Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Pop Tops

Vicki and I started sewing on our twin Pop Stars quilts in November 2013. A little over 14 months later, we finally have our tops together. Hip hip, hooray!
As, I've mentioned before, my wonderful friend, Vicki, and I try to sew chat shop together every Tuesday. This is our third project together. You can see the other two, here and here. We finished right as the sun was setting yesterday so hurried outside for a photo to mark the event!
We've taken some breaks during holidays and so forth, but always have Sew Day marked on our calendars. We even took our fabrics on a road trip to Ouray, Colorado, last spring for several days of back-to-back stitching!
Bright strips, cut 1.5 inches wide from my stash, were sewn down foundation-piecing style using instructions from Kathy Doughty in her awesome book, Material Obsession 2. Each block is 22 inches across!
Vicki had a collection of Civil War type fabrics that she wanted to use up for this project. We both adore how lovely it turned out by pairing the duller strips with the brighter, red polka dot stars! (Marble likes it, too!)
Seen from the back, the colorful seams show up so cute against the muslin foundations. I'm tempted to just topstitch down each seam since I'll be using my Pop Stars quilt as a tablecloth. Or, should I back it with flannel and leave out batting? It's already quite heavy.
Have any of you had experience with doing such a thing? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. Meanwhile, Vicki and I are planning our next Sew Day  project!

19 comments:

  1. I love these quilts. And the fact that you have regular sew days. I wish I could find a sewing partner...

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  2. How lucky you are to have your sew days. Both of your quilts look just wonderful. It must be so much fun using the same pattern and putting your own stamp on it with each of your fabric selections.

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  3. Gosh I sure do love how they are the same but so different in style! What fun to both make the same one..and take your own path! thanks for sharing... Hugs, Julierose

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  4. What a great idea to have a sew day! Even if you do chat I am sure you are getting a lot done! Both of the quilts are wonderful. It is always fun to see the same quilt in 2 different kinds of fabrics.

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  5. LOVE them! I adore the colours and I like how it was a sewing day project.
    I think omitting the wadding would work well. You already have two layers, so just add a backing.

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  6. I love how two very different quilts can result from the same design. I love brights and this one really makes me smile. Well done, both of you.

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  7. How wonderful! They are both gorgeous

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  8. Both these quilts are just wonderful! Your red floral is vibrant and those circles dance! Vicki's, on the other hand, are much more understated but still very pretty! Who can resist a fabulous spotty fabric, after all?

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  9. I thought chatting, coffee (or other liquids), laughing and planning are all apart of girly get togethers. Plus look at the 2 wonderful quilts that used up scraps you both made. A friend of mine and I get together every other month or so and try a new technique. Last week we tried make Fabric Twine. Hope to post about that soon.

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  10. Hi Carla! These are both gorgeus! So beautiful colours and the pattern is really fun! Wonderful photos of you and your quilts! x Teje

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  11. It looks fabulous Carla! I did the same pattern and just finished quilting it this year. Did you have trouble getting all those points to match up? I felt like some of mine came together perfectly, but I am pretty sure my foundation wedge stretched in the stitching. It is heavy....I added batting and backing. It is nice for a winter quilt. But I love the idea of leaving as is for a table top! Btw...love the civil war prints with the bright dot! Fantastic!

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  12. I would add backing fabric to these beauties, no batting, but do a self-binding. Not only is it quick and easy, but it will give it a tablecloth look, and not a bed look, if that makes sense - maybe not! :-) Love your pics - nice eye candy!

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  13. I just love your sewing endeavors with Vicki! I think her pink background adds to the old timely look of hers! They are both such fun! Congrats on another finish together!

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  14. LOVE this! I'd do as planned with the seams. Sounds to me like it will be perfect.

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  15. These are both gorgeous!! Let us know how you finish it.

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  16. I love it Carla. I wouldn't use flannel though. I made a tablecloth and used flannel instead of batting and it's very heavy. I thought it would just be thinner but it's not really. Just heavy.

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  17. I sure like both of these quilts. What Vicki did to hers, to brighten it, worked really well. Mostly, I'm just happy for both of you to have shared this great project. Your photos are so clear and beautiful, though I'm guessing by now that you have a bit of snow on the ground, and some colder temps!

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  18. Excellent work, and how fun to have a sewing partner to do it with! My only contribution is that is you have a thin flannel layer in there, it would protect your table a little more, without adding too much weight (just pre-shrink that flannel!). I have a quilt with flannel in it and I love it.

    Elizabeth

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