Quilting the BlockBase Sew Along Quilt

I've been quilting some Saturday and Sunday and am surprised at how fast this is going!  I've ditched stitched around the colored blocks and in the borders.  Next I did some feather stitching and a bit of ribbon scrolls around the colored blocks.  Since this picture was taken, I've done a simple back and forth on the black/white inner border.

BlockBaseSewAlong-Feathers

I have rolled this quilt numerous times. Good thing it's a small quilt!!  First using black Marathon poly 60wt thread in needle and bobbin to stitch in the ditch.  Then a roll using black 50wt cotton quilting thread from Connecting Threads in the needle to do the feathers and ribbon. Then twice using 40 wt poly black/white variegated in the inner border.  Next will be another roll or two to do the outer border.  I'm drawing in the design first, then will quilt using lime green quilting thread from Superior - King Tut Lime Stone.  By then I hope inspiration has struck for inside each colored block.  I think I want to use the same lime green, but what to quilt...I have no clue yet!

Keep on Stitchin'!

Ready, Set, GO!

I have another quilt loaded on the frame and ready to quilt.  I plan to do some custom quilting on this one.  It's not a large quilt, so I can play a bit.  I want to do some feathers in the background and a bit of play with color on the border.  I'll try to remember to post a picture every now and then of my progress.

Color Play

Keep on Stitchin'!!

Another Carol Doak BOM!

Carol has started another BOM on her Yahoo group.  This one is not a mystery quilt.  She has given us the layout of the quilt, but not what each month's blocks will look like.  The layout is one of those uneven, different sized blocks. 
Rather than give us yardage amounts, she has declared this quilt a scrappy one.  EEEEEKK!!!  I don't do scrappy quilts, but how can I not do this BOM???  Hmmmm???  So I start looking through my stash trying to pick out fabrics for the first block and immediately get overwhelmed and confused.  I NEED to match, I NEED to coordinate..I can't do this!!! 
Light Bulb Moment!!!!  I remembered that I had 12 one yard pieces of fabric that I had purchased with the intent of making 2 1/2" strips for a jelly roll quilt.  Perfect!  These 12 sorta coordinate and will still give me the scrappy look.  WooHoo!  I can do a coordinated scrappy quilt!  Also found a couple of cream colored backgrounds that I can use.

Scrap Scramble - September

So here's the first of the Scrap Scramble BOM and 6 of the 12 fabrics that I will use.  Come join in on the fun.  September is the first block.  Click on the Carol Doak Paper Piecing link on the right.

Keep on Stitchin'!

Craftsy 2013 BOM - September block finished

Handwork...YUK!!!  These flower appliques were pulled around a card stock shape to get smooth edges.  The pulling part was first hand basted around each shape.  I sat in my easy chair one night and basted each shape.  Next day I pulled and pressed and then machine appliqued the pieces.  I didn't realize how spoiled I was to machine embroidery applique!!  The manual process on the machine now seems so slow and cumbersome....

Craftsy 2013 Sept

I think the block is rather cute!!

Keep on Stitchin'!!

Flannel Quilt is Finished!

Quilting is completely done and the binding is on.  I had to use the backing fabric for the binding since I had none left from the top fabrics.  Not my first choice, but I still like it.  Thanks, Bailey15 for a pleasant Getting-To-Know-You-Experience!!

Blue and White Flannel

Keep on Stitchin'!!

Bailey15 Workout

The Bailey15 and I are getting to know each other.  I loaded a flannel quilt and decided to free motion paisleys and use a piano key border.  The stitch in the ditch that I did in the borders, I used a ruler, but everything else is me guiding the machine with no stitch regulator.  I probably should have used a ruler for the piano keys, but I need to learn to guide the machine straight.  I chalk marked the lines.  I'm pleased with the paisley work other than I still need to get used to the feel of the Bailey so I can get more consistent stitches.  I haven't yet found the right speed for me, but I'm getting there.  We will eventually become good buddies, I'm sure.

Almost done.  Need to turn for the other two borders.

Front showing paisley

 I used a blue/white variegated thread on top - Superior's Fantastico.

Back showing paisley

The back is also flannel, white with tiny blue dots.  I used white 60wt poly thread from Marathon in the bobbin.

Keep on Stitchin'!!