Quilting in the Web 2.0 Generation

I can't believe I didn't think of this earlier! When I heard about it I had a complete "duh" moment.

I found Quilting Apps for my Iphone!!!!

I downloaded one called QuiltFab, which allows the user to punch in some information about the quilt and the app will tell you how much fabric you need. This will come in so handy to a beginner quilter... and the kicker... it is FREE!

I also downloaded an excellent one called, Quick and Easy Quilt Block Tool. It has over 100 quilt blocks in "5 sizes each, with design details and construction diagrams." It is really a helpful app for any quilter!

Baby Quilt with Applique and Easy Binding

I took an applique class a couple months ago and I finally finished the quilt I started. It is a baby blanket with an adorable teddy bear on it.

I used fusible web to stick the bear on the fabric and then hand stitched a button hole stitch around him.

I wanted to give the teddy bear some depth so that it didn't look like he was just floating in the middle of the quilt. I accomplished this by machine quilting in both horizontal and vertical lines.

I also wanted some areas of the quilt to be puffy so I didn't quilt around eve

ry square.

I finished off with a satin-ish material. I used 3.5 inch strips and ironed about a quarter inch fold along both edges of the material, then I pressed the material in half.

I then "learned as I went" and applied the binding to the out side of my quilt. I probably did it completely wrong, in the traditional sense of binding, but it worked. I used the basic concept formed from looking at the satin finishing on a baby blanket from my childhood. I just looked at how it was sewn on and mimicked it. I don't know if there is a term for this type of finish on a quilt. (If there is and you know it, leave it in the comments).

I am happy with the result. I learned a lot. For example, next time I finish a quilt like this, I will use 5 inch strips. I will also do the corners a bit differently! All in all, I had fun and my baby has a new blanket!

Mosaic Quilt Block Class

I have enrolled in a block a month quilting class. It is one of my "mom breaks" for the month. I missed the first class in June so I will be working on two blocks this month.

This class has 12 different blocks that are 12 different techniques. I learned so much this week. We took and cut out squares and rectangles and sewed them together on a diagnal. It was so easy! I never knew working with triangles could be so easy!!!

I also learned handy technique to ensure that you lines and points match up. I wish I could describe it, maybe I will make a video on how to do it! Now there is an idea...

I am extra excited because this is the first quilt I made for myself. I choose colors that are "totally me." This quilt will represent a lot for me and I know I will treasure it!

In summation, the class rocked.

Working with Triangles

I do not know why, but working with triangles intimidates me! So I had to get over this fear of quilts with triangles in them.

I bought this great triangle ruler that included a pattern. I modified the pattern just a little bit, but I officially have my first quilt block with triangle in it. I can't wait to tell you all about the quilt it is for, but that is top secret right now! Check back soon for more details!!!!

Binding Update

I had been procrastinating finishing my Winnie the Pooh wall hanging because I thought the binding would take a long time and be very boring... However, I bit the bullet over the weekend and am happy to report it was actually enjoyable.

I really like hand work that is not super difficult. I like to be able to sort of turn on my auto pilot and hand stitch. For me, I found that doing a blind stitch was perfect for that.

I learned a couple new things too about binding. I learned that I should sew it with the machine onto the back and hand stitch it on the front. I also learned that when you are just learning to bind quilts, give yourself an extra 1/4 inch to work with, heck... go crazy, try 1/2 inch. You will thank yourself later.

I am sure this too, is just one of those things that you learn from sewing, riping, re-sewing and never making that mistake again.

That is me posing with my very first binding. Other than quilting I am also a scrapbooker. I am working on a 365 day photo journal, so I took this photo for that day. It is called Project Life.

Machine Stitching My Turtle Applique

I was brave and decided to try to machine stitch my sea turtle (Original Sea Turtle Quilt Blog). I looked up some tips on machine stitching applique patterns and found that it was very important to make sure when turning my fabric I have my needle down on the OUTSIDE of the applique. So with that knowledge off I went. I did two different stitches to give the turtle depth. I am very pleased how it turned out, for my first try at least!

Crooked Rail Fence- Monochromatic

I needed a wall hanging to go in my bedroom. I am doing a blue and brown theme and could not find anything for a corner wall. I really like the crooked rail fence design. Although I think they look a lot better with a multitude of colors, I was pretty happy the outcome of it in all blue. I am going to put a solid border on it to finish it off, I will post an updated photo when it is done.

This is a fairly easy quilt to make. I used 1.5 inch strips and sewed them together in groups of 8. Then I used a 6.5 inch square ruler tilted to the right or left to get the crooked effect. I followed instructions on this blog. It has step by step instructions and many photos of examples.

Designing my Turtle Quilt

I have under taken this quilt that I have designed from scratch! I even used my graphic design skills to create a digital pattern.

Here is how it all started... I wanted to make a Sea Turtle Quilt for my son's nursery. I fell in love with this brown pok-a-dotted fabric. I decided it would make a great back. I found some fat quarters that would look go

od with the brown fabric. So I had my center piece fabric, I just didn't have a sea turtle pattern.

Well, I wouldn't let a little thing like that stop me... so I searched online for sea turtle pictures or drawings. I finally found the perfect photo, so I imported it into photoshop and erased the center until I just had the outline

and voila (that is suposed to be that french term, I don't know if I spelled it correct) Anyway, here is what I ended up with.

Once I had my sea turtle ironed onto my fabric, I took a photo of it and imported that into Adobe Illistrator. I then designed how I wanted the final quilt to be. I figured out how I plan to do the boarder and corners. The only difference in the final draft is that there will be a baby sea turtle crawling out of an egg in the upper left hand block.

I have chosen the fabric for the boarder, it will help bring out the blue/teal dots in the brown fabric.

I still have to finish the applique stitching, but I haven't decided if I will do it by hand or machine. I am very excited to get to work on the boarder since it will be the first time I work with triangles!

I went to Fabric Heaven!

This blog is not only to talk about what quilts I design and make, it is also to highlight some of the other reasons that I love quilting.

One of the things I love most about quilting is picking out fabric. I love finding those fabrics that I just have to have. I found one such fabric at a store called The Quilt Place, in Rockledge, Florida. This fabric store has some of the most amazing fabrics! I found one that I just had to make a quilt out of. I don't have a pattern in mind yet, but I just know this quilt is going to be amazing. This quilt is going to scream Niki!

The fabric that I first picked out is the striped one. I just had to have it. Then from there I choose some other dyed fabrics and one more print. I don't know what I am going to do with it yet, but I will keep you posted!