My kind of fishing!

One of the projects I worked on as part of the 2021 APQ UFO Challenge was this little table runner.  My husband is a big fisherman so when I saw this pattern, I knew he would love it!  The pattern was one of those business card sized laminated patterns that are easy to find at many quilt shops.  They seem to call to me and are often an impulse purchase for me!  

It was all made with fabrics from my stash and I did the machine quilting as well.  I love projects like these.  Another UFO to cross off the list!  

APQ 2018 April UFO

No blood was shed in the making of this table runner!

This is another UFO that is now a FO!  I started this runner in a quilting class at the Quilter's Barn in Allentown, NJ, which is no longer in business.  I was very sad when they closed.  I loved taking classes there because I made many new friends, I learned new techniques and tips about quilting.  Oh, I did find new shops where I can spend my dollars and take classes, but as the saying goes, you never forget your first.

So this class was taken in 1996.  I was a fairly new quilter back then but I do remember that I liked this class because I was scared silly to sew squares on point and this was the perfect project to cure me of that fear.  I finished the top center with the squares on point while in the class, but as often happened with class projects, once it left the classroom, it was put in a bag, box or bin never to be seen again.  I have gotten much somewhat better since then but there is now a spiral runner that comes to mind!

I added this to my UFO list to finish in 2018 with all expectations of completing it.  It was a smaller project, I had all the supplies on hand, I was getting better at quilting my own smaller projects, I also learned the joys of spray basting!  I don't know what I will do with the thousands of bent safety pins I have collected over the years, but I will find something creative on Pinterest I am sure!

Finishing the top required adding the little yellow border and the wider print border, all straight stitching.  Then the top was sandwiched with the batting and backing with the basting spray.  Lastly, I made the 2.5" binding and attached it to the front of the runner with a .25" seam.

           

I had purchased a sizeable amount of Clover clips over the years but still used straight pins to hold down the binding on the back side of the project.  They worked great but I routinely pierced my hands and snagged other fabrics before the hand sewing of the binding was done.  This meant blood and band-aids were part of my quilting practices.  This time, I put away the pins and grabbed the clips.  My binding habit was to pin (or this case, clip) the binding down on all four sides before starting the hand sewing.  See the result below - no pins, no piercing, no snags!  This technique is certainly a do-over!  This dog learned a lot of new tricks with this small project!

I try to use each class project, including those hanging around for 22 years, as a learning experience.  So here is what I learned from this one: 

• If at all possible, purchase all the fabrics you will need to complete a project.  Of course this could be costly if your project is a king sized quilt, but when possible, get enough to at least make the borders and binding.  I bought all the fabrics for the borders and backing and even the binding for this runner, and I was glad I did.
• Learn a new technique that will reduce your time sewing, machine quilting or binding your project.  
• It's ok to leave a project unfinished but keep them together in a labelled box or bin.  If you decide you don't intend to finish it, recycle the fabrics into another project such as a scrap quilt.  Some guilds will also take UFO fabrics.  After all, it will give you more room for new fabrics and the UFO fabrics will be put to another good purpose.  All will be well in the quilting universe!  

May all your needles be sharp and your bobbins be full! 

APQ 2018 March UFO

Even though the number selections for the APQ UFO challenge for 2018 are totally random, I seem to be on a holiday themed run and this month was no different.  This is a Halloween project that was started in mid 2006.  It was a little kit I picked up during the annual NJ Shop Hop.  The pattern was provided in the kit which was the primary attraction for me.  Once I opened the kit, I saw that the fabrics were all Halloween themed which was ok in my book.  The kit also included the fabric for the top, borders, and binding.  I just needed to add the backing fabric.

The pattern name was "Frame Up" and was one of the little laminated cards you often find near the cash register in many shops.  I liked that it was a simple project and I that I could shop at local quilt shops.  This one was in Ocean City NJ and unfortunately, closed over a decade ago.

