Hidden Gems; Season's Finale

The last episode of the Hidden Gems Saga.


I was pretty discourage when I pulled the quilt out of the washing machine and came face to face with this blotch. 

I panicked as I had already promised this quilt to someone. There is no way I am giving a quilt that looks like this. I mean, the quilt doesn't have to be perfect for me to give it to someone, but this was way below the acceptable mark. The color catcher had obviously did its job.

So I dried it a bit the dryer. Not a very good idea by the comment of some readers but I was afraid that leaving it wet would enable the bleeding to get further into the quilt. I had to stop it long enough to get some answers from my ever so resourceful readers. I snapped a few pictures, did a quick post and waited for some suggestions. 

I was not disappointed. So many of you wrote back with suggestions or links or even to sympathize with my disheartenment. I so appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you. Some wrote to wash it again with some color catchers pinned to the quilt. Sounds like great advise so I gave it a try.

And tried again. And again. After the fourth wash with very little difference, I decided it was a waste of energy and saw that it was spreading further in the quilt, regardless of the color catcher pinned to it. 

Some commentators linked Vicki Welsh to their comments. (If the name doesn't ring a bell to you, I'll just say that she is the Queen of hand dyed fabric.) She wrote a post that thoroughly explains the results of her experiments with plenty of pictures. Awesome reading! You can find the post here.
 

She declares Dawn Pure (yep, the blue dish soap) as the best detergent to wash a quilt after testing it against 3 other detergents including Synthrapol. Needless to say, this little girl jumped in her car to get some Dawn! 

Vicki also says that color catcher aren't necessary ( WHHHAAAT??) but to let the quilt soak in hot water with a good measure of Dawn. Let it soak from 12 to 24 hours.   Well, it doesn't cost much to try this one, right? So I did. 

Yes, it's the same block. It's like it never happened. I am so, SO happy! It is now ready to leave my household to go live at its own household.  Thank you so much, Vicki!

It was promised to a 17 months old little guy. I am sure he will appreciate the flannel backing as children usually love soft things. 

It must be one of the cleanest quilt in the world after a 16 hours soak and five spins in the washer.   :^D

Pictured on the snow. It makes the quilt appear wavy.

Goodbye Hidden Gems.  I know you will hug the little one with all the love, comfort and warmth I have quilted into you. You will enjoy the squeals of joy, the laughter, the tears, the feverish forehead and the incessant babbling of pretend plays. You were loved and you will be loved even more.


Now, on to RSC2017, or are you fed up of this post? (Sorry.) Let's go through it quickly.

My purple January looks like this. 

 A sideways Buckwheat block from the 365 Challenge inventory of blocks.

 Little 3.5 inches 9-Patch and a rail block ...

... to join the 9-Patch together.

Also made 4 hourglass block. These are 6.5 inches at the moment. Regardless of what your monitor is telling you, they are purple, lol. 



Joining Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Myra at Busy Hands Quilts
Angie at A Quilting Reader's Garden 
Angela at So Scrappy on Saturday
Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun than Housework on Sunday


Until next time .... I'll be soaking some fabrics.

;^)

Yay! Friday Finish

It's always fun to finish a quilt, right?

Like I promise on Monday, here is my finished Hidden Gems aka RSC2015.

In order to take some pictures outside before it got too dark, I pulled it out of the dryer when it was half dried, so not quite all crinkled up yet.

The other reason why I pulled it out of the dryer is this nasty surprise.

What can I do now? Please help!!

I used one sheet of colour catcher in the wash. Obviously one was not enough. If I wash it again with more sheets, will it help? or am I wasting my time, colour sheets and water? It was a donation quilt but now, I just can't give a quilt like that.  To me, this is a very sad ending. All the while I was working on this, I kept thinking about a little girl, or boy enjoying this colourful little gem and now ... bummer!!

It looks real good ... from far.  (Photographed through the screened porch on second floor.)


Joining Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Myra at Busy Hands Quilts
Angela at SoScrappy on Saturday

Until next time ... I'll keep watch for the running red.

;^)

Slow Sunday Stitching Joy

All threads are in and the bind is on the RSC2015.

Today, I am sewing the binding down.  Hooray for slow stitching!

I am aiming for a "Friday Finished" quilt.

As you can here, the binding is scrappy and I didn't even care if the colours were together or not.

Love to drape the quilt on a swivel chair when I sew bindings. It makes going round the quilt so much easier as I only have to spin the chair a little at a time. When the weather is hot, the quilt is not on my lap. Today, I just might wrap it around me as it is sunny but co co co cold.


Joining Kathy at Kathy's Quilts. So many beautiful hand sewn projects on the linky party. Come and see.


Until next time ... pick up a needle and see where it leads you.

;^)

Past RSC quilts

Today, Angela at So Scrappy asks Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilters to share their rainbow quilts with the RSC newcomers as an inspiration, a starting point. Since I been a RSC quilter for only the last two years, I don't have a lot to share but I'll gladly share what I have made so far.

I made this quilt a long, long time ago, prior blogger, prior Internet (at my house at least) and I love it so much I wanted another one... eventually. When I started to read blogs, some quilters were making rainbow quilts by following Angela's colour of the month. I jumped it.

In January 2015, I started making the same blocks but in a smaller size. I apologise for not knowing the name of this block.

 As the month passed, the blocks piled up.

 In mid-year, my rainbow looked like this and I was very pleased.

By the end of the year, I had a lovely quilt and I was completely hooked on RSC

Came January 2016, I still joined Angela and the Rainbow quilters for another fun year but I added a personal challenge into the game: to use older fabrics in my stash. So I picked these fabrics for the RSC.

I looked through many books to find a block that would be simple enough yet fun, you know, it needs to be fun ... I mean they're M & M Candy after all.  :^D
I settled on Peace and Plenty, a 12 inches block.  And the game was on ...

