Back to Red

I know it doesn't always appear that way, but at my heart, I'm truly a finisher.  Those UFO projects under my cutting table weigh heavily on my shoulders.  I like to get things done and move on.  I started my Red Herring-bone project last year and I was happy to bring it out and make friends with it again.

I'm not quite sure what size it will end up.  Lately all my quilts are queen or king bed size and that is fine with me.  We will see.  I have lots and lots of red I can donate to this little project.

If you want to know how I'm making it, you can review at my original post here called Seeing Red.  It is a simple way to trend the herringbone pattern with scraps.  Quilts like this are my favorites.  Sew and sew and not worry about points since it is mostly just easy seams.

I'm slightly horrified to show you my Row by Row flimsy from Lori's pattern.  It turned out to be one wrinkly unflat quilt top.  I'm praying that Wendy can make something of it.  If she pulls super tight, there is a chance.  

I'm really an idiot.  Instead of metering out my machine quilting projects, I've muddled about backs for them so when I finally decided and then waited for the fabric, it ended up that I have 5 very full sized quilts to take to the machine quilter.  It isn't going to be pretty when she tells me how much.  But won't it be worth it!?

Tired.  Goodnight

-nanette

Mother's Day

Irons Wars! (not really)

I'm sorry this is going to be wordy but may be helpful for someone who is considering a change in their current iron.  (read to the end because there is a Reliable iron giveaway tip)

Thanks to everyone for their iron input from this post.  My Oliso iron was dropped and the prongs that make it go up and down stayed permanently up.  So I began my quest for a new iron.  Your comments really did help me.  I was all over the map when reading them.  I was up and down on several different irons and price points as I read.   I had almost decided on a Reliable iron (very top of the line and price point but pretty orange). But, I finally listened to Lynn, whom I trust from a long blog relationship, and to Beth. Kati also had an opinion about the Black and Decker, which I appreciated and considered.  Along the way I also acquired a low end iron from Hamilton Beach, which may or may not be without some value.  Also, I still have an older Rowenta, that has been the family iron for ironing clothes.  This was not kept in my sewing room but I did move it in to my sewing ironing board while I considered options.

Here are the current 3 irons I own.  The Rowenta on the right.  The Hamilton Beach in pretty aqua, and the Black and Decker Digital.   Now, one recommendation that came up multiple times in comments was to shop thrift stores for great buys in irons.  I guess with fabrics and life styles today people really don't use irons much so there is the possibility of a great iron, barely used, that is sitting in a thrift store at an under $5.00 price point.  I'm not the kind of person that happens on stuff like that very often, I will say.  But I know lots of people score like this.

I can't remember how long I've had this Rowenta.  I have had several Rowenta irons over the years.  My favorite was the one with the separate water well.  That model is just too big for my little sewing/pressing area. I originally purchased this iron above for my sewing room at a fairly high price point at just under $100.00.  This iron worked well.  It was again, dropped, over time.  So now you can't add much water without it leaking out.  So it is kind of inconvenient because I feel like I'm constantly putting a small amount of water in it.  Rowentas tend to spit and drip anyway, overall.  I don't like the spout design for adding water.  The iron is heavy enough and gets hot enough.  Also it doesn't turn auto off too quickly, which I like.  But there is no way to completely turn off the iron without unplugging it.  I don't really like that but I know that is how irons are these days.  I've been using this since the death of the Oliso and it works well enough but I'm ready to move it back to the family iron status.

This little Hamilton Beach is so cute.  It is pretty and would be the perfect accessory to any sewing are.  Since I haven't used the iron, I can't say how well it works but I will be trying it out.  My first thought is that it is light as a feather.  And we all know that is a bad feature in a pressing iron.  It also is made pretty cheaply but it is priced under $20, so you may get what you pay for.  However, since it is light weight, it might be good for a someone that doesn't iron much or that would be packing it around from class to class.  And it's cute.  Right.  I'll let you know later how it works.

Same for this iron.  I haven't used this B&D yet, but this was the iron I purchased after the blog post.  It is a mid range in price, which is good, it is digital, which I really like, and seems to heat up lightening fast.  It is a great weight, probably better than the Rowenta.

This is iron gray, which is fine.  But I wish it was aqua.  Why not?  I like how the handle is set up with the buttons and I really like that I can turn the iron OFF!  So many irons now have the auto off, which this one does, too.  But you can't turn them all the way off without unplugging.  With young children in my home, I really like this feature since my iron is set up all the time.  The B&D takes a good amount of water, too.  It took 2.5x  that little water pitcher (came in the box).  Kati had a concern about the holes in the plate.  I'll watch for that.  I haven't really used it much yet, but I will keep you posted.

For all of you looking for an iron, you might check out Sew We Quilt.  They are give out THREE! of the high end beautiful orange Reliable Irons to celebrate Mother's Day.  Head over to this post and follow the instructions to win.  Three is great odds. I'm going to enter, too.  Hey, at the rate I go through irons, I need extra!

-nanette

Any Old Left Over Block Quilt

Last week I gathered up all my UFO blocks and I decided to finally make the quilt I had thought about for more than a year now.  I've seen some other quilts like it around blogs, too.  Whenever I would have left over blocks from a project, I would keep the blocks together not wanting to let go of my "extras".   

