Reflection + Goals 2016

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For this year’s reflection and goals, I am joining in Yvonne @ Quilting Jet Girl Planning Party Link-up (see button below).

Reflection – 2015

Reflecting on my goals from last year, I think I did pretty well…though my goals altered during the year.

  • My biggest goal for the beginning of the year is to sew just from my stash. If I run out of a fabric in the middle of a project or require backing fabric, I can make a purchase.
    X Did not accomplish for most of the year to met this goal, but in this last quarter I am doing more of this.

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  • Continue to make strides in finishing of my projects on a monthly basis (see below for project plans/targets). I will definitely continue goal setting with A Lovely Year of Finishes.
    √ I definitely finished a project every month, finishing 16 projects which were mostly quilts. I did not finish the projects I identified earlier this year but I am happy with the flexibility.

    mosaicd5919d85d20159a033587cd2b4da006f3d6d7233

  • Make my son a quilt
    X Did not accomplish this
  •  Participate more in the quilting community
    √ Overall, I think I accomplished this, just not completely in the way I thought I would. I made some great friends and relationships this year. I also participated more via Instagram vs. my blog and participated in 3 blog hops.

    • Launch “Back to School” Tutorial series on my blog, which I hope will be a regular feature (coming beginning in January).
      X This did not come together. I did start the Spoonflower Sampler Quilt block tutorials, quilting triangle tutorials and lately how to use your selvedges to make an ironing board cover.
      IMG_9503
    • Plan and teach new classes this year. I hope to teach a needle-turn applique and a paper-piecing class this year.
      √ This is coming together nicely. I took the time this year to developed a couple of classes which I am having the opportunity to teach in 2016.
    • I have really enjoyed sharing Design to Reality on Sew Mama Sew, so I would like to continue contributing projects and take the big step of seeing if I can publish in magazines.
      √ To my surprise I have managed to get 4 projects in print (includes Quilt Now, Love Patchwork & Quilting, Art Gallery Lookbook) , with another 3 projects coming out early 2016.

      Love Patchwork & Quilting issue 29 NEGATIVE CROSSWALKS

    • Participate more in my guild (Triangle MQG).
      √ I ran as President for my local guild!! It was a lot of fun. I also contributed to the MQG Quilt of the Month. Oh, and I had two quilts accepted at QuiltCon 2015…my first quilt show, 2 quilts are going to QuiltCon 2016.
      Altitudinal Ecosysytem
  • Design goals include:
    • Continue participating in Quilt Design a Day.
    • Try out a 1-2 new fabric designs via Spoonflower
      √ Completed both these goals and accomplished making my designs into reality.

Goals – 2016

This year (2015) has set up many of my goals for 2016. I am super excited about the opportunities.

  • Make that quilt for my son and another one for my mom.
  • Continue making my designs into reality. My goal is to make 1 quilt a month…12 quilting projects total.
  • Start a blog or Instagram series, related to design (plans are underway).
  • Release at least 4 patterns (PDF and in Print).
  • Go to Spring Quilt Market (I was approved/qualified!!)
  • Teach at least 4 quilting classes and attend at least 2 quilting classes.
  • Submit quilts for consideration to juried quilt shows (definitely QuiltCon 2017)
  • Submit an application for an art gallery showing.
  • Make some decisions about my brand to set up for the future.

It is important to me to find balance, so I want to also:

  • Start exercising again.
  • Family.
  • Don’t stress about blogging, share when and where it makes sense.
  • Give myself permission to play and experiment, it’s not all about deadlines and getting finishes.
  • Continue and participate more in Quilt Design a Day. Make the time.
  • Support my quilty friends and continue to build those friendships (locally and online).

That’s it, I think, for this upcoming year. What about you all?? Check out Yvonne’s link up and be inspired 🙂 Happy Holidays.

2016 Planning Party

Tutorial: Selvedge Ironing Board Cover

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This weekend, I was frustrated with my ironing board cover. It continued to fall off and was dirty from water stains and just yuck!! I had also been searching for a use of my selvedges (selvages in the US), I had been collecting. Perfect pairing in my opinion, and I made a ironing board cover from them. I loved how my new ironing board cover looks…. (#sewmystash2015)

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It was not overly complicated to make, and can easily done in an afternoon. So, here are my steps.

Materials
~1-2 yards of ironing board cover fabric (quilted)
~ 50 selvedges of varying widths (minimum 1″)
Three (3) 3 1/2″ strips WOF (width of fabric)
3 yards 1/2″ Dritz Knit Elastic White

NOTE: I bought the ironing board fabric at Joann’s.  The amount you will need will vary on the board you are making the cover for, so measure the length of your board before purchasing.

