Easy Street part 5

This week's Easy Street Mystery step was pretty simple.

 

 

Does anyone else have a problem with the fabric bunching up when adding the second wing when chain piecing? If so, how do you prevent it?

As long as it doesn't bunch past the 1/4" point it seems to be OK once you iron it flat.

 

 Can't wait to see every one's progress!

Happy Holidays!

No matter where you go or what you do, I hope everyone finds peace this Holiday season.

Amy

East Street part 4

Loving this weeks step on the Quiltville Mystery "Easy Street."  I was excited to get to the greens!  Also, getting quicker with the piecing.  Instead of pressing with the iron between each piece of the Flying Goose, I just finger press at the sewing machine after the first wing, add the second wing, then take it to the ironing board once they're all done and starch the heck out of 'em.

Here's a handy way to organize fabrics and strips in one place and be able to spot them at a glance. Its part of an old playpen (i think) that I spotted at the curb on the way home one day. I found it, but I talked my guy into going back to pick it up. (He's the best!)  

There are four equal sides, all wood, and probably not very safe for babies which makes me think it must be old. I cleaned them up and they work great for displaying quilts or as a make shift doggy gate. You could use an old ladder or thrift store crib side as well. In between steps, I just lean it up against the wall behind the door.

Just thought I'd throw a pict of this little fella in there too, I use him as a door stop. He was on the deep discount shelf at a small hardware store and I couldn't resist. It's a Jim Shore piece and apparently he makes all kinds of stuff with quilt patterns on them. 

Can't wait to see how everybody's coming along!

Easy Street part 3

Here is my progress on Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt "Easy Street." 

(thought this layout looked kinda cool)

I feel better about stitching and ironing on the bias- the "Easy Angle" rulers are a big help.  I still measure and square up when I'm cutting off dog ears, but it's a lot better than it was.

  And here are all the steps so far...

Thanks again, Bonnie for sharing all of your hard work and talent. Can't wait to see what's next!

I have a secret...fabric organization

If you were to happen upon my guest room it looks pretty good most days...

 But if you open a drawer...

I am addicted to thrift store cotton shirts. There, I said it.

My other regular fabric collection is pretty organized already and can be contained in my quilt room.

So, my goal this season while I have some time off is to organize this disaster. The fabric in these drawers consists of mostly shirt fronts. I keep the backs with my fat quarters and cut up the sleeves and smaller parts and store them in strip bins. But the fronts are too big to cut up and too small to go with the fat quarters- you see my dilemma? So I figured I would try to fold them like I do fat quarters.

Shirt fronts.

Here, I just flip it over, use a 4" ruler and fold it up.

 If there's a little extra flap at the top, I fold it down,

 and slide the ruler out the end.

 Then you just fold it into a neat little square and tuck under the raw, uneven ends.

I thought this navy Nautica was neat!

Now my fabric drawer looks like this...

I still have to organize it by color, but first I'll get to work on these...

I love to see fabric and craft room organization if anyone wants to share!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Easy Street part 2

Here is part 2 of the Quiltville mystery quilt "Easy Street."  It is pretty easy so far. These are not colors I usually use, and I had to go shopping for purples to add to my stash- Don't ya just hate that?  : -)

I have to admit, I square up my Flying Geese units. My seam allowance is just not up to par and they come out a little crooked when I'm sewing on the bias. Does anybody else have to do this? They turn out OK, but its just an extra step.

In between the steps for this quilt, I am working on blocks for Ocean Waves.  I thought I had tons of half-square triangle units, but once I got started, not so much...So, I'm making triangle squares (and squaring them up) until Friday. Happy quilting!