w.i.p. Wednesday #13

So, since I skipped last week due to the lack of finishes/ progress and holiday.. here I am!
So far this week seems to be mostly about cutting up fabric for the various projects I want to do, then no sewing them back together.. somethings wrong with this picture!
Here's what I mean..

Works in Progress:

Project 1

Still waiting on some more fabric, but this is how the pile has sat since Sunday.

Project 2 - Ruby, Pearl and Opal Quilt

I finally cut into my Ruby layer cake and laid out the pieces..

Then I lost stamina and couldn't start piecing..

Luckily! I have purchased a flannel backed tablecloth earlier that day and the top 4 rows are on that..

I pinned them in place and folded it up (bottom row stacked separately, obviously)

 greatest idea ever
 It took me so LONG to place all the pieces, I would have hated to do it again!

(This was supposed to be my "design wall" of sorts, but I'm lacking a wall to put it on!

whoops! haha

(are you noticing the trend yet?)

Project 3 - Scrappy Christmas Quilt

 more cutting
any observant people notice the top left corner?
thats what I have sitting under my "sewing" table haha

woohoo! Finally some sewing!
only.. 100 more to go? oy.
Anyone remember these scraps?
They're from this quilt -- this new one is for boyfriend's mom

Finished:

1. Christmas Runner tutorial

2. Wine coaster tutorial

3. Christmas table runner

On Hold:
1. Swoon (pictures of all the blocks together -1 coming soon)

My brain is in a fog these days, so i'm sure I forgot some things, but thats the gist of this week..

Hopefully you're all having more success than me! 

Oh, anyone else realize December 1 is TOMORROW.

oy. mad rush to finish gifts can commence... NOW.

:)

Mail Surprises!

This weekend was filled with fun mail when the postman would come!

I received my Pay it Forward gift from Toni!

241 BAG!

love!

 She also included some cute FQ's and my favorite chocolate!

Thanks so much Toni for allowing me to take part in your P.I.F.

Then, on Saturday, I received some mail that had traveled a VERY long way to get to me..

It was my swap from the SewHappyGeek Wall Hanging/Table runner swap.

I had requested a wall hanging and boy did my partner deliver!
Tracee makes it sound like she was terrified of this idea but seriously, amazing job and I can't wait to hang it up for everyone to see!!

Seriously, the colors, the appliqué! Love it.

She also included these little goodies - check out that owl, soooo much hand stitching!
Thank you Thank you Thank you Tracee!

This is partially what i've been up to.. cut these up last night for a new quilt, still waiting on more fabric to arrive from my Black Friday shopping then this will start to transform :)

Have a great day everybody!

:)

Back in Action!

Hey everybody!

Sorry for the blogging hiatus! It wasn't even planned, 

but then with the holiday life took over, yadda yadda..

Anyway! I've been busy and I have some finishes to show you!

first up - snowflake dresden

first time i've done a double dresden and I really like how it turned out!

zig-zagged the appliqué snowflake on top

(ah! imperfections up close! haha)

Then, I finished my elf wall hanging!

Seriously, in love with this one, can't wait to hang it up!

 I also ATTEMPTED to FMQ the borders..
that was another experience on its own and this is how it came out
(of course i'm not showing the curlicues with the wonky sides or straight curves?!)
definitely need more practice, but I tried!
acceptance is the first step?

More to show you tomorrow,
I also received some fun mail this past weekend!!
Have a happy Monday everyone!

:)

Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone stateside a Happy Thanksgiving today!

See you soon!

:)

Weekend Review

This weekend lacked any and all sewing prior to Sunday night.

I had initially wanted to participate in the Friday night sew-in because I've been wanting to for ages!

But, by the time Friday night rolled around, I found myself exhausted and ready for bed by 930pm! haha

Sunday I was in NYC to see "Bonnie and Clyde" on Broadway!

Good show overall, 

We had just seen Jeremy Jordan (who plays Clyde) in the Newsies in a smaller theatre and it was AMAZING -- there's talk of it making it to Broadway, if it does and you're in the are I fully recommend you go!

We had a beautiful day of walking around and enjoyed the show!

I knew we were in the vicinity of the garment district, but didn't know exactly where - I mentioned this to boyfriend and hinted we should check  it out.. didn't work.

As we were leaving we passed this..

