SSMQG – Page 2 – Sew Bittersweet Designs

Pot Holder Swap

9 Comments / Modern Quilt Guild, Paper Piecing, SSMQG, swaps / By Melissa Dunworth

My local chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild had its monthly meeting last Wednesday. We also had our first swap of the year. We did modern pot holders. The goal was to use modern fabrics, color combinations and/or modern pattern to create a pot holder. It needed to be something that you, yourself, would want to receive. This is what I created:

It is the Circle of Geese block by Piece By Number.

I actually downsized the pattern to finish around 8.5″ square. I used a layer of InsulBrite batting and a layer of 100% cotton batting – as stated in the directions for the InsulBrite. I didn’t got crazy with the quilting, because the two layers of batting made it pretty thick. I also didn’t bother attempting to traditionally bind this. It is so tiny, it made more sense to me to just flip the backing over to the front. I have a great tutorial here on how to do that.

I got a fun Valentine’s inspired pot holder in return, I would love to show you a picture but being pink and covered in hearts, Anne has long since absconded with it!

Have a Happy Tuesday!

PS. I get my floors tomorrow! Say a prayer that they match and this month long saga can finally be over!

Crossed Diamond Block Tutorial

4 Comments / block tutorials, SSMQG, tutorial / By Melissa Dunworth

Hi Everyone. Wow! Two posts in a row, that is a record for me lately!
I am guest posting on the blog for my guild, South Sound Modern Quilt Guild today with a fun block tutorial. I am sure there are multiple names for this block but I don’t feel like busting out my Quilt Block Encyclopedia (yes I have one) to look up the names, so I am calling it the Crossed Diamond block.

Head on over to the SSMQG Blog to check the tutorial out!

Not-So-Wordless Wednesday

5 Comments / SSMQG, Wordless Wednesday / By Melissa Dunworth

Today Anne and I are volunteering at the Thurston County Fair. My local chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild has a booth there and today is opening day, as President of the guild I wanted to make sure I was there to represent the guild. I am bringing lots of projects to entertain Anne and even a dvd player. I will be working on binding the quilt that I posted about on Monday. I finished the quilting Monday, trimmed it and prepped the binding yesterday and today I start the handwork.

In the meantime, since we are going to the county fair I thought I would show off the fabrics for my next design project. I was drawn to them because they are happy. I also love blues and reds. I am pairing these with Kona White.

Cuteville County Fair by Cathy Heck for Henry Glass

Have happy Wednesday! And I will be back tomorrow with pictures of my quilts hanging at the fair!

Fan Dance Quilt – A Modern Quilt Guild Challenge

15 Comments / Modern Quilt Guild, Sew BitterSweet Designs Patterns, SSMQG / By Melissa Dunworth

I am finally revealing my Michael Miller Modern Quilt Guild challenge quilt! When I saw the fabric, at first I was really excited about it…then I got nervous. The colors are really not my colors. I find it hard to work with some colors and when I struggle with that the entire quilt becomes a struggle. After a month and a half of staring at the fabrics I decided to take out my huge 10 degree wedge ruler and play with the fabrics. I had a few designs in mind and this is what I settled on:

I’m calling this quilt – Fan Dance – because it kind of looks like the fans are dancing with each other. I still wasn’t keen on the top after I finished it, so I decided to turn it into an FMQ sampler. After I finished all the quilting, I finally fell in love with it.

I did 9 different FMQ designs and had the sides become mirror images. This was a huge skill builder for me and made me want to spend even more time practicing different FMQ Designs. I’m not sure you can tell but I alternated between sharp and soft designs. Click on the picture to see a larger view.

Here is a close up of the center section, which happens to be my favorite element of the quilt:

Since I was at my parents house when I finished the quilt, I had to take a picture of the finished quilt on their old wooden bench. It is a tradition when I am home. I just love that bench!

This quilt was gifted to a dear friend of our family and she loved it.

Quilt Stats:

Name: Fan Dance
Designed and Quilted by: Melissa Dunworth (me)
Size: 60×60
Fabrics: Michael Miller Petal Pinwheels and Kona Ash, bound with American Made Brand
Thread: Aurifil Mako 50/2

I do love a good finish!

Week 24 Goals

12 Comments / Goals, SSMQG / By Melissa Dunworth

I have lots of sewing projects to show off this week, if I could only get them photographed! Anne wore a dress I made her 2 weeks ago every single day last week and I didn’t manage to snap a picture of her once. She is just always on the move that girl.

This week I am working on the Modern Quilt Guild Michael Miller challenge. Our guild has a secondary challenge to use at least 3 of the fabrics. I am using all of them, and on the front this time too. I have a design in mind. Here is a sneak peek.

I’m envisioning this being square and finishing around 60×60. Today I am going to work on the center strip and see where I land. For the fans, I am using the long skinny ruler in the picture – it is a 10 degree wedge. I have it next to my standard dresden ruler because I was trying to give my mom a size comparison when we were on FaceTime last night. The ruler can do upwards of a 50″ circle but I didn’t have quite enough fabric to accomplish the 50″, I only had enough to do a 48″ half circle. I was all set with that plan when the idea of breaking them up into corners hit like lightening and I really love the direction it is going so far. Thank goodness for the design walls, they truly help me push my creative process!

Are you doing the Michael Miller Challenge too?