Finishing the Mariners Compass

In my last post Mariners Compass I went through the steps I took to create the Mariners Compass in the center. In this post I'll explain how to finish out your Mariners Compass.

The first thing I wanted was a small 1" border around the compas. I folded the Compass in half and layed it on the fabric I would use for that border. Then I measure 1.5" around the compass and marked with white chalk. I want the border to be 1", so this requires a 1.5" strip to allow for 1/4 seam on both sides. Remember you want to cut your stip on the curve. Don't use a 1.5" straight strip. You can, but you will likely end up with pukers in the fabric as you attach it to the block, and it will require relief cuts. By cutting on the curve you avoid all this. It takes a little more work up front, but saves you a lot of hassle later.

Two strips cut. Note the strips are cut with at least an extra 1/4" at each end. These will need to be attached to each other after they are sewn on the compass.

Carefully pin the strip to the compass. Don't attach the strips together yet. As you attach the strip it will sometimes stretch and move so that you may have more than 1/4" at the ends. Sew the strip to the compass with 1/4" seam. Leaving about and 1" or so and the ends of the strip unattached. Mark the ends of the strips where you want the seam. I did this by folding the strips where I wanted them to attach and pressing with my iron. It makes an easy mark to follow. Then fold the compass in half, pull the strip away from the compass and sew the strips together. Trim the seam, press and sew to the compass to complete the strip.

Next to complete the square. I put the compass folded in fours on top of fabric also folded in fours in order to create four corners. I planned this a little oversized so that I can square up the block when complete. To do the corners, it's really the same process as I used for the strip, only in four pieces instead of two. Also an extra step noted below before pinning.

Trimmed out and ready to attach. Notice the excess at the ends. Now to attach this I took an extra step before pinning the fabric. You will want you corners to match up with the center point (the orange point on this piece). Take your corner piece and fold in half diagnally at the corner so that you have a fold going out from the middle point to the corner. Use that fold to line up the point with the corner.

The finished Mariners Compass. This one measure 23 x 23.

Mariners Compass

I spent a full weekend on this project, but I'm pleased with the results. I think I mastered this paper pieced block. I took photos to help me describe each step so others can learn to do this beautiful Mariners Compass block.

First I determined that I needed a block that is 19.5" squared. I taped two pieces of parchment paper together to be large enough and then cut the square. Now there were several other instructions that I found instructing you to draw lines to dissect the square. However, I found it much simpler to fold the square in half and half again. This would give you the four square quadrants. Then I unfolded. Next I fold in half from corner to corner and in half again to the opposite corners. Hopefully my photo is clear enough that my folds can be seen.

There are a lot of great books out there that help you understand how to draw out any style Mariners Compass you desire. Then I dissected my pattern into sections. I traced a section from one large point to the next. Then using my copier I copied each section for paper piecing. 

Here are the four bocks I came up with that made since for paper piecing. The two large point styles I made four copies and the two group blocks I needed eight copies.

Next to choose my fabrics. I wanted a darker back ground with bright colors for the points to pop.

The first small group. You do need a basic understanding of paper pieced quilt blocks to do this.

Second block, just like first but with the additional medium point.

Now the fun begins.

Now that each block is complete, it's time to assemble the blocks. Using a pin; poke pin through point of one block at top of seam and push through the second block where seam is to join up. This aligns the blocks with accuracy. (see two above photos, front and back)

This is what the blocks should look like before you sew.

 First completed assembly

 Fold out and iron. Insure that seams are lined up and that you have left a 1/4" (apx) at the top for future assembly.

 Starting to lay out blocks to get an idea of final assembly

Attach the next block.

 Attach largest point to make complete unit

 Attach one small black to each complete block.

Final Assembly of paper pieced unit (with out appliqued center) from front. The back view in photo below show all the paper still on block and what that will look like.

Remove the paper. Remember the smaller your seam the easier to remove the paper. Note to self - don't get the paper wet next time and it'll come off easier with out such a mess. FYI I sometimes spritz my blocks with water to seam them really good for crisp seams. I don't advice this with paper pieced blocks. 

The finished assembly with appliqued center. Now I just need to lay this out and trace for my back ground to make this a square. This was a practice piece as I didn't want to waste the fabric for my son's Lone Star quilt. Now that I've practiced one (I'll have to find a use for this one) I can do the real thing for his quilt.