(taken from google images)

AH! I have seen this in so many of my blog readings and I have wanted to check out the area..

but of course, it was a Sunday night and already 5pm, so boyfriend promised he'd take me back and let me explore to my hearts content (i'm holding him to that!)

 Anyway, so Sunday night was devoted to finishing up these 3 lovelies..

According to my count that makes me 1 BLOCK away from being done!

Later this week I'll show you them all laid out and ask for help!

I need help deciding on my last block!

Have a fabulous Monday everyone!

:)

Christmas Runner Tutorial

Alright everyone, I have my FIRST tutorial..

Keep in mind.. first so go easy on me haha -
I'm sure it's too wordy, the pictures aren't the best and many other things..
but hey, gotta start somewhere!

Christmas Table Runner

The runner I will be showing you is approximately 56"x14.5"

I recommend reading through the tutorial first, then adjusting to meet your table needs.

In advance, I apologize for the darker photos - if you have any questions/problems don't hesitate to contact me and i'll help in any way I can!

Materials-

- 9 strips from a honey bun of your choosing (or just cut (9) 1 1/2 inch strips)

- 3/4 yard of white fabric

- 1/4 yd binding fabric

- 1 5/8yd backing fabric (less if you don't mind having a non-continuous piece)

- (4) 1.5" wide by WOF pieces for 2nd border

- 1 5/8 yd batting

Process-

Okay, so you're going to want to take your white fabric and cut (13) 1.5" by WOF inch strips.

Then, take one strip of your holiday fabric and one strip of white fabric

sew right sides together.

Sew all 9 of your holiday strips together with white strips.

Your pile should start to grow

(Put the extra 4 white strips to the side, these will be your first border later)

Press all of your strips open.

I pressed them towards the holiday fabric, but whatever your preference will be fine.

Your strips should measure 2.5 inches across. 

Trim if necessary.

Take one of your strips and cut it into 2.5 inch squares.

Continue cutting all of your strips in this way.

Each strip should yield about 17 squares

Pretty little piles!

Begin to lay out your runner.

I used 8 squares per row which allowed me 2 rows per fabric pile.

I recommend laying out your design and leaving it there while you're sewing

It will help avoid confusion.

If you've ever sewed zig-zags before you know we'll be sewing on a diagonal.

 This picture shows what I mean

Start at the top right corner and sew the squares together to make your "rows"

I tend to like chain stitching, so I lay out my pieces in order.. again, up to individual preference!

 

 All of my "rows" sewn together.

My pictures are going to move to the floor because my table was far too small!

 Just to show you how much it really shrinks down.

My initial runner was 15 rows long. (48"x14.25")

This one I'm showing you will be 18 rows long. (56"x 14.5")

 Don't be concerned if you think your runner starts to curve

Mine did the whole time, but it turned out the right way :)

Okay! "Rows" are ready to start combining!!

We're going to work on a diagonal again and sew our rows together this way..

Again, start in the top right corner

Be super careful and line up your fabrics! 

Your points won't look good unless they're crisp and matched nicely

 I tend to prefer to pin my "rows" on the parts that should match up to keep me aware while i'm sewing

More lining up on the next row..

Again, personal preference to line up all my rows and pin them to chain sew.

Once you have your rows sewn together, press them open.

All lined up with our first sewn rows completed.

Continue lining up your pieces and sewing them together until your runner is completely sewn together!

 Phew! Still with me??

Okay, now we're going to square off the runner so it'll be nice and rectangular!

Line up your ruler with the middle points and cut them off.

Continue with the other sides, square as needed!

Once you get to this point you will take your 4 white strips leftover and sew on your first border.

(Depending on whether you went with the 15 rows or 18 you may have to join your strips together to make them long enough)

Press the seams open.

Take your (4) 1.5" border strips and apply it the same way you did the white 

and press them open.

There you have it! 

Completed table runner topper!

Ready to be quilted and bound by your preference

Any thoughts/questions about how I can improve this tutorial are greatly appreciated.

Please though, constructive criticism? 

(totally aware that I need to work on my picture skills haha)

:)

Copyright Knotted-Thread 2011.  You are welcome to use these tutorials for personal use.  You are not given permission to use my pictures or my words without giving me credit and linking back to the original and you are never allowed to copy an entire tutorial or post. Anyone copying or selling my tutorials is guilty of copyright infringement.