The Scrambling Ernie Quilt

Last Saturday was National Sew A Jelly Roll Day and my plan was to make an Ernie Quilt which uses 2.5” strips in memory of Mary Etherington/Country Threads late cat Ernie who passed away in late May. Even though I didn’t sew a Jelly Roll which I had a few in my stash, I think my bases were covered by using all Moda prints and Mary’s latest pattern Rambling Rows which is a variation of an Ernie Quilt. What’s especially nice is that Scrambling Ernie only took me six days to finish despite having a busy weekend involving Hubby having two band gigs and  an outing with the Peeps and our husbands.

First, a little background on the Rambling Rows pattern. Back in July, I sent Mary a pic of my FALLoween II quilt which was my July finish for Country Threads Dirty Dozen UFO Challenge. Several of her followers asked her for a pattern for this quilt which was my own design based on the Sandy Gervais fabrics I had in my stash.

I gave Mary the measurements of the blocks and then she tweaked, wrote and drew up the pattern and she made the above quilt. When she first sent me the photo, I thought it was a Jelly Roll Race quilt but it’s the pattern we named Rambling Rows. I love how scrappy Mary made hers with Denyse Schmitz scraps and how much more random her layout is versus FALLoween II. This pattern really is versatile since you can improvise by changing the size of the blocks/strip sets which Mary did since she ran out of Denyse Schmitz scrap and used other fabrics in her stash. I love how her strips sets are not like the usual Ernie strips which uses only two fabrics,  which contrast with each other by color or value and looks like stripes, but four different fabrics. 

I wanted to make a Rambling Rows quilt using my Moda’s Sweetwater stash of different collections: Authentic, Pure, Hometown, Sew Noteworthy, Make Life, Road 15, Wishes, Branded, etc. and needed some help with the gray and black fabrics which are from Jen Kingwell, Basic Grey, and Blackbird Designs. I love Sweetwater fabrics and they have a special place in my quilt memories since I used their Hometown Christmas fabrics for the Jelly Roll Charm Chase Quilt I did for Moda Bake Shop. I love that their collection always include some text prints and the special green I call Citronickle. I thought I had a lot of Sweetwater fabrics as my bin is full, but apparently I missed buying fabric from forty of their other collections.

After my blocks and strip sets were made, I first laid them out randomly and did not like the way it looked. To me the problem were the red blocks which after looking at Mary’s quilt, I should have used two different fabrics for the top and bottom strips and not just one. So, I was scrambling to make what I had work which meant putting back the red and yellow strips I had taken out and adding more blue and green blocks. BTW, the yellow strips reminded me of scrambled eggs which is another reason for naming this quilt Scrambling Ernie. At first, I wasn’t happy with the layout I ended up with thinking that it was too planned but realized that this is the layout for Rambling Rows. It helps to make the strips sets with four different fabrics instead of two. I already have another one in the works and this time for it to look more random,  I will use four different fabrics in four different for the strips so it will not look like stripes and two different strips for the blocks.

Here are some close-ups of the fabrics from different collections which played so well with each other. The multi-color orange peel print on the bottom right, just above, was what I used to based my fabric selection. Machine quilting using CT Essential Thread in Stone and there was no problem with my usual straight and wavey line quilting. I had wanted to use a black/white mini check by Urban Chix but I did not have enough and was resolved to used another Moda print for the binding which ended up to be the gray and white Pinwheel print by Sweetwater. The backing which is the only print not by Moda and is a print I purchased several years ago from Joann’s. I thought it went well and there’s less yardage now in the backing vault. Scrambling Ernie measures 56” x 80”. 

Here are the three Rambling Rows together where you can see how the layout and fabrics used makes a difference. I can see for myself now that making the strip sets with four different fabrics does really make the Scrambling Ernie fun. I remember when I finished FALLoween II, I wasn’t too thrilled with it and probably because planning and balancing the layout was so tiring. I really love the improv look and randomness of Mary’s Rambling Row. The Rambling Rows patterns can be purchased by sending a $5.00 check with a SSAE to: Mary Etherington, 2345 Palm Avenue, Garner, IA 50438. This really is a fast and fun pattern which can be used with scraps or stash. There are other patterns in her shop and purchasing a pattern helps supports her blog, which I found out fees can be expensive, as well as leasing a copier, etc. You can read about Mary’s blog about “Nothing” Here. This is not an affiliate link, just introducing someone who is fun to know.

I was hoping to take some outdoor photos of  Scrambling Ernie at home or at the GP House but it’s been rainy at both places so I only have indoor photos. Now that we’re at the GP House, I realized that Scrambling Ernie will be staying here in our bedroom where it will hang on the quilt rack directly across from the Sweetwater Road 15 wall hanging. Sweet, right?

Update: Of course the day after I posted, the Sun came out so I could finally take a photo outside.

Linking up with: My Quilt Infatuation/NTT

It’s an OFF (October Fabric Foraging) Month

I’m using the word “foraging” loosely in this post since the truest meaning involves the acquisition of food by hunting and in my case I’m replacing “food” with fabric which helps explains how my Finally Finish and Flimsies came to be in October.  It started with my foraging in my Halloween stash  to make face masks after having a funny exchange with Demando asking me to make him a Halloween mask, responding with a “you know you’re 38 years old look” and then realizing he meant a face mask made with Halloween fabric. I came across some wonderful collection of past purchases and decided I needed to make some quick projects with them after putting it off for so many years.  I would like to mention that fabric foraging was very frequent during the days we weren’t at the GP House.

The first project which is a Finally Finished is the Mr. Halloween table runner which I had a charm pack, a fat quarter and some yardage of this past Thimbleberries collection.  I only had a fat quarter of the wonderful focal print which I wanted to keep intact so I designed a table runner around that and used the charm pack as accent squares along with the stripe fabric.

Quilting was simple wavey lines with black Aurifil thread.  Normally I don’t back my quilt with fabric from the same collection but decided to use the orange/black argyle print since I wasn’t able to use it in the top and didn’t think I would have another use for it since I have very few pieces left of the Mr. Halloween collection now; okay maybe enough for some placemats. This table runner measures 20”x38” and it’s a wonderful addition to the other Halloween/Fall quilts adorning the house now.

The next project is the door quilt made with Robert Kaufman’s Eerie Alley which I’ve accumulated some fat quarters and yardage. Again, I had just a fat quarter of the focal print and sort of used the same layout as the Mr. Halloween table runner but I’m calling it a storm door layout.  As I’m writing this post, it is still in a flimsie state and the plan is to quilt it the same way as Mr. Halloween.  This door quilt measures 28”x62”. Sadly, 31 days in October may not have been enough for me to finish in time to hang on the door for Halloween enjoyment.

As I was working on the above projects, I remembered the 8” appliquéd and embroidered Cat block designed by Half Pints made several years ago and waiting to be made into a pillow using the the fabric pictured above.  I am not a pillow person and can only see this in between the mouths of one of our dogs and not sitting pretty on the couch or shelf.  

So, I thought to finally finish this long waiting project, I would make a wall hanging instead by bordering with with a Thimbleberries black print and a wonderful fat quarter of a Simply Spooky print by Indygo Junction foraged once again in the Halloween stash.  Easy straight line quilting with Black Aurifil thread, which is getting a lot of use with these Halloween quilts, paired with the black and white mini check for the binding made this 20” square quilt what I thought was going to be my favorite finish of the month.  But it’s not, it’s the next quilt.

October was #6 for the Country Threads Dirty Dozen Challenge which was my Wizard of Oz flimsie made in 2006.  On a side note, that was the year I returned to the office workforce at the community college after taking a brief hiatus when I quit working at the local quilt shop, one of the reasons being I was accumulating too much fabric. I was then trying to balance working and quilting and made this flimsie after feeling bad that the fabric was sitting in my stash since 2000.  A simple quilt of double four patches with a plain block of the focal print which was also used in the border was made.  It was a flimsie for so long, I added it to the Dirty Dozen Challenge so it could be finally finished.  This flimsie, sad to say, was more of an annoyance and something I thought didn’t have any fondness for and was I wrong.  After quilting it with alternating diagonal straight and wavey lines starting at the border with soft yellow thread, I’ve become quite smitten with the many prints in this collection, especially the focal print.  The collection was designed by Beth Bruske, David Textiles and I don’t know the source of inspiration for the prints.  Even though it was approved by the L. Frank Baum Trust these are not from the original books.

I was ready to bind this quilt with a yellow print, not from this collection, but decided to use the perfectly pink gingham I found or foraged in my pink stash. I needed to offset the green and gold to make this quilt a little sweeter. For some reason, I did not set aside the binding in the drawer which I usually do. This quilt measures 40”x50” but it feels and look larger.

Some mysteries surrounding the making of this quilt is that I cannot find my remaining stash of this fabric which I know I had. After several time foraging around the studio I decided not to make myself crazy and just go with the thought that I must have donated it when I wanted to stuff the box full and made a mental note that I would remember doing this.  I don’t do good mental notes. But I’m hoping it will appear since I still have 1.5 yards of the blue fabric used for the backing left.  I’m also wondering why I didn’t make a Yellow Brick Road by Terry Atkinson with this fabric which would have been cliche’ but cute.  I know she just celebrated the 20th Anniversary of this wonderful pattern and guess I could commenorate or commenomake with the second collection of Oz prints from the MGM movie but right now I’m not liking these prints so much.  Maybe a little more fabric fermentation or another 10 years will make my heart grow fonder over them.

Some more finishes made possible with more fabric foraging:

A simple Ernie quilt made from Two Canoe Scraps given to me from Kathleen after sort of whining from me and foraging through the Cotton+Steel, Zen Chic and Crazy Mom stash so I would have enough for this 40”x50” quilt.  Right now it is in a flimsie state, but the plan is to quilt it with horizontal straight and wavey lines and then donate it.

And look at the fun greens I foraged from the many green bins for October’s College Challenge hosted by Patterns by Jen for the Ruby Crown Kinglet.  Olive Green was this month’s color and I think it looks awfully wild with the lime green, almost Citronickle print.  If you’re wondering what Citronickle is, it’s a yellow green which I call Citron and Wendy calls Pickle and she came up with this name which is quite fun as the color.

Since I used the word “forage and foraging” so much in this post, I thought I would include a photo of the many acorns I foraged in the park at the GP house during the past weeks to feed my squirrels.  I’ve collected at least three full boxes and am still feeling some aches but it was worth it.  Acorns and fabrics feed my squirrels.  I’m hoping one of the studio squirrels will tell me where the missing OZ fabric is.

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween.  Also, please remember to VOTE! I already did.

I Keep Throwing Along: Patchwork Throw #4

Yep, I made another patchwork throw; the three made within the last few weeks was not enough.  Truth is I needed to make this one after my Hubby's surgery last week after realizing that the other patchwork throws I made were just not the right size or were not meant for my use.  I needed one small enough to cover my lap while sitting in the hospital waiting room which I knew would be too cold for my newly acquired Senior Citizen body so I was resolved to make one when we returned home.  While Hubby was recovering sitting in the family room, I stayed upstairs and made this while sewing in the dining room.  I needed to be close by if case he needed anything or if someone came knocking at the door which always happens when you can't get out of the chair.  Before I continue with this post, surgery went very well and Hubby was feeling like his old (literally and figuratively) self in a few days; in fact, he said he hasn't felt this good for awhile since the hernia was really bothering him for the past few months.  

I can say that this patchwork throw was ready to be made; I already had the right scraps already cut to 8-1/2" wide strips mostly from my C+S Coin Quilt, Ernie Interrupts Quilt and Unruly Quilt along with leftover patches of some of my favorite Tammis Keefe, Lotta Jansdotter, and of course, Cotton + Steel prints.  Since I wanted to make this a smaller patchwork throw, it was quickly sewn together by sewing five rows of the 8-1/2" strip sets and patches 'ala Scrap Vortex style until the desired length of 60" long; this was a quickie.

Another reason for making this throw 40" x 60" is that I wanted to use this IKEA fleece throw purchased many years ago for just $2.49 and no longer available. I'm using this with some trepidation since the washing instructions are, wash in warm water, gentle cycle, do not dry or iron which makes me wonder if this fleece can't handle heat and might melt or disintegrate.  So, if I'm going to use this, I might as well be the guinea pig and of course will follow the washing instructions. This fleece is very lightweight, almost like flannel, and if you hold it up to the light, you can see the top but that doesn't bother me, just the possibility that I really didn't want to make a disposable throw.  We'll see and hopefully I can't report later about this patchwork throw after I wash it, but first I'm going to use it for awhile.  It is such a cute and modern print.

I did some daredevil machine quilting with straight and wave lines by only basting the top with flowerhead pins.  I know I could have spray basted, I have never done this yet, but didn't want to wash it for reasons stated above.  The fleece did sew very nicely and I didn't experience any problems.

What I love about my latest patchwork throw is that I'm once again using my beloved scraps and laughing at this Tammis Keefe print which you can see why it didn't make the "cut, for the quilt since Mama Kitty's head went missing but I thought it was okay for the throw.

Also, I used one of the prints for the binding, red newsprint from Carrie Bloomston's Paint fabric line and I love seeing the words appearing around the throw and thinking of using more text prints for binding.

As you can see, the lightness and size of this patchwork throw can be easily rolled up in case you need a pillow and fits in my hand so I can take a photo of it with my other hand.  Okay, I do have large hands.

Seriously, with Florence happening last week and people having to evacuate, it made me think this patchwork throw is small enough to throw in my bag if needed which I pray I never will.  I'll be leaving this where I can quickly find it.  Also, if I can find a suitable fleece, (I'm really hoping the IKEA fleece will wash fine)  I'll be making more of this size to give.

Unfortunately, National Jelly Roll Day fell on the 15th this month which is the day I always set aside to work on my QALs:

Classic Meets Modern hosted by Kelly, My Quilt Infatuation

The 12" Squash Blossom and Eccentric Stars were so fun to sew and they may be my favorite blocks so far.

Next month, the last two blocks will be made and then in November we will sew the filler blocks before the top can be assembled and finished by December.  I really love this quilt along; I'm using skills long neglected like patience and paying attention to details and my seam ripper is my Studio Pet.

Fireburst Mystery hosted by Tish's Adventure in Wonderland

Block #2, four blocks are finished and I am up to date.  Would you believe these took the majority of my day to make--I had to read the instructions nice and slow and Señor Sudio Pet was very helpful.

Last but not the least, I finally finished the fabric flash cards made from an Einstein Baby Genius panel.  I originally was going to make a quilt sooner but had an epiphany that granddaughter Micah has enough quilts for now and can play with these fabric flash cards when she is at my house since I realized that I hardly have any toys for her here.  Another reason why they're staying at my house is because these cards were pretty labor intensive and I could have made at least two-three patchwork throws for the time it took me to make these fabric flash cards, these need to stay here so they don't get lost with her other toys.  Of course, I may change my mind if she really wants to take them home. What sound does an unhappy Grandma makes when her hard work gets lost.  Grrrrrrrrr with a smile of course.

And speaking of epiphanies, I had one while I was doing upstairs sewing in the dining room, the formal dining room with the Queen Anne furniture, dark and heavy.  This room also houses a lot of my finished quilts and with the thought of moving the desktop computer back to the dining room for various reasons, I thought I could turn the dining room into a FORMAL sewing studio.  My regular studio, or soon to be renamed my informal sewing studio, will still be downstairs in the basement.  It would involve no furniture moving or purchase, I would just need to pack up the never used China from the cabinet and buffet which would be replaced by lovely bundles of fabric stash never used or to be purchased.  Pretty good idea but of course I would have to wait until Hubby recovers from his surgery which depending upon how much he's on board with this idea may not happen for another five years.  Hee Hee, one can dream and scheme, right.

Linking up with: Cooking Up Quilts, Main Crush Monday, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Oh Scrap!, My Quilt Infatuation, Needle and Thread Thursday