Quilters Accountability 11-17-10

I had fun this week. I did get a few things done... but it was fun!

Last weeks goals:

1. Fall Foliage Quilt - The top is done, the backing is put together, and it should not be called a Fall Foliage quilt any more because it is pretty bright - http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2010/11/winner-and-backings.html   Its the orangy one!
2. Blocks finished for friends Quilt    - Done! And we super impressed ourselves, because it is now a top, awaiting a border!!!

 
3. Quilt Veterans Rail  RWB Quilt   Done! And now it goes into the tub for the binding buddies unless I drink too many margaritas at  Thanksgiving and go crazy and bind something......
   And then just to be honery - I finished up this string quilt. The blocks are from a lot of Quilt shows, and at one sew day Sharon started to put it together, then her sone came home from Iraq, and she thought that was a good excuse to miss a sew day. Priorities right *giggle* 

 

This wonky log cabin QOV got quilted too.

 http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2010/03/quilters-accountability-week-9.html

I made it so long ago *eye roll* That when I pulled it out to quilt I wondered who had made it, as I didn't have a note pinned to it. Then I thought - well *oh my* I think I might have made that..... and lo and behold - I did!

And when it snowed, I sewed.... and finished 7 more Betty Blocks!

And now - I think it is time to end this post......

If you want to see what others are up to - head over to Bari's blog.

http://crossroadsquilts.wordpress.com/

I have no goals for next week, as I will have kids and a husband home for most of it....

So one row was unsewn and I did that and put it on - its the row on the bottom of the picture.

The Winner and Backings

I am proud to say that I am up this early in the morning - Last night was a wonderful trip to Estes Park, and a late arrival home. And I was tired......

But I have already done chores, ( the outside ones) , and did a quick clean of the inside - at least as clean as it is going to get for today... and started potato soup in the crock pot . So until Wrangler Man finds me - I get to Sew!~!!

First - the Winner... Pat R - you will be recieving a $15 gift certificate from Equilter.com - it will come via email so don't delete it.... Congratulations!

Second...The Backing!

When I make Quilts I have a really bad habit of finishing the top and putting it in a pile. Then when I decide to quilt it I try to find a backing. And since I don't have what I think I want I go shopping and then, I have to make it - so the backing part can delay me for a while! This go round - I am making the backings NOW!

For the Red White and Blue one - I chose a patterned Blue. It is simple. My quilt top measured 65 x 80. It will be Longarm quilted so I made my backing bigger. I made it 71 x 87. I think that this will give me enough to bind it to when all is quilted and ready.

For the Second one - well I am waffling. This is what I have found in my stash. What do you think? To much? To crazy? Just right? When I first started this quilt it didn't have a recipient in mind... it was fabric that my boys chose at Quilt a Fair and I was going to USE it immediately instead of stashing it.

As I have been sewing it I have been thinking that it might go to a gal that I work with at the VA. She was in Vietnam and is very instrumental in helping some of these OEF/OIF vets.   And she's a bright happy gal....

And yes - that is a whole bolt of fabric...don't hate me because I.... have fabric *giggle*

Quick story - I use to be a buyer for a clothing company, and I would have to estimate that we will make 70 pairs of pants of this fabric so I need about 210 yards and Bam - It was bought. Do you know how HARD it is to  buy 1/4 yards compared to that?????   Seriously????

Veterans Day Rail Fence Step 4

TA DA -

The one on the left is the scrappy RWB version.

The one on the right is the 5 color version. And my son - who did the layout!

Here is the Layout. I layed my quilt out in an 8 x 10 setting. Okay - the truth - I let my boys lay it out, they have a better eye than I for scrappy quilts. Plus they can get down on the ground better, and I can eat M&M;s while watching them.

Here is a close up of the scrappiness of the blocks.

So this step is to lay out your quilt and sew it together.

Prize for today.....

$15 Gift Certificate to Equilter.com

You can ALWAYS find something you want there right?

How to win?

Leave a comment on my blog telling me what step of the process you are on. Or what you did for Veterans day.

I will wait until Saturday morning to draw a winner - so you have till Saturday at 8am ( colorado time) to leave a comment and a way to get in touch with you.

My top measures 65 x 80 all sewn together.


Go check out:
http://northhillsquilter.blogspot.com/2010/11/thank-you-veterans.html
 she is on a roll
And go look at:
http://ladyquilter.blogspot.com/2010/11/great-sunday.html

Veterans Day Rail Quilt A long Step 3

 Now you have your 16 Strip Sets all sewn and pressed, and measuring 8 1/2 inches wide.

