September Quilt Challenge Blocks AKA Piano Runner

My plan for the October piano runner changed when I saw the sashing fabric below.

The Trick or Treaters are so cute I came up with three appliqué blocks to frame with the new fabric.

Below I was trying out the layout.

The background fabric is navy constellations on a beige background.

The Halloween fabric has a navy background.

Pumpkin or Jack O'Lantern?

Mr. M liked Jack.

I used raw edge appliqué to attach the centers.

The shapes are echo quilted with grey thread.

The sashings are quilted a quarter inch from the seams with navy thread. 

I used the Halloween fabric for the backing.

The binding is a green and black stripe from the Halloween fabric line.

The label came from a label panel. I added details.

The bat and pumpkin appliqué shapes are my designs. 

I like how the quilting works on the back.

Find the Hat.

Where is the Jack O'Lantern?

The Bat is tricky to spot.

My sewing machine was struggling as I finished the binding.

I took the machine straight to The Sewing House for emergency maintenance.

This is my favorite sewing machine. My mom bought it for me when Emily was a preschooler.

The verdict - motor needs to be replaced - none available to purchase.

I am using my travel Babylock right now.

It doesn't fit my sewing cabinet but a ruler and a plastic tray fill some of the spaces.

Saturday I attended my first sewing session for My Midnight Garden.

This week I finished the two blocks below and a crescent moon block.

My birthday was this week, too.

Joey gave me a gift card to The Sewing House.

I bought a floral Liberty poplin and the grid fabric below.

Today I cut out the blouse shown.

Next to finish the blouse with my serger and second best sewing machine.

Happy Sewing!

Quilt History Connection

Memphis Cotton Museum and the Davies Manor are showing mini quilts with connections to quilting in the 1800's. Each quilt is to show a type of block used in one of the decades in that century.

I chose the fan block.

I found information on the fan block online at the MET Museum and the Nebraska Quilt Museum.

Fan blocks came after the 1876 USA Centennial and were similar to Crazy Quilts but more orderly.

Embroidery stitches like Herringbone, Fly, and Feather were used to attach the silk and velvet scraps.

The earliest documented quilt was made in 1883.

The earliest printed pattern came in 1896.

My blocks are 6 inches finished. The base block is modern quilting cotton.

The fan blades are made using fabric from men's ties.

My mom, Helen Thornton, cut the shapes for a fan quilt that was never finished.

I tried two different settings and chose the setting above.

I call it Sun and Butterflies.

It is copied partially from a red and white fan quilt I saw on the MET website.

Above is a close up of the center circle.

The blades are sewn together then applied to the base.

I used an embroidery stitch on my Pfaff to stitch on each seam, around the outside,

and on the inner quarter circle.

The quilting is very minimal.

Instead of binding I made facings and added a hanging sleeve at the top.

The white triangle is the label.

Above is a close up of the quilting on the back.

The corners have a ghost quarter circle quilted where a fan could be placed.

Close up of the quilting and embroidery on the front.

The machine stitch is similar to a feather stitch, I think.

So, here is my entry to the mini quilt show.

It will help me remember my mom's quilting and my dad's spiffy ties.

Happy Sewing! 

Next up - October piano runner.

Delta Fair Results

I entered four small quilts in the Delta Fair.

The fair opened yesterday.

This morning we went with our son and his family to look at the craft exhibit.

The small quilts were in cases with all the other small crafts.

It was like an egg hunt to find my four quilts.

Here is my winter piano runner with a blue ribbon! 

Underneath all the other decorations is my February piano runner - no ribbon.

A close up of my first place ribbon.

The mini quilt I made in a rush before the fair received a red ribbon.

And my favorite improved cat quilt - no ribbon.

I am pleased with 2 out of 4 ribbons.

Next year I'm bringing more.

Ava and Kenton liked seeing the crafts done by children.

Maybe next year they will submit some items.

Next up - Cotton Museum mini quilt and my September Challenge piano runner.

Happy Sewing!