Return of the Quilt

It's been since August 2013 that I've lifted a finger for my quilt, but that changed this week. I'm back at it! Here's the update:

I'm happy to report that no additional money has been spent on this quilt. Well, I did drop a whopping $6 for some sewing machine oil, but I haven't used it yet because my sewing machine's manual doesn't explain where to apply the oil. However, I did learn how to clean out the lint in the machine area, and that has helped the machine to run better than it was recently.

The following is a log of when and how much time I've put towards this quilt. The last line item is the new one, a reboot so to speak!

Date	Number of Hours	Running Total of Hours	Description
25 May 2013	1.0	1.0	pick pattern
28 May 2013	1.0	2.0	convert twin-size pattern to king-size
1 June 2013	3.5	5.5	choose fabric, figure yardage, purchase fabric
1-2 June 2013	2.5	8.0	wash and dry fabric
2-3 June 2013	6.5	14.5	trim and iron fabric
4 June 2013	0.75	15.25	cut 15 blocks' worth of one pattern fabric
9 June 2013	0.75	16.0	cut 15 blocks' worth of one pattern fabric
22 June 2013	2.5	18.5	cut 15 blocks' worth of six pattern fabrics
30 June 2013	1.0	19.5	cut 15 blocks' worth of two pattern fabrics
8 July 2013	.75	20.25	cut 15 blocks' worth of one pattern fabric
9 July 2013	0.5	20.75	cut 15 blocks' worth of one pattern fabric
11 July 2013	0.5	21.25	cut 15 blocks' worth of one pattern fabric
18 July 2013	2.5	23.75	cut 15 blocks' worth of two pattern fabrics
4 August 2013	0.25	24.0	cut 48 squares of beige fabric
9 August 2013	0.25	24.25	cut 48 squares of beige fabric
23-26 February 2015	2.25	26.5	sewed 12 pinwheel blocks of one pattern fabric, cut 96 squares of beige fabric, and prepped next 2 sets of 15 pinwheel blocks

And now for some photos!

this is what the finished product will resemble

My first few pinwheel blocks from this point (by the way, the fabric is tiny enough that the 2 pins here are not necessary; with the remaining 14 pattern fabrics I won't bother - and that will save me a lot of time!)

to this finished point

took about 10 minutes per pinwheel block. I was happy to find that I quickly became efficient and shaved off 25% of that, getting down to 7.5 minutes per pinwheel block.

12 pinwheel blocks of one pattern fabric

the back of a pinwheel block

making beige squares for the pinwheel blocks

pattern fabric #2 is ready to be whipped into pinwheel blocks

pattern fabric #3 is on deck

my workspace lately

Note: my original plan was to make a 120" x 120" king size bedspread for my queen size bed because I want it to hang all the way to the floor on the sides and have enough length to tuck the pillows in like my grandma showed me when I was a little girl. I've since learned that this size quilt is to big even for industrial-sized sewing machines. So if I stick with this size I'll have to hand-quilt it. Which, if I do a large stitch pattern, won't be so bad. I mean, what's another several hours when I've had this project going for years, heh. Anyway, I can do that OR I can make it a smaller quilt and pay someone with an industrial-sized sewing machine to do the quilting for me. I have plenty of time to decide. For now I'm only doing 12/15 pinwheel blocks per pattern fabric because I'm afraid I'll run out of the beige material for the squares in the pinwheels; this may be the deciding factor in the size of my quilt.

Related Posts:

5 June 2013 - The Quilt

The Quilt

Now that I have completed my Master's degree, I have all of this glorious free time. So. I have decided to make myself a great, big, king-size, quilted bedspread. It's going to be 120" x 120", which translates to fifteen 8" blocks by fifteen 8" blocks. It's a pinwheel pattern called Modern Pinwheels from Quilty magazine.

Since this is such an undertaking, I thought it would be worth logging the activity. Plus I'm sure folks will ask how long it took me, and this way I'll be able to actually answer.

Here is the log so far:

Date	Number of Hours	Running Total of Hours	Description
25 May	1.0	1.0	pick pattern
28 May	1.0	2.0	convert twin-size pattern to king-size
1 June	3.5	5.5	choose fabric, figure yardage, purchase fabric
1-2 June	2.5	8.0	wash and dry fabric
2-3 June	6.5	14.5	trim and iron fabric
4 June	0.75	15.25	cut 15 blocks' worth of one pattern fabric

I'm also keeping track of how much money I've invested in this project:

$31.23 - King-size cotton batting

$133.58 - patterned and cream fabric for the pinwheel blocks

$164.81 - total to date

And, of course, a few photos:

patterned fabric - pre-cut

patterned fabric - cut & purchased 

considering this fabric for the entire back of the quilt

patterned fabric - washed, dried, trimmed, and ironed

cut pieces for one patterned fabric's 15 pinwheel blocks

Apple 13" MacBook Sleeves - Bird Cage Batch

I have a new batch of Apple 13" MacBook sleeves for sale in my Etsy Shop, amara | 86! The outside fabric is a cute bird cage pattern; the inside liner is a pretty, matching green. Only $30! Makes for a great Christmas gift!

Want one? Click here!

PS, I can make a sleeve for any size laptop; just send me the laptop's dimensions. I can also hunt for a different fabric; just send me your preferences, I'll take photos of what it sounds like you're looking for, send you the photos, and you can confirm which fabric I should use!

It's Officially Christmas Season!

