Leah Day's Explore Walking Foot Quilting: Curving Lines

What fun!  Another Leah Day Walking Foot Design - and I already had a quilt sandwich prepared!  Even so, because I was timing something in the oven, I estimate this block took about 70 minutes for me to stitch.  I did run out of bobbin once and also later ran out of the top thread so maybe with all that stopping and tying threads that amount of time is expected?

I cut the threads a little long when the bobbin ran out, but I wanted to remember where it was so I could find the hidden connection.  And I can if I look closely.  But looks so much better than it had before rewatching Leah's videos!

I used the guide when I was doing the stitching - this kind of repetitive line stitching is so tiring so having the lines farther apart helps me finish things in a more timely manner.  I noticed that sometimes the guide turned away from touching the fabric, resulting in lines that are not parallel.  But I think close enough.

I had already done curved walking foot stitching on my Put a Little Love in Your Quilt project (before I read that curves were supposed to be tricky with walking foot), so I was not intimidated by this design.

In the post Leah shows and discusses again 'whiskering'.  She had mentioned before but I didn't understand what it was.  In looking back at the blocks I have done it seems I may have 'whiskering' on all my samples!

'Whiskering' is all the little waves in the fabric between the stitching - here is her graphic.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNAZu6uXbts8228_PY1ipmz0JeEozCL-c6vQiJVjnsC6dEry9zyLOyWJiN5PvPgtFlPkIDbLOi-8fwrIticgaX0zeYce-kXmLadSq5HtB9uWH7xkPGOR9inZ5_WReMjwpKJZkPXKkV1I/s640/how+to+avoid+whiskering.png

It is unclear to me whether this will disappear once the piece is washed, or if it will forever be visible...

Here are my six completed blocks.  I'm just grabbing solid fabric and making two sandwiches with the same color.  If I had realized how using the walking foot helps make the back look as nice as the front I would have used solid there too - and maybe I would have done the math and figured exactly how much fabric I would need and been more controlled with my color picks.  But then each of the blocks is being done on the samples of the Hobb's batting that I have so it probably okay to be sampling different colors for this project too.

In the beginning I was measuring and marking the squares as Leah had directed, but now I see I am just quilting to the side of the fabric.  So I hope that won't mess me up at the end when it is time to join these blocks.  I have Leah's book but she mentioned in one of her posts that she was looking into different ways to join the blocks.  Whatever, it is nice to have this practice project! And I vow to join it together to make a quilt that we use!

Yesterday I brought the quilt that I am going to use for my larger quilt practice with the walking foot to my group.  Only no one else came, and I forgot ironing pad, and I cut the batting too short, so I just packed things up and brought them home... So that will have to wait for another two weeks...

Starry Bright Sky QAL - Pattern 2b Traditional Piecing

I finished the second block for the month in the Starry Bright Sky QAL.

Each month Alida shares several blocks, those who make one and post a photo following her directions are eligible for a drawing and will receive the next month's designs and directions via email.

Information on this QAL is posted here.
http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/p/starry-bright-sky-qal-2018.html

This QAL has just started, it's not too late for you to join in to make the beautiful quilt Alida has designed.  In addition to the blocks, I'm looking forward to making the extra blocks that have folds and creases in the fabric - to make textured blocks!

I've linked this post up to the group page:
http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2018/02/starry-bright-sky-qal-linky-month-2.html
Go ahead and see the pretty blocks folks are posting to the site!
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TIP Added Feb 27 9:00am: I forgot to note that this little tool really helps when making HST!
Deb Tucker's Quilter Magic Wand -
https://deb-tuckers-studio-180-design.myshopify.com/products/quilters-magic-wand
It was easy to line up with the corners on the yellow fabric so I drew the stitching lines on either side.  To make the cutting easier I cut all my Color 1 yellows from a 3 inch strip.  Sewed, cut and just a little minute trim and the HST were ready!

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We had dinner over a friend's tonight - this was the view when we first arrived...

I recently signed up with Reddit, still learning how to get around it.  But today there were posts about a man who had had heart attack - his post was inspiring.  Thought about it all day.

Quilt Show: San Diego People of Color Quilt Guild

Went to my first  San Diego People of Color Quilt Guild Quilt Show.  There are around 16 members, boy do they know how to put on a show!

