I cleaned out my scrap bin last week- whew! That was a job. Sorted and trimmed, I put together a pile of small scraps for a ticker tape quilt.
I've always wanted to make a big one. I made this little one last year for my daughter's baby doll.
It gets used all the time which I love.
(Speaking of which, I snapped this picture when I peeked out on the driveway this afternoon while my daughter was playing. Her baby was taking a nap with the umbrella. Maybe she was expecting rain? :) Don't you love a quilt in use?)
Anyway, I decided it was high time to do some quilting and break in my new machine.
Oh yes, my fabulous new machine.
Santa brought me a really wonderful Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.0 for Christmas.
I am in love with this machine.
The bells and whistles are wonderful; it's super easy to use, hums right along and has the fabulous IDT which is a built in walking foot/dual feed that keeps top and bottom layers together when sewing.
I love that I can program it to automatically anchor the beginning and ending stitches and cut the thread when I finish sewing. Of course the needle down position rocks as does the automatic slight lift of the presser foot to allow for easy pivoting. Ahhhh, heaven.
OK, so where was I? Oh yes. The ticker tape quilt. So I sorted all of my scraps, tucked away the larger ones in bins for a future project I have in mind and kept my favorite little guys. I had the best time playing with the layout- rather like puzzle pieces (which is weird because I don't like puzzles) but this I totally enjoyed. 1.5 Lapel sticks later, I had all of them glued down and ready to be sewn on.
Since most of the pieces sit so closely together, I stitched around the edges of each piece in a continuous manner rather than doing each piece individually. I started out individually but just don't have the patience for that. Plus it was more fun linking all the pieces. I don't think the little extra stitches in between the pieces will be very noticeable after I quilt it.
I kept the sides rolled up the best I could as I made my way back and forth across the quilt. The glue stick really did a good job of holding my scraps in place.
I'm not going to lie- I wouldn't do this on a quilt larger than this one (36 x 40.) I had plenty of space to turn it in my new machine but it was tedious and kinda boring after a while. I think it would be much more fun to do ticker tape blocks and then sew all those together.
Anyway, I finished up my quilt top tonight and now need to spray baste it and get it quilted. I am thinking that a square spiral of sorts would be fun. That way it would echo the rainbow of colors spreading out from the middle.
BTW, I just ordered some more 505 spray online for $13.49 for a 17 oz can! Pretty good deal I think.
Still here? Great because I also want to mention that my friend Sarah at Fairy Face Designs is hosting a great beginners sewing series called Sew Get Started, and I'll be sharing a super easy napkin tutorial over there in a few weeks.
Stop by to check out the great lineup and the giveaway!
Alright y'all, it's time for bed. Peace out!
xo,
Jennifer
33 comments:
I made a medium size ticker tape quilt and did free-motion around each little square of fabric. Definitely less work than turning for each side!
Love love love your ticker tape quilt...soooo very pretty! And your daughter is putting the small one to good use! I really want to make a ticker tape quilt myself, may have to start with a small one too I think. Thanks for sharing!
oh, the arrangement of colors on it is amazing! You have such a good eye!
I made a doll sized ticker tape quilt too, I sure hope the little recipient uses it as much as your little one. Love the dolly out with the umbrella. Must be like my kids, umbrellas are not restricted to rainy days, too fun to limit them like that
I don't think I ever heard of a ticker tape quilt before now...what rock have I been living under? What a pretty way to use up the scraps!
I, too, got a new sewing machine as an early Santa gift. OH my goodness, it makes me wonder what I did before!!!
Ooh congratulations on your new machine! How exciting! Lovely quilt, too.... Looks fantastic!
Love the colour play on your quilt, Jennifer!
Looks great! I bought a solid black layer cake to make ticker tape blocks with my blue and green scraps (they are overflowing the most). Just need to find the time to start. Think you may have given me the motivation.
Wow! At first I was not feeling the ticker tape style quilt. I'm a terrible scrap horder, but the voices don't like edges that can fray. But the I saw whay you did with your scrap placement and I love it! It makes my heart sing.
Love love love your ticker tape quilt! I think your concentric quilting plan is great, too. If you're soliciting suggestions, I would consider concentric circles to offset the square corners of your pieces. But whatever you do is going to be great. Enjoy your new machine!
