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It was Nancy's day to pick a quilt to construct in record time. She called this Stacks of strings. I was fascinated by this block and we sewed like crazy this afternoon and made enough blocks for two fairly decent sized quilts. This was just to show what it would look like when done.
It is not obvious how this is made or how it goes together from the pictures and I was very curious as I love scrap quilts (you might have noticed). The block is made up of two 4 1/2 inch by 10 inch rectangles.
Our process was to first make strip sets at least 5 1/2 inches wide and 10 inches in length. The triangles were already cut so I don't know their height but may try one on my own to make up a pattern.
We then attached one of these light strip sets to a 60 degree triangle on the right hand side and then a strip on the left hand side.
Each of the steps is done by a different person -- one sews, one irons, one trims. The final step after the strip sets were attached was to place a ruler on this odd looking thing and trim to line up with the bottom of the triangle and the top of the triangle. Then the ruler is placed so that the 5 1/2 inch mark is at the point of the triangle and it is cut to a rectangle. We wasted a bit of fabric but these were literally scraps. I think it would be more efficient to cut the strip sets into diamonds using a 60 degree ruler marking and then we would only be trimming a bit off. Don't know how wide the diamonds would have to be but will work through one. It was important to always have the light darks consistently on the same side.
Here is a display of some of the blocks we did so you can see how they fit together.
This is the second of the stack and whacks from the same fabric. It ended up being about 45 x 60 inches so a decent size.
I ended up putting all the second set of blocks up on the design wall and decided that it didn't do it for me so will use the format I used for the other two and use white fabric for the setting triangles. Don't know whether it will result in one or two quilts. The radial symmetry is so pretty in some of them, I think they need to show off more!
Did manage to finish this first stack and whack quilt this morning.
This is the fabric from which I made the above quilt and the second quilt developing below.
I had 12 blocks left over from making the above quilt and found a format that used that number so none was wasted. I thought this green fabric would work for the triangle points -- guess not!!
I found a half yard of this hand dye which seems to do the trick but barely enough to get the triangles I needed.
Found this nice batik to finish this off. I will probably add a strip of this lighter green on the top and bottom.
First audition of border fabrics. Hmmm...
This is the second iteration. I finally decided on the yellow and found a darker green batik that I will use instead of the blue. Hopefully I will get it done tomorrow.
This was the second of the stack and whack fabrics that I made into hexagons.These hexagons are considerably smaller but I think more graphic. Not sure I will be able to part with this one. I haven't decided whether to do a "one-block wonder" or just a plain stack and whack.
This is the second variation. There are currently 48 blocks. I didn't think I would like the one-block wonder variation but I really do so...
On another totally different front, I always have a handwork project and this is my next one -- a quilt called the Passacaglia quilt which is English paper pieced and very very intricate. Don't know whether i will actually do the whole thing -- we shall see. I have been surprised how quickly the sewing has gone however. The fussy cutting of all the pieces is a different story!! I have used a lot of hand dyes and it makes the hand sewing a lot more difficult.
This beautiful quilt top was what Bobbi F was working on at the next table over from me. These are all Japanese fabrics that she scored at a thrift shop for a very small sum of money!! Gorgeous!
Can you believe this beautiful set of appliqued squares by one of our members made in wool? She is another evacuee from the cold north (Buffalo). Again, beautiful!
Too bad we didn't have a design wall. She got some advice from our very gifted Michele May who arranged this lovely day for us.
A lovely neonatal quilt from another x-Rochesterian!! The back was a really interesting fabric that she purchased at Walmart of all places!
A beautiful art quilt that a member brought to ask for advice on. Both Becky and I suggested our un-orthodox solution for when you are irritated by a thread color after you have done the sewing -- Sharpies! I don't think she needed to change the color of the thread though.
Here is Becky with a quilt she made using scraps given to her by a friend. The design is of course her own!!
And speaking of Becky, I spent the day making "stack and whack" hexagons out of two fabrics that Becky had donated for the Sweet Charity quilts. This was one set that I only partially finished. I also did 48 from another fabric. I have to say that using fabric that has been washed really helped in the stacking and pinning of the fabrics. I never wash fabrics before using them, but Becky does. They seemed to grip each other better and made for more perfect hexagons. These were cut from 5 1/2 inch strips as the repeat on the fabric was 18 inches. I will share later a picture of the fabric. After I completed these, I thought I should have used smaller strips but seeing the altogether, they look just fine!
