wonky scrappy strips - MARCH!!!

Here is my square for March...

Bright Birch Trees by Crazy Mom Quilts

I have already mailed your fabric (2 solid 15.5" squares) and the tutorial.  You should be receiving them very soon.

All you need is a bunch of small rectangular scraps.  Let me know if you need some!

thanks!
emily

here's the square I made:

(I purchased the pattern and I don't think the designer would appreciate me posting the instructions on our blog.  But if someone is interested, the pattern can be found here)

...Flock Together!

First of all. CONGRATULATIONS, BECCA and BILLY! Woo Hoo! 

Welcome to the world, baby girls!

Here is my feather for you, Teriney. I hope you like it. I lost my part "D" and had to improvise... I think it worked out. I wonder when I will find it. 

Sewing rooms get kind of scary! It was fun. 

Thanks for the updated instructions. Very helpful!

I also finished up 2 tops that I had put together either in 2011 or 2012! They are made from a stack of squares that my Grandma Grace (born in 1900) had made. I have had them for years and years and finally put them together into 2 lap quilts. Well, utilizing my famous "stitch in the vicinity of the ditch" technique, they are both done! I LOVE snuggling in them on the sofa or on my bed. I've chosen a view of each, with one that includes my favorite square: "Ride 'em Cowboy!"

My kids are already fighting over them... 

"Can I have these when you are done with them (ie. DEAD)?"

Grandma Grace actually made a lot of mistakes with these squares. I think she was getting old when she made them. I love the mistakes and irregularities. I also love the crazy combinations she chose when piecing the squares together! Yes, our old clothes are represented here very well!

birds of a feather

My mom tells me that when I was a little kid, I ran into the house, out of breath, and asked her for some tape.  When she asked what it was for, I told her I had found a feather and needed to re-attach it to the bird who lost it.  A good idea difficult to carry out, indeed.

I guess Teriney and I are birds of a feather because I was going to pick this design for March!  That's how much I love it. 

   
If it helps... I sewed my 2" strips in a stairstep, staggering them by 1.5" to get the diagonal seams and use less fabric.  (This was after sewing them aligned on one edge, cutting it, and then realizing the seams were horizontal)

I may have to make her another one since I have extra 2" strips.

Thank you for choosing 12squared... enjoy your flight!

Wicked web

Yes, for me it was wicked.

I just finished it and had to just post the dang thing.  I've noticed a few flaws of layout and alignment (as usual), but I'm happy with the finished product nonetheless.  I hope you like it Jen!

Thank you all for including me in this group.  Best wishes with the new year and new direction!

Finish it Up February!

I finally finally finished my Bottled Rainbows quilt!
I have been scared to quilt that thing for a while now but got up the courage with my mom's new walking foot! It made all the difference in the world.  Plus we repinned the whole thing so it would be more secure.  We have decided we don't like basting spray.  We're all about the pins!

So here she is! I'm thrilled with how it turned out!

yankee doodle went to town

This feather was so much fun and of course I had to to use as many polka dots as I could get away with.  Not as perfect as Teriney's but not bad.  Hope you like it!
camie
P.S.  No boogers on this one.  Maybe a tear stain from when I had to rip out one of the seams though. ; )

Machine Talk

photo source

My dear sewing machine has been having problems of late.  I'm considering trading it in.  But, before I completely give up on it, I am wondering how often you take your machine in to be tuned up or repaired-- maybe the frequency of problems I've been having are just par for the course?  And, I'm also wondering what kind of machine you have.  What do you like and dislike about your machine?

I think this question has been posted before on the blog, but I know some of you have gotten new machines recently.  Currently, I've got a Brother Pacesetter ULT2002D.  It is an embroidery machine.  There are a lot of things I like about it, but I rarely use the embroidery features.  I would like a solid machine that I can quilt on and sew clothes.

Any suggestions?

February is ready my Little Bees!

UPDATE
Emily was nice enough to school me on 'why I had such a screwy time on this pattern'...so for those who have not finished theirs: see the red corrections on construction of the feather & such. Sorry and Thanks Emily :)
Once again it is my turn to pick a pattern. I fell in love with this Feather Bed Quilt by Anna Maria Horner. I think it is soooo cool! And It looked relatively straight forward...

However after a few frustrating hours,

I have renamed this square:

Boogers, Cream Cheese & Swear Words!

(I truely hope you have an easier go at it then me. I found the instructions and the patterns a little off. Maybe between the two it will be much easier?)

SUPPLY LIST

Kona White

Strips of fabric @ 7.25" L x 2" <

(the number of strips depends on your feather...see further down)
Colors:
Mostly anything goes...maybe not pastels or neons.
I want happy colors.

1" gray strip ( I am sending this & do not cut or trim, use as is)

Pattern  for Feather from here:

http://www.annamariahorner.com/Feather.Bed.Quilt.pdf

E, D, B, F1 & F2 (please join pattern pieces F1 & F2 with tape before cutting out):
 are all cut out of Kona White
Please add 2" to pattern pieces F1 & F2 on the side opposite 'join to A &B,'

(I want the finish to be more of a square then rectangle)

Once you have cut out B, F2 & F1, flip pattern over and cut out again in white,

think 'mirror image.'

Set aside all white pieces.

Next you are going to sew your strips together like so.

Join with tape pattern pieces A1 & A2.

Lay pattern pieces A1 & A2 (one long pattern piece) across fabric
with the lines on pattern parallel to seams.

Ignore this ( Important: make sure the ends you will join share the same fabric pattern, like so.)

Pretend that my pieces are tapped together in one long feather.

and Cut.

You will need to flip over A1 & A2 and cut either from more stripped fabric sewn together

or from one really cool piece of fabric. 

SEAMSTRESS' CHOICE

Once all your pieces are cut, lay them out.

It helps to make sure you have everything cut the right direction...

Attach A1 & A2.

Then attach B to the bottom of A2.

Next attach one side of the feather to the C.

Make sure to align the tip of A1 to the edge of C.

Iron open, and attach the other feather to C,

This time align at the center seams of the feather,

not from the tip, then sew.

Then trim the top excess of C in line with both

angles of the tops of both A pieces.

This will create a point in thecenter of C.

Like so.

Next attach D. Iron open, then attach E.
At this point I wanted to scream.
My D & E were not aligned nicely like Anna Maria Horners example.
I decided to forget about it, it would work it's self out...it did.

Attach F1 & F2. 
Be sure to align F1 & F2 with the centers seams of the feather.
Not the top or bottom.

Iron Open...and

DONE.
DO NOT TRIM...I did so you could see how pretty it will end up but you DON'T :)

I had a little helper, while sewing ....notice the cream cheese and boogers?

I will be donating this...just not sure who to yet.
Hugs!
Teriney