Staggered clips: a row piecing organization techniqe

It's been a while since I have posted a "Sew with me Sunday" tutorial / tip..... but this week as I was sewing up my Project Quilting piece, I developed an organizational strategy that I thought was worth sharing!

This week's quilt design wasn't quite as straightforward as some of my designs in the past - much harder to tell as I was chain piecing squares if I had accidentally rotated one of the squares and was sewing the "top" of the pair - rather than the right side, etc.

So I needed some sort of strategy to keep track of the correct side to sew - and where each row started / stopped.

Confession:  I severely dislike pins.  Straight pins, safety pins, push pins..... you name 'em, I don't like them.

So when I discovered Wonder Clips - I KNEW I needed them ASAP.  While they don't work for EVERY situation you would use pins - they're a pretty great substitute most of the time!

I had all my half square triangles laid out in my final quilt design.
{excuse the cell phone picture - I didn't think to take a picture with my REAL camera}

I started at the left side of the quilt and laid the square from column 2 onto the one from column 1 (right sides together), column 4 on 3, column 6 on 5, and so forth.  Because this quilt has 11 columns, I had one square that wasn't part of a sandwich (yet) - column 11's square - for each row.

Then I got out my Wonder Clips.  I wasn't clipping them together to line up the sides perfectly ready for sewing - I was clipping with the purpose of keeping track of which side of the square to sew, and which pairing (2&1, 4&3, etc.) this was.

Here you can see rows 9 through 12 of my quilt - with the clips staggered for each row.  And a dump truck.

I used sticky notes to write labels for each row - and just clipped them onto the column 1 & 2 pairing.

Here are a few more close-up shots of the pairs...

You can see that column 11 is not paired up - I left it positioned just as it would be for the quilt.

Then I stacked each row - with column 11's square on the bottom (keeping the "right" edge in line with the clips)

A close-up shot of row 12 - see how the clips are staggered?  Another bonus - - - this makes it so that your clips don't stack directly on top of one another!

Then I stacked the piles for each row on top of one another - in numerical order.  This stack is rows 9 through 12.  I found a stack of 4 rows was perfect - I wasn't afraid it was going to topple over.

As I sewed up each pairing, I continued to clip the number to the first bit of each row.  I sewed 4 rows at a time - so this helped me not lose track of where each row started and stopped.

This picture shows rows 5 through 8.  At this point I had sewn together the pairs - columns 1&2, 3&4, 5&6, 7&8, and 9&10.  Then I clipped the column 11 square to the 9&10 pair - ready to sew up during the next round.

After that, I would sew together the 1&2 pairing with 3&4; 5&6 with 7&8, and as mentioned above 9&10 with 11.

I kept clipping that number marker to the first block after every step.

When I got done with each row, I'd have the row label clipped to the column 1 square for each row.  I left these on until I sewed all the rows together - even when I was pressing seams, etc. - so that I didn't lose track of the row number or which side was the "left" side of the row and which was the "right".

(another cell phone picture..... with a few scraps of paper, foam block, and plastic "nail" - can you tell I have little "helpers"?!)

No.... I do not know why I wrote out the numbers "one" and "two" - when I went to write "three" I thought "um..... the number would be sufficient!"

I hope you like this little tutorial.  I'm sure this isn't a novel idea - but it was something I hadn't come across before (though I can't say I've looked) and that worked GREAT for me / this project.  When I shared that final picture in the Challenge Quilts group on Facebook there were at least a few people interested in my labeling technique...... so here it is!

This post Staggered clips: a row quilting piecing technique first appeared on Sew & Tell with Mama Eggo and includes my honest, unsolicited opinion of a product, Wonder Clips for which I was not compensated.

WWIT {a triangle quilt}

I am excited to share my quilt for the final Project Quilting Season 5 Challenge - inspired by triangles.

The challenge posted on Sunday..... but I didn't get to start working on this until Wednesday (briefly) - and most work was done Thursday evening and Saturday.  Well, and Sunday seeing as I finished this quilt at 2:15am this morning!

The name I'm giving this quilt is very appropriate - as it is something I kept saying all week / weekend - WWIT - what was I thinking?!

