Release the Kraken!

Background

 I had fun creating my mythical creature-inspired quilt for Project Quilting. To start off I created a background for my kraken by pulling blues from my scrap bins to string piece a panel.

Paper mock-up

Then I did a paper mock-up to figure out the shape and distribution of the tentacles. 

After that I started pulling scraps and tracing pieces onto fusible for the applique. After I got everything fused I zig-zag stitched around each piece and then put batting pieces behind each of the tentacles (to give them extra proof) and outlined each one with a row of stitching. After trimming away the excess batting I layered the top, batting, and backing and quilted the background with a water-y pattern of variegated blue thread. I am very pleased with the final piece!

Release the Kraken! 2025

Project Quilting 16.1

I'm still contemplating what my quilt-y goals for 2025 are going to be. However, I recently came across Project Quilting and am going to jump in on that this week and maybe for future challenges. 

The theme for this first project of the season is mythical creatures. 

RULE ONE:  Find inspiration in a mythical creature.

You have one week to meet the challenge. Every challenge piece must be a FINISHED project seen through from INCEPTION to COMPLETION during the challenge timeline – that is, started on or after January 5, 2025, and linked up by noon Central Time January 12, 2025.

Each piece must stand alone as DONE to count.

Your project does not need to be a traditional quilt, but must meet at least one of these requirements: include patchwork, include appliqué, have 3 layers stitched together by hand or machine.

The Kraken is my inspiration creature.

Scrappy Saturday

Scrappy Texas Star top, 2024

I was inspired to start a new scrap project by a small pile of 5" squares that had been part of my Mom's fabric stash. The fabric was very "her" -- an Oriental floral with a little sparkle to it--and it struck me as also being something my friend's Mom would like. I dug into the scrap bins and created a lap quilt from the squares I had which I hope to have quilted and ready to deliver at Thanksgiving. The block is called Texas Star and I used the technique from The Big Book of Nickle Quilts. I had to improvise a bit on the outer border because I didn't have enough of either of the tan fabrics to do the whole thing. I think it worked out fine. 

Linking up with Scrap Happy Saturday and Oh Scrap!

Scrappy Saturday

 

black scraps becoming 9-patches

I dove into my black scrap bins and have been making 9-patches (which will disappear into the quilt) and I have strip sets ready to go into a set of blocks for the QiMFtH block drive. 

I have also been keeping an eye out for more cute scrappy quilt ideas and really liked the patchwork with the stars set into it that was in the recent batch of finishes at QiMFtH.

Linking up with Scrap Happy Saturday.

Scrappy Saturday

Black scraps ready to sew

I decided that I don't really want black in either my rainbow log cabin project or my heart quilt so I decided to do the disappearing nine-patch that Treadlestitches posted about earlier this year as a quilt top. I cut a lot of black scraps into squares and will sew them up at my quilt retreat at the end of the month. 

The current block drive at QIMFTH uses black and white 4-patches as part of the block so I am also going to make up some of those. 

In other news I am almost finished quilting my green scrap quilt from January.

I am linking up with Scrappy Saturday at So Scrappy and Oh Scrap! 

Scrappy Saturday

RSC Heart Quilt as of Aug. 2024

We are coming into the home-stretch with the RSC -- this month the color is black and next month is dark brown. Colors on a black background will probably be my go-to for both my log cabin blocks and my heart block projects. I'm not sure that either of these colors are what I want in my log cabin project so I may not do those in these colors. 

I laid out my heart and alternate blocks last month and they are coming along well. Looking at the picture I see that I should turn all the alternates the other way so the secondary design is stronger. 

I am linking up with Scrappy Saturday at So Scrappy and Oh Scrap!