Tulip Placemats

While internet surfing, I came across a cute tulip tutorial by Kristina at Center Street Quilts.

If I sewed three tulip blocks to make one placemat, the size would be 15″ x 18″…exactly the size of my accent tables (I have two of them…his and her’s you know)!

I wanted to get this made last month, to replace the Valentine placemats that are still on my tables.

I don’t have to decorate ‘in season’, do I?

One day, I might have enough seasonal table toppers/placemats to decorate in a timely manner.

That’s the goal.

Quilt On!

Earth, Wind and Water Table Runner Finished

I have finished the Earth, Wind and Water table runner that I talked about in this post.

I decided to keep the quilting simple and do straight line quilting with a walking foot.

A close up of the the contrasting blue thread quilting:

Did I say simple?  Yeah, I thought I would simply stitch in the ditch to finish up this project.

I am here to tell you that stitching in the ditch takes considerable time when there are sooooooooooooooooo many ditches to stitch!

Sweet little birds floating on the back:

Close up the quilting:

The texture will show up better after I wash the table runner.

I am happy with the results, and this table runner will get good use.

Quilt on!

Earth, Wind and Water Table Runner

One of the projects that I want to focus on this year is making small projects, such as table runners.  To do this, I decided to go through my years old saved collection of downloaded from the internet and magazine patterns.  If I don’t care for the pattern anymore, then I am passing it on.  If I like it, then I am going to make it, and then pass the pattern on.

Last month, I made the Curved Nine Patch table runner.

This month I am working with a pattern saved from Quiltmaker magazine back in Sept./Oct. 2009.  The pattern is called Earth, Wind and Water.  (I was able to find one of the off center pineapple block foundation patterns used in this table runner here.) 

It is a paper pieced pattern.

I do not like paper piecing.  I find the whole process tedious.

Nevertheless…I like the pattern.  So I shall make it once, and pass on the pattern to someone else when I am finished.

Four of the blocks have 27 pieces each.

Each!

Here is one:

And here are four:

With the exception of the borders, I have the table runner pieced.

Next time that I share this project, I will have the borders sewn, and the table runner quilted.

Carry on!

Curved Nine Patch Table Runners

I realized that I need to make table runners/table toppers (maybe even some mug rugs) this year.  So I have begun with a Curved Nine Patch table runner  that I only had photos for the back (which you can find that post, and a pattern link, by clicking here).  

Here are the two table runners, finished, but not washed:

Close up of some of the quilting:

The unwashed back (and the last back photo that I am ever going to take of these things):

Washed (which I like much better), and on the tables:

 

Winter Blizzard

I thought it would be fun to share a little about my part of the world.

The following photos are slightly dark and ‘blue’.  Yesterday, I was stitching all warm and snug inside my cozy home, so most of the photos of the blizzard are taken from inside, looking out.

Today, the sun shined briefly, but many 1000’s are without power.  Mine is restored, and I am home from work for the day, so as soon as I post this, I will be going back upstairs to do some quilting.

I put away the Christmas decorations, and realized that I don’t have table runners and table toppers that I can use throughout the year.  So I will be adding these types of projects to my FOCUS list.

I stitched together a curved nine patch (also known as Glorified nine patch) table runner.  In fact, I have made two.  I must’ve been mentally far away, because I cut out enough extra parts to make two.  Sheesh!  I forgot to take a photo, but the free pattern that I downloaded many years ago, is still available from Connecting Threads.  You can find it here.

Pin basting, stitching in the ditch, and removing the pins are all completed.  Here is a look at the back (I don’t know why I would remember to photograph the back and not the front):

I could call it done, but where is the fun in that?  I will be doing some decorative free motion quilting (actually all of the stitching in the ditch was done free motion).

And I will show you the front when I am done.

I promise.