Shelbie and Whitney helped me figure out the placement of all my blocks.  I was pleasantly surprised with how it worked out.  Some of these blocks are 7 years old and some are just from last year.  Some of the blocks are from past quilts and some are sample blocks to proof drawings.

Since my colors tend to be similar from project to project, it was rather easy to gather them into a cohesive quilt top.  It was nice that there was a great number of the blocks similarly sized.

You might recognize some of the blocks from more current projects.  I put together half square triangles from a baby quilt I made into the blue scrappy blocks above.

I also included my Farmer's Wife blocks that have just been sitting in a box.  Why not?  I probably won't ever finish that anyway and I'm happy to see them belong to a project.

The basket block in the middle was a trial block from a fabric company quilt.  The stars are from my heritage quilt.  The little houses up on the top edge of this photo are blocks I couldn't stop making from Lori's Row by Row quilt.

You'll see lots of PKM fabric.  I fit blocks in and sashed as needed.  I used two prints for sashing to maintain the scrappy look.  Fitting blocks together was kind of like working a quilt puzzle.

The border fabric is a Japanese import fabric in a reproduction feedsack print.  I have been saving it and saving it.  For what?  Why not use it?

I've seen lots of names for left over block quilts like this.  Originally in my head I even named it the ugly quilt.  But I think don't think it ended up ugly at all.  Once quilted, this is a quilt I'm going to put on a bed and use.  It's sort of like a diary quilt and I want to enjoy looking at it.

-nanette

Resting on my Laurels

I didn't sew a stitch this past weekend.  Not.  One. Stitch.  So today I'm resting on my laurels and showing you a collection of past work stashed at my house.  This too shall pass.  Sewing is my game.

Can you believe it is almost May Day??

-nanette

Barns of Berks County

I grew up in Berks County, Pennsylvania.  Of course there is the city of Reading in that county and several other cities like Kutztown, but most of Berks and it's sister county, Lancaster County,  is made of beautiful green farm land.

Barns are a great sense of pride for farmers in that area.  Many farmers are from German heritage and there is a great population of Amish and Mennonite farmers.  Farmers keep their barns in better repair than their own homes, in some instances.  It is so fun to drive through the county and see the beautiful barns and lush farmland.  When we were there last and driving through the county, Mr. Hive said "I could really live here, or retire here, this is so pretty."

When Lori started her Barn Quilt Along, I thought about the beautiful barns in Pennsylvania and the hex signs that hang on many of them.  That was my inspiration for my barn quilt.

My flimsy is finished.  It is pretty big and measures 66"x 86".  I really like it and I can't wait to get it quilted.  I've been thinking of how I wanted quilted.

I did decide on this green, gray, white and red border fabric that I've been hoarding forever.  The fabric seems perfect with little hex signs and a folk/Amish couple.

I wanted a heading naming the quilt at the top and I searched and searched for letters that I thought would work well with the barns.  I used this Anna Griffin Tilly Alphabet fabric to spell out Barns of Berks County.

I think the letters fit since they are kind of rustic and folky.  Thanks for this fun pattern Lori. It was such a delightful project to make.  The next time you see this it will be quilted and have red binding.  I can't wait.

-nanette

Another Baby Quilt

I'm always trying to stay ahead of the baby quilt game. It's so helpful to have a quilt on hand.  Unfortunately most of my scrap baby quilts are girly.  Like this one.

I enjoy making this simple design into a baby quilt.  It is just an easy way to make a patchwork triangle quilt by cutting extra bits of fabric into  triangle shapes as I go and then keeping them aside to put together at a later point.

I think all my fabrics work together because the light fabric is a beautiful romantic rose print by Pam.  It is Pam Kitty Love Bouquets in White.   It goes with all my favorite colors and fabrics.  I think it is so pretty in this baby quilt. I've reordered this print 2 times and since I've used it all up in this quilt I may have to go for a 3rd order.

I like using this elongated Dear Jane Triangle template.  It adds a bit of drama to a very simple design.  I cut my blocks 6".

Of course I'm fond of all the different prints.  Some of the fabrics go back to my London quilt and some are from the Barn quilt I recently finished.

I usually quilt this size top myself but since I've got 3 other quilts ready to take to the quilter, I may just send this one out to be quilted as well.

-nanette

Fabric Friday Beauties

I've gotten some new fabric that I thought you'd like to peek at.  They are all so pretty together.

From Donna's Lavender Nest I have these 2 super lovely Lecien fabrics.    Donna also sent the adorable strawberry pincushion.  I am putting that right in my hand sewing box.

Sew Fabulous has some new Lecien, too, along with other adorables.  I could not pass up this fat quarter pack and the yardage of cheater hexies.  Darling fabric.

Cynthia from Dream Quilt Create sent me some cuties in my favorite colors in new prints. Cynthia is great.  Very sweet Cynthia!

I can't wait to use all these fabrics.  Sew pretty.