They took over a large room at the library, then had a vendor in a smaller room...  I didn't take enough photos...

First there were two ladies sitting at the welcoming table.  A guest book to sign, then they had fabric business card holders - we were to pick one to take.  Then there was a bowl ready to accept donations.

In the hallway, they had stacked examples of charity quilts they had made - with a note on where they were to be distributed.

In the show room we were awed by the display of quilts!  I noticed several had been quilted by my friend, so that is when the camera came out...

This is the same double 4-patch design used for my Put a Little Love in Your Quilt Blog hop Heart Quilt.  So beautiful pieced in this color way,  and the quilting makes it really shine!

I got to see this quilt when it was in the quilting frame.  She used a ruler to do the initial curves, then did the swirl and feathers free hand!

 The hanging quilt on the left is the opportunity quilt - tickets were $1 each! My fingers are crossed for this beauty!

A beautiful quilt made in honor of someone.

Wish I had taken more photos...

They were also selling fabric members had donated.  The fabric chair had $1 fat quarters arranged by color folded in clear boxes.  She made two different sizes $4 and $8 of jelly rolls put together with fabric and colors.  There were a few $3 yard and two yard cuts of fabric too.  Very, very nice.  I bought a few fat quarters for a friend in quilting class who has not been feeling well.

So this is an event to look for next year to return to be inspired again!  Very glad I found out about it this year!

Starry Bright Sky QAL - Pattern 1b Raw Edge Applique Shooting Star

I made time today to simplify the second raw edge applique pattern for the Starry Bright Sky QAL - a shooting star!  (Previously I shared how horrible I really was with this technique so to stay in the QAL I had to modify the beautiful design just to have something done...)

I am only improving by actually doing some of this, but really hoping when it's in a quilt that I won't keep looking at the points....

Tip: I didn't have iron on stabilizer, so I used starch to stiffen the fabric, and that worked well.

I'm linking up to Alida's site at http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2018/02/starry-bright-sky-qal-linky-month-2.html

You can click and see the way the other people have interpreted the challenges!  Join in by following the directions on the website.  I did in 2016 and everyday am glad I finished the game board challenges that year...

Repairing a Quilt...

Around 1992 I made a quilt by figuring out what to cut and sew without a pattern.  I think it's a Quadruple Irish chain.  If there is such a thing...  I was so pleased to be done that I put the unquilted top on a table for a party.  It was beautiful.  But wax from a candle dripped on the center of the quilt so it was just folded up and put away.  I didn't know how to quilt yet anyway...

But now I'm following along Leah Day for Explore Walking Foot Quilting.  I decided I didn't need to make yet another quilt top, so plan on doing the stitches on this Quadruple Irish Chain.

So today, I took the seam ripper and removed the part with the wax, and sewed in a new piece.  I had a bunch of the fabric saved for the binding...

I can see where the repair is, but hope when I get the quilting added it won't be as visible.

I purchased this fabric at a local quilt shop, but it sure does not feel as nice as the new fabric sold today!

Expenses: Quilting Thread

Running out of my quilting thread, so went to LQS to pick up two spools. Let's see how long they last!

$12.69 for two spools including tax...

Last time I bought was March 2013 - bought three spools of this kind and color...

Starry Bright Sky QAL - Textured Four-Patches - Windmill Cathedral Window Month 2

Here is the second of the textured blocks for the Starry Bright Sky QAL!

My hints:  I found using a walking foot really helped put this block together.  When joining the folded triangles: instead of leaving the needle down and turning the fabric, it worked better for me to run the needle off the fabric then pull the fabric off and to start a new line.  I joined the four patch together then used the machine to stitch the fabric down.  I did all the stitching (so far) in one pass so stitching goes over the intersection of the four patches. To be consistent I will probably go back and add stitching so all the folds are secured (but I may do this when there is batting behind the block).

You can start to see how the blocks look together since I have finished four (of the six released) now.

If you didn't hear about the Starry Bright Sky QAL before, please visit Alida's Starry Bright Sky QAL page! 

There you will find all information about the quilt layout, all the future blocks and the rules to participate. And you will be able to see what all the other participants are doing for the challenge!

Thanks for visiting!

Starry Bright Sky QAL - Pattern 2 Traditional Piecing

This month the Starry Bright Sky QAL blocks use traditional piecing.  I have just done the first one, so posting that one now...

