Quilted Liberty Pillow

I recently pulled out my Lucky Stars block-of-the-month blocks and decided to turn them into smaller projects. I made a mug rug with my 6 inch block and was extremely happy with the result. So when I needed to make something to be given as a prize for a fundraiser I'm attending tonight, turning one of the larger blocks into a pillow was an obvious choice. This was my first time making a quilted pillow case and I decided on two design elements: an invisible zipper and piping.

First, I quilted the block the same way I did the mug rug: stitching in the ditch of the star points and echo quilting in the negative space. Next I had to choose piping fabric. I wanted to pull out the lighter blue from the centre star, but I didn't want to use one of exact prints, because I felt they were too busy.

After some consultation with my friends on Instagram, I went with the blue and white floral Liberty print. I made an error when making the piping. I should have cut the fabric on the bias, but instead I did it on the straight of grain. This meant that when I got to the corners of the pillow, there was some wrinkling. This Sew Mama Sew tutorial explained that had I cut on the bias, wrinkles would be avoided. I'll know better next time.

Attaching the invisible zipper was tricky due to the piping. It got in the way of the invisible zipper foot. But I was able to make it work by sewing slowly and using my fingers to push the fabric through.

 Piping and quilting detail shots.

 

I am totally smitten with this pillow. I think there are more of these in my future!

Liberty Star Mug Rug

Sometimes you need a quick finish. Sometimes you want to clear WIPs from your list. Sometimes your wants and needs collide.

When I first started Elizabeth Dackson's Lucky Star block of the month, I thought I'd make a large and small version of each block, using Liberty of London's first quilting cotton line. I made three months of the larger blocks, but only one of the small. 

Last night I decided to turn the little block into a mug rug for my office desk.

I stitched-in-the-ditch around each triangle element of the star and then did some straight line in the white space.

I used a multi-coloured print as the backing fabric. It's such a beautiful print. The binding is Lizzy House's Pearl Bracelets. Always a favourite and always right for any project.

I think I'm ready to go back to work now!

WIP Wednesday: Curves are Beautiful

It's been a productive week. I mentioned recently that I'd joined a Bee, after a long hiatus from swaps, bees, etc. I wrote about my thoughts on bees here if you are interested.  This new Bee started on Instagram and quickly grew to 12 hives in North American, plus an Australian version and possibly a UK one too. It's using the book Modern Bee: 13 Quilts to Make with Friends. Our first Queen Bee chose a scrappy circle block. I'm usually really good with curves. I followed the instructions, against my better judgement for this block. It called for using freezer paper as a foundation and suggested leaving the paper on when sewing the circle to the outer fabric. I used a lot of pins, because I've always thought, there can never be too many pins, right? I was wrong.

The problem with this construction is that the freezer paper doesn't have any give. When sewing curves, I find you need a certain amount of give to ease in the curve. So while I didn't have any real puckers, I also couldn't get the block to lie flat.

To add insult to injury, I spilled Bailey's Irish Cream on the block! Lesson learned: don't drink and sew! I probably could have got the Bailey's out but no amount of starch was going to smooth this sucker out.

Today I tried again using muslin as my foundation for the scrappy circle and was much more successful. This is the one that will go in the mail. I prefer the shade of green in the first block, but they didn't have it at my LQS so I had to go with what was available.

In other quilty news, thanks to some helpful friends at The Workroom, I got my Medallion Quilt basted last night.  I also restarted my Once Upon a Time sampler cross stitch. I've been messing up on it a lot for two reasons: I've been working on it late at night while tired and I've been using linen. So last night I bought Aida cloth. Hopefully this will lead to less errors and actual progress!

For my master list of WIPs, see this post. This week, one thing got crossed off the list:
February block for Modern Instabee HOORAY!

WIP Wednesday: List all the Things

On a fairly regular basis, I think to myself, I should really finish my WIPs.  Then I read about a new quilt-along, become inspired by a new pattern, or start drooling over a certain fabric in my stash or LQS, and my WIPs are put aside once again. In an effort to finish more, I thought I'd review the projects I've started, either in my head or in fabric.

Part One: Stuff I'm actually working on

1. Liberty placemats - new project and needed for my dining room table.
2. February block for Modern Instabee (yes, I joined a Bee this year, after a year of no bees or swaps).
3. Once Upon a Time sampler - yeah, I drank the kool-aid.
   
4. Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt - ongoing block completion here and there including this one, No. 7, Birds in the Air.
   

Part Two: Stuff I've Planned But Haven't Started

1. Denyse Schmidt churn dash quilt - using fabrics from Hello My Name is Quilt (thanks Shannon!). I have this all planned out, just need to cut and sew!
   
2. Vintage Quilt Revival Sampler - there's a QAL in progress hosted by Suki which I want to get in on, having already purchased the book and pulled fabric from my stash. They are already into week three, so I'm behind before I've even started! 
3. Mini Quilt for Karen - I haven't actually planned this one, but I need to make a gift from my therapist who I've been seeing for almost a decade. I'm graduating! 
4. Chambray Wiksten Tova.
5. Railroad Denim skirt (either another Hummingbird or a wrap skirt).
6. Baby quilt for expecting friend (I should pick something from Part Three or Part Four for this one!

Part Three: Stuff I've Started That Aren't Seeing Any Action

1. Flora HST quilt - I have a huge stack of HSTs that just need trimming and arranging. I should get on it.
2. Sew Intertwined Quilt - a QAL that stalled that I no longer really like. I do like some of the blocks though so I should sew them up and be done with it. Maybe I'll donate it once completed.
3. 3 x 6 Purple and Green quilt - I have twelve blocks that need sashing. Again, I think this is a donation quilt, maybe to the Toronto Jewish Quilters group I quilted with shortly after Lila was born.
4. Lucky Stars BOM - I only made three blocks. I should turn them into something. Pillows?
5. Lila's Tula quilt - I'm half done the FMQ for this quilt. Why don't I just finish it!?!
6. Mom's Lush Pillow Covers - I made two but there are two more to go. She bought the fabric. I have no excuse for not starting.
7. My sister's box of fabric from Africa. She asked me to "make stuff" with it. I will. Eventually.

Part Four: Fabric Stacks Waiting to be Turned into Something Awesome

This section requires some explaining. You know how it is right? You just have to own pieces of that awesome fabric line. The fact that you aren't sure when or what you'll make from it is secondary.

1. Briar Rose quilt - I have an FQ bundle
2. Comma mini something - I have 2 mini charm packs
3. Origins something - I have yardage and a charm pack I picked up in a destash.
4. Tula 10 inch charms - I did three rounds of a swap and vaguely intended to use them for her City Sampler (I own the book). I still plan to do this...one day.
5. ROAR FQs - bought during a sale with the intention of using for a baby quilt

I think that's everything. No, not EVERYTHING everything. I have other fabric in my stash, of course, even some charms and bundles, but they aren't slated for something awesome...yet!

I leave you today with a finish, my Marcelle Medallion quilt top. I'm going to do an separate post though, so this photo is of the top minus the final border. Check back tomorrow(ish) for the reveal post!