Hey June! Progress

 This week I machine quilted Hey June and finished the binding. The batting is polyester - something I have not used in a quilt before. I am big stitch quilting each block to make the quilting a little closer. I am using 6 different colors of DMC #5 pearl cotton thread. So far I have done 3 blocks. I like having a hand sewing project to work on in the evenings.

 Sharing photos to remember how I did this one. Below my big stitches around the block. Sometimes I sew with my left hand and sometimes with my right hand. Depends on where the stitches need to go.

I am left handed but sometimes it works better to sew right handed.

Anyone else as mixed up as me?

A view of the back. I quilted on the diagonal lines, across and down on the quilt block intersections.

I had to add a little to the back on both sides. Oops!

The white corner triangle is for my label. 

I will write on it with a permanent roller gel pen when all the big stitches are complete.

Another view of the backing. The original plan was to make a sleeping bag.

I made the basic quilt bigger by adding blocks.

The binding turned out great. I am getting much better at sewing the binding ends together.

I sew the back on by machine then the front - also by machine.

I tried something different with the machine quilting.

I worked on each quarter of the quilt starting in the middle and working outward.

One more look at the whole quilt.

I am using yellow, pink, gray, green, lavender, and violet pearl cotton for the big stitches.

Having fun sewing.

Finished Pineapple Swirl

Quilted and bound.

Pineapple Swirl is finished.

I quilted diagonally where the blocks joined.

Since some of the stitching was not secure I stitched across each block from point to point.

The backing used up most of the border print.

I washed the quilt in cold water with color catchers.

My washer would not spin all the water out so I had to squeeze the quilt and let it drip

before putting it in the dryer.

The pink binding fabric bled uniformly on the front but I don't see it on the back.

I'm sharing it tomorrow at quilt guild.

Mostly pleased with how it turned out.

Next to quilt - Hey June! started in 2020 as a quilt along.

I made it bigger with the intention of making it into a sleeping bag.

As time passed I let go of that idea.

I pinned it on the floor because it was too big for the dining room table.

I used some poly batting that I found in my mom's sewing room as I was cleaning up and selling the house. She had so many projects unfinished. I guess that is why I want to finish one quilt before starting another.

Look for another finish soon.

Happy sewing!

 

Doing my own pineapple setting triangles

Last week I shared my pineapple blocks from a workshop with Gyleen Fitzgerald.

The pattern called for straight set blocks but I wanted on point blocks.

The only options I could find online were not what my mind's eye saw.

I'm sharing this so I can remember for future pineapple blocks.

 I decided to use the pineapple chunks block with some changes.

The center is 3.5 inches.

I made half blocks instead of whole blocks cut in half.

This gave me a chance to use smaller strips and fewer triangles of my focus fabric.

For the smaller four corners I sewed strips of 10, 8, and 6 inches with a half triangle of focus fabric.

See below.

For the half block setting triangles I trimmed them like the chunk block.

Center block with three rows added on two sides.

I like to hand draw my ideas.

At first I thought I needed to make a whole block and cut it in half.

After drawing it I saw that making a half block fit better.

Below is one of the four corners after the first trim.

Below some triangles ready for a trim.

The focus triangles had to be trimmed for each round.

They were cut from 3.5 inch squares.

There is a way to cut them smaller but I was not in the mood for figuring it out.

This one is ready for another row.

Below is my first attempt at a side triangle. 

I made a regular block but added an extra row to get the correct size.

I'm leaving it in the quilt to remember my journey with this quilt.

See how the large square meets the inner square lines

for trimming the triangle point.

This trim is just like the first trim on the regular pineapple block.

Each time the side strips are added the corner is trimmed so the triangle has a place.

After sewing the corner triangles and pressing there is one last trim.

I used my 15 inch square with a diagonal line in the center to make the last cut.

It was 1/4 in below the center of the large square.

I saved the cut off centers and used 4 of them on the corner triangles.

