Navigating to Pluto (MQU Quilt Challenge)

Well, it's finially finished!  Navigating to Pluto is my entry in the Everything Old Is New Again Quilt Challenge sponsored by Modern Quilts Unlimited Magazine, Michael Miller Fabrics and others.

Whether you sail, fly, take the stairway or the snail’s trail, hopefully you can make your way to Pluto. The background fabric, Cotton Couture in Pluto, inspired the quilt title, thus Navigating to Pluto.

Navigating to Pluto by Paige Alexander
(Quilted by Johellen George of Cabin Quilt Studio)

Back in July 2015, Modern Quilts Unlimited issued a twelve-month block challenge to interprect a traditional quilt block in a modern way and then, after completion of all twelve blocks, make a quilt with your blocks.

I challenged myself to use improvisational piecing in each block.  Some were successful and others not so much.  But I stuck with it and made all twelve blocks.  Images of the traditional blocks are listed here on the MQU website.

Completed 12 blocks for MQU challenge

Row 1

• Flying Geese - Flying into the Sun 
• Snail's Trail - Trail Blazers 
• Ohio Star - Ohio on Point 
• Card Trick - Simple Transparency Trick 

Row 2

• Bow Tie - Bow Tie Bold 
• Double Pinwheel - Curvy Pinwheel 
• Square in a Square - Minimal Square
• Rail Fence - Paint the Fence

Row 3

• Sailboat - Adrift
• Lemoyne Star - Last Lemoyne Star
• Drunkards Path - Echo
• Jacob's Ladder - Stairway to Heaven

Quilt Challenge Rules - some of the basic rules were as follows but the official rules are here:

1. Make a quilt using all 12 blocks not exceeding 60" x 60".

2. The blocks must measure 12" x 12" finished and be an original interpretiaton of the traditional quilt block.

3. Michael Miller fabrics must be used in the completion of the quilt top with each identified.

4. Quilts must be finished including quilting and binding.

Fabrics - Michael Miller Cotton Couture

When the challenge was announced I went to my local quilt shop and found a some Cotton Coutures to use in the blocks.  I soon replaced the Avacado with Apple, but later used the Avacado in Witco's Daisies. Knowing I would need to identify each fabric, I snapped a pic so I would not forget the fabric colors and I'm glad I did.

Michael Miller Cotton Coutures purchased for MQU challenge

  

I mostly used Apple, Azure, Lava and Magenta with Pluto as the background.  One block contains a tiny bit of Caribbean and Fern.

Quilt Layout

I designed a layout where I could create the the largest quilt possible within the size constraints of 60" x 60".  My design wall was in use and ended up laying out the blocks on the kitchen floor.

Deciding on layout for Navigating to Pluto

Excited to have the top pieced, I took it outside for a photo.

Navigating to Pluto quilt top completed

Quilting

Running short on time and not knowing exactly how I wanted to quilt it, I asked Johellen George (@sc_quilter) of Cabin Quilt Studio to quilt it for me on her Innova long arm. At first, I thought about having her quilt organic horizontal lines across the entire quilt top.  But as we talked, she talked about adding echoing clouds in with the wavy lines in the top portion and adding waves in the lower half.  After all, the block at the very top was Stairway to Heaven and the block on the bottom row was a sailboat. Perfect, I loved the idea.

Quilting of echoing clouds transisitioning to waves by Johellen George

More quilting by Johellen George

Finishing

One of my favortie blocks is the Sqare in a Square and you can see more of the waves as they are quilted.  

I used Azure for the 1/4" bias binding and added in a flange from Apple.  

Honey Hive in Leaf was used for the backing and it cordinated so well with the Pluto and Apple.  It was lucky find at my local quilt shop.  And call me crazy, but I matched the print when piecing two seams for the backing.

Honey Hive in Leaf  from Emma's Garden for Michael Miller

And one more photo taken outside on Thanksgivng Day with the North Carolina montains in the background.

