Sundae Plus Baby Quilt

I sure am glad to finally finish this baby quilt!  When I posted a picture of the finished top on my Instagram feed, Vicki said it looked like ice cream and she is right, thus the name Sundae Plus.

Sundae Plus in the pines with farm implements

Back on January 10th in my blog post when I declared finishing this plus sign baby quilt as my One Monthly Goal for January, I had 3 weeks to finish and, at the time, that seemed reasonable.  It seems like I ran into one obstacle or another along the way but I managed to finish on time.

I was working with limited fabric and I miss cut the border fabric.  You can see the finished top in the measure twice, cut once blog post.  By adding the border and using the same border  fabric for some of the squares along the outside edge, I tried to make it appear as though the plus signs were floating.

I found this great backing fabric on the flat fold table.  But once I brought it home and washed it, I noticed this visible faded line along the fold.  I got a really good deal on the fabric and could not be upset.

Faded Gypsy Girl fabric  along fold line due to exposure to light

I knew I could not use the fabric as the backing in one piece and was not about to go buy more fabric. What could I do?  I remembered a pattern I reviewed for Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs called Check Plus which was published in the Nov/Dec 2014 issue of Quilty Magazine.  It is really two patterns in one.  Since my quilt was much smaller, I reduced the scale of the back to fit to the baby quilt. The pattern can be purchased on the Fons and Porter website here.

Nested plus sign block from Check Plus pattern by Cheryl Brickey

Here is the pieced back where I still used the fabric, avoiding the fade line and still kept the pattern in check.

Pieced back from Check Plus pattern by Cheryl Brickey

Now I was ready to layer it and get to quilting.  I struggled with a quilting design and decided on an all over echoing leaf design.  You can see the quilting more from the back.  Here is a picture when I was sewing on the binding.

Sewing on the binding by machine and quiting detail

Since this quilt was for a baby and would be washed more often, I decided to sew the binding on by machine. I followed the machine stitched binding tutorial by Rita @ Red Pepper Quilts.  She suggests 2 1/4" binding strips, but, again, I was short on fabric and had to cut mine 2 1/8".  I did not have any problems except for one corner where I missed a few stitches and went back and resewed that one spot.

Small place where I missed catching the binding on the back

I went slowly and used lots of pins as Rita suggests.  As I went along, I realized I could place the pins perpendicular to the binding rather than parallel and that way I could see the pin heads, pull them out as I approached them and was able to go much faster.

Machine sewing down the binding and pins placed perpendicular to binding

Parting shot of Sundae Plus back and me (taken by uncooperative photographer/husband)

Quilt Stats:

• Finished size:  33" x 37"
• Pattern: top from 2 1/2" squares with a 3" border
• Backing:  Check Plus by Cheryl Brickey of Meadow Mist Designs             
• Fabrics: various prints and solids
• Batting: Warm & White by the Warm Company
• Thread: Aurifil 2310 for piecing and quilting
• Completed: January 28, 2016

I am very excited to have met my One Monthly Goal for January 2016. Head on over to see the other goals met at Red Letter Quilts.  Thanks Heidi for a great link party.

Also linking up to Finish It Up Friday, Whoop Whoop Friday,  Busy Hands Quilts hosting Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday this week, Fabric Frenzy Friday, Whomp! There IT Is and Show Off Saturday.

MCM #1: Mini Pearl Bracelets

After two days without electricity thanks to the Blizzard of 2016, I am very appreciative to have power restored.  I ventured outside and snapped this photo of Mini Pearl Bracelets in the snow.  

Mini Pearl Bracelets by Lizzy House in the snow

Designed by Lizzy House, my bundle of Mini Pearl Bracelets contains 16 colors, but the entire 33 piece collection can be seen at Andover Fabrics.  Until I have a project in mind, I could not bear breaking open the bundle.

The daffodils are already budding and are pretty against the blanket of white.  We had around 4 inches of snow, but now is all melting away.

Budding daffodils in the snow

Since I am crushing on my bundle of Mini Pearl Bracelets, I am linking to Beth at Cooking Up Quilts with Main Crush Monday.

WIP Wednesday - Midnight Mystery Quilt

While many have finished piecing the blocks for Cheryl's Midnight Mystery Quilt, I have seen several completed tops and even a few finished quilts on Instagram #MidnightMysteryQuilt and the Meadow Mist Designs Facebook page.  Right now, I am playing catch-up.  I am pleased with my fabric choices and really like the direction it is headed.  After I started piecing, I could not resist completing a block.  I am certain this is the largest block I have made as it finishes 24" square.  You can cover some ground with a block this size.

