Saturday, February 26, 2011

Civil War Saturday postponed

Can you call in sick to a blog post?  I'm wondering.... I've caught the plague a cold, school nurse tells me I probably have the flu.  (hack, cough.... weeeeze....) On the 6th day of hacking up a lung.  I'm am going to retreat to my comfy chair, with my blueberry-lemon tea, in my jammies and rest. 

I would love to see your Civil War Blocks that you have made so far.  Feel free to post them on... http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/

You can join the Civil War Diary Quilt journey at any time!  Do take time to visit the older posts on the blocks for the first section of the book.  So next Saturday we will learn about Eldress Nancy Elly Moore.  I will work on 'Feeding The Rebels' and 'Draft Threat'  from the book....if you have any questions or comments on the block, feel free to email me at cindy

  hack....cough...... weeeze,  until next week, Happy quilting!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Sorrow & Gloomy Prospects

Greenfield and Stockton from last
week... all fixed.
This week I worked on the final two blocks from the Rachel Young King Anderson  chapter from 'The Civil War Dairy Quilt' book by Rosemary Youngs.  These two quilt blocks cover the time period from September 1, 1864 to January 1, 1865.  Rachel opened and close a school, she learned of the loss of her father.  She continues to put her strength in god as the Civil War goes on.  She worries about her family, friends and neighbors.  I cannot imagine the hardships she went through during this time.

So let's get started on the final two blocks from this section of the book, 'Sorrow' and 'Gloomy Prospects'  Both blocks are paper pieced.  If you need a refresher coarse on paper piecing, I found this website helpful...http://www.daystyledesigns.com/paperpiecing.htm


My color choices for this block are again very traditional and follow the color suggestion pictured in Rosemary's book.  I printed up foundation paper using the CD available as a companion piece for "The Civil War Diary Quilt' book.  If you do not have the CD, use the picture to trace out your foundation papers.  Remember to make a copy in case of mistakes.

'Sorrow' is broken down into 10 paper piecing sections. I label all of the colors in each section of the paper piecing templates.  I find this very helpful while working on these blocks.

Sewing on the lines of the foundation paper... remember to sew beyond the 1/4" seams.

What my block looked like after sewing but before trimming....

'Sorrow' completed.  I think this is my personal favorite block so far... 43 pieces to this block, I counted.

My fabric choices and foundation paper for 'Gloomy Prospects'.

This block is broken up into three sections for paper piecing.  I again wrote the fabric colors in each section so that I didn't loose track of what I was doing as I stitched along.  Remember while paper piecing to use a small stitch setting and a sharp needle on your sewing machine.  Change your needle fairly often.

Stitching on the sewing lines.  Going in the numerical order printed on the foundation paper.

Here I am trimming away the excess fabric as I work on the block, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.  Don't cut the foundation paper!

The three sections of the block completed and trimmed leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.

'Gloomy Prospects'
Next Saturday we will learn about Eldress Nancy Elly Moore.  I will work on 'Feeding The Rebels' and 'Draft Threat'  from the book....if you have any questions or comments on the block, feel free to email me at cindy

Remember to post your progress on the Civil War Diary Quilt Group on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/

Happy quilting!


The Civil War Diary Quilt Book can be bought through paypal or through the mail from Rosemary Youngs...
The Civil War Diary Quilt book is available for $22.99 plus $4.95 priority mail, (global priority mail $11.95) . You can order the CD with the book, you will need  Electric Quilt 5 or 6 to run the CD, the CD alone is $10 and there is no extra charge for postage when you order the book with the CD, total cost for the CD with the book will be $32.99 plus your postage.
Send a check or money order to Rosemary Youngs, 3704 Nicole Ct., Walker, MI 49534

Friday, February 18, 2011

So how many does it take?

