobbins.

Backing: White flannel printed with blue dots Purchased from a JoAnn's sale.
Batting: 100% Cotton
Binding:  Back brought around to the front for binding
Pattern: Whole-cloth

Binding by mother. QC by Spencer.

This quilt along with several others we made in 2013 were donated to Redwood High School for the babies of students. We received a very nice thank-you note from a teacher at the school.

Location:County Line Quilrs

Brynna's Quilt, a JMTW Original

Aunt Janet sent a top she pieced for her youngest granddaughter for me to quilt.

Size: 75" x 93"
Quilting: Meandering, free-form spiral design using aqua polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Treasure Isle") 12 bobbins.
Batting: 80% cotton-20% polyester Hobbs batting
Pinned into frame October 18, 2013. Quilting on long arm quilter October 21-28, 2013 (Patty).

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:County Line Quilts

Project Bags

Aunt Janet sent Mother a project bag last year and Sally declared it the perfect bag for crochet projects. Aunt Janet's bag is the middle one in the above picture. I decided to make a few for presents. The recipients were Ann, Sally, Leslie, Miff and Cousin Kathy. The first picture is Cousin Kathy's bag in use. Two bags were left for the donation/gift box. In the meantime, Aunt Janet sent me some of the upholstery samples she used to make hers. I think I see more bags in my future. I call them Aunt Janet knock-offs or copies of JMTW Originals. I only bought the plastic canvas sheets for the bag stiffening. The rest of the raw materials were already in-house. Two of the bags were quilted, Miff's and Kathy's .

Miff's Bag

An Inside Pocket in Miff's Bag; each bag has 2 pockets

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:County Line Quilts