Category: AccuQuilt Go (Page 1 of 3)

A Quilted Banner

March 2, 2018 / Patty

I had fun making this quilted banner for a friend who owns a property management company. Several years ago she had a new logo designed for her rapidly growing company. Ever since I saw it I kept thinking how much fun it would be to make a banner that combined the maple leaf theme with the new logo. This year she celebrated a significant birthday and I knew this would be the perfect occasion.

I had the logo printed at Spoonflower which is a company that will do custom printing. It did take longer than I thought to get it back. Nearly three weeks so if I do this again I’ll plan better for that. I had some Accuquilt dies in different sizes to cut the maple leaves. Again, I’ve planned this for a couple of years so had already purchased the dies.

I really didn’t know until I started what I was going to do. I was not certain what size the logo would end up and knew that I needed to see it before I could plan the rest. I ended up starting and then letting it sit for a few days until I knew how and I was going to proceed. I used a big 161/2 inch ruler to cut the logo, added the borders and then had an assortment of leaves cut and kept moving things around until I got what I liked. I’m glad that I didn’t rush and took pictures along the way because I did change my mind about what I was going to do. The biggest change was in the colored border. Originally I had planned to use a rust/orange but when I took a picture and put in on my computer I realized I didn’t like it and the yellow looked much better.

In the end, I was pleased with the result and even put a pocket hanging corners on the back as well as a label with birthday wishes and my name. I rarely label my quilts so this was a first.

Cube Quilt Along

February 6, 2018 / Patty

One of the fun projects that I did last year was a Cube Quilt Along. I own an AccuQuilt cutting system and one of the products that they sell is a Cube. This is actually how the dies are packaged, in a cube. Each cube set has dies that create a specific size finished quilting block. The block size that I chose to use last year was the 8″ cube and the classic companion set which is an extra set of dies that coordinates to make a lager variety of blocks in each size. Although I’ve owned the AccuQuilt cutter for several years, and I’ve sewed for many many years, I’ve never done much quilting. This cube quilt along was a wonderful way for me to learn and practice more quilting. I worked on a consistent seam allowance and learned how the shapes worked together to form blocks. The other thing that I got to practice was learning more about color placement and color values.

Each week for 48 weeks Bea of Beaquilter provided instructions for a new block. It was fun to look forward to and nice to only have one block to do. Here is a picture of the entire set of 48 blocks. I guess I only have a picture of 42 of the blocks. I’ve got the rest pinned together and this weekend hope to get the rest done and sandwiched for quilting. I may decide to send it out however because it will be difficult for me to quilt on my machine and makes my shoulder hurt. I’m looking forward to the finish and am now working on the 2018 Cube quilt along. This year I’m using two entirely different color schemes and doing one with 9″ blocks and one with 12″ blocks. So far, I’ve enjoyed this as well.

The Potholder Project

November 7, 2017 / Patty

Although I love to give and receive cards, it feels so wasteful when you throw them in the trash. This year I decided that instead of cards, I would give my friends potholders when there was a card worthy occasion. There have been exceptions of course but for the most part I’ve purchased very few greeting cards. Instead I’ve used my 8″ cube and 8 1/2″ die for backs and insulbrite and batting and I made potholders. I did also use the kite die for several as well. It’s been fun to do, well received and I’ve used lots of those very fun kitchen fabrics that I’ve collected. A win win for sure.

Project Not So Good

August 6, 2017 / Patty

Well, in the life of sewing and crafts there’s always a project that doesn’t turn out quite the way you would expect. That’s what happened with this potholder. Now potholders are pretty forgiving which is good. I always can use another potholder and this one is destined to live in my kitchen rather than be given away. I loved the fabric. It was cute with a vintage feel. And I love the text fabric as well. Putting them together in this block was not so good. The print was too busy for this block pattern and the text print was too busy to go with this fabric as well. Both prints are the same scale so there is not enough contrast. The colors were fine but ugh..

The positives however were that I can always use another potholder and I got to practice making a new to me block. I also got to practice finishing the potholder. I struggle with the hand sewing to close the side where I turned it so every time I practice it gets better. There will be better choices next time and I did use up some more fabric.

Where Does The Time Go?

August 2, 2017 / Patty

I keep thinking I’m going to do an update or two but time seems to pass and then I think, where did the time go?

So this will be several short updates so I can get caught up. I hope all the hubby surgery illness is done for a while and then I will have a bit more time.

One of the things that I have worked on is a weekly block quilt along with Beaquilter. Each Monday morning for 48 weeks she is posting the instructions for one block that will be finished as a sampler quilt.

Here are the first 29 blocks that I’ve done.