Navigating to Pluto by Paige Alexander
(Quilted by Johellen George)

Quilt Stats:

• Finished size:  60" x 60" 
• Pattern:  Original designs using traditional quilt blocks as inspiration
• Fabrics: Background - Michael Miller Cotton Coutures; Backing: Michael Miller Honey Hive in Leaf
• Thread: Quilted with Aurifil 2886 Light Avacado
• Quilting designs:  Echoing clouds and waves by Johellen George, Cabin Quilt Studio
• Batting: 100% Cotton Quilters Dream Cotton 
• Started July 2015 and Completed November 2016

I'm glad this is finish #1 for 4th quarter of the 2016 Finish-A-Long.

Linking to Can I Get a Whoop Whoop, Finish It Up Friday, Finished or Not Friday, Fabric Frenzy Friday, Show It Off Saturday and Main Crush Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is a special day to count our blessings.

I'm sharing the Patchwork Heart block I made from mostly Cotton and Steel blues along with one solid and Kona white for the background.

Patchwork Heart block from Cotton and Steel fabrics

The block is made up of hourglass blocks and half hourglass blocks which meant a lot of points to match when sewing the blocks together.  I promised myself I would not resew any intersections and I didn't.

Detail Patchwork Heart block

Megan at Canoe Ridge Creations is collecting the blocks to be made into quilts for those families affected by the recent shooting of two officers in Iowa.  I'll be mailing this one off very soon.

Since I declared this as my One Monthly Goal for November, I'll be linking to the OMG link party with Patty at Elm Street Quilts.

Also linking to Let's Bee Social #152, Needle and Thread Thursday, Fabric Frenzy Friday, Show Off Saturday and Scraptastic Tuesday the 2nd week of December.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Wide Quilt Backings Giveaway

There is no doubt for me, wide quilt backings not only save money, but more importantly TIME, especially if you are wanting to match prints in the fabric. By the time you purchase two lengths or possibly three depending on the width of your quilt, calculate(or estimate) the required yardage to allow for the repeats in the fabric AND sew and press the seams you could have purchased a wide quilt backing.

Christine at Backside Fabrics recently provided wide quilt backings for a couple of secret sewing projects for Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs and me.

I love that you can shop the wide backs by color, size, manufacturer, and collections such as Widescreen by Carolyn Friedlander, Peppered Cottons, Grunge by Basic Gray, Kaffe Fassetts's Circles and Carpet.

And don't forget the value section.  This gray and white Sun Burst is sleeper on the screen but beautiful in person.

Have doubts about how the fabric will look and feel before purchasing? Christine offers FREE sample swatches (10 per month to US costumers and a nominal charge to ship internationally).  She sticks a label to the backside of each swatch so each is identified.

Clockwise are the following wide quilt backs:

• Carpet by Kaffe Fassett in Green
• Grunge by Basic Grey in Ash
• Peppered Cotton by Pepper Cory in Peacock
• Widescreen by Carolyn Friedlander in Grey

I just purchased Robert Kaufman Kona White for a project I have in mind with a lot of negative space so piecing the background for the quilt top width will not be required either.  And, it feels just like the regular Kona except it's 108 inches wide!

Remember...1 Yard of Wide Backing = 2.5 Yards of 42" Wide Fabric

It's easy to sign up for their newsletter to receive new arrivals and specials delivered to your inbox. Just look for this towards the bottom of the web page and enter your name and email address.

Giveaway

Backside Fabrics has been generous to offer a $40 gift certificate to one lucky reader (the giveaway is being hosted on Cheryl's and my blogs so you only have to enter through one post).

To enter, use the Rafflecopter widget below. (If you are reading this via e-mail, you will have to click the link to open the post on the Internet.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway The giveaway ends Sunday, November 20th, at 10pm Eastern Time and a random number generator will select the winner. Giveaway open to participants 18 years or older and international participants are welcome.

This has been a week of giveaways.  There's still time to enter the following giveaways:

• Paper Pieces and see how I fussy cut fabric for English Paper Piecing.

• Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 14 Winter 2016 edition and see my Hexie Flower Basket included in this issue.