My bin full of 2 1/2" squares... and the cream fabric
 I will mix them with...
At every quilt retreat I scavenge every one's scraps of fabric, nothing is too little to be added to my scrap bag.  I dig through the garbage, I scan the floor.  I have every color and holiday covered in this glop of fabric.  You should see my huge bag of bits and pieces!  I'm sure it's an illness, I just can't throw away scraps.  Everyone thinks I'm nuts, especially my sister.  I keep telling them I will make something wonderful out of these little bits and pieces.  I spent the last couple of days going through my 'scrap' bag and cutting 2 1/2" squares for a postage stamp quilt.  I'm thinking it's a wonderful idea  completely insane.  As I'm cutting these little scraps, I'm wondering how many 2 1/2" squares is it going to take to make a quilt... has anyone gotten one done?  I know it's been done, I think they look completely charming when finished.  Does it really take long to sew one together?  I can tell you it takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r to cut the little bits and pieces out of a scrap bag into 2 1/2" squares.  So tonight I will attempt to piece together a postage stamp quilt as I celebrate the 'Friday Night Sew In'.  I could use some wise words of encouragement.   I'm having a hard time imagining that this conglomeration of fabric will turn out to be a charming quilt top.  HELP!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Winner!

Winner Announced!

Before Wilson and I announce a winner, I want to thank everyone who has been following me so far, I really appreciate it.  The Quilt Doodle Doodles has been a terrific journey so far and I look forward to all of the projects yet to be done!  I look forward to making new quilting friends, seeing new projects and more giveaways!   11 squares done so far on my Civil War Diary Quilt and 110 blocks to go...

To choose our winner, Wilson and I assigned everyone a number and then went to random.org to draw our lucky winner! 

And the winner of the fabulous set of 5 fat quarters is............... drum roll please.............Sheila!  Congratulations!  Sheila, please email me your address so that I can send you your prize!  


Sheila said...
     the first comment never wins, but this would be a welcome addition to my Dear Jane and Brackman BOW. I have been wondering if i could manage the "Civil War diaries" as well. Its all good piecing practice

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Give-away!

I'm celebrating!
One row complete on my
Civil War Diary Quilt!

So... I'm having a giveaway!


By entering you could win this lovely set of fat quarters!
 I'm so excited about getting a row done on my Civil War Diary Quilt that Wilson and I decided to host a giveaway in celebration!  Winner will be announced February 17th.  So here's how you can win...
it's easy... just post a comment to enter to win... let me know what you like about quilting, the doodle blog, what-ever is on your mind.  Want to up your chances to win?  Well to get an extra name in the bag, click 'follow me' too!  On February 17th Wilson and I will draw and announce the lucky winner! 


Happy quilting!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Alvin McClure and Greenfield...

A row done on my Civil War Diary Quilt... whew... got two more blocks done today and I apologize for the delay in the posting... This weekend I worked on pages 30-33 in Rosemary Youngs book, The Civil War Diary Quilt. Let's start with the block named, Alvin McClure.  Reading this diary entry from Rachel Young King Anderson, was very sad.  I tried to google and find some additional info on Alvin or William McClure to share in this post but had no luck.

I decided to paper piece both blocks that I worked on today.  If you need a refresher coarse on paper piecing, I found this website helpful...http://www.daystyledesigns.com/paperpiecing.htm

I used colors similar as pictured in the book, although my yellow isn't as bright.  I used more of a creamy color.  I am also yellow-phobic.

Here are my foundation papers all ready to go...

Here I am lining up my next color to be sewn...

Notice how I sew right on the seam line on the foundation paper and I sew pass the 1/4" seam lines. 


Trim the block leaving a 1/4" seam for sewing.

Sewing the 2 sections of the 'Alvin McClure' block together.

All done... again, my white blocks don't exactly look like the one pictured in the book... it is again a mirror image. 

So I move onto the 'Greenfield and Stockton' block... this looks like a very straight forward easy block.  All straight seams, no funny angles.  I did this block in colors similar to the book.

Here are the foundation papers that I printed up from Rosemary Youngs CD.  I wrote on the foundation paper colors so that I can stay on track with what colors go where...

As I worked on the block I noticed something! The book features the block made with four sections made with five strips.  The foundation paper I printed up from the companion CD is made up of sections with six strips.  In this picture I have the foundation paper I drew up from the book and the foundation paper that I printed up.  I think either block works well and still are pretty similar.  I decided to use Rosemary Youngs version from her CD.

So I pieced the block...

Greenfield and Stockton all done, but I managed to goof up the order in one of the sections.  I will probably redo it but in the famous words of Scarlet O'Hara... " I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow."
....if you have any questions or comments on any of the blocks I have been working on,
 feel free to email me at cindy

Remember to post your progress on the Civil War Diary Quilt Group on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/

Next Saturday I will be working on the final two blocks from Rachel Young King Anderson's section of the book.  'Sorrow' & 'Gloomy Prospects'

Happy quilting!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Mug Rug Swap

I love the mug rug that I received during the Inspiration Mug Rug Swap.  I have my mug rug proudly on display in my studio.  The bright colors give me hope that maybe spring is right around the corner.  I really need some inspiration to believe that spring is coming since we had a chilly 26 below wind chill this morning.  Do not go outside with wet hair....  
I also received a civil war fat quarter and a picture of a possible future project (Sewing machine cover).  It felt like Christmas when I opened it.  A wonderful surprise!



