Spring Mystery

Here's the picture of the completed Spring Mystery Quilt that I posted about on May 8, 2015 when I got the top done. I used a teal fleece on the back and quilted it with a serpentine stitch. I used up some pale green and aqua threads to quilt with. The colored threads aren't a bold color but just enough color to add interest. This quilt will be donated to a charity through my local quilt guild. 

JT2 Section 1

With the April 1 blocks (4 of them), there were also instructions on how to put the blocks together. This picture shows blocks 1 28 stitched together awaiting more blocks to come. Currently this quilt top is a 45 inch square. New block instructions come out twice a month but the next assembly instructions will be in late June or July 1 (my guess since the assembly directions are to come out 4 times during the year).

Blocks 27 and 28

Blocks 27 and 28 are finished! The first section of the Just Takes 2 quilt is ready for final assembly. The applique block did, as I thought it would, take awhile to complete. I learned a lot on this block as well as getting applique practice. I'd never done back basting before but the more I did it the more I liked it.

Just Takes 2 March 15 blocks

Only 2 blocks for the 2nd part of March: 1 12" (finished) and 1 3"x 12" (finished). I did the geese with the quick method, making 4 at a time. It really is quick and easy. After completing the strip of flying geese, it was on to the 12" block - this time a hand pieced block. The directions were clear and easy to follow and I followed them until the last step. The center was to be appliqued with 6 tiny melon shapes. Instead of all the little pieces, I turned under the edges of the large triangles and appliqued them to a piece of light background fabric I'd pinned behind the center. I then cut out 1 piece for the center and appliqued it onto the center background circle. The hand piecing of the pieces was a bit tedious but the applique went very quickly for me. I'm pleased with the result as I don't think I would have attempted this block on my own.

Now - I'm caught up on my block making for the Just Takes 2 quilt so I'll be anxious to see what comes next (the next clues come out April 1).

block 4 with tatting

This is the fan block I made for the Just Takes 2 mystery quilt. This week I added a tatted trim to it. It's all stitched down and the block is ready to be sewn into a quilt. I allowed enough space for the seam allowance.

This month we're working on a hand pieced compass star. I have part of it done. I'm also going to try to get embellishment added to the feathered star I made earlier this month. I'm thinking about combining redwork embroidery with tatting on it. We'll see.

quilt blocks with tatting

This week I stitched the tatting onto 3 of the "Just Takes 2" quilt blocks. I still have an edging to sew onto the fan block. The directions for the "Just Takes 2" suggest redwork embroidery. I'm using tatting instead. The first 2 photos are on the same 12" block in opposite quadrants. The last photo is a 6" square block.

Just Takes 2 Feb. 15

I've completed the Feb. 15 blocks for the Just Takes 2 mystery quilt. These are all 9" finished size blocks. This month there was traditional piecing, applique and paper piecing with a couple blocks that used a combination of techniques. The paper piecing I'm fairly comfortable with as I've done it in several projects. I've done a little applique but I still feel that it's a new technique for me. As I worked on this block, I kept reminding myself that real leaves aren't all the same even when they come from the same plant and that unless it's in a competition, no one will be looking closely at the applique. I suspect that as this project continues, there will be more applique. I'll get better and more comfortable with it as I do it.

Looking forward to March 1 when the next set of block directions come out.

Just Takes 2

I am participating in and making the Just Takes 2 mystery quilt this year. Just Takes 2 is being hosted by Sentimental Stitches and Dear Jane. Block patterns come out on the 1st and 15th of each month. I've never made a 2 color quilt before and I rarely work with red so this quilt project is taking me out of my normal range of colors and also techniques because lots of different techniques will be used throughout this year as we continue getting patterns to make.

It was suggested that some redwork could be embroidered on some of the blocks. I chose instead to use some tatted motifs. Those in the photo are not yet sewn on and I left some of the thread attached so I could use it for stitching the motifs down. I have made a tatted edge for the fan block but it wasn't done when the photo was taken. The photo shows all of the January blocks. So far the blocks are 6", 9" and 12" finished sizes. I don't know what the actual quilt setting will be - but it's interesting to think about.

NYE 2011 Mystery

I participated in the 2011 NYE Mystery this year. I've done these before and enjoy the challenge , procedure of following the hour by hour directions and seeing the final setting of all the parts. I chose to make the baby/crib size. That's an easy size to complete and also I hoped to be able to use it for a baby gift. I needed one for my friend Sam.

I used a small fleece blanket for the back, no batting as it's not needed with the fleece and machine quilted, ending by turning the fleece to the top, using a decorative stitch all around the quilt's edge and then trimming off the extra fleece. This is an easy way to finish a baby quilt and the fleece makes a very soft, cuddly quilt.

After the quilt was all done, I found out that Sam was doing the baby's room in red and white. With the red in this quilt, it would go nicely and so she has received it and has it waiting for baby's arrival.