The project was easy to assemble with the fabrics provided.  I used a small piece of backing fabric from my stash to back the runner.   I used double sided fusible batting to sandwich the fabrics since it was a smaller project.   I machine quilted it using my walking foot with a quilting arm to make the stitching widths consistent.  I took the opportunity to practice my machine binding with a decorative stitch rather than hand sew the binding down.  I like using smaller projects like this to practice some techniques that I otherwise can't do on larger projects.  This runner finished at 14.5" x 36".  I look forward to using this Halloween runner in a few months.  The pattern is very small but will certainly make a big impact in some of my stash fabrics for other holidays!  

Can you guess what UFO project for April was chosen???

APQ 2018 February UFO

I decided to do the 2018 UFO Challenge this year.  I did this challenge in 2016 and finished 12 UFO projects.  It felt really good to get those projects off my plate.  I had a busy schedule planned for 2017 and did not continue the challenge.  At the end of 2017, I organized my sewing areas and found a few lot of unfinished projects that would work well for the UFO challenge and so it started.

The January UFO was actually the quilt I started for my sister (Sister's Surprise).  I wanted the post to be more about my sister rather than the challenge so it is identified that way.  It was already started so it was my newest UFO but a UFO nonetheless.  My next eleven UFO posts will be identified that way.  This is what I finished for February.

When I assembled the next eleven projects for the challenge, I just listed them on the challenge form in no particular order.  The number is drawn on the first of each month and I pull that project from the pile.  In February, the number chosen was # 9, a floral table runner that I started in a class in May of 2002 - yes, 2002.  The pattern used in the class was for the Waterwheel Tablerunner.  My favorite colors of the time were pinks and greens.  Working on this project again after all those years really brought me back in time!  I was really happy to finish this one and use it on my dining room table.  It brings a touch of spring to this room!

Pattern

Runner 77" x 22"

Rosebud backing fabric

Waterwheel block

 This was a great project, especially since it is 77 inches long!

 

The Tale of the Table Runners!

I looked at the calendar today and discovered it was March 2nd already!  Huh?  Where did January and February go?  I was hoping to publish my list of things to do in 2017 in early January but obviously that did not happen.  The good news is that I did take inventory of all my fabrics, projects, WIPs and FANS (that's my new description of projects when the Fabric has been Assigned but Not Started).  I have more of those than I realized!  I will eventually list all of my projects for 2017 but for now, I will let you know what I have been up to so far this year.  If anyone asked, I could answer with one word: table runners. 

I must admit that as I started to go through my boxes, bins and bags of fabrics and precuts, I would lose focus and start to fondle my yardage, fat quarters, charm squares and layer cakes!  I found myself making piles of things to use in a future project, or two or three.  I finally smacked my head and screamed "focus, girl, focus!".   The ultimate goal at that time was to sort my fabrics into size and color so I could have a better understanding of what could be considered "a scrap" and what could be considered "usable yardage".  I am on a mission to organize my scraps into some kind of a logical system.  There are many systems out there but I have not yet found one that suits my needs.  At this point anything less than 2.5" inches square or strips less than 2.5" x 10" long is not kept.  I will save the discarded scraps in one bucket to make a doggie bed so really, nothing will go to waste.  But I digress - see how easy I lose my focus! 

Ok, so at this point in time I was in the process of finishing up a baby quilt.  I needed to spray baste it and then quilt and bind it.  That's now done and it is currently being hand bound and will be gifted next week.   I thought that while I had the table set up for spray basting that I would see what else was ready to get basted.  When I finally got around to taking down my Christmas tree, I had to put away the table runner on my coffee table in the room where the tree stood (all the other decorations were down and put away).  I loved that table runner!  I purchased the Christmas table runner as a kit and it came with the pattern so I thought I could make one in non-holiday fabrics.  It took me no time at all since the blocks were big and easy to make.  So this one went into the queue for spray basting.  As it turns out, I found another to baste, one more that was close to finishing and one that I started from scratch (remember those piles I mentioned earlier?).  So, here is my tale of the table runners! 

