Thursday, May 29, 2014

Pac Man Quilt

Do you ever buy fabric without having a specific plan in mind and, some time later, come up with an idea that redeems the original impulse buy? My Pac Man fabric falls into this purchasing category. It's Geeks Gone Wild by Timeless Treasures, and at one time, I couldn't resist.

Back of Pac Man Ghost Quilt by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod


Inspired by this online clipart, I used EQ7 to sketch out a pattern and determine measurements for cutting pieces.


To complete this quilt's destiny, I chanced upon the most perfect photo spot. Those fingers and skinny little legs belong to my four year-old, who  wasn't terribly pleased with his new post as quilt holder, but reluctantly complied. 


Pac Man Ghost Quilt by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

Want a closer look?

Pac Man Ghost Quilt by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

I used Magic Binding for the first time ever. If you give this technique a try, I have a few recommendations:
  • Use when you are more concerned with time constraints than heirloom quality. I'm not sure the quilt police have approved this method.
  • Try to make the binding on the front larger than the binding on the back, or else you will be more likely to have stitching on your binding on the back of the quilt.
  • Use the same color for the backing fabric and the main binding color. Then, if you accidentally run your line of stitching up on the binding on the back, it won't be so noticeable.
  • If you have an edge-stitch foot, use it when you stitch the binding down on the front.
  • Don't forget to sew the binding to the BACK of the quilt first.
  • Avoid using this method if you have critical details at the very edges of your quilt, like points you don't want cut off.
  • Don't cut off your excess binding until you join the two ends and ensure that it fits the quilt nicely. Joining the ends isn't enough fun to have to do it more than once if you cut it off way too short.
(I may, or may not, have learned all these lessons the hard way.)

Each ghost has a different free-motion quilting filler. Matching thread was used on the top and black was in the bobbin to match the backing fabric. Black lines about 1/2" apart echo the ghosts in the background.

Pac Man Ghost Quilt by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

Download the cutting measurements from Craftsy if you'd like to make your own Pac Man Ghost quilt.

How about some progress shots?

Clyde:
Clyde Pac Man Ghost Quilt Block by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

Pinky:
Pinky Pac Man Ghost Quilt Block by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

Blinky:
Blinky Pac Man Ghost Quilt Block by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

I got carried away and didn't take any shots of Inky until he was totally put together.

Inky:
Inky Pac Man Ghost Quilt Block by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

If you make your own, please share in the Quilting Mod Flickr group.






Owl Quilt

The Thimbleweeds Quilt Guild had a challenge to produce raffle-quality quilts for community service fundraisers. Each participant was allowed to choose a panel to incorporate. I picked the cute owl panel in the center right of the quilt. I wanted to create a sampler using an assortment of owl patterns. These included Otis the Owl by Joanna at Shape Moth on the top left (The pattern is missing a portion of the branch on the bottom of piece K.),  "Hooters" by Eileen Sullivan in the bottom right, "Remember Whooo Loves You" by the Acorn Quilt and Gift Company in the top right, a paper-pieced owl by Kristy at Quiet Play in the center of the branch (Remember to set your print size to 100%.), and an owl I sketched based on the cover of Dare to Be Square by Boo Davis in the center left position.


I added a continuous branch, as I thought it was odd-looking to have chunks of branches floating in mid-air. I also made the Acorn Quilt and Gift Company owl's wings 3-D so they can flap instead of being stitched doen flush with the quilt surface.


I used Magic Binding on this quilt. Unfortunately, some unintended magic happened, as it made the legs of the little guy in the bottom right disappear. Since I was looking at the top when I brought the binding from the back to the front for securing by machine, I didn't notice that my thread did not stay in the ditch on the back side and often rode up onto the binding. I do like the speed of the process and the accent flange it creates on the front of the quilt.



For the free-motion quilting, I used a wood grain design I learned from Angela Walter's Machine Quilting Negative Space class on Craftsy. It's a very quick and forgiving design.


I'm linking up with the parties on my linky page.


Mad About Patchwork Mosaic Challenge

Mad About Patchwork is having a mosaic challenge. First, you pick fabrics available on their website to curate a fabric bundle using a Design Seeds palette as inspiration. Then, you create a mosaic using Big Huge Lab's Mosaic Maker. The winner gets their bundle for free!

