Quilt Finish!!

Finished a quilt. . .yes I did.

Ok, it was only a baby/crib sized quilt but it's still a quilt and it was a gift and everyone ooohhhh and aaaahhh'd over it and I totally got a buzz off the attention.  See, I don't lie here.  I like making things for folks when I know they'll really give me what I want, which is attention (just a moment of "ooh, it's so nice. .. you made it!")

Once again, my lack of photography skills rears its ugly head.  RAWR.

I used THIS pattern and it was very easy.  I used Ed Emberley fabric (as they did in the pattern) with the exception of one blender print and the border fabric.  For the borders I used a white on white with a non-directional pattern.

The backing was just the elephant print (the baby's theme was gray and elephants) and did super simple in the ditch quilting around every other block (with neutral colored thread).  The binding was wrap around style so the elephants would be on the front and because I just didn't feel that a hand stitched binding would be tough enough for a baby quilt, which know will get washed a TON.

Of course, I needed supervision.  Feline supervision.

So, Feline Inspector Number One, does it meet with your approval?

*Gene is not amused by my sarcastic tone*

"Well, it does stand up to vigorous rolling but the real test will be. . ."

Looks like it's a winner.

"Do you mind. . .I'm trying to rest."

And that is why the quilt had to be washed before I gifted it.  Well, that and I wanted to make sure the colors didn't bleed and that it would just survive the wash.  It survived and looked even better once it had that rumpled look.  I like that look (which is good because I hate pre-washing anything!).

I did try to piece the batting on this quilt and it was a big ole fail.  I think that's something I should try with a "for home" quilt and it might work but this was not the project for experimenting.

Pets on Quilts 2016

It's that time again!

Lily Pad Quilting's Pets on Quilts show.  (go there via the button along the side of the page or click that embedded link. . .go!)

This post is to show off my entry (cats on quilt) and the new quilt I made just for the show.  This show has become a way for me to guarantee I'll make at least one quilt a year (such an overachiever *eyeroll*).  This is my third year in a row participating so this is my third quilt.  Ok, to be honest, it's my second "real" quilt.  The first year I made a little wall hanging quilt but this year I made an adult human sized (read usable) quilt.  Not a lap quilt, either (not that they aren't lovely and technically usable) Hey, when I want to cover up just covering my legs ain't going to cut it.  I need to be covered chin to toes (and ideally, tucked under the feet though my quilts might be a little shy of being able to do that. . .but they are as long as, if not longer than I am tall, so definitely not lap sized).

Ok, let's not fall deeper down the well of how I like to cover up (trust me, I have a lot of peculiar covering habits, including making my husband use his own blankets. . .I swear that's the key to a happy relationship right there) let,s just see cute cats and quilts.

TA DA!

(shout out to my husband who's holding up the quilt.  Oh, he gave me a teen girl worthy eye roll and sigh when I asked him to help me.  He wasn't going to bite, but then I told he wouldn't even have to put on pants to help and that no one would see him in the pic, sans pants, he bit.  HAH, but now everyone knows he's behind the quilt in just a t-shirt and boxers, not that he's never been outside in just his skivvies before. . hell, he's been on the roof in just his skivvies. . .he's classy like that)

Yup, that there is a quilt.  I don't know the exact dimensions but it took just under four yards of fabric for the backing (two, two yard cuts sewed side by side to be wide enough).  I had plenty of over hang all around so I went the lazy route and just trimmed the backing down to 2 inches all around then folded it over to make the binding.  Holy crap, my lazy heart sored at how dang easy that was.  Yes, you get a stitch line all the way around the back of the quilt (because when I'm lazy, I'm super lazy and I machine stitched that lazy binding. . .what, I didn't have time to hand stitch that bad boy, I just finished this quilt YESTERDAY, yester-freaking-day, people. . .the last minute, I use it).

For the quilting, I stitched in the ditch around each of the big heart block units and then around the actual heart.  Then it needed just a bit more stitching so I quilted the heart shape again inside each heart.  You can kind of see it in the photo but I used tan/neutral thread (which I use for just about everything because. . .see above. . .I'm lazy).

The front is scrappy (reds/pinks with low volume white/off whites for the heart blocks. . .then a five inch border in between. . .the border is all the same fabric, a low volume white/white with little x and o's on it).

This is the backing:

I want candy!  I want CA-a-nDY!

I love novelty prints (and candy) and sparkle (there's some gold on some of the candies) so I had to have this fabric for the backing.  It's an off white background (looks white in that pic, but my pics are always crap because the lighting in my house is coal mine bad so. . .yeah).

