Small Business Saturday

I love the idea of Small Business Saturday - and being one - I thought I would make a little offer.... ready?

Book a Quilt Saturday(11/29) or Sunday(11/30) – to be Quilted between January 1^st and February 28^th 2015.

When that quilt is returned to you – you will receive a 20% off coupon for another quilt to be completed in 2015.

How it works:

Email me today and book your quilt. ( Alycia Quilts @ Gmail. Com)

All quilts must be to me, in my studio between December 15^th,  2014 and January 20^th, 2015

Quilts will be returned no later than February 28^th, 2015 – along with a Coupon for 20% off another Quilt!!

Ta - da!!

Double Knit Poly Quilt

One of my clients was cleaning her mothers house and found this double knit poly Quilt top. Of course, you want to finish what loved ones have made - so she brought it my way.

I asked my Longarmer friends for suggestions on how to quilt it - and this is what we came up with.

A Ball point needle size 20 :                                 Check
Polyester thread:                                                    Check
Be very careful around the seam intersections:     Check
Be aware of the stretch:                                         Double Check!

One thing I did forget to mention : not only was this Double Knit  - it was textured. The texture made the knits a little thicker.

So... I dug in:

It was a very heavy quilt. And when loading it it already wanted to stretch. This is what it looked like fully loaded:

I then started quilting in a triangular fashion. I thought that adding texture with the texture would be fun!  And would be a nice design.  I also hoped that I could miss the heavy intersections and have wiggle room... I did!

One thing I did forget is... I am allergic to polyester. So next time I will remember to wear cotton gloves from the beginning.  But the itch was WAY worth it. I believed that she is going to LOVE this quilt.

 The back was a brown cotton. I am really glad for that. I think if I had double stretch I might have had a really hard time going over the intersections.

One thing I really had to watch was that it wanted to stretch out ( like horizontal) so I did use a few extra basting stitches.

One of my quilting friends wondered if it would be like minky - and I think my answer now is no. Minky usually doesn't have so many piecing seams - and each intersection caused the top to want to move... or give...

I really had fun on this one. I am so tickled to be able to help my client finish up a loved ones project. I know it will be loved. And it really is quite pretty!

 Hope you enjoyed seeing this quilt !

Reminds me of the ocean

This is a client quilt - that I just LOVE!! It is all batiks and some of my favorite colors....ever!

The thing I love the most? This quilting just gave it a beachy look... and such great movement.

 And now.. I want to go make one!! My client loved it - so that made it even better!!

Whirly - gigs

This is such a cute quilt! Bright colors and whirly-gigs!!

Isn't that so cute? It made such a great little quilt!

A Pastel Quilt

This Client quilt was just so simple... and I find that the most simple designs can take on a real elegance about them. She said please use feathers on it.... and so... I did ;-)

Please note - I did not trim it. So the edges are the batting.

Isn't it just elegant?

And the back - it is a yummy snuggly flannel - You can't see the feathers too much, but won't it be great for snuggling?

Allegiance - the FINAL step - for me!!

Just a little note - for me means that I will beg (plead and show tears) for someone else to bind it ;-)

I hope you will allow me a little story before I show you Beautiful Quilts.  I know you all know we do this for a reason, and the comfort we bring to our Veterans is Immense... but if you will allow....

Yesterday I met a soldier who survived a Mortar Blast. His story was scary, and surprising that he survived. But as he was telling me his story, his mother ( who was right with him) was just beaming. I couldn't help but think - why... this is an awful,scary story... I would scream and run home to my Mom... and then I realized - she was THAT Mom!

She was truly tickled that her son was next to her, and so tickled to be a part of his recovery, and so tickled that he chose a quilt and snuggled right into it... and as she hugged me ( and cut off my supply of oxygen) she told me how much it meant to her to have him back. And how much it meant to her to see that he was honored for his service, rather than pitied for his injury.

I really think that this quilt meant as much to her as it did to her son... and that my friends ... made my day!

Onto the FINISHED ALLEGIANCE quilts!!

 This lovely one is Carolyn's... I LOVE the combo!!! She blogs over at http://sweetpeasandpossum.blogspot.com/  . She thinks she will bind it in the green.... LOVE

The next one is from Caroline... Oh My GOSH!!! I LOVE this color combo too!!!!  What a stunner!!

