My Mystery Quilt

Karen's Quilt Shop does a mystery project every year. Every year I sign up because who doesn't need another UFO??? This year, however, I actually finished mine!

This was a fun quilt to work on. The blocks were big...16x16 and there's always the "how will it turn out with the fabrics I've chosen" bit to worry about. Fabrics were easy for me as I already owned the black Grunge and the red. The pinks and mottled gray seemed to be logical choices to go with them. It is a bit on the bright side, but its so geometric that I think it works.

The other fun bit about this mystery is the assembly. There were several different variations.

When it came to quilting, it got interesting. The book showed several options for the blocks and I did take their ideas in some of the areas. I'll point those out with the close-up pics.

Nope, you're not seeing double. Same block, just in opposite corners. The pink/red rows that are quilted as one have a design from the book. I wasn't sure about it, but I couldn't come up with anything else. The rest of the block is just common designs that I've done many times before that you'll recognize.

This is another shot of the corner, just more towards the middle. Its hard to see the quilting in the black, but I did the same linework on the outside black bit as the book. The inside black has feathers. I think you'll be able to see them if you blow the pic up. (Just click on it)

We had options when putting the quilt together, but I loved this center block which dictated the assembly. It was also the most difficult to decide on a quilting design. I wanted the shapes to show up, but I didn't want them to be prominent--that was for the red. I opted for some "framing" of the different shapes with a matching thread and then a tiny stipple to hold it down so the red could pop.

Initially, the red just had the lines; the feathers were the last bit I added before taking this one off the frame. Those diamonds just needed a little boost.

And now the back...I always love the back! (Some may be a bit redundant, but did I mention that I love the back???)

Thanks for looking!!!

Dory

New Year's Day 2020 Mystery Quilting Project

I have been participating in this Mystery Quilting project with Longarm University and Cindy Roth for about eight years now. In those eight years, I've totally misread the directions (the first year) and am too embarrassed to tell you what I did. Suffice it to say, that mistake has never been made again and I didn't finish the project. The only other year that I didn't participate was 2019--the project included applique. In my dictionary, applique is a four letter word!!

So...onto the basics and then the pics. Each year, Cindy posts a pattern with instruction. The idea is to have the top completed and loaded so that on New Year's Day when the instruction starts coming, you're ready to go. I had mine loaded and ready, but I sure didn't start at 8 a.m. with the first post! I girl has to eat!!!

So this is the completed top:

Although it looks yellow, the fabric is a brilliant white and the black is polka-dot Grunge (I'm in love with the entire Grunge line). One of the really nice things about this project is that Cindy creates a FB page and is there to answer questions. When I realized that we wouldn't be quilting this block by block, allowing me to match thread/fabric color, I was stumped. I generally like my quilting to show up as texture and not be the main event. Cindy suggested variegated green and I went with it.

Below are some closeups of the front. 

And now pics of the back...the best part! (Double click on this first pic for a better view of the entire back)

 A bit pic heavy, but the back of this quilt is just FUN!!! And, again, its truly white fabric...I think I need a new camera!!

Thanks for looking!
Dory

Sewology for Christmas

I have two sisters, one of which is a quilter. We often get together at least once a year for some quilting and quilt shop shopping. This year I decided to surprise her at Christmas with a quilt. Of course, I decided this in October--I work better under pressure. *grin

I was surfing around on the internet and came across the Sewology BOM; however, lucky for me, all the blocks had already been released. I printed the pattern and to make finishing this by Christmas even more challenging, I decided to make two! One for my sis to have for her "quilting condo" and one for my sewing room.

I did some searching on the Internet to see what fabric combos others had used and opted for Grunge fabrics for mine. It was really fun to put together, although it was absolutely HUGE by the time I was done. I did do a bit of "fudging"; the word "Buttons" on the button card were supposed to be applique. I do not applique. But I have a husband with a professional embroidery machine and he embroidered "Buttons" for me.

Also, the "thread" in the needle was supposed to be some sort of piping? I wasn't sure what to do with that, so I just "quilted" thread.  It worked...sort of. I loved  how the iron turned out; I even have an antique one that is very similar to this one.

Can you spot the mistake in my quilting here? Have a good look at the sewing machine above and the back of it below. I'm hoping it takes you awhile. My sis hasn't mentioned a thing...so far!

Here are a few more pics of the back:

 Why is it you can look at something a million times and not see it until you've packaged it up and sent it off.  Yep--I missed a spot. Can you see it? Upper left button--I missed a bit of SID in the orange.

And here's a pic of the whole back:

Lessons learned from this quilt? There were a few. The main one being that when I quilt mine, I will not do a gridded background. Marking it took forever!!!! However, for the most part, it was a really fun quilt to put together and to quilt. I'm liking quilting for myself--it does take the pressure off.

Thanks for looking! (I'll post mine when its finally quilted)

Dory

My Mystery Row-by-Row

And here's mine...notice the difference and, no, I'm not just talking about the fabric.

 The row above the houses is supposed to have these cute little butterflies and vines appliqued on it.  Sorry to say, but I really don't like applique. Not. At. All. Okay, let me clarify: I love how it looks, I just don't love doing it! So instead, I played around with measurements and put those pinwheels in instead. Hey, its my quilt, right??


Here are some closeups of the other blocks. As you can see, when its my quilt, I tend to get a little carried away.

 When all was said and done, I liked the design I put in these Churn Dash blocks. I didn't like the black ones though...

The contrasting thread was too, well, constrasty! Fortunately, since it was my quilt, no ripping was required. Had this been for a customer, I'd have taken it out.

And my favorite blocks--the houses. (Ignore the doorknob, please!) As you can see, I did the houses and roofs in the same design, but each green, red and cream door had a different design. Have I mentioned that I like quilting houses??

More shots of the back. I always try to use a fabric that will show the quilting, so there's lots to look at.

Next up will be all the different quilts. Some of the fabric combinations used were just beautiful!

Dory

I've Been Practiciing

A few weeks ago I went to Victoria with another longarm quilter to take a class with Kathleen of Kathleen Quilts!

Kathleen is amazing and a terrific teacher! The class was for domestic machine quilters, but she was nice enough to let us take it with only our sketchbooks. The best part of this was that while others were sewing, we were getting more options for the designs. It was a great day and a great class.

Kathleen showed us quilting done with these two great stencils by Jodi Robinson--which I immediately had to have! This one has so many options with these circles.

And this one--the design potential is just unlimited!



This is what my top looked like with after marking with the above stencil.  I had to put directional lines and "x"s in the blocks so I could keep track of where to sew!!

If you'd like to purchase the stencils, or any of the other wonderful aids on Jodi's site, click HERE

This is my finished sample. As you can see, I must have gotten a little too involved listening to "Outlander" while I was quilting.  Can you spot my mistakes????

Remember, if you click on the pic, you get a larger view.

Dory