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Saturday, January 2, 2010

Off to a good start

I started this quilt on Dec. 18, 2008, completed the top by Jan. 5, 2009, and now have it quilted. This one was not pictured in the hanging quilts of the last 2 days because it was already basted. This is my favorite foot for stitch in the ditch. It is the quarter inch foot for my machine and has a single hole opening for the needle and a narrow space between the toes. This keeps my eyes from wandering side to side as they would with a zig zag foot or open toe foot. I can focus on the edge of the fabric as it travels between the toes of the foot.See how ripply it is after quilting?
After steam pressing from the back it lays nice and flat. I trimmed the edges and sewed the binding on. I have 3 sides hand finished on the back and will finish the fourth side today.
I have ditch quilted around each set of fabrics in the blocks and did wavy lines in a crossed pattern, like streamers falling for New Year's Eve in the sashing and borders. I actually started the quilting on New Year's Eve and finished it by 2 p.m yesterday. Then I started the binding. I took a break to play a few games of Spider Solitaire and read some blogs. They say what you do on the first day of the year sets the pattern for the year. I hope that means that I will get lots of quilting and finishing done and get a little relaxation in each day too.
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42 comments:

  1. MariaJanuary 2, 2010 at 6:07 AM

    That sounds like a wonderful way to spend the rest of the year as I also sewed, blogged and played games but had lunch with two dear friends as well.

    Your quilt looks great and thanks for the tip about ironing the quilt from the back when finished to flatten it.

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  2. DianeJanuary 2, 2010 at 6:18 AM

    I love the border and sashing fabric on this quilt! The effect is has on setting off the quilt is awesome. Nothing like the fresh start of a new year to rev up our creative juices.

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  3. KathleenJanuary 2, 2010 at 6:21 AM

    Lovely quilt and great way to start the new year!

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  4. Edith Bieri-HanselmannJanuary 2, 2010 at 6:22 AM

    Hi Wanda, I had to smile when I read what you are doing when you stop quilting and need some change. Spider Solitaire - I also do this as "refreshment"!
    Happy New Year
    Edith from Switzerland

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  5. Karen - Quilts...etc.January 2, 2010 at 6:32 AM

    I didn't spend much time sewing but I did get the Christmas stuff put away.
    Karen
    http://karensquilting.com/blog/

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  6. JodyJanuary 2, 2010 at 6:32 AM

    Wanda, what a lovely start to your new year!!! I also spent the day sewing and I began the "H" quilt! If you trot over to the blog, you will see your little legacy block. I love love LOVE this piece that you worked on today - do you ever sell your work?
    Happy 2010!

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  7. UnknownJanuary 2, 2010 at 6:32 AM

    The New Year's Day quilt is a profusion of color and a nice way to celebrate the New Year. Happy 2010.

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  8. CathyJanuary 2, 2010 at 7:12 AM

    What a beautiful quilt. Happy New Year.

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  9. Gene BlackJanuary 2, 2010 at 7:18 AM

    Wanda, seeing your picture of the foot you use for stitch in the ditch suddenly made me understand what you had said to me before. I can certainly see that it would help with focusing on the ditch.
    The quilt looks great quilted. I love the "ribbon streamer" quilting in the sashing.

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  10. dianenJanuary 2, 2010 at 8:00 AM

    I think this quilt turned out great. I especially love the way you quilted the borders and in between the blocks. You're off to a great start, Wanda!

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  11. LauraJanuary 2, 2010 at 8:02 AM

    What a fun and interesting quilt! I love the border and sashing fabric.

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  12. Vicki WJanuary 2, 2010 at 8:20 AM

    You are off to a great start!

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  13. Laura WasilowskiJanuary 2, 2010 at 8:23 AM

    Your photos are always so beautifully clear. Thanks for sharing.

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  14. UnknownJanuary 2, 2010 at 8:24 AM

    I love that quilt!! Don't you feel great getting it done? You really have a terrific start into the 40 something quilts to finish. One down!

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  15. *karendianne.January 2, 2010 at 8:32 AM

    Oh my gosh this is really snuggly! I dig it. I love that this makes me feel happy and snuggly, too. I mean to say that I wouldn't have thought these fabrics (alone) could have elicited such a response - but they have and man that's fun to know.

    Seriously, when all you have is a stash of Civil War it's so neat to see something else that gets ya!

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  16. BetsyJanuary 2, 2010 at 8:36 AM

    Great quilt. I love your fabric selection. It is perfect!

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  17. BrendaJanuary 2, 2010 at 8:36 AM

    Very fun quilt. I was also playing with that Kaffe ball/umbrella one you used in the borders. I spent the day sewing and quilting yesterday too -- looks like we all set a good precedent for 2010. Thanks for sharing this lovely quilt.

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  18. BrenJanuary 2, 2010 at 8:42 AM

    I absolutely LOVE this quilt. It makes me smile from ear to ear and my eyes sparkle, too.
    Is that an old fabric of Kaffe in your border?

    Great start for 2010.

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  19. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2010 at 8:52 AM

    Yay, another finish. I love it. Hannah

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  20. LouiseJanuary 2, 2010 at 8:56 AM

    Wanda,
    I wish that were true about what you do on the 1st dat of a new year sets the precedence for what you will do for the rest of the year. I usually clean house and laundry on the first, and I have yet to set that as my priority. Hard to keep up with the dust bunnies. So this year I finished my Strips and Curves hanging, read a book , rested in between and thought about what I would do next. Key word THOUGHT ! Hope to finish a few more UFO's this year.
    Happy New Year !
    Louise

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  21. hettyJanuary 2, 2010 at 8:57 AM

    Great way to start the New Year! I just love this quilt! I spent most of my day in my sewing room too. I hope that means lots of sewing for me in 2010!

