Sewing Scientist

Utter Chaos

I've tested quilt patterns for Kelly Renay many times now. Her patterns are always so well done with fantastic instructions and illustrations. Her patterns can be complicated and have tiny pieces, but always have a beautiful and intricate final result. Others are whimsical and fun. This one is - different. It may even look a bit chaotic. It is Utter Chaos.

This pattern has two options that are perfect for precuts - either charm packs (5" squares) or layer cakes (10" squares). The pattern also includes fabric requirements for making a four color version using yardage.

I elected to use 5" squares. I used a combination of charm packs (no whole one, but partial ones I had in my stash), random 5" squares from who knows where, and I cut many 5" squares from my scraps using my Tim Holts Vagabond 2 Sizzix Machine.

Have you ever heard "If it's still ugly fabric, you haven't cut it small enough?" It's true! Some of the fabrics I decided to use were "ugly" in my opinion and were in charm packs that I bought and had used all the other prints expect for the "ugly" ones. I don't want you thinking I used all "ugly" fabrics. I didn't I also picked out some of my favorite 5" squares to include. Initially I only made 4 blocks and used fabrics that I really loved. One can be seen right in the middle of the photo below. It ended up a bit dark and all the colors just melted together. So when I decided to make more blocks to make an entire quilt, I knew I needed to add in more variety - and color.

I've been wanting a colorful quilt that I can use outside without fear. This quilt is going to be perfect because it is so busy that any stain that it may possible get will disappear into the pattern and colors. Our neighborhood often has cookouts and there is never enough seats. I can't wait to take this quilt with me to spread out on the ground to enjoy the next picnic.

This pattern was so fun to make and it is really quite simple. As I laid the piece out I thought it might be fun to modify the layout slightly and might have to make another in the future playing with the blocks a bit more. I might also try to do a 4 color version next.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Unraveling Quilt Pattern by Needle Down Chin Up

It's been a while since Hollie at Needle Down Chin Up released a quilt pattern. When I saw her newest pattern, Unraveling, I signed up to test it as I loved the design and immediately saw the visual representation of her inspiration.

Here's what Hollie said

"The second quilt in my Growth Pattern Series, Unraveling is a visual representation of coming undone. Sometimes we need to unravel or let some things fall away in order to become who we want to be. Other times we need to remember to hold on to the good things and let everything else go. Unraveling is a modern and scrap friendly project that sews quickly and is beginner friendly!".

The pattern was super easy to follow as you make the quilt in blocks. You have a list of the block letters to make and they each have a diagram to follow for construction. I selected the baby size as it happened to be almost the same size as an old quilted throw I had in my living room that we used to protect a chair from the furry mess that our oldest kitty, Garfield, leaves in his wake. It's his favorite chair and he sleeps on it daily while I'm working.

The throw I was recycling was from Pottery Barn and had a nice thick batting. It was a whole cloth quilt that was silk and the silk had disintegrated over time. It had very loose quilting on it - a single stitch every 3 or so inches. It was super easy for me to tear the fabric off the batting. I cut up the silk and added it to my bucket of scrap stuffing. I reused the batting for my Unraveling Quilt. I did a simple grid design when quilting it with my walking foot. The thick batting gave it such a great texture.

The photo below is from before I quilted it. I selected my fabrics based of the backing I had decided to use. I was using a very mid century modern floral design and picked a few colors out of the print to use for my Unraveling Quilt. I decided that the darkest fabric would be the background. Part of the reason was I wasn't sure I would remove the whole cloth from my quilt when I recycled the batting. The original fabric on it was a dark red and I worried about it showing through. I also worried that any traces of the red thread on the batting that I couldn't remove might show through. But I really think the Navy was the best color for my background.

The baby size is 45" by 45" and I really love this size for a baby quilt. With this size it means I can use a 60" wide cotton for the backing - which is what I did. I really love how the design shows the blocks falling away and the number of blocks falling increases from left to right. It's not as dramatic on the baby size. The design is truly striking in the larger sizes.

