Chaining it together

I know I am late to this party. But after having it suggested to me in a few books/ tutorials etc. A finished quilt top ago... I decided to try chain piecing. And holly balls what have I been doing? it makes life a lot easier, saves thread, and in the end you have this fun banner thing to play with for a little while until you cut it apart.

What am I making you ask?

I am using Salt Air by cosmo cricket. It is just a layer cake but I am using it to make a quilt for my sister. Maybe she'll like it better than the first one. I am using a moda bakeshop tutorial which keeps this super super easy. but it is giving me some practice with triangles. After this quilt I am going to tackle the harder one.

The quilt that I will make my roommie Krista for giving me a wonderful and awesome sewing machine. that one involves octagons. eeep. 

 Here is what a finished block will look like. Right now I am piecing the half blocks. but it should be really cute. I like the diamonds in the center. and it is extremely simple. perfect for getting some summer quilting done.

I think this is my favorite print. 

Seriously though. If you haven't tried chain piecing you are missing out. it makes for a lot more sewing and a lot less random loose threads (an added bonus). How about you? have you tried it? Do you hate it? or do  you, like me, think it is the most ingenious thing since sliced bread?

FO Friday: Soul Blossoms

Oh crap. Over a month without posting. oops.

That is the quickest way to loose followers/ if anyone was reading this they are not anymore!

But just because I haven't been blogging though doesn't mean I haven't been making stuff. I am stopping right now because I have to do things like write a senior thesis. But I did finish this actually close  a month ago. But then I washed it so it was crinkly and delightful.

Here is the back! It is semi pieced because I don't know how to do math properly (apparently)

This quilt is made out of a FQ bundle (with A LOT left over) of Soul Blossoms by Amy Butler and the sashing is muslin. It provides a really nice contrast.  both in texture and look. The pattern is mostly from Jera's Rainy Days  tutorial. I changed the size of it a little bit though.

It is quilted with a loopy design (my first time trying it!) with a verigated aurfil. The verigated was definitely a lot more subtle than I thought it would be.

           

That is all I have for now.  I hope every one has a wonderful weekend!

Tools Tuesday: Flying Jump

I love going garage sailing (pun intended). For those of you that have seen my house. This is absolutely no surprise. I am a total pack rat. I see things that are cool and I want them. Doesn't matter if I actually have a use for them. I like cool shit. 

This past summer when I went garage sailing I was looking for a sewing machine because my current one wasn't working very well at all. (and actually still isn't) I found this one. 

A little Feiyue FY811 for five dollars. At the time I was told it was working (it wasn't) But I turned the handwheel and it moved. So for five dollars. How could I resist? Mine is in a cute yellow color the one above is just a stock picture.

I just recently got it back from the bobbin doctor invested some money in it and now I have a wonderful little machine.  He specializes in vintage machines. But I highly recommend him for any machine though.

Feiyue means flying jump (or leap) in Chinese. And it is a Chinese sewing machine (that supposedly looks a lot like a Necchi)  And I have decided just now That the name of my Feiyue is going to be Peter Pan. The Chinese word for Peter Pan is "小飞侠"  Which roughly translate to "little flying knight" 

Mine is going to be used mostly for freemotion quilting. It has a dual drive belt which supposedly makes it extra extra strong. and makes it operate a little slower. What this means for me is that when I want to freemotion I will have more control and more even stitches. Not a bad thing in my book. Not bad at all.

Roadtrip

Getting some quilting done in Duluth. Heck yes it's getting done

I may have done something bad....

Last Night, I was sort of napping and sort of awake. I decided I needed a darning foot. I Googled. I went on amazon. And then I found what I needed. Infact I found so what I needed that I couldn't decide which one I wanted. Did I want the clear plastic one that I could see around it? or did I want the metal one? Well I apparently wasn't awake enough to make a good decision... So I bought both. How American of me.

I don't really know which one I will like better. But I am excited to get back to free motion quilting!