Fabric Buckets Plus...

The servicing on my Tiara was done early, and I wanted to make something fun while trying out a different kind of thread (polyester embroidery thread).  So I looked through the book First Steps to Free-Motion Quilting and decided to make some quilted fabric buckets.

The first thing I did was use my Hera Marker to mark a three inch grid, then quilted each square in an organic square spiral.  It took me about 45 minutes to quilt a grid that was 12 x 42 inches - 56 continuous spirals.

I was very pleased that I did not have a single problem with the polyester embroidery thread.  I also learned that organic square spirals look better from a 3 foot plus distance.  :)  I am ready to try them out on my Magic Carpet quilt. (Once I get it basted.)

After I quilted the panel, I followed the directions in the book and made these two baskets.  One change I made was to top stitch across the pink band to fully enclose the raw edges.

That was done in the ditch above the lining.   Another change I made from the book was to just use a single fabric for the cuff instead of small scraps.

They were so much fun to make and look great in my craft room.  And while they don't look scrappy, they were made with scraps.  :)  One was made with scraps from the quilt  in my craft room (a random pink), and the other was from a scrap of Kona Bright Pink.  The pinks are so similar that I can no longer tell which one is which.  Originally I could tell just because of the different selvages.

I have a feeling that these fabric buckets may become as addicting to make as simple drawstring bags.  But I would probably need to buy some black marbled fabric to make more.  I used up the rest of my old blacks and grays cutting out a large plus quilt.  I think I am going to call it "Evening Addition."

This quilt will be donated to Happy Chemo as part of the Hands2Help Challenge at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  I wanted to make something masculine this year.  I figured a plus quilt made from eight inch  black and gray squares would work well.  It will finish about 60 x 75 inches.  My family likes big lap quilts.

There is still plenty of time if you would also like to make a quilt for the Hands2Help Challenge.

XX,
Jasmine

P.S.  I will be linking up with some of the fun parties on my sidebar including O Scrap and the Hands2Help check-in.