So, the most recent table runner has been on my list for a long time but I could never find the right fabrics for it.  The pattern calls for  forty-four 6 inch squares but I wanted to use charm squares since I have quite a collection of those and really didn't want to buy anything new.  The problem was that the pattern needed 44 squares and 99.9% of charm squares have 42 squares.  But when I sorted through my charm square collection I found exactly one that had 44 squares.  The top is done and it is now ready to be spray basted to the batting and backing which I made from 3 fat quarters that I also had on hand.  The binding is already made so it should be completed in short order.  The pattern is from the All People Quilt website.  It is one of their free patterns and is called Table Matters.  It finished about 16" x 78".  This one is for my foyer table. 

The next table runner is the one I made to replace the Christmas runner I mentioned earlier.  It is not only cut, sewn, basted and bound, it is actually in use on my coffee table!  I love this pattern!  I will certainly be making more for a variety of occasions and holidays!  The pattern came with the kit and is one of those 3.5" x 5.5" laminated cards you often find near a register in quilt shops.  These are gems!  Below is the inspiration runner next to the one I just completed.  The pattern name is Sew Square Runner and can be easily made from your stash.  It finishes at 15" x 55".  I had extra fabric from the rust color triangles so I used that for the backing.  All of these fabrics came from my stash.  I machine sewed the binding on the runner.  Not sure I like this method but I think with more practice, it might work out ok for me. 

The next runner is an oldie but a goodie.  I just happen to like this pattern and most likely bought the fabrics during a break from a class I was taking many years ago.  No clues to when or where (most likely the Quilter's Barn) but I love the pattern and the fabrics.  This one is now spray basted and the binding is made as shown in the photo below.  It will get a very simple stitch in the ditch quilting before being bound.  Since my Pfaff machine died, I have been using my Bernina exclusively.  I recently discovered the joys of using the #10 foot for doing SiTD quilting!  How did I ever quilt without this foot before!  This one will go on my dining room table as early as next Thanksgiving!  The pattern is called Regal Table Linen by Peg & Lil's Needle Patch.  The runner finished at 22.5" x 52".

The last runner is really an oldie and a goodie.  It was from a class given at the Quilter's Barn and I still had the class instructions.  The date and time of the class was recorded on the instruction sheet but I never recorded the year.  I guess I had big ideas of finishing everything in the year it was started - silly me!  However, the best lesson I learned from this project was finding anything about dates and calendars.  I knew the day and date of the class, even the time (9:30a to 12:30p) I just needed to find the year!  I found a website that can find that for you!  I started by asking Google "When did this date occur on a Saturday" and boy did I get answers!  Turns out it was 2002!  So this runner will celebrate it's 15th birthday in May of this year!  Isn't the internet fabulous?!  This pattern is called Waterwheel Tablerunner and finished to 22" x 77".  This will be my spring runner on my dining room table.  This one needs the most work since I need to either find the pink and floral fabrics in my stash or find suitable substitutes.  Two borders are needed before it can be basted and quilted.  The green in the photo is the backing and the yellow is for the binding. 

So, I have intentions of making 17 in 2017 (more about that in a future post), and these 4 runners along with the baby quilt will count as the first 5.  I have six others in the queue right off the bat so I am off and running, so to speak! 

Happy quilting! 

APQ 2016 October UFO

UFO project #10 is another oldie but goodie.  This APQ challenge involves 12 UFO projects listed on a form that was submitted to APQ last December.  The projects were listed from 1 to 12.  Every first of the month starting with January 2016, APQ pulled a number out of a hat (that's just how I imagine they did it but chances are the use a random number generator - not as magical) and published the number on their site.  I have my own preferences for the choice each month, because, of course, I know what it will take to complete each one and depending on my free time and scheduling, I know the level of difficulty each project will present.  I did a happy dance when number 10 was chosen for this month's UFO. 

The project used "Not Your Grandmother's Tumbling Blocks" pattern by Marcia L. Baker.  This is a strip-pieced method of making tumbling blocks.  I love this block but the thought of making the block with Y seams was overwhelming at the stage of quilting I was in then. I loved the pattern booklet, it was very well done and easy to follow, even for a beginner. 

This project gave me a bit of a break, and I thank the quilting gods for that!  This is again a project for a class I took at Bittersweet Designs in Washington Crossing PA.  This was a wonderful shop and I started my quilting journey there.  I took a sampler quilt class and thought I had gotten in way over my head but I had good friends who got me through the tough beginning.  My completed sampler quilt is often used on my bed.  Unfortunately, this shop closed several years after this class.  I have many fond memories of this place! 

