Get Your T-Shirts While You Can

This is a "gather ye rosebuds while you may" type of quilt. The shirts for this are from many years ago when I actually did things like AIDS Walks, Bay-to-Breakers, etc. Before my knees gave out!

I used iron-on interfacing behind the shirts and each shirt was "framed" with a contrasting or matching print woven fabric. The quilting was a loose meander or I tried various patterns from the internet class I took. In some cases I quilted around the design on the t-shirt. 

This one was fun to make. And it's a rare example of a quilt I will keep. Spencer will use it on the couch and in the car.

Size: 61" x 72" Throw size
Quilting: Quilted in a meandering loose stipple, tried different quilting patterns from the Internet class in some of the blocks, and quilted around the designs in other blocks. Used white polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Bright White"). Free form quilting. 5 bobbins. Quilting by Patty.
Backing: Red and White print from a JoAnn's sale. 

Batting: 100% Polyester. 

Binding:  Tan print from my stash. I used a different technique for this binding. I sewed it on the front, basted it on the back, and then did the second stitching on the front (catching the back) using a straight stitch with a zig (no zag). This technique worked really well. I will try it again.

Pattern: T-shirt blocks with frames.  Piecing by Patty.

Pinned into frame June 26, 2015. Quilting on long arm quilter June 29 -July 1, 2015. (Patty). 

Binding by Patty. 

QC by Spencer.

Location:County Line Quilts

Sweet Dreams

I made a quilt for Tai Wah's first grandchild, Sebastian Corral Chan. In order to get the quilt done quickly, I used 2 packages of charm squares from Missouri Star Quilt Company, called Lakeside Gatherings. To make the quilt a little special, I used a soft gray minky fabric on the back. The minky worked very well. I will use it again.

This was almost a 3-day quilt. It was pieced on Tuesday, June 23; quilted on Wednesday, June 24; and binding was almost finished on Thursday, June 25!

Lin, Sebastian's mother, sent us a very nice thank-you note.

Size: 36 1/2" x 41" Baby size
Quilting: Quilted in a meandering loose meander, loose stipple. Used light gray polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Silver"). Free form quilting. 2 bobbins. Quilting by Patty.
Backing: Gray minky bought for this project. 

Batting: 100% polyester. 

Binding:  Plain light gray fabric from my inventory. 
Pattern: Squares arranged in a diagonal pattern. Piecing by Patty.

Pinned into frame June 24, 2015. Quilting on long arm quilter June 24, 2015. (Patty). 

Binding by Patty.

QC by Spencer, front and back, because he needed to see how the minky performed.

Location:County Line Quilts

Disappearing 9-Patch II

This is the second Disappearing 9-Patch Mother made to use up some of her inventory. See the blog about the first one for all of the details.

Size: 66" x 79" Single-bed size
Quilting: Quilted in a meandering loose loop-de-loop. Used gray/green/brown polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Khaki"). Free form quilting. 7 bobbins. Had a problem with the thread breaking. Quilting by Patty.
Backing: Gray green print from Mother's stash. The thread matches the back really well.

Batting: 100% cotton. Warm and Natural.

Binding:  Dark brown print from Mother's stash. The binding goes nicely with the smaller dark brown squares in the quilt.
Pattern: "Disappearing 9-Patch" from the Fall 2014 magazine Easy Quilts.  

Piecing by Mother.

Pinned into frame May 27, 2015. Quilting on long arm quilter June 3 - 19, 2015. (Patty). 

Binding by Mother. 

QC by Spencer.

Location:County Line Quilts

E-Quilt

Mother made a quilt for Rosalee from Eric Johnson's shirts and pants. After many design discussions, she decided to keep it simple using squares in the center and rectangles around the edge. She left the pockets and tags on a few of the blocks. After this one was finished she made a nap pad for Rosalee's cat, Barney. The nap pad was tied. The quilting on the blanket was a simple meander, going around the pockets so they would stay open. I also quilted a cat, bunny, and flower on the blanket, things that were present in Eric's life, as I remember him when he lived in Redwood City.

Size: 72" Square Throw size
Quilting: Quilted in a meandering loose stipple. Used light tan polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Light Tan"). Free form quilting. 6 bobbins. Quilting by Patty.
Backing: Dark red flannel from Mother's stash.

Batting: 100% bamboo.

Binding:  Tan print from Mother's stash. 
Pattern: Designed by Mother.  

Piecing by Mother.

Pinned into frame May 8, 2015. Quilting on long arm quilter May 13 - 15, 2015. (Patty). 

