Meryton - A beginnng

 I have started another Katrina Hadjimichael quilt in the Jane Austin Series called Meryton.  Meryton is a fictitious town in the novel Pride and Prejudice.  This is the internet picture of Katrina's quilt.

I have started working on the center star and am thoroughly enjoying the English Paper Piecing.  Here is my work so far.  My main fabric selection is called Songbird Serenade by Moda.  I have purchased miscellaneous other fabrics that blend. 

I devised a worksheet of how I will assemble this block, which is  differently than the way Katrina instructs in her pattern. The results are the same, but I  like sewing on my hexies one at a time and removing papers as I go.  Once the hexie has other hexies attached on all sides, I remove the paper.  This way I can keep re-using my papers and do not have to cut out paper for all the hexies at one time.

My worksheet identifies what fabric will be used in the block and also shows "rounds" of each hexies,  similar to how you assemble a Grandmother's Flower Garden block.

Looking at Katrina's picture, you see the center hexagon containing the star in surrounded by a background fabric with appliques and then a petal frame.  I intend to make that entire center square with hexies and do the applique on top of the hexies.  This will take a bunch of hexies, but I think it will look perfect.  

I am also working on one of her quilts called Delaford.  I have nearly completed hand quilting this quilt and hope to have it done by the end of September.

Once upon a Christmas Time

 Finished the quilt top for the Gail Pam BOM - Once Upon a Christmas Time today.  Completed Block 6 of 6 yesterday and so glad to get it done today.  I had planned to machine quilt it with a simple cross hatch (as that is about all I do with machine quilting) but decided after finally getting the top done, to just get some with a long arm machine quilt it for me.  

The pattern calls for it to be done in all red and white/cream, both piecing and embroidery.  I elected to use multi colors.  The pattern also called for a border comprised of HST but I decided to go simple with this plaid fabric that I found and really liked.

This is block 6 of 6

Completed quilt top

Delaford Quilting, Once Upon a Christmas Time Block 5 and Clemson quilt

 Wow, that is a long title, but thought I would just do a little cattching up.

On the Delaford Quilt, I have reached the outer bird and flower block border row with my hand quilting.  There are 22 blocks in this border, and so far I have hand quilted 4 of them - it does take awhile to accomplish.   I have been tracking my time and so far I have 133 hours + some minutes in my quilting.

I am using a variety of color threads, only one of which is actually a hand quilting thread.  Its a sample of YLI handquilting thread which they sent to try out and see if I like it.  A new supplier of their hand quilting thread and I love the thread.  Unfortunately YLI told me they will only be offering it in four basic colors at first (ecru, white, black and grey) but hopefully they may have a variety of colors.  I am using this for background.  For stitching around the appliques, I obtained 30 or 25 wt threads in a variety of colors and manufacturers.  Some are Aurifil 30 wt, which the others are machine quilting threads from Coats and Clark.  I find for all of them, I have to a silicon thread treatment to keep them from freying and breaking on me.  Such a pain, I do wish someone would offer good quality hand quilting thread in a variety of colors !!!!

1" stencil I am using for the background

Thread tray

Blue bird block  - it takes me approximately 5 hours to quilt one of these blocks.

Blue Bird Back of quilt

I have also been working on the Once Upon a Christmas Time BOM by Gail Pan, completing Block 5.  I just have one more block to make on this quilt and all the blocks will be completed.  

Block 5

One stitchery started for Block 6.  The pink check is just what I call "extendors" so that the stitchery will fit in my hoop.  A great use of unused binding strips.

Then finally, a quilt top, with only the binding hemming and label yet to do.  This is for Timothy, my grandson, who will leaving for Clemson freshman year on August 15.  He will be studying to be a park ranger and the quilt backing is a panel with 63 National Parks on it.  I will show  a picture of that in another post.

Before sending to Long-Arm quilter.  Not gonna hand quilt this one.

Now to be hemmed and labeled!

Christmas Ornament Fun

 I have been working on making Christmas ornaments in May and June and just having so much fun with the embroidery and beading.

I purchased a pattern from Mary Corbet's website Needle n Thread for making Christmas Wreath ornaments and Christmas Tree Ornaments.  So far I have only completed one wreath, but I did make three of them.  Learning her method for tying the bow was a challenge, but it does make a beautiful bow.  Her patterns are all so beautiful, I am anxious to make some more of the wreaths and start on the trees.

I also discovered some fun embroidery / beading patterns of Folk Art Scandinavian Ornament pattern by Patricia Welch Designs.  She offers her patterns for sale on her etsy shop as .pdf downloads ($6 each)

Here is what I have made so far:

Once Upon a Christmas Time progress

 Spent time this afternoon prepping the stitchery blocks for Block5 and realized I never posted about Block 4, which I completed around the first of June.

Here are the blocks 1,2,3,and 4 sewn together:

And here is Block 4 all by itself

Delaford -Hand Quilting

 Finally, I am hand quilting my Delaford quilt.  I got it back from the longarm friend who basted it for me.  She does a much better job than I can manage on this large a quilt.  So the quilting began on May 31 and I am enjoying it so much.

Trying something a little different.  Using machine quilting thread or other 25-30wt thread to quilt in color around the applique, with thread that matches the applique.  I find I have to use a silicon treatment on the threads as they fray and knot when pulling through the quilt after 4 or 5 inches of quilting.

