Autumn Yellow Brick Road Quilt

 

Autumn Yellow Brick Road quilt

     Just finished this quilt at retreat a couple of weeks ago.  I saw the Fat Stack of autumn colored batiks at Patched Works and bought it immediately.  I used the Yellow Brick Road pattern which uses 12 fat quarters for a lap size, 57" x 75".  I did use leftover blocks in the four corners of the border.

Backing

     The border and backing fabric were in my stash.  The border I used in another quilt, a wall hanging I did in 2010.  The backing was from my friend Joni when she was cleaning out her stash.

Quilting detail

     Joni also did the quilting using a fall leaves pattern.  I made a couple of labels on my embroidery machine and sewed the binding to the front of the quilt at home.  I then did the hand sewing to the back at quilt retreat in March 2023 while sitting in the recovery boots. (still recovering from knee surgery)

Label 1

Label 2

     I did add a bit of design to the one quilt label.  I was reminded by my friend Eileen that I should be putting the year I did the quilt onto the label also.  I need to remember that for the next ones I do.  This quilt looks great in my family room.

Quilt Retreat March 2023

 

Floral Checkerboard

     This past weekend I was at a quilt retreat with my friends.  We all met when working at Libertyville Sewing Center years ago.  They go twice a year and I try to join them both in the spring and in the fall.  I spent several weeks cutting fabric to be ready to sew.  When getting ready for this retreat I decided I needed to pull out some of my old projects.  I figured I either needed to sew them up or give them away.

     The first one I worked on was with a pattern and fabric I bought back in 2000 at Libertyville Sewing Center.  It is a floral checkerboard using a large floral print that I had to fussy cut for the floral squares.  It still needs two borders, it is going to be huge!

Nine Patch 

     The next one I worked on was a nine patch. I had been doing a nine patch club at Barrington Sewing Center back in 2001 and each month we learned a new pattern that incorporated a nine patch.  I had this one cut and I had even done the sewing of the connector squares years ago.  When I was working on this one I realized I had learned a lot about color and sewing since then.  These colors are all medium tone so it is hard to see the pattern as they all blend into each other.  That might be good though since my sewing technique on the connector blocks left a lot to be desired and thus they didn't really match well when sewing the blocks together.  This one will also get two borders.

Nancy and her carrots

      One of the best parts of retreat (besides sewing all day) is spending time with my friends and learning new things.  I love teaching but I also have the need to be a student at times.  I learn about new tools, new quilt stores and new patterns plus tips and techniques. 

Hilda's Jester's Crown

     I love seeing what they are working on.  Sometimes I want to learn it and sometimes I just think, not for me. :-)

Joni's Kaffe Fassett squares

    

      I did bring up two other quilt tops that I had all cut but I didn't have the time to work on them.  I now need to find the time to add the borders and get backings for the tops I did.  I also want to get two more quilt tops cut and ready to take with me in the fall.

 

Busan Top

 

Busan top

     I made myself this stretch velvet top.  I had bought the pattern a while ago and the fabric was in my stash.

Pleated sleeve cap

     The top had a couple of unique features.  The first is this pleated sleeve top.  It makes for a roomy sleeve without a lot of bulk.  I wasn't sure how this would work with the stretch velvet but it lays nice and smooth.

Extra long cuff

     The second unique feature was this extra long cuff.  This makes it fitted around the lower arm and makes it so much easier to put on a jacket or sweater.

Neckline

    The crewneck is fitted without being constricting.  I definitely want to make this pattern again.  The directions were easy to follow.  I used my serger for most of the construction with some help from the sewing machine for basting the sleeve and the cuff.

Pattern

     This is the second pattern I have made from Itch to Stitch.  It is a bit of a pain to print out the pattern and tape it together but not hard.

Auction 2022 T-shirt Quilt

 

Finished quilt

     My daughter teaches at St Mary school in Buffalo Grove.  Her two kids go there and our three children all attended school there.  I have a big heart for the school even though we no longer go to church there.  Every year they have a big fund raiser and I have been donating a t-shirt quilt the past few years.

Adding the back

     The quilt includes the labor and materials for 20 t-shirts.  This year the winner brought the t-shirts to me shortly after I had my knee surgery.  I was able to piece the top but it took me until about 3 months post-op that I could get down on the floor (still painful but I can do it for a short time).  They way I do the back is to place the fleece backing down on the floor and then pin the front in place and trim all around.  Then I sew it up, leaving an opening to turn.  I then stitch all around the outer edge to close up the opening and stabilize the edge.

Stitch in the ditch, can't even see the navy thread

     The last step is to stitch in the ditch at all the intersections with thread that matches the back.  If you do it well, you can't even see the thread from the front.

Stitch in the ditch from the back

     I hope he enjoys his quilt/blanket.  It is fun to see what kinds of t-shirts people bring to me when they win one of these auctions.

Cubs T-shirt Quilt

 

Finished quilt

     My sister and brother-in-law wanted a lap quilt made for his mom from his dad's t-shirts.  They only gave me 11 shirts but the back of one of the sweatshirts had a great design also.  There is even a polo shirt in the mix.

Ready for the backing

     They asked if at all possible to have Cubs fleece on the back.  I found some at JoAnn's Fabrics and got a good deal on it.

Backing ready for the front

     I stabilized all the backs of the shirts with fusible interfacing and then cut out the squares using my 13"square rule and a rotating cutting mat.  I then sewed them in rows (using 1/2" seam allowances), pressed the seams open and then sewed the rows together.  

Stitch in the ditch on the front

     Then placed the finished front onto the backing piece, right sides together.  Pinned around the edges and then cut the backing to size.  Sewed them together, leaving an opening to turn right side out.  Then I stitched close to the edge, closing up the opening and providing a stable edge.

Stitch in the ditch on the back

     I then stitched in the ditch in the corners of the squares to keep the front and back pieces together.  If you stitch carefully, you don't even see the stitches on the front, just a small cross on the back.  I hope his mom likes it.