But, but, but. . .this is supposed to be PETS on quilts. . .

"Get to it, mom."

Yes, Eugene.

He's scowling because I wouldn't let him gnaw on the plastic bag from the padding.

"No, I'm disappointed that you used that huge padding and had a ton of scraps left.  You should have measured and then bought a padding closer to the size you needed."

No, you're not that deep a soul, Gene.  You just wanted to chew that bag.

"Yeah, I did.  You're mean."

Hey, I did let you "help" with the quilt.

"Yeah.  I like being the first to hair up new blankets.  Take THAT, Murray!"

I think you also like the odd smell the padding has.  Anyone else notice that?  I swear, fresh out the package padding smells like dog biscuits.  Like a cracker-y, bland bread smell.  I think it's the starch in it or something.  It's not a bad smell, but definitely a smell.  (again, I'm lazy and don't pre-wash things. . .if I obeyed the quilting police I'd never actually finish anything and as it is now, I finish so few things so. . .YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE, QUILT COPPERS!!!)

Gene definitely likes to get up on the new quilts first.  He likes to roll on them and kick them and. . .

Gene Green?  Nope, that's Gene SIMMONS right there.  Dang, boy, you have a long tongue.

He's not alone in liking to have a good bath on a new quilt.

Murray at least waits until the quilt it truly finished.

He also doesn't wrestle the quilt.  He has a more classic approach to breaking in a new quilt.

Aww, him's tie-tie.

(yes, I really do speak that line out loud to Murray on a regular basis.  And, you have to use your best Rudolph voice, you know, that little childlike voice baby Rudolph. . .from the 1964 cartoon. . .uses the first time he meets Santa. . .what?  like you aren't a weirdo?  yeah, right)

Gene, look here so I can get a super pretty pic of you.

"No thanks, mom.  Murray's up to something on the shanty town and I have to watch."

But not get up to investigate?

"No.  The table is still cleaned off and the new quilt lifts me up just enough I have the perfect perch to watch from here.  And that shanty town is really falling apart.  Maybe you could make a new cover for it?"

Yeah, I've been thinking about re-covering your shanty town for a while now.  Maybe that should be my next project.

"Well, put down that phone and get to it then."

Well, my feline overlords have spoken!

(too bad for them, I have to sew up some stuffed toys first before I even begin thinking about re-covering their shanty town. . .but I might be able to enlist my husband into helping with that project. . he showed interest before in salvaging the original shanty town so. . .we'll see!)

Thanks for visiting the blog.  Make sure to check out all the other folks sharing their fabulous quilts (and even more fabulous pets).

Pets on Quilts 2015: The Ollie Memorial Quilt

Getting this post up now while I have a few minutes (even though the link up isn't available yet).

2015 Pets on Quilts show is my second time participating and it's bittersweet.

Last year, I entered under the "cats on quilts" category (see it here) with a mini quilt that was much loved by my two cats, Eugene and Olive.  I was thrilled when I won a batik jelly roll from one of the random drawings.  That was the sweet.  Then came the bitter.  Olive died.  We only had her for one year and a week when FiP, a horrible disease, took her.

After she died, Eugene was just not enjoying life as an only cat so we checked the Humane Society (where we got Gene and Ollie) to find him a new companion.  Enter, Murray.  They were a great fit from moment one and things are very good now, though we still miss Ollie.

And I still had that jelly roll.  Months ago I discovered the jelly roll race "pattern" (in quotes because it's not so much a pattern as an event!) and decided it would be perfect for the Ollie jelly roll.  Hey, I needed to start actually making "real" quilts (not just small wall hangings) and that would be the easiest way to start that process.  So I made the top and it just hung out in my craft room.  Until the announcement for the 2015 Pets on Quilts show rolled around.  It was time to get that top made into a quilt.

But not without some feline supervision!

This was back when I had first finished the top.  I draped it all pretty like over the couch to get a pic and BAM, cat-ttaked.  No blanket in this house shall be without hair (their motto).

Fast forward to about a week ago when I finally got my butt in gear to finish the quilt.

(oh, by the way, I'm entering under the "cat on a quilt" category, or whatever category is close to that. . .any of these pics of my cats HAIRassing the quilt can be my entry since I couldn't get both of them to sit on the finished quilt for anything. . .that shouldn't surprise me, they're cats and they will do as they please and no they don't care what you think about it)

Ever so helpful, Eugene.  Just plop down on the quilt sandwich and have a bath why don't you.

"What?  Were you trying to do something?"

Could you get up so I can flip it over and get the backing fabric layered on?