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 14 Blog Tour + Giveaway - Hexie Flower Basket

Welcome!  The day is here for my stop on the 100 Blocks Blog Tour and I am so glad you are here!  I'm thrilled to have my block, Hexie Flower Basket, published in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 14 Winter 2016 edition.

Hexie Flower Basket

Quiltmaker assigns each 12" block to one of four categories - Applique, Foundation-Pieced, Mixed Technique and Pieced.  Hexie Flower Basket is included in the Mixed Technique section since my block contains traditional piecing and both hand and machine applique.  My block, It All Adds up, was included in Pieced section of 100 Blocks Vol. 13.

Here, I was auditioning the placement of the hexagon flower on the basket. You can also see the scrappy background which was pieced from a charm pack of Modern Background Paper by Zen Chic for Moda Fabrics.

Deciding on placement of the hexagon flower

I wanted the leaves to contrast with the gray basket fabric and compliment the hexagon flower made from two Cotton and Steel prints, Dining car in Coral and XOXO in Dandelion.  I chose this bright green Grid from the Spin collection by Windhan Fabrics.

Auditioning placement of the hexagon flower and green leaf fabric

Once I received my copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks in the mail and actually saw my block in print, I realized that I had gone to all the work of piecing the background and there really wasn't enough contrast.

Hexie Flower Basket on pg. 30 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 14

I decided to make another block, this time using two alternating prints for the background.  Although subtle, there is enough contrast to see I actually made the effort to piece the background.  With the exception of the solid fabric used for the basket handle, this Hexie Flower Basket block is made from various Cotton and Steel prints.

Hexie Flower Basket made from Cotton and Steel prints

For this hexagon flower, I fussy cut the flower petals and describe my fussy cutting method in yesterday's post using an acrylic template and hexagon papers by Paper Pieces who is generously sponsoring a giveaway for both!

And now on to the Giveaways!

Giveaway #1.  The editors at Quiltmaker are sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of 100 Blocks Vol.14 and will mail the magazine directly to you anywhere worldwide.

Giveaway #2.  I will mail a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 14 to one lucky commenter to anywhere worldwide.

How to enter:

1. Leave a comment letting me know if you have ever made a basket quilt block.

2. Followers, old and new alike, get a bonus entry.  Leave a second comment and let me know how you follow - such as Bloglovin, Instagram or Email.

The giveaway will run through Wednesday, November 23rd and close at 8pm. (Giveaway now closed.)  I normally respond to every comment received, but during the giveaway the volume may be to large for me to do so. Please leave your e-mail address so I have a way of contacting you if you are a no-reply blogger.

Visit Quiltmaker's blog, Quilty Pleasures, each day this week for links to participating blogs and enter for some great giveaways!  To see all of the creative and original blocks in this issue, 100 Blocks Vol. 14 is available on the newsstands now or you can order 100 blocks from Quiltmaker.

Good Luck!

Fussy Cutting Fabric for English Paper Piecing + Giveaway

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 14 Blog Tour is this week and I'm honored to have a block, Hexie Flower Basket, included in this issue.

My official stop on the blog tour is tomorrow where I will share my block which includes a fussy cut hexagon flower.  But, today I am sharing with you how I fussy cut fabric for English Paper Piecing or EPP (hexagons in particular) using acrylic templates by Paper Pieces who is generously sponsoring the giveaway!

Let's get started!  Here's a list of supplies you will need:

• Fabric from which to cut your shapes
• Paper Pieces Acrylic Fabric Cutting Template of your choice (templates are under the Paper Pieces tab)
• Scotch Permanent Double-Sided Tape
• Rotary Cutter (smaller ones are easier to use) and mat
• Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Permanent Marker
• Water soluble glue stick, I use Sewline Glue Pen
• Paper Pieces Precut Paper Shapes

Supplies to aid in fussy cutting shapes for English Paper Piecing

Choosing your Fabric

First determine the desired motif you would like to showcase on your English Paper Piecing shapes.  Audition the motif by placing the clear acrylic template over the fabric.  Be sure you are able to cut the desired number of shapes from your fabric.  I had a only a fat quarter of Hang It Up in Grape from Macrame by Rashida Coleman-Hale was able to cut six of the same motif.