First completed block for the Midnight Mystery Quilt

This is where I stand on piecing the block units:

• Flying Geese - complete, check!
• Square in a Square - pieced, pressed and just need to trim them up
• Courthouse Steps - need to sew on the last outside logs and cut into quadrants 

Here are a few progress pictures.  And notice the straight pins coordinate with my fabrics but please disregard the loose threads everywhere.

First triangles pinned to the squares for the Square in a Square units

Second set of triangles pinned to the Square in a Square units

Square in a Square units for the Midnight Mystery Quilt, untrimmed

Rumor has it that Cheryl is already working on the the next mystery quilt and I am certain it will not disappoint.  In the mean time, I better get to piecing in order to finish by the March 8th deadline to be eligible for the wonderful prizes.

If you are working on the Midnight Mystery Quilt, I would love to hear about your progress.  And if you are not, have you ever participated in a mystery quilt a-long before?

I am happy to link up for the time to Let's Bee Social with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts, WIP Wednesday with Lee at Freshly Pieced, and Needle and Thread Thursday with Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation.

Measure Twice, Cut Once

I decided to make a baby quilt using the pinks and neutrals from the Mistletoe Lane mini charm packs plus some other fabrics shown in the Sunday Stash #6 blog post along with the quilt top in progress.

Pinks and neutrals baby plus quilt

The quilt top measured 28 1/2" x 32 1/2" without the 2" borders I had originally planned on adding.  Wanting to make the top a little larger, I cut the borders 3 1/2" instead of 2 1/2".  It would only add another 2 inches, but thought it make it a nicer size.  Well, wouldn't you know I miscut the first strip and did not have enough fabric to cut an extra border. So, I pieced it!  It's not noticeable, but I know it is there.

Pieced border strip after I miscut

The piecing took much longer than I thought it would and I am glad it is done.  The top measures 34 1/2" x 38 1/2".  I will still need to piece the backing because I do not have a enough yardage for one piece.  And from there on to the quilting.  Hopefully, I am on track to meet my One Monthly Goal (OMG) hosted by Heidi at Red Letter Quilts.

Linking up to Whoop Whoop Friday, Fabric Frenzy Friday, Whoomp There It Is, and Show Off Saturday.

Sunday Stash #6: Neutrals and Pink

In Sunday Stash #3 you saw the 2 mini charm packs of Mistletoe Lane I received in a giveaway from Linda @ A Maidenhair Fern and used the red and green charms on banded kitchen towels as gifts.

I mentioned saving the pink and brown charms for a baby quilt.  Knowing there would not be enough for a quilt, I looked for other fabrics to add to the mix.

I found this pink scroll print locally and thought it blended with the charms.

Botanical Blooms by South Sea Imports

These two Whisper Prints in wheat by Robert Kaufman were taken from a quilt kit I recently purchased from Craftsy.

Whisper Prints in wheat from Robert Kaufman

And this oldie but goodie was found in my stash.  It goes way back, but thought it coordinated well with the others.

Harmony by Print Concepts

Several of the prints were duplicated in the mini charm pack and since I received 2 charm packs, I ended up with 4 squares of a few prints.  I decided to lay them out in in a plus sign design using a different print for the center squares.  I also pulled 2 different solid browns or dark tans to mix in with the prints.

Baby quilt in pinks, creams and browns on the design wall

I have squares sewn together for 12 of the rows and the top 4 rows are in process.  Here is a close up where you can see the various fabrics. I plan to enclose the plus signs with a 2 1/2" border of the same fabric, the one you see mostly around the edge.  Already wondering, how am I going to quit this?

Close up of the various fabrics in the baby quilt

Anticipating a finish by the end of January, I am linking to Heidi @ Red Letter Quilts for the launch of her new link party, OMG or One Monthly Goal.

And linking to Molli Sparkles with Sunday Stash #160 and Beth at Cooking Up Quilts with Main Crush Monday.

Throwback Thursday #2: Leo Baby Quilt

Going back to June 2010 for this one to show you a quilt I made for a cousin's baby girl.  It was made from a pattern, Leo Baby Quilt, by Liz at Lady Harvatine.  I remember Liz's blog being one of the first I discovered and started following.  How has she already had three precious children since then? Boy, time flies!

Leo Baby Quilt made by Paige Alexander on the clothesline

The closest thing to a solid in my stash at the time was this bright green batik, most likely a Hoffman 1895 Bali and paired it with other batiks in aquas and purples for the 5 prints needed.  I remember being short on fabric because I pieced the background as you can see in the lower left-hand corner. Once it was quilted the seam was not really noticeable.

