Finally another finished quilt! Nothing fancy, just a simple 25-patch table runner. It's been on my mind for a couple of weeks to make a simple scrappy quilt in blue. I pull out a couple of blue fabrics and came one with this table runner.
I only used 1 jellyroll strip from each blue fabric to make this 14" x 38" table runner. Practically we only need 5 jellyrolls for the main patchwork, 4 jellyrolls for the background, and half a yard for the backing. Now I know what to do with the leftover jellyrolls!
On the back, I have this pretty blue and white floral Kota cotton fabric. This print is my fave. I had one in green and I made it into a tunic. Ha!
On my center table
And here's the green runner. I used the leftover from the jellyrolls race quilt I made two years ago. I love the combination of green and teal in this one. The size is just perfect for a center table to maybe the foyer table.
Nowadays I really enjoy making shorts videos and uploading them on Youtube. Shorts videos are easier because I can edit them on my phone. Although I enjoy making longer videos, it needs more planning and of course editing. For now, I just do what I can and when I can, at my own pace.
Finally, I finished the Kawandi QAL! I said that I am not good at following QAL but this time I did it and I am pretty proud of myself. Even though the quilt is not big, but this is the first bigger quilt that I pieced and quilted by hand. The finished size is about 19" x 42".
If you're on Instagram, you can see all the progress I put up in my Instagram Stories. Especially when I do the motif. I really love the motif and upon seeing Brinda Ma'am's kawandi, I really want to learn more about making the motif.
I learn a lot of things while working on this Kawandi table runner.
1. Batting or no batting?
Well, if you following the Kawandi Quilt hashtag on Instagram, you can see the Kawandi are making a comeback in a big way this past year! Many that I saw are using batting and so I wanted to try. But the problem is I ended up with a bulky batting in the center as I am finishing it. I thought I should not have a problem as I've done many small quilts which I quilt the Kawandi Style, including this Batik quilt.
For this table runner, as it is done in the quilt as you go style, I found that the batting - or least the needle punched batting that I used, is stretched in the process. Which did not occur in the quilts that I made using pieced top. So, I carefully cut the batting and overlap it. This solves the problem!
So, my vote will be no batting! Also, working without batting like in the first Kawandi I did during the workshop is so much easier on my fingers. Also, it will be a perfect summer quilt!
2. Don't worry too much!
Brinda Ma'am keeps reminding us to let go. Let go of the urge to do perfectly matched colors, the even stitches, perfectly straight lines. The Kawandi is about embracing imperfections and being proud of them! In the end, your quilt will reflect your personality. Your mood while you're making the quilt, your state of mind. I did unpick lines of stitches in the beginning, as I go along, slowly I was able to accept that it is OK if the stitch length is not even, it is OK to reinforce the stitches even if it looks odd.
Imperfectly Perfect
Learning Kawandi, first, we must unlearn all about quilt making, be it the color theory, the matching seam, the quarter-inch seam, etc. Don't worry, it will turn out unique and beautiful!
In this table runner, I mostly use leftover fabrics from making fabric bundles in the shop and also, a few pieces from my kurtas' sleeves. During summer, I usually cut off the sleeves of my quarter or long sleeve kurtas and keep the cut pieces.
I recorded a video as I was working on this quilt for my own record as well as a reference. In the video, you will see how I bury the tread in different ways. Do check out the video and let me know if you have any questions. If you want to learn to make Kawandi Quilt, you can contact Brinda Ma'am via her Facebook Page.
Now, I have one small Kawandi WIP and thinking of starting a bigger one, maybe a single-size quilt. It's going to be a long-term project. I really enjoy doing the hand quilting and wonder why took me so long to try it.
For the past 2 weeks, I've been having trouble accessing my business emails which I purchased from Google Workspace. It was started when I created another email in Godaddy for the newsletter. After back and fro chat with Godaddy's agent and doing some reading, finally, I understand that we cannot create different emails from the different email providers. I wish I knew!
I apologize to those who tried to reply to the newsletter or email me regarding your orders and bounce back. If you like please resend your email. I also added a backup email so that I won't miss any important emails. Hopefully, now the emails will all be back to normal and I can focus more on the work at hand.
This week, I'm able to finish 2 table-toppers still in my fave pattern - the one from Suzuko Koseki's book (I call it moonshine and valentine). I've made and sold a few in different sizes in my Etsy shop. This time, I decided to use a red poinsettia print and a green cotton handloom combo. Added a mustard yellow stripe in the center.
Also, instead of hand quilting, I decided to do serpentine quilting on my Husqvarna Viking machine using the golden thread I got from the swap last time.
Another new thing I tried this time is instead of the usual binding, I did facing binding!
What is facing binding?
A facing is similar to a binding on a quilt, except that it's turned completely to the back so there is no visual line around the edge of a quilt. (source: We All Sew)
I love the clean look of these table toppers. Binding is great to finish a quilt but sometimes I don't want to spoil the look especially when the quilt has a different color on the outer border.
I used a 1.5" wide binding strip and also tried a 2" wide binding. The end result? I prefer a 1.5" wide binding as it gives a narrow binding on the back.
Serpentine quilting with golden thread
facing binding
I have a few more small quilts in the same pattern in the WIP stage that I plan to hand quilt. Now that I have 3 C-dramas to catch up on, I should be able to finish the quilting before the end of the year.
Even though it's been a pretty stressful week regarding the email things, but I'm happy to finish a few on my WIP list. Time blocking really helps! Last week, we went to a wedding party for the first time. My SIL's nephew got married. it was a small occasion but felt good to meet and greet people in person after almost 2 years!
