Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Quilt Housekeeping

More quilt housekeeping. My guild show is next month. I thought I had nothing to enter; I certainly don't have the energy to finish something now. But since our show is biennial, I checked my 2018 and 2017 Finish pages to see what might be available.

Oh, joy! Spiderweb wasn't in the last show. It was finished a month or two later.

The spiderwebs in the center of the quilt are outlined in various single colors including red, green, blue, yellow, and purples. There is a narrow light green inner border followed by a border that is a printed toile on two sides and an applique vine on the other two. Finally there are two more borders of improvisational right triangles as the outer border.
Spiderweb quilt

And bunches of Coin quilts. Many of these have been gifted but Fifth Chinese Coins is on our bed.

Columns of scrap fabrics in blue and white with black, brown, green, red and purple prints interspersed.
Fifth Chinese Coins quilt

This week I've been cutting and sewing sleeves. As soon as the show ends, I'll take the sleeves off again and put them in a ziplock in my scrap bag so hopefully I can find them next time I need a sleeve. {Bane of my life.}

Chambray tubes are hand sewn to the tops of the backs of quilts so they can be hung in a show.
Sewing sleeves to quilts

I'm still chugging along sewing the centers of Shadow Star blocks. Kaja sent me a scrap of beautiful shot cotton that I used for one Star. It's a bit thin; shot cotton always is; so I doubled the fabric. That's an old trick to make a quilt last longer.

Two collaged photos. On the left, a thin purple shot cotton is doubled to provide more strength to the compass points. On the right, the block is sewn with a blue print center circle, the purple compass points end in squares that range from blue to coral to white and outline the white star points.
Doubled fabric on the compass points of
Shadow Star quilt block

Some of the blocks lend themselves to a different fabric for the center while others need a repeat instead.

Left: fourth fabric for the center. Right: repeat fabric for center.
Shadow Star quilt blocks.
Left: fourth fabric for the center.
Right: repeat fabric for center.

Fun playtimes deciding what fabric to use. I realize now this quilt will take a longer time to get together and I'm going to enjoy every minute.

Enjoy the day, Ann

30 comments:

patty a. said...

I am glad you were able to find a couple quilts for the show. Sewing on sleeves is such a non-fun job, but it will be worth it when you see your quilts hanging for everyone to enjoy. The Shadow Star blocks are coming along. Yes, take your time and enjoy the time making these. It seems so much of the time we get in a hurry and have to get a quilt done quickly for one reason or another so we don't have the luxuary of enjoying the process. Take care!

Linda said...

Two gorgeous quilts for your Show. They will attract loads of great comments. Love your Shadow Star blocks - look very difficult.

LA Paylor said...

your show must be very good, wish I could come. Glad you tracked the finishes so you knew these could go in. The shadow star blocks are really dramatic, yes it's good to take your time enjoying each step. There's a lesson for us there, just take a breath and don't miss the enjoyment by rushing. LeeAnna

Mel Beach said...

Your quilts will make for a lovely addition to our quilt show...and no pressure, but I will be on the lookout for a finished Shadow Star quilt at our 2021 quilt show!

Julierose said...

Lovely choices for the Show; those star-like blocks are so pretty--love that shot cotton one...hugs, Julierose

Robin said...

Good hint about doubling the fabric. I probably would have set it side for a different project. Now I know better.

audrey said...

Ughh, quilt sleeves. Glad it was you, not me! Wonderful idea to take them off for re-use in another show later on. Your first quilt just shouts out as an Ann quilt, though I will never see another coin quilt without thinking of you.:) It's nice that you have a quilt project in the works that fits your needs. It's aggravating to need a slow project and realize that everything started is at the chain piecing stage etc.

Sue said...

The perfect answer to your problem for the quilt show. I have been known to do the same thing. :-)
Find something I haven't entered before! Your star blocks are lovely.

Marie said...

That's a pretty spectacular Spiderweb - I'm certain that it will be a hit at the show.

Barb said...

great coin and spider web quilts. I love guild shows they are my favorite

Kaja said...

How fortuitous that you have two such beautiful quilts just sitting around waiting to be shown off! I'm very chuffed that that piece of purple has made it into one of these beautiful blocks and I am making a mental note of your tip about doubling up.

Janie said...

Your Spiderweb and Fifth Chinese Coin quilts are beauties! Improv at its best.
Planning to save the sleeves is a good idea.
Your Shadow Star blocks are wonderful. Thanks for sharing your attitude of 'enjoying every
minute' I need to be reminded of those encouraging words.