Here are all 30 of the hexagons. I think they will make a Sweet Charity sized quilt and a neonatal quilt!
I have always disliked this particular yellow printed fabric for some reason but have quite a bit of it and decided it would be okay for this quilt. I have sewn the rows in this picture. I will had thin strips of yellow to the right and left and then a small strip of fuchsia and then a medium green border and call it done. Pictures to follow!
Last year I took a class with Augusta Cole and made this disappearing hexagons quilt. I cut lots and lots of strips of course and as usual over-achieved. This has happened before.... So I thought I would share in one place the quilts that I have made so far from the leftovers!
This was the first made from those scraps and nicknamed the "Quilt from Hell".
I then started on baby quilts and this was the first. I did add white for the light in this one.
I have finished one of these and am currently working on the second. The long strips came from long ago project that produced two king sized quilt with this left over!
This and the next one were also from those same original strips and also cutting some squares.
Pinterest is a great source for finding simple patterns which is where I found the pictures that I translated into these last four quilts.
There are only a few strips left and I may just sew them together to make "fabric" which I will use somewhere!
I also have about 100 four-patches left over from the "coins" quilt above!! Haven't decided what to do with them yet!!
Then to start working on baby quilts from the leftovers from making the black and white quilts!!
Next weekend is our Azalea Festival down here in NC. Dianne's azaleas were just gorgeous yesterday as a backdrop for our ice dyeing. We couldn't have had more perfect weather!!
This is the way I normally do ice dyeing. I layer some fabric down on top of a random piece of fabric (to prevent the grate marks on the mandalas) and then put another random piece on top of the mandalas, cover it all with a layer of ice and then sprinkle dye on top of that.
I had seen an alternative technique on Facebook on a page called The Process of Ice Dyeing. Most people on this site apply the dye (and sometimes even the soda ash) on top of the fabric and then put dye on top of that and then finish it off with adding all the ice on top. I was leary of this as I don't like the speckles you get when you apply dye directly onto fabric. I think this technique might work better as many of their techniques are like the one I use for t-shirts, i.e.roll them up into a tight bundle kind of on edge so the flat fabric isn't really exposed much.
It was a 70 degree day and the ice all melted in about 3 hours which allowed us to take our fabrics home to sit overnight.
This and the next three are my random drop cloths. These were some 200 thread count muslin I got from Joanns years ago.
This and the next two were the 22 inch square mandalas. This first one used the "new" technique and there is some speckling which you can't really see in the picture.
This and the next ones are the smaller 11 inch square pieces.
These were the small pieces that were made using the new technique. You can definitely see the speckes on the bottom right on the bottom right side.
Finally finished this black and white quilt with small yellow, medium red and black border. It was a little tricky as the outsides of the squares are all on the bias so carefully measuring and calculating the length and width of the quilt was very important.
Just a quick view into my daughter's backyard to the pond she abuts. It was a beautiful day to sit outside and watch the birds!
We had a wonderful presentation by one of our members for our April program. Her name is Diana Welte and she shared a fascinating history of her career in sewing as well as pottery and bookbinding. She shared many examples of books she had done as well as a couple done by colleagues. The one pictured here is one of those done by a friend using a composition book as its base.
This and the following picture were of one of the books she had created The buttons are her creation as well.
Inside the cover.
This was one of a few accordion books..
As usual, there were lots of neo-natal quilts turned in this month. It is amazing how prolific this club is.
The above were just a few of the quilts that were walked quickly by. This one was probably my favorite though Have to figure out the pattern which is pretty simple. Think it is just a square surrounded on two sides by checkerboard but they are turned.
Dianne showing her pin cushion from Michele May's class. Below are other examples from the class. Looks just wonderful!
I don't have the names of many of the quilters but I m getting better! This was made for a couple who wanted a more neutral look. A nice quilt with which I am sure they will be very happy;
Really liked this improvisational quilt.
Another randomly pieced quilt!
Beautiful art quilt by Mary Harned.
This is a Quilt of Valor which will be a workshop that Miranda Dungan will be leading in May (I won't be here for this unfortunately).
A very large flower quilt -- gorgeous!!
This is a beautiful applique quilt by Ann Millard.
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