When to Ask for Help

Still hot off the ironing board!

I believe I write as often about struggling with projects as giving Pink Doxie readers help. Quilter bloggers don't wake up one day full of knowledge, and able to share expert tips and tutorials. We spend hours sewing, and figuring things out. I think I'm the Queen of Mistakes, but it's actually a quick way to learn if you aren't afraid. Sewing technique is more basic for me, while playing with design gets me really excited, and occassionally in over my head. I'm not shy to ask for help, and fellow bloggers are usually happy to help out. Thank you.

This was the real thing last night. No glamour shots here! This is how it looks when I'm trying to figure out if the whole idea is coming together or falling apart. I was more in the 'It's not working' camp earlier when I looked over just the blocks. Arranging them on the wall in as close to position as I could, it looked a little better. The additional fabrics are picks for the next blocks I'll make. I have the pattern turned below to reflect the design wall.

Solids aren't my first choice when I can use a print, and I thought this quilt would be fun to make in prints. I chose to use colors as close as possible to Moda's suggestion, but in a print that was mainly that one color. So a print that comes off as more a solid. I also decided it would be a stash only quilt, and I might have to modify my rules to make it work. That was the case in the large block where I used my Cotton+Steel kitties, and I'm running into more as I pull fabric for the next blocks. 

My biggest concern was whether the colors were all working together, but that may be more an issue with the mulit-colored pattern itself. You can see the how difficult it is to eye the chosen fabrics, and decide if they work. Today I made the top block, and the next two below. 

I'm more secure that it will work as I move on using additional colors. I've started with large blocks, and moved to medium next. The medium blocks are providing color across the spectrum to balance the large blocks with the slightly odd, unrelated colors. I'll plug away at this today, and hope to have it done by the end of the weekend to show you. Next week is going to be a doosey for new projects! (I have a BIG secret!)

The colors are given in Bella Solids, and I looked for a correspondence chart between Moda and Kona. I ran into Walnut Street Quilts blog, and a treasure trove of information about pressing, some errata to the cutting dimensions, and Moda to Kona colors! If you're making this pattern, she's your go-to resource. I'm so thankful to Patty for sharing so much solid information.

 Another thing that should be mentioned is there are no written directions in the pattern. There are diagrams for cutting and sewing order. You need to have some idea of how to do HST, Flying Geese, trimming up, and so on. A big help would have been the measurement of each finished section so it could be trimmed before sewing it to the next, but there is none. 

Heads Up: Mary at Strip Quilts has a sweet Giveaway for a table runner kit that runs until June 15th. This blog is a good visual resource for ideas using pre-cuts. It's easy to join, so check it out.

Linking up today with~
Quilt Shop Gal
Crazy Mom Quilts
A Quilting Reader's Garden
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Quilting Jet Girl

Moda Modern Building Blocks Mashup

Moda Modern Building Blocks have dominated my design wall these past couple of weeks. Cut out, looking pretty, but unsewn. It seemed like a waste to take it all down without completing them, so I started this morning. While I sewed the first blocks, I stared at this grouping of fabrics. I was weak. Darn! It's way more fun to cut these blocks out than to sew and press seams.

I've been sitting on these Cotton+Steel kitties a few months, and thought they would be adorable in this block. I needed a 19 1/4" square of fabric to then cut diagonally. Unfortualtely, I tend to buy only a little bit of a fabric if it's not on sale, so I bought just half a yard. The same thing with the Karavan geometric fabric. I had enough of the Moda arithmetic fabric to cut out a 19 1/4" square, so I split the block up into different prints in the same colorway. I had yet to add the Kona Snow solid into the block.

We had sporadic thunderstorms all day long, and the light was grey in the studio. Taking pictures on dim days is a challenge, but I'm trying out a new portable LED light. It's not as good as daylight, but better than without it.

Both these blocks finish out at 36". They were a bit challenging to cut out using the Moda diagram, but turned out fairly well considering the room for error.

The grey outer area is a grey hatching. So, if it looks grey, it IS!

It goes without saying that there are things I have to learn as I continue sewing. I always try to pass them on to you, even if they're little.

If you've heard of Leaders & Enders, and weren't sure what it was for, this is a good example. Notice how the seam becomes narrower at the end? It shows that I was having a hard time holding onto it as it went under the presser foot, or that the weight of the fabric in the back pulled it enough to turn it. Both can happen, and do. If I was ready with another couple of pieces of scrap to feed in right away following my seam here, it would help to keep my seam the appropriate 1/4". I had to go back and correct this, or my seam would have been floppy looking on the sides, and not met up correctly with the block next to it.

After I made the above correction, I realized my machine didn't sound as good as it should when I sewed. I made time to stop, and do a good cleaning with my brush in the bobbin case, under the needle case, and wiped down the outside of the machine. I changed my needle, and pitched the last. It was dull. Then I put a drop of oil in my bobbin case 'using my instruction booklet's directions'. Could you imagine I had been putting it in the wrong place all along? The result was a glorious hum that sounded like a newly serviced machine.