The fabric is from the first fat quarter bundle that I have ever purchased. For those of you that don’t know what a fat quarter bundle is, it’s a group of fabrics usually from one designer or collection that all goes together. I didn’t end up using this bundle for what I thought I was going to but wanted to use it up so here it is. I’m not sure this would have been my first choice for color or pattern but I don’t mind it and I know it will be fine when I’m all done.

It’s been a fun experience for me. Although I’ve done a lot of sewing over many years, I’ve never really quilted much. I’m enjoying the challenge and learning new things including accuracy and trying to put all those pieces together in the right order without getting confused and then ending up with the correct size block.

One of the things this has led to of course is fabric acquisition. Hmm like someone said, I can buy fabric faster than I can quilt. Oh well, it’s really nice to have options when I’m home sewing in the evening, need a quick gift, or just want to sew to “make” something. There seems to be always someone to give things to.

I guess I’ll stop here for now. I think if I plan just several short posts for a while, I’ll get caught up with all the things that I’ve made. Not so many quilts but lots of little things.

Babies and oops

February 15, 2017 / Patty

Well the last post I did about babies and the latest baby gift was hacked. Apparently I didn’t get the update applied in time and the post was deleted except for one picture. I do want a record of the things I’ve made on this blog so I can have a reference so I’m going to repost some of the pictures and text.

This is the quilt I’ve made for this new little boy. He’s arrived last week and his name is Parker. Such a sweet looking little boy and I’m looking forward to holding him and smell that sweet little baby smell.

I also made some drool bibs and a tag blanket as well as some pacifier clips.

I didn’t want to forget little sister. I suspect this might be a challenge for her. She is only 20 months and her place in the family is going to feel threatened. She’s now the middle child. So here is a baby doll and a blanket just for her.

Fun times for all. Big sister got a book. I don’t want to forget anyone.

Babies Again

January 11, 2017 / Patty

Babies seem to be the theme here and this was a quilt for my niece. She had the first little boy in my brother’s family. Exciting times for sure!.

The daddy is involved in crew and repairing boats etc. so I really wanted to use some water themed fabric and I loved this Offshore line of fabric by Deena Rutter for Riley Blake The colors and the variety of prints really appealed. Of course there were a few other things I included for the new baby. I made some burp rags with appliques and also a tag blanket.

More Babies

January 6, 2017 / Patty

More babies are coming. I’ve made a number of baby quilts and things in 2016 and already working on the first ones for 2017. I do like making baby things because they are fast and I can try different patterns and colors. I can then pass it on but I never really know if they will be used and most often I don’t hear anything or see them being used. Occasionally, I do hear that a quilt I’ve made is an important part of the bedtime routine. Once it’s out of my hands whatever will be will be but it’s nice to know it’s appreciated.

This quilt and the tag blanket and pacifier clips were for a surprise baby. The baby is anxiously being waited for by the family.

2017 Here I Come!

January 4, 2017 / Patty

2017, Here I come and hard to believe. I’m working on cleaning up my office, updating websites and more. It seems like the end of 2016 was busy and I did lots of sewing.

One of the things I made was a couple of table runners. I love this log cabin pattern made with an Accuquilt die and I’ve used it for several different sample blocks. I’m looking forward to making a quilt from it this year.

For now this is all I’m going to post.. I’m still searching for photos. I guess I haven’t been as organized about that as I thought.

More babies

November 23, 2015 / Patty

More babies. It certainly is that time for many young families. I had the pleasure of making one more baby gift before I start on the Christmas sewing. One of middle daughters good friends recently had a baby and she assured me that this friend would treasure a quilt for her new baby because no one in her family did those kinds of things.

I do like to make baby quilts. The are usually fun to make, I can try new things and it doesn’t need to be perfect. This quilt fit all of those criteria. To begin with the white fabric that I planned on using needed to be replaced when I started to sew. It was so cheap looking compared to the rest of the fabrics I just couldn’t use it. Well, I suppose I could have but it didn’t look right. I was also starting to feel a bit pressured because I knew the baby was coming and would likely be early and I seemed to be quite busy with work so didn’t feel like sewing in the evening. I started to cut the strips to use in the die cutter and made several of the strips too narrow. I could have made them work but knew the fabric was more likely to stretch when I cut the shapes. I finally got everything cut, started to sew and changed my mind on the arrangement so had to recalculate and sew some more.I decided the colors of the fabric that I was going to use on the back wouldn’t look good so I went shopping again. Yes, some of the pieces did stretch and it didn’t lay very flat when I was done piecing the top. After quilting however, and washing. It looks fine, I love the colors and I know the mom and baby will not care if all the points don’t match and it’s not perfect. It will keep the baby warm or be a good quilt to put on the floor and work fine that way too.

The bib was made to try a new quilting pattern. That worked fine too and all have been mailed and received by the new mom.

Now on to Christmas.

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