But I took this class to learn the tumbling blocks pattern but from strip sets and not from sewing Y seams.  I thought I had jumped from the frying pan into the fire!  But I did finish the two sessions of the class, but not the project!   I still have the original class instructions and I was flabbergasted to see that the dates of my class were 9/11 and 10/2 -of 1999!  1999!  So, after 17 years, this one is finally done and in use! 

These pictures show how it looked in early October.  It was in fairly good shape and really just needed a row or two more, batting, quilting and binding.  I was surprised I stored it in a place I could find it easily!  And looking at it 17 years later, I was pleasantly surprised at how nicely my seams matched!  I can only imagine how long I took to get those points to match! 

So, here is the finished product.  It was machine quilted and the binding was hand sewn down, both by me.  Since I used Christmas fabrics, (I have no idea why other than the class was given in September - did I tell you it was 1999?), I must have had thought I could finish it for Christmas.  As I think of it now, I actually AM finishing it for Christmas, just not the one I had in mind! 

The original plan was to make a wall hanging.  As you can see, it ended up as a table runner and fits perfectly on my foyer table.  It just made sense to reduce the size to something that I would get more use out of compared to a wall hanging. 

So, onto the project for November.  This one is a larger lap quilt in Civil War fabrics using the monkey wrench block.  Another oldie, ready to be completed! 

APQ 2016 September UFO - Almost

We are nearing the end of this challenge and I have actually surprised myself with how much I accomplished.  These UFO projects were not the only projects I was working on each month. 

This month's challenge was to complete a BOM (block of the month) that I started in 2015.  I have a separate area on this blog to describe this project.  This was a mystery quilt of sorts.  One block was assigned per month.  I managed to get 4 of the blocks completed during the month it was assigned.  Then Murphy's Law set in and I became a bit overwhelmed with all my irons in the fire and the diminished time I had to work on them. 

At the time of the UFO challenge, I had four more 12.5" blocks to complete as well as fifty-one 6.6" blocks and 50 border blocks that were comprised of 2-HST and two 2.5" squares per block.  I decided to work on the border blocks first.  Lots of cutting, making HST construction, then joining those with 2.5" blocks to make the border units. 

Now, all of the fabrics have already been chosen and assigned a number which needed to match the numbers assigned to each block.  I like this method, it gets me out of my comfort level! 

So, I started cutting 200 squares and sewing them into 50 block units.  I had just finished the 22 inner border blocks and was started to work on the 28 outer border blocks when my world stopped spinning - my workhorse of a sewing machine, my Pfaff 7570 just stopped working. 

No warning signs, it just went kaput!  Now I do have to confess that I have another machine, a Bernina 350PE.  Ok, and a Featherweight.  Oh, alright I also have a Singer Futura and another Singer handed down to me from my sweet mother-in-law.  Both of those are in cabinets.  But, I have been using my Pfaff for over 20 years and just wanted her back!  I looked online for all the information I could find on what could possibly have gone wrong.  I check my online groups as well.  Then I finally decided I needed to get her into my Pfaff expert for a proper diagnosis. 

I was truly worried! 

The news wasn't good.  Parts for older Pfaffs are not easy to come by, and they are expensive.  My sweet husband was going to pick up the $450 tab to replace the LCD screen, but I was so surprised when the repair tech said he would not recommend going forward with the repair.  He said there was no way of knowing what else could be wrong since he needed the LCD to be working to finish the diagnostics.  Given the age of the machine, it was not a good financial decision to replace the LCD screen.  So, I said goodbye to my Pfaff.  Her working space is now occupied by my Bernina and she has been a dream to use.

On a positive note, I need to tell you about my new favorite tool - Block_Loc!  It was a miracle worker for the little HST blocks that needed to be made for the border units.  Here is the squaring up in progress and all the scraps I created. The rulers come in a variety of sizes.  I have (and love, love, love) the 6.5", 4.5" and 2.5" rulers. 


