Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Soft and snuggly for Covered in Love


Welcome to Finish it up Friday! Oh, wait. It's Tuesday. Anybody else having trouble keeping track of the days?? Oh well, I have two finishes to share no matter what day it might be. Both of these were shipped off today to Covered in Love, and were made with blocks, panels, yardage, and a kit that were donated to the charity.


This first one was made from an unusual kit. I'm guessing it is from the early part of the millenium. All the fabric was pre-cut into one of the following sizes: 3"x3", 3"x6", 3"x9" or 3"x12". The top layer of fabric in the package was blue and yellow, so I started this in April, the month when the RSC color was yellow. But as I dug into the piles, every pastel color emerged, with a smattering of darker shades, all in pretty florals.


It was early in the pandemic lockdown and I was finding it really hard to concentrate. So I decided that all I could handle was the simplest of patchwork, just squares, and cut all the pieces down to 3"x3". I stitched them so the few darker blocks formed larger dark squares and that was the extent of my "design." A few of the darker squares are pretty subtle, but that's OK. 

The top sat for another few months before I got around to making a backing and quilting it. By then I had the mental bandwidth to do some quilting that was a bit more interesting than my usual stipple. This loopy design that goes from corner to corner of the dark-centered blocks is still quite easy, but gives some nice secondary patterns.


The back uses up some of the last of this dusty green that was given to me by my DH's aunt in 2017. I think the original piece was 12 yards; that's a boat load of fabric!


The second finish for today's post features these gentle geishas, cut from a donated panel. I really like the striking black against cream contrast of the three ladies.


The coin strips were also donated, and arrived in my mail all sewn together in 3.5" widths. They were so fun and easy to add into this quilt that I've started sewing my own little scraps into long strips like this. They make super leader/enders. The background fabric, a sage green and purple batik, was donated by Jan. I think it looks a little like long skinny bamboo leaves, or tall sea grass.


And finally, the backing was also donated. This pretty piece of red and brown minky was sent to me by my friend Steph. It is soooo soft and fuzzy! You can easily see the way I quilted the piece with simple, wiggly lines in this photo. Minky is a bit tricky, stretchy in one direction but not the other. The batik background on the front of the quilt is just the opposite: hardly stretchy at all in any direction. This quilting motif has a lot of springiness and give, so it's pretty forgiving for combining the two into a finished quilt.


I often try to piece the charity label into the backing, but piecing minky is a PITA (pain in the ankle.) Trimming the label with pinking shears and using raw-edge applique works fine, too, with a nice raggedy effect after washing. These two quilts are now ready to do the good work of comforting end-of-life patients at hospitals in Texas.

18 comments:

  1. That's a wonderful pair of quilts! They'll bring great comfort out in the world.
    I'm having a hard time staying anchored in time, too. Never entirely sure what day of the week it is - we seem to have a lot of Thursdays lately...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Both awesome! I'm impressed with what you did with those geishas

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great quilts, Louise! What fun to have no rules except “create a quilt”! I never know what day it is either, but it only matters anymore when we have an appointment. One thing that is VERY important, however, is the time of day. At 4:00, anything vaguely resembling work is ceased and we relax in our chairs (indoor/outdoor depending on the weather) with an adult beverage and something to read.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Two lovely quilts. Your use of the geisha panels is so clever. I admire your ability and creativity in using gifted gifted pieces so effectively.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for sharing. I always like to see what you have come up with. You have such good ideas. I like how you used the geisha panels. I think you picked the perfect setting for them.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Both quilts turned out great, Louise! While the design sheet included shows a variety of ways to use the fabric kit, I can totally see why you cut all the strips into squares. Crazy times and mindless sewing are a good match!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your first quilt is so pretty. The creative hat went on again with those Geisha's, nicely done on both quilts.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Two nice quilts - I can understand the simple patchwork at the start of all this pandemic craziness. It worked out well. Those Geisha panels are unusual and kind of fun; you did a great job on the quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Both quilts turned out terrific, as usual. I love how you make magic out of assorted spare parts! I'm glad you could use that green batik and I agree, it's the perfect background for your geisha quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Two incredibly wonderful finishes! You are a gem!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Bet it feels great to have your "Finish it up Friday" completed by Tuesday! Love those 2 quilts & they will be loved by someone special. Those quilts be appreciated by Covered in Love. I'm amazed how you think out of the box all the time. The loopy quilting is perfect for the quilt. Those geisha panels made into a very lovely quilt. The splashes of color with the coin strips were a perfect accent & the background fabric couldn't have been more perfect. You rock, Louise!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sometimes simple patchwork is the best solution, no matter what the problem is! I love the first quilt - the way you arranged the darker and lighter 4 patches makes a great design. Fun to see what you can do with panels, too! Nice finishes, Louise!

    ReplyDelete
  13. That is quite the minkee--it looks 3-D! Pretty! Pain in the ANKLE--haha! Yes, the foot pedal ankle! I agree! Beautiful quilts, Louise!

    ReplyDelete
  14. What wonderful quilts and again you have been so imaginative with your donated pieces. I especially like the way the 4 patches have come together... well done with chopping up the bigger pieces to make it take on a pattern...
    Hugz

    ReplyDelete
  15. Combining Minky and batik...a new thought for me, but what a thought! And you dared to go for it on a domestic machine!
    I still say those geisha's bodies are Japanese characters. I am still intrigued. I know someone who know Japanese, but I do not have access to her.
    Hmm my mental wheels are turning...
    Both quilts are great. Thank you for the interesting details about them.

    ReplyDelete
  16. More lovelies for CIL. Gosh, that Minky is stunning. How wonderful to have it on one of these quilts too! Ahh, always a joy to see quilts on the boat, blue seas in the background.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Two fun quilts. Love those Geisha's! Congrats on the two finishes.

    ReplyDelete

Please feel free to leave a comment and I'll reply as soon as I can.