Note:  The acrylic templates are available with either a 1/4" or 3/8" seam allowance.  I like the 3/8" seam allowance unless I working with really small templates such as the 3/8" hexagons I used when making Rainbow Hexie Flower Mini mini quilt measuring 4" square.

Paper Pieces acrylic hexagon template with 3/8" seam allowance

Preparing the Acrylic Fabric Cutting Template

Place the acrylic template on your fabric over the motif  and, using the sharpie marker, draw the basic outline of the motif onto the template.  Mark any reference points which will aid in aligning the template with the motif. In the below picture, I outlined the basket, rope on the basket, pink beads and the outer leaves on the plant.

Lift the template and place pieces of double-sided tape on the opposite side of the template on which you just outlined your motif.  The tape will keep the template from slipping.  Keep in mind, not all double-sided tapes are of the same quality at the Scotch brand.  I have tried some from dollar stores which do not work as well.

Cutting Out the Shapes

Using your rotary cutter, cut out around the template.  Try not to cut too far beyond your template, you might want to cut out a motif near by for your next set of motifs.  I find it easier to lift the fabric rather than the template to be sure you have cut all the way around.

Carefully peel the fabric away from the template and set aside.  Repeat the cutting process until you have the desired number of shapes cut out. The tape really helps hold the fabric in place when cutting out and stays tacky for a long time.  Below are the cut out shapes and the acrylic template with the drawn reference marks.

Cut out hexagons and acrylic template

Gluing the Paper Pieces

Using a glue stick, place one small dot of glue on the Paper Piece and center it on your cut out shape. I baste my hexies from the back rather than sewing through the paper and fabric and find just a small dot to glue will keep the paper in place while basting and can easily be pulled out later.

Paper Pieces glued to the fabric shapes

Basting and Sewing the Paper Pieces

Since I was focusing on fussy cutting the fabric, I found this great tutorial by Diane Gilleland on Sew Mama Sew which shows you have to baste and sew the hexies.

Here are my hexies all basted.

Basted hexies ready to sew together into a flower

And here is the hexie flower from the back.

Hexagons sewn into a flower, a back view

And the hexie flower from the front.

Hexie flower

Alternate Method Without Marking the Template 

It was necessary to draw on the template in order to position it because the motifs were completely surrounded by the background.  If you have a fabric where the design goes to edge of the template, it's not always necessary to draw on the template.  The fabric can be your guide.

This bilaterally symmetrical fabric, Lazy Stripe from True Colors by Tula Pink, was one where I didn't need to mark the template.  I positioned the template over the desired area a cut out the shape.

This is where the method differs from above.  After cutting the first shape, do no remove the cut shape from the template.

Hexagon shape cut from Tula Pink fabric

Instead, move the template with the fabric still adhered to the next area and cut out another shape.  Set aside the second shape cut.  Repeat until you have cut out the desired number of shapes.  The first shape you cut will remain adhered to the template until all are cut.

The first hexagon is still attached to the template allowing for perfect placement for the next cut.

Here are the hexies ready to to sewn together.  It looks as though the pattern will match perfectly.  I still need to choose a fabric for the flower center.

Hexagons made from Lazy Stripe from True Colors by Tula Pink

Here is a quilt show ribbon I made using this method.  The petal fabric is Rainbow Rick Rac (6542) from Patio Prints by Kanvas Studios.

Quilt show ribbon made from fussy cut hexagons

Cleaning the Templates

When the double-sided tape is no longer sticky, I peel away the tape and clean it with Goo Gone to remove the residue.  Alcohol will remove the sharpie markings from the template.


The next time you fussy cut your fabric when English Paper Piecing, I hope you will try my method using Paper Pieces Acrylic Fabric Cutting Templates and double-sided tape.

