All-A-Flutter ~ Butterfly Mini Swap Quilt

Back in May the idea was tossed around about a mini quilt swap between the members of the three Modern Quilt Guilds in South Carolina, Greenville MQG (my guild), Palmetto MQG (Columbia) and Charleston MQG.

We will not be officially swapping our mini quilts until Saturday, so I will not reveal the details of my swap partner's likes and dislikes just yet.  But, I just finished All-A-Flutter since it was my One Monthly Goal for October.

The intersections were a little bulky and a doozie to match up so I resewed several.

I alternated the butterflies just like Rita at Red Pepper Quilts did in her quilt, but added in some negative space.  To be honest, I didn't want to make any more butterflies than I did.

For the quilting, I added some ruler work quilting to the wings using Patsy Thompson's 6.5 inch arc ruler and Aurifil 30wt in grey.

I drifted off the ruler a few times, so every curve is not perfect, but I remembered Angela Walter's mantra, 'A finished quilt is better than perfect quilt top'!

I used the 12 inch arc ruler for the background quilting.  The design reminds me of crossed canoes.

Knowing I needed to add a label, I decided frame an extra butterfly and piece it into the backing.  And, to be quite honest, I miscut the backing (Elizabeth Hartman's Firefly in Pickle) and matching fireflies was not going to be fun so I changed the direction of the fireflies.

I'm looking forward to meeting other SC MQG guild members when we swap quilt.  You can check out swap progress at #SCMQGswap.

Quilt Stats

• Finished size: 20" x 20" 
• Pattern: a modified version of Rita's (Red Pepper Quilts) Butterfly Blocks
• Fabrics: Sun Prints by Alison Glass for Andover Fabrics
• Thread: Aurifil 50wt in Natural White 2021 for quilting background and Aurifil 30wt in Grey 2605 for quilting the butterflies   
• Quilting design: ruler work
• Batting: 100% Cotton Warm & White by the Warm Company
• Completed: October 29, 2018

Linking to the October Finish Link-up at Elm Street Quilts and Finish up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts. 

Introducing Linked Within + The Quilter's Planner 2018

I am beyond thrilled to share with you Linked Within which will be included along with 12 other fabulous projects in the full-color glossy magazine accompanying The Quilter's Planner for 2018.

Photograph by Kitty Wilkin at Night Quilter, taken for The Quilter's Planner 2018

Linked Within includes two prints from the Sun Print 2017 collection by Alison Glass, featured designer for The 2018 Quilter's Planner.  More about these prints in this post.

Kitty did such a wonderful job photographing Linked Within in beautiful Maine.  Just look how well you can see the quilting detail in this shot.

Photograph by Kitty Wilkin at Night Quilter, taken for The Quilter's Planner 2018

And speaking of quilting...Johellen George of Cabin Quilt Studio did a fabulous job of custom quilting Linked Within.  This is the center where Johellen quilted a combination of swirls and pebbles.

Linked Within by Paige Alexander and quilted by Johellen George

Do you see how the two-color plus signs form the links?  It was so fun working on this design and I am so grateful to Stephanie for including Linked Within in the The Quilter's Planner for 2018!

Linked Within by Paige Alexander and quilted by Johellen George

The Quilter's Planner 2018 is no longer available, but the Fat Quarter Shop has the Quilter's Planner Mini here. (affiliate link)  

The Quilter's Planner 2018 and Mini

QP Mini (5″ x 7″) features:

• Small 5″ x 7″ 80-page book that fits nicely in your bag
• Undated daily planning pages with to-do lists, appointments and shopping lists is the perfect companion to the full-sized Quilter's Planner
• Meal planning and grocery lists to take on-the-go NEW!!
• Graph paper and blank pages for sketching or jotting down notes
• Projects-at-a-glance pages so you can keep your full list of ongoing projects with you
• Project planning pages so you can easily keep notes on your project and what you need to buy, to bring with you to the quilt shop

One day I hope to make it to Maine but until then I'll have to admire Kitty's photography!

Photograph by Kitty Wilkin at Night Quilter, taken for The Quilter's Planner 2018

Linking to Finish it up Friday with Amanda at Crazy Mom Quilts.

Disclosure: Links to the Quilter's Planner Mini through the Fat Quarter Shop is an affiliate link meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you purchase through my link. Thank you!

Sunday Stash (Sun Print 2017 + 2018 Quilter's Planner)

I am thrilled to announce that I will have a quilt in The 2018 Quilter's Planner! And while I can't share the project just yet, I can show you the two Alison Glass prints included in my quilt.  They are both from the Sun Print 2017 collection by Andover Fabrics.

The orange is the Link pattern in the Carrot colorway and includes birds and bees along with a faint dot.

The Meadow print below in the Tide colorway combines many of Alison's signature motifs.  It's such a beautiful tone on tone print.

