Twiggy and Opal: bias tape

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Secret Surprises Are The Best!

I finally had a chance to work on a secret surprise for another unsuspecting person! I started last year making little surprise quilts for a random people who have in one way or another been a part of my quilting journey. I've said it more than once, quilty friends are the best. If I can surprise one person and put a smile on their face, that makes me very, very happy!

With a little time on my hands, I was able to finish a project I started a couple months ago. As with many of us, life can get crazy! We go with it, we do what needs to be dealt with and patiently wait for the time to do what we really want to do! Life!

Spirit Heart
17" x 15"

Let the fun begin! I knew I was going to use every square inch of the red polka dot fat eight fabric. I didn't want any small pieces left that would languish in a discarded pile.

I cut 1" wide strips (just a tad less) of white and red fabric, and stitched each one together making one piece.

The fun began when I cut this strip to make the tiny little square frame for the heart! It isn't easy keeping something so small straight, but I did my best.

I had a few ideas for the border blocks which included half square triangles. Thank you Bloc-Loc for making the task of trimming HST's so much easier and faster! I can't imagine life without it!

I guess I should tell you the first blocks I decided to make were Mini Raspberry Kiss paper pieced blocks. They are the cutest ever blocks ever! The blocks finish at 2"...mini indeed...and it's a free pattern on Craftsy. Click here for the pattern: Mini Raspberry Kiss

The size of the Kiss blocks determined the size of all the rest of the blocks in the border. A few nine patch, geese, kisses and ribbon star blocks should get me the border I'm envisioning!

Admittedly, it was a tough little border to work through! But it came together and for the most part worked out.

I stitched all around the bias tape heart before quilting the rest of the mini. The center is vertical lines that line up with the frame squares.

I wasn't sure about quilting in red thread for the background heart. I was fully prepared to pull out the seam ripper if it didn't work. Boy, am I glad it worked!!

This will be in the mail in a couple days! Let's hope it surprises and puts a smile on the unsuspecting victim!

LINKING:

Main Crush Monday
Freemotion By The River

Let's Bee Social

Needle & Thread

Oh Scrap

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Happy Valentine's Day :: I Couldn't Resist!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

The day of love, sweets, romance, chocolate, flowers, candy!

It's probably too soon to share version two of my bias tape hearts...but it is Valentines Day after all! A slightly different interpretation from Heart 1.

16" x 16"

This time I went smaller. Instead of working with 1" grid, I decided to go with a 1/2" grid. If you look at Heart 1, you will see it has more space in between the bias tape and the heart in more elongated.

I starched the fabric this time, didn't use the fusible web tape and did not cut the fabric on the bias. All three of those things...Home Run!! It worked so much better!

I think I like this version best...so far! I like a good chubby heart!

More match stick quilting with white and pink thread. I like that with the light background you can clearly see the thread colors.

I'm not going to lie, I have plans for Heart #3. I know...I'm 'beating' (beating ... heart ... pun intended) this idea to death!!

What would it look like using a 3/4" grid?! Plus, I need to get a secret surprise gift for another unsuspecting person. I had so much fun with the few I did last year, I want to keep it up for 2017. With that in mind, wouldn't a pretty little heart be a nice surprise to receive?