Now take your ruler and cut the strip sets into 8 1/2 inch blocks.

But... if for some reason your strips set are not 8 1/2 inches, like say they are 8 inches, because you did not follow the rules and eat lots of chocolate.... cut your blocks 8 inches. We want them to be square.

You should net 80 blocks total. I got 5 from each strip.


The next step will be up this afternoon.... so come back.... - so far it is easy and fun right?

Veterans Day Rail Fence Step Two

The next step is to make strip sets of all of your strips. Each strip set needs to contain (2) 1 1/2 inch strips, and (3) 2 1/2 inch strips. I went ahead and layed each set out, just to make sure I had them all. In the scrappy version, I wanted to make sure I didn't get stuck with all 5 strips being the same color.

Then I layed them over my stack of *keep warm* quilts, because I could, and because it is my house and I am staking my place in it *giggle*

The next step was to sit down and sew - Sew the sets together using 1/4 inch seams. Each strip set should measure 8 1/2 inches wide. If they don't - check your seam allowances, your ironing, or eat more chocolate. Chocolate is the cure all.

Iron the sets. I ironed them to all one side.

Prize for today.... a $10 Starbucks Card

Why? Because they have Peppermint Hot Chocolate there - and the Chocolate will make you want to sew all day.... right????  Or maybe you might like it for the coffee - go figure....

How to get the gift card:

Leave a comment on the blog ( and DON"T FORGET to leave a way to contact you)

tell me how you are doing on sewing this? How far have you gotten - or have you even started yet? Or you can tell me your favorite chocolate..... cuz you know I am all about the chocolate right?

I will choose a winner Wednesday morning and email you ... so again - LEAVE A WAY to CONTACT you  (grin)

  

Veterans Rail Fence Yardage and Cutting Instructions

First off - you have to know that I get a little TOO excited when starting a new quilt and I envision all sorts of ways to cut it, and save fabrics.... but I have restrained myself and am only going to give you TWO of the ways. If you come up with more - please (please) don't send them to me - I may start it just to see, and then I will have 4 thousand 3 hundred and 72 quilts in progress... and my family may leave me!

Version one: 5 Yard Version

Choose 1 yard of 5 different fabrics. I assume they are at very minimum 42 1/2 inches wide. All cuts will be made Width of Fabric ( wof)

From Fabrics 1,2, 3, and 4
    Cut (6) 1 1/2 inch WOF Strips from each
    Cut (10) 2 1/2 inch wof Strips from each

From Fabric 5
     Cut (8) 1 1/2 inch wof strips
     Cut (8) 2 1/2 inch wof strips

This will give you a total of (32) 1 1/2 in strips and
                                              (48) 2 1/2 in strips

I chose 5 fabrics that blended well - and randomly chose which fabric was to be 1,2,3,4 and 5
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Version 2 Scrappy Veterans Rail

For this one I used my AccuQuilt Go cutter. I think I am getting better at using it to its potential....

First I cut (23) 8 in pieces of 43 inch wide fabrics in Reds Creams and Blues.

Then I took (7) of the 8 inch pieces and cut them on the 1 1/2 inch strip die cutter. I cut 35 strips this way - and only need 32. I stuck the other 3 in my string bins.

The other (16) pieces were cut with the 2 1/2 inch die which yielded 48 strips.

********************************************************************************

So - questions? Clear as Mud?

Prize Number One:
Leave a comment on the blog:
Tell me either you Have cut the strips, are planning to cut the strips and your proposed color scheme. And leave a way to contact you. I will draw a winner tonite at 10 pm and email you.

The Prize?
A $10 Target Gift card - mailed out Monday Morning so you can go buy some chocolate to eat while sewing ( okay - you don;t have to get chocolate - its your card.... but if it were me - that is what I would buy)

Preparation for Veterans Rail Fence Quilt a Long

I hope you all are ready for the next few posts! And I hope I have all the instructions right!! So far mine has turned out correctly ;-)

If any of you are participating in the Veterans Rail Fence Quilt a Long I would love to be able to post your name, and your blog if you have one. 

So if you are - email me your blog addy or leave it in the comments here and I will make a page with them on it. If you are going to do the quilt a long - but a different quilt - email me still... I want to watch you progress too!!

And if you don't have a blog - if you want to take some pictures a long the way I would be honored to post them.  I honestly believe that there can NEVER be enough ohhing and Ahhing.... are you with me???

And there will be prizes....