It's Black Friday, and that means that Christmas Season is officially here! I have Ella Fitzgerald Holiday playing on my Pandora radio, and I just brought all the Christmas decorations in from my storage closet.

So, today is dedicated to getting my apartment all dec'd out for the holidays. I'm also going to work on my 2010 Christmas Letter and maybe wander out into the shopping madness for some Christmas cards. I'm also going to work on some blogs that I've been meaning to put together. Lots of photo work to be done, too. Lastly, I plan to end my evening with a cup of marshmallows with hot chocolate, a slice of pumpkin cake, and watching The Blindside and/or reading on my book.

Happy Black Friday!

Lately

Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk at Lake Eola, downtown Orlando, FL
Last week's walk was a blast! I was happy to raise $150 to support the Alzheimer's Association. Heidi and I ended up missing the puppy costume contest due to lack of event organization, but it was still great fun. I really enjoyed letting people say hello to Heidi, who did super well - even with the little ones, and the older ones who likely suffered from some degree of Alzheimer's. Saturday was for you, Grandma.

Halloween at Wall Street, downtown, Orlando, FL
I dressed up as a black cat and went out with Jessica, her friend, Heather and her boyfriend. It was great fun to check out all the costumes. Typical Halloween, minus all the drinking.

Completed October Challenge with a 100% Success Rate
So proud of myself! Thanks to all who supported me!

New Nike+ Challenge
I'm doing a the Walt Disney World Half Marathon on 8 January 2011. I start my training (a Nike+ plan) this week. I'm cross-training with yoga and cycling.

Devoting Time to Etsy Shop: amara | 86
Ramping up for the holiday season. Christmas tree skirts, Christmas stocking sets, and the best-selling 13" MacBook sleeve. Let me know if you have a need; I am accepting custom orders.

Finished The Hunger Games Trilogy
Loved it. The new Harry Potter?

Family News
          Mom - also training for the half marathon in January; we're running it together! Hoping to beat 2 hours!
          Dad -keeping busy; went to do some target practice with Grandpa tonight.
          Chucky - he's never been happier! He's LOVING BUD/S! Pray for him as Hell Week approaches.
          Sam - he's never been happier, either! He LOVES college life and his new wrestling family!
          Heidi - just a few weeks shy of her first birthday. I'm having a party for her at the dog park this Sunday. She's hit that obstinate "teenager" phase with some destruction, but overall she's doing great!
          Ashes - surviving Heidi and being super affectionate when I read in bed at night.

PetSmart Costume Contest

 Last Saturday was the Waterford Lakes Town Center PetSmart Puppy Howl-o-Ween Costume Contest. I made Heidi her costume; she was a beautiful Purdue University Cheerleader! Look at that golden Purdue "P" and all those shiny sequins! (She totally hated wearing the bow.)

Me with Heidi in her costume!

All good athletes know the value of stretching!

Before the contest

Onyx the Rottweiler was a Karate/Boxer and won the contest!

Hugh Hefner and the Girls Next Door

amara | 86 HBC Mission Statement

Okay. This is my last task for Etsy's Holiday Boot Camp (HBC) Week 1: write a mission statement.

Thoughts: I love to be make crafts. As in sewing projects, I enjoy the process of seeing the many pieces come together. I want to share my passion with people, and don't mind making a few bucks while I'm at it! Last year I got the hang of things but my Etsy shop, amara | 86, fell to the wayside when I got Heidi. Now that she's a bit older, I can start investing time into my shop. I have a few new ideas for projects up my sleeve, too! So here's my mission statement:

Through my passion of creating hand-made goods, specifically with yarn, thread, and fabric, I will fill my Etsy shop, amara | 86, with new items for others around the world to enjoy. I will map out my days between now and 31 December 2010 to set aside time to work on my creations. I will be inventive and run with fresh ideas. I will stick to Danielle's HBC weekly check lists. I will be an Etsy Success!

My First Quilt

I am very proud of myself. I made my first quilt, and I am very pleased with the end product. It isn't a typical quilt with tiny triangles pieced together to make stars or squares. Rather, it's an eclectic mix of hand-cut squares of all sorts of different patterned fabrics. Here is a photo of the finished quilt, and a close-up so you can see the stitching.



my first quilt




my first quilt, a close-up to better see the stitching


I snapped photos of the quilt from its beginning to its end. If you're wondering how a quilt like this comes to be, scroll through these photos:



the fabric I chose




close-up




close up, again




washed and dried




ironed




cut squares and ironed edges




square placement




squares safety pinned




zig-zag stitched




zig-zag stitched close-up




blanket layers




right side out




my first quilt




my first quilt, a close-up to better see the stitching


And that, my friend, is how my quilt was created. It took me about 3 months to make (I procrastinated a little bit in the first 2 months, but kicked it in gear in the last few weeks). If you want details so you can make your own, just let me know; I'd be happy to send you the specifics of the quilt pattern.

What I can't wait to use this quilt for: as a blanket to take downtown to Lake Eola to lay on during a lovely Sunday afternoon so I can listen to the birds chirp, watch the clouds through the trees, drink Arizona tea, have a yummy snack and read a good book. It's perfect for a picnic, party of one. = ) Well, one for now...

Amanda

PS - I followed instructions for a quilt pattern entitled "Flicka" from a book I came across at the library. I don't recall the name of the specific book I got the pattern from, but I wanted to give credit to the originator of this quilt: Hillary Lang.