line study #2

I've been having a ton of fun putting together Line Study #2. It's taken some time... about a year... but that's fine.

I'm almost ready to start piecing the top. I could keep making the 4x4 triangular strips but at some point you have to just stop.

I'm very satisfied with the direction it's heading. For a while I wasn't sure if it was going to be vertical or horizontal, but then I realized it was square and didn't matter anyway. Still, when I started laying it out horizontally it just felt right.

It's going to Lisa as a wedding gift. I need to get this finished so I can send it off to her and clear space on the design wall so I can start on the next quilt!

pillows

Lately, I've been working to make my apartment more "grown up" instead of hoarder-college-apartment-bachelor-pad-messy, which it often resembles.

I rearranged the living room furniture, hung some artwork, removed a bunch of unnecessary tchotchkes and cleaned up. Much better...

I'm trying to make changes using what I have or spending very little money since I don't know how long I will be in this apartment. So, I used an old Urban Outfitters coverlet and an old sweater to make some throw pillows.

I cut and squared up 3 pieces for the front and two backs. I used the existing hem on the coverlet so I didn't have to worry about sewing a hem.

I sewed all the way around the pillow, pressed open the seams, cut the corners and turned it inside out using the envelope-style back.

They both look great!  I will probably make a few more using fabric I already have in my stash and old pillows.

tutorial :: patchwork fabric card

I've been meaning to make one of these cards for a while. I thought I'd document the process and share it.

This project is a great way to use up scraps of any kind of fabric. I used mostly vintage bed sheets and napkins/serviettes.

Sewing the fabric on to the card stock isn't as crazy as it sounds and is very easy. Make sure you needle is newish so it pierces the paper.

Follow the tutorial after the jump...

quilting

Line Study #1 is in the process of being quilted. I decided to do a simple grid pattern to reflect the geometric pieced quilt top. Also, this is the first quilt I have actually quilted, so I wanted to make it easy on myself.

I am getting used to the walking foot on my sewing machine. I've never used one before. I didn't have enough batting and backing fabric extending beyond the quilt top, so in some areas the walking foot made the quilt top extend beyond the batting and backing. I will just trim it flush before I bind the quilt.

I can't wait to get this pieced finished. It will be my first finished art quilt. Even though I will probably just roll it up and store it someplace, I am happy to have created something I figured out on my own.

line study 1

Line Study #1 is almost finished. I'm anxious to sew the final seam and then start the quilting process.

I'm planning on using polyester felt for the batting. I know a lot of quilters would turn up their noses at at that, but I'm willing to give it a shot to see how it works. I really want a low loft, so it makes sense.

I'm also planning on using this tutorial by Jeri Rigged to face the quilt so I don't have to add a binding. I've never liked how bindings look, so I want mine to be turned to the back so it disappears.