Kat's Sewing Corner

2007-12-31T19:56:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

I am currently working on a Patriotic quilt for my son. I used the Buck a Block squares that I put together in 2006, along with the same patriotic fabrics I used in my Dads quilt.

My Mom and sisters all liked their aprons! My Mother in law also likes her placemats and says they match their new wall color perfectly! She knew I made them when she looked at the sewing! LOL

I have so many sewing projects waiting to be started!

Happy Sewing!

2007-12-17T21:14:00.000-08:00

Today I finished binding the last 3 placemats, and then sewed 2 aprons.

Now I'm just trying to decide what to start on next! I would like to make two quilts, one for each of my children. My son is not picky and I'm sure he would like whatever I do, but my daughter is a different story! So I will let her pick the materials, and let her help design her own.

Happy sewing!

2007-12-10T14:08:00.000-08:00

I am working on 6 quilted placemats for my Mother in Law for Christmas. What a task! Today I finished the first one. Now I have 5 more to layer, quilt and bind! I should be able to finish by Friday! I used the layout from a placemat in "Sew Creative Gifts for Under $10" by House of White Birches. Though mine is simpler, no fanciful fish in the center! LOL

Happy Sewing!

2007-11-26T15:20:00.000-08:00

After several months of doing nothing, I put together an apron for my Mom. My daughter cut out the pattern last year, and we tried sewing it with the little sewing Machine my Mom had sent her the year prior, along with the pattern and material for the apron. (We didn't use the material she sent) But the little sewing machine didn't work properly, and my daughter gave up on the project. I have been wanting to sew "something" and I came across the apron. I spent an afternoon on the project, and am now in the process of starting on some Christmas gifts. Meaning, washing and ironing the material I am going to use! That's how I spent my Monday, ironing! : )

Now to the fun part, cutting and sewing!

2007-07-21T16:02:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I blogged any of my sewing, because I haven't done a whole lot. The first CQ block is one I am currently working on-slowly. The next two will be a part of a wall hanging I am making for our bedroom. The monogram is on my sample block, and the last of my Take a Stitch Tuesday stitches (Algerian Eye).

I hope to start stitching more! I also need to start on a quilt for my sister who is getting married in September!

2007-01-22T18:29:00.000-08:00

Here are some blocks that Debbie R and I are working on for a quilt for a Mother who lost her son in Iraq.

This weekend Debbie taught me two different techniques to applique, and tonight was the first time I have used the machine satin stitch. I was very reluctant to bring the block home, but now I am glad I did! I practiced first on some scrap material, and when it looked right I started on the large heart block. I had no problems, that is until I was within 2 1/2 inches of being finished!

The blocks will be 12"x12" finished. It is going to be beautiful!

2007-01-17T22:43:00.000-08:00

I picked up the CQ block that I had started in Sept. yesterday and worked on it today also.

My favorite seam embellishment is the buttonhole stitch with detached chain and flower beads. Today I added the butterflies, the SRE bouquet, heart pendant, buttons surrounded by beads, and the bottom left seam (crochet flower, flower lace with beads).

I also put together the last of my buck a blocks from last year. I think crazy quilting is more my thing. Why? Seams don't have to match up! I have such a hard time with my blocks matching up. I have even used Susan's suggestions, while using thangles to sew just inside the line, and stitch length. This years buck a blocks are larger. Last years were 1 1/2" with 5x5 blocks, this years are 2 inches, and 4x4.

Guess the best thing to do is keep on practicing!

2007-01-16T12:07:00.000-08:00

Sharon Boggon's Take a stitch Tuesday

I have read other blogs and several have been talking about the TAST. So I went to In a minute ago to check it out. I am still a newbie to Crazy Quilting and would like to learn some more about the stitches and get inspiration from others. This is week three, so I decided to sample my stitches on a CQ block.
Here is the herringbone and detached chain.
And the blanket stitch. It is not a very good pic. First I used a lavendar DMC with the stitches pointing into the green fabric, then I used white to stitch towards the top and in between the lavendar. Sort of like a zipper affect.
I can certainly use more practice!

2007-01-16T11:57:00.000-08:00

A great big THANK YOU to Debbie R for my machine quilting lesson!

The varigated stitches were done on her bernina. She showed me free motion quilting (which I believe I'm going to LOVE) and with the walking foot I played around with some of the stitches her machine can do. Debbie did the two big hearts.

Just today I used my walking foot (Christmas present from hubby) for the first time and put the square border around the piece and the block K. Now I need to finish the edges of my Dads quilt and get it in the mail.

2006-12-30T16:03:00.000-08:00

I have just finished the quilt top for my Dad's quilt. The task ahead will be a challenge. This will be my first attempt at machine quilting. After I finish this one, I get to start on mine!

Happy New Year!

2006-12-29T17:27:00.000-08:00

Another Project!

