Project Linus

I've got another nice stack of quilts ready to go to our local Project Linus group. Here is the latest which I started late Friday night as I was too twitchy to sleep. Quilted up on Saturday with a bunch of new motifs and machine bound on Sunday with lots of breaks because I hate doing that. Pictures galore!

Sew Fresh Fabrics Bee Block

Sew Fresh Fabrics Bee Block, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

I was sitting here this morning and thinking about redoing this block because it didn't quite turn out as expected. We fought a lot and I ripped it apart a couple of times. It's loosely based on the Oh Fransson mod mosaic tutorial. Loosely because I basically read the directions and then did one step right before veering off into crazy.

Crazy in this case was piecing the giraffe from two bits. Which is my favorite part of the block. But it kinda threw off the rest of the block with the odd angles. Eventually though I got enough pieces sewn together to cut out a 12 1/2" square. I called it done and started the search for my micron pen to do the signature for the back of the quilt.

Just as I'd decided to just make a new block though, I started to get really nice comments on Flickr. Yay for outside input to keep me sane :) Hopefully the brown and other bits I added go along well enough with the other blocks.

Hmmmmm and Hooray

Hmmmmm, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

That's not quite right. Unless there's some sort of magic to occur later. But I think that I've just used the small corner from the wrong block. I'll try again later.

In other great news, I was lucky enough to join in on my first bee. I got the email from Sew Fresh Fabrics and will have a box of scraps in the mail by the end of January with a block to be completed and resent by end of February. HOORAY! It's to benefit Project Linus.

Two Done, One Started

Project Linus Stars, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

Project Linus Two, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

Two of the Project Linus quilts are done and washed. The third is in having the binding hand stitched now. Since those are ready to go onto the children, I decided to start another.

Ticker Tape Twin Backing, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

This is part of the backing.  I really wanted it to be flannel and I really didn't want to buy any more flannel.  So I cut 5 rectangles from these and then put the circle bright stuff on both ends.  This is going to be a twin size based on crazy mom's ticker tape wall hanging.

Ticker Tape Twin, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

This is the first section of a 66 x 102 quilt.  Again, I really like the bits of other quilts that this reminds me I made.   I do have this loaded on the frame right now and it goes pretty quick.  I don't think I have enough scraps to finish though.  Maybe it will end up being a strata of a few months/years.  Maybe I'll start snipping bits from my stash though.

It has handlebars

It has handlebars, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

Here's how conversations about my new toy usually go with all the fellas I know.
Me: Yeah, I got a big new sewing machine.
Fella: (yawn)
Someone else: It has handlebars.
Fella: Really, that's cool.
Me: And a laser light.
Fella: WOW! I want to see that.

But my dad's the only fella to try it so far. He was working on his Project Linus, Disney Give a Day, Get a Day quilt. It was great, I just wanted to do something simple but before too long he was even using the right terminology, "I'm going to outline Mother Goose so she really pops".

Nice!

It was cool how quick it all went with three of us working on it. I'm the ghost on the left looking for a good binding material.

We found that in my stash but not the backing, we had to walk up to the local fabric store to find something that worked.

I'll post finished pictures when they get the binding on.

Project Linus 2

Project Linus 2, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

A donated top from Luc's Mom on Saturday morning is now quilted and waiting for the binding to be sewn on. I did the celtic leaves in the center. For the borders, I did stippling and stars. The tension worked a lot better this time but I definitely need to take her in for a spa day.

I pieced leftover batting for this one and found some light blue swirly fabric in my stash for the binding. It's cut and ironed, I've just got to get it sewn on and trimmed. Then I'll check if my mom's ready to do the whip stitching. We're collaborating on three of these quilts for Project Linus.

Still Project Linus-ing

Oddly there are no copy shops open on a Sunday morning in my 'hood. Matilda was exhausted from the search so we came home and I got out the light box and hand traced 65 inches of a leaf pantograph. But we're ready to go now as the quilt top from Luc's Mom is already loaded on the frame.

And yes I'm proud. I didn't buy any new flannel to back this quilt. That's right, no new flannel. So now I only have 94 yards of flannel. Please don't refer back to the Jan 18th post that mentions I started with 84 yards.

Project Linus V.2 in person

Project Linus V.2 in person, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

The top is completely done and I had every intention of loading it on the frame and possibly starting the quilting tonight. BUT when I went to take the dogs for a walk and return the extra dog, I only grabbed the key to the extra dog's house. Not my own. So I essentially locked myself out for about 3 hours. Not a problem generally as I keep two extra keys in the 'hood. Both at friend's houses. Both friends that I took to the airport this week.

Nice.

Luckily one was coming home tonight. So the dogs got a 1.5 mile walk while I waited. They were pleased. I was less than. I was tired and wanted to be home. But my friend was dropped off by two other friends. Who were hungry. So we all went to dinner (second dinner for me but that was okay because I mostly just drank my dinner).

So here we are with the poor kids having to wait for a quilt because I'm not so bright.

PS - Despite what my cameras say, that is not a pale yellow with the orange. That is a fierce stripe of which I have 3 yards still to use. What can I say? It was 1.88 a yard.

PPS - This is the book that I used although I adjusted the pattern somewhat with varying strip sizes. This is the scrap pile that ensued. I'm crossing my fingers that I actually like scrap quilts some day.

Most Scraps, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

Project Linus V.2

Project Linus V.2, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

Okay, I think I'm liking this better. Which is good because I have all the squares cut out for the yellow/green stars. I went with a smaller green stripe and more blue. The setting squares are a dark blue kona cotton that was on sale this weekend. I'm planning on quilting stars in yellow so that should work out well.

Linus Stars Small.jpg

Linus Stars Small.jpg, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

New plan for Project Linus blanket. I'm not sure about it yet. Who loves the magical powers of photoshop (minus my bad color matching in the pics not the real fabric)?

Stars and Swirls Back

Stars and Swirls Back, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

I like the back best as far as colors go.

This quilt is going to Project Linus . . . at least on the pile for Project Linus.