The Maine Event Round 3--My Monthly Schnibble

Hi Everyone,

This is another post that I wrote prior to going on the retreat.  Before I left, I finished my January Schnibble, the pattern called "Jersey Girl."  I first wrote about this project here where I discussed the plan I had and the reason I was naming it "The Maine Event."   I had a second post about it here.  During the final construction, I was alerted by a reader, Hildy, that there was a typo in the pattern about the size to cut the sashing strips.  It should read 1.5" x 10" instead of 10"x 10."

I'm really, really pleased with how it came out.  If you recall, I used charm packs of Kansas Troubles Harvest Moon line and decided to make them into leaves.  I did so to reference our quilt show that we had last fall--the logo was a leaf block and I made the ribbons that were awarded out of Harvest Moon fabric, too.

I needed more background squares than the charm packs provided, so I went into my fabric stash and pulled out whatever seemed to be the same color.  I have been inspired by the "low value" quilts that are appearing in blogland and how backgrounds with lots of pattern are being used effectively, so I challenged myself to use whatever was the right color--no matter the pattern.

Consequently, there are parts of a panel that featured the title page of "Common Sense."

And also some quilt blocks.

There are also lots of bits of other background-type fabric.  I really love the results!

When I finished the top and did the quilting, I decided that the binding needed something special.  Did you notice it in the photos above?

A year ago, I asked for readers to send me photos of their favorite bindings.  Marti, from 52 Quilts shared a tutorial she had done to make this binding.  It is completely machine sewn and features a faux flange detail.  I followed her tutorial and it was great.  It was really easy to do and I love the way it looks.  It made a wider binding than I normally use (I cut my strips at 2" and fold them in half typically) but I felt this quilt, with all of the background fabric, could really use a spectacular, slightly "beefy" binding.

I think it looks divine on my divan.

If you remember my original post, I decided on the title:  The Maine Event, because I was going to be meeting a good blogfriend, Regan, from Floating on a Quilted Cloud, while she was visiting the area.  Unfortunately, it was supposed to happen on Wednesday, the day we awoke to our dumping of snow--so it didn't happen.  We have promised to try again one day, and even though we didn't meet, we got to chat on the phone.

To see all of the Jersey Girl Schnibbles, be sure to visit Sinta and Sherri for the parade on the first of the month.  I always enjoy seeing all the different variations.

Have a great weekend!  Hopefully I won't be too tired from my retreat and can be back on Monday to share all about it.

JoAnne

The Maine Event Round 2

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday was spent attending a meeting, running errands, doing laundry, etc. so not only did I not write a post, but I also didn't get any sewing done.  It rained all morning, too.  Today is bright and sunny and cold--we are finally starting to feel the effects of the polar vortex (what we used to call a cold front?)  We are only in the teens, but I know that many of you have been much, much colder.  I hope you are all keeping warm!!!

I did make some progress working on the new Schnibble over the weekend, though.  Usually I work on them "privately" and reveal them at the end of the month, but this time I'm sharing more of the process with you.  I previously shared how I came up with my plan and the new name for this one.  Today I'm showing some progress.

Remember that Carrie was inspired in her Jersey Girl by the maple leaf block, and that inspired me to make her blocks back into leaf blocks, so I have to make a few changes to the directions of the pattern.  I first made all of the half square triangles as the pattern directs but I have to proceed differently for the four-patch center of the leaf.

I did follow her directions to get the two-patch dark unit.  But instead of repeating that with the other dark strips and the light strips, I had to cut the light strips into squares and do the stems.  For them, I cut 1" x 3" rectangles from several charms squares.  I pressed the rectangles in half, and then opened it back up and pressed the edges into the center crease, and then pressed it all closed again--you know, like double-fold bias tape, only much narrower.  I top-stitched them diagonally across the light squares.  I did not make other two-patch units with them, though, I left them and a pile of the the dark squares so that I could be more flexible in my layout.

Usually I am fairly random in my placements with a scrappy look and hope that they all turn out alright.  This time, I did some random, and some planned, so I knew I would have a nice mix in all of my leaf blocks.

Here is one of the "exploded" leaf blocks.  The quilt pattern groups them together in sets of 4, and it just so happens that 4 fit on one of those portable design boards I was working on last month.

