Pansy Passion - Project Quilting

"Pansy Passion," 5" x 7", made for Project Quilting, Season 5, Challenge 6: Triangles, Mar. 2014

Challenge recap for  "Triangles":
Use the theme "Triangles."

Perhaps the triangles got a little lost but you'll see them if you look. This piece is built up with layers of thick interfacing.

The first thing I did when I got this idea was to check out my supply of picture frames as I needed on that had a fairly deep area for the picture to go. Some picture frames are made to just hold photos with no room even for a mat, so I knew I couldn't use a picture frame like that. Fortunately I had one that I thought would work.

The next step was to try out some designs on the computer. At first I thought I'd have the cut shapes be triangles but then I decided to go with the cut shapes as squares because the yellow and purple fabrics divided the squares into two triangles. I also used the computer to decide if I wanted the fabrics to go from dark to light or from light to dark.

Then I cut down the thick interfacing to 5" x 7". I used Dritz InnerFuse which is double-sided stiff interfacing and what I use when I make quilted postcards. Then referring to my computer "sketch" I cut the squares in the four pieces of interfacing.

I pieced the yellow and purple fabric, fused it to the interfacing, then carefully cut the fabric over where the square was cut and wrapped the fabric around to the other side. Placing the fabric was a little tricky because it had to line up with the corners of the squares of the piece above it, not the hole it was covering. The bottom piece, with the lightest fabric, is behind the final piece of interfacing.

I did straight line quilting 1/8" around the outside of each cut square (although it kind of looks like I did a satin stitch around the inside of the squares, that's just an illusion). I started with the back piece, then I placed the second-to-the-last piece on top of it and quilted around the square, which joined the two pieces together. I kept adding and quilting until finally I was sewing through four layers of interfacing and five layers of fabric. I wasn't sure how my sewing machine would do with this, but it worked just fine. I also quilted them together around the outside but that part is hidden under the frame.

Next I hand-sewed the beads and the triangle button, then I popped it into the frame.

Click on any of the photos to see larger images.

More about Pansy Passion

Northern Lights - Project Quilting

"Northern Lights" 20" x 10", made for Project Quilting, Season 5, Challenge 4: Across the Universe, Feb. 2014

Challenge recap for  "Across the Universe":

Use the theme "Across the Universe."

While I was thinking about this challenge, it occurred to me to do something with an image of the milky way, but last fall I made "My Very Educated Mother Just Said Uh-Oh, No Pluto" so I wasn't ready to revisit that. I was looking at some photos of the universe, and one reminded me of photos of Northern Lights.

Ever since I made "Mountain Mist" for last year's Project Quilting, I'd been wanting to make another fabric mosaic similar to that one but with Northern Lights. I decided to make a companion piece to "Mountain Mist" so that meant this one would be the same size. Luckily I already had the frame.

The first thing I did was sort through the hand-painted fabric I have to pick a piece that looked like a sky that could have Northern Lights in it. The I played around with some mint green wool roving and two different colored yarn. The yarn on the left was multi-colored but wasn't twisted very much so I combed it out to make it looser, more like the roving. The yarn on the right was also multi-colored but it was twisted pretty tight.

Once I decided on placement, the roving and the first yarn were lightly fused to the backing fabric using MistyFuse. The tighter yarn was couched to the background (you can see the stitches in the photo).

I cut out the tree silhouettes then stitched them to the background. I put netting over the whole thing (to help hold the roving and yarn in place) and stitched it to the background. Then I added another row of tree silhouettes. I used the same black fabric for all of the trees so you can see how much the netting lightens the color that's behind it.

Finally I matted and framed it but I decided to leave the glass out of the frame so it feels more like a fiber piece.

More about Northern Lights

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Click on any of the photos to see larger images.

To see other entries for this challenge, visit the Across the Universe link up.

Sweet Dreams Counting Sheep - Project Quilting

"Sweet Dreams Counting Sheep" 19.25" x 16", made for Project Quilting, Season 5, Challenge 3: Sweet Treats, Feb. 2014 

Challenge recap for  "Sweet Treats":

Choose one or more candies for your inspiration.

So here's an insight as to how my ideas are formed. I kept thinking about making a collage using candy. But in order for it to be a quilt, I'd have to make the candy out of fabric, and that seemed very time consuming. I tried to remind myself that I only had to be inspired by the candy, not actually represent it. But my brain wouldn't give in.

Then I realized that there was a type of candy I could represent, I could simulate cotton candy using batting! But what would I use the batting to make? As it happens, the art co-op that I belong to is working on pieces for the next lobby show and the theme is "The Lion and the Lamb." I could make SHEEP out of batting!

First I made the quilt top. To design the background I used an exercise from the book "Adventures in Design" by Joen Wolfrom where I selected a letter (lower case f) and a font (Elephant italic) then play with the letter and create a design that evolves from the letter's lines. Once finished, the original letter might not be recognizable.

I rotated the letter and used the curve of it's back to be the curve of the grass. The round "terminals" at each end were shifted and became the moon in the sky and a spot in the grass. Part of the crossbar was rotated and became a fence post.

I pieced 2" squares on point in blue for the sky and green for the grass then I cut the grass on a curve, lined up the squares, and attached the two by sewing the raw edge then couching green yarn on top of the raw edge. I also couched yarn around the two circles.

