WIP Wednesday 3.21.2012

It's Wednesday...and that means linking up at Freshly Pieced.

I haven't gotten much done this week (quilting-wise).  Like most everyone else, we are enjoying 80 degree days and lots of outdoor work that needs to be taken care of.

I've only managed to do a little work on my BOMs, but I did manage to get my Kindle Tutorial up...my biggest WIP is now a finished product.  

Check it out!  And leave me a link to pictures if you make any.  

I'd love to see how they turn out!

Here is the list of all my current WIPs (including the BOMs)

1. Cinnamon & Nutmeg  No Progress
2. Prairie Paisley HSTs  No Progress
3. Jelly Roll Jive  No Progress
4. Fun & Done  No Progress
5. Pinwheels in my Garden  No Progress
6. Morgan's Jelly Roll Sampler  Progress!  7 Blocks finished
7. Kristi's T Shirt quilt  No Progress
8. Craftsy BOM  Progress!  March blocks finished
9. Barrister's Blocks SAL  Progress!  2 more blocks finished (now I'm only about 12 blocks behind)
10. Hand-quilted Table Runner  No Progress  This one is getting added since it was just returned to me.  It was part of an Apprenticeship Projects Exhibit at my local university.
11. Kindle Sleeve Tutorial  FINISHED!!
NEW!  11. Kerrington's quilt  NEW!  Pressed, cut and waiting to be pieced

Enjoy the Day!!

Linky Party!

Good Morning, all!


Thankfully I am feeling much better this morning.  Yesterday was just a little rough on me & in turn, I was more than a little rough on everyone else.  *sigh*


But, I finally got my tutorial up for the Kindle Sleeve!  Yea!


So, I am linking up with Connie over at Quilting by the River.  


Enjoy all of the wonderful projects.  


It is supposed to be another gorgeous day here, so I probably won't have much to report on my quilting this week...we have tons of stuff to get in the garden and I am still trying to talk everyone into getting some chickens.  I may just have to wait a little longer and get some that are "ready to lay" instead of the really cute baby chicks.


Hope you have a glorious day!


              ~kristy

Kindle Sleeve Tutorial

Alright, Folks...

I think I've finally got it.

My very FIRST tutorial.  (Please, go easy on me if I've left anything out or made any mistakes.)  

A great big Thank You to Christine for her testing, proofreading, editing and great advice!

 

Feel free to make as many as you want for gifts, but please do not sell them.

  
Contact me by email if you have any questions.
 

I have used lots of pictures, so if I missed anything they should help.

                                           ~kristy

Kindle Sleeve Tutorial

This pattern is designed to be a quick and easy project.  There will be a RAW edge on the inside.

The measurements that I am using will provide you with a quilted piece that can be adjusted to fit MOST Kindle sizes.  (If you enlarge all measurements by about 3”, it should fit the DX version.)

Top: 10”x13”

Batting: 11”x13”

Backing: 11”x13”

Layer backing (wrong side up), batting and top (right side up) with the layers closely stacked at the bottom. 

 

Secure layers; quilt as desired; and Press.

Trimming:

First trim the excess fabric and batting from the bottom creating a straight edge.

Next square up both sides.

Now, we will trim the top edge.

WE ARE ONLY TRIMMING 2 LAYERS HERE!!!

Place RIGHT SIDE DOWN on the cutting mat.

Fold the backing fabric away from the edge so that it will be protected UNDER the ruler.

Remove quilting stitches if necessary.

Cut the top fabric and the batting 8 ¾” from the bottom.  (Most Kindles will fit this size…if you are unsure about yours double check it by laying your device on the fabric before cutting.  Allow 1” at the bottom for a seam allowance.)

DO NOT CUT THE BACKING FABRIC!!!

Press.

Place right side up on your cutting mat and trim the top of the backing ¾” beyond the top of the quilted layers.

Double fold to create a binding at the top.

Press; Pin in place; and Top stitch, securing your stitches at the top.

Using your Kindle as a guide, place it on the right side of your quilted rectangle.  Fold over and pin the sides together.  You can decide how snug you want the sleeve to fit.

Mark your stitching line and remove your device.

Stitch on your marked line.  

Double check your fit.  You can use your stitches as a guide to make adjustments if necessary.  Remember, you will have a seam inside as well...

Trim the edge to ¼”.

Do not turn right side out yet.  We still need to stitch the bottom.

Mark a ¼” stitching line from the bottom with rounded corners.  (I used a shot glass.)

