Virtual Quilting Retreat quilt along
 

Hello ladies and gents!

What I would like to do here is have a virtual quilt retreat, a way to shake off those winter blues! So come join us here on the board and at your machines of course :)

This month, our project is a Quilted Bath/Throw Rug. I have seen alot of posts recently about them and thought it would be a great weekend project. So I ran to the LQS today and got some very HOT fabric, whipped up a sample and voila, here ya go:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]395569[/ATTACH]

So here is how we are going to do this quilt along retreat. Be sure to stock up on crumpets/tea of coffee/cake :)
Today - Friday 22nd, 2013Thursday 21st, 2013Friday 22nd, 2013Saturday 23rd, 2013Sunday 24th, 2013So lets all get together and enjoy spending the weekend together making a project together!

Here are the fabric requirements:
Color 1 (the orange/yellow flowered) : GENEROUS 1/4yd of material, you will need at least 10inches by width of fabric to cut all pieces,
Color 2 (the multi print) : GENEROUS 1/4yd of material, you will need at least 10inches by width of fabric to cut all pieces.
Color 3 (solid) : Generous 1/2yd - 5/8yd of fabric, this is used for piecing and binding.

Other materials needed:
Bath towel of at least 24ins x 32ins, (an old towel will work just fine)
Thread matching/complimenting for quilting (cotton or what ever you want, I used embroidery rayon)
Thread for piecing, something not too off from all colorsLook forward to hearing from everyone :)

The mat is great and so cheerful. I would love to join in! Strictly from by stash (fabric moratorium) and finished in several days (a break from finishing UFOs).

So how did this go? Was this in January? Would love to see the pictures!

It says posted yesterday, so I'm guessing this is a project for next weekend, in February?

I just love your sample. Will be watching from afar since I won't be near a sewing machine then. Thanks for starting this.

This sounds like a lot of fun!!! I just pulled 3 fabrics from my stash to use. Sending you a pm with my email address. I'm not sure if we are supposed to post our fabrics yet but here are mine!

Yes, this is something different than Wyld's quilt along blocks. This is a weekend project, if you want to try it out. It is nice to have a project you can start/finish within a weekend. And also, I would love to go on a quilt retreat but just cant right now, so...next best thing :)

You can post what ever you want when ever you want :) I am all for creativity being the guide not the instructions :)

And I LOVE your fabric choices! cant wait to see it done

I'm in, sending PM. :o

sigh trying to get photo to work right, sorry for double post

Sending you a pm, then off to pick out my fabric. Thanks for doing this!!!

Sending you a PM, will pot my fabrics in a couple minutes...:)

Rosie the Wyldwytch

Sending you a PM...:)

Here are my fabrics minus the two orange batiks.

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/...psa4f5e0dd.jpg

Rosie the Wyldwytch

So sorry to miss this - would have been fun except for the time zone issue! Off to Berlin on Friday but will take the iPad. Lots of luck and look forward to seeing pics of finished projects. Jacki

me 2. Look forward to seeing how it goes.

HELLO! it is Tuesday, couple days left till our retreat :) looking forward to seeing more fabric selections.

I have emailed the PDF version of the instructions to everyone who PM'd me an address. For security sake, I sent all the email as BCC, wasnt sure if anyone was worried about that or not, figured it would be best choice.

Let me know if you have any questions :) HUGS!

First time trying to upload a picture.

I did it. I am so darned impressed with myself!

Good for you!!! I love your floral fabric! I chose purples and greens for mine also!

Thanks Aunt Piggy. I chose my fabric from my stash since I have declared a fabric purchase moratorium, two months and counting. Only after I chose did I realize that everyone, except one, opted for the same colors. How many green or purple bathrooms are out there?

Count me in! I'm using fabric from my stash that I won't be missing much. I'll be making a couple of these mats for my dogs. They have raised cots, day care cots, that they've been sleeping on. A couple days ago I removed the nasty foam pads from the top and pitched them. Now one of the two spoiled princesses will not use the cots. These mats should work out great, as I will be able to throw them in the wash when they are dirty. Believe me, they will get dirty! That's why I chose some dark fabrics that I won't miss.

Thank you Carolyn, it sounds like a lot of fun! Tracy. Here's my fabric choices:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...psce9c3d75.jpg

What fun! Do I do my mat for the current color of the smaller bath or the color I will be painting it? The new one, I think. I will post my fabric later.

Here are my fabrics. Not sure which three will end up in the final three.

I'd like to try too. Thanks for doing this

Would love to join you but will be at Sherwood Forest Faire all weekend. So guess I'll just have to do mine later. Sounds like so much fun!

Lynda Rae: Whichever way you go your mat is going to be great. I know you didn't ask, but I think I would go with the white and orange for sure.

