Mod Squad Challenge - 2025 - part two

This is a continuation of a previous post about the making of the 2025 Mod Squad Challenge.

I pulled a few pictures off the internet and landed on one for this challenge.  I used that as my idea and drafted up a couple of designs to fit the 2' wide requirement.

I liked the one with 3 rows the best, so that is what I used to make the foundation pattern for the triangles.  Well, first, I did a little math to make sure that 2 yards would be enough for this pattern.  And yes, I had plenty.  Did I tell you that I like to do math and drafting?  This exercise was right up my ally.

I made up a sheet of the triangle foundations and copied them onto Carol Doaks Foundation Paper.  I also made some cutting templates out of freezer paper, by adding 3/8" to all of the outside edges.    Since I had triangles going in opposite directions, I made the templates for each foundation and marked them as "A" or "B".  I also added directional arrows to be sure to cut them on the grain of the fabric.

Its hard to see in this picture, but following a method that I learned from way back, I placed a post card along the seam line and used the Add-A-Quarter ruler to trim the seam to 1/4".  This was them matched up with the next piece of fabric and sewn.

You can see the sewn seam in this picture.  

The whole piece was then pressed and trimmed.

I placed the completed foundation pieces on the design board, making sure that the color placement was just right.

The final step in piecing the top was to sew the strips together and add the outer borders.  Here is the finished top.  It measures 24" W x 38" H.

I hope you like it so far, and I will show it to you again after it gets quilted.

Nightingale quilt pattern by Brittany Lloyd

I purchased a quilt pattern called "Nightingale" by Brittany Lloyd through Lo & Behold Stitchery at QuiltCon in February.  I usually don't sew patterns, but this one was really modern and sweet.  Their booth at QuiltCon was also very modern and busy with shoppers.  I succumbed.  What can I say?

I pulled fabrics from my stash in shades of purple, orange, gray and pink.  The background was a light grunge.  It was an easy pattern to follow and used modern techniques for half square triangles and flying geese.  The pattern is written for several sizes.  I made the large throw, which is 60" x 75".

Here is the top all ready to get quilted.

I hope you like it!

Mod Squad Challenge - 2025

The Mod Squad group in Vancouver decided on their next challenge for 2025.  We originally were going to start with a purple fabric that was named as the color of the year by Kaufman Kona, which is Nocturne.  

One of our members was able to get material wholesale, but only with Moda.  So she ordered 2 bolts of a very similar color called Terrain Iris.  I can't tell from the pictures off the internet, but it sure doesn't look like the same purple to me.  Nocturne looks reddish purple, while Terrain Iris looks bluish purple.  One is warm and the other is cool.  Oh well, I'll go with what the group is doing.

The parameters of the challenge not only require the use of this purple fabric, but also require the use of 3 more fabrics that match paint chips.  Each person needs to find paint chips that match the initials of their name.  In my case, that would be J for Joanne; A for Adams; and R for Roth.  Then, we will find fabric that closely resembles those paint chips.  We decided on vertical quilts that are 2' wide and up to 60" long.  The piece must be modern and the due date is September.

I had a packet of paint chips from Sherwin Williams and picked the following colors to match my initials:

J = Jonquil, #6674

A = Avid Apricot, #6639

R = Retro Mint, #9036

I also found the paint chip that most closely matches the fabric:

Fully Purple #6983

And here are the fabrics and paint chips together:

Finally, here are the fabrics that I pulled from my stash that match those colors and some very close to them.

At this point, I have no idea what I will make, but I'm sure it will be fun and new.

Overalls - Part Four and Final

This is a continuation of 3 previous posts about the making of the Riley overalls.   While the pattern was easy to follow, the steps to make overalls is pretty complicated.  I decided that if I liked the pattern, I would make another one in a shorty style.  Anyway, the next steps were to add the hardware, which I found on Amazon. (The sales person at Modern Domestic said that this was the best place to buy the hardware, which they didn't carry).  

I can't say that I'm pleased with these particular button snaps.  There is an extra piece of hardware between the button snap and the backing screw that makes them sit loosely instead of snug up against the material.  I couldn't find any instructions on how to mount them, so I just went with the regular instructions.

After completing the overalls, I sprayed them with Scotch Guard.  I hope that I won't have to wash them very often and plan to wear them as inside clothes, and not as work clothes.   Anyway, here they are.... they are so CUTE!!

I hope you like them too.

Overalls - Part Three

This is a continuation of 2 previous posts about the making of the green Riley overalls.  After making all of the components, I sewed them together.  Several parts of the directions called for serging the edges.  So, I dragged out my serger and had both machines going for a while.

I do love to sew and spend time in my studio.  All of this was so much fun.  I had some creeping doubts that the overalls would fit and be comfortable when I was done.  That has happened to me several times when making clothes.  But, I kept moving forward.

The directions for this pattern are very well done with lots of pictures and easy to follow directions.  I got stuck at a few points and found a fantastic YouTube series of 7 videos from SewGnar.  If you sew this pattern, you should follow her videos as well as follow with the directions.  She and the directions DO conflict with each other in a few spots.   But her videos are super helpful.  Here is a screen shot of her making a pair of the short version of the overalls.

I had to un-sew a few seams, but otherwise, it was smooth sailing through most of the making of the overalls.  

Only one more post to go to see the finished overalls.

Teaching chop and drop applique with a test group

I signed up to teach my chop and drop applique method to Clark County Quilters.  Our Saturday workshop day is a fun day where members of our guild teach other members techniques, patterns, or garments.  I've both taught and taken classes in the past.  The teachers are volunteers, so the class costs is really low - like $10 for a half day class, and $20 for a full day class.

Two people in the guild can't take my class on that Saturday because they are either teaching themselves, or they are coordinating the entire workshops.  Since I wanted to test out the class and they were willing to be my testers, the 3 of us got together to give the class a trial.  It was so much fun to spend a day with these talented ladies!  

They both got a kit with the pattern, instructions, and a few of the smaller items needed to make the art quilt.  Here is what we were going to make.

Some progress pictures

And their work.  So great!

I can't wait to teach the class.

Overalls - Part Two

This is a continuation of the post about making green overalls with the Riley pattern.

I continued to add rows of green to gradually change the color from dark green to light green.  Making the 4 legs took a lot more time than I thought that it would.  Well, of course.  It was about the same amount of space to cover as it would be for a twin sized quilt top!  I tried to leave a single layer of fabric on the crotch areas and where the back darts would be positioned.  I had a nice sized piece of lime green batik that I used for those areas and also for the bib portions.   

I  lightly quilted the pieces, even though they were sewn to a muslin base.  I knew that the overalls would need to be washed at some point, and it would be safer to have everything stitched down securely.  I also used a different lime green batik for the facings, pockets, and backing for those pieces that didn't have the muslin piece.  And I also lightly quilted those layers together too.  Here are all the pieces ready to go.  Its a LOT of lime green.  And guess what?  I LOVE LIME GREEN!

My husband asked me where I was going to wear these overalls.  Well, certainly not in the garden, but in any quilting setting... and wherever else I want to feel special.  (And maybe somewhere that might embarrass him?)

Stay tuned to see what else I did on these overalls!