Sandy Quilt Blocks

Recently received an email the Quilting Gallery asking for help.  Michelle has organized a Quilt Block Drive matching up those that want to make quilt blocks with those that will assemble the finished quilts for donation. She is asking for scrappy wonky log cabin blocks and has  provided the tutorial too. If you want to lend a hand, you can find the Info and registration here (link removed 3/2017).

I made four blocks and have mailed them to my team leader.

I cut off some of the black strip in this photo but it is as wide on all sides.

More Premie Knitting

I knit two small blankets with matching hats for my niece's twin premies from Plymouth Yarn Dreambaby DK Prints using Just My Size Basketweave Preemie Baby Blanket by Cathy Waldie.  The hats were knit using the pattern Ali's Premie/Newborn Beanie by Tajie Maxedon

Here is a photo that shows the yarn (white with pastel dots) better.

Here are nine more I have knit using left-over yarn from other projects.

From top left to right, then the second row, then the third row; here are the corresponding projects the yarn came from:
1.  Lacy Leaf Scarf/ Drops Top with Lacy Pattern
2.  Monkey Fingerless Mitts
3.  Sunrise Chevron Socks
4.  re-su yukata Sweater

5.  Brambles Beret
6.  Kernel Scarf
7.  Swirl Jacket
8.  Cross-skull Hat  (hat with this yarn not in photo)
9.  Intuitive Hat

Progress Note -- Charm Quilt

I finally have the charm quilt pieced.  It is basted and I have begun the quilting.  I looked through my copy of Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns but did not find this pattern.  So I still don't know the name of the pattern.

Here is a close up to show some of the quilting

Brambles Beret

This is one I may very well keep.  This beret is knit using  the pattern Brambles Beret by Amanda Muscha.  The yarn, Cascade Yarns Eco Duo,  is so soft.  It was a pleasure to knit.

Here is a closer view to show the lovely cables.

Here is the underside

Expedition Hats

These two hats were knit using the pattern Expedition hat by Maude L. Baril.  The two color one uses  Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in a color called Little Rock Granite and Lion Brand Hometown USA Tweeds in oatmeal. 

This one is made using only the oatmeal Tweeds.

Both are adult size.  I plan to donate them to my father-in-law for their homeless outreach as winter will be here soon.

Charm Quilt -- WIP

I was inspired by a recent article in the American Quilter magazine (November 2012 issue) -- "Building a Palette by Seeing Fabrics in a Different Way” by Weeks Ringle -- to use sample fabrics I had been saving over the years.  The fabrics were mostly 5 in X 5 in squares.  Seemed perfect for inclusion into a charm quilt (see info in post after pattern info).

The article did not give the pattern names or directions for the quilts featured, so I drafted my own (still don't know the name of the pattern).  Here's my drafted pattern and the photo which inspired me.

The pattern consists of two basic blocks.  One block is simply square A.  The other block consists of the three pieces:  square A, rectangle B, and rectangle C.  The measurements of the pieces:
square A:  2.25 in squares (finished square will be 1.75 in)
rectangle B:  2.25 in X 4.5 in (finished size 1.75 in X 4 in)
rectangle C:  1 in X 8 in (finished size 0.5 in X 7.4 in)

Here is one of the finished composite blocks:

Here are some finished blocks laid out on my design wall.  Notice the layout of the blocks, one upright and the next one rotated 90 degrees.  The single block A will sit in the “hole.”

The fabric packs I am using are two from Benartex, one labeled the Modern Mix by Jennifer Young and the other not further labeled.  Another fabric packets from Merryvale -- the Fine China Blue designed by Bonnie Benn Stratton.  Other fabrics used will be just whatever I have in my stash.

The big difference between a charm quilt and a scrap/scrappy quilt is that each fabric is only used once.   As I am using the white muslin repeatedly, mine is not a “true” charm quilt.

Here are some nice articles on charm quilts:

A Brief History of Charm Quilts by Robin Brisson

Charm Quilt History: The Ultimate Scrap Quilts by  Judy Anne Breneman

The Charming One Patch by Janet Jo Smith

Premie Hats

One of my nieces recently had twins several weeks premature.  I had not done quilts for these two as I had already made baby quilts for her first two.  I have decided to use leftover yarns to make her twins hats.  I have bought yarn to knit small blankets.  Here are three hats (the duplicates aren't shown but exist).  All were made using the small pattern/needles but different yarns so ended up slightly different in size.  The pattern is Ali's Premie/Newborn Beanie by Tajie Maxedon.

This first one is made using the Noro Taiyo yarn leftover from the swirl jacket.

This second one is made from the Artyarns Ensemble Glitter Light  yarn leftover used to make the date night sweater (which I gave to a sister who gave it to a friend).

This third one is made from leftover Artyarns Supermerino yarn used to make the undulating leaves scarf.

Finished -- My First Swirl Jacket

I finished!  It only took me two months of knitting most evenings.  It's not perfect (I can point out a few errors), but it looks good and I like the way it fits.  I am already thinking about making another one in a monochromatic color scheme (red).