Thanks, Emma! I have the least of the orange, but do want to use it. I will study the pattern more; I might just be able to put all four in! :)

What a great idea. Seems to me that as long as you used the same color for the backgound (green in the sample) you could either go random (completely scrappy) or just select certain blocks from the pattern for the other two colors. Can hardly wait to see what you choose.

Pattern
 

Ok, may need to post on several here, to get all 6 pages with photos on here. Again if anyone wants the pattern via email, please PM me your email address and I will send it on.

Quilted Bath/Throw Rug
Supplies:
¼ yd of Fabric A (generous cut, need10ins by width of fabric)
¼ yd of Fabric B (generous cut, need10ins by width of fabric)
½ yd of Fabric C (generous cut, need20ins by width of fabric)
Bath sized towel
Thread for Quilting
Thread for Piecing
Optional:
Anti-skid backing, may buy anti skidfabric, puff paint, or jar of anti skid
Links to sites selling such items atbottom of instructions.
Notions Needed:
Sewing machine capable of straightstitch
¼ in foot with guide (optional, butgreat for consistent seams)
Edge-joining foot (optional, but greatfor sewn on binding)
Basic sewing notions (scissors, rotarycutter, pins, cutting mat, etc.)


DO NOT let any of these instructionslimit your creativity!
Do what feels right for you, the endresult will still be stunning!


Instructions:

• Cut the following (I cut into 2.5instrips first then cut the lengths from there)
  • Fabric A – (print)
    • 6 => 2½ in x 2½ in squares
    • 24 => 2 in x 2½ in rectangles
    • 24 => 4 in x 2½ in rectangles
  • Fabric B – (print)

1. 6 => 2½ in x 2½ in squares
2. 24 => 2 in x 2½ in rectangles
3. 24 => 4 in x 2½ in rectangles

1. Fabric C – (solid)

1. 36 => 1½ in x 2½ in rectangles
2. 12 => 4½ in x 1½ in rectangles
3. 3 => 2 ½ in x width of fabricstrips, for binding

1. Sew the 1½ in x 2½ in rectangles ofFabric C to the square of Fabrics A + B,
2. Sew the 4½ in x 1½ in rectangles ofFabric C to the resulting rectangle,
3. You should now have 12 center squares,of approximately 4½ – 4¼ in blocks. Six of each print fabric. Setthese aside for the time being while we piece the outer ring.
4. Sew the 1½ in x 2½ in rectangles ofFabric C to the 2 in x 2½ in rectangles.
   • 12 of Fabric A and
   • 12 of Fabric B
5. Sew the 1½ in x 2½ in rectangles ofFabric C to the 4 in x 2½ in rectangles
   • 12 of Fabric A and
   • 12 of Fabric B

****Pay special attention here:
Press Fabric A/C block towards FabricC,
Press Fabric B/C block towards FabricB,
****This will allow for “nesting”the seams when piecing the blocks together,

• Sew resulting rectangles to theremaining 2 in x 2½ in rectangles.
• Sew resulting rectangles to theremaining 4 in x 2½ in rectangles
• Now, you can lay out the blocks and seehow nice it is looking.
• Now you want to start putting thesepieces together.
• Begin with the short sides, press inwhat ever direction makes you happy, these seams do not matter thatmuch
• Now add the longer strips, and youshould end up with 6 blocks of one pattern and 6 blocks of the other.
• Now lay out the blocks in alternatingrows, so that you have 3 rows of 4 blocks.
• Begin sewing the blocks together inrows, any way that works for you is fine. Just make sure you line upthe solid pieces (where you hopefully ironed so that they nest well)

****Hint here: If you turn ½ theblocks (say the ones surrounded by fabric A, so that the short sidesare on the side, and the fabric B blocks are long pieces on the side,it will make stitching the seams easier on you.

• Now sew the rows together to form thetop, be sure to line up the solid pieces as best you can.
• Great, what a beautiful top so far! Time to get the backing on. Get 1 bath towel and lay down flat, layfinished quilt top on towel. Baste in your preferred method. DO NOTtrim the towel until ready to bind, unless you like having all thoseterry cloth “bits” floating around.

HINT: I used pins to baste the towelbut it was too 'loose', I would recommend using a spray basting forkeeping the pieces together.

