Final Block #4

Here's the 4th and final block. My next step is to sew the four blocks together and then add the borders.

Block #3

Moving along.

Talked with Gregg today. Helen and Maya are getting acquainted as they travel around China together. They will visit Helen's mom's family this week before coming home. Photos aren't easily sent via email from China but Gregg has talked with Maya on the phone several times. I think he's already smitten.

Block #2

It's coming along nicely. Here's Block #2 already. I have it all laid out on my living room floor so when I have a few spare moments I sew a square or two.

Yesterday I bought cotton batting and top stitching thread at Joann's bringing with me my 40% off coupon of course.

I'm hoping to see Gregg this week to catch up on Helen's trip in China. She has met Maya and they are getting acquainted. Helen's mother is with her so she'll have help getting used to taking care of a 2-1/2 year old. I can't wait to meet her.

Sewing BLOCK #1

So the first pieces come together. I am so impressed with this fabric, it's so pretty it doesn't really matter how the pieces are arranged, it would still be a lovely combination.

The quilt is divided into four large blocks. I've finished BLOCK #1 shown here.

Cutting it Out

Today I cut out all the square and rectangles from the seven different fabrics. For the large squares with the fairy fabric (LF) I made a template with a 7.5"x7.5" square cut out so I could see the area I wanted to include in the square before I cut it out. If I didn't do this I could end up with half a fairy in the square or one without a head, etc. In the photo I have cut out all the pieces and arranged them according to my design. This way I can see what it will look like and make any changes before I begin to sew. I'm pretty happy with it so I only changed one small square.

Next step is to begin sewing the pieces into four blocks.

Designing Maya's Quilt

The previous post shows the dimensions of the design, this time I've decided which fabric will go where. I'm finding the entire design process to be both fun and challenging. So far I'm liking this larger quilt project.

I had this design concept when I ordered the fabric but wasn't really sure how much yardage to buy so of course I played it safe and ordered too much. But that's OK since it is all beautiful and I will have a fabulous stash for future projects. When I ordered this lot I didn't realize that the Large Fairy print was as big a print as it is. I had thought to use it as the central border but when I saw it in person I preferred the flower print. I only ordered a 1/2 yard of the flower print which wasn't quite enough, so I added the rectangles in the border using the Large Fairy fabric. I improvised. I heard an artist say lately, sorry can't remember the source, but they said if he knows ahead of time how the project will be exactly then it isn't worth creating. I agree. There has to be room for the creative process, something unexpected to emerge in the process of making something.
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Designing a Larger Quilt

This is my design for Maya's quilt. The small squares measure 2-1/2" x 2-1/2". My next step is to decide which fabric goes where and I will show this in my next post.

A New Place to Buy Fabric (Fabric.com)

Fabric for 40" x 60" quilt for Maya

Our friends, Helen and Greg, are adopting a little girl from China. She's 2-1/2 years old and named Maya. They will be bringing her home mid-February and I'm so excited for them. I'd like to sew a quilt for her but I realize the baby quilts I've been making would be too small for her. Also flannel is nice and soft for a baby but doesn't wear very well for an older child, so I decided to make a larger quilt made of cotton.

I decided on a design concept and headed to Joann's Fabrics only to be over welmed with the choices of cotton fabrics there. It was difficult to determine which fabric would go well together, etc. I've been sewing with flannel and the selection is quite small in comparison. I came home empty handed. Same result with a visit to Beverly's fabrics.

Then I discovered fabric.com from Melody, a blogger I follow at http://fibermania.blogspot.com/. Fabric.com allows you to create a Design Wall where you select fabric swatches to determine how well they go together. They also suggest fabrics that coordinate with the fabrics you select. This is just what I needed and their selection is incredible. I discovered Michael Miller's Fairy collection and ordered enough fabric to sew a 40" x 60" quilt which I read somewhere is the size needed for a child. I was a little hesitant to order fabric without seeing it in person but when the package arrived I was pleasantly surprised that the fabric was even prettier than I expected. I'm thrilled with the quality and the price was less than at Joann's!!

Sewing Projects of 2010

Okay, I know I've already shown most of these photos before but I created this collage as part of a 2010 Photo Project and just had to post it here. These are most of the sewing projects I completed in 2010. What's in store for 2011? Hint: My first project WON'T be made in flannel.

Twin Quilts

Wow, a new year already. 2010 was definitely a fun year for us; doing more traveling than we have in the past few years, and I began sewing again. When I asked for a sewing machine for Christmas I didn't really know if I would use it. But here I am a dozen baby quilts later and more enthused than ever to head over to Joann's fabrics to begin the next project. I've so enjoyed creating these little quilts.

My daughter's friends are having twins this month so I decided to make a boy quilt similar to the girl quilt I made in December. I had most of the fabric already so I thought it would be a fun thing to do.