The Memory Quilt Complete

Posted in Finished Quilts by StaceyinStitches

I have been shoving everything aside lately to finish up the Memory quilt before I head back to work….tomorrow! yikes! Where does a year go?

I am so happy with how it turned out. I couldn’t get pictures to do it justice. Maybe once I learn how to use the camera properly, but for now, here it is!

I designed it in my EQ7 and applied the closest colors I could for the mock up…..

I used a variegated thread from violet to fuchsia for the quilting. I stitched straight lined 3/8″ from the seams, following the strips and extending into the borders to make a large diamond pattern. I also echo quilted around the star in the center.

Working with all those stretchy knit fabrics was certainly interesting, especially since all the edges ended up on the bias. I had to make very sure that the white strips and the borders were exact measurements and ended up easing some of the clothing strips. The quilt lays flat and is square enough to make me very happy. Lesson learned, next time I am going to back everything is a super lightweight fusible interfacing then cut it out and sew it together. That way the clothes don’t stretch and it can be quilted any way I want. It doesn’t add much to the overall cost of the quilt, so I highly recommend it for those of you who want to try.

All that’s left is the label and applying the pictures to the border. I picked up some Avery Brand Iron-On T-Shirt Transfers. I found mine at Staples for $0.75 per sheet. I have used them before and they work great! The filigree shows through in the white areas, but it doesn’t detract from the pictures. Just make sure that you print on the best quality setting for your inkjet, and remember to flip the pictures! Oh, and check the ink levels. I wasted 2 sheets that way, one for flipping and one for ink.

My test strip using one of the misprints and a scrap of background. Works nicely, just have to make sure I apply pressure for the full 2 minutes.

I have a list of things I want to finish for the year. I was putting off my UFO roll call, but now I think is the time to get it on here. Maybe it will motivate me! I post the list later this week.

If you are interested in a memory quilt, or know someone who is, please feel free to contact me! staceydayquilts (AT) yahoo (DOT) com

For now,

Happy Quilting!

21Feb2013

Oh Quilt Con…..

Posted in Works In Progress by StaceyinStitches

… how I wish I were at you!

Seeing the pictures on my fellow Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild blogs and Facebook makes me wish I were in Texas right now! Especially since its raining and 3 degrees here. *sigh* all the pictures of pretty fabrics and booths and quilts…..

So to cheer myself up I have been drinking lots of yummy yummy coffee and window shopping boots on Amazon.

Oh, and working on a special client order.

I was contacted a couple weeks ago through my mom group by a family that wanted to honor their fathers memory. He passed away a year ago in March, and the quilt is a surprise for their mother. We finished the design process and I have started the quilt. There will be pictures printed on to fabric interspersed into the white background as well.

I love making memory quilts. They are the perfect way to honor someones passing, commemorate an occasion, or save happy memories (I can’t believe you used to FIT THAT) I have been saving all of H’s baby clothes, the ones I simply cannot bear to part with, and when I have enough I am going to make myself a little wall hanging of them. Maybe a large swoon block with each piece a different outfit.

I drafted up the quilt in my EQ7. I really enjoy that program, though for some of my super duper custom crazy paper pieced extravaganzas it gets a little overloaded I have crashed the program more times than I can count trying to do something super intricate.…

The EQ version

The quilt will be made in strips instead of half square triangles because of the different clothing weights and stretches. There are quite a few knits and some heavier thermal type shirts, as well as a selection of beautiful handkerchiefs. I have pieced the inner star with fussy-cut handkerchiefs and the very outer borders will be handkerchiefs as well.

Center Star-not the best picture as it was taken with my phone, but you get the idea =)

I hope to have the quilt finished an bound by the end of the month. I am heading back to work in less than 2 weeks, and I still have a list of things to finish.

As always

Happy Quilting!

Exciting News!

I had the best news waiting in my inbox when I got home today.

Dear Stacey ,

Congratulations!

Your quilt has been selected by our jury to compete in the quilt competition at Georgia Quilt Show on October 18, 19 & 20, 2012 a the Gwinnett Center in Duluth Georgia. The following quilt(s) are accepted:

Quilt Name:

Sapphire Star

Hurray! I am sending off my quilt to the Georgia Quilt Show at the end of the month. A big thank you to Julie House at Sculptured Thread for the beautiful quilt job!

Happy Quilting!