If I can do triangles...why not diamonds?

I really love the HST quilt that I finished for my nephews wedding. And I really enjoyed the process too! For the most part the points all matched up, and it went together nicely.

So....I have always loved "Diamond" quilts, and thought that if I could do HST...why not try diamonds? I picked up some inexpensive fabric to try this out. I read lots of blogs, and tutorials. Some of them had complicated ways to calculate the size of the diamonds, but I didn't have a particular size in mind, so went an easier route.

Start by cutting 4" strips, WOF, of several fabrics..

Then cut the end of the strip off at a 45 degree angle. There are 2 ways to easily get that, both actually doing the same thing...just how you look at it.
One is to line up the strip on the cutting mat and use the 45 degree line on the cutting mat...

The other is to use the 45 degree line on the ruler..lined up along the bottom of the strip.....
 I think this is probably more accurate.

Either way, you end up with a strip with the end angled off at 45 degrees.

Next, place your ruler so the 45 degree angle that you just cut is along the 4" line on your ruler, and cut..

And you have a diamond!!

Now, make a gazillion more!

Lay them out in a pleasing pattern...or if you are like me...spend a few hours tweaking the random arrangement!

Then comes the sewing together!! Remember that the edges are on the bias, so handle very carefully, or they will stretch. When you sew the rows, you are actually taking the diagonal row.

I found it difficult to keep everything in order. I cant count how many times I ripped this apart and tried again :(

When you put the diamonds together, right side facing, be sure to overlap the pointy ends

 so your seam starts in the correct place..

It should finish with an even edge...

not like this... (yes, I ripped a few of these out too !)

When you are sewing the rows together, the good news is that these rows stretch because they are bias edges, so you can ease the points to match up. The bad news is that these rows stretch, so it can be challenging!!

All in all, it is going together pretty well..

But there are a couple of mismatches in the middle!  ...can't explain this one!

I think I will just chalk it up to practice and experience! Maybe I could even say it adds some home made character...right???

Anyway, that is what I am working on this week.  How about you?
I am linking up to TN&TN

and Lee's WIP Wed over at Freshly Pieced.
                                                      
Go check them out!

Scrap Basket

There was a great tutorial last week over at Sew Sisters Quilt Shop on making a fabric basket. (Oh and while you are there, you should check out some of the great fabric on sale in The Sew Sisters Quilt store.!!)  p.s. They are Canadian too!! :)

Anyway, the tutorial was the Kona Club Challenge - Quilted Fabric Basket by Tabatha @ Bending Pins. 

Such cute baskets! And a give away too!! 

But, seeing as how I never win the give aways ....I thought I would use up some of my scraps and try one of these out. 

Rather than doing a real log cabin, like the tutorial, I pretty much just randomly sewed little bits together ...

till I reached 9.5" square. I have a 9.5" square ruler, which makes it really easy.

The only thing I added for this one was some Buckrum (really stiff interfacing) in with the batting, to make it more stable and stand up better. 

I just quilted the sides by stitch in the ditch sort of randomly wandering around...see I can do random!!

Then, I followed the instructions in the tutorial for the basket construction. 

I think it is pretty cute..I am going to use it to throw my scraps into...that I am saving to stuff my batting bears!

And my DH was so impressed, he asked if I could make him one to store his old golf balls! (I don't ask why he is keeping old golf balls...after all I have baskets full of tiny little scraps of fabric....enough said!)

So here is the manly version...to store golf balls! 

I added some handles on this one, and just folded the top edge over, instead of adding binding.

Check out the tutorial, it is easy to follow, and makes such great, fun baskets!!

babysitting

We were babysitting our grand daughter for a couple of days, and she loves to colour...
And wanted me to colour with her!

This is her picture (I think it is Grandpa!).....

And this is mine....

O.K....I did get a little carried away...

but it is good FMQ practice!

HST finish!

I finished the HST quilt that I am making for my nephews wedding (and with a few weeks to spare...which is very unlike me !!)