The Unraveling Quilt was so fun to make and it was my first to have a top that was all solid colors! I'm such a lover of prints that I almost never use solid colors, and when I do its typically sparingly. This quilt just felt right to use solids to go with the fun print I wanted for the back.

Week ending November 13, 2022

I had a very productive week! i took off from work on Monday and Tuesday. Monday was spent finishing up the blocks for the Utter Chaos quilt and then prepping the backings fow all my quilts that need to be finished. I had to add a bit of a border to thus National Parks panel.

Tuesday after I voted, i got my Utter Chaos quilt up on my design wall and finished puecing it. I then took photos ot it in the woods.

My iron finally died and I had to order a new one from Amazon and chose one that could be delivered the same day. I got this Beautural iron and so far I'm extremely happy with it. The cord is longer than the one on my old broken Rowenta and it heats up fast.

I then got to work on a jelly roll rug.

I had never made one before and it was much easier than i had imagined.

Here's my finished rug. It came out smaller and more round than i had wanted.

Since it was a quick and easy project, I started the hard part - cutting down batting scraps and joining the ends together.

Friday was Veterans Day (a day off for me) and I reserved the long arm for the day at Not Your Mama's Quilt Store. I had such a good time! They have Handiquilter that is computerized. I was basically there to babysit it. Debi, the staff member in charge of longarming, did most of the work.

I quilted my Hurrication Quilt first.

Then did my Blue Grotto Quilt followed by my Diagonal Dazzle Quilt shown below.

I grabbed 2 stickers from the store as I paid to add to my pattern cabinet.

I then spent the weekend working on a pattern test for Lifting Limits Quilting. I made blocks for my quilt, then decided that my blocks didn't mesh very well colorwise and started to make more blocks.

At this point I think I'll be making two quilts. And that's alright with me.

Week ending November 6, 2022

I feel like I didn"t get a whole lot done, but I also feel like I made good progress on my Utter Chaos quilt. I received a wonderful gift in the mail from Carrie at Lifting Limits Quilting for testing her quilt patterns. It was so sweet and the fabric she sent is so my style.

My fireplace recently got a little update and I decided to put out my pumpkins I made last year.

The Chaos on my sewing table as I work on the Utter Chaos quilt pattern by Kelly Renay. The pattern will release on Black Friday and I'm hoping to finish mine in the next few days.

I received another quilty wish in the mail. A small scrap of Anna Maria Horner fabric and a nice pice of a fun tropical print.

Smaug was not interested in moving so I coukd iron my Utter Chaos quilt pieces.

I reserved time to use a longarm at Not Your Mama's Quilt store on November 11th and hope to get a few quilts finished that day.

Find Your Path Blog Tour

I'm so happy to be a part of the Blog Tour for Maureen Fiorellini's newest fabric collection for Studio e Fabrics - Find Your Path. This collection has prints perfect for litttle kids and prints that are sophisticated enough for adults. I asked Maureen for some of the more sophisticated prints for myself.

I received the navy floral, woodgrain, ferns, mushrooms, and trees. I might be forgetting a few of the prints. I added in a few scraps of solids and made a bunch of half square triangles. I then sewed them together into a piece that was big enough for me to use for some puffy sleeves.

I used the Uvita Top from Itch to Stitch. The pattern is free, but I used the flare sleeve from the Uvita add-on pack (the add-on [ack is $5, but is worth it). I had seen similar tops online that were a knit top with dropped shoulders and quilted sleeves that gathered at the wrist. The Uvita is a dropped shoulder knit top and knew it was the perfect base for me make my vision.

The add-on pack includes a flared sleeve and I added 4" of width to the sleeve and then gathered it at the sleeve cap before sewing it to the body. I added an inch to the sleeve. I serged the end of the sleeve and hemmed it under 1" leaving a gap for me to thread 3/4" elastic through. I left me elastic loose as I don't like my sleeves to be tight on my arms. I love how my top came out and I've gotten so many compliments on it since I've worn it.

