Melia Mae Quilting: October 2013

The Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along - Quilting Ideas

Monday, October 28, 2013

Welcome back to the next post for the Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along. Today, we are talking about quilting ideas. Shown below is a copy of the schedule so you can see where we are at and what comes next:

August 19th - Announcement of Giveaway and sponsors
September 2nd - Quilt Along begins: Choosing fabrics and fabric requirements
September 16th - Cutting
September 30th - Applique techniques (machine, hand, puff-paint, ironed on). The options are endless for how you would like to add your numbers to the pockets.
October 14th - Piecing and layout variations
October 28th - Quilting ideas
November 11th - Binding
November 25th - The Big Reveal and ideas for what to put in the pockets.

If you want to see more details on the Quilt Along please go here. Remember you can join in on the fun at any time!

I am so glad we have finally reached this point in the quilt along! The quilting is my favorite part of the quilting process. I really struggled with how I wanted to quilt this project. I practiced some swirls and I didn't like how they were going to look on this project. I like swirls that are fuller rather then just having them go in a straight line. I played around with a meandering stipple, loops, and loop / double loop combo. I decided on the meandering loops for my project and I absolutely love how it turned out.

I also wanted to share some of the "practicing" I did with you as well. Here is the meandering stipple, loops, and loop / double loop combo.

Well I can't wait to see your finished quilt tops. Some of you had such great piecing ideas, I just can't wait to see what you come up with for the quilting. Janice from Better off Thread was thinking about doing some pebble quilting on her quilt top, so don't forget to check out her post to see what she decided to do. We are almost finished, so don't stop now because there are some really great prizes available for the final linkup! The linkup will be open for the next two weeks.

Happy Quilting!

A Little of This and a Little of That...

Sunday, October 20, 2013

I received a fun package in the mail over the weekend from the Fat Quarter Shop. I ordered some of Bonnie and Camille's newest fabric line Scrumptious!

I absolutely love it and I couldn't resist purchasing some of it for a project for my girls. Aren't those mini charm packs absolutely adorable! They are both getting American Girl dolls for Christmas this year, so I wanted to make them each a doll quilt for their dolls! Here are the fabrics I plan on using for my oldest, Melia. She will be getting the "Look like Me" American Girl doll.

Her favorite colors are pink and orange, so I think these fabrics will work out perfectly! Here are the fabrics that I will be using for Mae's quilt. I plan on purchasing a Bitty Baby for her.

Her favorite color is pink and I think the aqua stripe will make a great binding.

I have also been rather busy cleaning up my space and my husband has too. He put up this peg board for me to hang my rulers and some of my other quilting supplies on. I can't believe I have that many rulers! I even have room for "future" items as well.

I also received some great input from Teresa at Quilting is my Bliss to hang my pantographs in a hanging shoe rack. So here is that.

I wish I could find a gray, black or red hanging shoe rack, but couldn't, so white had to do. At least I will have an easier time locating my pantographs! Well hopefully in another week I will be able to show you the rest or my space.

Happy Quilting!

The Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along - Piecing and layout variations

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Welcome back to the next post for the Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along. Today, we are talking about piecing and layout variations. Shown below is a copy of the schedule so you can see where we are at and what comes next:

August 19th - Announcement of Giveaway and sponsors
September 2nd - Quilt Along begins: Choosing fabrics and fabric requirements
September 16th - Cutting
September 30th - Applique techniques (machine, hand, puff-paint, ironed on). The options are endless for how you would like to add your numbers to the pockets.
October 14th - Piecing and layout variations
October 28th - Quilting ideas
November 11th - Binding
November 25th - The Big Reveal and ideas for what to put in the pockets.

If you want to see more details on the Quilt Along please go here. Remember you can join in on the fun at any time!

Both Janice and I felt that the instructions for piecing the quilt top were rather straight forward. Janice chose to use the "sequential" layout and you can see her post about it here. I chose to do the "random" layout because my daughter knows her numbers rather well and I wanted her to practice recognizing them, so she has to search for them. I absolutely love how it turned out.

I think it needs borders, but I am not going to add them because I think then it will make the quilt top too big. It is already on the large size, but I still do love how it has turned out. Here is a couple more pictures of it.

Now we are moving to my "favorite" part of the quilting process, which is the quilting. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of space to do a lot of fancy quilting, but I think it will be fun nonetheless. I can't wait to see your finished quilt tops. You all have been making some really great progress! Don't forget when we are all finished, there are some really great prizes for those who do linkup their "final project". The linkup will be open for the next two weeks.

Happy Quilting!