I went with the Global Hues palette.



This is the mosaic I created.



Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Economy Block Takes a Trip Out West

Howdy, y'all. Today I'm taking you to the wild, wild west. (Disclaimer: It's actually Corrales, NM, which is more acurately the southwest.) Be forewarned, cowboy jargon awaits. Dude translation is available. 



Pony up, and take a gander (Dude translation: Hurry up, and take a look) at my latest finish. 



Here's the whole kit and caboodle (Dude translation: whole thing)


I used Economy Blocks comprised of solids and prints from Sarah Jane's Wee Wander collection.

Michael Miller Wee Wander Summer Ride Seafoam  Michael Miller Wee Wander Summer Ride White  Michael Miller Wee Wander Meandering Seafoam

They are all available from Fabric.com.


Free Shipping on orders $35+

I think the horses in the center are of the first water (Dude translation: first-class)! A few centers do not have horses; I wanted it to look like they absquatulated (Dude translation: left) their squares.



Isn't it fine as cream gravy (Dude translation: very good)? I think so.



Mosey along your little dogies (Dude translation: shuffle your calves along),




while taking time to stop and smell the roses. Word to the wise, take a moment to ponder whether you are giving it a lick and a promise (Dude translation: behaving recklessly) by setting your quilt in a rose bush. When you try to remove it, there will be regrets. I tend to go through the mill (Dude translation: learn the hard way.)




At risk of playing to the gallery (Dude translation: showing off), I'll leave you will one more shot. The backing is Glow Friends in Sea. 
Michael Miller Wee Wander Glow Friends Sea



If you think my Wee Wander quilt is of the first water (Dude translation: amazeballs),  I'll explain so you can twig (Dude translation: understand) the process for making you own.  Doesn't that take the rag off (Dude translation: beat all)?


First, you'll need to cut your center squares. These are ideal for fussy cutting. Since I made six rows of four blocks for a crib size top using 10" finished blocks, I cut 24 5 1/2" squares.

Economy Block Cutting Chart from Catbird Quilt Studio

Get a wiggle on (Dude translation: hurry), and attach one of the smaller triangles to one side of the center square by hook or by crook (Dude translation: to whichever side of the square you want). Align the raw edge of the square with the longest side of the triangle. Don't just give it a lick and a promise (Dude translation: do it haphazardly), make sure the excess is extending evenly over each side. Sew with a 1/4" seam. Chain your squares through the machine without severing the thread between blocks. Flip the entire line of blocks around, and chain them through again. This time attach a triangle to the opposite side of the center square. This allows the piecing to be done across lots (Dude translation: most efficiently).


Press both triangles away from the center square.




Cut off the protruding corners.







Add triangles to the remaining two sides.




Press outward.




Fetch (Dude translation: Get) masking tape to mark the measurement that is 1/2" larger than the visible part of the center square from corner to corner. I also mark the halfway points with a pen. Line up the block so that there is a 1/4" from the edge of the ruler and each corner of the center triangle. Trim the right and top sides. Then, rotate the block and repeat the process.



Attach the longest side of two of the larger triangles to opposite sides of the square.




Press outward.




Cut off the protruding portions of the triangles.





Here's what it should look like once the tiny overhanging corners have gone up the flume (Dude translation: are removed).



Attach two additional larger triangles to the remaining opposite sides. Be careful to leave the same amount of fabric sticking out from the top and bottom.






Square up your block to the finished size plus an additional 1/2" for seam allowance. There should be 1/4" distance between the edge of the block and the corners of the larger square. Making sure of this keeps your seam allowances in apple pie order (Dude translation: in perfect order).




When sewing together blocks, put a pin through the corner of the square to make sure your points match. 



Pressing seams open reduces the bulk and results in a flatter, easier to quilt, top.




I welcome your comments, especially if it's soft solder (Dude translation: flattery). If you make your own ace-high (Dude translation: first class) version of this bully (Dude translation: outstanding) quilt, I'd be powerful proud (Dude translation: very glad), if you'd add it to the Quilting Mod Flickr group.

Download a PDF of the pattern on Craftsy.

I'm linking up with the parties on my Linky Parties Page.