2 flannel quilts finished............

 I cut the binding and sewed it on all by machine for #2 flannel Stack and Slash. 

This has been a hard quilt to photograph and get the colors right.  The photo above is the truest color photo so far.  This quilt ended up 55" x 70".  This quilt is a mix of prints, plaids and stripes.

#1 flannel Stack and Slash ended up 52.5" x 67".  I cut the strips 1/4" narrower on this quilt and the loop quilting pulled it in more too.  This quilt is all plaid and stripe flannels.

Here they are hanging on the rail of my longarm with the light coming in from the side.  The colors are pretty true in this photo.

We had temperatures in the low 60s yesterday and the weathermen are predicting 2-5" of snow tomorrow.  This has been a strange winter.

Lots done..........

The batik orphan block quilt top is finished.  Since the blocks weren't specially made to go together, there are a few places that could have looked better if it had been planned.  Overall though I'm really happy with it. It is about 54" x 69".

Late in the afternoon yesterday I quilted the second flannel quilt.  I used 2 binder clips instead of the failing channel lock and that worked pretty well.

The lines of quilting are just randomly placed, no measuring.

This one got a dark green plaid and a beige stripe on black for the backing.

Last night I sewed the binding on the first flannel quilt.  Once again I did it all by machine.  Hopefully I'll get the binding on the other one today and can take photos of both of them.

The peach/orange is so pretty against the black and white pot.

 Here is a view of the whole plant just loaded with buds.  The soft red one at the end is full of blooms too.

Progress with orphan blocks.............

This is where I am on the batik orphan block quilt.  I have sewn the top section starting with the Northwind blocks near the left side down through the X and + blocks across the middle.  That section is 46" x 42".  

I need to add a strip to each of the log cabin blocks on the lower left to make them into 8" blocks in one direction and maybe some will get 2 strips to make that edge fit.

I went through my batik pieces and parts drawer to see if there was anything else that should go in the orphan quilt.

This is the only group that might make it, especially the strips of triangles, maybe as a spacer strip.

Here were some fun pieces I found that might make it into a wonky wallhanging.

Last night I got the backing for the other flannel quilt sewn and loaded the backing and batting on the longarm.  I hope to quilt it today.

Below are the portrait photos of the 30s Stack and Slash baby quilt.
 

 

Finally.......some quilting........

I found backing fabric for the 2 flannel Stack and Slash quilts and got one of them pieced and quilted the quilt.

These are the 2 fabrics that are on the back.

It is now waiting on the cutting table for a binding.

Then I loaded the 30s repro fabric Stack and Slash and quilted it.

I cut the binding from the leftover backing fabric and sewed it on all by machine.  I used a narrow zig zag to stitch it down.  That makes a softer finish than a straight stitch.  I'll take its portrait photo today.  I hope I can stay on a roll and get the other backing pieced and binding cut for both flannel quilts.  The end of the month deadline is right around the corner.

More play with orphan blocks

I added one more Northwind block on the left side and that gave me enough length to add the big block near the bottom right.  I'm not sure all that I have added on the bottom will really fit together without spacers.

If you go back to yesterday's post you can see the changes I have made.

I put most of the rest of the blocks up on the design wall so you can see what else I have to work with if I make it larger.  There are 9 red/purple 16 patches that aren't shown here.

The question is do I stop when I like it or keep going and try to use all of the blocks.  This is a double design wall 7' tall, 8' wide.  I would have to design it sideways if I'm going to use all of the blocks.  I'm happy with the top 42" x 42" section so I could sew that together to make it easier to shift sideways.  Right now the whole thing would only be 42" x 67".

Playing with orphan blocks............

This was the first layout following my graph paper drawing yesterday.  I didn't notice the 4 patches turned the wrong way on the top until I got all the way to the computer.  

I didn't like the all light edge on the left so I want back down to the basement and made some changes.

I fixed the 4 patches and rearranged the vertical row on the left.

I added the bottom row of strip pieced blocks but it looks too dark and distinct.

Back down to the basement........

I put in some lighter strip pieced blocks.  The 4 white rectangles in the lower right are places for spacers.  I can just add strips onto the blocks there or maybe make something specifically for that area.  I'm not happy with that area.  I will leave this on the wall for a few days.  This would be about 46" x 59" right now, not very big.

I moved the 1.5" design wall foam boards into the place I had taken the 1" ones from.  Now I need to get busy and quilt something.