Stitch closed.  Be sure to reinforce your seam by stitching up the side an inch or so.

Trim the corners.

Turn right side out.

Press.

AND YOU’RE DONE!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Thank you! I DON'T need your help right now!!

Ever have one of those days?
You know, the one where everyone wants to help...
...and they don't know what you are doing.
...or how.
...and you just want to be done.
...and you want it done your way.
...and the kids are fighting tooth & nail because they want to go outside.
...and the bills are coming in.
...and you have to be the one to figure out where the money is going to come from.
...and then you feel guilty for the last $80 you spent at the quilt shop.
...and then the birthday surprise arrives.
...and someone insists on knowing what's in the box.
...and the twins are right there listening.  (It's for their birthday.)
...and you just blurt it out 'cause your beyond pissed.

Yeah.  Well.  Welcome to my Monday.

I promise to be happier once I get a chance to eats some chocolate, do something for me, and maybe hide under a rock for a while.

Later.

March FNSI Update

I managed to get a couple of hours of sewing in last night.  Not as much as I had planned (all day) but I did promise my daughter a shopping trip while she was on Spring Break.  So we spent most of the day at the Outlets in PA.  She ran out of money early, so we were home in time for me to catch up on a couple of projects.

I am now caught up on my Craftsy Block of the Month.


I also worked on my Barrister's Sow Along.  I was about 8 blocks behind (I am doing 2 of each block)...
 
...and now she has 2 bonus blocks posted, so that makes me about 12 blocks behind.

I had the pieces cut for the blocks and last night I sewed HSTs and some other pieces for each block.  Today I will probably get them all trimmed and hopefully a few more pieced.  I did get 2 of the blocks pieced, but I think I will have to re-do the Big Dipper...it seems a little small. 

Have a happy sewing day!!

Peepers (in a jar)

I just couldn't stay inside yesterday!

I really needed to get the little garden spot outside my window cleaned up.  

Thought it might help me be a little more motivated in the morning.

Instead of looking like just another mess to deal with.

So, outside we went...to these garden messies:

Purple Flags (They look much better now!)

hillside flower bed

My "holding tank"...where the plants go before they find a home.

This is the mess outside my window...

I managed to get all of these areas cleaned up.  (I was just too tired to remember to take pictures.)  Mostly just removing leaves & last season's dried blooms.  The boys found the Spring Peepers & of course, they went into the Mason jar.  Man, are those things noisy!!

We have some lovely daffodils.

And WORMS...WE HAVE SOME KILLER WORMS...in our flower beds!

This thing was HUGE!! Even the twins were impressed.

I did manage to get my Barrister's Block sow along caught up...sort of...I cut the blocks that I was behind on and then found out that Randy had posted a few extra blocks. 

Happy Thoughts!  Spring has finally Sprung...and I hope you are enjoying yours!

Springing Forward

There are days that I wish I had the energy of Tigger.

Always bouncing.  

Never sitting still.

But, that's just not me.

I'm more of an Eeyore...

...slow to get moving, slow to keep moving.

This time change has been beautiful (temps in the high 60's & mid 70's all this week), but I just can't get going in the mornings.

The spring bug that has bitten the kids, on the other hand, has them running (far from home and chores) and jumping (in puddles creating more laundry) and playing.  No one is here to help with the pile of dirty dishes, the pile of dirty laundry and now there is a pile of dirty shoes right in front of the door.  

The dogs are finding stinky (most likely dead) things to roll in...and need baths at the end of the night.

I say all of this to say that I haven't accomplish much at all with my sewing.

Yesterday, I managed to steal away for an hour or two and worked on the blocks that I had previously cut for Morgan's Sampler.  I have to say that I am happy with how they are turning out.

With my new organizing system, these belong in my BOM category and today is Freshly Pieced's WIP Wednesday and I have nothing to report.  If you would like to see the current status, you can check out last week's post since not much has changed.

A few wonderful things did happen this week that will eventually make my sewing/quilting projects more fun!

THIS came in the mail from Barbara over at Cat Patches:

Isn't it lovely!  I can't wait to start my Dresdens now!  Exactly what I was planning on using...

And Darren stopped at Lowe's and picked up a peg board for my rulers...Thanks to my friend with the Quilt Monster in her closet...I will finally get my rulers organized!

Well, dishes are half done, laundry is waiting and the boys are doing Math, so I guess I'd better get busy if I'm going to get any sewing in today.