This is a variation of the first quilt block I ever made myself (27 years ago!) - but instead of a plain star interior there is a 16-patch so it is much more interesting.

I haven't read ahead to see how we use the remaining 8 HSTs, but they are done so I included them in the photo.

Each month Alida shares several blocks, those who make one and post a photo following her directions are eligible for a drawing and will receive the next month's designs and directions via email.

Information on this QAL is posted here.
http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/p/starry-bright-sky-qal-2018.html

This QAL has just started, it's not too late for you to join in to make the beautiful quilt Alida has designed.  In addition to the blocks, I'm looking forward to making the extra blocks that have folds and creases in the fabric - to make textured blocks!

I've linked this post up to the group page:
http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2018/02/starry-bright-sky-qal-linky-month-2.html
Go ahead and see the pretty blocks folks are posting to the site!

Leah Day's Explore Walking Foot Quilting: Zigzag Lines

Another walking foot design by Leah Day - Zigzag Lines.

This design was pretty easy to do.  I started by spacing with the edge of the walking foot, then decided to use the walking foot guide to have more space between the lines.

I did draw the lines to indicate when the needle was going to be turned, but in a few cases I overshot that mark.  In those cases I tried to make the corner crisp and just did the line so it was evenly spaced from the guide line.

The bobbin ran out in the middle of the work, but I followed Leah's hints and the end and beginning of the line really does not show any interruption in the stitching - with a magnifying glass I can see, but I doubt anyone else will inspect the block that closely!

The batting this time is black, it was very firm.  I'm going to ask a friend who is going to the Pasadena conference to buy another sample pack of the batting from Hobb's hoping that I'll be able to label what battings I am using for this sampler project!

Leah's Directions are very clear - Hope you will get the book and join in the projects this year!

Started the day with a five mile walk around a local lake with a quilting friend and her dog.  Amazing how much more fun it is to walk with a friend!

Long Weekend: Yuma Arizona Feb 2018

Just got back from a nice weekend in Yuma, Arizona.

We went mainly for my two guys for the Ham Fest.  It's a conference and swap meet for people interested in ham radio.

We've been to other events like this, but this one was a nice size.  The people were for the most part very friendly too.  And they let me bring little Buffy in so that was a nice bonus (as I thought I'd either be in the car or hotel for the two days).

This is some special antenna - looked like a FMQing design to me!

Another antenna - this one almost pointing to a near earth space balloon they had set out that went I think up 9K feet.  it was traveling at 40 miles an hour - they had cameras and sensors to give them information. 

  

 Other organizations - t-shirts.

They had two lectures to choose from about ham radio each hour, and a very organized group of wives who also had a lecture most of the hours - on things they were interested in.  Gardening, crafts...  I didn't find out about that until the end as I didn't take a conference program.

I didn't take photos of the vendor area or the swap meet area.  Lots of things to look at, we found and bought a nice red tool chest that will help things get organized in the garage....

Most of the people were very nice, there was a variety of interests. Some that I wouldn't be interested in - living off the grid and survivalist stuff.  (And there were some negative guys with a confederate flag decal on their truck that were making strange, nasty comments about people.)

On our way back we drove thru Yuma.  This was a park by the Colorado River. Several playgrounds.  Very nice.  (I was driving so didn't get photos of the neat mid-century hotel and store signs.)

Some of the trees were filled with these singing birds!

Design by the restroom exit.

Then we stopped at the Museum of Granite.  But it really is (I think) associated with some sort of cult.  So didn't stay at all.  The entrance said welcome, but then it said all cars had to pay to pass, but they had put a piece of tape to cover the place where you'd put money and didn't say what the amount would be anyway.  We thought it was going to either be place to learn about geology or once we got closer that it would be folk art.  But it was just strange.

Buffy and son didn't even leave the car...

Then we stopped at the desert view tower.  Last time we were by the man was not in the gift shop so we didn't stay to see anything.  This time it was windy and clear - fun to go up and look around.  Click on the link to see what the front looks like (it's for sale now!)  We didn't go in the rocks to see the art work, hope to do that another trip.  It was too windy to do much walking today!

On the way back we went off the freeway and onto Historical Highway 80 so we passed thru little towns and were right next to the border with Mexico.

Our third out of town weekend this year!  Hurray!