Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Llama Love

Drop And Give Me Twenty...

My goals were set for the month of February and you can read about it here.

Granted, it's only the 4th day of February, but I've sewn every day and have far surpassed my goal of 20 minutes daily.  I mean really, who only sews for 20 minutes anyway?    Actually, setting a short 20-minute goal is great for anything having to do with quilting...cutting, trimming, pulling fabrics, cleaning the machine and winding bobbins.  These little things add up to completed projects when you tackle them 20 minutes at a time.

Llama Love

My youngest daughter, Ally, has been somewhat short changed on the quilt front.  Granted, I made her a fishie quilt as a baby that she slept with for years, but as she got older she wanted a bigger quilt. Life has a way of interfering in best laid plans, so after about 8 years, Ally finally asked me, "Do I have to be on my death bed before I'm ever going to get my quilt?"  Uh...point made.

The search for the perfect fabric begins...



Ally fell in love with the adorable llamas in Monaluna's Modern Home fabric.  She really wanted large pieces so that the llamas really stood out.  The pattern "Framed" from Camille Roskelli's book, Simply Retro, proved to be the perfect fit.
Using the Martelli Enterprises rectangle template system, I was able to easily and quickly fussy cut the large rectangles and get to piecing these wonderful fabrics together.  


Cut around cutting template
Using outside frame to center llama
Place cutting template inside frame


Llama block perfection

I tried glue basting (a technique I learned while doing some paper piecing on another project) and I have to say I'm hooked.  I'll explain more about that in a future blog but suffice it to say that I'm a new glue basting convert.  If you want to learn about it sooner rather than later, please visit Cristy at Sew Much Like Mom and get your glue basting supplies at Purple Daisies LLC.



Glue basting means using glue, a bit of extra ironing, but NO pins.  Seriously, no pins!  And, my seams are virtually perfect.  Yay for that!!  Suffice it to say that I'm a glue basting convert.  I loved sewing long seams with no stopping to remove pins or fuss with shifting fabric.

 If you forget about a few mistakes requiring the aid of the handy dandy seam ripper


or the fact that the spool of thread ran out just before the finish of the quilt



 Or that the bobbin ran out at the very end, of course (why does that always happen?)...


  This quilt came together easily and quickly.  

I'm so happy to report that the top of "Llama Love" is completed for my Ally girl.  

Oops...it's upside down!


And just wait until you see what I'm doing for the back.  Once I get the fabric in, I'll get to quilting this and will report back when it's completed and on Ally's bed.


 Until Next Time...













8 comments:

  1. I can't but help to chuckle at her comment and I'm glad that you got the top finished. She will be one really happy girl when the last stitches are complete.

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    1. Hi Michele...yes, she is a funny kid. She just told someone today that I'd make them a quilt but they'd have to wait 10 years. ha! I'll be really happy when the last stitches are complete too. This quilt is long over due and the timing is just perfect right now to get it finished up for her.

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  2. This is just the sweetest quilt Carrie! I know she loves it. I am feeling the llama love:)

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    1. Hi Paula...well, there is a lot of llama love with this one :). She went back and forth with so many choices for fabric and/or theme that when I saw the llamas I knew it would be perfect. The back totally doesn't match in color or theme, but it's also something that she will love. I'm excited to get this finished for her and on her bed.

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  3. We clearly have some very demanding girlies here!! Love your quilt, it's fab and I'm sure she's gonna love it. That was quick work, suitably impressed here!!! Xxxx

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    1. I told you. Now you know what to expect 10 years from now...ha! Thank you for your kind words about the quilt. I just received the backing fabric a few days ago so I will be working on piecing that a bit and finishing it up. She could use some llama love wrapped around her lately, so perhaps I'll actually get this finished ;).

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  4. We both have an Aly, spelled differently but amazing! Thanks for what you do!

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