I also made the Sew Liberated Nest Sweatshirt. I made my first Nest Sweatshirt last winter and worn it non-stop. I knew I needed to make another. I might actually need to make a few more so that I always have a clean one in my closet. This sweatshirt is so comfortable and I love that it is made to feature a quilt block!

I made a Honeymoon block with the Find your Path prints and paired them with a denim print french terry in a soft taupe color that has a pinkish undertone. It went so well with the prints.

I made matching joggers but will likely not actually wear these two pieces together in real life. That might be a bit too matchy matchy.

The Find Your Path Collection is in stores now! Be sure to see Maureen's Instagram post to enter today's giveaway for a Queen sized batting from Hobbs! The blog tour ends on November 7th with daily giveaways. Check out Maureen's Instagram post daily to see how to enter.

Week Ending October 30, 2022

I had so much fun this week, that not much sewing took place. On Tuesday, I went to Stitchhouse for a meet and greet with Kaffe Fassett! He had so many good stories to share.

I've been cutting my scrappy bits and putting them in this pail. I plan to use it as stuffing in the future. If I can find the time, I'm hoping to makecsome stuffed trees to decorate my fireplace with and I'll stuff them with this scrappy stuffing. Smaug discovered the pail this week and thought it was a cozy place to sit.

I received a few more quilty wishes. I sent out a few more this week.

I worked on my Utter Chaos quilt - pattern coming soon from Kelly Renay.

I posted a blog on Minerva about the joggers I made my husband.

I posted a blog about the Pinot Vines Quilt Pattern released by TJ Wright. See previous post for it.

I won 1st place in the Day of the Dead Quilt Show! I was also the only entry for the medium size category.

I won a cash prize, a giftvcard to fabric fanatics, an assortment of fat quarters, and a cute wall hanging and luggage tage from Fanatical Fusions.

I ended my Sunday working on my Utter Chaos quilt.

I will keep working on my Utter Chaos quilt this week, then I'll go back to finishing up my WIPs.

Pinot Vines Quilt Pattern by TJ Wright

I had the pleasure to test the Pinot Vines Quilt Pattern for TJ Wright. TJ said that this pattern was inspired by the shape of the vines at a vineyard she visited. I'm not a wine drinker, but I decided to use a wine color as inspiration for my quilt.

I took out a solid wine fabric from my stash and looked to see what prints I had that matched. I happened to have two beautiful Anna Maria Horner prints that were gifted to be by Scott Fortunoff of Jaftex fabrics. He sent me a partial bolt of each print, so I didn't feel any guilt cutting into the fabric. I still have a few yards left.

The pattern called for a 4th color and I decided to use a grey. However, I ran out of the grey I had chosen and could not find a matching shade locally. I ended up using a second shade of grey that was slightly darker. I used the two different greys in different pieces so it looks intentional to have them different colors.

I loved how complex of a design this quilt looked, yet the blocks are all the same and were fairly simple to construct.

I really love how the two prints play together and how the solid wine color pulls everything together. The grey solids and grey background of one of the prints give a dappled light appearance to the quilt.

This quilt is definitely one that benefits from being laid out on a design wall before you begin sewing. It was easy to get a block turned the wrong way. I had to seam rip and fix one row in the process and I blame it on not using my design wall. If I could have seen all the blocks laid out as I was sewing, it would have been much easier to make sure I had each block in the correct orientation.

I always love getting at least one photo of the light shining through the quilt top when possible. I'm still debating on what I want for the backing of this quilt.

I took my photos at sunrise earlier in the year and it was the perfect time for one on the dock. Normally it's too sunny, but I was there before the sun was above the tree tops.

This is TJ's first quilt pattern she has released. I can't wait to see what she has in store next. She makes some amazing art quilts that have me so inspired. See her website at https://tjwrightquilts.com/.