Morning Glory wall hanging for Palliative Care

Last month a fellow quilter was downsizing her stash.  She donated several blocks as well as other UFOs (unfinished objects) to Nifty Needlers and Project Linus.  This Morning Glory was 16 blocks paper pieced, there was no outside border, batting or backing.  First I removed the paper from the blocks and stitched them together.  Then I went through my stash to find suitable border fabric.

As the finished piece will be hanging in patient's room who is palliative care, I wanted it to be extra special.  Opted to add high loft batting behind the blossoms for trapunto quilting which would give the flowers a 3D look.  The high loft batting was stitched to the top with water soluble thread.  Then the extra batting was cut away to the stitching.  Next the top was sandwiched together with 100% cotton warm and natural batting and an ivory muslin back.

The green leaf veins were quilted with 100% polyester machine embroidery thread. I like to use embroidery thread for free motion quilting because it is shiny.

The background pebbles were done with a thread colour called White Sand.

Densely quilted to make the blossoms pop up, add texture as well as visual interest.

 Heart-shaped leaves design on the outside border.

 Binding is Susie's Magic Binding technique. 

The pattern used 16 - 1/2" yellow buttons for the centre of the blossoms.  I have six big jars of buttons but not 16 little yellow buttons.  Instead of buttons, I appliquéd small yellow circles of flannel.

Ta da!! The finished piece measures 30" by 30".

Then I spent the rest of this afternoon, hanging a curtain rod and turning my large piece of flannel into a quilter's story board.

 Happy quilting all. 

Race Car Toddler quilt

Just finished this is a Project Linus quilt yesterday for a toddler who lost his mom in a car accident. The funeral director told me he likes hot wheels. 

 The race cars blocks and back are flannel prints.

Free motion quilted zig zags on the sashing and heart shaped leaves on the outside border using 100% polyester machine embroidery thread.

Free motion quilted one race car in each block with blue variegated embroidery thread.

This is Susie's Magic Binding technique front and back views. 

This quilt is soft made with tender loving care. 

Susie's Magic Binding & Project Linus Toddler blanket.

This is for my quilting friends who do not enjoy hand stitching the binding to back side of their quilts. I machine stitch all binding as most of my quilts are utility quilts that will be machine washed and dried repeatedly. This technique is Susie's Magic Binding. http://www.freequiltpatterns.info/free-tutorial---susies-ma… The quilt top was donated to Project Linus Make a Blanket Day this past spring. I put a quilted backing on the back, then free motion quilted sunshines in the blocks and used Susie's Magic Binding for the first time.

The binding is sewn to the back first then top stitched on the front pink accent colour.

 The pink accent adds a frame.

 Mitred corners front and back. 

 Photo taken on our king size bed. 

 Free motion quilted sunshines.

This binding is quick and fun to do.  Happy quilting!

Owl appliqué quilt.

Doug's owl quilt is finished! 

 On our king size bed!

This quilt is  62" by 48" a good nap size.

I have been making quilts for over 30 years, giving them away to relatives, friends and charities.  In all this time, I never made one for Doug. Between the appliqué and free motion quilting it took about 70 hours to complete. Doug commented he was pleased that I put the ribbons on for him to play with when he is old. My initials and the year "ted 2018" are below the sleeping worm.

 Free motion quilted the owl on the yellow print squares.

 The back side is blue flannel.

I traced this motif out of a book on to a plastic template sheet.  Traced on the quilt top with Pilot Frixion pens, then free motion quilted with light blue thread.  After quilting, the marks were removed with a hot iron.  The pen marks will reappear if the quilt is tossed in the deep freeze or left outside when it is below freezing temperature. Put the quilt in a hot dryer the pen marks disappear like magic.

 Backside.

The appliquéd owls were made from scraps of flannel and recycled denim squares.

This quilt was lots of fun to make.  No doubt there will more. 
Dear Readers,  I hope you are all enjoying an excellent summer.  I don't blog as much as I used to, but always welcome your comments.  Happy stitching.

Spider man and Olaf quilts for Project Linus 2018.

Spider man quilt is 46" by 56", photos were taken on king size bed.  The spider man fabric was purchased on-line at Hobby Lobby in the USA.  This 100% cotton fabric is fabulous.

The spider web fabric (outside border and binding) also 100% cotton is halloween fabric from Fabricland.

 Free motion spider web motif.

 Back side.

 

 The spider web shows up better on backside.  

Olaf the snowman from the movie "Frozen" panel was also purchased on-line from Hobby Lobby.

The centre piece with blue border was the panel, I added the ribbons, black polka dot inside border and dark brown outside border.  Olaf was free motion quilted with a giant snowflake design, feathers, loop-de-loos and heart shaped leaves.

 Project Linus label on backside. 

Free motion heart shaped leaves and loop-de-loos on outside border. 

Both of these quilts are going to  Camp Bridges (bereavement) May 26-28, 2018.

Appliqué owl fun

My love affair continues accuquilt go cutter dies and embroidery software.  This week is all about owls, cut from flannel scraps then appliquéd on  denim squares.  Eventually it will be a quilt.

 Each one has its own personality. 

 Flower power owl.

 Hearts say "I love you"

 Wearing a little red bow. 

 Dog print body.

 Weird eye balls. 

Yellow version of flower power.

I did not realize before I appliquéd the body in place that my green owl had a faded fold line right across the tummy. Now it is hidden by mini thistle flowers.

Note to self:  when embroidering owl feet on dark denim use light coloured threads. 

Happy stitching all.