Summer Wave - Improv Table Runner

     This project was on my mind for a while. I started working it a few weeks ago, and it turned out so much better than I expected!

Bringing summer cheer to the sofa table.

This wrapping paper was my inspiration.  

I went through my stash of Kona cottons and pulled out solids which were close matches to the colors in the wrapping paper.

      I decided to try my hand at wavy seams for this project.

I cut 14 inch strips of various widths - from 2 1/2 inches to about 1 1/4 inches wide.

After a few false starts, I overlapped the fabric about 1/4 inch (right sides both on top).   I then rolled the rotary cutter in the overlapping section in a loose random wavy pattern.

I then separated the pieces, and pulled off the extra fabric.

The two pieces then should fit snugly together. 

I then positioned the ends to start sewing the seam.  I kept my needle down as I sewed, which acted as a pin when I had to fit the curvy pieces together.  

A few of the strips.  I then repeated the process with the unsewn edges from these pieces.  It was not a quick project - cut and sew and iron.  Cut and sew and iron.  Over and over and over again.

Some of the waves got really wavy.   There was plenty of ironing going on with this project! 

All the strips were exactly 14 inches long.  I lost some length in doing the wavy sewing.   I assembled about 18 inches of strips as blocks, then sewed them together.  Luckily, I was planning about a 12 inch finish, so I had some wiggle room.

After sewing together all of the blocks, and trimming the edges.  The finished piece is 80 inches long by 12 inches wide. 

I  quilted densely with Aurifil white in a curvy matchstick style.  I used a  longer than normal stitch length and my walking foot  to create visible stitches.

I pieced together my last bits of this IKEA fabric for the backing and found the lime green polka dot for the binding.  

I love the cheerful colors, and the movement of the piecing, and really like the quilting.  This project took longer than I anticipated, but I enjoyed it working my way to the end. 

Take care and enjoy the beginning of summer!

Gretchen

A Little Plus Baby Quilt and a Little Bit More

The Little Plus Baby Quilt, and at last, open water! 

     A friend had a little baby boy, and I wanted to create a little quilt for him.  I have been working to organize my stash and have a box of 5 inch square pieces. I pulled out blue, yellow and red baby scraps, and tried to decide what would work. 

My box of 5 inch squares.  Some are older Aunt Grace fabrics, and the three little pigs fabric that has been used in many earlier baby quilts! 

       Last year, I made a  plus quilt for my son out of left-over homespun, and decided that would work for this little quilt. Since I didn't have 5 squares of each scrap, so I needed to color a graph to figure out what I really needed.  

My little chart.  It turns out I like using colored pencils to plan!

Since this was a small quilt, I just put the squares on the dining room table. 

I love yellow binding and I love my new Clover clips.  I used my walking foot and quilted straight lines alternating with curvy lines at about 1/2 inch intervals.

The finished quilt, with my trusty quilt holder!   The finished quilt is about 31 x 40.

The back is a sweet blue fabric I have had for ages. 

     This little baby boy has a big sister.  I decided to send along a little bag, using some of the same fabrics, along with some more girly coordinating squares.  My stash busting efforts also include cutting 2 1/2 inch strips.  I pulled out some of those to cut 40 little squares.

I sewed the little charm squares together to make a rectangle.  I added some florals as well.

I quilted the rectangles with my walking foot, at quarter inch intervals from the seams.

The back of the quilting.

I used the same fabric from the quilt back for the inside lining on the bag.

A close up of this sweet little bag.

I think the quilt and the bag look so cute together.   

     Glad that spring is here after a long rough winter.

Take care,
Gretchen