This quilt is 44" x 48".  It is comprised of 132 half-square triangles that finish at 4".  I combined two Moda charm packs (Urban Chik and Juggling Summer) that I thought worked well together (after removing a few colorways of one of the packs) - along with a sampling of white-on-white fabrics for the negative space.

I free motion quilted the white spaces using a variety of patterns - really just whatever came to mind.  I love how it helps make the colors POP even more.

The backing is a Blank Fabrics dusty aqua (is that a color?  I'm going with it!  It's a bit more green than the photos are showing) floral picked up at a local fabric shop.  It is bound in a rusty orange print from Jo-Ann fabrics.

I kept thinking "I should scale back.... I can finish this sometime soon, but can I really get it done by Sunday?!"  I thought about straight line quilting it to save time.... but I just kept thinking "I have put all this work in already, and I KNOW I want to do something softer and rounder to contrast with all the sharp angles."  Turns out.... with some LATE night (or early morning?!) sewing - it can get done!

I create in my home studio in Montesano, WA during nap time, after kiddos go to bed, or with two adorable boys "helping" me.

Make sure you head over and vote for your top four favorite projects from this week (hoping this is one of them.... but there are MANY amazing finishes - I know I had a hard time deciding on JUST four!) - Vote here

To vote, just click on the heart in the corner of the picture.  Clicking on the pictures will take you to the blog or flickr post to read more about the project!

Etsy Feature Friday

Happy Friday!

The sun is shining and I have a fun weekend of sewing and family time planned - I hope you are looking forward to (or already enjoying) your weekend, too!

My WIP Wednesday this week was a sneak peek at some dresses I was sewing up - one for a custom order, and the other five "just because" - to add stock to my Etsy shop (in bigger sizes, by request) - and because I love picking out fabric combos and seeing how they sew up!

The result were these six dresses:

Left: gray / aqua / mustard floral (available in sizes 6-12mo through 6/7)

Right: aqua / yellow paisley flowers (available in sizes 6-12 month through 6/7)

Left: blue flowers & black chevron (ready-to-ship in size 6/7)

Right: gray and yellow chevron and flowers (available in sizes 6-12mo through 6/7)

Left: pink flowers and polka dots (ready-to-ship in size 6/7)
Right: rainbow chevron and flowers (available in sizes from 6-12mo through 6/7)

All these bright cheery colors and the sun shining outside (even though it's still quite crisp & cool) make me think Spring might actually be headed our way!

half square TRIANGLES

For this final week / challenge of Project Quilting we are to be inspired by triangles.

Pretty quickly I decided to use a few charm packs I have had sitting on a shelf for nearly a year, mixed with a bunch of white-on-white fabrics.  Then I browsed Pinterest, blogs I follow, and a few books I have on hand for some half square triangle inspiration.

The way I'm going about this challenge / quilt is a bit different than my usual.  Most of the time, I go in with a plan.  A solid plan.  One drawn out in colored pencils on graph paper.

This quilt.... the plans were:
a) use half-square triangles
b) use the selected fabrics
c) have a scrappy feel (don't necessarily sort by color family, etc.)
d) make a "throw-sized" quilt

I had no set design in mind.  Not much of a plan (relative to usual).  It made me a little uncomfortable!

So last night I sewed up 130 HSTs - pairing one printed charm square with a white-on-white.  There was no rhyme or reason to how I was sewing them (I have 5 or 6 different white-on-whites that I'm using).

I cut them apart.  I ironed them.  And then I went to bed {it was nearly 11pm at this point and I knew if I didn't go to bed, I would end up staying up WAY too late!}

This morning, I started playing with the HSTs.  Using a few of the photos I had for inspiration, I re-created quilts / designs I loved.  And I flipped a few squares and watched as the design changed.  Over and over.

These photos are from my phone - just snapped quickly so I could get a feel for what the various designs looked like.

I have to say - taking the photos made a HUGE difference.  I'm still deciding what design to go with (one of these..... or maybe something else?) - but this has been such a fun process - SO cool how many different things can be done with these blocks - and this is a VERY small sampling / example!