The Goth Quilt

I delivered the Goth quilt to the girl at work that hired me to do a lap quilt for her. She was in love at first sight. She was so excited and loved the hand quilted spider web I did too. This quilt was a lot of fun to do and the first time I had ever done a quilt as you go project. I loved it. I know it won't work for everything I do, as my favorite is the Lonestar quilt, but it is certainly a fabulous way to bust out your scrap pile. I plan to do many more of these, but not likely with a Gothic theme.

The start. Not quit center. One thing she loves and gave me to use, was an old corsett. Se I sewed the ends (back) on top of a piece of red. This will be laced up later with black ribbon. Then I began adding pieces around it. I used many different pieces of black lace she provided, which I lined with a fabric that would make the lace stand out.

Yes she loves spider webs, so there were a lot of fabrics with webs.

The finished quilt.

The black spider web hand quilted on a section of red.

The corset all laced up.

Buttons, rick rack, lace and ribbons added for fun and texture.

This project was fun!

A moment of inspirations

I don't know where it came from, but I just had this imagine in my head for a pillow and this is what I ended up with. My son said it'd also make a good lap top slever and I almost did it, but maybe next time.

These along with many of my other great creations can be found for sale on my website Scrappy Creations.

Quilted Wolf Table Runner or Wall Hanging

This one I am extremly proud of. The inspiration just came to me one day to use the two wolf blocks I had. I decided to do a table runner with a simple quilt block between the wolf blocks. I didn't know what I was going to do for the quilting until I had the layer together. The center block was the first one to come to me with a couple different feather designs.

Then I used the wolf images to dictate the quilting of those blocks. My favorite part of the quilt is the back. I love the way the metalic thread just pops on the dark blue fabric.

This item is listed for sale on my Etsy shop, Scrappy Creations

Dream Catcher

I just realized that I never posted when I finished my Lone Star Native American Quilt that I call "Dream Catcher." In the center I free motion quilted a Dream Catcher with the feathers hanging below into the two bottom points of the star. In the other star points I free motion quilted alternating arrow and double feather designs. In the squares I just stiched the outlines of the Indian motif. My husband just loved it and talked me into finding a way to put it on our bed. The cream colored comforter I had works great under it and even shows it quit well. I also made a ruffle that is under that and goes to the floor to cover up the sides of my bed. This quilt was quit an accomplishment!

Exciting Day

Today I sold my Hummingbird pillow that I had made of upcycled fabric from work. It was a beautifull pillow, just didn't match my house. Then the same gal commissioned me to make a lap quilt for her. This one shall be interesting as she is really into Gothic and Spider Webs. The quilt will be a crazy scrap quilt with that theme in mind. She will provide the supplies, but it sounds like deep purples, back, silver and such will be the colors. This one be interesting, but I think really fun to do. I'll post pics when I finish.

I've also completed the start and two of the framed train pictures on my sons "Patriotic Train" quilt. It's coming along quit nicely. I've got the next five days off work, so I plan to do a lot of work on his quilt and post pictures soon.

I can't even concintrate at work today. I can't wait to get home and do some more sewing!!!!

Baby Boys Quilt

We are getting snowed in today. I've been out twice today with my husband to shovel and plow snow. I'm done. We'll have to start again tomorrow.

I'm back in working on a quilt today that my husband asked me if I would make as a baby gift for a guy he works with. Him and his wife are expecting a baby boy in May. Here is the quilt I am working on for them.

The center is done with echo free motion quilting around the cars and the signs. The black border has a free motion quilting loop design done with clear thread, though over black it still shows up. I have yet to do the quilting over the squares. I would like to do a free motion design of loop and loop within loop, but in all my practicing I'm just not happy with my big loops. They aren't smooth and perfectly circular like I want. I'll just have to wait and see.

Opened shop!

By the way we did finally move. We sold our home in April and moved out to the country with my family. I couldn't have asked for a better arrangement. I love living near my parents. I have the peace of mind knowing my mom is right next door for the kids when I'm at work.

Not just that, but I now have a nice cozy area for my quilting and genealogy research. No more freezing my butt of in the basement, and no more clutter and mess in my family room.

Since I started this blog a lot has happened. I still do my genealogy research which I write about when I find the time on my Untangled Family Roots blog, but I also Do a lot more sewing and quilting now. I also have a new position at work as the Continuous Improvement Coordinator (Lean Manufacturing Coordinator). As a result this has brought me a new opportunity.

