Another top finished.

I participated in a Windmill block swap with nine friends a couple of years ago. We each ended up with 20 blocks. I put tilted borders on the blocks to give them a little spin. Then I put it away for a bit....ok, a year...

I finally got them sewn together last summer and added a teal border. Then it aged a little longer....until Tuesday. A local group is making twin size quilts for a children's shelter here in town, so I decided I would finish this quilt and donate it to them. It just needed one more border to make it twin size, so it is ready to quilt. Now to find a back!

I had taken this partially finished tea cup swap block project with me on Tuesday too. I found it when I was cleaning out the quilting room the other day. I had some of the fabrics left too, so I put it all in a bag and took it with (it's on the "let's get it finished" list.) One of the other ladies ran out of fabric for her project so I asked her if she wanted it. She took it and started to work on it. She even got some more fabric to go with the leftover fabrics so that she could make a piano key border. She was still working on it when it was time to go, so more on this project later....

I spent yesterday getting a couple of quilt tops pressed and the backs ready so that I can quilt them.  Then I worked on a new string piecing project. I got seven blocks finished...string piecing is so much fun!

Potato Chip quilt finished!

 I got the Potato Chip quilt bound yesterday so it is officially finished!

I then put this teal border on the Windmill quilt. I hung this on the design wall, but I should've had friends hold it up too, as it is not up there very straight. I think it's finished. I made the binding out of an orangey-peachy colored fabric yesterday, so it'll be ready when I get it quilted. Since the blocks were made by friends, I will keep this one, so I don't want it to get too big as I will probably use as a throw. Even so, I keep thinking of adding another border. Maybe I am just so used to borders, that it looks unfinished without one. It's about 57" x 70.5" now. I think I will try to get people to sign one of their blocks. Or make a label with siggys. What do you think?

I also worked on the traditional Cathedral Windows blocks a bit yesterday. No pix yet.

Today's plan includes starting the quilting on the  Funky Rock Stars  quilt that I loaded on Monday. I should make some good progress on it since it is a throw. Are you sewing today?

Windmills spinning a bit tilted...

 The Windmill Swap quilt blocks are sewn together.  Still deciding about the border. If I do a border, it will probably be smallish. A pinwheel is supposed to show up where the blocks intersect (white parts on mine) but you lose that with the tilt. There isn't that much tilt to the blocks, but it still breaks it up.

One of the reasons I tilted them is because when you do a swap, there is a good chance that the blocks won't all be the same size, so putting some type of border around them and resquaring the blocks helps even them out. Plus it adds a little more pizzazz!

Going to a quilt bed turning today at the Harrison County Fair today...should be fun.

Another way.....and a cottage finish!

 I sewed with my friend, Debbie,  yesterday, so spent some time cutting and pressing squares to make some Cathedral Window blocks the traditional way. I wanted to try that method too, so I can show the difference when I teach it. It took a long time to press them. I think I will machine stitch them together and then hand stitch down the curves. I haven't decided for sure yet. Since I want to get them finished in the near future...and we all saw how the hand sewn hexie project is coming along, I think I should probably use my machine. They are still cut and pressed the traditional way...

I also sewed my Windmill blocks together from the swap last summer. I had decided to tilt my blocks to give them an extra spin, and that's as far as I got. They have been aging nicely, so went together just fine. I'm not sure if I should put a border on or finish as is. I will take a pic later!

Debbie showed me her finished Cottage quilt. She is part of the group of friends that I meet with and do swaps, and round robins with. I was one of her swap partners on this swap, so lots of my blocks are in her quilt. Here is my finished Cottage quilt.

Have lots to do today, so better get busy!

A rainy Sunday layout...

I have been playing around with the layout for the Windmill quilt. The blocks aren't going to tilt dramatically, but it will be more noticeable after they are sewn together.

It's a rainy start to Sunday here, a good day to play catch-up. I want to work on a round robin block that should've been done over a week ago...

I would also like to get caught up on the Red Letter Quiltalong...she posted X today, and I need to do U, V, & W first....

There is also some cleaning....notice that it is last on the list?

Feels like chili weather, so I am off to get some started in the crock pot!

Still on a bender!

 I like to make some of the blocks tilt to the left and some tilt to the right. (see previous post) The blocks don't have to be exactly the same. If some tilt more than others, it will just add to the charm.

 You do need to be careful to leave at least 1/2" between the seam and the border for seam allowance at the narrow end. Otherwise you may not have any border left! This one is going to be close!

You can see how they will look as they come together. These won't tilt a lot because I used a small border. If you want them to tilt more, just add a wider border and you will have more room to "tilt".

I am teaching the St. Marks Quilt today...should be a great day and I should have some great pix to share!

Swap blocks go on a bender....

I wanted to add a little twist to my swap blocks, so I added a different 2" border to each one. I used some of the fabrics I had used in the blocks I made. This made the blocks about 15 1/2".

I decided I could recut them 14". I have a 15" square up ruler, but I was afraid I might mess up the cutting so I cut a 14" square of cardboard. That helped me center it on the square, and see that I was staying in the area I needed to be in.

Then I laid the ruler on top of it, lining it up with 2 sides of the cardboard, to get a good cut.

Then I used the ruler to square up the last 2 sides.

Now my block has a little tilt to it. 

Tuesday Sew-in and the Kooky Letter K..

I worked on these swap blocks yesterday during the Tuesday Sew-In. Had a great time and finished the blocks I had started for a total of 10. I cut out a few more before I had to leave. 

Today after some cleaning and grocery shopping, I worked on the letter K. I am not too happy with my Ks. The first one turned out too big. The second one was better, but I decided I should straighten it up and in the process, cut off the bottom of the right leg. So it looks like it might tip over. Note to self: lay the ruler down  on it or place a fabric strip over it at the place you think you want to cut and then check it before cutting. I made it like Lynne, but you will see that she didn't straighten hers up vertically. I could've added a piece of background to that side and then straightened it up. Then my K wouldn't have to limp. 

 Here it is with the Jaunty J!

I think L will be much easier.

The Jaunty J and a block swap

 Since J is my first initial, I am doing it a different color, one that will POP with the rest. This mottled batik has orange, gold and reds.

I really like the light floral, but not sure it will show up well.

 I really like this floral, but decided against it for now.

 I love stripes, but the swirls are nice too.

 Here is the pink.....hmmmm, which one, which one?

 I ended up making one out of the striped fabric...

 and a topless J out of this mottled batik. Now, which one should I use? There are 2 other people doing blues as well, so I am curious to see what they use for their POP color.

I spent a good part of yesterday working on these Double Windmill blocks for a swap I'm doing. I got some more partially finished. We are using brights, any solid or prints can be used. Today I am getting together with friends for our Tuesday Sew-in so will work on them then. I might take a binding project along too. Really need to get another one done.