Bittersweet

HST Love

The purpose was to have a hand in making quilts to share with others, and I did it with Faith Circle of do.Good Stitches for nearly 7 years, designing and finishing over a dozen quilts, and making blocks for at least 75 others, and it was a very good thing.

Starcrossings

Conversely

But even good things come to an end, and I've let my bee mates know I'm stepping away. A bittersweet twist is that due to a variety of reasons, Faith circle will be merging with Cheer circle to become the new Unite circle. So it's the end of an era, so to speak.

Postcards

Junctions

One of the great things about do. Good Stitches is that there are several roles one can play, and I played them all. Beginning as a stitcher, I became familiar with how the bee worked, gaining confidence along the way. Being a stitcher, you also get to make quite a variety of quilt blocks and designs, as every month it's something different.

Peachy

Eventually I stepped up to quilter, meaning I would take the lead twice a year in planning our group's quilt and eventually bringing it to a finish. All the quilts shown in this post are those that begun with my imaginings, brought to fruition with my bee mates' blocks, and finished with my quilting and binding.

X Marks the Improv

After a few years in that role, the opportunity arose to become host of the circle, and I've served in that role for the last few years.

Striped Log Cabins

Quartersaw

As I scroll through these quilt photos, I remember quite clearly how utterly proud I was of that first one, HST Love. I was still pretty new to modern quilting, and just the fact that we used all solid fabrics was still very new to me.

All the Greens

As I began to embrace improvisational piecing, I encouraged my bee mates to dabble with it too. Ha. They were brave souls and humored me, and goodness, I think they even sometimes enjoyed it.

Crossings

Jazzy

So now it's time to say goodbye to something that has been a very meaningful part of my creating for a long time. Bittersweet for sure.

Mingled

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Mingled

Here's another do.Good Stitches finish - the latest from Faith Circle. I asked my bee mates for a mix of half-square triangles, quarter-square triangles, and half-square plus quarter-square triangles - a mix I really love.

You'll find great tutorials for all in Emily Dennis' How to Sew a Perfect Quarter-Square Triangle on Craftsy. They are a fun easy sew, and as you can see, look great in a solid and print combo.

I pieced just a few extra blocks into the backing, along with some stash solids. And then! Quilting.

I think this was the most fun I've had quilting in a while! I was at a loss at first, but finally cracked open Jacquie Gering's Walk book and settled on The Boomerang design. Let's just say it looks more complicated that it really was to execute. I tried Cotton + Steel 50 wt thread #753-1095, which provided a little contrast yet still blended really well.

The quilt finished at 48" x 56" and will soon be headed off to Valley Breast Center. And I'm happy to be caught up with my "outside" commitments, that's for sure.

Jazzy

Not sure why it took me so long to face this one. It's not huge, and honestly, I loved it from the very first block. It was quick and easy to sew my bee-mates' blocks into a top. So obviously.... no good reason.



It's a do.Good Stitches quilt, with multicolor wedge slabs made by Faith Circle. They are patient with my efforts to sneak some improv into our quilt-making, and they came through beautifully. [Here's the block tutorial.]



I really debated over a quilting plan, and after skimming through Jacquie Gering's Walk, 

settled on a combination of horizontal straight lines and fancy curved lines - gentle curves both between random lines and occasionally crossing lines of straight-line. I think it worked.



On a whim, I quilted with Aurifil 50wt 2520 (Violet) AND shock of shocks, I finished by stitching the scrappy binding by machine. I have only done that a handful of times in my years of quilting, but it just seemed the thing to do this time. [I basically used this method.]




So this quilt, which I'm dubbing "Jazzy" because of its showy color, finished at 48" x 60", and it'll be heading off shortly to Valley Breast Center here in the Seattle area. As always, it feels great to do a little good.



This project was on my 2018 Q2 Finish-A-Long list! Linking up with Finish It Up Friday.

Triangle Mix

My turn is coming up again to choose the design for the next Faith Circle quilt, and I've settled on a combo I've wanted to try for a while now.



So I'm asking my bee-mates to make basic half-square triangles, quarter-square triangles including some mix-and-match ones, and even some half-square plus quarter-square triangles.