I had no idea when I proposed my project to Stepanie Palmer, the Late Night Quilter and genius behind the Quilter's Planner, that Alison Glass was the featured designer for the 2018 Quilter's Planner.  Neither did I know that the Meadow print, the exact one I included in my quilt, would be highlighted on the cover!  How cool is that?

I have the 2016 and 2017 Quilter's Planners and Stepanie has included many new features the 2018 Quilter's Planner such as:

• The Quilter’s Planner Magazine: A full-color, glossy companion publication with 13 quilting and sewing patterns by top designers
• 4 pages of planner stickers, yes STICKERS, by Alison Glass
• 15 coloring pages by Alison Glass
• 12 monthly blocks featured in a new Quilter’s Planner Sampler Quilt pattern by Cheryl Brickey
• Yearly goals planning page
• Fabric chart from Andover Fabrics featuring Alison Glass fabrics

It's time to pre-order your 2018 Quilter's Planner now!

Once again, you have the option to include the Quilter's Planner Mini with your pre-order.

International orders can be placed at the Fat Quarter Shop for the Planner and the Bundle.

Linking to Sunday Stash #231 since I'm excited to share the Alison Glass Sun Prints and the 2018 Quilter's Planner.

Disclosure: Links to the 2018 Quilter's Planner and Bundle are affiliate links meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you purchase through my link. Thank you!

Me-Made-May '17 (3/4 Length Sleeve Top)

One garment barely qualifies for Me-Made-May and while I didn't take the pledge, I thought I would share with you the first garment I've made in probably 15+ years.  It's a 3/4 length sleeve knit tee shirt that I totally hacked.  I cut apart a knit tee shirt that fit pretty well but was worn out.

I actually made this knit tee back in February and wore it for the first time at QuiltCon 2017 in Savannah, GA.

First thing that morning, I met Monika Huelsebusch on the boardwalk while waiting for the ferry to take us over to the convention center.  Monica and I 'met' while participating in Modern Quilts Unlimited year long challenge when I made Navigating to Pluto.

And then, while on the ferry ride across the Savannah River I sat right down by Sophie who blogs at Luna Loves Quilts.  Check out Sophie's posts about QuiltCon 2017 Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Notice my bag sitting on the floor...I could have a thing for limey chartreuse green.

After I cut out the bodice, I realized the neck looked too wide.  So what was I to do?  I decided to add at pleat or tuck to the neck line and hopefully it would end up being be a design element.

This is what it looks like with the tee wrong side out.  To reduce the bulk in the neck line seam, I snipped the tuck or pleat just a bit.

It had been so long since I had sewn garments, I found this neck band tutorial, How to Bind Knit Edges, by Colette.  I followed the directions for the Self Fabric Band and on my first attempt I made the divot in the band to deep, and rejected this one.  The purpose is to reduce the bulk in the back of the neckline so it will lie flatter. The second attempt turned out great.

Self band reject

I was even pleased with the top stitching around the neckline.

I should mention that the fabric is Alison Glass Jersey Knit in Lime.  I love the weight of fabric. Although it too thick for the heat of summer, it's great for three of the four seasons.

Although my eyes are closed, here's a fan girl moment taken with Alison at her demo at QuiltCon.

This bright lime green needed just the right thread and I found the closest match in a Gutermann 100% poly used for garment construction and top stitching.  Although I used a ball point needle, I still had a few skipped stitches.

I made vents in the sides and top stitched around the vents and the 1 1/8" hem.  For surging the raw edges, I used Aurifil 50 wt. 1147 (Light Leaf Green).

As if you haven't seen enough green, here's a picture of my varigated canna lilies just coming up.

Linking to Let's Bee Social with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts.

Sunday Stash (QuiltCon Edition)

I can't believe a month has passed since I returned home from QuiltCon East which you all know took place in Savannah, GA.  Since then I've been sick twice, first with a bad cold and then a nasty stomach virus.  And I made a trip to Mississippi to attend the funeral of an uncle.  I'm anticipating April to be a more healthy and happy month.

While at QuiltCon, of course I shopped the vendors, but I was relatively good.  I thought I would show you what I brought home.  Most are purchases, but I scored an awesome souvenir!

Now, just look at this pincushion.  Do you see those initials AJN?  You know whose they are, right?  I was looking at the quilts late Thursday afternoon and ran into none other than Amanda Jean Nyberg of Crazy Mom Quilts.

Pincushion made by Amanda Jean Nyberg

Before QuiltCon she mentioned in a blog post she would be giving out 75 pincushions at QuiltCon.  You just had to show her a picture of a quilt you had made from one of her patterns.  I've made a mini from her Trees pattern (blogged here).  I've also made a mini Bright Birch Trees which haven't blogged about yet.

Ok, on to the rest.  I was excited to receive a fat quarter of Flourish from Seventy Six by Alison Glass in the QuiltCon swag bag.

Flourish in Marigold

I splurged on a 2-year subscription to Simply Moderne and received this charm pack of Folk Art Revolution by Kathy Doughty and a tote bag and yearly calendar.

