Cherry House Quilts

How about a scrappy quilt along?

A while back I introduced you to my 'One Mountain, Ten Quilts'  a series of 10 quilts that I created from a very large, very stuffed bag of scraps that I couldn't bear to throw away.  The scraps that had been saved were very similar in terms of color and style...mostly pastels, many children's prints - quite literally leftover scraps of fabric from clothing I had sewn for my sweet children when they were little ones.  I had made a game of using as many of the scraps that I could, and I imposed some rules as well...

1. The #1 rule was, that I could add as much white (solid or tone on tone) fabric as I needed.
2. I could pull from my stash for the quilt backs
3. Every quilt had to be different - not 10 of the same quilts
4. I needed to push myself in terms of new styles, or techniques that I hadn't tried before
5. Keep making quilts until I ran out of fabric
6. I couldn't purchase anything to make these quilts...not thread, not batting, NOTHING - everything had to come from what I had on hand
7. The sum of the quilts needed to be cohesive
8. Have fun!

One mountain of fabric, and 10 quilts later, and the fabric was basically gone...all that was left were little bite size pieces of fabric that really were too tiny to use.  By the time I got to the end, I had discovered the some of the quilts were better than others (one was downright awful), that strict limitations can truly push creativity, and working outside of my comfort zone, as anxiety producing as it was; was good for me.

At the time that I was blogging about this, many of you expressed a desire to use up your scraps, but were perplexed on how to start...so, how about a Scrap Quilt Along?  We will create two of my favorite One Mountain, Ten Quilts quilts if you would like to participate.

How to get started?  First, tell me if you are interested, and would like to join along.  Second, vote on whether you would rather start on Children's Lit, or Fruit Strip Gum.  As soon a decision is reached, I'll provide you with a supply list, and we will get started!

Children's Lit

Fruit Sliced Gum

  

Free quilt pattern anyone? Plus, a question for you!

    Do you remember this pattern?  It's called Tybee Island, and it was in a magazine last year.  Well, a year has transpired, and the publishing rights have returned to me, so from today through the end of the month I'm going to offer it as a free pattern!  I really love this quilt, and I hope you will too.  It's quick and fun, and visually it keeps you hopping.  Okay, that was the free pattern part of the post, now for the question??? 

08-05-09 We hope that you enjoyed the free Tybee Island Pattern...thank you!

Kathleen over at Magik Quilter has been suggesting that I do a quilt-along...to tell you the truth, I'm not exactly certain how to do one.  But, I've been reading and looking at lots of blogs, and I think I have it figured out.  So if you are willing to come along for the ride, I'm going teach my Little Bouquet as a quilt-along.  Lots of you have expressed interest in having the instructions; so here's a chance to use up your scraps, and we will make a little bouquet together!  Game?  Leave me a comment, and we will get started.  It will be fun, I'll learn how to do a quilt along, and you will make yourself (or someone you love) a fancy, schmancy little quilt!

I am so excited...I can't wait to get started!

Cherri

Done and done!

  Little Bouquet 16'' x 21''

It's all done, my little bouquet of flowers!  All right, my self imposed play time is over, time to get back to work. 

This little project has caused me to reflect on some ongoing discussions that I've been reading on Flickr, about the difference between traditional, contemporary or modern, and art quilters.  In one conversation in particular it seemed there were some sensitive feelings regarding "art" quilters.  I think conversations and discussions are good, I think thinking one type of work has more value than another is dangerous territory.  It brings to mind conversations about "working moms", and "stay at home moms".  I think as women that we need to support each other period.  We heap enough negative stuff on ourselves, without our "sisters" adding more.  We don't know the motivation behind decisions made, we don't know one another's circumstances...all we know is what we see, and so often that is a window dressing.  We need to lift each other up, we need to love one another more!  Okay, that's my soap box, I'll go back to quilting now.

Thank you for joining me on little play journey, I've enjoyed your comments, and your reflections about your own fun & relaxing projects.  Anyone interested in making one of these?  If so, let me know, and I'll provide the instructions.

Cherri

A little closer to being done

 

Do you ever make assumptions about the quilt you are going to make, and find that what you assumed, and what is reality are two different things?  Before I ever started adding the little log cabin roses I had the quilt planned, and I knew where the roses would be positioned.  Prior to adding the flowers, on the quilt top I added vines with some glittery thread.  In my mind I thought this would work for the greenery of the floral arrangement.  I thought the quilt would be just the roses, and the quilting...that was the plan.  Well I finished sewing down all of the flowers, and machine quilted the entire piece, but it was somehow flat.  What did it need???  Leaves, a bunch of leaves!  It seemed a little backwards, since the quilt was already quilted - but, whatever - I just stitched them on top of everything else.  It looks better!  Tomorrow the binding, it's a purple plaid leftover from another quilt.  It's a good exercise to create something with only what is available, and on hand.  Creativity must take over, and rules and convention have to take a back seat.

