BEASTY'S BINDING - TaDah, another OPAM finish!

Today the Quilt-As-You-Go Crazy9Patch finally got her [his?] binding completed.  I'm not sure how or why, but this quilt acquired the nickname of  "Beasty."  Poor thing.  He/she really needs a better name - do you have any ideas?

QAYG Crazy9Patch: the back

I decided to do all of the binding by machine. First I tried a straight stitch of 2.75 length -- looked nice on the front, not so much on the back. Insert a little Frog-Stitching here...lol

Then I tried a very small zig-zag with a 1.5 width & a 2.0 length. This stitching went on the very edge of the fold -- mostly. lol. It's acceptable on the back.  Each corner will have a tack stitch or two to maintain the miter. This is not a show quilt, just something my family lovingly calls a "drag rag." It will probably take many trips to the washing machine during its lifetime, so the zigzag ought to help the binding stay where I put it. [Picture below, right.]

QAYG Crazy9Patch - the front

I quilted and assembled it using a Quilt As You Go method. This was an opportunity to vary the backing fabrics from block to block. And, it used up a bunch of small and odd bits of stash. [please see pic above, top]. I think I like the back better than the front.

Front Corner binding closeup

Well, that's what I've been up to the last few days. Finishing this quilt that measures 60 X 76. Not too big, and not too small... "just right," as Goldilocks would say.  What are you up to today/this weekend??

Until next time. . . I plan to go cut up some fabric. How about you?

Quilty Hugs,

MENU FUN:
My Plant-Based nutrition plan has been modified to include additional protein such as eggwhites, occasional small servings of certain fish and chicken breast. Today's salad has: Romaine lettuce, diced tomatoe, red & yellow bell peppers, then a sprinkling of Nutrional Yeast, 2 T of salsa and 1/2C of EggBeaters cooked like an omlet, rolled up and served on top. It was yummy. Desert was a small fresh nectarine.

Menu Fun: Fresh Salad + EggWhite Omlet

QAYG - Step By Step: 12 Photos

As promised, here is a step-by-step series of 12 photos showing the method I used to connect my quilted pieces. The first steps of the actual quilting process can't be shown b/c I began this project so many years ago. lol. This post is about connecting quilted pieces, not the process of FMQing.

STEP 1: Quilt your blocks &/or sections as desired. If machine quilting, you can quilt all the way to the EDGE with this method.

Disclaimer: A couple of pics are a tad blurry... sorry. I didn't get a manicure before taking these pics... bad planning. lol. Most of the directions are explained in TEXT on the pics themselves.  Picture of finished quilt to follow in a day or so... it is getting its binding on! Here we go. . .

PUTTING IT TOGETHER: To connect quilted blocks -sections -borders, etc, it helps to TRUE-UP the edges first. Now CUT your fabric SASHING Strips. Mine are 1.125" and 1.75" b/c I am using 1/4" seam allowances. The 'extra' 1/8" inch in the narrow strip allows for the loft in the batting - adjust this if you use a thick batt.

 

 

Below is a slightly better pic showing the sashing edges lined up to be sewn:

 

Sew with a 1/4" s.a. & use a WALKING FOOT - this really helps!

Lay the next piece to be connected Right Side UP next to the section that has the sashings sewn to it. This will help you NOT sew something upside down. Ask me how I know this!

Align raw edges and sew with a 1/4" s.a..  The layers above are [in order]: Border RS down, 1 1/8" sashing strip RS down - sew this seam... again, use a WALKING FOOT and let the left edge of your WFoot ride on TOP of the previous seam - it really helps to sew it this way.

Seam allowances are meeting, so it looks good so far. If they overlap, you will need to frog-stitch & use smaller s.a..  If there is a very SMALL gap, a tiny sliver of batting scrap can be inserted.

The pic above is showing the folded edge of the sashing strip on the Right Side of quilt. I did it this way in case I decided to machine down the folded edge. You may use fabrics for your sashings that complement or offer new design elements to your quilt... it's up to you. If you use matching fabrics as I'm doing on the outside border, then the sashing strip can almost "disappear". Quilter's choice.

That's it. This is a very straight forward method. Nothing fancy. Don't need special tools. Do what you need to do in order to achieve a perfect 1/4" seam allowance... this is important.

 

Thank you for being so patient and waiting for me to write this up. If you find an error, or if a step is not clear, please email me - thank you.

