The Robin and his friends

That is what this one reminds me of with the robin looking bird on the left.  Now to figure out what fabrics I want to use for the feathers.  This one has really been quick and fun to stitch up.  I definitely will need to make another for me to keep since I think this one will  be my Dad’s Father’s day gift.

His scarf (birthday gift below) is coming along nicely.  Just another couple rows and I’ll end it.  I should have just enough yarn left to do a matching hat so I was searching Ravelry and found the Welted Beanie pattern, freebie nonetheless – always a bonus, and will be making that.  The colors of the yarn look a bit brighter in the photo than in person but I do love all the colors in this one.

Mom’s birthday gift is done (also in June) so when I get them all finished I’m going to hold them hostage until after they move back this way – no sense in sending them so that they can just pack them up and move them.

Dad’s scarf – one row handspun scarf pattern

Heads or Tails test stitch

I decided I’d stitch up just one of the bird blocks and then go make some brunch – I was already starving at that point but one block wouldn’t take long.  I pulled all the fabrics I wanted to use for the design, printed patterns and started stitching.  Well that first one went so fast, let’s make one more…….  yes you know how it went.  I now have all three birds stitched, sewn together, bottom platform they are standing on struttin’ their stuff, and filler background borders added.

Just two colored borders left to add and then I’ll only have the applique left to finish — yes – this went together quicker than I thought it would and I can see myself making more of these – I may need a really big flock of birds quilt.  But  Here’s what I have so far

I didn’t paper piece the legs — I like it much better with the legs (bias tape I made using the brown fabric in the one bird’s feathers since black just didn’t look right with these colors) top stitched in place – quick and easy.

But something to eat…. that’s what’s needed now before I move on to the borders.

EQ Boutique Sale!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go to shop and get the code to enter at check out for the sale that runs today and tomorrow.

And if you want to see all of my designs available for sale, you’ll find them here. 🙂

Don’t forget – if you’ve never tried EQ Boutique – they have free downloads so you can see how it all works.  You just need a Windows based computer; you DO NOT need to have electric quit software to use these patterns.

 

Stashbusting and other fun

I did actually get a quilt backing read for the next quilt I want to layer — that used six yards.  And I used a whole yard and a half in finish the two large applique blocks into separate wall hangings that I quilted last weekend.  But……. and you know that “but” means that somehow I’ve totally managed to undo all stash busting by doing some stash enhancement.  😉

 

So BUT for this…. it would have been a stash “busting” week but I think I pretty much came out even.  At least all those precuts are all fat eighths rather than fat quarters right? LOL

 Among those fabrics is this panel print which is hanging crooked on my wall – I just loved the colors in it and if I ever need a quicky project to donate, these are great to alternate with other blocks to get a quick lap size project, table runner or pillows.

The batiks  will be back out of the stash soon so they won’t linger there.  Part of them I bought to use as a gift.  The rest I plan to use for Bits and Bytes

and some will also be used for Heads or Tails.  I hope to get started on my version of that today if I ever stop puttering around.

 

I’ve gotten several emails from people asking about what fabrics are shown in this version of Heads or tails.  (I think that little scissors print in the bird must be calling to the quilter in them) 🙂  The fabric line is Half Moon Modern by Moda except for the background. I have no idea if these fabrics are still available in stores – they came out on the EQ Spring Stash 2012 stash so they would have hit fabric shops a little over a year ago. But having the name you should be able to easily search on line.   The binding is actually a chevron print fabric if I remember right but it ends up looking like a diagonal stripes here.

I’ve also gotten questions asking if this pattern will only be offered as a paper pieced pattern — yes, this design works best that way.  But you should be able to easily turn the paper piecing patterns into templates if you want to use individual  templates to piece them – you just need to make sure to add seam allowances back on the areas where you cut apart pieces and there aren’t any.   I’m not a fan of paper piecing, but I’m even less a fan of template cutting.  Paper piecing is the quickest and easiest way to do this one and a good beginner one to do if you’ve never done any paper piecing.  However, if you’ve never done it before, you should check a book, magazine, or on line for the actual “how to” of paper piecing since it’s confusing to most people when described only in words, and I can’t really do graphics that show how to do it.  There are tons of great resources on line that explain it well.

And now, before I finally actually get to work in the sewing room….. the latest shawl to come out of the “block me” basket and is no longer an unfinished knitty project but is done and ready to wear (just in time for summer) 🙂

 It’s the Old Man of Storr shawlette, which was a free pattern (added bonus!)  I actually started this in 2011 and when I looked back on the blog, I finished it in November 2011 and then it went to the bottomless blocking basket.  It’s about time it gets to see the light of day!