*sigh*  "If I must. . .but there will be a price to pay for disturbing my beauty rest."

No joke.  You folks with cats can't be surprised by this at all.  I had to flip the top and batting over to get the backing all smoothed out on it and didn't Gene get right up on it and just go insane.  He was rolling around on it, squeaking and even pulling off a very odd backflip.  Then, to make sure there was plenty of hair on it he had a good scratch.  It was hilarious.  And I just couldn't care.  The quilt was for the family (which is me, my hubby and the cats) so why freak if there's hair on it while I'm making it.  It's going to get good and haired up over its life.  And Gene was having such a high old time (really, it was like there was nip in that fabric. . .I think he really likes batiks) I just had to enjoy it.  He was having so much fun with the Ollie quilt it was like she was there in spirit (showing us her bewbies!).

Eventually I did have to chase him off it so I could get to the sewing.  I went with a very easy straight quilting and it went really well.  Got the binding machine stitched on one side and then it was time to hand stitch the binding to the back.  Enter Murray.

"What are these, mom?  Cat toys?"

*crunch*

Murray really likes the binding clips.  He was particularly taken by the ones holding the corners all neat (of course).  I did have to fish one out of his mouth after he pulled it off and did start to crunch on it like it was a treat.  No, we shant be destroying my super cool clips (they are so wonderful for binding).

"Mom, you're no fun.  I just wanted to try and break off a tooth and ruin a clip or two.  Party pooper!"

I say it all the time and I'll say it again.  Good thing they are both so dang cute because they sure aren't well behaved (ok, they're not really "bad" but they do get into everything and Murray in particular sheds like it's his life's goal to coat the entire planet in a thin layer of white hair, and the hair is super soft so it's like trying to wipe off spider webs. . .tons and tons of spider webs).

Don't fret, I'm not going to forget to show off the quilt sans cat.

The front (it's a bit longer than pictured, I had it draped over the edge of the wall a bit to hold it down since my spouse was all "meh" when I asked him to come outside and hold it up. . .ha ha, he was replaced by a brick wall, you know I told him as much, too, and he still didn't care in fact he was pleased to hand the task off to a truly inanimate object).

The back (with its minor flaws. . .I was not going to point them out because to be honest they don't bother me, I really kind of like them because this quilt is about so much more than being "perfect" but I didn't want anyone to think I didn't know there were flaws.  They are there and I love each and every one of them).

I wanted the back to be all cat fabric.  I've been wanting to make a totally cat quilt but I keep putting it off (what? me procrastinate? well, maybe later) so this was the perfect opportunity to make the back all cats.  I was going to make it a totally pieced back but then I happened upon this cat batik fabric and I just had to have it.  It was SO PERFECT.  Batik to match the batik front but also cat so I could tie in some of the cat fabric I already have in my stash.

From a distance you can't really see the cats but up close they are fabulous!  This pic is washed out a bit, the fabric is a nice dark charcoal color which matched pretty well to the black in the Moda Prisma Cats fabric from my stash.  I love that fabric so much I went and found a shop that still has some so I can hoard a bit more of it (when it comes to cat fabrics, I allow buying just to stash).

The Prisma Cats fabric is super bright colors and so dang cute!  Oh, and even the binding is cat.  I had some light gray fabric with polka dots (and some of the dots were cat faces) and it worked so well for the binding.  It's light colored but still works with the kind of haphazard feel of the entire quilt.  (I forget what line it's from, but it's a fairly recent line that was cat themed)

If I could change only ONE things, I'd have used a darker thread for the quilting.  I used the natural color I tend to use for all my sewing and against the dark backing fabric it looks bright white.  I didn't want it to pop that much but I don't hate it or anything.  It just stands out more than I really wanted (and because of that you can see the flaws in the stitching. . .I was using a basic Singer sewing machine with a walking foot and the weight of the quilt sometimes pulled a bit and you can see it in the stitching--the stitching isn't "bad" but if you're really looking at it you can see it's uneven and I know that's why).

I'm really surprised how much emotion is in this simple quilt.  When it was done I was almost giddy.  I gathered it up and just hugged it.  So silly, but I was just so happy to have it done.  The sense of accomplishment was huge and it's just such a special quilt for me.  It's the first "real" quilt (meaning bigger sized--the only other size I've made was a lap sized but I traded that away) I've ever made JUST for me (well, and the family) and it's so freaking special and I just love it.  But now I'm worried it will just fall apart when I wash it (I know it won't, but I love it so much I have to find something to worry about so that has become the thing I'll worry about).