 

I'm going to finally sew that binding on this thang. . . what are YOU going to do today?  Until next time. . . I'm going to sew!

Quilty Hugs,

CRAZY 9 PATCH QAYG - Quick Update

The Crazy-Beasty is almost finished! I'm not sure, but I think it has been in-process for about 8 years! Yikes. Talk about a UFO!  All four borders are now attached - a better picture will follow when I get the binding on.

Crazy9Patch: 3 borders attached

It might take awhile to decide on the binding fabric. . . more pictures will follow in another post showing the process of putting this lap quilt together.  It is a good technique. I love that it is easier to baste, quilt and complete than more traditional methods. I don't do every quilt this way, but it is a nice technique to have in one's bag of tricks.

Missy "helping" me sew on the sashing strips

Don't forget to enter the BlogHop Drawing.  Some nice gifties are being offered. Please see the button on my side bar to take you to the QuiltingGallery for a list of ALL the blogs participating.  Thank you, Michele, for hosting! You must leave your comment on my original post HERE to be in the drawings. Good luck, everyone.

Hope you have a lovely weekend planned and will find some time to stitch. Until next time. . .

Quilty Hugs,

FMQ the QAYG Crazy 9 Patch. . .& BlogHop Party starting soon!

Today has been productive. Yippee... love that! Was able to get the last three borders basted for my UFO-Crazy9P. Here's an easy trick: open two brown paper bags to protect ironing board cover; baste using 505 Spray. Worked great... no glue mess. Yeah!  Even got one more border quilted. That makes two down; two to go.

 QAYG Crazy9Patch - Basting the borders

I can't tell you how much FUN I am having FMQing these borders. First I warm up on a potholder, then just go at it! I'm having the time of my life and the whole time I'm telling myself, "self... you are actually doing this!". Unbelievable. I am Happy Dancing. Golly, why in the world did I procrastinate so long??

More fun news: very very soon the Celebrate Back To School Blog Hop Party will open!! Blog hops are always fun and this time there will be loads of FREE goodies given away. Love that! The button is on my upper left sidebar... check it out! I will be offering some nice gifties on this blog... so do come back on August 25th!

Until next time. . .

Quilty Hugs,

HAPPY MAIL and . . .

Today the postal carrier brought some Happy Mail! Fun stuff:

Siggy from International Siggy Swap

A great little Siggy from Sandie - part of the International Siggy Swap.  Thank you, Sandie. Love the darling thimble fabric!

Robert Kaufman Layer Cake

And, above, a 10" layer cake bundle of Christmas fabric from the Deal of the Day at Missouri Star Quilt Company. I have no affiliation - just a happy customer.

Good news: got another border batted up and ready for FMQ.  It's a bit hot this afternoon, so maybe tonight or early tomorrow morning it will "get it's thread".  I am bound and determined to get my quilting MoJo running again! lol. This UFO is so old that part of the fabric has faded... do you have projects like this?? Older than dirt?!

Crazy9P - QAYG project's first outside border

Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Until next time. . .

Quilty Hugs,

UFO Time... QAYGo Crazy9P

How did it get to be Wednesday AGAIN ALREADY???! I didn't realize when I bought that last 2012 calendar that I had bought a "fast one"!

It is definitely UFO time around here. The QAYG Crazy Nine Patch quilt - below -  has been on the back burner so long that I don't even remember when I started it ... 2006, 2007, 2004? Who knows. Long enough that I no longer remember my orginal "plan".

QAYG Crazy 9 Patch

So far it is set with 7 rows of 5 blocks each. The piecing is totally wonky and deliberately hap-hazard. This was a fun and liberating group of blocks to make. The blocks are layered and machine quilted across the seams with a serpentine stitch. Each block is made as a separate unit. Then the blocks are joined with sashing strips. Very easy and a good technique when one's space is limited as mine has been. The borders will be added the same way.... now I need to get busy and do just that. It is July's project.

Crazy stitch closeup & Green border backing fabric

Missy cat-napping on one of her afghans

That's all for today. Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Until next time. . .

Linking to Connie at Quilting By The River

Quilty Hugs,

PS: Good news: Received a lot of "atta-girls" from my doctor at this week's visit. Have lost >6 pounds, and my lab results have improved! This has all happened just since June 20th! I have been almost 100% compliant with the new plant-based eating regime. I'm having fun with it.  THANKS again to all of you who have written to me with support and encouragement... it has been a HUGE help!
More "menu fun" and pictures to follow next time.