Quilting Cruise Part 1

 

My 'Barefoot' in Alaska Block

     My husband and I just got back from an Alaskan quilting cruise on Holland America, Eurodam.  This week I will tell you all about the quilting part and next week I will tell you all about Alaska.  The idea was that while we were at sea I would be taking quilting classes and then tour on port days.  I signed up for my two classes but then there was a problem getting sewing machines for the cruise so at the last minute they had to change the classes scheduled.  My first class was still a go but the second class would have been a hand appliqué class.  I thought that sounded like torture so they allowed me to get a refund for the second class.

Sewing the Thangles

     Besides the classes there was also a block challenge.  The theme was 'Barefoot' in Alaska and the block had to be 10.5 x 10.5.  I decided to make a bear paw block with an embroidered bear paw in the middle.  I found the perfect design at Designs by JuJu.  I did my embroidery and then it was time to make the block itself.  I wanted to use Thangles for my half square triangles as they are so easy to use.

Cutting them apart

Cut Thangles

     I cut 3.5" strips and pinned them together with the paper.  It goes dark (right side up), light (wrong side up) and then the paper.  I sewed on the dotted lines and then cut on the solid lines.

Pressing step 1

Pressed open

Corners trimmed

Paper torn off

     For pressing, you place the dark side up and then open it up and press the seam.  The paper prevents any stretching of the bias seam.  Then you trim off the little triangles that are overhanging the square and gently tear off the paper.  Perfect half square triangles every time.

Embroidered block

Almost done

     I trimmed the embroidered block to 6.5" square and sewed the pieces together.  I now had a 9.5 square so I added strips of the darker fabric to make it the 10.5" that I needed.  I was so proud of how it turned out, I brought it to Show and Tell at my neighborhood ASG meeting.  The next day when we were packing, I completely forgot to take it out of the bag I brought to the meeting and place it in the suitcase.  All I had was a photo on my phone to show everyone on the cruise. :-(

Confetti fabric

      The class I took was an Alaskan landscape confetti quilt with Sally Manke.  She taught us how to use a photo to make the template for our quilt.  After I got the basic lines drawn on my batting, I started cutting lots of confetti.  Many different colors and oh so much cutting.  Then it was time to start putting the confetti in place.  The seas were really rough that day and by the end of class about half of us were feeling seasick.  

End of day one

     I was able to get the background all done and get the tree trunks in place by the end of day one.  The next day I finished my trees and got the netting down and pinned in place.  I carefully folded the sides in and placed it in my cutting mat bag with a piece of foam board on top.  I placed it in my suitcase, flat, and just crossed my fingers.

Ready for the netting

      

     When we got home, I unpacked my suitcases the next day and then opened up the cutting mat bag,  Whew, it made it home in one piece.  Now I need to find the time to quilt it all down.

Whew, made it home okay

     Part of the quilt cruise included a list of quilt shops along the way.  Of course I had to stop at each one.  The one in Juneau was Changing Tides.  I bought fabric to make a three yard quilt, a 'kit' of fat quarters and a pattern for another quilt and a Christmas ornament.  The second shop in Sitka wasn't much, didn't buy anything there.  At the third shop, Whale's Tail, in Ketchikan, I bought a panel and a couple of coordinating fabrics to make a quilt.

What I bought

Dark version

Light version

     I took a couple of photos of the 'kit' I bought.  I haven't decided if I want to go dark or light for the background pieces.  The woman at the shop mentioned that someone had done one with a navy blue background also that looked great.  Time to get cutting and sewing again.  I still have a quilt from our Hawaii trip that I need to finish cutting and sewing.