This one is from my wonderful Connie H in CO... Don't you love it too!!!   The cheddar/gold... mmm mmm - Connie loves me even when I am grumpy....

This next one is from Ellen. Ellen is a fabulous quilter.... I can't wait to see how she quilts hers!!

This last one is from Vicki S in Wisconsin... but I am going to claim her - she used to live in Colorado!!!  Hers is so awesome too!!!

A Last minute addition.... This one is from Liz and it is all Scrappy and I LOVE it!!

I know there are some other who are making it - I have heard from them... and some are cutting it into kits for retreats!!  So with that - Vicki W created a whole pattern... if you want to print the WHOLE thing it can be found here:
HERE

After all that - can you handle one more?

This is mine. Remember I have been one with the pantographs lately ( edge 2 edge designs)

I quilted it with a Heart/Flag/Circle Design

And then because I am adventurous... I put the Eagle in it.  And I see a thread that needs to be trimmed... ignore that please....

The back... I used a Cream Moda - and thought it would be fun. One of my soldiers tells me that he and his wife tease because she loves the front of his Quilt of Valor ( the pieced side) but he loves the back because of all the quilting... so there you go!!

We drew a winner... so Vicki!! You are the winner... you can tell me which prize you want ;-)

Hope you all enjoyed the mystery!!

Solids

This is another client quilt. She chose a range of solids - and WOW - did this quilt turn out fabulous!!

There is a new pattern design ( or a design element) with in it, but by the time she saw it.... she loved it as it was.  And I am with her!

The swirly quilting really added texture to it. It was a great choice that she made!

Allegiance Clue #4

Allegiance Quilt – Step 4

©Vicki Welsh

PRINTABLE INSTRUCTIONS ARE HERE

This week we are going to put it all together!

First a little more cutting. This quilt is assembled on point so we have to cut side and corner setting triangles.

Go print out the instructions.... I am going to show you mine... but if you want to be surprised - go print first..

I started laying it out on the right side on my design wall... and kept adding....

Until it got to big for my little wall. - so I started sewing the rows together, and then layed it out on the floor....

And Ta-da!!  Here s my top!!

Now you have your top... what next?  I will show you next week how I quilted mine. If you are interested in that come on back.  Other options:

1. Finish it yourself and go request a destination on the QOVF.org website. I know a lot of requests for Quilts of Valor have been made since Brian W went on TV...  so there is a need.

2. Go to the QOVF.org website and request a Longarmer. They will need you to send the top and the back. The LA'er will quilt it and most likely get it back to you for binding.

3. You can contact your state Coordinator to see if they have Local quilters to help.

4. Send it ( with it's backing) to me, and I will get it finished up. There is not guarantee it will stay here in Colorado though. Some of the other coordinators need help - and we are all about honoring our Veterans in a timely manner.  PS - if you have done the Honor Flight size - and are willing to have it go to Northern Colorado Honor Flight... get it to me... We will get it ready for the next flight!

****Send me a photo of your quilt. it does not need to be finished... just snap it where you are and get it to me before July 9th. I will post it here and add a link to your blog if you would like on the 10th. That way we can all see the color combos used. ( PS you do NOT have to have a blog)****  ( my email is in the info section)

Each of you who send me a photo will be entered into a drawing. You will have your choice of THREE prizes.

Prize One - a box filled with Red White and blue scraps and pieces and crumbs - for you scrappy quilters - you will love it... about 3 pounds worth!

Prize Two - a box of random pieces of fabrics of various colors ( not necessarily patriotic) .. again 3 pounds worth.  ( most of these are bigger than 1/4 yard)

Prize Three - 25% off Machine Quilting a quilt of your choice.

See you next week with my Quilted ( but don't be surprised if it is not bound!) Allegiance Quilt.

A New Quilter

A friend of mine finally jumped in and had the Quilt Bug bite her. She designed her quilt and had such a great time making it. I was honored when she asked me to quilt it!

Her plan was to hang it on the wall, so we had fun choosing a quilting Design.