Here is a set of 4 all ready to take to my sewing machine.  In the finished quilt, they will be turned different directions, but for this piecing step, I wanted them going all the same direction.

Sometimes when using a charm pack, it is challenging to lay out the quilt without having too similar fabrics too close together.  (At least it is for me.)  But by using this Kansas Troubles line, I had plenty of darks to choose from.  I did need to supplement the background colors from my stash, though.

I had enough boards to lay out all 9 4-leaf groups!

The boards stack up nicely to carry to my machine.

Hopefully they will get sewn together today!

Have a great day and keep warm!

JoAnne

January's Schnibble

Hi Everyone,

It is a new year and a new month, so consequently, there is a new Schnibble.  This month's pattern is the one I guessed it might be.  Jersey Girl.

I borrowed this picture from Carrie's website, and if you immediately fell in love with it, as did I, you can find the pattern there, by clicking here.

I really did guess that this would be our Schnibble.  Along about Christmas, I showed my husband the picture and said, "I bet this is going to be the next Schnibble--you mark my words."  As if I really thought my husband would: 1.  pay attention to what I was saying and 2.  Remember the picture of a random quilt.  I was seriously surprised the other night, though, when I had the pattern open on my computer and he said, "That looks like Jersey Girl.  Is it your Schnibble?" (He finally figured out how to pronounce that word after butchering it mercilessly the past few years.)  Well, I tried not to let the surprise show on my face and instead did a triumphant, "Yes it is!  I was right!"  Then I thought I would throw him for another loop and said, "I'm considering making it in Grant Park."  Hah!  That would confuse him again.  He would think Grant was a name or a person or that I was somehow going to make this in a park.  But you could have knocked me over with a feather when he said, "Oh yeah, that fabric you got for the block of the month!"  Okay, I guess he won that round, even though I didn't know there was any competition going on.

Actually, I wasn't really feeling Grant Park for Jersey Girl.  Carrie made it as a two-color quilt.  I figured out right away, that unless you have a two-color fabric line, it was going to require more than the 2 usual charm packs.  I went upstairs and looked through my charm packs, but I wasn't getting inspired.  I briefly considered Indigo Crossing, as it is a 2-color line, but it wasn't making a strong impression.  I love the quilt as is, made with Midwinter Reds, but I wanted to do something "my own" this time.  Besides, I just made Countdown to Christmas, and while it wasn't made with Midwinter Reds, it was made with MR-inspired fabrics from my stash.  That reminds me--I finished the quilting and binding.

 I LOVE this quilt.  Look what I found for the backing:

More red and light--candy canes and peppermint candies.  I love the bit of "Christmas" it adds to the quilt, since there wasn't a single bit on the front.

But back to the Schnibble.  Since I wasn't really "feeling" anything, I decided to read the pattern.  I love to read patterns, but Carrie's are great as she usually talks about how she came up with the name.  This pattern is no exception--I'll let you read the story on your own, but the conclusion is that she named it after her mother, who was from New Jersey.  It was a sweet story, but still no inspiration.

And then she had me!  In her opening paragraph, she said that this block was inspired by a maple leaf block.  I've been wanting a fall-like, hopefully leaf-based Schnibble.  Back when I made the ribbons for the quilt show, I knew I would have fabric left over.  I used some of the Kansas Troubles line, Harvest Moon, because it had a lovely tone-on tone leaf print in a variety of colors.  Anyway, at the same time, I got some charm packs of the line thinking I could make a Schnibbles quilt that would remind me of the quilt show.

I normally keep the name of the Schnibble for my quilt, but in this case, I don't think Jersey Girl is going to work for a fall/leaf quilt.  I don't think of fall foliage when I think of New Jersey.  No, the state that comes to mind for fall color is Maine.  So, what does Maine remind me of?  I've never been there, and I don't really know anyone from there, except my blog friend Regan.  Do you know Regan?  She was one of my very first blog friends and followers.  And as it happens, she is going to be in the area this month and we are going to get a chance to meet and spend some time fabric shopping, etc.  I am really looking forward to it have the day marked out on my calendar--it is going to be quite an event.  Hey!  Event!  Are you thinking what I'm thinking?  The title for this Schnibble is going to be The Maine Event!

Wow, now that I have a pattern, a plan, and a name, I need to go get cutting!

Have a great day!
JoAnne