Green Crossroads

I think this will be my last finished quilt for 2013.  I took the last stitches in the binding just in time to gift it to Phyllis who has been helping us to keep our house clean for quite a while.  She has always taken an interest in my quilting projects, and while she was in one day last year she said jokingly, when am I going to get me quilt?  Her favorite color is green, and I chose the Crossroads pattern which I have been seeing so many of around blogland.  I found a wonderful tutorial for the block in three sizes at Connie's blog, freemotion by the River.

 It came together very quickly and used up almost all the green I had on hand.  I seem to make a lot of quilts with green, maybe I'd better replenish my supply?  I really liked this pattern and would love to try it in a smaller size.  I think it would be even prettier if each link was either a consistent or a different color so that the pattern were easier to see.

 The quilting was a maze pattern which works just like  meander, but with straight lines.  I will definitely be using this pattern again.

Dinner was ham and beans.  Delish!  There was a ham bone from our Thanksgiving ham that had been saved in the freezer for just such an occasion.  I used a crockpot recipe that I found here.  

Number 4

 Once a quilt is loaded on the frame it is pretty easy to pop into the quilting room and finish off a quick row between other activities.  I got one done before morning carpool and then finished off the last few when we got home.  Then it was a quick trip to the library to pick up a book for summer reading.  Now we are home with snacks for a movie and ready to spend some time relaxing.  I think I'll sew some binding while we watch Ice Age 4.

 Here is a closeup of the quilting.  A square meander works just like a normal meander, but instead of being curvy, all of the lines are straight.

The quilting lines are all horizontal or vertical, and all the angles are 90 degrees.  

Catching Up?

I peeked at e-mail after dinner and saw that Amy had finished two quilts today!  Two quilts?!  We have a little contest going on to see who can quilt the most tops during June.  We aren't sure what the prize is, but I just don't like to lose.  So as soon as we all got back from a nice evening walk around the block, I got the quilting started on Crossroads.  It is going to get a square version of a meander which ends up looking a lot like a maze when it is done.  So now, I'm off to quilt.  I can't let Amy win!  Tomorrow is the summer solstice, I think I should celebrate with a little quilting marathon.  Festive, right?

Thoughts on Thread?

 I've been using my Handiquilter and frame to finish my quilts for a few years now and never taken the time to think much about thread.  It doesn't seem to be picky and sews along without complaint most of the time.  Never knowing what color of quilt will come together next, I like to be able to go out and pick up a spool when I am ready to finish up a top.  I'm a big fan of Connecting Threads as a rule and have enjoyed using their Essential PRO cones.  However, the only cones that they have at my local Joann's are serger thread, and I have been using those as well with no problems.  I was happy to read Jo's post earlier this week about using Maxilock serger thread and was relieved to know I wasn't some oddball quilting rebel for using cheap thread.  It doesn't list a size on the cone, but by comparison I'd have to say it is about 60 wt and 100% polyester.  So what thread do you use for quilting?  Is it worth the extra price for the name brands or is it all about getting it done?

I finally had a break this afternoon to get the borders sewn onto Crossroads.  It has been hanging out on the floor for two days now, so it will be nice to get the back cut and put it next in line to be quilted.  It was my turn to volunteer at math camp today so we all went in and helped with kite building.  Then we were off to piano lessons and home to make dinner.  Meatloaf had just gone in the oven when Kurt got home and told me he was going to volleyball tonight.  So out came dinner and into the car went all three kids and the dog!  It is nice and quiet here so I am enjoying the solitude

Progress

 Just pulled the pink chemo quilt off of the frame.  Pardon the purple Crayola marker in the border, I wanted a quick guide for some wavy flower vines.  I like to wash quilts anyway, so the marker will come right out.  I'm a little overwhelmed with the pinkness of this one and am tempted to bind it in something completely different.  Maybe yellow or purple?  Just one of those random thoughts that comes during the quilting process.

While hopping out this morning to get some needed blue thread, I had to check out the clearance section which was half off at Joann's.  I love to stock up on quilt backs at half off.  The top green is a cozy flannel for the the back of the green crossroads quilt.  The next one down is a nice brown that would make and excellent backing or border and the bottom of the stack is a nice nondescript olive.  No definite plans for those, but at $2.00 and $1.50 a yard I will be happy to have them on hand. 

Happy Monday!

Got up this morning, walked the dog around the block and quilted a quick row before breakfast.  Not a bad day at all so far.  I'm doing a little scallop echo inside the white and then a quick meander on the pink.  About half done so far, so it should be off the frame before lunch.

We had a family movie night last night and Diary of a Wimpy Kid wasn't quite holding my interest, so I pulled out a TV tray and finished cutting a few more squares for the crossroads quilt.  After that is needs a solid border, any opinions on which green?  So far I've asked three members of my family and gotten three different votes.  I'm leaning toward the medium green at the bottom, Kurt wants the dark polka dots at the top and Sydney likes the bright green to the left.  I think about 6 inches should do it and this will go onto the list to be quilted.  I seem to be out of light blue thread so I'll pick up a spool after morning carpool.  Sand and Sea is next up after that.  

Flimsy Number Four

I tried to shift gears into quilting today, but it didn't quite happen yet.  Soon though.  First, I got the blocks put together for the green Crossroads Quilt.  I'm thinking of a border with 4.5 inch squares of green.  I almost have enough from the block drawer to make it happen.  Then maybe a solid border for size. I've got a lot of greens in my stash, so I'm sure something will work.

This quilt would look great with two complementary colors forming intersecting roads across the quilt.  Maybe next time.  Anna just finished making hummus and the house smells delicious.  Sydney is upstairs with a friend painting fingernails and Kurt is just back from a trip to the hardware store.  That just leaves Ryan, he had a friend over to play and has disappeared for some quiet time I think.  

Rainy Day Productivity

It was a long and rainy day yesterday.  There was a break between rain bands that allowed us to run out to the grocery store, but other than that, it was an inside kind of day.

 Sydney made pants out of pillows, nobody is sure why.

 Anna helped pick out border fabric for the second chemo quilt after I got all the blocks sewn together.

The Sand and Sea blocks made it together as well which means today should be all about borders.  I even got a few Green Crossroads pieced as leaders and enders between rows of blocks.  

The rain has moved on today and there is no math camp!  The kids have been asking to sea Epic and this might be the only weekday for a while when they are all available.  I am just back from a nice morning run (shocking right?)  so I will go and get the day started.  

Rainy Day Activities

Other people have rainy days, but when we have them in Florida, they come with names.  So this rainy day is brought to you by tropical storm Andrea.  Looks like the perfect day to stay in and sew a bit.

Here is a test block I worked out for a quilt that I would like to make for a someone who likes green.  I saw it pop up a lot when I was looking for inspiration for the pink Arkansas Crossroads Variation.  Sometimes it is called Crossroads and sometimes I have seen it called Linked Up.  Either way, I wanted bigger blocks than the ones I saw in tutorials, so this version uses 2.5 by 4.5 inch bricks of green along with 4.5 inch background squares.  I cut out enough pieces last night to put together a nice lap sized quilt I think.  I'm off to do the math camp drop off, but after that I was asked to make a quick tutorial for the pink quilt and I should get busy with some serious block sewing together.  Maybe with some nice hot tea to warm me on this cold and dreary day?

Thanks to Judy D. who let me know that Connie has a tutorial for this block in three sizes.  How cool is that?  The little ones would be super cute!