Baby Aria {Quilt}

I have a recurring theme this year.  I call it "To the Last Drop Mission".
Basically? When I open up a precut from my stash or new order?
I try to use every single last bit on projects so that I don't have a massive amount sitting around.

After making two large lap quilts and a trivet with my Aria jelly rolls, I cut strips to make a third lap quilt.  And I STILL had plenty of leftover triangles I had cut out of my strips to make a baby quilt.

I could have cut just enough from each pieced strip when I made the lap quilts, but I figured I could piece the leftovers and make a baby quilt.

It was tricky, but I finally found a layout I thought would work.

I raided my stash and found just enough of some leftover Navy grunge to use as a background.

My original plan didn't work out and I did have to settle with the fact that there wasn't going to be more space between each hexagons vertically, but I went with it.

I also found some matching blue minky in my stash for the backing.

I did some simple quilting in each block and meander in the navy.

I am kicking myself for using the blue minky with the white blocks on the front. 

I sometimes find the minky fibers will come to the top when I use a darker color for my backing and a lighter top.

With all the navy in the backing and background, I felt that the pink binding would bring out the great block colors.

I'm not sure where it is going quite yet, but its done and I didn't waste valuable fabric block scraps!

Now all that is left is to piece the other large quilt I have cut out!

Summer Aria I and II {Quilts}

They are finished!!

It is time to share all the quilts from the Little Ruby Quilt Along by Fat Quarter Shop.
I love them so much!

Summer Aria I

Summer Aria II

I call them my fraternal twin quilts.  

Same fabric. Same pattern. Same, yet so different!

Other than the way the blocks are cut, the only difference is their backings.

And bindings.

The butterflies.  The gorgeous Kate Spain butterflies!!!!

I had a completely different quilt plan, making flowers in the hexagon blocks, but then I came across the Glasswings pantograph by Urban Elementz.

 

Hard to photograph...but....perfection!

I also made sure I maximized all the extras.  

An orphan block became a Trivet/potholder!

When I was cutting double strips, I eeked out at least one block from each double strip and had enough mismatched blocks to make a Baby Aria Quilt.  Stay tuned for the finish!

The remaining jelly roll strips, along with some solid strips I cut, were relegated to a new quilt, the 6th grade quilt, from Me & My Sisters Designs, Precut Primer Book.  Can't wait to start piecing it!

Not a single scrap of this fabric is being left behind!!!

If you missed the schedule, it is NEVER too late.

Getting Started

Star Block Construction

Quilt Assembly

See the other gorgoeus quilts by these talented quilt bloggers!

(note: Monday, July 11th, 2015, I'm posting a wee bit early)

Melissa from Happy Quilting

Angie from Gnome Angel

Erin Cox from Why Not Sew

Andy from A Bright Corner

Heidi from Buttons & Butterflies

Pat from Pat Sloan

Peta from She Quilts a Lot

Heather from Quilt Story

Megan from Quilt Story

Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl

Gerri from Planted Seed Designs

Sherri from A Quilting Life

Rebecca from Bryan House Quilts

Sherri from This & That Patterns

Jemima from Tied with a Ribbon

Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts

Stephanie from Modern Sewciety

Brooke from Silly Mama Quilts

Carrie from Moda's United Notion

 

 

Star Block Trivet {Quilted Potholder}

 Have orphan blocks? Make a trivet or a potholder!

 After piecing both of my Little Ruby Quilt Along tops, I had a few spare blocks and jelly roll strips.  I was able to find a quilt to use the extra strips on (stay tuned for that) and a construct a baby quilt with the spare blocks. 

 I still ended up with this spare block, AKA an orphan block.

  All I needed was a 2" background strip added around the block. 

Two layers of batting and Insul-Bright.

Backing and binding from my scrap stash.

 Quick outline quilting.

And I had a finished trivet!

What do you do with your orphan blocks?

 

Little Ruby QAL {Jelly Roll Quilt} Part Three

It's time! It's time! It's time for the finish line! The quilt assembly of the Little Ruby QAL!  

If you are new here?  Easy to catch up:

Getting Started

Star Block Construction

If you are returning to put your quilt top together, here is the next video from Fat Quarter Shop.

 It's pretty short and sweet.   Place your blocks in a layout that works for you. 

 I played around quite a bit and tried to be intentional and make "rings" of certain colors, but eventually settled on spreading the color all about.  Do you just LOVE the texture of the Aria Waterfall background makes!

  I was super worried about my choice, but now I am thrilled!!!

 Occasionally, I will notice that my background is distracting me from making good color distribution decisions, so I will opt to not put the background pieces up until I'm sure I like the layout.