I feel like such a rebel!

Cherri

Just for fun!

 

 

Do you ever need to do something just for fun?  Sometimes when I need a break from major projects, or a between thing, I make up these little log cabin-ish blocks, that are sort of like roses!  These litte roses are made from the tiniest scraps that I keep in a bag; that I can't bear to throw away.  Then I applique them to 6" scrap blocks that I always have on hand (another rainy day project that I love). So I baste these flowers with a water soluable thread, then stitch them down, raw edges and all.  I'll machine quilt the entire piece, add a binding, and I have a little quilt; a colorful garden.  As soon as it's finished I'll share it with you.  Aren't scrap quilts the best? 

What are your rainy day quilting projects, or what do you do when you need to remember that quilting is fun, and not a race to perfection?

Cherri

 

Peter Rabbit Quilt/Quilt #6

Hi Friends!  We are at #6 in the One Mountain, Ten Quilts series.  I love that everyone is now referring to them as the "Mountain Quilts", I really do love it!  I should explain that these quilts are not numbered in the order that I made them, only in the order I have presented them.  Actually this was one of the first that I made, you can tell because there were still big pieces of fabric available, and full length strips! 

Everyone is probably aware of how the center sections are made, but I'll review just in case you are unfamiliar.  The first time I saw this done on Simply Quilts, I thought it a life changing moment!!! What a great method for creating an Around the World type of block:

• All of the center sections units were made with strips 2" x WOF
• Sew 5 strips together, press all seam allowances in the same direction
• Fold the fabric lengthwise in half, right sides together, and sew to create a long tube
• With a rotary cutter cut 2" sections the entire length of the tube - in teaching I call this the frozen cookie dough method.
• Determine the fabric you want to run diagonally in the center, then unstitch one of the two 2" units so that the corner fabric is in the correct position.
• Continue to do this with the next 4 strip sections, unstitching at the next join to keep the fabrics in the correct order
• Press the unstitched seam allowances flat
• Pin the units together by two's, and sew, continue to complete the block
• Ta da...before you know it, you have a bunch of beautiful blocks that look like they took forever to make, but were really done in a fraction of the time

Here's a close up of the center section:

A few more details about the quilt that I normally forget until after I have posted...

• Quilt Size 38 x 38
• I'm not sure if you can tell by the photo but quilt is quilted, and was bound in yellow, the same as the back of the quilt, but I hated the binding, so I cut it off, and now I have to start over.  Green I think...yes / no??? 

Until next time, Happy Weekend!

Cherri

Fruit Stripe Gum Quilt Love

Fruit Stripe Gum Zebra
Originally uploaded by Waffle Whiffer

I'm feeling all of the love for the Fruit Stripe Gum Quilt, and I just have to say "thank you, thank you, thank you!" I feel like Sally Fields when she said, "You like me, you really, really like me", but in this case it's the quilt you like! I'd hope you'd like it, I'd hoped it would make you as happy as it makes me. So many of you guys have left comments about remembering fruit stripe gum, the scent, the song, the commercials, and the zebra. I found a couple of images on Flickr that I thought would be fun to share.

I'll be putting up photos of the next 'Mountain' quilt soon. I don't have a name for it yet; it's just quilt #6 for now.

 

Fruit Stripe Gum Quilt / Quilt #5

Here's is the quilt that I kept talking about...I love this quilt, I think it is so fun!  It's totally the fruit stripe gum quilt to me; do you think the Wrigley corporation will come after me for calling it that?  Hope not.  Can you think of a better name?  I'm open to all suggestions.

A few things about this quilt

• Again, these blocks are sewn on to non-fusible/non-woven interfacing.  Can you imagine trying to deal with all of those bias edges? 
• I used a flip and sew method to create the blocks
• What unites the block?  The use of the same color family throughout the block.  You can use quite a bit of leeway in this, just make sure they are in the same family.
• What unites the quilt?   The consistent use of white throughout.  All kinds of whites, many white on white scraps were used.

Here's a close up of a section

 See that yellow stripe right above, with the bunny?  That is a leftover from my son's baby quilt I made before he was born.  Five quilts down in my One Mountain, Ten Quilts project; five more to go...I hope you are enjoying this adventure.  It's been fun sharing these quilts with you!

Happy Friday,

Cherri 

Children's Lit. or Quilt #4

Quilt Size 37 x 51  Picking my favorite quilt from the One Mountain, Ten Quilt series has to be like picking a favorite child.  Maybe the one you are with at the moment is your favorite.  For the moment, this is my fav!  Lizzy and Ashlee helped me named this quilt Children's Lit. because they thought it looked like leaning books on a shelf.  On a side note if you ever need anything named, ask Lizzy - she has mad, crazy naming skills.  We had a dog named Olive, but before she decided on Olive; it was going to be Potato...ask her sometime about the names of Peppermint's litter of kittens - a blog worthy post in and of itself. 