Here it is. I'm am trying find a way to help my company make an even smaller impact on the environment by upcycling their fabric waste. I work for a local office furniture manufacturer. Some of the product we make involves fabric. We go through thousands of inches of fabric every day and discard tons of waste from the left over pieces. I am also pursuing what options they may have to recycle this waste. They recycle all the metal, wood, paper, cardboard, etc that they use, but the fabric has always been thrown away as there is not really a viable option out there for a large scale company in this area to recycle. This creates an opportunity for me if this works, so I'd sure appreciate some help if you can.

I open up my Etsy shop last night Going Green Scrapy as a way to sale some of this reusable fabric and to sale the crafts I make from this fabric. Although I am still in search of a viable option for them to recycle the waste fabric that is really no longer usable for anyone. If you can think of any other option I may have to help my company achieve this goal of less impact on the landfill and environment please help.

House Quilt Finished

Finally I finished my House quilt and hung it on the wall. It does have some flaws, so I'll probably never sale it. The flaws are on the back though, so it makes a great wall hanging.

This quilt was a test for me. I wanted to see if I could reuse scrap pieces of fabric discarded the the office furniture making process at work to make something beautiful. I did and it look great, but I soon realized these fabrics were not easy to work with. If I want to continue doing quilts, and I plan to, I'll go back to using cottons.

However, I am pursue other ideas to reuse the fabric my work discards to create wonderful pieces. Some of the ideas I have are pillows, pot holders, purses/bags, window coverings, etc. I'm open to further ideas if anyone has any.

I'll keep this quilt above my sewing machine for now and appreciate all the hard work that went into it every time I look up.

Two Weeks of Pride

I picked up a fabric a while back at Wal Mart with a Native American theme. I didn't even know what I wanted to do with it, and then one day it hit me..... that fabric would look great with a Lone Star design of bright colors taken from the fabric. So I went to buy a few pieces of those bright fabrics and also found a Native American design that would work great for the border.

Now I had all the fabrics. The fun part would be taking my time to do the Lone Star technique correctly. I had to be slow and precise with it. This is not a design you can rush on. I used Lone Star Quilts and beyond by Jan Krentz to guide me through this. When it was all finished I was proud of it. The last time I tried to do a star quilt I messed up so royally I threw it away, but this one, though there are a few minor errors, came out looking great.

I spent about two weeks on the weekends making this top. It's a queen sized top, so I don't know how I'm going to quilt that on my machine. I may end up quilting this one by hand as well. It would also help to give it that old fashioned style to it. I'm not sure which way I will go yet, but I know I'm very pleased with how the top came out.

Maple Leaves

This was the first quilt I started. I'm still working on the hand quilting. I wanted a particular look with this one that I knew I couldn't achieve on the machine. You'll see that look in the maple leaf and design I stitched around it. Also by hand quilting it gives this quilt an old fashioned look to it.

This quilt was done all out of fabrics from work. None of this is cotton. One thing I like about that is these fabrics are very heavy. When you hold the quilt you can tell it's made out of heavy fabrics and when I have it draped over my legs while I quilt it's very warm. So this one will make the perfect lap quilt.

Dont' think that quilts can only be made out of cottons. Quilts made from other heavier fabrics can be warmer and even very unique and interesting.

Houses of Warmth

This quilt was an interesting one. I started quilting when I started bringing home fabric from work. At my place of work we use all kinds of fabric to make office panels. Unfortunately none of it is regular cotton that you would use in quilting. But some of the fabrics are beautiful. So I used many of them in the houses on this quilt. I was able to create unique looking homes on the quilt with texture and designs that you wouldn't find in normal cotton fabrics. I also used cottons with it as well.Here you can see the buses. One is of a cotton floral print. Nothing unusual there. The dark green on has a texture on it that's like little tiny pebbles. It gives it a texture of leaves. The other one has a checkered pattern where some of the squares are raised. The textures add a lot of interest to the quilt.

I'm going to admit to a mistake, but as a result I was able to add more interest to this quilt. Under the tree I messed up and the roof of that house doesn't line up. So I just covered it up with the top of the tree. It works great! No one would know had I not said anything. The truck of the tree is another fabric with texture and a design that reminds me of wood. Just above that tree you can also barely see another fabric I found that looks like bricks.

Yes I have lots of fun looking for unique scraps at work. It's also fun because I work with both my parents and my mother now works at the fabric table where I use to work. I'll have to find another pattern where I can use interesting fabrics like this.

Right now I am in the middle of machine quilting this one. The hard part is my sewing machine is a small cheap on from Wal Mart and it's very hard to machine quilt such a large quilt. So far I've only been able to stitch around the houses and bushes in the center row. I hope the outer rows get easier.