I found Emily Dennis' How to Sew a Perfect Quarter-Square Triangle on Craftsy a really nice tutorial for all of these, with a formula for block-sizes, and just a good resource overall. I'm asking for 4 - 8.5" unfinished blocks, which is a loose equivalent of two - 12.5" blocks. I simplified by cutting 9.75" squares of fabric, so I could intermix them and make a variety of blocks. Below are my fabric choices - Kona Parrot, Breakers, and White, along with a couple of coordinating prints.



Making a note to myself that a 6x7 block layout will call for 42 blocks. I already made 6, and with each of my mates making 4, we'll make a 48" x 56" quilt. Perfect for do.Good Stitches.

2018 Finish-A-Long :: Q2 List

Considering I should have the project that I'm currently focused on done by the time the Q2 list link-up closes, that will leave just two wips to finish up this quarter. First really needs to be the multicolor wedge slab quilt for Faith circle.



After that, I'd like to get back to the Color Play quilt I started at QuiltCon. I'll need to find my notes, ahem, but with any luck I can get up to speed rather quickly. I'm looking forward to that.



So just two projects, but that worked well for me last quarter, and should still leave plenty of room for starting some yet-unknown projects as well. That sounds good to me.

Multicolor Wedge Slabs

It's my turn to choose a project for Faith Circle of the do.Good Stitches charity bee, and I'm excited to have the group make bright wedge slabs. We did a similar quilt in the Seattle MQG last year, and I liked it so well I wanted to do it again! 

Here's the block tutorial. Though instead of the cool colors in the tutorial, I'm asking my bee mates to use the colors shown in my sample block here - gold, purple, lime, aqua, lavender, red-orange, and dark blue. Unfortunately the darkest colors don't show well in my photo...the left and center pieces are actually purple; the one on the right, dark blue. The main point is to keep the overall look bright and saturated. I'll be honest and admit that the colors for my block were fairly randomly chosen from my scrap basket! I just pulled an assortment I liked and went for it

The block shown is 6 1/2" x 24 1/2". My mates have the option of doing a variety of lengths, as long as the height is 6 1/2" and the total length is about 48" - basically the equivalent of 2 - 12 1/2" blocks. Hopefully they have as much fun with it as I have so far!

Crossings

May was my month to choose a quilt plan for Faith Circle of do.Good Stitches and I selected Kona Crossing blocks by JaceyCraft. Jacey's pattern makes 15 1/2" blocks, and I asked for just one from each of my bee-mates. I made a block in each of three background colors - Kona Midnight, Aqua, and Ochre. Crosses were made with those same colors, shades of the same, with the add-ins of Pink Flamingo and even a few scraps of teal-green. Not quite sure what I was thinking with this palette, but on the other hand, I think it works.



Piecing a top was so quick with blocks of this size! For the backing, I went with a single fabric, referring to How to Pattern Match a Quilt Backing from Aqua Paisley Studio, and I'll definitely be trying that again.



I really debated on how to quilt this one, and finally settled on an orange peel because I thought it would be relatively quick and fun. Plus with those 5" blocks in each 15" block, there would be no need for marking! In actuality, I thought what was chosen for its convenience ended up being a really good design for this quilt. Quilting was done with Aurifil 50wt #2805 (Light Turquoise) and it also proved to be a good choice, being subtle on the dark crosses, but still noticeable and distinct.



Binding was done in a coordinating gold solid, and the quilt finished at 45" x 60". As always, it feels good to have a finish that will go on to encourage. It'll find a new home soon!

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday!

Crossings

Having barely just finished my latest Faith Circle quilt for do,Good Stitches I feel like I'm jumping right into the next! Using the Kona Crossing pattern by Jacey/JaceyCraft on the Robert Kaufman site, I'm asking for something a little different this next month - just one 15 1/2" block from each bee-mate. I've already made 3 blocks in each of three background colors - Kona Midnight, Aqua, and Ochre. It's quite a unique palette for me, especially with the add-ins of Pink Flamingo and other shades of the dark blue and aqua, and even a few scraps of teal-green.

