Quilt retreat

In terms of my sewing projects, I hit this month running!  Last weekend I met up with dear friends at a retreat hosted by the local quilt shop.  It's a glorious four-day weekend of nothing but sewing - and I mean that literally (well, okay there was a good amount of eating involved and some sporadic sleeping).  We set up our sewing machines and watched the project piles dwindle.  All you could hear, over the sounds of raucous laughing, was the *bing* of sewing machines marking the emptiness of yet another bobbin.  Really, one of us should have figured the equation [numbers of bobbins used X yards of thread per bobbin = miles sewn].  It would have been astounding. 

One of the projects I took along was this table runner made from a line called 'Giddy' by Sandy Gervais for MODA. While I've officially jumped off the charm pack band wagon, this one did have a lot going for it: (1) I'm currently in a pink and aqua phase; (2) it's been clinically proven that cherry prints make me happy; and (3) I stared at it too long while I was waiting for my fabric to be cut.  Add that all up and I simply could not resist another charm pack.  I passed it very discreetly across the checkout counter.

I made four-patches by sewing a light and dark print together, cutting them apart, shuffling and sewing again.  I even took the time to "spin my centers."  A nifty little technique that takes the bulk out of the center point where all the squares join.  To do this, sew your four squares together as normal.  When complete, carefully open the salvage in the center and press all the joining seams in a rotating fashion.  Here the seams all spin counter clockwise.  You may need to pick out a few stitches in the salvage only to get the seams to lay the right direction.

I was able to finish the top of the runner at the retreat (then I was on to other things!) and did the machine quilting at home.  Obviously my '47 Singer does not have a stitch regulator or 'needle down' function, but she's willing to tackle anything.  I can drop the dogfeet and with my free motion foot, she's good to go!

Click to enlarge

This is a photo of the back of the runner.  I experimented with a meandering heart-shaped leaf pattern.  I've quilted stippling and meandering in so many other projects that I'm ready to try out some simple shapes.  It's jerky and awkward in places, but consistently so, so that perhaps you don't notice as much!  ;)

I didn't add any borders and bound it with the same fabric as the backing.  The pointed ends fit my oval dining room table nicely, and the cheery colors are welcome during these cloudy winter days.

I had a few four-patches leftover, so my friend suggested I make coasters.  These quick little dears are simply two blocks, wrong sides together, with a piece of cotton batting (cut slightly smaller) sandwiched between.  I stitched an X on each one and pinked the edges.  Perfect for ice tea in the summer!

So I can check off the infamous To Do List (you know how I obsess over it!) a February Valentine table runner that will surely perk me up in the mornings.  And in case you're wondering, coordinate with most of my summer wardrobe!