Tonight we were at WalMart waiting for my daughters film to develop. As we were walking around we came across January's new fabric and free quilt pattern. I said, "ohh how pretty." and I was tearing off the quilt pattern. I said nothing about ohh honey, could I get this. My dear hubby asked if all the different fabrics were there on display and he had me name off the numbers of the fabric. They were all there and he started putting them on the cart and pushed them over to have them cut! Now I just have to finish my Dad's quilt and I can start on ours!
Thank you Dear Hubby!

2006-12-21T10:33:00.000-08:00

I finally finished the quilt for my sister and got it in the mail last night. When I returned home I started on a quilt for my Dad's BDay which is today! So, it is going to be a little late. My dad loves planes, and it will be surrounded by patriotic fabric. My goal is to get it all cut out today, and start sewing it together tomorrow.

This morning my hubby bought me some felt, to hang up and use to lay out my quilt tops, (see pic above) and I had asked him to buy me a seam ripper (mine has dissappeared) and when he got back home, he gave me my Christmas present early, a walking foot! He's one great man! ! Thank you Honey, I can't wait to machine quilt!

2006-12-17T23:29:00.000-08:00

This is my very first quilt. The coloring is not very good due to the lighting in the house. It is pink, white, and green. I chose 8" blocks for my first attempt at making a quilt. It wasn't put together correctly either. I didn't have the right working area, and no real instruction on how to do it. It is tied. Not perfect, but I made it, and I like it! LOL.

I had forgotten to even mention it here, until I was talking about it tonight with Virginia and she asked if it was on my blog.

Hopefully someday we will have a home with more space, preferably with a sewing room and I can sew on a daily basis. As it is now, I sew at the dining room table. Would be great to keep my sewing machine set up and ready to create quilts and clothes.

2006-12-16T20:54:00.000-08:00

I have just finished the top of a quilt that I am making for my youngest sister for Christmas. I spent more time procrastinating on getting started! I am really pleased with how it came out. This is only my third quilt and it is also the largest. Putting it together is the real task ahead! Thank you Debbie for your math skills and help.

2006-11-24T19:32:00.000-08:00

This is a CQ block that I am currently working on. I started on it in Sept, now am getting back to it. I may make it a pillow when it is finished.

2006-11-16T21:13:00.000-08:00

Today I worked on two more of my BOM. The blocks are made with Thangles which is suppose to make putting two triangles together easy. As I put my fabric up to the sewing machine needle, I noticed the needle was pushed all the way to the right, so I moved the lever to center it, and it doesn't move. I move the switch to move it left, center, and right again and no movement. Now how did the whole thing get bent to where it is now unable to sew. I was perplexed!! Well, then I looked at the stitch knob (forgive me, I know very little machine lingo) and it was set on the wide zigzag! DUH!!!! LOL
Now, I am able to start sewing. Next I cut my thangles in half, press them and notice a couple of them are to small, not sure how that happened either. I wound up having to put together 3 more. Now comes another difficult task, sewing each piece together. OK that isn't hard, getting the seams to all line up is! The first one came out ok, and the second a little better. Maybe by the time I sew the 12th one, it will be Good!

2006-11-13T23:15:00.000-08:00

A RR Hopeful

I joined Crazyquiltingsisters yahoo group, and they are starting a "In the garden" Round Robin. I am hoping that I will be able to join in, and I have just finished piecing my block together. I have trouble with the last side. I dont want a whole side in just one fabric, and I had only a few colors of fabric that went together. So I stepped away from it, looked at other blogger sites that CQ, and then went back to it. I think it will do! This will be my very first RR! Hopefully that last sentence doesn't scare anyone! LOL! I am still fairly new at CQ. Maybe I should wait to post this until after I'm accepted into the RR!

2006-11-13T23:07:00.000-08:00

Grandmas Dresden

I have inherited a dozen of hand sewn Dresden quilt pieces. My maternal Grandmother passed away in 1979, and I don't know when she put these together. I hope to finish them (first I have to learn how) and then I will have something very special!

2006-11-12T21:42:00.000-08:00

In Jan of this year a local quilt shop started a Block of the Month. I have only cut and sewn three months, and have made a fourth out of the scarps from the first two months. I really need to work on getting my seems to match. I know of someone who has said before that she just loves to rip out seems! I hate doing that! But, I think it is something I need to do, especially with the these first 3 blocks!
The third pic is the one I made with the scraps of the first two. I should really get busy and do the other blocks!

2006-11-10T23:02:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of my first Crazy Quilt project. Debbie R provided the material for the blocks and the lesson! Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent with me!
These blocks are not embellished except for a couple of buttons and my attempt to make ribbon roses. It is simple, but I really do like it! It remains unfinished however. I need to put a back on it. It is the cover for my keyboard.

My second project was a wall quilt for my Mom.

I also did a CQ block which I put in a frame for one of my sisters, but forgot to get a picture! I will have to remind her to get a pic for me!