Finished Lucky Square Quilt

I managed to finish this quilt five months after I committed to starting it (sorry, Jess!), but the mister said it was worth the wait.

He chose orange for the backing and I love how it pops! (He looks a little grumpy in this photo, but he didn't know I was getting his face in the shot.)

This is the largest quilt that I've stippled. I'm sure many of you have moved beyond stippling, but I've found this way of free motion quilting difficult to master, so I've been trying to practice it on several quilts lately.

I really love how this quilt turned out. My only regret is that I didn't finish it in the winter so we could have gotten more use out of it before the weather got too warm.

Quilt Stats

Fabric: Castle Peeps by Lizzy House and Kona white

Pattern: Lucky Square by Jessica Kelly of Sew Crafty Jess

Pieced and Quilted by: Me

Quilting: Meandering stipple

Backing: Orange flat sheet

Binding: Scrappy using colors pulled from quilt

Size: Twin (~68" x 88")

Previously blogged about here, here, and here.

WIP Wednesday 5/15/13

Life if crazy busy for me right now. Yesterday was the only Tuesday in May that I was/will be home and not traveling for either business or pleasure. I’ve had some increased demands on my time, mostly because of work, and I’m sorry to say that other aspects of my life have had to be put on the back burner. I’ve been trying to sew whenever I can find the time, but blogging about what I’ve worked on is another matter.

Anyway, on to a quick recap of current projects.

Last year for Mother’s Day, I made myself a 241 tote. My sister is constantly telling me how much she loves the bag so I thought I’d make her one for her birthday last month.

I used this Jessica Jones print that I got at a steal back in the fall as well as this text print from Mama Said Sew.

On my original bag, I made an adjustable strap, but decided to forego that alteration on my sister’s bag. I used décor bond for the interfacing based on Leigh’s suggestion, and I really like the added structure it gives to the bag. It was a beast to topstitch though and I wish I’d either changed thread or not topstitched at all. Oh well, another learning experience.

I also got this huge quilt for the mister basted and it's ready for quilting. I hope to get it done by Friday.

There are a few other items in the works, which is no surprise, but I'm getting closer to my goal of finishing all my WIPs before starting new projects!

Lucky Square Quilt Top

I was planning to post on my FINISHED Gradated Mod Mosaic quilt. However, I forgot to change a setting on my camera so the photos I took were blurry. I should have looked at them on the computer right after. I sent the quilt off for a quilt show the next day, so I sadly won't be able to re-photograph the quilt until it comes back to me in a couple weeks.

Instead, I'll show you this quilt top I finished piecing today. The pattern is called Lucky Square by Jessica Kelly of Sew Crafty Jess. You can find it for sale here. I offered to test Jessica's pattern for her, and it's shamefully taken me about four months to get to this point. I used a fat quarter bundle of Lizzy House's Castle Peeps fabric that I've been hoarding for two years. I'm taking my machine in for a cleaning tomorrow, so I'll have to pull out my backup and get this guy quilted.

In the three years that I've been quilting, I haven't made a quilt for the mister. This one is for him. He's pretty excited for me to finish it up. It's huge and will be a great couch quilt.

Lucky Squares Quilt Pattern Testing

Sometimes being a technical writer by trade has its perks. Like when you get to take a break from writing and editing software documentation and instead edit and test quilt patterns. I’ve recently had the opportunity to edit Kati’s first two patterns as well as test and edit Jessica’s pattern that she released today.

I haven’t finished making the quilt from Jessica’s pattern yet, but I thought I’d share some of my process photos. (Some of these are from Instagram – I’m @pitterputterstitch if you want to follow me – so please excuse the blur factor.)

When I first showed the pattern to the mister, he loved it. Since I’ve never made a quilt for him in the three years I’ve been quilting, I thought it was high time I do. So, we checked out my stash and he picked a fat quarter bundle of Lizzy House’s Castle Peeps line that I’ve been saving for a couple years. I think the bright colors of this line really lend themselves well to Jessica’s pattern.

I set to work cutting the fat quarters,



chain piecing the 2.5” squares,



adding some of the sashing strips,



and piecing the blocks assembly-line style.



I’m making a twin size quilt for the mister, so I have 47 blocks to go. If you’re interested in purchasing Jessica’s pattern, she has it on sale right now for $6.50 from Craftsy and her pattern shop. She also posted some photos of her quilt and quilt tops that other pattern testers sent her on her blog today, so check those out.

Also, if you’re looking for anyone to edit a pattern for you, I’d be happy to help out.

I should have a sign that says, “Will edit for fabric.”

*****
Kati released her second pattern today. Head over to her blog and check it out too.

Lizzy House's Studio Sale

I went to Lizzy House's studio sale tonight, and when I was leaving I kept thinking how I wish I had a camera so I could get a picture with her. Here I am, talking to this famous fabric designer, buying fabric from her, and she's talking to me and my sisters! It was awesome!

Lizzy is so down to earth and friendly and so ready and willing to give tips and advice to all of our questions. It was fun to meet her sister too and see all the amazing prints and hand-made goodies she had for sale.

I picked up a fat quarter bundle of Castle Peeps along with a cute little embroidery pattern of the bard that I want to make soon after Christmas.

Photo from Lizzy's blog.

If you're in the Salt Lake area, you should stop by Lizzy's for her studio sale tomorrow (Saturday, Dec 18) from 10 to 5.