Ann said...

Thanks, Patty. Remembering I had quilts still in my possession that weren't in the last show made me quite happy. Somehow we always think we need to put the latest one in and work up to the deadline. I don't mind sleeves {ok, I'm lying a bit} for a wall quilt but it always annoys me to make them for bed quilts. A few years ago the coordinator said we could safety pin the sleeves on but this one is more particular.
That Spiderweb took almost three years and I enjoyed taking it up and setting it aside at each step. Shadow Star seems to be the same type. They are just for me so reminding myself to slow down and add everything it needs is a good plan.

Ann said...

Thanks, Linda. I'm glad to be able to participate. I forget I can't "whip a bear with both hands tied behind my back" this year. I was afraid I wouldn't have anything for the show. There are many talented quilters in the guild.

Ann said...

Perhaps you can make a trip some year. I try to find quilt shows or meetings when I travel with DH. Yes, the blog pays off. I'd never keep a paper album but have become pretty good about detailing them on the blog. My tiny mind doesn't hold this info anymore.
You are creating some interesting work yourself. I enjoy seeing your painting and embellishments in progress.

Ann said...

So will yours, Mel. We are fortunate to have many talented quilters in this group. Haha. Shadow Star might be done by 2021.

Ann said...

Thanks, Julie. I'm glad I still had these available. It's impossible to ask a child if you can borrow their quilt back.
Wasn't I lucky to get this smidge of shot cotton from Kaja? The light hits them so beautifully.

Ann said...

My master quilting teacher suggested that when using thin fabrics. I used the set them aside but that just meant I never used them because they were thin.

Ann said...

You and me, Audrey. Sleeves are such a chore. I can force myself if it's a wall quilt but otherwise I delay as long as possible. My latest idea is to save these for the next show. I didn't cut them to fit; I simply folded the width back - so the sleeve is doubled in places. And that fold shows on the outside so the bar won't have a problem going in.
Looking at all your beautiful applique encouraged me to add it to the Spiderweb. It took a while but I'm so glad I did. That reminds me to look for details to every quilt. And I am finding, as you wrote, how pleasant it is to have applique to offset the chain piecing stage.

Angie in SoCal said...

Beautiful quilts you have to enter. Love those stars.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Beautiful quilts for the show, really love your 'spiderweb' one! Loving how your 'shadow star' blocks are looking... and, yes it's a great reminder to me to just enjoy the process!

Ann said...

Then I'm in good company, Sue. Thanks.

Ann said...

Thanks, Marie. There are many talented quilters in my guild. Lots to drool over at every show.

Ann said...

Thank you, Barb. Guild shows have such variety in style and experience. They are much more interesting to me, too. Plus there's such community-building in a guild.

Ann said...

I was lucky. Most are gifted or in Texas. Thank you for the wonderful shot cottons. They have such a special sheen. Love watching them change with the lighting.

Ann said...

Thanks, Janie. I've tried saving the sleeves before but ended up cutting them for scraps. Grr. Hopefully using a ziplock will remind me to save them and help me find them again.
We do get wrapped up in quick finishes, don't we? I keep reminding myself I'll just start another quilt when this one is done so I might as well have all the fun I can now. It's working. Plus, reading blogs gives me ideas to add.

Ann said...

Thank you, Angie.

Ann said...

Thanks, Linda. I'm excited that it's finally in a show.
Aren't blogs helpful for enjoying the process. Sometimes writing a post helps me figure out where I might want to go next or that the quilt needs a break.

Nann said...

Does your guild require that sleeves be sewn? We can use safety pins. A long time ago I cut an old sheet into 9" strips and made yards and yards of sleeves. I have whacked 'em down for smaller quilts and sometimes joined shorter pieces to use on big quilts..... You're not alone in trying to round up quilts for a show, considering how many get new homes after we've made them. I like both of your entries!

Ann said...

It depends on the show coordinator. Some allow it and some don’t. Since they have taken on a thankless task, I accommodate. Using an old sheet would be smart. And I just tossed one. Grr. Now realize I could have used it for sleeves or foundations or.... lots of things. I, too, have whacked them down. I took those from the previous show off, set them aside, and still cut them for scraps. This time I left them long and simply turned the ends back - to the outside so the poles go in easily. And I’m going to bag and label them for next time. Hope springs eternal.
You give loads of quilts away, too, so you know the dichotomy of gifting versus saving some for the next show. I always end up scrounging around for one near at hand. {Although there are some I have kept for myself.)