Mighty Lucky Quilting Club Second Quilt Top - A Single Fabric

Woah! What an amazing response to my last post. It seems I am not alone in these thoughts. It has me percolating a few ideas to help us all out. Mainly, in ways to use our stashes more. And in maybe some not so predictable ways.

That thinking reminded me that I never shared a particular quilt top. One quilt top - one fabric. That's right, just one fabric. 

I started this about 2 years ago, as part of the Mighty Lucky Quilting Club. In preparing for my month of the club I made up a whole bunch of samples to show different ways to use a single fabric in a quilt block. While I did finish one quilt for the club and then a pillow, the rest of the blocks sat there. But then I decided to play with one of them a bit more. And play and play and play.

You can still purchase the 2016 Mighty Lucky Quilting Club challenges. But now they come as a print on demand book. 

What a great way to pull out a cherished fabric from your stash and play. We all have some that we bought a lot of, maybe for a backing, but is just sitting there. Look for the possibilities. 

This became my own personal round robin. What other ways could I manipulate this fabric into another look? I just kept going. Fussy cutting stripes, improv curves, triangles, slashing things apart. I just kept going. That last round is a variation on the blocks used to make the center. It ends up at about 78'' square in size. 

The fabric is Tick Tock Stripe in Mint from Chipper by Tula Pink.

I bought more fabric 3 times after the first fat quarter. The last time I was smart enough to buy extra so I could make a bias binding when all is done. All in all, I would say I used about 8 meters, but that is just me going off my memory and does include the leftover scraps and the binding set aside. 

Any ideas on how to quilt it? I am very open to suggestions on this.

Japanese Scissors and a New Quilt

It is well known among the people who live with quilters and sewers that our scissors are protected and precious commodities. Use them on paper and we might divorce you! At least, according to endless memes and jokes. All jokes aside, our scissors are such a fundamental tool in the sewing kit. Rotary cutters are amazing, but we all know not a thing can happen without scissors.

I've spoken before of my love for the Japanese tailor's scissors in my possession. I love these scissors so much I have two pairs.

Last month I decided that I would make a quilt only using scissors. Even for squaring up. Free hand cut squares made in to half square triangles. I had a stack of white/cream/neutral fabrics that needed to be brought to life so they were the starting point. I don't have much time these days to sew, so my Morning Make is deliciously important to me right now. Each day I make a set or two of these improv half square triangles. Slowly but surely they are adding up. And because we are having a proper winter here with loads of snow and a lot of cold weather the inspiration is quite literal. I've already got a name for this quilt: Names for Snow.

But back to those scissors. 

My scissors were brought in special by the great owner of Knifewear, a local shop specialized in Japanese forged steel. Their knives are beautiful, sharp, and amazing. About six years ago I asked the owner if he ever sees good scissors on his buying trips to grab me a pair. And lucky me, he obliged. They quickly became my favourites. They travel with me to classes and the requests from students for their own pair increased. So I asked Knifewear again. And guess what? They've brought in a couple of dozen for you!

Can we take a moment to admire the awesome packaging?

Don't let it distract your from the incredible scissors inside though. We brought in two sizes: 240mm and 190mm. That is the size of the overall scissors, not the blade length. The handles are essentially the same.

Large = 4'' blade length with a blunt tip 

Small = 2 1/4'' blade length with a pointed tip

Let me tell you two things. One, they are ridiculously comfortable to use. If your hands get tired cutting these scissors will change that. And two, they are phenomenally sharp and precise. So sharp. An utter dream to use. 

Knifewear is selling the scissors at their Calgary, Ottawa, and Vancouver stores. If you can get in there you will be spoiled by all the amazing things they have. (You've been warned.)

You can also buy them directly from me. I have a handful of each size available. If you are interested, then send me an email or direct message. First come, first served. Email is at the bottom of the page.  Cost below:

Small $93

Large $109 (Also comes with oil for the hinge)

Plus personalized shipping. Trust me, they are worth every single penny. And yes, keep these from grubby hands who might cut paper with them!

Ballet Blue - A Donation for The Blue Gala

Ballet Blue

72'' x 72''

When the fact that you have 3 bins if blue fabric combines with a request for a donation quilt for an event called The Blue Gala this happens.

It actually started when I pulled out some scraps to make a sample strip set for a class I was teaching. Just one block. But then the donation request came and the block was sitting there, demanding my attention. It was rather bossy, actually. And before I could stop myself I spent my mornings making more strips sets and cutting more blocks. I fell in love with the process as much as the final result.

Sew strips together, cut a block on point. Take the scraps and add more strips, cut more blocks. I became obsessed with minimizing the waste after cutting. And when the blocks are together I loved the lines the precise squares brought back. I always say with improvisational piecing that at some point you have to add the order back in. This quilt ends up a great combination of improv and precision piecing.

I digress...

When I posted the quilt top a few months ago the amazing Dara at Stitched Quilting Co offered to quilt it for me, a donation of her services to the cause. Thank you so much Dara! That girl loves her free motion work and it shows. She added depth and even more movement to the quilt.

This quilt will be part of a silent auction at The Blue Gala. All proceeds go to Pancreatic Cancer Canada. I am thrilled to support the cause for two reasons. One, my son is part of the ballet school, H/W Ballet, hosting the event and will be dancing. More important than that though, is that my father in law was taken from us too young and very quickly from pancreatic cancer. In tribute to him, I make and donate this quilt. 

If you are local or looking for a good Saturday night out you can come join us at the gala. If you aren't local but are interested in bidding on the quilt shoot me a note. I will also be on Instagram Stories that night, watching the bid. After I watch my boy dance, of course.

Traveller - Wrapped in Hugs

Traveller

54'' x 54''

Started years ago, finished in record time. Traveller is a special quilt I made for a special person going through a rough time.

The fabric comes from India, brought home for me - the quilter in the family. I pet it, I made precisely 3 quarter circles to test out the sewing, then put it aside for years. I would show the blocks when I taught my Perfect Circles class and put them back in the bin. Then you hear the word Cancer. Cancer. And the world stops for more than a few moments. When it starts again, you, the quilter, think of making a quilt.

The quilt itself is something you want to give, to try to keep your arms wrapped around the person 24/7. It's more than that though. It is the act of making for me, the quilter, too. The act of making allows us to slow down, think about the person, and process our own emotions. It is about the quilt AND the process equally. And when the quilt leaves your hands and gets wrapped around the back of the recipient all the love gets transferred.

The top was done already, made in a fit of tangential creativity and improvisation. I'd always known I would give it to this particular recipient, but the quilt top languished in the pile of unfinished tops awaiting another round of motivation. So when I heard Cancer and surgery and a lot of time on the couch right before Christmas I pushed myself to get the quilt finished.

I made the back from a collection of sarong fabric another friend gave me. More travel inspiration! My husband helped me baste the quilt on a Saturday night. All day Sunday I quilted. Monday I bound, stitching on the winter drive with a golden thread, car light on as the sun set freakishly early on the Northern Prairies. On Tuesday it lay on the bed, waiting for recovery, waiting to lay down the hugs.