My Circle Quilt

 I quilted and bound my Circle Quit on Friday. I got up at 4:15am. By 4:30 I was quilting. I finished the quilting about 6am, just in time to get my husband up for work. The way I went about doing this quilt was a little different than my typical approach. Usually I buy fabric I love and put it in my stash.  I go to Lancaster PA once or twice a year and I get most of my fabric there. Then when I decide to start a quilt I just go to my stash for the fabric. 7-Sisters Quilt Guild decided we were going to make this quilt. I knew I wanted to make mine these colors but had none in my stash. This is a color combination that I have been introduced to since I started blogging. So I went to a blog to find the fabric and ordered it from an Etsy Shop. I got it from Sew Deerly Loved. This is the first time I can remember having the pattern chosen before the fabric.

 Every time I finish a quilt I throw it in the washer and dryer as soon as I have it bound. I just love how it looks after it is dried.

 Using the Accuquilt Go makes it a breeze to cut circles. The idea for this quilt came from the magazine Quilts and More, Summer 2010. I adjusted the size so we could use the GO cutter. The pattern called for 6 1/2" circles and 10" squares. I changed to 5" circles and 8 1/2" squares. 

 This quilt was also a little different for me because it was the first time I did the raw edge applique' with a straight stitch. You stitch about 1/4 inch away from the edge. Then after it is washed the edges fray. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this look, but I love it. I think this would be great for a baby quit because of the texture.

This quilt is supposed to be for me but so many people I know want it including my daughter.

24 Hour Mini Retreat

Typically on Friday nights the 7-Sisters Quilt Guild sews at the firehouse from about 6pm to anywhere from 10pm to 12am. This week we decided to try something different that we might like to do about every quarter. We had a 24 hour mini retreat. The retreat was to go from 4pm Friday to 4pm Saturday (we have to stop at 4pm Saturday because of bingo). I was not able to sew on Saturday because of other things I needed to do. Maybe I can stay 24 hours next time. 

I was able to sew from 4:30pm to 1:00am Friday night. Boy you can get a lot done in 8 hours (1/2 hour for dinner). The first thing I did was complete the baby girl circle quilt I cut out with my Accuquilt GO this week.  Now I am ready to lead the 7-Sisters sew-in on September 18th when we will all be making throw size circle quilts.

The next project I worked on was my center block for the Round Robin Bee. With the Bayside Quilt Guild we are starting a Round Robin Bee. Everyone participating does a center block. Then you pass it on to the next person and they add a border. In 2 months we meet and pass it on to the next person and they add a border. This goes on for 5 borders and then the quilt you get is the one with your center block. Each border round has different requirements; one is triangles, one is squares, one might be applique', etc.. At the first meeting we will decide exactly what our rules will be. My block came from a book called "Flowering Favorites" by Piece O' Cake Designs.

To end my night I cut my fabrics for my circle quilt I will make September 18th. Using the Go makes it a breeze to cut circles. The idea for this quilt came from the magazine Quilts and More, Summer 2010. I adjusted the size so we could use the GO cutter. The pattern called for 6 1/2" circles and 10" squares. I changed to 5" circles and 8 1/2" squares. 

Love my new fabric!

Look what arrived in the mail today. I ordered this fabric from Sew Deerly Loved. I didn't have any turquoise and red and love all that I am seeing on many blogs. I am going to make a circle quilt with this.

Monday I finally got my new sewing machine out of the box. I had to look back on my blog to see when I got it. Can you believe I got it June 24th and just got it out of the box.On Tuesday I used my Accuquilt GO for the first time. That arrived here on August 3rd. I think it is time for me to get back in my groove.

On September 18th, the members of the 7-Sisters Quilt Guild, are each going to be making a circle quilt. I am going to be heading that up so I wanted to get a baby sized one done ahead of time to make sure I know what I am doing. I am using the GO  to cut 5 inch circles. I can not believe the trouble I had. I am cutting the 5 inch circle out of the center of an 8 1/2 inch square. So to start with I lined some up wrong. Then I noticed that it was not cutting right. On every circle I cut one little thread was left uncut. I was very upset with this being my first time using the GO. So I got out another die and tried it and it worked fine. Luckily I got the circle die at the local JoAnn's so I took it back and exchanged it. The new one works great! I am hoping to have most of the baby quilt together for Friday night.