Jacey's pattern is of course, for an entire quilt, and in making just one block, here's what you'll need to cut:

• 9 - 5 1/2" squares background fabric - Please make these all the same and in one of the colors I used - dark blue, aqua, or gold. If you have a Kona color card, check that your background color coordinates well with the colors of my blocks.

• 9 pairs 1 1/2" x 6" strips - Each pair will be used to make one cross block. I actually didn't cut 6" lengths, but had longer strips I trimmed as needed during construction. Do what works best for you. 

Your block can have nine different colored crosses, though some duplication in color would be fine, like I have done. Please use at least 3-4 colors for your crosses though, in shades of dark blue, aqua, and gold. Feel free to add in Pink Flamingo or any peachy-pink, as well as teal-green, but don't feel like you have to. I've used all solids, and that would be my preference, but if you don't have what will work, feel free to use tone on tones. A little white or neutral in a print would be fine, but please have any prints read as a single color. 



Refer to Jacey's pattern for block construction. I think you'll find this a fun, quick block. I've posted in our Flickr group where you can check in, ask any questions, and post a photo of your block. Thanks for helping me make another quilt for good!

All the Greens

What little guilt I had for not finishing February's Faith Circle quilt in the suggested timeline melted away today. Hubby and I are on a week-long get-away on Orcas Island, and this afternoon's exploring included a visit to Orcas Island Pottery, the oldest pottery in the Pacific Northwest, and a landmark since its inception in 1945. And yes, the pottery was lovely, showcased throughout the garden and in historic log cabins. The setting was itself, somewhat magical.



But it was the treehouse that led me to ask permission to take some photos, and photoshoot aside, climbing up into the 200 year old cedar tree took me back to my childhood, where encountering such a treehouse (with a bunkbed! and a play kitchen!) would have been a dream come true.



Back to the quilt, yes? It was inspired by the Pantone Color of the Year Greenery, and in fact, became a collection of many wonderful greens. Our bee used Jodi/Tales of Cloth's Squash Blossom block tutorial, which is just so striking. 



For the backing, I actually chose a print from Violet Craft's Christmas at Brambleberry Ridge, but it was a perfect green to tie those on the front together - enough so that I used it for the binding as well.



Quilting was kept simple - a serpentine stitch vertically across the quilt in Aurifil 50wt #2024 (White).

The finished quilt measures 48" x 60". I began to sew the binding on just a few days ago, waiting in the ferry line to Orcas, and took the last stitch in a cabin overlooking Deer Harbor. To be able to take photos of it with such an enticing backdrop as the pottery grounds was a bit of a thrill. Kind of like coming to the end of a well-loved fairy tale.

This project was on my 2017 Q2 Finish-A-Long list!

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday!

Quartersaw

It's good to be able to present the year's first finish, made in partnership with Faith Circle of do.Good Stitches.

My bee-mates used my Improv Quarter Log Cabin tutorial, making blocks in blue, orange and off-white. One optional caveat was that rather than a solid off-white such as Kona snow, they could incorporate one of two specific low-volume prints by Carolyn Friedlander. I thought that worked out well, and there was a nice smattering of both throughout the blocks.



I hadn't purchased a project-specific backing in quite a while, but when I happened upon this "Fernbook" print from Alexia Abegg's Mesa collection on sale, it seemed perfect, and little did I know how right it would be. As sometimes happens with bees, colors from all those stashes coordinated only so well. So it worked out nicely to use a backing - and ultimately binding - that incorporated some of those little differences.

I really had no intention of using it for the binding too, but after auditioning all sorts of prints and solids both from my stash, it seemed best to just bring some of that back to the front. And look at the little rewards for doing so....

Quilting was done with Aurifil 50wt 2021 (Natural White) in a quarter log cabin-inspired design, with improvisational angles, just like the blocks. [Sorry Debbie M., I had no orange.]

I'll be donating this quilt on behalf of our circle to Trinity Place, a transitional housing complex for homeless women and children under the umbrella of our local ywca. What a great way to start out the year.

Faith Circle began in 2010, and though membership has changed over the years, this quilt finish marks our 70th quilt to be donated to people in need. If you're interested in joining a circle of do.Good Stitches, indicate that by filling out this form. 

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday.