Midnight Mystery Quilt Along {a Finish!}

I've completed the Midnight Mystery Quilt Along! 

I ended up with six full blocks rather than the intended eight - a miscalculation in the cutting stage.  I decided to make it work anyway and added a 7" border to the sides to make it twin size.

Oh delight!  The backing is just gorgeous, and I could hardly bear to use it up!  It's one of my favorite Flower Sugar prints by Lecein, and it's . all . gone. {tears!} 

It's just so perty all folded up!

Quilt Stats:

• Pattern:  Midnight Mystery Quilt Along by Meadow Mist Designs
• Size:  60" x 83"
• Fabric:  Flower Sugar by Lecein with Kona Cotton Solids.
• Batting:  100% cotton, thin
• Backing:  Flower Sugar print by Lecein.
• Quilting:  Allover medium-to-large meandering stitch on Mrs.Singer, my antique 31-15 with a patent date of 1896, which is mounted on a long-arm quilting frame.
• Binding:  Flower Sugar print by Lecein, double fold, attached by machine for durability.
• Value:  Bold and sweet!

I'm hosting Thanks Goodness It's Finished Friday next week!  Stop back by on Friday to share your finishes!

Linking to:

♥  Crazy Mom Quilts  ♥  Whoomp There It Is  ♥  Can I Get a Whoop Whoop ?!?  ♥  Off the Wall Friday  ♥  TGIFF  ♥ WIPs Be Gone  ♥  Fabric Frenzy Friday  ♥ Linky Tuesday ♥ Fiber Tuesday ♥ You're Gonna Love It ♥ Let's Bee Social ♥ 

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Aiming for Accuracy 2 Quilt Along {Lessons 8 and 9}

I've completed the blocks for Lesson 8 and 9 in the Aiming for Accuracy 2 Quilt Along.  I'm making two of each block, one with a white background and one with a black background since I couldn't decide which to make.  Some blocks I prefer with the black background, and some I prefer with the white.  I am not joining the blocks together until the rest of the blocks are done, so I can choose block placement based on colors.  All fabrics are from my solids scrap bin!

Lesson 11 is due out tomorrow, and I'm catching up!  Two Lessons forward, one Lesson back!  

Enter to win Craftsy's Summer Staycation Supplies Giveaway!

►► Linking to:  ◄◄

♥ BOMs Away ♥ Building Blocks Tuesday ♥ Scraptastic Tuesday ♥ 

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Aiming for Accuracy 2 Quilt Along {Lessons 6 and 7}

I've completed the blocks for Lesson 6 and 7 in the Aiming for Accuracy 2 Quilt Along.  I'm making two of each block, one with a white background and one with a black background since I couldn't decide which to make.  Some blocks I prefer with the black background, and some I prefer with the white.

Lesson 10 is due out tomorrow, and I'm catching up!  Two Lessons forward, one Lesson back!

Here's Lesson 6 with the blocks assembled as per the directions.

Here's Lesson 7.  From here on out I plan to join the blocks at the end when I can lay all of the blocks out and choose how the colors are distributed.

Linking to:

: Building Blocks Tuesday : WIPs on Wednesday : WIP Wednesday : MOP Mondays :: Pet Project Show ::

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Aiming For Accuracy 2 Quilt Along {Lesson 5}

I've completed the three blocks for Lesson 5 in the Aiming for Accuracy 2 Quilt Along.  I'm making two of each block, one with a white background and one with a black background since I couldn't decide which to make.  Lesson 9 is due out in a few days!  

It's not the best of pictures, but I'm too tired to take a better one.  The picture in which the top blocks weren't cut off had poor coloring.  I struggle with taking pictures of groups of blocks on a table because I am so short, and I'm just guessing whether or not the picture is even close to straight and not cutting anything off.  This table is by a window, so I prefer to take pictures here as opposed to the design wall which is not by a window.  Yes, I was standing on a {short} stool to take this picture, but I still didn't get it right.  Blah blah blah.


