Showing posts with label 2016 Finish-A-Long. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2016 Finish-A-Long. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

2016 Finish-A-Long :: Q4 Finishes

My Q4 list seemed quite doable at the time, but creating life what it is, I only finished 3/4. But I'll take it, as I'm really pleased with the 3, and am happy to spend a little more time with the fourth.

 1. Bee Sewcial "bacon" quilt - The top was done, but it still needed a backing, quilting, et cetera.



Baconrific was the happy result! Bee Sewcial came through again with awesomely textured blocks. My zany prompt, met with some trepidation, I'm sure, was alot of fun for folks, including me. Can't say this was the easiest one to puzzle together, but a few layered circle "pancetta" blocks helped.



2. Improv log cabin - The top was done, but it also needed a backing, and I was a little overwhelmed by the size, so it admittedly sat for a while.


It was definitely worth waiting for though. Archipelago was made for  QuiltCon's American Patchwork & Quilting Nine-Patch Challenge, but didn't make the cut. I really had fun with it though - especially making the blocks - so whatever.




3. This one was just a stack of fabric, but I knew it had to be done, as it was for Pat Bravo's Heartland blog hop.


Using the giant plus quilt tutorial, by Leanne/she can quilt, I thoroughly enjoyed every step of this one and would love to make another.


4. Its my Seattle MQG improv BOM blocks that are still waiting to be made into a quilt. I know I just need some focused time to mesh the blocks together, and maybe create a border. I got just a little start on it last night, and it's definitely going right back on my 2017 Q1 list for sure.



So that feels like a pretty good quarter, and I'm looking forward to the next!

All finishes have been linked up with 2016 Finish-A-Long :: Q4 Finishes Link-Up!
Posted by at 7:00 AM 8 comments
Labels:

Sunday, January 1, 2017

2016 Finish-A-Long Tutorial :: Organic Straight-Line Quilting

One of my very favorite kinds of quilting is organic straight-line, and it's as low-stress as it gets. Though it's even simpler than doing actual straight lines, I've had enough people ask about it, that I figured it might be helpful to finally share my technique.


First off, a well-basted quilt sandwich is a must. Personally, I spray-baste, and that's an ideal method for this style of quilting. I press the sandwich after basting, and also occasionally during the quilting process, just to keep things as smooth as possible. Registration lines are made with my ruler and hera marker, usually about 3" apart, or whatever works well with the design at hand. Sometimes I'll have a project where the quilt's design has seam-lines that will work as registration lines, and that's better yet!


If your project is small, mark all the registration lines before beginning to quilt. On a larger quilt, you may want to mark several, stitch, then go back to mark more. Whatever size project, after marking, go sew along each of your marked lines. Don't stitch exactly on each. But use each line as a general guide, sewing along with a slight wavy motion, crossing the line randomly as you sew. I use my walking foot with a stitch length of 3.0, and my preference is to begin quilting all rows from the same end of the quilt. Honestly, at this point, I nearly always question my judgement on quilting design, but be patient. It's going to look better and better the denser you go.


Once you have quilted along all the registration lines, go back and quilt roughly down the middle of each channel. (indicated by blue stitching) The wavy lines can echo the previous lines in some spots, and move opposite them in others, varying the widths between lines as you go.


Now that you've quilted down all of the channels in the same relaxed, wavy way, go back and do it again. (indicated by green stitching) Eyeball the center as you go, weaving along. Nothing needs to be exact.


At this point, with your quilting about 3/4" - 1" apart, you can decide whether you want to start overlapping some of the quilting. It's all a matter of preference, but it's an option.


You can do a little or alot. And you can overlap most of your lines, none of them, or a mix. It's all up to you. I keep quilting down the channels until the distance between lines in some places is about 1/4".


Here's my finished piece.


Note that you can also use organic straight-line in a grid, as I did here in Pantone Meets Bias Tape. The amount of 'wiggle' in the quilting lines can be quite varied, though I try to keep the scale relatively consistent within a piece.


Let me know if you have any questions! And enjoy some low-stress quilting by going organic!

Also note that fellow FAL co-host Jennie/Clover & Violet had a similar idea as I when planning for tutorial week. Hop over to her blog on January 5 to view her video on Wavy Line Quilting.
Posted by at 12:01 AM 42 comments
Labels: , , , ,

Friday, December 30, 2016

2016 Finish-A-Long :: Q4 Finishes Link-Up

2016 button 250 best

Hard to believe, but it's time for the 4th quarter of the 2016 FAL to come to a close. Your global hosts have so enjoyed hosting the FAL this year. Thank you for sewing along with us!
Before we link up our Q4 finishes, a huge thank you to our fantastic and generous sponsors:


The 2016 Q4 link for your finishes is now open below on my blog and on each of the hosting blogs. You only need to link on one blog for your finish to appear on each blog. Here are the link-up "rules":
  • Add one link for each finish. If you want to link a round up post of all your finishes, use that link to enter one of your finishes and then link the rest of your finishes separately. Please, only one link per finish, as your link is an entry into the randomly drawn prize draws.
  • Please include the 2016 FAL button or the hashtag #2016FAL in your posts.
  • Please ensure that the photo or blog post you link up contains a link or reference back to your original list so that we can verify your entry.
  • Consider becoming part of the FAL community by perusing the links of others and commenting. We all need encouragement so let's applaud each other. The 2016 FAL Facebook page is here and do follow us on Instagram @finishlong as well. Tag your photos #2016fal and #falq2yourname (substitute your name). This makes it easy for us to match your finishes with your lists. 
  • Note that our hosts will also link their finishes to share in the community, but they are not eligible for prizes.
The Q4 finishes link will stay open from now thru January 7, 2017. Link up your finishes early and if you have a last minute one, add that one later so you don't miss out. The prizes will be awarded as soon as we can verify all the entries and do the drawings, and the winners will be posted on each host's blog.

 Stay tuned for the details for the 2017 FAL. We have another great global community of hosts, some continuing and many joining us for the first time. And start making your Q1 lists for the 2017 FAL, as the Q1 list link opens on January 8, 2017! Another year means more fun and even more finishes!
Posted by at 10:00 PM 3 comments
Labels: , , ,

Monday, October 10, 2016

2016 Finish-A-Long :: Q4 List

I am one of the lucky few in that I don't have that many w.i.p.s hanging around. There's only one that I didn't include here - those Polaroid blocks that have languished for so long but can't seem to catch my interest. So here's what does have my interest and/or is a commitment with a deadline:

1. Bee Sewcial bacon quilt - The top is nearly done! I need to make a backing and get quilting. This is one at the top of my list right now.



2. Improv log cabin - The top is done, but I need to make a backing. I'm overwhelmed by the size of it, but anxious to finish this one before long too.


3. Here's the one with a deadline. Pat Bravo is hosting a blog hop for her new line, Heartland. As you see, I have a bundle of fabric, and I know what I want to do with it. As soon as the bacon quilt top comes off the design wall, this one's going up.


4. And finally, I'm really hoping to have my Seattle MQG improv BOM quilt done before the end of the year. There's another block assignment or two to come, but otherwise I'm caught up, and am pretty confident I'll be psyched enough to finish this one up come December or so.



Four is usually a pretty good number for me for a FAL quarter, so hoping for the best!

 Linking up with Q4!
Posted by at 5:00 AM 10 comments
Labels: ,

Friday, October 7, 2016

2016 Finish-A-Long :: Q4 Now Open!

2016 button 250 best

Seriously, how can it already be the 4th quarter of 2016? We've got some major sewing still left to do before the year is over, right?  Join us in the 2016 FAL, where your global co-hosts are:
For those of you who are new to the FAL, it is a place to find motivation and encouragement to complete those unfinished projects you have stashed about. Every quarter you post a list of projects you hope to finish in the next three months, and then at the end of the quarter, you post a link from your blog, Flickr or Instagram of each successful finish from your original list. Each finish is an entry for wonderful prizes from our sponsors.

There is no penalty for not finishing a listed project, so feel free to make your list long or short, as you wish. The 2016 Schedule and Rules for the FAL are on my permanent FAL page. Be sure and let me know if you have any questions.

Here are the sponsors for Q4 of the FAL - you can see each of their prizes listed under their logo. They are all so generous and supportive - do consider visiting them and saying thank you.

So did you enjoy the 2016 FAL Tutorial Week? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have a tutorial that you would like to share, please let me or another host know.

Now round up those projects you want to finish this quarter. Just take a photo of where you are now on each project, and make your list. Please only include projects that you have at least started - pulled fabric with a pattern or plan, and remember that it is finished projects that will get you entry toward the above listed prizes. So while we love to see your bee blocks, the "finish" is when they are a completed, usable project.

It is very helpful if you tag your Q4list as #FALQ4yourname. The 2016 Q4 link for your list of proposed finishes is now open below below and on each of the hosting blogs. You only link your list once, on one blog - and that link will show up on all of the blogs.

If you are using Flickr or Instagram, link a mosaic and put your list in the description. Katy of The Littlest Thistle has a great tutorial on how to link-up if you need it.

We also hope that you will be an active part of the FAL community. Check out the links of others and comment as you can. We all need encouragement to get those finishes done!

The Q4 linky party will stay open until 11 pm EST, October 16, 2016. As we are global, you might want to check your time zone to determine your last possible time to link. Remember: you only need to link up on ONE hosting blog and it will automatically show up on all hosting blogs. So let's do this thing!
Posted by at 10:46 PM 1 comments
Labels: ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)