Category Archives: flimsy

Winter Prairie Window

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After spending most of December long arm quilting for others, I was looking for a fun project that would be quick to finish–a reward project.  This project is a quilt that can be cut out and put together easily in a weekend.

The print in the center of this quilt was in my stash for some time.  The go-with fabrics were purchased during a Boxing Week sale after Christmas last year.  It was time to assemble them into the intended quilt.

This pattern is called, “Prairie Window” and is by Anne Wiens of Sweetgrass Creative Designs.
This quilt is lap size and finishes at 56″ x 68″.

Button Up – Merry Christmas

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Linda thought it was time for a reward project on Saturday.  You can always count on me to join in on a fun, quick project.  Linda and I seem to specialize in taking turns leading each other astray.  LOL
So Saturday’s project was Merry Christmas, a cute pattern included in the Button Up Collection from Joined at the Hip (BU #21).  The Button Up quilt series is a group of seasonally inspired 28″ x 48″ quilts that button onto a quilted foundation for easy decorating with the change in seasons. 
Although this is my first Button Up, Linda has completed several already.  I need to button hole stitch around my star and then this will be ready for quilting.  The pattern calls for some paper key tag disks available from stationery supply stores to be made into ornaments and to be stitched on the branches, but I think I will see if I can find some suitable buttons instead.

Minnesota Hot Dish – Finished Flimsy

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This is my queen sized version of Terry Atkinson’s Minnesota Hot Dish.  This quilt is now finished to the flimsy stage and has moved to the waiting-to-be-quilted pile.
This is a copy of the pattern jacket.  I believe this pattern is now out of print.  Atkinson Design patterns are great–never disappoint–no surprises–always end up looking like the pattern!  I know it seems funny to say that.  Shouldn’t quilts end up looking like the pattern if you follow the pattern instructions?  Although this is what we expect when we purchase a pattern, many designers do not take the time to thoroughly test their pattern designs with real quilters and you end up frustrated at some point in the construction process.  

Fire Escape

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Sometimes you need a project that provides instant gratification on a finish to jump start the creative process.  I also wanted to make use of my existing stash. 

I have been saving a group of Debbie Mumm fabrics for years–at least 10 years–waiting for just the right pattern to come along.   

Terry Atkinson’s pattern,  Fire Escape was just the ticket to showcase my stack of Debbie Mumm aqua and red fabrics.  This pattern uses only 5 – 1 yard cuts of fabric plus one contrasting fabric for the lap size (60″ x 72″) quilt.

This one is now a finished flimsy and moves to the “to be quilted pile”.  Let’s hope it doesn’t spend another 10 years on that pile!

Third FAB Birthday PAR-TAY of 2011

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Saturday we celebrated Linda’s birthday.  Linda is the 3rd FAB to celebrate her birthday this year.  Linda’s “actual” birthday is August 10th but finding a date that 5 busy people can get together on line always proves to be a challenge.  It almost always has to be a Saturday if we want to sew, and we WANTED TO SEW!  So a date was picked–August 13 and everyone agreed to be there.
Instead of exchanging challenge projects this year, we have elected to honor the birthday girl and surprise her with something handmade. Gifts were made and mailed to Linda in advance of her party.  Saturday morning, the party kicked off with Linda taking opening each of her parcels–in the order they were received.  You can take a closer look at all the loot received by Linda by visiting her blog here:  http://catsnqlts2.blogspot.com/
Linda is a lover of 30’s reproduction fabrics so I knew whatever I made, it had to be made from 30’s fabrics.   I decided to make some things for Linda that I use a lot myself. 
The first thing I made was a mug organizer/pinafore.  I have one of these organizers attached to a mug on my sewing desk that is jammed full of all those little items you can’t sew without that are easy to loose in a mass of fabric when you are sewing like, a seam ripper, ruler, marking pens, pencil, wooden iron, etc.  The pattern was from a kit that I received during a local quilt shop hop some years ago.
The second item I made was a bag for Linda to take her mug to class or guild with her.  Our guild charges a quarter for a Styrofoam coffee cup if you forget to bring your own ceramic mug with you to guild as we are trying to promote the green option.  I thought Linda’s guild might have a similar practice.  I told Linda that my mug gets washed when I get home from the guild meeting and it is put right back into its bag along with my name badge so I am ready for the next meeting–just grab my bag and go.  I think Linda is going to adopt this process as well.  The outside of the bag has a number of pockets–designed to hold a spoon, tea bag, sugar packet, etc.  The pattern for the mug tote is from an Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine some years ago. 
  

The pattern that Linda picked for us each to work on after the gift opening was first featured in the Winter 2010 issue of Quilts & More.  The pattern was called Line Art in that magazine, with a picture here:  http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/magazines/quiltsandmore/color-options-winter-2010_ss10.html
Allpeoplequilt.com has featured a second colourway called, Skinny Strips, with a picture here:  http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/projects-ideas/throws-wall-hangings/skinny-strips_1.html.

In true challenge fashion, I was having difficulty trying to decide on what “collection” of strips to use to make my version of this quilt. All I knew for sure was that I wanted to use existing stash–no additional purchases.  I cycled through ideas including something patriotic–just red and white, something Hawaiian–using some of my Hawaiian-themed fabrics purchased in Hawaii, and something chicken related–using some of my extensive collection of chicken/rooster fabrics.  I finally decided on a fall-themed version on Saturday morning.  Nothing like leaving the decision to the last minute!  Because I was late in making the decision on which fabrics to use, I was not 100% ready to start sewing when everyone else was ready to sew.  Some of my strips were pulled from my totes of pre-cut strips.  I did have to cut a few more background pieces and a few more reds, yellows, and browns to complement the strips I already had cut.

Once your strips are cut, this pattern is definitely doable in a weekend.  I was able to finish my version of Line Art, aka Skinny Strips Sunday night to the flimsy stage.  Here it is:

It was another great day sewing with the FABs.  The chatter/conversation that takes place while we sew probably keeps us from performing at peak production since we need to take time out from pushing the fabric through the machine to type-talk, but it is worth it.  Another great day enjoyed by all.