Saturday, December 24, 2016

'Twas the Day Before Christmas ...

... and all 'round the studio ...

Last-minute projects are finished!!!

Three of the Queen Mother's caregivers have received Christmas table runners.

Triangle Frenzy
The tops were finished last year, but I didn't get them quilted in time for Christmas.  Almost didn't get them done this year, either!  The pattern is Triangle Frenzy, designed for border prints cut with a 60-degree triangle.  I did some simple stitch-in-the-ditch quilting and added a couple of straight lines along the S-curve/figure 8.  After my experience with the travel iron totes earlier this month, I was confident enough to do the bindings on the machine.

Machine binding
I cut the binding at 2-1/4" (I usually cut 2") and applied from the back side.  I gave it a good pressing out from the back and when I turned it to the front I stitched 1/8" from the folded  edge.  The foot on my Baby Lock has 1/4" on the right side and 1/8" on the left side which is perfect for this application.  The bobbin stitching on the back side was pretty much in the ditch, or at least parallel to the ditch, all around.

The fourth caregiver is receiving this table runner tomorrow.

QAYG Braid Table Runner
The other three had received runners made from this pattern several years ago.  I attempted machine binding at the retreat earlier this month but I had not cut it with the added quarter inch so it was less than successful.  I will be spending the next few minutes trying to resurrect it before we have to leave for a family Christmas celebration across the county.  (Of course, a shower and salad construction have to fit in that time slot, as well -- and I could sure use a nap since DH and I were up at 4 this morning in order to get to church in time to feed breakfast to the homeless ...)

Most of my day has been spent on this last project which I'm quite proud of.

Deconstructed Flying Geese
Grandson-2's girlfriend has come to meet the family -- bless her heart.  She had a modern pillow on her Amazon Wishlist and, of course, my first thought was "I can make something like that."  Never mind that I've never made a pillow cover.  The one she wanted was 18 inches so that is what I made.


I used a linen-look background fabric and cut some flying geese in grays and blacks.  My strips and geese were cut at 2-1/2".  Originally I had planned an orderly progression of geese across the pillow top, but in the end I decided spacing them out would give a more modern look.


I used a pretty Cotton + Steel print on the back and opted for an envelope overlap closure since I was pushing the deadline.

Well, that's it for Christmas preparation.  I did manage to make a few of dark purple tri-recs units for Bonnie's mystery (that I'm not doing), but just could not find time to work on the latest clue, half-square triangles.

Off to spend time with family. Best wishes to one and all for a very Merry Christmas!!




7 comments:

  1. Well you certainly have been creative and productive... bravo! Love the table runners and that pillow is awesome... very modern looking. Hope you get a chance to rest a bit after the holidays... Merry Christmas!

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  2. Congrats! on getting all those gifts done. Merry Christmas, my friend! Safe travels and a Happy New Year, too.

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  3. Have a very Merry Christmas. You got lots of the last minute stuff done. Hopefully things will slow down a bit in the next week or so so you can get caught up with that project you are not doing.

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  4. I love those 60 degree runners. I have a kit that I need to make for my mom one of these days - it's in the UFO box UGH!!! Your modern pillow turned out great - she's going to love it!!! Maybe I should try "not" doing a few projects and see if I can get as much done as you are LOL!!!

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  5. The table runner looks so intricate! I made many needlepoint pillows with upholstery velvet and corded piping. Modern quilted pillows are so much easier!

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  6. I've gotten behind on my blog reading lately and missed your last couple posts! Your table runners look great, and are such nice gifts! I especially like the pillow, and hope your grandson's girlfriend did, too. I always make envelope backings - they are so easy! Hope you had a great weekend, Libby!

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  7. Hooray for getting the gifts done in time. I love the holiday table runners. I've seen those projects before using the border fabrics but have yet to make one.

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