Hi! Your quilt is going to be so beautiful! Enjoy your new fantastic sewing machine! x Teje
Really great idea and looks brilliant!
Yea for new machines - you are sure to whip up some beauties on it! I love the thread cutter and up down button on my machine. Small additions that make life so much easier. Love your ticker tape quilt!
New machine!!!!! Awesome!!!! I love ticker tape quilts! I made one for Katy's doll years ago and it is still loved :o) I would like to make a bigger one someday...
Great job!!!!!
So awesome!!!!
I love it, mostly because of all the color and the rainbow effect. For some reason I am drawn to rainbow quilts. I am collecting bits too and one day I will do something with them. But my basket isn't even half full yet so I have a ways to go before I have enough for something interesting. Congrats on the new machine.
Love this! I still have yet to make a quilt, any quilt, any design.... But I love the way this looks and since I've got a baby in the way, this might be the perfect time to make one! Love the idea of doing it in blocks. That might help me out quite a bit! Thanks for sharing :)
sounds like Santa was very good to you!! Love the scrappy quilt!
Ooh, lucky girl, you must have been very good for Santa this year :oD Love the look of your ticker tape quilt, but I think you need to get onto some clothes for that poor baby before she freezes! I see she's going to grow up to be a princess though with that crown... ;o)
That ticker tape quilt is so neat. I love the colors and how it all fits together. And the scrap quilt you made your daughter for her dolls...I may have to do that when I have enough scraps - super cute!!
I am so torn (huh, get the pun) of what to do with my scraps. It was the same when I was a paper scrapbooker (now I digital scrapbook). They take up so much space and require organization. But, then I see a quilt like yours and I know why we save scraps. Someday I'll make a ticker tape quilt. So cute! Glad you found your 505 deal, too!
dang, girl! Santa really does love you- a Quilt 4.0?!? It practically sews for you. Jealous.
I *love* 505.... basting a quilt is the worst part of the whole thing and some good basting spray makes it all a little more bearable.
And, of course, your ticker tape quilt is gorgeous! I love your placement of warm colors- especially the warm purple- in the center with cools colors around it. Theres a lot of movement in the quilt without becoming too busy. I'm meaning to do a little ticker tape quilt and this is quite inspiring!
Hope you bring it to the guild meeting so I can see it in person *hint, hint*!
Sigh...so jealous of your new machine! Hope you get lots of happy use from it :-) Your ticker tape quilt is a fab idea, I love it! And thanks for the mention my friend, looking forward to your tute :-)
thanks for the link for the 505 spray. i was going to email you today and ask where you got yours. i need to get some.
I didn't know what a ticker tape quilt was, now I do. I love your colour arrangement. LOL-I see some of my scraps in there! What is really cool-your daughter has the same doll that I gave my daughter-about 1976! She wore her out, and I had to sew a new body on! Samll world!
Cute, Cute, Cute!! I could totally do this.
And I'm a little jealous of your new machine - sounds heavenly!
I LOVE your ticker tape! So pretty. I have the same machine. Let me know if you run into any issues (esp. with quilting). I got the first iteration and I think Pfaff has tweaked a few things to improve, but there are several of us online that act as a little support group for one another. Glad you are enjoying it. It's a great machine! After 3 years I still don't think I'm even using 1/2 of it's potential.
Great use for scraps! I'm going to have to keep this in mind... but like you said, I think I would sew the blocks together after putting down all the ticker tape. I guess I should save those 2" squares!
Hey, do you think the ticker tape thing would work if I only sewed straight around the edges instead of zig zag? My machine is very old and doesn't have zig zag.
Wow!!! I love it! How long did it take to do?
The ticker tape quilt is so beautiful! I love it :) Not sure I'd have the patience to layout such a big one but I'd happy have fun playing with blocks like you suggest - don't know that it would look as fabulous though?!
Gorgeous ticker-taping! I've got a goal of finishing my bottled rainbows quilt this year. It's always relaxing to work on, and using itty bitty scraps is so much fun!
I love this! I love rainbow quilts. Just gorgeous.
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