Smooth operator

When I first started quilting last year I had some problems sandwiching the quilt together. I often seemed to end up with a wrinkle in the backing.

I know some people tape the backing to the floor and then add the other layers, but I have problems crawling around on the floor and not messing up the quilt!! OK, maybe it is just me!
I drape mine over my kitchen counter and for the last couple of quilts, I have been more attentive  and think that the secret to a wrinkle free quilt back is taking more time to smooth!

I am fortunate to have a very large kitchen island counter, so I can drape the quilt over it. I start with the batting down first and smooth backing over it, matching the edges. Then smooth it some more....and then smooth it again.

Once it is all smooth, I flip it over and start smoothing again....till the batting is smooth as possible...

Then I spread out the top and start smoothing it out again. After I think I have all the ripples smoothed out, I smooth it out some more !! Although it takes time, it is time worth spending.

I actually roll the quilt as I work, big loose folds.. so I can move the quilt to get all the way across it. I often flip the whole thing over a couple of times to be sure that I have smoothed out all the little ripples.

Then I pin it.  I know some people like to spray baste, but I don't like the idea of the fumes, or the extra garbage that it produces, so I stay with my simple safety pins. Guess I am just old fashioned that way!

Anyway...now just need to get this one quilted !

finishes are relative in my house!

First of all..let us all take a moment to remember all those, from all countries, who have fought, or are fighting for us all. Today is a day to honour them.

                                             http://www.freefoto.com/preview/15-43-51/Poppy

But, it is also Friday and OK this really isn't a Friday finish...BUT...
I have been delaying making the backing for "Prairie Meadow" because I wanted to piece in some of the leftover bits and pieces. So now...

the backing is finished !!

I used up most of the bits and pieces from the front of the quilt. It is not totally random (I can't do random!!) so there is some symmetry to the strips....in my mind anyway, so that makes me happy : )

Although it is a bit of a "cheat" ...it is still a Friday Finish for me!! So I am going over to link up at Quilt Matters TGIFF!  It is always good inspiration to see what everyone else has finished!

work in progress

Work in Progress party again...and it is the 1 year anniversary, so check out Freshly Pieced for the Anniversary Edition!!

I think I kind of needed a break from the FMQ that I need to do to finish up 2 more quilts,  so more bags!!

Sorry, I know you are probably tired of seeing bags, but thats what is in the works this week!!
Another Daytripper bag...the last of the Christmas gift bags....just need to buy some buttons for the front..

and this one...although I am  not sure I like the red binding on this...might have to change that.

I made one of these before, and had some material leftover, so thought that I would make one more to use it up. They are a nice size, about 18" across. I added a little pocket on the inside this time.

Other works in progress:

• wonky blocks (no progress)
• "Prairie Meadow" - needs backing sewed
• "Paris" - needs backing sewed
• "Square dance" - ready to baste and quilt
• pink magic 4 patch -no progress
• Newfoundlad treasure - no progress, except I bought the fabric I needed to finish cutting out the pieces!!
• and a few other projects that haven't even been cut out yet!!

Doesn't sound like I am making much progress does it LOL

Oh, and the ballet last night was very good. It was quite modern, so not as traditional as some ballets, and the costumes were beautiful...I love those flowing chiffon skirts and the pointe shoes !! :)

What am I doing tonight?

So excited ...

bag lady....me!

I have been busy making more of my favourite tote bags...

I know I have posted about these before, but they are such great bags! I use mine all the time. I thought that they would make great gifts for lots of people, so kind of did a whole batch of them. The pattern was from an old quilting magazine, (Izzy & Ivy Design). 


They start out with 15"x22" pieces, and the bag ends up about 11"x14" ...perfect size! There are pockets inside too, which are very handy. 

I use home decor fabric for the outside, and buckram for the interfacing. That makes them very stiff, so the bag actually will stay standing up by itself.


Great for throwing in everything that you need to carry. (p.s. dont try an open can of coke....bad plan....ask me how I know !)

Friday finishes

There is a fun linky party TGIFF..to celebrate finishes!! Check it out!

For a while I thought that this would be my only "finish" this week!! (left over scraps of "Origins")

But then this one just squeaked in !!

It seemed like it took forever to do the quilting!! I think that I am stitching more densely now, hence....more time...more thread!!  Also, I miscalculated the binding and was about a foot short (again!!) so had to go find the scraps and cut some more! You think I would learn to measure twice ?????

The fabric is  a jelly roll of "Comfort" by Moda, the wide border and binding is Arnold's Attic Heart Leaf.
It is one of those jelly roll racers, (thank you Sharon!) instructions here if you haven't seen these before. They are very quick to put together, and I like the simple lines. I always add a border or two, but I love borders, you don't have to have one.

 For backing I used "Molly's Meadow" Scrap Basket Collection (Henry Glass)

I went back to my old standby of echoed teardrops (I am sure there is a proper name for this ???)
but tried to get a bit creative on the border..here is my sketch of what I planned (I saw this somewhere and tried to draw it)

It is not very even, but I was getting better by the end. If this quilt had 6 sides, I'd be doing great by now!! : )

Anyway, this is just for us to use at the cabin...can't you just see us curled up in front of the fire reading a book?? Dont forget that it will soon be minus 40 C. and 4 feet of snow!!

Speaking of reading...this is very funny, I can't stop giggling....The Bloggess.
She is talking about towels.....but I think it would easily apply to fabric LOL!!

Border time

Well it is Work in Progress Wednesday, and I am still on my quest to get more of my projects into the "finished" pile!!

So it is time to add the borders and baste them..
I think I have made decisions about what I want to use...

"Paris"...

"Prairie Meadow"

and "Chocolate Cherries"..

If I get all these done..I will be one ahead of my promise (to finish 3 quilts in progress) so that should count as a bonus...maybe a trip to the fabric store????

But first I am going to check in Work in Progress, at Freshly Pieced

and also The Needle and Thread Network.

ts always great to catch up on what is going on with everybody else!!