Month after month, the block changed colour.
I didn't used brown or black for simple reasons but I still needed a twelfth block. I thought a rainbow would work. And it did.
 

 By October my quilt was done.

It patiently awaits for its borders. Hopefully, it will be finish some time this year.

For 2017, I will participate again and I will make ... uhhh ... there is too many to name here, I mean, I haven't settled on one or two yet.  Maybe today, as I am perusing the links on RSC2017, I will make a decision.

Until next time .... sew up a rainbow.

;^)

Last post of 2016- December OMG is done!

Yes! I did managed to finish my December OMG, with one day to spare.

I am so happy. Not perfect but I am very happy. After all, I am learning this skill one quilt at a time.

I needed to make my usual blooper moment. What? Let's not forget the tradition. I had to finish the year on a beautiful note, ♫♬♩♩♪, and a blooper was it. (really not made intentionally.)

This picture shows the half rosette that needed to be removed. I had 4 made when I realised my mistake. I had another pattern for the edges which included that section too. So 4 half rosettes were ripped off in order to do as plan.  The edge design looks like ...

... this. I thought it would add some "umph" to the quilt.

It follows the white zigzag of the edge.

My OMG was to finish quilting my RSC2015. The shuffling of the threads, the binding and a label are all this quilt needs in order to be crossed off the UFO list.
There's always next year. :^D

view of the back

The fabric audition for the binding has begun. I'll be sharing more picture after it is bind and washed.


I wish you all a fun, peaceful and blessed 2017. May it be one of your best years.

~_*


Joining Link Party:

Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Myra at Busy Hands Quilts
Patty at Elm Street Quilts
Angela at SoScrappy

Monday! Again?

Not sure where this week went but it obviously went since it's Monday again.

Didn't do all that I wanted to [when do I ever do all there is to do? (o`o`) ] but a few things were made.

Finished the stitch-in-the-ditch on the RSC2015 quilt.

View from the back as it shows the quilting better.

The other sewing machine has to be set up for Free Motion Quilting (FMQ). The plan was to start on Sunday, but Saturday I was sick and was weak still on Sunday. If I still have energy, I will do this today. (Been shovelling since 9:30 this morning. Beautiful, fluffy snow falling! :^D)

But I digress. I did do some 365 blocks. Let's see them.

June 25 -  Wyoming Valley - 60 pieces

June 26 - Cross within a Cross - 21 pieces

June 27 - Navajo - 49 pieces

June 28 - Aunt Malvina's Chain - 36 pieces
Please don't look at this one too closely. I know my seams don't match but it's good enough ... if you look at it from far. lol.

Group photo - total  - 166 pieces.

The month of June isn't yet completed ... but i'm working on it, diligently.

Between blocks, I found myself piecing tiny bits together for a future crumb quilt. Maybe I'll end up with enough units to make a few Hole in the Barn Door blocks in the RSC2017. Who knows?

And I've also pieced some "purple" 4-patch for Bonnie's Mystery Quilt. I switched the purple for blue. I have a little love affair with blue. (and purple is practically non-existent in my stash) All the components of these blocks are from the 2" bin.  There's still some blues in the bin but they are mixed with other colours and it's not the look I want for this quilt.

So many times, we hear that quilters are very generous people. I was lucky enough to be the recipient of such generosity. I was bestowed upon by Gayle from Mangofeet. She gave me a Sew Sisters' gift certificate! I was so touched, I was beside myself. Such a generous heart. Thank you, thank you so much, dear Gayle.
I got some neutral fabrics. First time I buy from Sew Sisters and I am very pleased with the quality of the cotton.

What's in store for me this coming week?  Sew! What else? lol
Do some FMQ. Finish month of June in the 365 Challenge and get on to July. And shovel!  :^D
I have three more appointments this week and DH's bday, so I won't put too much on my plate. Hope you all have a great one!

Joining Beth at Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making.

Until next time ....

Show the world the warmth of your smile!

;^)

Monday's Promises

What's on my design wall today? Nothing. My work is everywhere but on the design wall. Let me explain.

Over the weekend, I pieced the backing for my RSC2015 quilt.

And I mean  really PIECED it!

It needed a little patching up. 

Don't have much left of this stripe fabric with flowers. Have even less of the green one. (in the first photo on the left) The bottom striped fabric was also added at the top and about one meter is what's left of that one. All are flannels. (It was so much fun playing with flannels again.) So that was a good use of older fabrics.

Pinning it together took most of the weekend, but I am finally ready to quilt it. Yes!!

I got more twine for my basket, cut some more old fabric and joined the strips together. It is now ready for a few more rounds.

Do NOT adjust the colours on your monitor if these blocks look orange. They are! (lol) (This is the first time I join Bonnie in the making of her Mystery Quilt.) I don't have a magenta fabric and I usually don't buy more than a meter, especially if the colour (magenta) is not one I would use often. So I decided to swap the colour for my favourite one; Orange. For the same reason, don't expect purple in this quilt. Anywho, I won't make a large quilt; at the most a throw.

And there are still plenty of blocks from the 365 Challenge to be made.

Playing with the flannels is like opening a Pandora's box for me. Now I'm itching to finish this crumb quilt.

More blocks are needed as I have two crumb quilts to make. My oldest son has received his flannel quilt. You can see it in this post.

One row is already assembled. I hope I have kept the "map" of this somewhere.


So, do you think I have enough to keep me busy? I hope so because this morning we woke up to this.

Yep, more of the white fluffy stuff. And still falling. And will for the entire day.
I have to go out and shovel some of it because

they can barely find the seeds I left on the chair. Need to refill the feeders.

But first, let's have breakfast.

Until next time ...

;^)

Joining Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making.