Linking to:
:: Building Blocks Tuesday :: BOMs Away :: Main Crush Mondays :: Sew Cute Tuesday :: WIPs on Wednesday :: WIP Wednesday :: Let's Bee Social :: MOP Mondays ::

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I'm Guest Hosting Building Blocks Tuesday Today!

Today I'm guest hosting Building Blocks Tuesday for the regular hostess, Quilter in the Closet.  Most of my minimal sewing time this week has been dedicated to the custom twin and lap HST quilts I'm making, but I did take a little break from them to cut the blocks for Lesson 5 and part of Lesson 6 in the Aiming for Accuracy 2 QAL.  Once again I cut two sets of each block, one with a white background and one with a black background.

What blocks have you been working on this week? I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks. You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until it closes {HaHa!}, and it will be reposted every Tuesday until a new linky starts {I don't know when that is!}.

Quilter in the Closet Rules:
1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage. Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab Quilter in the Closet's button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.  Here is the code:

<a href="http://quilterinthecloset.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src=" http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj619/NewbieJen/a3e94b25.jpg " title = "Quilter in the Closet" alt="Quilter in the Closet" width="125" height="125" /></a>

4) Visit other linky participants!



My rule:
Please link back to this page in your post!

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking to:
WIP Wednesday

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Aiming for Accuracy 2 QAL {Lesson 4}

I'm progressing as I can through the Aiming for Accuracy 2 Quilt Along lessons.  This is lesson 4.  Lesson 6 has been released, and I'll get to 5 and 6 when I can. These blocks aren't as big as they look, though I can't tell you their size due to pattern confidentiality.  I'm making two quilts at once; one with a black background and one with a white background since I couldn't decide which one to make.  It doesn't take much extra time to make two of each block.

When making these blocks, I didn't cut apart the chain piecing strings as I most often do.  It was really nice to not have to think about where the pieces go after I ironed them, as they were still in place.  Even after all these years of quilting, some days I still struggle with keeping pieces in their correct place.

And that there would be my design boards in use!  I have edited my Design Board Tutorial by recommending a non-fuzzy batting or fleece.  I'm getting fuzzies on the back of the pieces!  :{

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Cutting It Up

For a few days this week I was without a sewing machine because I dropped the bobbin case and thought it was broken.  After I'd ordered one, I showed the part I thought was broken to my husband, and he suggested I unscrew the tension screw and see if there was anything hiding under there.  Wouldn't you know, there was a small fuzzy!  Mrs.Bernina is stitching again, even better than she has for awhile, so I'm thinking that fuzzy has been a long-term resident.  Fortunately the bobbin case was inexpensive, and now I have a spare!  Note to self:  ask Mr.Fixit first!

Instead of sewing, I've been cutting!  

I have scoured my stash for fabrics I love for the Farm Girl Vintage Sew Along!  See the rainbow of goodness I found?!  My favorite fabrics of all are the bright blue on the top, which is a Flower Sugar print, and a red and white diagonal check from Holly Holderman.  Just love 'em.  There are lots of 30s reproduction fabrics that I've had for over 10 years.  I picked out only fabrics I like since I am keeping what I make during the Sew Along.  This will not be a hiding-ugly-fabric quilt!

For the Sew Along, we're using Lori Holt's Farm Girl Vintage book.  I love it!  My plan is to make a 6" block every week and extras of the blocks I really like. The sampler quilt will be for the wall in my living room, and the other blocks will be for wall hangings, table runners, window valances, etc. for my kitchen, dining room, entryway, and living room which are pretty much all one room.  I will be using very little pink because the Mr. says "no pink"!

Next up I cut pieces for the Aiming for Accuracy II Quilt Along.  I'm making two quilts for this QAL; one with white and one with a black background since I couldn't decide which I liked better.  This quilt is nearly entirely from my Kona scrap stash.