Mug rugs are fun and easy to do and are a wonderful project to work on if you don't have a lot of time.  I made a couple a few weeks ago and have discovered that the Civil War Diary Quilt squares are the perfect size to start a mug rug.  All you have to do is add an additional 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" piece of matching fabric to one side and you have the perfect mug rug!  Layer with batting and backing, quilt, bind and viola! 

Happy Quilting!

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Hungry Soldiers and Dark Gloom

Wilson and I are excited to
try out the new CD!
An awesome surprise came in the mail on Monday!  Rosemary Youngs sent me the CD companion to the Civil War Diary Quilt and also some Abraham Lincoln fabric.  What a wonderful thing!  I must say... if you have EQ 5 or 6 and you are working on The Civil War Diary Quilt... the companion CD makes quilting so much easier!  So today when I worked on my Civil War Diary quilt I decided to give the CD a try.  Rosemary's directions on using the CD are so easy to follow and printing up foundation papers on the printer were a breeze.

Today I finished two blocks, Hungry Soldiers and Dark Gloom... follow along and let's work on this wonderful quilt together!



Let's start with Hungry Soldiers... I choose fabrics from my civil war stash that resembled the color choices shown in the book.  My green fabric has a definite stripe pattern so I will have to pay special attention to that as I construct the block.  I want the stripe to be consistent throughout the whole block.

Here is my hand drafted pattern that I created tracing the block out of the Civil War Diary Quilt Book and the printed pattern from the companion CD...


I decided to use the foundation paper that I printed up on my computer from the Civil War Diary CD.  I trimmed around the pieces, there are three sections to create this block...

While paper piecing remember to 'finger press' as you sew along...

Here I am lining up my fabric to create the #4 piece on the block.  I hold my foundation paper up to a light so that I can see the fabric that I am lining up to sew.  Notice the green stripe fabric and the darker fabric lining up along the seam line.  I will sew on the seam line and then trim up all of the excess fabric to create a 1/4" seam allowance...

Sewing on the seam line... notice how I sew past the 1/4" edge of the block.  Remember this will all be trimmed up...

Trimming the sections of each block... remember to leave the 1/4" seam allowance around each piece...


Sewing the sections of the block together... sewing on the printed line to create a 1/4" seam.  I love paper piecing!  It's so easy to match up seams and create perfect corners!
 

Hungry Soldiers... all done!
 Now let's move onto 'Dark Gloom'... I have a purple phobia when it comes to quilting.  I rarely use the color purple and rarely choose it when I work on any quilt projects.  Don't know why... I like the color, I had a purple bedroom while growing up.  Remember Donny's purple socks???  I loved purple as a pre-teen in love with the Osmond's.... well, I had to use purple in this block and I have to say,  it wasn't so hard to work with and I am pleased with how this block turned out.  But remember 'Rachel's Frustrations' and how I reversed the light and dark in the center of the block.... well I did it again!  If you compare the book with my block, you will see what I mean.  Oh well, my Civil War Diary Quilt will be unique...
Here are my fabric choices for Dark Gloom along with the foundation paper that I printed on my printer using the companion CD from Rosemary Youngs...


I trimmed up the sections and laid them out on my cutting board, I wrote in the blocks the colors following the color choices in the book.  I again forgot to reverse my light and darks on the triangle pieces so my finished blocked turned out slightly different than pictured...

paper piecing my blocks following the order given on the foundation paper that I printed up.... remember if you draft your own, it is helpful to number your sections...

Trimming the finished block sections, leaving a 1/4" seam.

'Dark Gloom' all ready to be sewn together.


Sewing the sections of the block together... sewing on the printed line to create a 1/4" seam. 

All done!  9 done 2 more to do to finish a row in the quilt!

Next week join me as I work on 'Alvin McClure' and 'Greenfield and Stockton'...
Remember to post your progress on the Civil War Diary Quilt Group on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/

Happy quilting!