Didn't she do a fabulous job?   I sure enjoyed working on it. And good news... Binding was no problem for her ;-)

Allegiance Part 3

Allegiance Quilt – Step 3

In this step we are going to make another set of simple rail fence blocks and cut some additional pieces. The rail fence block cutting instructions are for the full width of the fabric.

Quilt of Valor:

Cut 6 strips 2 ½” wide in fabrics 2. Cut 6 strips 4 ½” wide in fabric 4. Sew the strips together to make 6 strip sets. Sub-cut these into 9 ½ blocks for a total of 24 blocks. The blocks will be 6 ½ x 9 ½.

Additionally cut 8 - 6 ½” squares from fabric 3 and 9 – 6 ½” squares from fabric 2.

Honor Flight Quilt:

Cut 4 strips 2” wide in fabrics 2. Cut 4 strips 3 ½” wide in fabric 4.  Sew the strips together to make 4 strip sets. Sub-cut these into 6 ½ blocks for a total of 24 blocks. The blocks will be 4 ½ x 6 ½.

Additionally cut 8 - 4 ½” squares from fabric 3 and 9 – 4 ½” squares from fabric 2.

Just to prove to you that I am keeping up ;-)

Here is my step 3 and the cut outs!!

Allegiance Part 2

Allegiance Quilt – Step 2    PRINTABLE PAGE HERE

This week we are making rail fence blocks. All cutting instructions are for the full width of fabric.

Quilt of Valor:

Cut 6 strips 2 ½” wide in each of fabrics 2, 3 and 4. Sew the strips together with fabric 4 in the middle. You will have 6 strip sets. 

Sub-cut these into 9 ½ blocks for a total of 24 blocks. 

The blocks will be 6 ½ x 9 ½.

Veteran’s Quilt:

Cut 4 strips 2” wide in each of fabrics 2, 3 and 4. 

Sew the strips together with fabric 4 in the middle. You will have 4 strip sets. 

Sub-cut these into 6 ½ blocks for a total of 24 blocks. 

The blocks will be 4 ½ x 6 ½.

Press the seams any way you prefer. It will not matter when we assemble the quilt.

Just to prove to you... I AM Keeping UP!!!

Here are my strips:

I chained sewed them all together while watching an episode of Drop Dead Diva...THAT is a first for me. Usually I get up and wander around.... this time I forced my self to stay seated!

And Ta -Da - My blocks!!!

Don't forget to check out Vicki's too  -http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_trips_in_fiber/

Allegiance Part 1

Allegiance Quilt – Step 1

In this step we will make 18 pinwheel blocks.

Using Fabrics 1 and 3 make 18 pinwheel blocks. For the veteran’s quilt the blocks will finish to 6” (6.5” unfinished). For the Quilt of Valor the blocks will finish to 9” (9.5” unfinished).

There are many ways to make a pinwheel block and you should use your favorite method. If you are cutting half square triangles here are the cutting instructions:

Veteran’s quilt: Cut 36 squares in each fabric 3 7/8” and cut once on the diagonal.

Quilt of Valor: Cut 36 squares in each fabric 5 3/8” and cut once on the diagonal.

Alycia is making the Quilt of Valor size. So she calculated that using 42 inch wide fabric would yield 7 squares per strip. Therefore you would need 6 strips.

You can press the seam however you prefer. Just try to minimize the bulk at the center of the block. The direction of the seams on the edges of the block doesn't matter at all.

Alycia’s Method of Half Squares Triangles:

Alycia Cuts 5 ½ inch squares (as she is not the most perfect seamstress). Then she draws a line down the center of the light colored square.

I sew ¼ inch on either side of the line, and then cut down it. That way I don’t stretch a diagonal. Most of the time I do not need to trim down, but this gives me a little leeway in my imperfections.

Ta da!! Step 1 and 9 1/2 inch pinwheel block

PS –

I will always accept these quilts – the small ones will go to Honor Flight Northern Colorado. The larger ones to all of our locations.  You can also find your state coordinator – there is such a GREAT need for Quilts of Valor right now . So you are welcome to contact your state coordinator – or even request a destination when all finished ;-)  Questions?  Definitely let me know!