I don't even own a quilt...

Do you know that I don't even own a quilt? I mean, the first two I made for my in-laws and then one for a friend's baby. After joining an online forum specifically for quilting ladies, I realized that there are fabric lovers out there. And that these same fabric lovers will occasionally clean house and sell their left over fabric.

I fell in love with some Dr. Seuss fabric and was able to buy a small bundle. Using Pinterest and Google, I was finally able to decide on a pattern -- the wonky block. I got started right away as the tutorials said with different width strips of my fabric. This is very similar to a log cabin construction which I used for my first sewing machine cover. 

But... no one had mentioned to me anything about "waste." This is a term used by my fellow quilters to describe the pieces of fabric that are original cut for your quilt but then removed before the finished block is pieced together without a use afterwards. Really?? I have to cut away all these pieces and then just -- throw them away. I couldn't imagine that because quilting is not a cheap hobby. 

After completing a couple dozen of my blocks, I tried to start organize them in a random way. Did I tell you how difficult it is to be "random"? Well, it is. Unfortunately, as I started moving my blocks around, I found out that I cannot even cut them randomly. The last two dozen had all been cut in the same direction. :( I was so sad and forced my self to make the remaining blocks in the other direction. And some good came from this discovery, I was able to use much of the "waste" in my blocks. In the end there was very little left over and certainly there wasn't any Robery Kaufman Kona White left to use later. 

For some reason, these first quilts just didn't get that much flash time and I have very few pictures of them. However, I do still have the quilt in my home and could likely take more images for this blog. Maybe I'll do that -- I have been meaning to get to the beach and take some along the walking piers we have here on Carolina Beach.

In the end because I cannot sew straight to save my life, I decided to use free-motion quilting again. This time it is a bubble in a bubble type quilting. You can see it better here in this photo.

My son loves his Dr. Seuss quilt and we use it on the family bed often in the winter to keep extra warm and I find it dragged all over the living room in the colder summer nights. The quilt is being used just as I had intended. LOL

End of the Year Teacher's Gift

My daughter has been trying to use the sewing machine for years now. I have always let her use the "spare" machine but she hated the old blue Kenmore because it required self-threading and a vertical bobbin.

Here is her quilt she made with my Brother SE400 and a 1/4 quilting foot. She made all the rows and I only corrected a "few" that I felt might fall apart after just a few washes. Much self-control was necessary to not fix all of them. Thankfully, I had my own project in the works that ate up the majority of my time.

Thankfully after it was all put together and quilted, you really cannot see all the little wobbly squares.
Finished size was approx 50x50

Using my embroidery machine, we left a little message for Miss Keyser!!

Well, just a few months ago I upgraded to a larger straight stitch machine. This allowed me the freedom to practice more free-motion-quilting on larger quilts. Here you can see my older Brother SE400 and my new-to-me Brother Nouvelle Q1500s. You can see the considerable difference in the throat space and I certainly love it. The only two drawbacks I have noticed since using it for some months now are: no bobbin sensor and no zigzag stitch.

The zigzag stitch is important to me because I am so frugal and save all my left over bits of batting. When piecing these leftover pieces, I have taken out the smaller machine. However, I have successfully used the Heat and Press Batting Together for two of my most recent quilts. The Heat and Press is actually faster than the sewing machine method and I have been informed that it is less likely to show in my quilting. So far so good!!

Now the bobbin sensor is a much loved feature of my sewing/embroidery machine. And I must say, I quilted many a line without any bobbin thread on my latest project. :(  When I am sewing along and watching Netflix, I am not as in-tune with my machine and I just don't hear that its empty. I'll try to do better in the future. 

Lastly, I know I have been terribly neglectful of my blog but it is time consuming and just not high on the priority list. However, I do have a little to say about my new found passion and will try and drop by and share it with you. Thanks for sticking with me.

For more of my completed projects, you can find them at www.facebook.com/KatsBags.

OK --- I got to business and made a few blocks.

*Phew* those tiny pieces were NO FUN! And it is harder to use assembly-line style sewing. But I was able to get 4 or 5 done at a time. There will have to be some 90 blocks for the whole duvet cover, 45 dark gray and 45 light gray. Hopefully, it continues to go smoothly.

Here is what I have so far and the pictures don't show them in the best possible light. I think it will look better when its all done. ;)

a few blocks finished up...

So I will continue to work on them and see how they all come out!! Keep you updated.

Xmas and Quilting

I have certainly been gone forever. I have gone back to college full time and its hard for old folks... But I know that I am setting a good example for my kids. :) Well, in the little bit of free time that I have- I have picked up a NEW sewing love. QUILTING!! I also love free motion quilting because it lets you add even more creativity to your quilt. Here a few things that I have finished this last month.

This was our first Black Friday purchase of 2012.
Its the biggest TV I have ever owned and its beautiful. 

Finals are quickly approaching and I am actually relieved. I felt a little burnt out after Thanksgiving but I quickly got back into the groove again.

Got some good news today from my Calc teacher - if you are happy with your current grade then you don't have to take the final. WOOT! I have an A.

But not so much luck for the other classes. Had my oral exam for Spanish and its harder than I thought it would be. Hopefully, Spanish II will be easier next semester.

Now back to sewing... I have not had much time to sew lately because of school but with the long Thanksgiving break and the indulgence of Pinterest. I have found a new love for quilting.

I taught lil Kat to sew a small log cabin block. And she was mighty impressed with herself. But what should I do with this single block? I made another with the same fabric. Then decided I could replace my old beat-up cheap felt stocking. I added "MOM"  as an afterthought. Its not the neatest installation but I like that it is a little off.

Here is my first OOPS!!
I put the cuff on inside out.
But I was too lazy to turn it around. LOL