Working on lots of things............

I played with my batik orphan blocks on graph paper yesterday.  Since this doesn't include color I have no idea if the layout will work.  This is using mostly edge to edge blocks.  If it doesn't work when I put them up on the design wall I'll go to plan B with lots of spacers.

I sewed the second Laurel Burch baby quilt together.  The one on the left is 39.5" x 52" and on the right, 54" square.  The big one would be big enough for 2 babies to play on.



I spent a considerable amount of time in the basement yesterday going through all of the stuff that was behind 2 design walls.  I took the two 1" styrofoam 4' x 7' boards to my workshop Saturday and now they are going to go into my main floor studio.  I will replace them with two 1.5" boards in the basement.

I have lots of blooms in my winter garden right now.  This is 2 plants side by side.  The one on the right is the peach/orange.  I have 2 plants in that color now and the other one is loaded with buds.

This is the same one that had blooms at Christmas.  I still have several plants that haven't bloomed yet and almost all of the early bloomers are setting buds again.  There is no rhyme or reason to their blooming.

More blocks............

I got the last set of Stack and Slash blocks sewn last night and put them up on the design wall.   I'll decide this morning if this is the final layout.  I will show the 2 Laurel Burch baby quilts together soon.  This one is darker than the first one.

I was so happy her signature on the fabric ended up in a prominent place on two of the blocks.

Today I need to vacuum the basement and then decide what to quilt next.

Workshop results...........

There were 15 participants in the Slack and Slash workshop yesterday.  Here they each have one of their blocks.  There was a nice variety of fabrics being used.

 I forgot my camera and had to depend on my cell phone camera.  I am used to a heavier camera and only got a few good photos with the cell phone.

Last night I sewed the crosswise seams on the 30s repro top  and also sewed the first of 2 Laurel Burch baby quilt tops.

Ready for the workshop.......

I sewed the 30's repro blocks yesterday and then sewed them in rows one way to show the method of rows held together by connecting threads.  It will also show the workshop attendees the pressing sequence.  I'm all packed and ready for the workshop.  I haven't taught away from my house for awhile so I hope I don't forget anything.

2 quilts........

At the sew-in I cut the pieces for a 1930s reproduction fabric Stack and Slash baby quilt.  Later in the day I got the first round of sewing done.  I need to have 3 quilts in progress for demo purposes at the workshop tomorrow.

Last night I sewed the second flannel top together.  Now I need to turn on the iron and press both projects.

Rearranging........

My 2 friends came over to sew yesterday and I finished the blocks for the second flannel Stack and Slash.  I may rearrange a couple blocks but I was too tired last night to spend any more time on the layout.

I also played with the orphan blocks.  I do intend to use as many possible all in one quilt.  My main decision is whether I am grouping like blocks and if the answer is yes, I need to sew those sections together to help with the designing.  I still have 5 more paper pieced stars, 5 Blazing Stars and lots more red/purple 16 patches that aren't up there.  Everything will change once the seam allowances are sewn.

I removed this batch of double 4 patches from yesterday's layout and will make a table runner with them.  I took the rest of the double 4 patches and moved them out like a border instead of grouping them as in the layout yesterday.

I have the twice monthly sew-in today and tomorrow morning need to take my van to the dealer and get the lift gate on the back fixed.  Saturday is the Stack and Slash workshop so I won't get any farther on this orphan quilt this week.

Playing and starting another new one.........

Every so often I get out all of my batik orphan blocks and put them up on the design wall.  This time I'm going to measure them and make a list to put in the box with them.  On the floor is a stack of 6 paper pieced stars, 5 Blazing Star blocks, a stack of 6" blocks and some miscellaneous.  There are quite a few of the red and purple 16 patches leaning against the wall too.  

This is the beginning of the next Stack and Slash quilt, a mix of plaids, stripes and prints.

Two tops sewn.............

I finished this TAW top in time to take it to my program last night.  It has 120 different fabrics, 5 different fabrics for each color.  It ended up 69" x 92".  It would be a huge couch quilt as is or I could add a border and make it into a twin size quilt.

I just realized I hadn't shown the plaid Stack and Slash top since I sewed it together.  The workshop for it is on Saturday.

The program went very well.  I had 6 lovely helpers to hold the quilts for viewing as well as helpers to bring the quilts and backdrop stands in and out after the program.  When I got home I unpacked everything so I could lay the wallhangings flat on the guest bed to prevent fold marks.