It is made starting from 5" squares, sewn and cut into HST. I love how these colours mix together!  (I love it so much that I am making one for myself too !!LOL)

The backing is lime green..with a row of extra HST blocks..

I used the same fabric for the binding and the backing...

I quilted it with straight diagonal lines, echoing the seams. This avoids trying to sew over where the points come together, which gets pretty thick and bulky.

Anyway I am happy with it, and will get it wrapped up and ready to go to the wedding!

That is my Friday Finish ..so will link up to Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts 

and TGIFF.
M-R  is hosting TGIFF over at Quilt Matters this week.. so go check it out! :)

Hand stitching?

Yesterday I went to a Hand stitching class, taught by my friend, Monika, from My Sweet Prairie. Her work is amazing! She is very excited to share her knowledge and love of thread. And she was very patient and kind.....I think if there was a grade for this class, I would have failed! But Monika encouraged me to keep trying till I actually made a French Knot...it took awhile!! :)

She had a great handout so I could keep practising at home...if I get brave enough!

We also had a variety of thread to try out..from perle cotton to sparkly thread and even some silk ribbon.

Embarrassing as it is , this is what I produced in 2 HOURS!!

My very favourite was the silk ribbon...

So when I got home, I thought I would try out my new found skills (or lack thereof) on one of my batting scrap bears...

I admit...I am pretty much a failure at hand stitching  :(
Good thing I can sew pretty well with a machine!!

WIP Wed...back to my sewing room!

It is soooo good to be home again for a little while! I have been spending quite a bit of time in my sewing room, sorting through what I have started and what needs to get finished. It is just nice to see all those goodies again! LOL

I must admit, I have kind of lost track of what I have taken pictures of, and posted..I will have to catch up!

I am making a HST quilt for my nephews wedding, and liked it so much that I made one for myself (like I need another one around the house!! But you can never have too many....can you ??) So I have the top finished, and got it basted yesterday..

I also made a "Falling Charms" quilt from the Missouri Star Quilt Co. tutorial. I just love Jenny in these tutorials! (and the duck quack!!) This one is using a charm squares, and is really easy. I love how bright and cheery it is. The fabric is "Birds & Berries" by Moda. Love it!!

I have to get some backing for this one, and then figure out how I am going to quilt it. 

There is actually quite a pile now ready to quilt, so I had better get busy finishing some of these up!

Today though, I am off to a Hand Stitching Class, at Creative House, here in Saskatoon!! Who would have thought....me doing hand stitching??? Well, I am going to give it a try. It is my friend, Monika, from My Sweet Prairie who is teaching the class, so that should be fun!

This is a picture from her blog about what she is going to try to teach me!!  WOW!

                              

So that is my work in progress...better go get my needle and thread warmed up !!

Linking up to TN&TN WIP...

and Lee's WIP Wed over at Freshly Pieced...

                                                     

Total Splurge!

As you know, I have been away from home for the past 5 weeks...and really suffering sewing machine withdrawal. So......I just happened to stop in  at my favourite quilt store in Edmonton, Quitler's Dream ...and that was probably a dangerous thing to do!! Given my vulnerable withdrawal state ..LOL

I bought a little travel sewing machine!! YIKES!

But is is so small and cute...and only weighs 12 pounds! I thinks my purse weighs more than that!!
And it was on sale for half price.....how could I pass that up??

They had used several of these for a workshop...for a few hours! So were selling them off at a great price!

So then I had to buy a few accessories, like a small cutting mat and rotary cutter..and some fabric of course!!
I got busy right away,in my hotel room, and whipped up a little baby quilt top to get my "fix" ....wow...that feels better!!

This is a very simple  quilt..just strips of different fabric, the width of fabric, sewn together, but I think it is pretty cute! And it is the first creation on my new little "Baby Jen"

So that is great finish for me !! my first in a long time!!
I am going to link up to TGIFF over at Quokka Quilts today!