• Now we quilt! Please select the methodthat works best for you. I was going to strongly encourage people todrop their feed dogs and just enjoy the process, tis a bath mat afterall. However, after attempting this myself, I found it is NOT as easyas it appears. The towel does not slide very well under the needle,not sure if it was the towel or the lack of adequate basting. So inthis instance, I recommend doing what feels comfy for you, be itstitch in the ditch, FMQ, or decorative stitches. Also will note, Itend to FMQ at full throttle and this didnt allow me to do that, itmight be easier to FMQ if you move at a little slower pace that “wideopen”.
• Square up/Trim rug now cutting off theexcess towel.
• Now it is time to bind! Almostfinished here! Now with me, I hate hand work with a passion, so amalways looking for a method to do all machine sewn binding. Here ismy method, but please feel free to use whatever method works best foryou.
  • I first sew all 2½ strips to eachother to make one very long binding strip.
  • I iron strip in half (longways)
  • I sew the strip on the back of the rug,using the ¼ in foot with a guide
  • I iron the back side of the binding, ithelps with folding over.
  • I change my presser foot to theedge-joining foot, setting the guide of the foot along the “Inside”of the binding

Optional Steps:

• If you are using the non-skid fabric,you will want to attach it AFTER quilting but BEFORE binding thequilt, just lay it on back and bind.
• If you are using the puff-paint method,apply after you have finished. There are loads of tips on how to dothis via the internet, just do a google search.
• If you are using the non-skid tubapplication, be aware that it has been known to discolor vinylfloorings.
• You may get a bit more of the solidfabric and add a 1in sashing around all blocks (just cut it 1½inches wide to account for seams) This actually looks interesting,but will make the finished product a little bigger. Here is a photoof what it 'could' look like, I laid down the strips (not sewn) forvisual reference.
• Remember this is supposed to be fun!Don't let instructions stop your creativity from leading you.

Links:
http://http://quiltexpressions.wordp...-on-the-floor/
http://sewing.about.com/od/fabricsin...tom-fabric.htm
http://www.createforless.com/Dritz+A...FQjf4Aod93MALA
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=24206
Great info on puff-paint http://www.ehow.com/info_8391246_puffy-paint.html

Ok, I have tried loading photos, looks like a mess of sorting my folders in photobucket....and just cant get it sorted tonight, if you ladies dont mind I will address it tomorrow :) the instructions are up, and most who have emailed me have received their pdf copy. If you have not received your copy, please PM and let me know and i will get it to you tomorrow. Cant wait to play :)

I need a Retreat! Doing a mat for my Grand Puppy. Hope it will not be to difficult to use a heaver fabric. I have a fair amount of flannel's that I need to use up. Here are my colors.
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Perfect color choices and fabric for a grand puppy!

Dedmac: Great choices for a puppy! Do you use a 1/2 inch seam allowance for flannel?

Off subject: Just had to say, Love your avatar. Is that paper pieced?

I got off work early today and started right in on this retreat. I have my pieces cut, except for the binding, not sure which fabric I'll use yet.

Ok, hope everyone is getting started on their virtual quilt retreat :) I will be hanging out in the chat room all night and watching here if there are any questions

ENJOY!

Fabrics chosen from stash and all cut.

Thank you, Emma

Yes is was, It's going to be a wall hanging about 2 feet square. When I get enough nerve to try and quilt it, I will post a finished picture. It is a BOM from the 2012 Craftsy course that just kept morphing. Most of the fabrics are non cottons, so there is a backer mesh that I used to hold everything together.

I was planning to do the standard 1/4 inch seam on the flannel do I need to make it wider??? Still learning about quilting spent most of my life sewing clothes, used to 5/8 inch seams.

It is traditional to use a wider seam on flannels because they unravel more than cotton does. that would mean you would need to add 1/2inch to all measurements on the pieces. I made a quilt with flannel and just did 1/4 in seams, it seemed to be ok, they were all heavily woven, not loose. The choice is yours, but I might go with the thicker seam, due to it being a dog blanket and most likely getting washed more often than a bed quilt or throw.

I guess I don't follow directions very well :p. I cut all my pieces out but didn't take any pictures and I went ahead and started sewing them together. I think I could have finished it all tonite but decided to put it away for the night. I have a paper piecing project that I really wanted to get started on so I worked on it for awhile. I'll start back up with my bath mat in the morning.

Never let instructions limit your creativity! ;) your blocks look great so far.

This project is pretty quick, which is why I picked it for a weekend "virtual" retreat project, so that everyone will get to start and finish the project in one weekend.

I am planning on doing a couple more and giving them to nieces/nephew for christmas. I am going to get a towel set (bath, hand, face) and add a trim of the left over fabrics to the towels, to make a complete bath set. This is a great gift idea for housewarming or to have a set for "guests" when they visit. I have alot left over since I bought extra to ensure there was enough to make the rug. But anyone stash shopping, you might have enough left over to make matching towels. a simple 2 1/2 in strip with the edges folded down and stitched right close to the edge will make a nice trim, can even play with some decorative stitches or a small row of FMQ.

This info is probably sitting right before my eyes, but can't see it. What size will this finish at approx? Need to check out my towels.... :rolleyes: