Caught Up! - Sleigh Bell BOM, BCS Mystery Quilt and Westalee Sew Steady Class

I have been busily trying to catch up with my BOM's (Block of the Month) quilts. It has been an arduous task but I am trying to do a little at a time since I signed up for additional BOM's for this coming quarter!  I can't say NO!  The quilts are so beautiful!  I will tell you about them in future posts.

I have to tell you that I signed up to learn how to use rulers and templates through "Westalee Sew Steady."  We had our first meeting last month, January 18.  It was amazing and fun to see the possibility that I could actually quilt my own quilt that isn't just "stitch-in-the-ditch."  The one hilarious thing that I experienced that day was that I didn't know how to drop my feed dogs!  I had never done that before on my sewing machine!  It was fortuitous that I brought my manual and had to read-up on how to do that.  I only brought the manual to figure out which way to turn the tension dial.  Do I turn it right or left? 

The Border Creek Station (BCS) Mystery Quilt is fun.  We follow directions that are given to us every month (third week-Wednesday) and make blocks that will eventually turn into a quilt.  We also receive recipes and additional suggestions for quits.  I have done none of them but they look easy to do.  Anyway, here are two examples that we did this month.  This is an 8 month BOM.  We just finished the 5th month installment.  

2 1/2" x 4 1/2" - Flying Geese

Ohio Star - 8 1/2" x 8 1/2"

I just finished this block last night, Peppermint Candy.  It is the 7th month block of the Sleigh Bell Quilt.  

Sleigh Bell Sampler - Month 6

I am so behind but I have just finished last month's "Sleigh Bell Sampler" Block, the Christmas Stocking.  I like the blocks of this quilt because they are full of color and easy to make.

10.5" x 10.5"

A Flock of Feathered Stars - Month 17

Month 17 of "A Flock of Feathered Stars" was December's block:  California Star.  I had very little time to put the block together during the holidays, including Thanksgiving, that I am finally finishing it now.  

California Star - 24 1/2" x 24 1/2"

The photo of the block looks a bit strange.  I have not removed the paper from the back.  It will be a nicer photo without the paper.  I will post a better photo of the block once the paper is removed.

I picked up our 18th month fabric and it contains the finishing fabrics for the center motif and borders.  I probably will not start it now because I have other blocks to complete before I can finish this quilt.

Installment 3 - Quilter's Joy Mystery Quilt

In this installment we had only three tasks to accomplish but two of them were distressing to me.  The beginning of our class entailed tasting the recipe that was provided in our instructions:  Molasses Cookies.  Even though I am a diabetic, I had to eat one of the cookies!  They were delicious and moist!  I loved them.  Julie, our instructor had made them the night before and I couldn't believe that they were so delicious.  

Our first task was to take these little flying geese that we made last month (from Baggie D).  

This photo is the entire first task that we had to sew.  The middle section, flying geese was made last month.  First, we had to cut 36 - 3 inch squares and cut them diagonally from corner to corner.  I sewed on each side of the flying geese. The next step was to take the 36 pieces from Baggie A (installment 1) and attach it to the top.  We were told to trim.  I had to email our instructor Julie because I did not want to "mess" this up by cutting at the wrong angles. She assured me that it would be alright but I was still apprehensive.  As you can see, it turned out okay but we won't know until we start sewing these "parts" together.  Ack, I hate NOT knowing whether they will fit together!

The second task was easy.  All we had to do was to cut 18 - 1 7/8" x 12 1/2."

The third task was a bit more time consuming.  

Since I am making the queen sized quilt, I had to make 180 pieces of this block. It wasn't easy because each strip was 1 1/2" strips.  I had to take great care to be sure that the middle strip was exactly 1 inch once it was sewn to the first beige strip.  I ran the edge of my iron against the grey strip to be sure that it was 1 1/4."  Once that was done, I had to add on the other beige strip.  That was fairly easy because I was assured that I had done it right because I was so careful.  The next part was much more fun because I already knew that I had ironed correctly and measured after each ironing.  Phew, it turned out great and I hope that I have no problems adding this onto to the subsequent pieces once I start sewing them together.  