-nanette

Barns Sewn Together

I've sneaked ahead on my Barns project.  See how Lori is instructing the latest progress here.  When I started this project I had a vision of how I wanted to put my barns together.  When I saw Lori's tutorial I decided to incorporate what I tentatively planned with what she suggested.

I scrappy sashed my barns since I had 12 already completed and was ready for this step.  But I wanted to enhance the look of hex signs in the barns so I changed the sashing up a little with the red diamonds created in the middle section of the quilt.  It just seemed more "hexy". 

I like how it came together and I have the finished flimsy sketched in my head with just 2 more steps.

I hope Lori doesn't mind me working ahead and changing things up some.

These barns and hex signs have been really fun to work on.  I'm going to miss making them.  A barn is somewhat of an extension of a house, right?  Maybe that is why I liked creating them.  We all know I like quilt houses.

-nanette

Feedsack Squares - Fabric Friday

I did decide to make my Parcheesi quilt larger.  I like most of my quilts twin size or larger.  I've joined most of my finished squares and they look so good that I want to make more.  I need to make at least 20 more squares (or more, who knows).  I noticed Barbara at Oodles and Oodles (one of my favorite blogs) had some feedsack squares in her Etsy Shop so I grabbed them.

Yesterday the squares arrived so I thought I'd make a few little piles to show you.  They are all different for the most part.

Nice of Barbara to add a few extras for me.  Thanks Barbara.  She said she knew they would find a happy home with me.

I like each print and pattern.  I love the nubby roughness of the texture too.

They are all different from squares I've purchased in the past from Glenna.  Glenna has an incredible collection.  I learned so much about feedsacks from Glenna.

I hope to stitch a few more Parcheesi blocks and do some sewing on my barns this weekend.

-nanette

Iron Iron Iron I've got to get another Iron

I'm back to iron shopping people.  Those of you that have been with me a while might remember my last iron (see below).  I think I've spent well over 2 hours online looking at new irons.  Cheap, expensive, or middle of the road??  There must be hundreds of irons out there.

Almost 2 years ago I acquired this iron above.  I liked it.  I didn't LOVE it.  But I liked it.  I thought the auto lift was a big gimmicky but I grew to like it.  I can't say I used that up/down feature everyday.  But the iron heated up and worked well with features I wanted.  Unfortunately the iron was knocked off my board and died recently.  Sad huh.  But we had 2 good years together (sob).  

So on with my search.....

This iron is basically $100.00 shipped to the door and is rated 5 star.  But man that price!  If she would last 5 years and I would LOVE her, I'd get it.  It would be worth it.  I use an iron probably every single day.   With my last iron lasting nearly 2 years that is like 20 years in normal people use.

This is another Reliable brand iron but this one is double the price at $199.  Why?  I don't get it. This one is more compact, which I do like but even at Joann's with a half off coupon it is still $100!  I watched a segment from QOL where they said Reliable was the best iron but then I saw that Reliable was a QOL sponsor.  I like recommendations from independent sources.

I've read threads where lots of people have gotten irons at thrift stores but my thought is if someone is  getting rid the iron, why would I want it? I really want a high performance iron and I use it enough to know a bargain basement iron is not for me.  I know Lori uses a vintage iron but it has no automatic shut off.  I have to have auto off for safety reasons with children in the house and with lots of people coming and going.

I need a smallish iron though but I want a big water well capability in it.  At least over 5 ounces (or more)... I think.  I would prefer not to spend $100.00 but I do want high performance.

On with my search.  Any hints or ideas would be appreciated. I know this is a rerun post basically from 2 years ago but I do need a good iron and I don't want to make an expensive mistake.

-nanette

Parcheesi Quilt progress...very slowly

I can't believe it has been nearly 5 years since I started my Parcheesi quilt made with feedsack fabric.  It is amazing to me how in that time frame I've not made a lot of progress.

It started with 6" white squares and feedsack melon slices hand appliqued on the blocks.

It has been a fun project to carry here and there and applique in short spaces of time.  I pulled it out recently because I want to finish it this year.

I appliqued a bit over the weekend and then decided to sew some of the squares together.  I like scrappy blend of fabrics and the open space making 2 different designs.  I really have a lot more appliqueing to do if I want to get a quilt out of this project this year.

-nanette

Fabric Friday Returns and a Give Away at Dream Quilt Create Blog

First things first.  My friend Cynthia at Dream Quilt Create blog is having a giveaway starting today until Sunday at midnight.  Cynthia is fantastic and I love trading tips with her and visiting her blog.

Cynthia is giving away 5 fat quarters from Simple Abundance by Camille and Bonnie.  There are a few rules to enter her giveaway.

So run off to Cynthia to enter to win the fabric.  Click here.  And then come back to see my hex sign/Pennsylvania Dutch fabric.  Go ahead.  Go visit Cynthia and I'll wait for  you to come back.

Ok.  I've had some fabric I've accumulated to go with my barn quilt.  I think this gray, red, green and white fabric would make a great border fabric for my barns with hex signs.  What do you think?

There is also this fabric with the little Amish couple and hex signs on it as well.  This would work as an alternative fabric with red, gray and white on the border.  I like both fabrics.  I'm not sure what I should use. Hmm.  

-nanette