Thanks for checking out my crazy quilt and even crazier cats.  I can't wait to see what everyone else shares for the Pets on Quilts contest.  It's such a fun and great event!

NOW, go back to the linky party and check out what everyone else has been up to.  CLICK HERE, YOU NOSEY THING YOU!

For a Swap: QUILT (yes, a freaking quilt!)

*trumpets*

I finally finished an entire quilt.  A REAL quilt, not some little decorative wall hanging dealie (made one of those before for a swap).  This is a real cover-yo-ass-sized quilt.

Ok, it's lap sized but still that's a "real" functional quilt and I'm pleased with my fancy self, oh yes I am.

Then I made my long suffering spouse go outside (in his pajamas--he was acting like going outside in a state of frumpy dress was out of character for him, the man who went out to help catch a neighbor's cat wearing only his underwear and a pair of shoes OR the time he was on the roof in just underwear and a t-shirt, cleaning the gutters in the rain. . .yeah, going outside in his pj bottoms and a t-shirt was a chore *eyeroll*) and hold the quilt so I could get all paparazzi on it

Did I mention I use my craptacular phone (and lack of skills) to take pics?  Can't you tell?

(look at hubs holding the quilt all dainty with just his fingertips--he knows I'm all crazy and have and will check the cleanliness of hands before they handle things, I've done it to him before, not that I think he's dirty but. . .well, sometimes he's dirty)

See, see!  That is a real sized quilt right there, folks.  A real sized quilt that I'M GOING TO TRADE.  Yes, my first "official" quilt isn't even going to be kept.  That's how I roll!

(oh and it looks super crooked in the photo but it's not that crooked at all--the wind was blowing it that's why it's really warped on the bottom edge)

I used this quilt as a bit of an excuse to buy some fabric.  I didn't have yardage to make long enough strips (we had to use the quilt as you go method demonstrated in one of the Missouri Quilt Co tutorials and our finished product had to be 36 x 48 before binding or if you did a border) so I had to get some.  So I decided to get some of the Cotton and Steel prints I liked so I could have the scraps for later.

Let me tell you, I didn't end up with much scrappage on the backing fabric.  And I thought I was rounding up a lot when I bought it but it was JUST enough (I had about an inch or so of usable scrap after I used some for the binding.

Then, after I had my fabric all purchased I realized the batting I was planning to use was too small.  It was the "craft" sized warm and natural pre-packaged stuff and I needed the "baby quilt" size.  *headdesk*  So I had to hit the ole amazon to get that (and I got a twin sized package and a pack of the super awesome clover clips which made binding this bad boy so much easier).

Speaking of binding, I failed at trying to totally bind it by machine.  Putting the first side on with machine was a breeze (did machine on the front side so it would look super crisp and tidy) but when I tried to machine the binding on the back. . .*sadtrombone*.  I had only done a little bit so I ripped it out and did the back binding by hand.  Which I kind of failed at again because I didn't realize you should use a ladder stitch for it (to make it neater) and I did a whip stitch.  It's a neat and clean whip stitch but in using a whip stitch I did get a tiny bit of a seam ridge.  Not ugly, but still there.  Personally I don't mind it (it's not distracting since I used neutral thread and did small stitches) but I guess technically it's "wrong".  BUT. . .I'm not being graded on right and wrong and technical skill.  The swap was just to make a quilt using the tutorial (in the size listed).  And I think my quilt turned out very well.  If someone sent me this quilt, I'd be super happy (especially with all the cotton and steel fabric).

Now I'm all excited to make another quilt.  I have two tops finished and padding big enough to use on either of them.  I think I'm going to hustle my butt to take this top:

and finish it.

I want to finish it in time to put it in the "pets on quilts" show over at Lily Pad Quilting.  The jelly roll I used for it I won in last year's contest (when Eugene and Ollie were on that little wall hanging cat themed quilt) and since Ollie died it would be super sweet to submit a pic of Eugene and Murray sitting on the quilt I made from the fabric Ollie helped me win.  I've already started referring to this quilt top as the Olive Green Memorial Quilt.  I think I want to make the back out of miscellaneous cat fabrics from my cat fabric stash.  Just need to get moving on it!

What else am I up to?

I have a ninni doll I'm finishing up for a swap (have it sewn, just need to stuff and embellish) and I need to finish up the "craft the fandom" swap (I have two items done, one in progress, and another in the wings) and make a patch (but that swap hasn't assigned yet so it's at the bottom of the to do list).

Crazy Cat Quilt: Now totally DONE.

I finished up the last details on the crazy cat quilt.

