Blue and Green Race: A Finished Quilt

This is another stash busting quilt that I cut out last August, pieced last December, and finished this month.  I used my calculations for race quilts just like my previous quilt.

I decided to keep the strips the whole width of fabric (except for the first strip).  I think I prefer the half the width of fabric on quilts this size.  Either way, it is a fun fast quilt to make.

I quilted it on my mom's fusion and used a ruler for the first time on a long arm.

It felt very different from using a ruler on my sit down machine.  However, the more I used it, the better it looked.  I used the ruler in each section of the quilt, then went back and filled in the large spiral.

I was using a size 18 needle, and I didn't have any problems with skipping stitches.  However, the thread kept breaking if I quilted too far from the right to the left on the big spirals.  I am still learning the ins and outs of my mom's Fusion.  It is nice learning on fast quilts like this, which will be donated somewhere sometime this year.

The quilting design was inspired by one of Christina Cameli's designs in her book, Step-by-Step Free Motion Quilting.

The quilting design was so large (the strips finish at 5.5 inches wide) that the quilting on this lap quilt took less than two hours.

The backing is pieced using some leftover green fabric from an old border and yardage.

That green stripe came from Milky Way, my 19th quilt, finished in 2004.

The binding on this quilt used two different blues because I didn't have enough of either one.

I really am so pleased with how this quilt turned out.

Quilt Stats #176
Name: Blue and Green Race
Pattern: Race Quilt Variation
Fabric: Blues and Greens from my old stash
Amount Used: 6 yards
Batting: Mountain Mist Polyester
Size: About 54 x 66 inches
Date Finished: February 2016
What I learned:

• I can use a ruler on the long arm.  

XX,

Jasmine

P.S.  I will be linking up with some of the fun parties on my sidebar.  Check them out for great inspiration.  

Teal and Green Race: A Finished Quilt

This is another one of my stash busting quilts.  I actually cut out the kit for it when I was cutting out fabrics for Cheetah's Eagle Project.  I pieced the quilt top one day when I needed a break from packing.  It felt good to finish a flimsy (or two) during that crazy time.

All of these strips were cut out at 6 inches wide, but then the strips were cut in half along the fold. I used about thirty half strips, sewing them together like a jelly roll race.  However, after the first two long seams (four rows together), I cut the top in thirds so that there would be twelve rows.

I was going to try a different quilting design, but the long arm kept skipping stitches when I moved the machine away from me.  This loopy spiral seemed to work better.

After talking to some people, I believe that the machine isn't in perfect timing.  I didn't have that problem when using a size 18 needle (this was quilted with a size 16 needle).  It was suggested that when moving the machine backwards the smaller needle was pushed a little forwards by the movement causing the stitches to skip.  Even with the challenges, I still think it turned out pretty good.

I added the green to this quilt because that is what I had enough of for the backing.

I actually used a blue Aurifil thread for the needle.

And I used a green Aurifil thread for the bobbin.

The tension was good and it isn't too noticeable because they were about the same value.  (I don't like using a dark thread for one and a light thread for other.  That would be a lot more noticeable.)

The binding is scrappy using some of the teal fabrics from the top.

It really was a fun fast quilt to make.   I will also be donating this one somewhere sometime this year.  :)

Quilt Stats #175
Name: Teal and Green Race
Pattern: Race Quilt Variation
Fabric: From my old stash
Amount Used: 6 yards
Batting: Mountain Mist Polyester
Size: About 54 x 66 inches
Date Finished: February 2016
What I learned:

• I learned more about the timing on the Fusion.  
• I really do love fast finishing quilt.

Next, I have another stash busting quilt to share.

XX,
Jasmine

P.S.  I will be linking up with some of the fun parties on my sidebar.  Check them out to see what other quilters have been making.

Flannel Duo: A Finished Quilt

I am so pleased with how this quilt turned out.  It is a great stash busting quilt, using an old stack of flannel I was given years ago.  

This stack was mostly half yard cuts of fabric.  From sixteen of the fabrics I cut two eight inch strips.  One was for the front and one for the back.  Some of the half yard cuts were generous enough that I was able to cut a three inch strip for the binding.  I also cut three extra strips for the backing.

The front became a big plus quilt made from eight inch squares in sixteen different fabrics.

The backing was sewn together using my chunky race quilt calculations.  It has eighteen different fabrics.  A couple of the plaids were so big that I didn't want them on the front.

 Sixteen and a half strips were used for the main part, and then two more strips were added to the side to make the backing wider than the top.

It is important to have the backing bigger when quilting on a long arm machine.

Keeping with the stash busting, I used some old low/medium loft polyester batting which my mom had on hand.  While I don't like using polyester batting when sitting down to quilt, it wasn't too bad to use on the long arm.  I just had to be extra careful not to stretch it when I was rolling the quilt.

This process made for a fun, masculine, double sided quilt.  That is why I decided to name the quilt "Flannel Duo."  It really is as snugly as it looks and will be donated somewhere sometime this year.

I really love these big plus quilts.  I can piece one in a couple hours.

I also love the chunky race quilts.  I can piece and press one in less than two hours.

I planned it so the two sides would end up skinny.  That kept the seams all from lining up with the seams on the top and getting too thick.  I like how the stripes are vertical on the backing.

I quilted it in a loopy spiral in a light tan thread.

And used only blues for the binding.

It really was a fun, fast, stash busting quilt!