Also cut this week were more blocks for the GRAVITY Quilt Along.  I like to cut ahead and then assemble them later.  It makes the block seem like less work to make.  I am really, really enjoying using the Jaybird templates.

All Craftsy classes are up to $20 off through May 11th!  I've learned quite a few helpful tips from Craftsy classes that have improved the accuracy of my piecing.  It's time to get that class that's been on your Wish List!  

Happy Cutting!

Linking to:
: WIP Wednesday : To-Do Tuesday : Fabric Frenzy Friday : Crazy Mom Quilts : BOMs Away :

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Aiming for Accuracy Quilt Along {Lessons 2 and 3} + Free Craftsy Class!

Yeah!  Finishing these blocks catches me up in the Aiming for Accuracy Quilt along!  I have no plan for colors.  I just pick what I have in my scrap bin that is close to what's given in the instructions and as a last resort use yardage when the scraps don't come close enough.

I'm making two quilts - one with a black background and one with a white background since I couldn't decide which one to make!  I am amazed at how little extra time this takes.  Since the only difference is black vs. white, there are no additional fabric selection choices to make, and I just cut double the pieces.  Making a few extra blocks also makes strip piecing more practical, and the orange and blue 4-patches below were strip-pieced.

Here's Lesson 2 blocks.

And Lesson 3 blocks.  I love the itty bitty blocks - they are 5.5" square.

And here is everything for the Quilt Along in a bin.  I started using bins for WIPs in January, and I love the organization!  I can switch between projects much easier.  I've selected the fabrics for Lesson 4 which came out today and plan to finish those very soon.

Linking to:

~ Freshly Pieced ~ Let's Bee Social ~ Needle and Thread Thursday ~ Crazy Mom Quilts ~ Fabric Frenzy Friday ~ 

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Aiming for Accuracy Quilt Along {Lesson 1}

2015 is my year of Quilt Alongs!  I have participated in the Grand Illusion Mystery QAL, the Urban Churn Dash QAL, the Pretty in Pink QAL, and the Charm Square Sampler QAL {all links in sidebar}.  And in case you're wondering, none of the quilts mentioned above are done, and only one QAL is still in progress.  :}  Oh, yes, and then I'm hosting a GRAVITY Quilt Along here beginning in April!  I love having many projects going at one time!

I'm also participating in the Aiming for Accuracy II QAL hosted by Michele of Mishka's Playground.  I couldn't resist; the quilt pattern is bold and beautiful and made with solids.  2015 will also be known as my year of solid quilts, it seems!

I've completed the two blocks assigned in Lesson 1.  What?  You see four blocks?  I made too many?  Well, sort of.  I've decided to make two quilts, one with a black background and one with white.  All of the colored fabrics are exactly the same, so it doesn't create more decision-making; it just makes a few more pieces to cut and a few more to stitch.  And I'll have two quilts!

For fabric color selection, I am matching the colors given with what I have in my stash, and if I don't have a color, I'll find something similar.  Of note, I did substitute out the brown for red in these blocks and will do so for the entire quilt since there isn't much red in the original mockup.  No brown, yes red!

This is the complete quilt with the black background.

Below are alternate colorways Michele gave as examples.  I'm making the one on the top left with the white background.

If you are in need of a new cutting mat, ruler, or rotary cutter, my favorite is Olfa.

...AND...

Craftsy is celebrating National Craft Month and is having a 5-day sale on classes, starting today through Monday.

Did you know Craftsy now has Class Collections? They are bundles of classes that save you even more!  Both of Camille Roskelley's classes are bundled together for under $30 during this sale!  They are on my list of favorite Craftsy classes, and that price is a lot less than I paid for them separately.  I'm drooling over Sewing with Knits - it's a Collection of 3 classes, and I so need help with this!  You can view all of the Class Collections deals here.

All Craftsy classes come with lifetime access and a money-back guarantee if you aren't satisfied.

Linking to:

~ Show and Tell Tuesday ~ 

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