Instructions

  1. I sorted my selvedges into three piles based on warm, cold and neutral color palettes. I also made sure that they were at a minimum 1″ wide.  I decided that I would use the warm color palette for my new  cover.
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  2. I took the old ironing board cover and used the inside batting as a template. I pinned this to my iron board cover fabric (quilted fabric).  Draw an outline and then cut out the shape.
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    The goal is to cover the full ironing board cut out, which will be done using either long or pieced strips of selvedges.
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  3. Starting at the wide end, stitch your first strip by stitching the selvedge edge to the top edge of the cover. Continue adding selvedge strips, covering the raw edge with a selvedge edge and top stitching the strip in place.
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  4. Continue until the whole cover is covered. Turn it over and trim the edge.
  5. Take the three (3) 3 1/2″ strips and stitch them together (straight 1/4″ seams). Fold along one edge 1/4″ and press in place.
  6. Attach the other edge to your selvedge top (RST – right sides together). Similar to sewing binding on a quilt…leave about a 4″ tail before starting to stitch. Start along one of the long edges and stitch ~ 1/2″ seam. You will need to constantly reposition the fabric when stitching the curves, carefully as not to catch the folds.
    NOTE: If you feel so inclined, you could also zig-zag or use an overlocker along the edges to neatly finish this inside seam and add extra strength. I did not do this step.
  7. Continue to stitch until you get ~ 5″ from the end. Overlay the ends and trim so that each end overlaps 1/2″. Place the ends right side together and stitch a 1/2″ seam. Finish stitching the edge to your cover top.
  8. Place the elastic to the inside of the strip along the raw edge of the 1/4″ fold. Pin the end in place.
    LineUpElastic
  9. Fold over the 1/4″ fold over the elastic forming another 1/4″ seam (so that edge is folded over twice). At approximately 4 ” from the end of the elastic, start to stitch elastic and seam in place. As you stitch pull on the elastic, and continuing folding over the fabric edge.
    NOTE: You want tension on the elastic so that it will stretch around the ironing board and then pull back to hold it in place.
    StitchElasticSeam

  10. Continue to stitch until you get ~ 5″ from the end. Overlay the ends and trim so that edges overlap 1/2″. Place the ends right side together and stitch a 1/2″ seam (reverse and restitch to finish with a triple stitched edge). Finish stitching the edge of the elastic to the fabric.
  11. Optional: To finish neatly you may choose to top stitch the top of the elastic to the fabric as well.

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  12. You are all done. Place over the narrow part of your ironing board and pull over the other end.

This method works for any ironing board. I am also using this for a portable (17 x 17″) ironing board, as well in a neutral palette. I am replacing the elastic with staples, in this case.
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Let me know if you have any questions. I would love to see your new covers, so tag me on Instagram (IG) ml_wilkie or leave a comment below with a link to a picture/blog.

Please refer to this tutorial when posting. This tutorial is for personal use only.

Day to Night Glitz

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For Quiltcon, the Modern Quilt Guild issued a Michael Miller fabric challenge. These were the Fat Eighths I received to use. I added the white cotton couture fabric as my back ground fabric.
Fabric Challenge

Inspired by this monument in Portugal, I came up with a minimal design using triangles that are slightly off-kilter.

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I modified this design a little more, removing one set of the triangles. I wanted to use the fabrics in an ombre nature, representing a day to night time lapsed effect.

Note: I discussed the creation of this design in this previous post.

QDAD_01August2015(4)

I created a paper-piecing pattern to get that slight off-kilter look to the triangles. This quilt has a lot of negative space, so I knew that the quilting was going to be a key element of this design.

For the triangles, I used matchstick quilting (~1/8″ lines) following the direction of each side of the triangles. There are 12 lines per direction.

Quilting_Day_Night_Glitz

In the negative space 1/2″ quilting straight lines were used. I echoed the triangles along the width of the triangles and then radiated horizontally to the edge. The quilting definitely completes the quilt.

Tip: Use the rough blue painters tape (it sticks best) to keep your lines in check.
Closeup_Day_Night_Glitz

On the back, I used some of red, orange and yellow Michael Miller cotton couture. These represent the sunset and shimmers through to the front. I wanted the binding to be part of the design. I used a small piece of the black print at the top to continue the day to night look and the rest of the binding is the Flight in Gold print from Brambleberry Ridge line by Violet Craft.

Day_Night_Glitz

I was so thankful for my husband photographing my final quilt, which I submitted like 20 minutes before the deadline….it was a little stressful. I am so happy though I completed the challenge.

Details

Name: Day to Night Glitz
Design: Designed by me
Fabric:  Michael Miller Glitz and Cotton Couture Solids
Dimensions: ~50 x 50″
Quilted: Straight line and Matchstick quilting techniques, Aurifil #2021 and #2692 50 wt

Linking up to Amanda Jean’s Finish it Up Friday over @ Crazy Mom Quilts.