This was my first chance to try out my new gadget. I had seen these before, and wasn't sure if I wanted to shell out the money for a standing guillotine. This is the Gypsy Cutting Gizmo, and available through the link or your LQS.

Yes, oh, yes, it is worth it! Just cut, cut, cut without picking up your scissors, laying out the chain piecing, and individually snipping each one. What did I do without it?

Another of the larger blocks all sewn together.

We're set for another day of storms, and I have lots of obligations besides sewing. It's not yet 6 a.m. so I have some time to squeeze it some sewing time while the Doxies girls snooze here at the house.

Stay safe wherever you are.

To my Hive mates visiting from New Quilt Bloggers, thank you for visiting Pink Doxies. It's so wonderful to meet all you creative bloggers, and create a community with you.

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

Linking up with~
Freshly Pieced
Sew Fresh Quilts
Quilt Story
Scraptastic Tuesday
Late Night Quilter
Blossom Heart Quilts
Show and Tell Tuesday
Patchwork Times
Hug-a-Bit Quilts!

Anna Marie Horner Mini Quilt Swap & Slow Stiching Sunday

Earlier this year, I signed up for the Anna Marie Horner Mini Quilt Swap on Instagram. Kate Basti is hostessing, and past members had such nice things to say about her swaps. I'd never been in one of any kind, but AMH! I had to! She was one of the first designers whose style attracted me back to quilting. The past minis from other swaps were gorgeous. Wow! These were some talented sewists, and I was worried I wouldn't measure up.

I ordered a fat quarter package of 'Folk Song',
and pulled out my high tech design tools--a pencil and some paper. This was the original drawing I started with, and I kept true to it. I integrated a few Missouri Star Quilt Co. templates I had purchased, but never used. I have to tell you these weren't made to be used together, and I had to do some tweaking at the corner diamonds.

I have one last line of hand quilting to stitch with my Aurifil 50#, and I feel like the teal corners need a bit of the coral and pink pearl cottons. Then it's time for binding, and I have a print in mind already.

#annamariehornerminiquiltswap 

#teamhonorroll 

#katebasti

#pinkdoxies

You might remember my cell phone and camera sling bag was made with the same fabric line, and another AMH I had in my stash.

I brought my mini home to work on thinking some slow stitching would be a nice change. It's been a busy week, and there's something theraputic about working with your project on your lap instead of zipping it through a machine. You see your work differently.

I've also wanted to link up to the Slow Sunday Stitching for some time. Kathy is a Canadian quilter after my own heart. She is also a scrapaholic, and is involved in quilting for Mennonite Central Committee. 

I haven't made any quilts for the auction like she has, but the women at First Mennonite Church in Sugarcreek do. They are an inspiring group. They meet every week to hand quilt on frames, while others ladies make utility quilts. These are gathered together in one location, packed, and sent to areas of the world where there is need. I machine bound two for them, and they will soon be on their way to a family in need. The scrappy ladies make sure they are colorful, cheery, and warm.

Thunderstorm pounded our area today, and I unplugged all my machines to make sure they weren't hit. We've lost small appliances before, and I've started unplugging my multi-strips when I leave for the day. It only takes a moment.

I spent the time cleaning up, and finishing some Moda Modern Building Blocks. You can see I filled the center of the largest block here, but I'm not satisfied with the inside grey. I think I'll replace it with the hanging print. 

By all rights, I should have thought through the whole project before starting blocks, but I was so excited to just make something! Now I'm hitting a wall, and have second thoughts about the palette. I'm not sure I like the colors I'm using, but I've been trying to follow the recommended solids as closely as possible. I may need to tweak it.

The last picture to share is the new/old stash on my floor. I went to a friend's house last week for a little fabric swap. Oo-la-la!

I know these don't look like my typical picks, but there are some projects in the Quilt Lovely book that beg for some vintage fabric. 

I'm interested obsessed in blending my vintage and modern stashes, and need to prove to myself it will work in projects. Jen Kingwell does it, and I am looking forward to learning how. 'Mrs. Bannister's Stars' pillow project starts today.

What's your plan for the month of June? Are you having a holiday weekend now, and enjoying some well earned family time? Do you have an idea for a project to be ready for July 4th? Are you working on your finishes for A Lovely Year of Finishes? Or, perhaps, Q2 Finish-Along for On the Windy Side?

Leave a comment to inspire your fellow sewists to get active in their creative space, and Be Makers this month! I applaud you all.

Link up with the Pink Doxies' Pet Project Show until Monday at midnight, and show off your latest make.

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

Linking up with~
Cooking Up Quilts
Hug-a-Bit Quilts
Show and Tell Monday
Molli Sparkles
Slow Stitching Sunday