I'm not sure if I'll get a big ol' throw quilt done.... or if I'll need to scale down and complete a quilted throw pillow cover for the challenge and then get the quilt done very soon.... we'll see what kind of sewing time I can "steal" between now and Sunday morning!

....THIS is just one of the many reasons I LOVE Project Quilting!

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Which is YOUR favorite?!

WIP Wednesday

This week I'm working on a few custom orders, a pattern review for a PDF pattern designer (which will include some great pics of something I made ON a kiddo - wahoo!), stock for my Etsy shop, and trying out a few patterns I have had for a while and have never sewn up.

Oh..... and Project Quilting!  Guess I should get to work! ;-)

This morning I worked on sewing up six adorable dresses - one for a custom order, the rest for shop stock.

I got them partially constructed..... but I still have a bit of sewing to do tonight!

I posted this picture on my Facebook Page and many people thought the wider chevron was brown / white.  Obviously my computer didn't do a good job of representing those colors (even with an attempt at editing) - it's gray & white!

Sleeves!

I'm considering resetting my expectations for what size project I should / will complete for this week's Project Quilting challenge.  We'll see.  If I don't make a quilt, my plan is to do a quilted throw pillowcase.  Both will be made eventually..... and I guess I'll know better by the end of the week which order they'll be made in! :)

Happy Hump Day (both of our boys LOVE to YELL "hump daaaaaaaaaaaay")

Linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced - can't wait to see what others are working on!

Confessions of a fabricaholic.....

On January 2nd I accidentally joined a crafter challenge.  I say accidentally because a friend of mine, Alyssa (of Keep Calm and Carrion), knows how much I love fabric and commented that she had added me to "a really awesome group!" in an online thread about fabric / sewing / etc.  I was excited!

I clicked over.... and saw the group was called "Creating 100 items or more" - - - cool!  I'd love to see how long it took me to make 100 items!  I even commented in the group to that effect.  And then I read the "fine print" {it was NOT hidden..... I just hadn't gotten that far yet....}

This was a CHALLENGE.  To NOT buy fabric until I made 100 items from supplies I had on hand.

Wait.... what?!

No buying fabric?

Help!  Get me outta here!  No way!  Shoot - can I delete that post about being "so excited about this group!" quickly before anyone saw it?!  Were all things that rapidly ran through my mind.

But no way.  I had committed {even if I didn't realize it} - - - and I was determined to see this challenge through!

100 items - that's no big deal, right?!  Ha.

There were a few caveats - for those of us who sew & sell, we COULD order / purchase fabric if it was ABSOLUTELY necessary for a paid custom order (but no adding to the order just "because" or to hit free shipping minimums, etc.).  We could also buy batting, etc. if there was a project it was needed for - things that would finish a project created from supplies on hand.

I joined the challenge January 2nd.  I completed my 100th items EARLY in the morning on March 10th (before the kiddos were awake).  67 days.  Though 9 of those days were were on a vacation out of state / away from my usual sewing environment {but I DID end up completing my Project Quilting Challenge 4 quilt there!}.  So 58 days for 100 items?!  Not too shabby!

During that time I only placed 3 small fabric orders - for custom orders - and purchased fabric to sew my PQ challenge 4 piece (as we were on vacation, away from all my fabric).  Woohoo!

It was a definite challenge.... but it definitely taught me a bunch.  I was more focused (I wasn't doing as much online shopping / browsing in my "down" time), I looked at my stash through a different lens (and have some de-stashing to do soon - - - - if I didn't even consider sewing with a fabric during that time, when I couldn't buy anything else, I probably don't NEED the fabric.... right?!), and I was much more profitable!  (money coming in, but not going out in the form of purchasing fabric!)

So.... what does a gal who is a self-professed fabricaholic do when she completes a challenge like this?!

She goes shopping..... of COURSE!!! :)

I did some online shopping - and spent an hour or so at Jo-Ann Fabrics by myself - coming home with a nice stack of fabric.