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  22. Kim BrackettJanuary 2, 2010 at 9:18 AM

    Great first day of the year! I love this quilt. The blocks seem to float on top of the background fabric. Happy New Year, Wanda!

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  23. EvaJanuary 2, 2010 at 9:22 AM

    This is a wonderful quilt, a feel-good pattern and color quilt. Happy start!
    My patterns will be set on Valentine day this year.

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  24. Elsie MontgomeryJanuary 2, 2010 at 10:41 AM

    Hi Wanda, love this quilt. It is so lively. I hope my first day of 2010 is NOT indicative of the rest of the year. I slept in, went shopping, and ate too much! However, we are on holidays and relaxing, so it would be nice to leave in the relaxed part!

    Happy New Year! (from AZ right now, but I have my sewing machine and a complicated UFO with me)

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  25. SheilaCJanuary 2, 2010 at 10:45 AM

    Beautiful quilt! I just love the colors.

    You should enter this quilt in Quilting Gallery's themed quilt show/contest.

    This quilt would be perfect for their "New's Year's Party" theme.

    Good Luck!
    SheilaC
    http://quiltinggallery.com/page/1/

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  26. KaarQuilterJanuary 2, 2010 at 10:59 AM

    Wanda, I love it! Great job. And very inspiring. I am a big fan of these fabrics. Happy NY.

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  27. GerryARTJanuary 2, 2010 at 11:29 AM

    I love this quilt. What great colors ! ! !
    Love the quilting.

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  28. MaritJanuary 2, 2010 at 11:38 AM

    This one is so colorful, fun and beautiful!! Love your quilting, too. It's a combination I would never think of. Thank you for sharing!
    And a little question about the batting - what do you use? Will it shrink a bit when washed, or do you aim for a "flat" surface?

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  29. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2010 at 11:40 AM

    What a beautiful quilt! Simple but exotic and the close up of the foot is a great help. Thank you.

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  30. AmyJanuary 2, 2010 at 11:51 AM

    Wanda, you do such wonderful work. I noticed the presser foot that you are using. I have a foot that is similar. I am still learning techniques and was curious since the foot isn't a walking foot. I hope you don't mind my asking. Do you do anything special to keep the stitch length consistent and the layers moving together?

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  31. CathiJanuary 2, 2010 at 12:02 PM

    What a great finish to start the year! I love that little quilt. The streamers quilting is such a great idea!

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  32. JoyceJanuary 2, 2010 at 12:43 PM

    Oops, I didn't quilt at all yesterday. I spent the day cooking and entertaining family. Well, that's not a bad way to go I guess. Your quilt is beautiful.

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  33. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2010 at 12:59 PM

    This quilt is a charmer, perfect for New Years Eve and Day. Those fabrics say it all full of color and HAPPINESS. Love your design for this one. Thanks for ALL of your helpful tips and that foot looks like it is one every quilter needs.

    J~MT

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  34. quiltmom annaJanuary 2, 2010 at 1:26 PM

    Another beautiful quilt- looks like you used some beautiful Kaffe Fassett fabrics- one of the blogs has a set of his fat quarters on sale. I love the millefloire(sp?) line as I love mille floire beads.
    I am tempted but I need to behave myself so I trying to resist. No matter how much beautiful fabric one has there is still more to wish for VBS..
    Happy New Year to you and yours. It looks like you have some wonderful quilting plans for the New Year. I am sure you will finish all those beautiful pieces.
    Warmest regards,
    Anna

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  35. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2010 at 1:26 PM

    Hi Wanda,
    Another beautiful quilt. I spend new years day watching the parade and being very lazy. Wow what a year ahead for me.
    Roberta A

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  36. Baker_iaJanuary 2, 2010 at 2:20 PM

    Wanda what a pretty quilt. I found your blog thru Karen's.

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  37. Vicky FJanuary 2, 2010 at 5:01 PM

    Hi Wanda,
    Beautiful quilt.
    And really interesting sewing machine foot. Do you have that dual feed type of machine that makes it unnecessary to have a walking foot?

    You are an inspiration to lots of quilters!
    Vicky F

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  38. Gari in ALJanuary 2, 2010 at 7:34 PM

    "They say what you do on the first day of the year sets the pattern for the year" That would mean that I will spend the rest of the year watching football, sitting in the rain, and riding in the car/traveling. I can take the last one but NOT the first two. ;-)

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  39. QuiltSueJanuary 3, 2010 at 3:05 AM

    What a lovely happy quilt.

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  40. Lynn DykstraJanuary 3, 2010 at 7:49 PM

    I love how you took an impossible fabric and used it so well as sashing.
    Wonderful.

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  41. Shepherdess55January 5, 2010 at 3:43 PM

    Wanda, you are such an inspiration to me. I was wondering if you're aware that Pfaff has a Stitch-in-the-Ditch presser foot. Here's a link to see a photo of it. It is essentially the quarter inch foot with a guide that runs along the folded edge of the seam. Available in solid metal and clear.

    http://www.thecolorfulworldofsewing.com/p-72-pfaff-stitch-in-the-ditch-presser-foot.aspx

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  42. *karendianne.January 8, 2010 at 12:40 PM

    Hi friend! Shopped today for some fun fabrics to play with this design. Didn't copy your design but sure did get some fun fabrics to play with.

    The sincerest form of flattery (outside of cookies!), *karendianne.

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