Tic Tac Toe...

Two quilts in a week.  That must be a record for me.  My machine has certainly been humming lately.  I wasn't sure if I would make the deadline, but I've just managed to finish Tic Tac Toe in time for the Schnibbles parade on June 1st.  This is the last parade Sherri and Sinta are hosting before taking a break for the summer.

The pattern is X-Rated by Carrie Nelson and is in the book Schnibbles Times Two.  I actually pieced the top last November, but it's been sitting in an ever growing pile waiting to be quilted.  This was just the push I needed to complete it!  Instead of a Layer Cake, I used 5 Charm Packs of Independence Trail by Minick & Simpson.  I was going for a lap size, but this ended up at 85" square.

I used the pantograph Celtic Braid by Patricia E. Ritter.  This was a fun one to use and a fast one as well.

Now that I've worked through all the issues with my frame, this quilted up beautifully - until the last row.  When I stitched down the bottom edge, I was in a bit too much of a hurry and managed to sew through my finger several times.  It happened so fast, I didn't even realize it until after the needle broke.  I am so very grateful it missed the nail!

This quilt coordinates nicely with the one I just finished for our bed.  I'm planning to keep it over the back of one of the chairs in there to snuggle under (or just to look pretty.)

To sum it up:

• Size: 85" square
• Fabric: Independence Trail by Minick & Simpson
• Batting: Warm & Natural
• Thread: Aurifil for piecing (#2326) and quilting (#2310)
• Pattern: X-Rated by Carrie Nelson

When I put the quilt over the chair to take a picture, cats started to appear from all directions.  If you look closely, you can see 3 of them here...

I'm looking forward to this month's parade.  I've already seen some quilts done in some brighter fabrics and they look great.  I think this pattern is one that lends itself to so many different types of fabric.

Do to others as you would like them to do to you. 

Luke 6:31 (NLT)

Tic-Tac-Toe...

Lately, I've really been enjoying the quiet mornings in my sewing room before the household starts to stir.  I sew, sit and think and watch the day as it gradually makes it's appearance.  And slowly I'm making progress on some of the items on my to-do list.  One of those items is the quilt X-Rated by Carrie Nelson in the book Schnibbles Times Two.  I've been wanting to make a patriotic version of this quilt for at least a year.

I had 5 charm packs of Independence Trail by Minick & Simpson that I thought would be perfect for this quilt.  I altered the pattern to use Charm Packs instead of a Layer Cake.  I didn't cut my charm squares down but used the full 5", so although my quilt has fewer rows, it still ended up larger than the pattern at 85" square.  I intended for this to be a lap quilt, it's just going to be a very large lap quilt now.

I didn't have enough yardage of any one fabric for the backing so I put on my thinking cap to figure out how to piece one together.  (I always make the backing as soon as I finish the top even if I don't plan to quilt it right away.)   It's also so wide that 2 widths of fabric aren't quite enough, so I needed to add a row in the middle.

I've already pulled out the next project I'm planning to work on.  It's a UFO from when I first started quilting.  Looking at it, it's obvious that I hadn't yet mastered the 1/4" seam allowance.  My seams are all a very generous 1/4".  It's going to make this one a bit of a challenge to finish, but I still like the fabrics and pattern, so I'm going to give it a try.

David has his way of trying to gain my attention while I'm sewing.  I'm grateful these machines are so sturdy!

David on top of my sewing machine

But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength. 

2 Timothy 4:17a (NLT)