Here's some of what I picked up (though it isn't all here yet.... some is still in the mail!) :)

Bluebird Park Bicycle (in "Tangerine" and "Lamp Post") and Magnolia (in "Grass") - from Southern Fabric

A fat quarter bundle of Art Gallery Fabric's "Chromatics" - from Stash Fabrics 

A couple yards of this adorably retro scooter fabric {I got a small piece of the pink one for free with an order a while back.... and loved it.  I made a few bibs and wished I had more!} - from a member of Fabric Crafters U Bid It Destash (a group on Facebook - feel free to request to join - I'm one of the admins and will help get you added quickly!)

Some yardage of this beautiful print from the Ashbury Heights line by Doohikey Designs for Riley Blake (again, from a Fabric Crafters U Bid It Destash member)

I also have a Rolie Polie of this line on its way to me from Fabric Fly Shop!

And I couldn't resist these cute lil' trees and woodland creatures - from Aneela Hooey's Little Apples line - found on clearance for a STEAL at Southern Fabric

We also stopped by a little local shop we had NO idea existed until just a week or two ago - they sell little bits of crafts, knickknacks, and some fabric!  I snagged these because I thought they were really pretty together - during their 2 year anniversary sale (yay for discounted fabric!)

Like I said.... I have a bit more on its way to me (yes, I went *just a little bit* overboard!) - and bought some pretty fabric at Jo-Ann Fabrics, too.  

But..... now I'm done buying (yah, right you say!).  How do I know this?!  Alyssa and I have committed to another challenge (just between us).  We won't be buying more until we make another 50 items - and we plan on continuing the "50 item then small splurge" challenge the rest of the YEAR.  Yep, all of 2014!

So..... you'd better hold us to that, right?!

:)

Guess we'd better get sewing!  I'm 3 items into the new challenge - 105 items total (which started on March 14th - yes, I did all this damage shopping in 3.5 days!)

Triangles!

I am so sad that this week marks the last regular season Project Quilting challenge for Season 5 - - - I have had SO much fun creating, learning, and being inspired by the challenges, the quilters participating, the Facebook group, and personal challenges I have made for myself.

BUT....

I'm loving the last challenge / inspiration!  Triangles!  Read more about the challenge HERE - over at Persimon Dreams.

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Since I had a few charm packs sitting on my shelf (for over a year?!) - one of which I won during last season of Project Quilting - and more pre-cuts on their way to me {thanks to reaching my 100 item goal and getting to do a "little bit" of fabric shopping!} - I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to sew with them!  I'll combine them with some white-on-whites, and add in fabric from my stash if need be!

Boho by Urban Chiks for Moda // Juggling Summer by Zen Chic for Moda

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Of course, as soon as the challenge posted, I ran over to Pinterest and started looking for inspiration, designs, color schemes, etc.

Here are a few faves I found:



"Lava Meets Sea" - using HSTs - by Coopcrafts



Bliss Quilt - Michelle @ I Like Orange - more HST's with strings
(I have seen this design, or similar, done with LOTS of variations - and with the design offset on all the sides, or centered, etc. - love it each and every time I see it..... so even if I don't do this one this week, it WILL be sewn at some point!)

One of many HST layouts over at Making More With Less

Bev's 60 degree triangle quilt - more strings!

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So many triangles.... so many ideas!

I think I will be working with half square triangles... and the plan is just to start making some HSTs and see where the fabrics take me as far as design!

..... But I have some work sewing that must happen before I do more work on this one (though I do have the 5" white-on-white squares cut!

I'd love to get a pretty good sized throw quilt made..... but if all else fails, I'll scale things back and do a quilted pillow cover! :)

My challenge to you - PARTICIPATE in this week's Project Quilting challenge.  You don't have to be a master quilter (I am FAR from that!).  You don't even have to make a traditional quilt!  You just have to be inspired {and yes, follow the couple rules set out in the challenge post!}

A few fun & quick items you could sew up that would qualify (as long as you did a little bit of patchwork, or used 3 layers, or applique!):
- coffee sleeve
- mug rug
- trivet / hot pad
- wall hanging
- tote bag / purse
- table runner
- table topper
- doll quilt
- "security" sized blanket
- pillow / pillow cover
- headband

Happy Sewing!