However, with all the time spent on getting Pfaff back up and running, there was no more time to finish the September project.  But, it WILL get done early next year, hopefully in the first quarter.  I did make progress, so I decided that I would consider this an interrupted project and not an unfinished one! 

And life goes on......

The project for October is a tumbling blocks project in Christmas fabrics.  Perfect timing! 

APQ 2016 June UFO

When I first started quilting in the mid-90's, I loved to take classes to learn new techniques and to enjoy the company of other quilters.   I took lots of classes, some I enjoyed and some, well, not so much.  But enjoyed or not, I always learned something new and always came home with a completed project of some sort.  Oftentimes, the classes were just a few hours so I was able to make 1 or 2 completed blocks or part of a quilt top.  The rest of the project was completed at home or stored away for a future activity.  If I was not confident with the technique or just decided it wasn't something I would use anytime soon, the supplies and class instructions were packed away.  That was the case with my June UFO.  

This class was taken in July of 2002.  No, that is not a typo, it was in 2002.  It was my first experience with 5" squares.  They were not yet being called "charm squares".  This class was focused on using 5" scraps to make "Nickel Quilts" although the book also provided instructions for 4" and 6" scraps.  It was also my inauguration into the world of HSTs, half square triangles.  There was not one project to do for this class, there were two!  Each with their own cutting instructions, fabric requirements and layouts. I very quickly became overwhelmed.  As often happens with one-day classes, time was limited and the pace was quick.  The foundation unit for each of the 2 quilts was made from a 2 color HST which was then combined with a 3rd color square to make what was called a combination unit.  When these units were completed, there was a right handed version and a left handed version.  One class quilt used the right handed units and the other class quilt used the left handed units.  I did manage to make one block for each quilt before the class ended but I was beyond confused.  I like making the HSTs and was glad I learned that technique.  I was not enthusiastic about completing the two quilts simutaneously, one of which needed 35 blocks and the other which needed 16 blocks.  I packed everything away and moved onto other things.  I was still working full time and had limited quilting time so I wanted to work on things I could complete and enjoy doing.  

Several years ago, I did unearth the class materials and the book.  I had retired by then and I was taking inventory of my fabrics and projects in various stages.  I read the book instructions several times and finally had that "light bulb moment".  At this point I understood what I needed for each quilt, which units were complete and which units still needed to be cut or sewn.  I took lots of notes and added this UFO to my list for a future time.  

Fast forward to December 2015.  I read about a UFO Challenge being sponsored by APQ (All People Quilt).  It required me to list 12 unfinished projects and list them on Instagram.  Nothing needed to be purchased.  On the 1st of each month in 2016, APQ would chose a number between 1 and 12.  That number would identify the number of the UFO I needed to finish that month.  I could do that, I thought.  This project was number 10 on my list and it was chosen for June.  I had already completed 5 UFOs for January through May.  I knew this one would be the most difficult so far because of the two quilts involved.  I had no idea......

Here is what this project looked like when I started:

This shows the 2 blocks that were planned in the class.  The whirly gig is in the back and the pin wheel is in the front.  All of the units are cut and assembled at this point.

As I started to investigate what needed to be done to get this UFO completed by June 30th, I realized that the primary purpose of the class was to learn how to work with HSTs.  I did that.  It also hightlighted that the leftovers from making one quilt could be used to make a second quilt so the fabrics were not wasted.  I got that.  What I needed to wrap my brain around was that this class produced 2 UFOs, not just one and I didn't really need to physically finish 2 quilts to comply with the challenge.  So, I decided that I would make the larger of the 2 quilts this time (this one was my original objective from the class) and save the leftover units for another time.  That certainly simplified the process for me, more than I realized!  

As I got further into the construction of the 15 blocks needed to make a lap sized quilt, it became very clear that there would be tons of cutting, sewing, more cutting, more sewing and then squaring up of everything that was cut and sewn.  Each of the 15 blocks took 4 units and each unit took 4 squares to make.  
The most difficult of the construction was the size constraints.  The 60 units needed to be squared up to 4.25 inches.  Each block also needed center squares cut to 23/8 inches.  Each block also needed 8 rectangles measuring 4.25 by 23/8 inches.  Lots of unique cutting requirements.  The squaring up was the most difficult because these were combination units, not just HSTs.  