I am so glad that this is done.  I stressed about each of the cutting portions of this installment.

Sleigh Bell BOM - Month 5 - Wreath

This month's block for the Sleigh Bell Quilt is a wreath.  It is cute and was so easy to sew together.

I forgot to take a photograph of the "wreath" block before I attached it to the row.  The block to the left, the mitten, was last month's block.

New Quilts - Primo Plaids Bedding Ensemble

I decided to make the Primo Plaids quilt since I spied this quilt last summer on a website.  I love stars and love flannel so what a great combination and quilt for me to try to make.  I tried to get the free pattern first on-line...couldn't do it.  I tried to figure out what the size of the stars were....12 inch (finished) stars.  I just wanted to find some plaid fabric too...couldn't find much of a selection during the summer.  So I waited until I saw the kit on-line.  I actually saw the blue version of the kit on two web sites, well...I knew one was SLOW in the delivery to my home and the other was a bit faster so I went with the faster on-line retail store to get it to me sooner. Believe me, it was not cheap.  I found out why when I opened the package when it arrived.  The fabric is woven cotton, very thick and I thought to myself, what have I gotten myself into?  I have never sewn with this thick fabric before; does it actually fold over when I try to iron it?

This is the free pattern that was included with the fabric.  I really, really like the blue flannels. I thought it would be easy to do but I have a few suggestions if you decide to use the plaid flannels by Marcus Fabrics.  I will tell you my observations later in this post.

Each block is 12 1/2 inch (unfinished) square. The kit has enough fabric to make the quilt which is 94" x 94" for a good-sized queen bed.  I believe there is extra fabric to make the two pillows, instructions are included in the pattern.  I don't know for sure yet but I will let you know as soon as I get to the end to see if there is enough fabric to make the pillows.








Of course, the fabric is a bit "stretchy."  That worried me this morning when I started to cut the fabric.  I worried also about the directional nature of the plaids.  I chose to ignore it while I was making the first block.  I just wanted to get through this process and see what I could do to improve and streamline the making of each block.  I sometimes do not use the first block that I make because it does not look quite as good as the subsequent ones.

My tips:  First, I kept all of the fabrics at my cutting table.  I usually cut at the table (in my dinning room) and move everything to my sewing machine area nicely folded and take it back and forth as I need more fabric.  I decided not to do this as to not stretch the fabric. Second, I used my longer and stronger flower-head pins to keep the fabric in place while I sewed.  My small fine needles were difficult to see in the thick flannel and I was afraid that I would hit one of them or bend them.  Third, I also used water to spray on the cotton when I needed to fold the fabric.  I am was initially nervous about using a spray starch or the Mary Ellen's Best Press.  I may use Best Press, I think it will be okay.  Whenever I make stars, I always use Deb Tucker's ruler, Wing Clipper.  I tried it and it was not as easy as using regular cotton fabric.  I will try it again. Hopefully it will work better.   

Oops, I forgot to mention that I have a Janome Memory Craft 7700 QCP. Fortunately, it has a built in Dual Feed option.  I actually purchased the quarter inch foot at Rosie's in San Diego.  It helps immensely when there are think seams to sew through.  I decided to use this foot because of the added thickness of the flannel.  I have never had a problem whenever I use it. I have my regular sewing foot that jumps because of the thickness or continues to sew and not move.  If you this sort of feature on your sewing machine, I recommend that you try to use it. 

Well, that is it for now.  I will try to let you know if I encounter other problems.

The last blocks of the "Check Out the Stars" Quilt

Here are the last of the blocks for my "Check Out the Stars" Quilt.  I made a total of thirty blocks, two of each of the fifteen blocks made.  I will ask my youngest daughter to help me put it together. She is coming home next Saturday for Thanksgiving.  If she doesn't like some of the blocks I can easily make more.

On to making another quilt.