Squint!  Can you see the details on some of the blocks and along the edge?

Closeup time!

There's a kitty button at the top left corner and a tale of yarn.  The yarn goes down the side and along the bottom to a ball of yarn.

The yarn ball is a pom pom wrapped in yarn.

Then a few of the squares have decorations.

That's just two of them.  I think I did 4 or 5 of the blocks.  Just with small buttons or silver fish/bones.  Nothing overly exciting.

I didn't want to do a ton of decorations because I like the way the plain quilt looks.  I was tempted to make a little felt kitty (on a pin back) but after I got the yarn kitty on there I think that is better.

See why I had to take the pic of my cats on it before it was 100% done?  They would have gone right after that yarn ball.

I Made a Quilt!!!

Holy crap, just like that I made a quilt.

Not a full sized one.  It's probably what would be considered a doll quilt.  I made it for an art quilt swap and the only real requirement (aside from it being cat themed) was a size min and max.  I think the min was 6 x 6 and the max was 15 x 15.  Mine came in right around the max (didn't get an exact measurement on it, just held it next to my 12.5 square ruler and it was at least an inch larger).

I'm not 100% done with it just yet.  I think I'm going to add a few cat buttons and/or some small felt cats (on pin backs).  But I was so happy to get the actual quilt part done I had to show it off now.

I put my fabric stash and my new walking foot to good use.

I deliberately stash cat fabrics because I like them and I want to make myself a full sized cat themed quilt.  In fact, seeing how cute this one is, I might just do the same for my scrappy kitty quilt (only larger).

I used 4 inch patches and just did a generic light/dark checkerboard arrangement.  It worked out well because I had four of each light and dark.  I had a few other fabrics but they didn't quite meet the requirements.  One was christmas themed and a few were too busy (wouldn't make for nice small patches) and some were pink/blue based.  I do have this super funky fabulous cat panel set and I was *this* close to using one of the panels but I was in love with the idea of making a "real" quilt so I'm saving the panels for my own use.  I think I'm going to take each panel and make a little art quilt with each of them.

Ok, technically the fabric there in the upper right corner is a super light yellow.  Probably the lightest yellow I've ever seen.  But the pattern was perfect for small fussy cutting.  And SO CUTE.  It's so much more cute than I originally thought (and I thought it was super cute or I wouldn't have bought it).

The black cats in the upper left has been featured here before.  I used it to make a pouch and a dotee doll before.  I love that fabric and bought a yard of it back in the day and don't regret it.

The bottom left fabric is so adorable it gives me pains.  The cats are all little doodles based on the fabric designer/artist's fingerprints.  There are so many cute images, like a cat licking its belly and one cat rolled over on its back and you can see it's wee little nips.  So effing cute (and makes me jealous that I can't make super cute doodles like that).

The bottom right fabric was a whim purchase and it turned out to be a really nice quality fabric.  I just liked the stylized look of the cats.  They remind me of the porcelain statues you find in vintage stores (right next to the ceramic poodles!).

Top left fabric (fat black cats) has been featured before too.  I used it on a patch and the more I use it the more I like it.  The only negative thing about it is it's so dark.  The purple is really deep.

Top right and bottom left were from the same cat fabric buying splurge I had months ago (yes, my whole order from fabric.com was totally cat fabrics).  I like the Japanese feel of the top right one and the bottom left one reminds me a bit of the Happy Drawing books/fabric line.  Same kind of style to them.

The bottom right fabric is also a halloween print.  It's all the same black cat doing crazy and sometimes sinister things (like harassing a rat or tossing a bird in the air or just scowling).  I don't think it's from the Ghastlies line but it sure reminds me of it.

I'm so happy with how the backing/binding fabric looks, too.  I had pulled two different fish bone print fabrics (one white with black bones, one black with gold bones) but the first fabric I thought of was this yarn print.  The bone prints were just too light/dark against the patchwork.  The yarn was a nice neutral but still super cute (and busy, I like busy).

I just quilted along the seams, nothing fancy.  The binding is wrapped around and (if I may brag) the mitered corners look excellent.  I have to say, all the patch making really helped me with this quilt.

For future quilts (bigger ones) I'm not sure I'd do wrap around binding.  I'm thinking I want to try quilt as you go.  I think I'll do that for my (never going to be done) postage stamp quilt.  That might encourage me to work on it again.  I could practice my free motion quilting on each little section AND use up some of my oddball fat quarters (some of the fug-o ones I have that I'm wondering what the hell I'll ever use them for).

But first, I want to stitch up some stuff for the Fluff Project.  I'll show that off in the next post.