Two gadgets that proved invaluable were a 2.5" x 6" ruler from MSQC (Missouri Star Quilt Company) which was great to cut the pieces that needed to be 23/8 inches because of the clarity of the ruler markings and a Tucker Trimmer for the squaring up of the combination units.  I already had a Tucker Trimmer but it was designed for squaring up squares in 1/2" and whole number increments.  Then I saw that they also made one in 1/4" and 3/4" increments. Amazon next day delivery is fabulous!  This worked like magic on the combination units!  

These pictures show the completed top and the quilting on the front and back.  I kept it simple doing a SITD around the outside of each star and a cross hatch in the borders.  

I was pleased with how this project turned out - and on time!  I have named it "Seeing Stars" for several reasons.  It will live at our cabin and will warm my legs when I sit and read on the porch or in our summer room.  I am really glad this one is done.  I will make the second one with the leftovers at some point this year.  The fabrics will not be put away but will just be put aside for now.  

So what did I learn from this one:

Read the instructions until you understand every step.
Measure twice and cut once!
Square units make square blocks.  
Use the appropriate tools. 

So, I bet you are wondering which UFO is next on the list. Well, the number drawn for July was #4, or my Double Wedding Ring project.  I don't quite remember when I started this one but it is an all hand sewn project, hand cut with templates and hand pieced.  This picture was taken in 2011 so it does qualify to be an "oldie but goodie".  It served as my go-to project when I traveled which is partly the reason it is not yet done.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!  

Stay tuned.........

APQ 2016 April UFO

My fourth UFO for this challenge project was originally thought to be a piece of cake.  In reality, not so much.  This was a 2.5" square challenge from 2014 where all the squares were to be from fabrics in my stash.  It could have been as small as one square or a large as a crib quilt (if you wanted to enter it for a prize).  I had enough squares for a lap size quilt so I went that route.  I was not planning to enter it into the drawing since I knew I would not make the entry deadline which was OK by me.  I was looking just to finish it and have a warm lap quilt for the cabin.  I finished the 12 blocks which had 25 squares in each block.  Sashing was added between each block.  Then the holidays hit!  

I thought the completion was going to be a slam dunk.  Just add a border, add batting and backing and quilt.  I wanted to use the same fabric for the border as I had used for the sashing.  I searched everywhere within 2 states!  No luck, so I needed a Plan B - a rust color border to match the cornerstone patches I used in the sashing.  That worked!  

My next challenge was the binding.  I knew I wanted to machine bind this quilt and I prefer to use a flange binding when I machine bind.  I auditioned several fabrics for the flange and finally found one I liked and that matched the multi-colored squares.  And these were fabrics I already had in my stash!
  
So, the fabrics were chosen, the backing and binding were made, I had batting on hand.  Next step, make the quilt sandwich and quilt.  I once again used spray basting.  I love this method.  It takes no time at all, saves my back and my knees and really has no odor.  I have plenty of space in our garage and a very big table to use.  I should have this done in plenty of time to meet the end of month deadline right?  WRONG!   The bathroom plumbing had other ideas!  

We noticed a small water stain in our powder room ceiling and thought our upper guest bathroom had developed a leak which ended up ruining the ceiling of the downstairs powder room.  Our first thought we needed to replace the wax seal but our first step (after turning off the water) was to pull down the ceiling in the powder room.  That's when we found a pin hole in a copper water pipe. This took time to fix and plumbers to hire.  Despite the unplanned event, I was able to finish most of the quilt on April 30th.  I needed several hours on May 1st to complete the last part of the binding.  I did finish the project before the May project was posted so I consider this one a success!  

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!  


Four down, 8 to go!  The May project is a table runner.  The top is done, it needs backing, batting, quilting, binding.  Should be an easy finish but we all know that I have said that before!  We will see how this goes!  It's always an adventure!  

My next table runner project - or two, or three!

First, let's be clear, I am the first to admit that I have a long list of quilty things to do start and finish but I think these are some good choices to put in the top 10 for this year. 

