Modern Spring Patchwork Pillow & Pet Project Show #16

Today was the perfect opportunity to make a

quickie project I've been longing for. I

wanted to try out my new Ditch Stitch

foot that Beth at Cooking Up Quilts had

recommended for the Janome machines.

I'd had it a week already, and never

even opened it up.

I started with a very simple layout of 2.5" squares.

I scoured my scraps, and also the fabric lying around

I'm using for my QST quilt. The green is a Schott

cotton that I can't keep enough of. I thought the 

colors reminded me so much of spring, but 

actually these wouldn't be what I would 

typically call spring colors. Then I looked back 

at the photos I'd been taking over the past few

days while out walking the Doxies.

Early rhubarb

This variety of daffodil almost glows.

This plain, little daffodil is my favorite 

out of all of them.

Many years ago when I was first married, I drove

far out in the country to our farm, and dug these

up beside an old foundation in a pasture. It

was a stagecoach stop at one time. The flower

may be plain compared to today's varieties,

but I think of all the people who gazed on

the flower from that bulb from the 1800's on.

I just love that!

The Ditch Stitch foot fit on my regular shank, and 

was easy to use. I wasn't sure if it would work 

equally well if the seams were pressed to one side 

or open, so I took the extra time to press them

open. I wasn't too careful while stitching, and it 

seemed to be far easier to stay in the ditch

than while just using a walking foot. 

It's always interesting to see what the tension on

the back looks like for me. I probably should have

adjusted it a little, but this was going to be

inside the pillow so no harm done.

The quilted top by itself turned out looking just a 

bit plain. I thought maybe a ruffled edging, but it

was too fru-fru. I liked the idea of a cross between

a ruffle and piping, and worked this out. I starched

my strip well before sewing, and left the cording

inside to give it body and weight.

 I think it feels modern, yet feminine. I finished it

off with a full width zipper, and a flap to hide it.

That's a true Friday finish, and now the

green grass is calling me to give it

the first cutting.

 Pan is watching over my garden,

and begging me to come weed it out.

Just as soon as I brew up some peppermint

tea, my friend. What a springtime treat!

Be sure to stop back for the link up

tomorrow with the Pet Project Show.

Each person who links up is automatically

given an extra chance for the Giveaway at 

the end of the month.

And a reminder to all, if you'd like to enter

the free drawing on May 2nd for this sweet 

pillow, the details are all in the link below.

You have until April 30th.

Pink Doxies Giveaway

Variable Star within a Star Pillow

The drawing is open to everyone so

check out the details, and send me an email.

If you are a No-Reply at Blogger, be sure to

include your email so I can contact you.

Linking up today with~

Crazy Mom Quilts
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Creative Goodness Linky Party
WIDTW
TGIFF with Maartje
LAFF
Planet Penny Happy Friday
Fabric Frenzy Friday
Show Off Saturday


Thank you all for the 
link up opportunity.

Come on, Doxie Girls.

Let's enjoy the sunshine.

It's Saturday, and time for the weekly 

Pink Doxies 

Pet Project Show. 

Add your link here every Saturday. 

Rules

Do we have to have rules? 

No worries! It's EASY.

1. Use the blue 'Add Your Link' button (below left) 
to upload a picture of something you've created 
in the past week. Any kind of handiwork--
share it now! It can be a work in progress, 
finally finished, or even your fab new fabric. 
Whatever it is that inspired you to create this 
week, we'd like to see it here. 

2. Please link to a specific post, and not just your 
blog address. It makes it easy for anyone following 

your link to find the project.

3. Provide a backlink to Pink Doxies with a link in 
your post, or pick up our Pet Project Show 
button in the sidebar. Copy the code, then 
create a Pet Show widget with 'Add by HTML' 
on your Layout page.

-OR-

1. You can link up to your Instagram. 
Click on the Instagram icon at the bottom 
of the link up screen. The URL of your Instagram 
feed will be your link. 
Please hashtag #pinkdoxiespetproject

Either way you link up, remember it's a party 
here, so schmooze with the crowd! Visit others 
who've linked up. Leave a comment so they 
know what you like about their work. 

Don't miss a post! 

Follow me on Bloglovin' or by email. 

The Linky Party starts now, and runs until 
Monday, April 20th at midnight. 

Spread the word, and tell all your stitchy friends.

*The first Saturday party of each month will 
feature several of the Doxies and my 
favorite link ups.
By linking up, you are giving permission for me 
to post your picture with a link back to your 
blog or Instagram account. 

An InLinkz Link-up