Quilt Stats #174
Name: Flannel Duo
Pattern Top: Plus quilt from eight inch squares

Pattern Back:  Race Quilt Variation
Fabric: Eighteen different flannels
Amount Used: 9 yards
Batting: Mountain Mist Polyester
Size: About 60 x 75 inches
Date Finished: January 2016
What I learned:

• Double sided quilts are awesome!  

Next, I have more stash busting quilts to share.  

XX,

Jasmine

P.S.  I will be linking up with some of the parties on my sidebar.  Check them out to see what other quilters have been making.

Chaos Mini: A Finish

In my last post I mentioned that I had already used the scraps from my scrap quilt.  (That still makes me chuckle.)  I ended up with an extra block when I cut the scrap vortex into fourteen inch squares.  I decided to add 3 inch borders and quilt it the same way as I did my other Mini Vortex.  I even used the same shiny silver/gray thread.  It is the Exquisite polyester embroidery thread.  I really like the shimmer it gives the quilt.

Once again, I found a circle and started spiraling around it.  It is a pretty fun method to use on a mini quilt.  This one finishes about 20 inches square.

Another advantage to being here at my mom's house is the access to her stash.  She gave me the fabric for my backing.  She is so sweet.

It is a pretty Japanese screen print.

I decided to bind this in black like the border.  I thought about doing a red like the big one, but the red overpowered the smaller quilt.

I always love seeing the same block quilted in a different way.

XX,
Jasmine

P.S.  I will be linking up with some of the fun parties on my sidebar, including Oh Scrap.  Check them out to see what other quilters have been making.  

Chaos Controlled: A Finished Quilt

I had so much fun finishing Twister Twin that I wanted to make something with my black, white, and red scraps immediately.  I loved Cynthia's scrap vortex quilt in this color scheme, so I decided to make another scrap vortex quilt.

When I sew a scrap vortex quilt, I pay more attention to sizes than fabrics.  Once I get everything sewn into fours, I square the blocks up to the nearest quarter inch and stack them in piles according to size.

That makes sewing the blocks so much easier.  Once I had twenty blocks with about 32 pieces each, I laid them out on the design floor.

I felt like I was looking at chaos and my eyes were going buggy.  Plan B was to make blocks all the same size and add sashing.

Not only did I think it looked better, but it also made a bigger quilt.  Instead of a lap quilt about 60 x 70, it made an extra big, twin size cuddle quilt.  I cut the blocks at 14 inches and my sashing at 3.5 inches making the quilt about 72 x 88 inches.

I bought 90 inch wide minky for the backing and quilted it on my mom's Fusion long arm.

I felt like the black sashing helped to control the chaos, so I named the quilt, "Chaos Controlled."

My first instinct was to use a black binding so it would blend in, but my mom suggested a red binding.  I am so glad she did.  It really helps the reds in the blocks to pop.

I quilted it in black thread in swirls/spirals.

The black minky is hard to photograph, but here is a peek at the backing.

I love how it turned out and am definitely keeping it! And don't worry, all those white bits on the black is snow.  We have had a lot more of it this year.

Quilt Stats #173
Name:  Chaos Controlled
Pattern: Blocks from a Scrap Vortex Quilt
Fabric:  Scraps from 6 different quilts and other projects
Amount Used:  About 10 yards
Batting: Hobbs 80/20
Size: About 72 x 88 inches
Date Finished: January 2016
What I learned:

• Busy prints in crazy blocks need somewhere for your eye to rest.  
• Sometimes "Plan B" is best.  
• I sometimes like bold bindings instead of a blender binding.  
• Some fabrics look much busier in smaller pieces.  

Chaos Controlled with Twister Twin. 

I'm still not done with this color scheme.  I have already used the scraps from the scrap quilt and purchased some Ever After by Deb Strain (which adds pink to the mix).  

XX,
Jasmine

P.S.  I will be linking up with some of the fun parties on my sidebar (including Oh Scrap).  Check them out for lots of inspiration.

Twister Twin: A Finished Quilt

I recently finished this twister quilt which I have named, "Twister Twin."  I named it that because it is almost identical to a twister quilt I made in 2014.

I moved around a few of the blocks and put black minky on the back instead.  The first quilt was given to family who live out of state, and the second is a gift for a friend.

I pieced this quilt using the method I came up with which doesn't use the special ruler.  All the twister pieces are cut and the blocks are sewn like a crazy 4-patch.  It goes together so quickly and has very little waste.

I quilted it on my Janome because the backing wasn't big enough to put it on my mom's Fusion and I don't have space for my Tiara.  It was fun using this older machine.

I quilted it with swirls and curls like I did on the first one.

I really love how it turned out, and it will be a little hard to part with it.  I may just have to make a black, white and red twister quilt for me sometime.  (I have already made another cuddle quilt out of the scraps.)

Quilt Stats # 172
Name: Twister Twin
Pattern: Twister quilt from 10 inch squares made my way
Fabric: Mostly StudioE Essentials 8 & 9 and Kona Black
Amount Used: 6.5 yards
Batting: Hobbs 80/20
Size: About 53 x 70 inches
Date Finished: January 2016
What I Learned:

• It is okay to make nearly identical quilts, especially if they will live in different states.  
• I can quilt with a minky backing on my Janome machine.

I had to tell the boys' snowman that he couldn't keep the quilt.  

 XX,

Jasmine

P.S.  I will be linking up with some of the fun parties on my sidebar.  Check them out for lots of quilty inspiration.