Below the pineapples are finished.

Except for trimming the corners. ;-)

First border.

The focus fabric used in all the block centers is also the final border.

That is 5 inches by WOF. I was able to cut 4 strips from the piece.

I sewed all the strips together with a straight seam because I didn't want to lose any

length from the strips.

I sewed the sides first. There was only enough border fabric left for the bottom and top 

- but not the corners.

I had a 3.5 inch strip left, so I played with a couple of designs.

One corner block used the 3.5 inch square with two 2 inch strips.

The other used the 3.5 inch square with half square triangles.

I liked the first block. It was quicker to make and used a smaller strip of the pink fabric.

Next step - making a backing, finding batting, and machine quilting it.

The pink is going to be the binding.

See you in a week.

 

Setting Pineapples on Point

I decided to set my pineapple blocks on point.

The book I'm using does not have on point as an option.

I can fill the outside triangles with solid pieces of fabric but I want to continue the pineapple look.

One option is to make half triangles.

I used my square grid to check the size needed.

Another option is to cut whole blocks in half.

I'm leaning towards that option.

The book has an alternate block called pineapple chunks.

I have made one but it is not quite big enough.

I'm going to add another round, then check if that will work.

Above is the 8.5 inch pineapple chunk block.

After I add one more round it should be 10 inches square.

This handy reference book helps me with every quilt I make.

There are charts for sizes of side triangles for on point blocks.

What I really wanted to see were options for making half pineapple blocks.

Maybe others will want to see my interpretation.

Come back next week for a finished top.

 

Pineapple blocks in progress

Monday I attended a workshop with Gyleen Fitzgerald and learned how to use her pineapple block ruler.

After finishing three blocks I felt competent to make more on my own.

Below are the first blocks and the book we used.

I cut lots of 1.5" strips from scraps and separated them into light and dark.

Next I cut the strips into the required lengths.

All of the blocks will have the same 2.5" center.

Below are more finished blocks and the bin with the strips.

Trying out the borders with six finished blocks.

The centers and the outside border are the same fabric.

Below some kits ready to sew.

The quilt requires 16 blocks and finishes at 46" X 46".

I may make it bigger because there are lots of strips ready to quickly use up.

Excited to have a fun project to sew.

Have a great week.

 

Possible Projects for 2022

Friday and Saturday we got to play with grandchildren.

Ava and I drew some pictures on graph paper.

Mine was a quilt, of course. I may turn this into a row quilt this year.

On the to-sew list are these cross stitch kits.

They remind me of trips we took to London and Paris.

I plan to make some more large zipper bags with this fabric.

A sewing adjacent project is this stencil pillow kit.

The pillows and covers are included.

I just have to stencil a design on the covers.

This Hey June top needs to be quilted.

I was going to make it into a sleeping bag.

Not sure about that but I have the backing and batting ready to go.

Really high on the to-do list is hand quilting My Small World.

Another cross stitch kit to keep my hands busy in the evenings.

Woke up today to light snow on the ground.

Should I leave the daffodils or pick them?

Tomorrow's supplies are ready.

I'm going to an in-person workshop to make a scrappy pineapple quilt top.

Masks and proof of vaccination required of all participants.

I bought a few fat quarters from a new quilt shop near my grands.

Always in need of neutrals.

What have you got planned for 2022?

 

No sewing new year

The new year started with new paint in my sewing area.

Machines and fabric were moved and covered with plastic

while my talented husband painted the area.

Above - the corner where all the sewing happens.

Below - the storage pieces and foot powered machine.

Another view of storage space.

I have been occupied with cutting 1.5 inch strips for a class I'm taking on the 17th.

Most of the fabric had to be ironed first.

The box on the lower right holds the strips in progress.

The sewing area is back in place with minimal things on the wall.

Just the things I need - clock and bulletin board.

Ready when I have time to sew again.

How was your first week in the new year?