Pieced quilt top from Leo Baby Quilt Pattern by Liz Harvatine

The picture of the pieced quilt top was taken on May 22nd and the completed quilt on June 3rd, so this came together rather rather quickly. For the quilting I did an all over loopy meander.

Loopy meander quilting detail on Leo Baby Quilt

Closer shot of the 5 batiks used in the stripes running the length of the quilt

They lived over 600 miles away in Mississippi so I gave it to her when I was going to visit my grandmama.  I remember hand sewing down the bias binding while on the plane.

For the label, I again used a tip from Liz where you create your label content in Word and simply trace over the document using a Micron pen and a lightbox or a window.  The label for the quilt was made from one of the fabrics used for the stripes and fashioned like hers in this post.

Exactly what is the child of a first cousin called?...first cousin one removed. I remembered looking that up to be sure.

Label for Leo Baby Quilt

The backing was pieced with two of the fabrics from the top and two other coordinating fabrics.

Backing of Leo Baby Quilt

Not only does this bring back memories of making the quilt, but when I took the photos, I was standing in the carport of my grandmama's house where she had a clothesline strung between two decorative iron posts.  It was summer and everything was so green.  Here are a few other pictures from her yard and garden I took during the same visit.

Grandmama Hazel's front yard with iris, hydrangea, rose, gardenia, and fern

Bird house and garlic blooming near the fig tree

Grandmama Hazel's vegetable garden

I need to remember the Leo Baby Quilt pattern again when a baby quilt is needed for a gift.  It came together rather quickly and was fun to make.

Leo Baby Quilt made by Paige Alexander

Linking up with Jenn at A Quarter Inch From the Edge for the first Throwback Thursday of 2016. She has the schedule for 2016 posted here.

Jenn has a new link-up, the Year of the Stash 2016, if your New Year's resolutions include a fabric diet like I should be following.

Sunday Stash #5: Red, Pink and Aqua

I am participating in my first mini quilt swap, the Rainbow Mini Swap Round #2, on Instagram and am on Team Yellow.  I did not have any fabrics from my partner's favorite designers so I needed to go shopping.  Luckily, I found all of these at my local quilt shop.

First up are prints with mostly red and aqua with white backgrounds.

• Hearts - Smitten by Barb Tourtillotte for Clothworks
• Floral - Vintage Floral from Vintage Market by Tasha Noel for Riley Blake 
• Stitches - Stitch Petal from Michael Miller

The pink stack includes:

• Bloom Check in pink from Bloom and Bliss by Nadra Ridgeway of Ellis & Higgs for Riley Blake
• Vintage Strawberries in pink from Vintage Market 
• Stripe from Lovey Dovey by Doodlebug Designs for Riley Blake

The Aqua stack includes:

• Bloom Diamond in blue from Bloom and Bliss
• Red dot - feels like Art Gallery but not sure 
• Aqua solid - unknown

And lastly some:

• Ladybugs in lava from True Colors by Tula Pink for Free Sprint
• Vintage Text in Red from Vintage Market

Look at the adorable selvages on the Riley Blake fabrics.  These will be added to the selvage collection!

I realize all the rainbow colors are not represented here, but I have a few more to add to the mix and I think these will make my partner happy!

Linking up to Sunday Stash #159 and for the fist time to Main Crush Monday with Beth at Cooking Up Quilts.

Outlined Plus Pattern Winner

Happy New Year!

I made a test block from the fabrics I am considering for the Outlined Plus Quilt Along which starts January 4th with Cindy at Hyacinth Quilt Designs.

Outlined Plus quilt block in Cotton + Steel Fabrics

Outlined Plus is the newly released pattern by Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs.  The pattern is so versatile and includes many options and sizes.

I am making mine using all Cotton + Steel fabrics:

• Plus sections - 3 or 4 different lime prints
• Outline sections - 1 navy print
• Background sections - variety of low volume neutral prints from a fat eighth bundle I blogged about on Sunday Stash #4 plus a few more added to the mix

Outlined Plus can be purchased at an introductory price of $6 through today in the Meadow Mist Designs Etsy Shop or on Craftsy.

Congratulations to Laura, the winner of the Outlined Plus pattern!

Block stats:

• Size:  12" x 12" finished
• Plus section fabric: Mochi  in lime from the Mochi collection by Rashida Coleman-Hale
• Outline section fabric: Ghostsaltines in dark navy from the Cookie Book collection by Kimberly Kight
• Background section fabric: Wordfind in neutral from Playful collection by Melody Miller

I am happy to link up on this New Year's Day 2016 with Fabric Frenzy Friday, Whoop Whoop Friday and Show Off Saturday.