; August 2014 | Quilting Stories Quilting Tutorials and Discussions

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Signature Quilt

Signature

This signature quilt was a last year common project of our quilting bee group. Each person did two blocks and then we organized a lottery. Michele was the happy winner! Once the blocks sewn together, We embroider our names on our blocks.

Quilt and bird

Signature quilt

Signature quilt

Quilt and two baskets

Siganture

Signatures

Signature block

Hum... it should have been finished last year! However, I think this is a lovely souvenir for Michele,
our beloved friend!

Cheers!
Christine

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Tomato Red

Antique quilt
Antique quilt

It's amazing how everyday life can be inspiring if only we open our eyes. Coming back from the market with some plum tomatoes in my basket, I found attractive the combo red and beige. And I instantaneously built a project of a quilt with red fabric mixed with all the hues of beige, going from off-white to dark brown.

Plum tomatoes
Plum tomatoes

However, the purpose was not to quilt, but to prepare a tomato paste! But look how beautiful is the contrast between the red of the tomato jars and the dark brown of my old rusted saucepans!

Tomatoe paste
Tomato paste

For those who are interested, here is how I prepare my tomato paste :
I wash the tomatoes and leave them for 3mn covered with boiling water.
I peel them, cut them in four and put them in a high saucepan with salt, a little sugar and a little olive oil.
I let them boil without lid for about 1/2 hour, until the juice evaporated.
I mix and pour the sauce in glass jars, adding a little olive oil just to cover the sauce.

Tomatoes
Ripe tomatoes

During summer time in Greece, the tomatoes are absolutely delicious. I love them best the simpliest way :
cut in slices with olive oil, coarse salt and oregano.

Tomato salad
Tomato salad

Oh! I forgot : wonderful with a slice of grilled bread rubbed with a little garlic!

Tomato
Tomato salad

Enjoy your lunch... and your stitches!
Christine


Thursday, August 21, 2014

Flying Geese Binding



My baby girl quilt came back from Eleni's quilting, and I am preparing it for binding as shown in 


Triming the sides.


Border ready.


I machine sew the border on the front side, and then I hand sew it on the wrong side.


Sewing with slip stitches as shown in
MY TUTORIAL

Happy stitches!
Christine

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Manon's Quilt


This is the last episode of the String Quilt series! Manon came home and received her present.
It was such a pleasure to see how happy she was with her quilt!


As you can see, she is expecting a baby! Such a happiness! It's her first child, a baby boy
expected beginning of December... This means of course another baby quilt project!


Manon is going back to her house with her quilt under the arm. It will cheer up
 her neutral tune lounge when spread on her white sofa.

Have a wonderful Sunday!
Christine

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Miniature Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt

Mini Log Cabin quilt

In the summer time I enjoy doing miniature quilts, using my scraps.
They are quickly done, and it's a pleasure to hand quilt them early in the morning, before the heat arrives!
 I tried to give this mini scrappy Log Cabin an antique country style. It measures 12 1/4" x 8 1/2".

Log Cabin detail

Log Cabin detail

Backing
Happy summer stitches!
Christine

Sunday, August 10, 2014

My Second Tutorial

The second tutorial I posted last April on my blog (Tutorial for a Quick and Easy Chevron Zig Zag Quilt) was recently featured on FaveQuilts!

Chevron sewing



Your little baby will adore this Down Home Chevron Baby Quilt. If you've been searching for a good chevron baby quilt tutorial, then this one will definitely hit the spot. The country and rustic vibe of this quilt make it ...READ MORE
  
A wonderful Sunday to all of you! 
Christine

Thursday, August 07, 2014

Easy Log Cabin Tutorial

Today I will show you the EASIEST possible way to make a LOG CABIN block.
WITHOUT measuring any strip length!



Log Cabin block
Finished block

The finished block measures 7 1/4" x 7 1/4"

Fabric selection
Selected fabrics
My fabric selection : a red center, three dark pink and three light beige. 
You can use any colors, but always a dark side and a light side.

Center square
Center
For the central square, cut 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Strips
Strips ready
Cut your strips from the Cross Grain (from selvage to selvage), width 1 1/2".

Two squares
Two squares
The first piece to add to the red center is a square, same dimensions as the center.

Two squares sewn
Two squares pieced
 Piece those two squares right side against right side. Open and press. Turn once CLOCKWISE.

Strip sewn
Add the strip of the same fabric, sew right side against right side.

Cut strip
Cut the remaining length of the strip.

First row
First row
Open and press. Turn once CLOCKWISE

Strip
Add the light color strip for the second row.

Cutting strip
Cut the remain. 
Go on the same way all the time for the other rows, always turning ONCE CLOCKWISE
 and ALTERNATING two dark strips and two light strips.

Second row
Second row

Third row
Third row

Fourth row
Fourth row

Fifth row
Fifth row

Sixth row
Sixth row
Press hot without moving your iron.
Your block is now finished, you may just need to trim the sides to get an accurate square of 7 1/2".

Enjoy your Log Cabin!
Christine

Sunday, August 03, 2014

String Quilt Finished!

String quilt

I am so happy to have my string quilt finished! 
Very early in the morning, before too much sun and too much heat,
I went to the garden to take some pictures of this quilt that I will offer
to my daughter, as she "fell in love" with it at first sight!

String quilt

String quilt

String quilt

String quilt

String quilt

String quilt

String quilt

If I highlight this block, it's because I remember that when I started to select my fabrics for this project, I hesitated and almost decided to put this yellow one away... thanks God I did'nt, it appears to be THE ONE!
It seems to bring sun to my quilt.

Have a sunny Sunday!
Christine