Binding by Mother. 

QC by Spencer from afar since he was not the "freshest".

See also the cat nap pad. It was made from the leftovers of this quilt and was tied, not quilted. But, Spencer did a QC test to make sure Barney will find it acceptable.

Location:County Line Quilts

Disappearing 9-Patch I

Mother decided to make this quilt to use up some of her stash after seeing a picture of it in a Fon's and Porter Easy Quilts magazine. In fact, she made two quilts with this pattern, one I called "rusty" (this one) and the other "brown" for the contrasting fabrics that make the little squares. I quilted this quilt after taking an Internet class on long arming, so I paid close attention to the placement of the batting (dimple side up and pimple side down), tension, needle size and all those things I learned in the class.

Size: 66" x 78" Single-bed size
Quilting: Quilted in a meandering loose stipple. Used light yellow polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Butter"). Free form quilting. 7 bobbins. Quilting by Patty.
Backing: Yellow and orange print from Mother's stash.

Batting: 100% cotton.

Binding:  Gold print from Mother's stash. 
Pattern: "Disappearing 9-Patch" from the Fall 2014 magazine Easy Quilts.  

Piecing by Mother.

Pinned into frame April 8, 2015. Quilting on long arm quilter May 6, 2015. (Patty). 

Binding by Mother. 

QC by Spencer.

Location:County Line Quilts

Cousins #2

After quilting one whole cloth quilt, Janet and Kathy wanted to refine their long arm techniques with a second one. So, they looked through Mother's stash and found a couple of pieces to make another whole cloth, practice quilt. Mother says they thoroughly enjoyed going through her boxes of fabrics. I hope so, as I find it to be a big chore! The fabrics selected were one bright flannel piece that Sally had purchased and gladly donated to the cause and a red coordinating piece, not flannel but with texture. The back of this quilt was 2 flannel pieces from Mother's stash; gray and dark green.

Size: 62 1/2" x 81 1/2" Single bed size

Quilting: Various styles the cousins explored during their practice with Mother's longarm. Used gray polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Silver"). Free form quilting. 5 bobbins. Quilting by Janet, Kathy, and Patty--the Cousins.
Backing: Gray and green flannels from Mother's stash.

Batting: 100% cotton, Warm and White.

Binding:  Black cotton from my stash (left over from the Patches quilt)

Pattern: Whole cloth, 3 pieces sewed together lengthwise.

Piecing by Kathy.

Pinned into frame February 9, 2015. Quilting on long arm quilter February 9, 2015. (Cousins). 

Binding by Patty. 

QC by Janet and Kathy.

Picking Out Rocks for Max

Quilting Concentration--In the Zone!

A Dog and a Saguaro Cactus

Location:County Line Quilts

Cousins #1

Cousins Sally, Kathy, and Janet Discussing Quilting Strategy

Our cousins came to visit in February. One of the things they wanted to do was use the long arm. So, I looked at my stash and found a couple of pieces to make a whole cloth, practice quilt. The fabrics I selected were the leftovers from the Brown Bear quilt made last year. This quilt also exceeds the 2015 goal of using my stash before buying more fabric.  However, I did recently buy some pre-cuts; some for a quilt to help a friend's daughter learn quilting and some for a teenage girl quilt that is percolating in my brain. The back of this quilt was 2 flannel pieces from Mother's stash; one a pretty, bright flower print and the other a nice spring green color.

The cousins arrived on Saturday and when they left on Tuesday morning they had quilted 2 whole cloth blankets. I'd say they are "goal exceeded" for this leg of their vacation. Janet will give the quilts to her grandchildren, Evie and Adin. For her third grandchild, Max, she picked out some rocks from Papa's collection, as Max is really into rocks right now.

Size: 60" x 80" Single bed size
Quilting: Various styles the cousins explored during their practice with Mother's longarm. Used blue polyester thread (Omni from Superior Threads-named "Ocean Blue"). Free form quilting. 5 bobbins. Quilting by Janet, Kathy, and Patty--the Cousins.
Backing: Flower print flannel and green flannel from Mother's stash.

Batting: 100% cotton, Warm and Natural.

Binding:  Purple print from my stash (left over from the Side-by-Side Dog and Cat quilt)

Pattern: Whole cloth, 2 pieces sewed together lengthwise.

Piecing by Patty.

Pinned into frame February 8, 2015. Quilting on long arm quilter February 8, 2015. (Cousins). 

Binding by Patty. 

QC by Spencer.

Location:County Line Quilts