I recommend signing up for their newsletter which always includes a great sale just for email subscribers.  Scroll down to the very bottom of the webpage and just under the Newsletter box click...Join our email.

Now on to the Giveaway!  

Paper Pieces is generously giving away to one lucky person...

• Large Pack (600 pieces) of 1" hexagon paper pieces
• Acrylic Fabric Cutting Template for cutting 1" hexagons

The giveaway will be shipped directly from Paper Pieces and is open to everyone worldwide!

How to enter:

1. Leave a comment letting me know if you have tried English Paper Piecing.  And if you have tried EPP, what's your favorite shape?

2. Followers, old and new alike, get a bonus entry.  Leave a second comment and let me know how you follow - such as Bloglovin, Instagram or Email.

The giveaway will run through Tuesday, November 22nd and close at 8pm. (Giveaway now closed and winner contacted. Thank you for commenting!)  I normally respond to every comment received, but during the giveaway the volume may be to large for me to do so. Please leave your e-mail address so I have a way of contacting you if you are a no-reply blogger.

Please stop back by tomorrow (Nov. 16) for my stop on the 100 Blocks Vol. 14 Blog Tour where you can comment to win copies of 100 Blocks Vol. 14.  And be sure to visit Quiltmaker's blog, Quilty Pleasures, all this week to see beautiful blocks by talented designers and enter to win some fantastic prizes!

Linking to Tips and Tutorials Tuesday, Fabric Tuesday and Let's Bee Social.

Table Runner from Blue Christmas Tutorial

I recently had the opportunity to teach machine applique using my Blue Christmas Machine Applique tutorial to my local traditional quilt guild and a neighboring guild. Wanting to give the students more options, I designed a table runner using the same applique motifs, a string of vintage Christmas lights.

Christmas vintage string of lights table runner

For the background, I found this harlequin diamond fabric in my stash by Blend Fabric.  The light bulbs are a tone on tone yellow gold and the sockets and strings are a RJR Cotton Supreme solid.  The red border is a Cotton and Steel print, Ornamentals in Cherry, from the Garland line.

Christmas lights table runner

I quilted it with using my walking foot and used the diamond grid in the background fabric as a guide.  I found it still necessary to mark the border to keep the quilting lines straight.  Aurifil 1147 light leaf green was the prefect match.  I quilted right over the applique and bias stems and it worked perfectly.

Threads for applique and quilting

The table runner measures 16 1/2" x 33" only because I was limited on the fabric.  It could easily be made the width of your fabric (using the same yardage given in the tutorial) or even longer.  I found a great backing in my stash.

Christmas table runner and back

The majority of the students choose the make the table runner and made great progress in class.

Quilt Stats:

• Finished size:  16 1/2" x 33" 
• Pattern:  Blue Christmas Machine Applique Tutorial
• Fabrics: Background - Harlequin by Blend Fabric; Border - Ornamentals by Cotton and Steel
• Thread: Applique - Mettler; Quilting - Aurifil 1147 light leaf green
• Quilting design:  Straight line with walking foot on my Bernina 153
• Batting: 100% Cotton Warm & White by the Warm Company
• Completed: November 2016

Linking to Finish it up Friday, Finished or Not Friday, Whoop Whoop Friday, Fabric Frenzy Friday and Show Off Saturday.

Patchwork Hearts

Did you see that Megan at Canoe Ridge Creations is collecting heart blocks to be made into quilts for the families of the fallen officers in Iowa?

Photo by Megan at Canoe Ridge Creations, used with permission

She asked that the hearts be made from royal blue (prints and solids) and the backgrounds made from white or gray (prints or solids).

I'm using these Cotton + Steel fat quarters that I just won stole at the dirty Santa swap at the Greenville MQG  and will throw in a couple of solids.

You can find out all the details including a link to her free pattern in her blog post here.

I'm making this my One Monthly Goal for November 2016.  A big thanks to Heidi who has hosted the OMG link party and now passed the baton to Patty at Elm Street Quilts.