Muv, what technique are you using? It looks like you're stitching through paper without thread? Are you creating a stencil?

Good to have you on board Kept In Stitches. Looking forward to seeing which pig you choose. :)

Hello Thimblebug, The stencil is already made, and then I lay it over the work and stitch through. On the photo the machine is threaded and I was halfway through stitching the detail on the rose. The paper was on the back of the work so that when I tear it away afterwards it's not too tragic if tiny specks of paper are left behind.

I think I will get in on this one! I love Patriotic stuff!

Great to have you #1piecemaker. Looking forward to seeing what you decide to make.

What is the name of that fabulous star fabric in the background???? It's just beautiful!....I'd like to grab some of that.

I picked up the star fabric at JoAnns, Unfortunately its all cut up and I didnt keep the borders so Im not sure what the exact name is. They still have plenty on the bolt so I can get the name for you Monday when I go shopping. :) :)

Me too...http://smilyes4u.com/img/2/f1.png:thumbup:

Hello QuiltE. The rose block is finished, and I've done a bit of preparation tonight so I can start on the second block tomorrow, which is going to be a daffodil for Wales. If you don't mind I'm going to save the pics until it is properly finished, but I will post work-in-progress photos... I just want to be sure it turns out all right! Keep cheering me on - it really helps!

This afternoon I got my little table topper to the next step.... [ATTACH=CONFIG]331749[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]331750[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]331751[/ATTACH]

Stunning ++++++ !!!

Here is one evolution of my Mystery Patriotic Quilt... It seems to be taking on a mind of its own...will see what further clues have to reveal. :) :)

Hello Jenniky, your stars and stripes are fun!

Meanwhile, in Blighty, the first stem has been finished for the Welsh daffodil block..

Interesting..... As Many of u know, I quilt for Veterans. "The American Veteran Project"..... ( don't bother loking for an organization.... it's my own, local project, that MANY here have donated towards and help keep going..)
I LOVE patriotic!!! Most of what I do is via donated fabrics. So many are functional and beautiful... it is not patriotic.
This is so inspiring to me!! thanks everyone and keep it up! I'll be watching for ideas.

Welcome Spacebull1. Glad you could join us.
Keep it up Muv. You are inspiring me to keep going.
thimblebug6000 - love it. At this pace, you may just have to make matching potholders. :)
Jenniky - love the life of its own. Your quilt obviously knows what it's doing.
blueteddi - sounds great. In my book quilting for veterans is mighty patriotic so I look forward to seeing your next/current project. That's one thing I like about this challenge-the interpretation of patriotic. So, if a quilt in a sports theme is what you will donate to a veteran, that is your patriotic project as far as I'm concerned.

My maple leaf centre is coming along. If the pencil lines don't come out I will be starting from scratch.[ATTACH=CONFIG]331829[/ATTACH]

Muv that is very interesting how you are doing your stems..I have never seen them prepped that way. Then you are able to use a small straight stitch with the sewing machine... how great. I have a quilt pattern Im working on for my granddaughter and I have slowed progress because Im not happy with how my stems are turning out. Seeing your stems laid out gives me motivation to go back at it again. :) :) So thank you for sharing your in progress photo.. and thanks for your warm comment on my stars and stripes.. I love the fabrics Im working with.. but I fear before the quilt is complete I will be pullling apart some of the squares to reorganize the layout. We will see... Have a beautiful day Muv and everyone else. :) :) :)

You must of been posting same time as I was Works4Me :) Your Maple leaf is coming along quite nicely. :thumbup:

works4me, you could always fill in the background with white stitching :D
Muv, I am also very intrigued by the way you pinned your stem so that it doesn't get distorted by the pinning process!
Jenniky, I really like how your border is turning out!

Yes, I thought about white stitching for at least a portion of the background. Afraid it won't cover the pencil. The pencil lines were done a few years ago, before I knew better and before I realized the design was pretty basic and would need to be changed, a lot. I have a laundry product that claims to be safe and be amazing so, we'll see.

Jenniky, I think you are right about posting at the same time. I am still having a lot of issues with the site so a simple post can take 10 minutes and have to be redone several times. Nice to see some action while I was attempting to post, though. :)

I have my maple leaf with me at work so I can work on it at lunch. I want it done soon so I can move on and also put it on my design wall.

I toyed with using the original lines but the leaf will be quite uneven. As the applique diagramme it looks fine, for cross-stitching the right side seems quite a bit wider than the left. When I am done I will play a little. Plus, it now appears it will be close as to whether I have enough floss and there is no brand name on the label so this is it. I knew there was a reason I left the quilt unstarted for so long. lol

Forgot to mention .... Northcott's new Canadian patriotic line of fabric ... coming in June. Yea!!!!
And being that it's Stonehenge/Northcott, we know it'll be good quality!
http://www.northcott.net/?sid=2&layout=2col&content=fabric_details&colid=51 2&colorid=864

http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachm...nadabanner.jpg

http://www.northcott.net/?sid=2&layout=2col&content=fabric_details&colid=51 2&colorid=864

QuiltE, quit being so reasonable. :p

LOOOVE that Northcott line. Looks like I'll have to go shopping in June. I want the moose and the maple leaves. There is a quilt show at the local community centre in mid-May so I will make sure to ask a couple of the vendors if they will be carrying it.

Love the Oh Canada Quilt line... Nice quality :thumbup: :)

That moose fabric is a laugh - who is going to buy it first? I want to see it in a quilt.

Jenniky - don't give up on a quilt because of stems! Very briefly, here's the method:-

Fold and iron the material on the diagonal. Then cut the folded material through both thicknesses. For these stems I am cutting half an inch from the fold. Then lay the strip, still folded, on the backing material and pin in position. Have the end with the selvedge at the bottom of the stem. Then stitch one eighth of an inch from the raw edges. Next, fold the stem over and iron into place so the stitching and raw edges are covered, then stitch down the folded edge by hand. The stem will be three eighths of an inch thick. The raw edges at the top of the stem will be covered by the applique flower.

I've already called my local store and asked about the moose and the flag fabrics. She's pretty sure she has already ordered them but will double-check and call me.

I have another store to call tomorrow as they are closed Mondays.

Along Came Quilting in Alberta is offering $2.50 off per meter for pre-orders but I can't get their site to work so don't even know the price and it would probably still be cheaper to go local because of our horrible postage rates.

I may just have to issue another Patriotic Challenge in 2013 so I can use the moose fabric. :)

I finished my little table topper this afternoon...and no I won't be making any hot pads but may make us each a mug rug to coordinate (we'll see) I have a kazillion projects on the go, but this one was fun & managed to complete in good time, I did it as a stitch & flip (quilt as you go) Will be right back once I've resized the photos.[ATTACH=CONFIG]332077[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]332078[/ATTACH]

thimblebug6000 that looks great. I like how it wraps around the table so stays in place. Nicely done.

QuiltE whatever gave you the idea I want the moose fabric? :) Not only is June too late to add it to this project but it won't match the colour scheme so we'll have to issue another challenge next year.

Moose as Halloween? That never occurred to me. You must be more twisted than I am. (said with much admiration)

Well, I am actually planning a few other challenges along the way, but, yes, the 2nd annual is on the radar.

So, who else is going to join the fun?

International Patriotic Challenge
 

I've pulled out my fabrics from my stash and started working on my quilt. I am using the 10 minute block pattern (see video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbTHlGGKMPM). I will try to load some pictures as I work.

Here are the fabrics I will be working with, some of the cut blocks, the white squares for the centers and the flag fabric I will be placing in the white squares. I am making progress! :)