Let's Do the Time Warp Again

So the problem with getting all your holiday making done early is it leaves time for people to say "Oh, I want one of those..."  In this case my son claimed the first Tardis pillow and I was forced to make another.  This time I went for a slightly simpler 10" Tardis by SewHooked.

There aren't as many pieces and it's straight squares rather than parallelograms but those paned windows are killer.  I definitely think the Constellations background works better with this design.

Since this is a smaller block I added some sashing to the block to make it a bit bigger which gave me more room for quilting.  For this one I quilted rings that get further apart as you move out to try to create a black hole effect.

Wouldn't you know I have a zillion zippers and not one in royal blue.  In the end I did find a black one but it would have been cooler with a contrasting zipper.

This time I skipped the piping and used my regular bound edge finish and zipper back à la s.o.t.a.k handmade.  I'm much happier with the results!

Wrapping up the year with this week's Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.  We're on vacation so this will be my last make of the year.  How are you wrapping up 2016?

Pillow Stats:
Finished pillow is 14" x 14"
Pattern: Tardis block by Sew Hooked for Fandom In Stitches.
Fabrics: Fabrics: Kona Cottons from stash, Constellations by Lizzy House for Andover Fabrics.
Batting: Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Black.
Thread: 50 wt. Aurifil in Black (2692).

Look Who's Here

With the long holiday weekend I got to sneak in some sewing time and finish up this paper-pieced Tardis pillow.  Caroline's advice to applique in the missing piece worked perfectly.

My original plan was to embroider the text along the top but after writing it on with a white pen I was happy enough with the result to call it done.  Apparently my inability to spot lint on my blocks until after I've photographed them continues...  a better person would have reshot this but I wasn't in the mood;-)  I loved the Lizzy House constellations print for the background on this but I wish I'd used something different to get more contrast.  The black of the beacon disappears into the background.  The outline quilting around the Tardis helps a bit but next time I'd do something different.

I got the crazy idea in my head that I wanted to finish this with piping and a faux invisible zipper rather than my usual bound edge zipper back.  It came out pretty well but it was a great reminder that I hate working with piping!  I love this geometry print for the back.

I'm thrilled to have my first holiday gift finished...  have you started your holiday making?

Spending time at this week's Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.

Pillow Stats:
Finished pillow is 16" x 16"
Pattern: Tardis block by Trillium Design for the Doctor Who Along.
Fabrics: Fabrics: Kona Cottons from stash, Constellations by Lizzy House for Andover Fabrics.
Batting: Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Black.
Thread: 50 wt. Aurifil in Black (2692).

W.i.P. Wednesday: Is There a Doctor in the House?

With all my City Sampler blocks made and fall sports winding down I finally found myself with some free time in my studio this weekend.  I took advantage of the lull to get a jump start on my holiday gift making.  A good friend is a huge Doctor Who fan so a Tardis pillow seems like just the thing.  There are a couple of different patterns out there but I chose this one by Trillium Design for the Doctor Who Along.

Of course as soon as I finished piecing together all 80 pieces I noticed  I'd missed one way back there...  Where's a Time Lord when you need one?  I was dreading how much I was going to have to rip back to get to this piece but Caroline suggested I just applique in the missing panel.  Definitely an easier fix, now to just do it!

I also made lots of progress on my Snake Trail quilt.  I've sewn all the arcs to the fusible and just need to cut them apart and turn them.  It's slow going, I got a blister on my thumb from all the cutting so now I try to alternate activities.  I was hoping to start piecing the blocks this week but I cut my first strip of fabric too short and now I'm not going to have enough to get all 54 blocks...  I so miss having an LQS 7 minutes away!  This one isn't going to be done for Thanksgiving but maybe Christmas:-)

Have you started your holiday making yet?