Folk Art Revolution by Kathy Doughty

I also purchased a two small fat quarter bundles of Doe by Carolyn Friedlander at the Beyond the Reef booth.

Doe by Carolyn Friedlander

I don't remember from which booth, but I purchased four half-yard cuts of Cotton and Steel's Basic, Add It Up in Lip Gloss, Bananas, Sea Glass and Indigo.  These have already been prewashed, cut into and added to the stash.  The substrate of the three on the top are an unbleached quilting cotton which feels wonderful and keeps the colors from being too saturated if that makes sense.

Cotton and Steel's Basic, Add It Up

And lastly, I found these enamel and sterling silver earrings at the SCAD gift shop by Kathryn Riechert and thought they were the perfect souvenir since I took an indigo fabric dyeing class with Maura Ambrose of Folk Fibers.  I'll share about my dyeing adventure in another post.

I hope your brought home lots of goodies from QuiltCon!

Linking the Sunday Stash #217 with Molli Sparkles.

Alison Glass Charm Swap

When Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl announced she was hosting an Alison Glass charm swap I knew I wanted to participate.  What I didn't realize is how fast it would fill up!  I was pretty close to bottom of the list and glad to be included.

I found Historical fiction (7868) in Green from Ex Libris collection by Andover Fabrics at my local quilt shop.

5" charm squares of Historical Fiction from Ex Libris by Alison Glass

All 72 of the 5" charm squares were cut from 1 1/2 yards and will be on their way to Yvonne tomorrow.

Historical Fiction from Ex Libris 5" charm squares

The original print I was planning to use for the swap was Bike Path in blue from her Luck Penny collection.  I was about to cut into it and discovered I had already prewashed it...and that would be breaking swap rule #4. (The perils of a prewasher.)  I think this will make a great binding with the dotted stripes.

Bike Path from Lucky Penny by Alison Glass

Now to wait on my charm squares to arrive.  In the mean time, have your peeked at Alison's new line Seventy-Six?  It's beautiful!

Linking to Let's Bee Social and Fabric Frenzy Friday.

Sawtooth Star Quilt Blocks (with Pieced Centers)

The Sawtooth Star quilt block is one of my favorite quilt blocks.  So when Jessica at Quilty Habit announced the Star Light, Star Dark Quilt-A-Long, I wanted to participate.

My One Monthly Goal for August was to piece the 6 large Sawtooth Star blocks.  Since I was trying to work from my stash and had limited cuts of some fabrics, I decided to include a pieced 9" block in the each center of the 18" Sawtooth Star blocks.

My favorite is the dark blue block with a Single Irish Chain in the center.  It almost glows with the Michael Miller Cotton Couture solids in Sailor and Wave.  Also included are two prints, one is a print from True Colors by Tula Pink and the other is an Alison Glass print from the Sun Print 2015 collection.

Sawtooth Star quilt block with a Single Irish Chain center

For the light blue block a Diamond Star was chosen for the center.

Sawtooth Star quilt block with a Diamond Star center

I chose Spinning Star or Double Friendship Star for the center of the dark purple block.  This is made from more Alison Glass, Kona solids and a Northcott print from the Artisan Spirit collection.

Sawtooth Star quilt block with a Spinning Star center

The center of the light purple block contains the Frayed Four-Patch. Again, this Sawtooth Star is made from Alison Glass prints, Kona solids and a Northcott print from the Artisan Spirit collection.

Sawtooth Star quilt block with Frayed 4-Patch center

To represent the setting sun, this Sawtooth Star contains a micro dot from Blank Quilting and an unknown lighter orange.  The 16-Patch center is made from one of the new Uppercase prints from Windham and a Cotton & Steel print.  Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts has a great tutorial for making the St. Louis 16-patch quilt block.

Sawtooth Star quilt block with a 16-patch center

Wanting to incorporate some yellow with the orange, I actually unsewed this Double Sawtooth Star quilt block and added a Kona solid in Corn Yellow and this Dazzle print in Marigold.  This turned out to be my least favorite.

Double Sawtooth Star or Rising Star quilt block

I think more time was spent selecting fabrics than the actual piecing.  Here are all six Sawtooth Star blocks together with the light blocks on left and dark blocks on the right.

Sawtooth Star quilt blocks for the Star Light, Star Dark Quilt-A-Long

Related posts:

• August 2016 One Monthly Goal
• Fabric choices for Star Light, Star Dark Quilt-A-Long
• Mid year review and 2016 goals

I'm linking to Jessica at Quilty Habit to share my progress on the Star Light, Star Dark Quilt-A-Long.

And I'm sliding in under the wire to link to Heidi at Red Letter Quilts for the completion of my August One Monthly Goal.

Also linking to Let's Bee Social, Needle and Thread Thursday, Fabric Frenzy Friday and Scraptastic Tuesday.