At this point I basted, quilted, and bound the quilt using a facing technique and it was time to make the sheep. The original idea was to make the sheep with batting but I've been wanting to make something similar to the "Three Shredded Christmas Pine Trees" that Diane Lapacek made for the Project Quilting Off Season Challenge: Happy Holidays in Dec. 2012.

So instead I cut small strips .5" x 1.5" and folded them in half and sewed them to the body of the sheep to give them a 3D effect. The sheep have couched yarn for legs and white sequins with black seed beads for eyes.

Because I didn't go with my cotton candy idea, I did include the word "Sweet" in the title. I also noticed that there is one fence, two circles, three sheep, and four boards in the fence.

Click on any of the photos to see larger images.

More about Sweet Dreams Counting Sheep

Quilted T-Shirt Poncho - Project Quilting

"Quilted T-Shirt Poncho - patchwork side"  approx. 58" diameter, made for Project Quilting, Season 5, Challenge 2: Upcycled, Jan. 2014 

Challenge recap for  "Upcycled":

The front, back, borders, binding and embellishments should all be made from materials that have had a previous life as something else. You may use new thread and batting. Your project must include at least two items that were never intended for use in a quilt or clothing.

I’ve made several quilts using upcycled material: a wall hanging made from a wedding dress, a wall hanging made from neckties, little purses made from neckties, and many quilts made with t-shirts and other clothing. I’ve made so many t-shirt quilts that I had amassed a large stash of t-shirt backs.

Awhile back I thought it would be neat to make a cape or poncho using the t-shirt scraps. I even remember thinking “perhaps it will fit for one of the Project Quilting challenges this year.” When I saw this week’s challenge my first thought was “Yes! Now I can cross t-shirt poncho off my list of things to make.” My second thought was “Oh no! Now I have to make a t-shirt poncho!”

The first thing I did was go through my stash of t-shirt scraps. I cut them so they were all 11" by approximately 9" (some were a little less than 9", some a little more). I set up two of my 6' folding tables and decided I'd make the poncho just under 60" wide, because that's how wide the two tables are when pushed together.

I sewed the patchwork rows together...and sewed...and sewed. I decided that one layer of shirts wasn't really enough to keep me warm and thought I'd make it reversible, with something different on the other side. I made the back side with 12 pie-shaped pieces, which went together faster, although I did spend too much time figuring out how to make a pie-shaped template the correct size.

Here's the other side, the "formal side" as I call it. This side actually alternates two black then one gray pie shape so when my arms are down the grays look more like thin accents.

I didn't have enough large pieces of black or gray t-shirts in my stash, but my husband had two black shirts and one gray shirt that he didn't wear anymore and he gladly donated them to the cause. By using the inside of the shirt (so the printed side wouldn't show) I was able to get 3-4 pie shapes from his extra large t-shirts.

Here's the poncho laid out so you can see both sides. I didn't put any batting between the layers because I didn't want it to be too bulky to wear, but I did baste and quilt it. Because t-shirt material doesn't fray I just sewed around the edges with a straight stitch.

If you’ve ever talked to my about quilting, you’ve probably heard me say that I only sew quilts, I don’t sew curtains or clothing. So this really was a challenge for me, even though the poncho doesn’t have arms, buttons, pockets, or even a hood.

The "two items that were never intended for use in a quilt or clothing" were the two spools I put on the end of the tie strings.

Heart on a String - Project Quilting

"Heart on a String" 
11.5" x 19",
made for Project Quilting, 

Season 5, Challenge 1: String Along With Me, Jan. 2014 

Challenge recap for  "String Along With Me":

Make a quilt using strings (strips of fabric no more than 2½” wide). Your entire project must be made from strings. It is OK to cut strings into other shapes.

Traditionally a "string" is a thin strip of fabric left over after cutting and the strips in a string quilt are often different widths.

For this quilt I made the heart using five different red fabrics and 5 different pink fabrics measuring between .25" and .75" wide. The cream-colored fabrics measure between 1" and 2" wide.

The burgundy colored stripes that run vertically at the top and bottom of the piece are ribbon sewn to the top. There are also beads outlining the pink part of the heart.

In the spirit of the string quilt, all of the fabric I used were scraps with the exception of the fabric that had the pink dots on the white background. I've had that fabric for awhile and have been waiting for the right project to use it in and I think having the pink dots helps connect the heart to the background.

Click on any of the photos to see larger images.

More about Heart on a String

Project Quilting Season 5 Begins

It's hard to believe that Project Quilting is starting it's fifth season (and that I've participated the last four years!) So I'm excited to announce that it's time for Season 5 of Project Quilting to begin! This year I'll participate in as many as I can and I'm also a prize sponsor.

Like the last two years there won't be any judges, but there will still be prizes. Prizes will be chosen by random from all of the participants for that challenge.

At the end of the season there will be grand prizes and each time you enter a challenge your name will be put in the drawing for the grand prize. So the more challenges you enter, the better your chances for winning.

The schedule for this year is:
Challenge 1: January 5 - TODAY! 
Challenge 2: January 19
Challenge 3: February 2
Challenge 4: February 16
Challenge 5: March 2
Challenge 6: March 16

Each challenge is posted at noon CDT and due exactly one week later at noon CDT.

The challenge will be posted on the "Persimon Dreams" Project Quilting blog and you can also find links about past seasons there.