Crafty Sewing & Quilting

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Thursday's Thoughts --- Smile and Share...

Smile and enjoy the happy moments!

Wednesday morning I opened my emails and smiled!

Two features in one day!

Yippee! Made me smile from ear to ear!

Bloggers share their posts thru' Followers, Facebook, Twitter, Emails, and Linky Parties. Recently, I started sharing on the linky parties. I love the sharing. I am finding so many creative ideas. My list of projects gets longer and longer!

First I was featured on RoCa and Company Blog!

Carmen highlighted the most visited blogs. Mine was number 4! I had linked my post about Sharing Your Quilted Creations - "Come Fly With Me Bag"

Thanks to all who visited Carmen's Linky Party. As Carmen would say: " You Rock!"

I also put a link in my sidebar to RoCa and Company's Blog, if you would like to visit the party.
I would like to invite you on Carmen's behalf to join in this Friday and every Friday! Share a post and link it up or just join in the fun of visiting all the wonderful blogs!

Next I was featured on

Blog Paws Wordless Wednesday Linky Party & Blog Hop

This is my Mom's dog, Toby, all wrapped up in a fleece blanket. It's Cold in Wisconsin was the post I linked up last week. This week I linked up this post - Wrapped in My New Denim Quilt with Wool Batting.
The Blog Paws is a great place to share photos of your pets! Who doesn't take photos of their pets? Why do we do that? I think it is because we just think they are so cute. Maybe we are envious of their lives... They eat, sleep, and play all day long! Anyway check out the cute pets at Blog Paws Linky Party. You can share a photo of your pet too!

I was smiling on September 15th....

The very first Linky Party that I linked up with, was at the Thrifty Groove Blog!

Then on September 15th Diann featured my blog post! I linked up the post "Up Cycle" This! What Does That Mean? ... Diann shares all her thrifty finds -- fantastic finds on her blog! This is a great party to link your cool finds. Hop over to the Thrifty Groove and check out!

I finally completed the "up cycled" blue patchwork shorts into a quilt. --- Click here to see the Post.

So... why am I smiling?

I am enjoying the happy moments.

I am having fun sharing. You can have fun sharing too. You will find several of the Linky Parties where I share in my sidebar.

Go check them out.

I would love if you left a comment that you found them thru' me.

I love when someone tells me how they found me!

Enjoy your happy moments!

Smile and share today!

Marcia

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Wordless Wednesday --- Wrapped in My New Denim Quilt with Wool Batting

Notes:

We were featured this week on Blog Paws Wordless Wednesday! Check it out!

Linked with:

Blog Paws Wordless Wednesday Linky Party and Blog Hop - Oct. 5, 2011

Yesterday's Post - "UpCycle" Blue Patchwork Shorts into a Quilt

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Hodgepodge Patchwork Tuesday --- "Up Cycle" Blue Patchwork Shorts into a Quilt!

I "Up Cycled" a pair of blue patchwork shorts into a quilt!
I used a favorite pair of shorts, but your could use a dress, a shirt, or a favorite fabric. I cut the plaid at an angle which made it more interesting. I had to deal with bias edges, but that was OK. I love how it looks!

Here are the original shorts!

I used a variety of denim shirts and denim dresses for the borders strips.

Step 1
Cut squares in a variety of sizes from the shorts --- 2" to 4 ". I cut 42 squares.

Cut strips in a variety of sizes --- 2 " wide to 3"
wide.

Step 2
Sew one strip on one side of each block. Press and trim. You may want to starch as you press. I starch.

Step 3

Sew a second strip on another side of the center square, but not the opposite side. In the photo the top strip is the second strip. Press and trim.

Step 4

Sew a third strip on another side of the center square, but not the opposite side. In the photo the left side of the block is the third strip. Press and trim.

Step 5

Sew a fourth strip on last side of the center square. In the photo, I am sewing the fourth strip onto the block. Press and trim.

Step 6 --- Square up and sew more strips

At this point I have blocks that have four borders with one center square. I group them into piles of similar sizes --- Large, Medium, and Small. The large should be about 8". Cut 8" squares from those blocks. The medium will be between 7" and 7 1/2" . Cut 7" squares from those blocks. The small blocks will need another strip or two sewed onto them.

The block on the bottom left is a large block (8" square). The bottom right is a small block that needed another strip and is (7" Square). If any of the smaller blocks aren't large enough, sew another strip onto them. You can sew strips to make them into an 8" square block.

Step 7 --- Count your blocks

I started with 42 blocks. There will be 6 blocks across by 7 blocks down. Which means you need to have 3 rows of 7" blocks (total of 21 - 7" blocks) and 3 rows of 8" blocks (total of 21 - 8" blocks).

Step 8 --- Lattice strips (darker fabric - cut 3" wide)

Sew a lattice strip to the top and the left side of every 7" and 8" block. I will look like an "L" on each block. I chain piece using long strips, as I don't cut my strips to the exact length. They stretch and pull a little. Press and trim.

Step 9 --- Sew the rows

Do not line them up evenly. I trim an inch or so off the top of one row to make them uneven that way the seams don't line up.

Step 10 --- Add more lattice and trim the ends
You will need to add a lattice strip to the bottom block on each row. Also add lattice strips to the right side of the last row on the right. You can put them on each block or just sew strips together in random order and sew it on all in one strip.

Step 11 --- Add Borders

I used more dark strips, but do whatever you think is eye pleasing. I randomly sewed the leftover dark denim strips together and sewed them onto the sides and onto the two ends. On two of the sides I sewed an extra border. Do whatever looks best.

Step 12 --- Quilting and Binding - as desired.

I quilted my quilt with a two color ribbon quilting with whimsical daisy flowers. I used a washable wool batting to make it a warm and cuddly quilt for this winter. The backing fabric on my quilt is a blue dyed extra wide fabric. I will bind it the same blue dyed fabric.