The boys' board exam also just started and as the weather is getting cooler, the younger one needs a new set of winter clothes, so we went shopping!
And one more thing, I made a sofa cover! Upcycle from my old Kantha quilt. It's removable and I can easily take it out to wash and put it back again. Now, this corner looks cozier :). I still need to make the sofa's back cushion covers though. I am collecting ideas on Pinterest right now!
I made more placemats! Not really make a dent in my mini charms bin but I'm pretty happy with how these placemats turned out. Mini charm is my most fave pre-cut and t is also my mood booster. When I don't feel like sewing anything, I just open the mini charms bins and start piecing.
As I started piecing, all sorts of ideas come into my mind but I decided to make a couple of placemats. The placemats finished at approximately 12 x 15 inches each. The pink ones are slightly smaller.
I thought of making all charms for the top, like this one, but decided to make it differently. So I added borders on both sides. For the mustard yellow placemats, I used Indian block print fabric for the patchwork and handloom cotton for the borders. On the back, I used pretty paisley print glace cotton in a matching color and quilted diagonally. It turned out very soft!
As for the pink placemats, the fabrics are mostly leftover from wallet and bag projects. I used cotton poplin for the borders and the backing. As usual, black and white striped binding when I could not decide what binding to use.
I love to use these placemats as a center table mat too or to put in my side tables. My MIL used in her dressing tables. They do make the room brighter and I always love to see the quilts being used.
OK, let's talk about quilting lines. My fave of course is serpentine but sometimes I am just too lazy to set up my HV machine! I always end up using my Jack machine and doing either grid, diagonal, or organic wavy lines. Hmm, it's time to read WALK - Walking foot quilting book by Jacquie Gering again!
OK, I admit the downside of the digital era is even if you have the books, you I still first go to Pinterest or Google.
Sometimes, we see the preview on Amazon and the quilt looks simple and then think "I can do that too" but actually there are a lot of small important details(at least to me) in the book. However, there are many books that have a preview of attractive projects but very little "educational" information, and some even do not have "proper" tutorials. I feel like this kind of book is only for visual pleasure, which we can freely get from Pinterest or Instagram. What do you think?
But I still love buying books, especially Japanese Craft or Quilt Books. They have detailed diagrams (which I personally prefer), full-scale patterns, and also additional step-by-step photos. And of course the visuals!
What about you? Do you love buying craft books? Let me know in the comment below!
When I got the Camo Blenders bundle from The Square Inch, I was so excited to start making something, but could not decide what to make. The colors are so pretty that I have several ideas in my head. After a few days of contemplating I decided to make a few mini quilts. You know I love making mini quilts.
I decided on this block I saw in one of my Japan Quilt magazines (according to google translate the magazine is Patchwork Class - 2018 Edition) and I scaled down the size a little bit. Since the weather is getting warmer, I thought I'll mix cool and warm colors. Don't they blend beautifully?
The block is pretty simple and quick to do. I used 1.5" wide strips in here. The fabric is quilting weight cotton and it's super easy to work with. I used poplin solid for the combination.
Deciding how to quilt is always tough for me and the best way when you're confused is to use simple quilting lines.
And since I am in the mood, I went ahead and made these 2 mug rugs. This is one of my go-to quilt projects to make when I have a lot of things going on in life. I made the mug rugs based on this tutorial.
I have a few more sets to make with the Camo Blenders! It's just a perfect blender fabric when you need something that can add zest to your projects! Camo Blenders have 10 colors and come in Yardage, Layer Cakes, Jelly Rolls, and Fat Quarters at The Square Inch.
Now, I better go and finished a few more mug rugs! Thank you so much for stopping by!
I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. - Leonardo Da Vinci
This week, I finished another table runner. It's made up from 3 five patch blocks with sashing and border. I used Indian fabrics for this runner because I simply love the colors. I always use spray starch while working with Indian voile fabrics, that way they are easier to sew. I was thinking to give a teal border but after auditioning several fabrics, I decided to go with the white.
I'm happy with the result. When I work on a quilt, I tend to go with the flow. I don't always have the whole fabric chosen in the beginning. Hence it always takes me a long time to finish even a simple project.
As for the backing fabric, I have this perfect green and teal cotton fabric. I really love the color. I quilted the middle block with echo quilting, the idea I get from Leah Day And the 2 outer blocks, I did a grid line quilting. On the sashing and border, I traced the quilting lines using a scallop ruler. I love result on the reverse side of this table runner. It made the runner a reversible one!
I used fleece batting which I got from Tina of TSI . This green table runner finished at 14" x 38" a perfect size for buffet table or center table.
I finished a couple of mini quilt tops and hopefully able to finish one or two of them next week. Check my Instagram from the behind the scene pictures.
Hello, Yay! Finally I finished my first quilt of the year. Nothing fancy though. I found the disappearing 9 patch blocks in my UFO bin and there are 6 blocks. I decided to make 2 runners and in the meantime I completed only one. There are so many things I am working on at the same time. You can follow my progress in my Instagram account.
I tried free motion quilting after a long time. I used the R foot on my Husqvarna Viking and calypso thread, which work beautifully. There were thread breaking moments but after changing my needle to quilting needle, it seems to reduce the problem.
I had discussion with Jyoti and we agreed that the batting was the culprit. I will try using a different batting for the other runner.
My quilting is far for perfect. But I learned a lot.
Finished is always better than perfect, right?
the son helped me with this shoot <3
What have you been working on? Any UFO gets done this month?
I gotta run now, I hope I will be able to finish this mini log cabin quilt before I travel next week.