Back to quilts - I seemed to have caused a great deal of confusion in regards to my fondness for sewing on lightweight, non-fusible, non-woven interfacing.  I've taken a picture to help better demonstrate my use of the interfacing.  This is a photo of the back of the quilt top.  The rows are 37" L X 6" W, and I've sewn the scraps, strings, and some wedges to the long, narrow piece of interfacing.  I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem to not sew on it, I just like not having any issues with bias edges; or with the stability of tiny 3/4" strips of fabric.  Not to mention the stability it adds when sewing multiple weights of fabric in the same quilt.  The scraps in this quilt include really thin cotton, flannel, and these cool nubby fabrics Moda put out for a while that were heavier than normal cotton.  This helps everyone play together, better!

I really do love this quilt, because it has fabric straps leftover from sewing for my children when they were small.  I had 3 daughters within 4 years, so for a long time they all wore similar sizes.  One summer I made 6 tops, 6 skirts, and 6 shorts as sets - one of each piece from six different fabrics.  They were all coordinated, and they could all be interchanged.  It really was brilliant for them being able to have something different to wear everyday.  Little bits of these fabrics are in this quilt top, as well fabrics from the first "real" quilt I made for Lizzy for her 7th birthday.  See this sashing strips between?  Those were leftover from quilt #2...these quilts are all so interconnected.     What's the next quilt in the series???  The Fruit Stripe Gum Quilt - I know I have to think of another name, but that's what it looks like to me!

Okay friends...it's back to sewing for me,

Cherri 

Some tips about scrap quilting

Hi Quilty Friends,

I've received lots of comments and emails about how to get started on a scrap quilt, so I thought I'd address some questions here...

From Shannon:

Q: Is this a pattern or do you just make it up as you go? I would love to use up my scraps, but have no idea where to begin with it.

and Gail:

Q: I have LOTS of scraps but I am like Shannon - do you have a pattern or how do you start?

A: There is no pattern, just a sew & go, make it up as you go along kinda quilt.

I'll go through some of the steps that work for me and see if I can help a little.

• SUPPLIES: Normal quilting supplies; your size favorite square ruler (mine's a 9 1/2" sq); non-fusible/non-woven interfacing
• COLOR: For my One Mountain, Ten Quilts project it was important that all of the scraps worked together, so that is how I organized the scraps.  It is important to have some order to your scraps in terms of color, so deciding a color palette, theme, or flavor is a good place to begin. 
• FABRIC: Sort your fabric by sizes; leftover strips make great string quilts, and little tiny pieces work great for crazy quilts
• BLOCK SIZES - make the block size manageable 6" to 10" is good
• FOUNDATION - I'm a huge fan of sewing on lightweight non-fusible/non-woven interfacing.  I use this for crazy style quilts or string pieced quilts.  It doesn't add any significant weight to the block, and it keeps everything orderly - especially those pesky biased edges.  Cut these foundation blocks to an inch+ larger then the finished size you have selected.  These blocks really draw up in the sewing/ironing process
• IRONING: Take care when ironing the interfacing - it will shrivel if it's too hot, so turn down the temp a little
• QUILT SIZE: Baby Quilt / Queen size quilt - any size will work; just keep making blocks til you run out of scraps.  More blocks equal more quilts!
• HOW TO UNIFY A SCRAP QUILT: There really is some magic to making a scrap quilt work; what appears totally random is usually organized chaos.  Again, group fabrics by color or theme; pick a unifying element such as a sashing, a repeated color throughout the quilt, something that will bring all of the various parts together - be consistent in this element.
• FLIP & SEW BLOCKS - I don't paper piece, but I think of the flip & sew method as paper piecing without all the hard work, and the numbers. 
• START SMALL (CRAZY QUILT BLOCKS): Start randomly sewing your tiniest bits of fabric together, create patches about the size of your palm.  Just keep making them up until you're sick of it, or you run out of those tiny bits. Trim these pieces so they have a clean edges all around.  Think of these as your center starting block.
• NEXT: Lay one of these prepared units (right side up) in the center of a foundation square.  Lay a second piece of fabric large enough to cover an edge (right side down), stitch, press out, and continue on until you have covered the entire block.
• TRIM: I love square rulers, and I have them in lots of sizes; trim your block using the appropriate ruler...ta da; you have a block!  Repeat, repeat, repeat!
• JOIN: Determine the size of your quilt, layout your blocks in a pleasing fashion; start sewing rows, until your quilt top is complete.

Before you know it, your mountain of scraps will become a heap of quilt tops!  Don't fret over these instructions - find out what works best for you, and go with it!  This is low tech sewing meant to be fun and relaxing!

Okay, ready to get start...GO!