As mentioned in this earlier post, the pattern for my swirl jacket is  Sheer Beauty by Sandra McIver.    The two yarns:  Noro Taiyo (color #28) and Malabrigo Lace in Damask (#13o).

Here's a front view:

Here's a side view, isn't the drape nice?

Here's the back view:

Another of the back with the arms raised (and my dog Rusty who tried to sneak into the photo):

You can see photos of my blocking  here and here.

Four Friends

Updated 3/2017--all links removed as many no longer active.

I wish I had @zdoggmd talent, perhaps I ‘d have a better title with a play on say “3 men and a baby.”  Three of these friends are women with breast cancer, the other is a man with pre-Alzheimer's.   All have/are facing their diagnosis and life with amazing grace and strength.  All are raising money for their causes.  I want to share their links.

Two are local friends who are doing the local Race for the Cure and  raising money for Susan G. Komen.

Noor Kabani, MD works for Baptist Medical Center in their eICU.  Baptist put together Team Kabani for her.  Here is the link to join her team or donate in her name.

Heather Owens is the daughter of two friends, one a local ED physician.  I went to her wedding a few years back.  She is just 29 yr old.  She is writing about her journey with breast cancer at Fighting Fancy.  She is featured in the October 2012 issue Soiree magazine.  Her Race for the Cure team is Fighting Fancy (click on link to join her team or donate in her name).

The third woman is the wife of one of our medical bloggers.  I have not meet her in person, but have made quilts for two of her children and given her one.  She is doing “Making Strides for More Birthdays” and raising money for American Cancer Society.  Click here to join her team or donate in her name.

My fourth friend, DeWayne Nash, is a friend from medical school.  He lives near Austin, TX and is a retired Family Medicine physician.  His blog is Organic Green Doctor.  He is doing Walk to End Alzheimers (click on the link to join his team or donate in his name).  Here is a  link to the video   which features he and his wife, showing their involvement at the Alzheimer's Disease Center.

My Heart Stopped When Quilt

I finished the small quilt which is a "repeat" of one I made a few years ago -- "You Melt My Heart."  It was inspired by Movin Meat’s post:  Fearful Symmetry.  As before, I took the EKG, printed it out, enlarged a small segment and used it for the quilt.  The center design was machine appliqued, the dark red fabric was then hand sewn into place.  I then machine quilted it.  When I was sewing the binding in place, I noticed that even though I had carefully zigzagged the EKG design twice, some areas were trying to come undone.  I had to then hand embroider inside of the zigzag to make sure the fabric stayed in place.  The finished quilt measures 17.5 in square.

Here is a close up of the center heart.   Notice the Victorian window fabric behind the black with the “rose” in the upper area.  The Torsades de Pointes featured in the EKG is a beautiful but deadly rhythm.  I tried to do a play on the beauty of the EKG and the Victorian fabric when I named the quilt:  my heart stopped when (you walked in the room).

This one shows the chalk quilt marking before the quilting was done:

Here is the back before the sleeve and label were added.  You can see a "ghost" of the quilting but not as well as in the above photo.

Progress Notes --- WIPs

I'm making progress knitting the Swirl jacket I began over a month ago.  It's either going to be wonderful or a big mess.  Not sure at the moment.  Here's what it looks like now

Also working on a new quilting project.  It's a "repeat" of one I made a few years ago -- "You Melt My Heart."  It was inspired by Movin Meat’s post:  Fearful Symmetry.  As before, I took the EKG, printed it out, enlarged a small segment and used it for the quilt. 

The first one never sold on Etsy, so I donated it to my old medical school for the silent auction at my 30th medical school reunion.  Then I ran into a cardiologist friend, the conversation somehow turned to quilts and I showed him the photo of the quilt (based on an EKG).  He commented that he would like to make a bid on it, so I "won" the quilt at the auction and gave it to him.  I almost ended up in a bidding war with a young hospitalist who liked the quilt.  I apologized and told her why I wanted it back, she gave in.  I promised to make her another. 

Since I no longer have the same fabrics as the first version, I laid out some fabrics trying to decide on how this one should look.  I ended up choosing the two on the left for the heart.

I like this for the background but don't have enough to do the binding as well, so will need to make a trip to the fabric store and try to find something that will work as well or better.

One Pink Heart for Baby

Earlier this year I made "one pink heart" quilt for a young friend recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  She asked me to make another one for her pregnant friend who has been with her along the journey and is due to have her baby in October.  It is very close to the first one, but not an exact copy.  This one is 35 in X 45 in.  Because of the smaller size, I machine quilted it just a bit differently.  Both have the center area with 5 X 7 "white blocks" and the outer striped white-on-white border.  Both have the one pink heart.

I find white quilts difficult to photograph, but this one shows the two different white fabrics used

This one shows some of the quilting

The back is simply white muslin.

Please, check out my friend's blog, Fighting Fancy.