I filled out a survey from YLI and they sent me a spool of their new hand quilting thread thankfully in the color I wanted for quilting the background of the quilt.  I have started trying it out, and I do like the thread very much.  There was no fiber content label on the test spool, so not sure if it is 100% cotton or not, but I do very much like the feel, strength and weight of the thread.  So far I have had absolutely no resistence, freying or splitting of the thread.  Below is a picture of the quilting on the back as the thread shows up a little better.  On the front, I have not rinsed out the blue water soluble lines yet so the thread is not so clear.

Once Upon a Christmas Time

 I completed the Block 3 yesterday and was so happy to be caught up  and then got the next block in the email that afternoon.   Sooooooooooooo I am behind again!  Not really behind, just have another to do.

Here is Block 3:

The woeful tale of the tattered puppy

On March 17, 2010 I gave my grandson a quilt with dogs and bone for his 7 year old birthday.  Unfortunately I did not take a picture of him with the quilt but here he is in all his cuteness.  Born on St. Patrick's Day with beautiful red hair.  I had prayed that my first grandchild would have red hair, and the St Patrick's Day was just an added blessing.

He returned with his quilt in 2014, with a poor tattered dog.  The fabric has simply deteriorated fortunately just on one of the dogs.  I had bought this fabric at Walmart and after seeing the problem, have not bought from there again.  I had to rip out the poor tattered puppy and applique a replacement.  The quilting had been done by a long-arm quilter and was still good, so I simply turned the quilt over and quilted that area on my machine from the back side following her quilting pattern.  As you can see he is a little older and is very happy to get his quilt back.  

Now, in 2024, my grandson is 21 yrs old and he shows up again with his tattered quilt.  He tells me he is still sleeping with it every night and hopes I can fix it again.

So I cut off 4inches of the top, and that took care of that problem,   But the binding was also frayed.  I double fold my bindings, and the top layer of fabric was gone, but the back side of the fold was still in place and holding together.  I was fortunate in that I still had some of the fabric I used to originally bind it 14 years ago, cut off the frayed binding and sewed on new binding.

Once again he is happy to have his quilt come home.  I warned him that the backing is flannel and is really getting a little worn, but still holding up with no tears.  I suggested he carefully wash it in the future only if necessary.  

 

Delaford and Once upon a Christmas Time

 Been splitting my time between Delaford and Once Upon a Christmas Time, enjoying doing both.

On the Delaford I have made progress on the Bird and Flower border blocks.  I keep these on my design wall as I just love looking at them.

Completed Block 2 on the Once Upon a Christmas Time.  These are fun and whimsical blocks.  Block 3 should be coming out next week :)

Once Upon a Christmas - Gail Pan BOM

 Well, another new project.  Over Christmas I wished I had Christmas theme quilt I could hang up during the holidays.  I usually just hang up a redwork embroidery that is not really Christmas-y but looks nice with my holiday decorations.  I do have one Christmas quilt, but have several places I like to change out the quilts for season in my house.  And lo and behold, Gail Pan came out with her 2024 block of the month and it is Once Upon a Christmas, and was exactly what I was looking for.  This one is only 6 months and will give time to complete the project for Christmas. Each block contains applique and embroidery and machine piecing - Love it!

Here is my first block:

I have the stitchery completed for the second block, just need to get started on the background blocks.  I am using touches of green and gold along with the red, simply cause I can :)   Gail's quilt is all  in red and very scrappy.   I do like scrappy quilts!!!

Kira Quilt - Sunshine

 I recently took a workshop at SewEndipitous taught by Diane Quirk for the Kira Quilt.  This is a quilt designed by GE Designs

I love the pattern, but I saw sunshines rather than the colorful blocks used in the picture.  So I chose to do my in Yellow and White with a Sunflower border.  This is my EQ version of the quilt. 

I finished the quilt and am now in the process of Big Stitch hand quilting it.   I love the look of the sunflower stencil I am using in the center of each block but have not decided yet how to quilt the space between the sunshines.  I am using Size 8 DMC perle cotton to stab quilt, yellow on the white centers and white on the yellow centers.  I do love to big stitch - and this block just seem perfect for that type of quilting. 

Denali National Park Star - Carol Doak Pattern

 Sometimes I just have to step away from handwork and do some machine sewing.  I recently purchased the Carol Doak book 60 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Star which includes patterns for 10 National Parks.  This is a nice break for me, and I plan to do a star every month.

Below is my picture of the Denali National Park Star.  This national park is located in Alaska and I decided to use the Alaskan flag colors to make the star.   The park covers 6,000,000 acres of wild lands and has North America's highest peak at 20, 310 feet.

I have two grand children interested in working as park rangers, so hoping one of them does end up with that career and I can give them this quilt.

72 pieces

Delaford Progress

 This morning I was able to sew on the border of Octagonal EPP pieces.  This has been so much fun picking out the fabrics and riotous colors, but hopefully they will all blend together in the final quilt.  Next up is a border of flowers and birds.  I actually purchased this quilt pattern because I loved the center applique that I am getting ready to start.  I think this is one of Katrina Hadjimichael's prettiest patterns. 

I also have completed the Owl and Hare Hollow quilt top.....now to decide how to quilt it.  I don't plan to hand quilt this one, and may just to a 1 1/2" cross hatch, but then I have also considered getting a long arm quilter to do a simple edge to edge.  I don't want anything too fussy or fancible since the quilt is already very busy.

Red & White 9-Patch Round-up

 

I actually made this quilt in 2002, but not sure I ever posted a picture of it on my blog.  This was a block exchange I did with some friends in Texas where we swapped Red and White 9 patches.  I did all the embroidery myself just picking a wide variety of patterns.  The nutcracker was done by my dear friend Donna Kassan, who is an avid collector of Nutcrackers.