I really like love table runners!  I find them easy to make, quick to finish and I can quilt them myself which increases my confidence with machine quilting. They can also be made in a variety of widths and lengths. Plus, i can buy fabrics for every holiday!  Now that we have two homes, I have plenty of places to put them.  Many of the quilt shops carry these as kits with the striped fabric already cut and the backing fabric included.  

One of my favorite patterns for table runners uses striped fabrics. These are certainly the easiest projects to do since they are made with only 5 seams!  I have made several of them which can be found by using the label "runner".  

Those table runners were made with the Easy Striped Table Runner pattern designed by Karen Montgomery.  I have fabric to make several more from that pattern.  

The other table runners will be made from the Triangle Frenzy Runner pattern by Bunnie Cleland.  These are new to me.  One is called "Runner" and the other is called "Swirl".  These patterns also have instructions for left-handed cutting which is a big plus!  

In addition to the striped fabric and the pattern, the other required tool is the 60° ruler.  I have two sizes of this ruler, the Creative Grid 8" (CGRT60) and the Creative Grid (CGRT12560) 12".  I used the smaller ruler for the Easy Striped pattern.  The Frenzy pattern calls for the larger ruler.  

These rulers can also be used to make a hexagon table topper.  There are several good ones out there.  The pattern for the Triangle Frenzy indicates they have one available.  I don't have that one - yet - but I do have this one by Sew Biz.  

I know these rulers are a bit expensive so it is nice when you can use them for several purposes.  I bet this one can be altered to make a Christmas tree skirt!  

The fabrics I have on hand to make several of these table runners (or table topper) are suitable for both everyday use and holidays.  I have fabrics for fall, Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as everyday runners.  I will most likely make the Easter table runner first, followed by the birthday runner.  

I also have these fabrics that were recently purchased from The Village Quiltery near our cabin in the Poconos.  They had such a wonderful selection of these striped fabrics.  I also purchased backing fabrics to match.  

It may sound like I have an overabundance of runner fabrics, (they now have their own bin!) but considering that the runners take about an hour to make, I can make several in a day.  They do not require binding, although that is certainly an alternative to the "pillow case" finishing technique that I use.  I finish mine off with decorative top-stitching.  They are perfect to use for any occasion but they also make wonderful gifts!  

Happy New Year - Let the quilting begin!

Hoping the first 18 days of 2014 have been good to everyone!  I have been busy quilting and knitting and enjoying both.  The holidays were crazy around here and the tree is still up though the external decorations as well as the decorations in the other rooms have been taken down.  The Hubs loves the tree lights so I chose to leave it up a while longer.  It is very soothing. 

So, my last post was about the table runners I was making for Christmas gifts.  All have been gifted and very much appreciated.  My sister decided we would not do gifts this year since we both have grands, and I agreed.  But she said nothing about New Year gifts!  She has also just purchased a new house in Delaware and she said it would match her decor perfectly.

Since I had purchased yardage for this table runner and not a kit, I had enough fabric to make two table runners.  In a kit, there is generally a 22" x 54" strip of fabric which makes one runner.  I decided to use the stripes in different ways to get two different looks.  Here's the result:

The first picture shows the runner made for my sister with the backing and quilting.  The second picture is the same runner along side my sister's runner, although a bit smaller to fit one of my tables.  One was made with the dark stripe inside and the smaller one was made the dark stripe on the outside which results in a darker inner band.  I like them both but I think I prefer the smaller one with two dark bands.  That one will be used in our cabin. 

With the triangles that were removed from the ends of the runners, I was able to make a candle mat.  My sister liked that idea so that will go to her new home as well.  I like this pattern since there are very little scraps!

Here are pictures of the snowman runner I made for my sister-in-law who is also a quilter.  These pictures show the front, back and close-up of this runner.  I have cut several of these cuties and will finish them for next year so, hey, for once, I am ahead of the Christmas rush! 

This fabric was purchased during a NJ Shop Hop.  It was odd to find Christmas fabric in April, but the shop said it was delivered late and should have been there for the previous holiday season.  The timing was just perfect for me!