(psssst....I have short people problems and the quilt was taller than me...so I used the floor too)

Time to piece together each row.

As you can see, I like to use my small design boards.  I used Bee in a Bonnet's tutorial a long time ago and its easy to follow.  If you don't want to make them?  Guess what!  Fat Quarter Shop sells several sizes and even has a Master Collection of them.

I digress...the row piecing.

One thing I would like to point out.  Sometimes I found that I didn't have a blunt end meeting on my triangles.

A trick I have learned is that even if my "dog ear" is pressed a different direction? 

 I just pull it up from behind and have it "match" up with the tip of my triangle. And when I know it lines up, I release it back to its position, pinch and hold the placement,  and stitch away.  Oh......did I mention I rarely pin? If you do, I would pin it when I was happy with the placement!. It alleviates that 1/4 inch stress you can sometimes have with triangle piecing!

After I pieced each row and double checking my photo on my phone for the correct placement, I mark my rows with numbers I made a few years ago.  I've also made button clips in the past, but have been using these for awhile instead.

This has been somewhat of a lifesaver, because by the time I press my rows, chain piece, or just whatever, I am 98% sure I will have to have a date with my seam ripper.

I am showing you how I pinned my first row just like Kimberly suggested.

Buuuut, I ended up just stitching without pins after that.  I am just not a "pinner" and I am okay with that.

I'm full of all sorts of tips, because I guess I am in a tippy mood today, but wanted to point out that I don't stitch row by row. 

 I tend to stitch in chunks.  I'm not sure why it makes me feel more accomplished but chunks bring me more satisfaction than row after row building.

Here is a one quick last look at my Quilt one before the last seam.   You'll be able to see it and the second one....and maybe a few extras soon!  Stay tuned!!

Check out the other bloggers who are making there way through the quilts too!

Melissa from Happy Quilting

Angie from Gnome Angel

Erin Cox from Why Not Sew

Andy from A Bright Corner

Heidi from Buttons & Butterflies

Pat from Pat Sloan

Peta from She Quilts a Lot

Heather from Quilt Story

Megan from Quilt Story

Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl

Gerri from Planted Seed Designs

Sherri from A Quilting Life

Rebecca from Bryan House Quilts

Sherri from This & That Patterns

Jemima from Tied with a Ribbon

Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts

Stephanie from Modern Sewciety

Brooke from Silly Mama Quilts

Carrie from Moda's United Notions

Little Ruby QAL {Jelly Roll Quilt} Part Two

It's time for the next round of the Little Ruby Quilt Along with Fat Quarter Shop!
Constructing that quilt star blocks!  

In case you just arrived and said, part two??  No worries!  Part One is HERE.

Make sure you watch the video below before starting!  Kimberly points out some very useful tips!

My Quilt

First, let us simply admire the yummy jelly roll chain pieced pile. 

Honestly? This part was enjoyable. It's pretty mindless and I need that here in and there while working on a quilt. This is the easy stuff.  Press the strips open. Cut triangles...

I've decided after using this Creative Grid Strip ruler, I feel the MOST comfortable placing my hand inside the triangle.  Placing my fingers on the straight edge is a little too close for comfort.

Next step. Separate the two block parts.
Print (left) versus Solid (right)

This is where things slowed down for me. I wanted to be thoughtful with my blocks by playing with color shades with my fabric selections.
Grab up your six "print" block parts to make your first quilt star block.

 Follow Kimberly's instructions in the video about the dog ear placements

 Do you just love!?!?!

Remember that "bonus" second quilt?  Here it is!!!

Gather your solid bottom triangles and arrange them like this.

The original one on the video and image appears to be scrappy, but this was my first rogue moment. I decided to use the same print for all the block parts. 

Piece the block units just like the first block.

A second quilt block!!
I'm getting very excited to have two quilts that are alike, yet different!

Check out what everyone else is up to!!!

Melissa from Happy Quilting

Angie from Gnome Angel

Erin Cox from Why Not Sew

Andy from A Bright Corner

Heidi from Buttons & Butterflies

Pat from Pat Sloan

Peta from She Quilts a Lot

Heather from Quilt Story

Megan from Quilt Story

Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl

Gerri from Planted Seed Designs

Sherri from A Quilting Life

Rebecca from Bryan House Quilts

Sherri from This & That Patterns

Jemima from Tied with a Ribbon

Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts

Stephanie from Modern Sewciety

Brooke from Silly Mama Quilts

Carrie from Moda's United Notions

Stay tuned for the Quilt Top Assembly!!!