Patent Pending - The Quilt!

Introducing Patent Pending!

Patent Pending is a Rube Goldberg machine in quilting form.   A Rube Goldberg machine is a chain reaction-type contraption intentionally designed to perform a simple task in an indirect and overly complicated way.   Since my least favorite task in quilting is to rip out a seam, Patent Pending offers a way to remove those unwanted stitches with ease

I’ve always wanted to submit a group quilt to QuiltCon.  When the (bizarre) idea to make a Rube Goldberg machine quilting style popped into my brain, I decided to reach out to a bunch of quilting friends. 

I am thankful that Linda @flourishingpalms, Sarah @saroy, Val @valbetweenquilts, Charles  @feltlikesweets, Kitty @nightquilter, Yvonne @quiltingjetgirl and Pat @peacockcreekdesigns all responded enthusiastically when I asked if they’d like to contribute a block.  Everyone was given an entry and exit point for the ball within their block and then it was thinking caps on to figure out what happened inside their 12” x 12”.  (At this point,  I know that more than one of them wondered what they actually got themselves into.....)    (Pattern from Kristy @quietplay was used for the scissors, seam ripper and pin cushion.)

The blocks arrived in early June and Patent Pending became my primary quilting project for the summer.  The first block (the whirligig) and the final block (seam ripper tower) were created by me once everyone's blocks were here.  At times it was great fun and at others, well, let's just say I was questioning my own sanity!  

So how does it work?

The first ball is tossed out of the whirligig  . . . . .

Credit Patty (that's me!) - @elmstreetquilts

..... and is caught up in the spinning fan, only to be launched into the air once more!  

Credit to Linda - @flourishingpalms

The large scissors directs the ball into the cup which releases a second ball to . . . . .

Credit to Sarah - @saroy

. . . . .   travel down the loop and . . . . .

Credit Val - @valbetweenquilts

. . . . . cause the small scissors to snip the thread which tips the fabric bolt and launches the third ball.  

Credit: Charles - @feltlikesweets

The third ball knocks into the bowling pin, releases the bird from its cage and then rolls downward only . . . . .

Credit Kitty - @nightquilter

. . . . . to be pinballed back up to . . . . .

Credit Yvonne - @quiltingjetgirl

. . . . . roll down a ramp into a small wagon.  The wagon delivers the ball into the pipe and the ball rolls a final ramp, . . . . .

Credit Pat - @peacockcreekdesigns

. . . . . knocking down the seam rippers which are holding up a pin cushion.  As the pin cushion falls a string is pulled through a pulley which then moves the seam ripper to get rid of a single unwanted stitch!  

Credit Patty (that's me!) - @elmstreetquilts

After catching the bird, the machine is reset and ready to remove the next stitch!

The quilting was done on my domestic machine - mostly walking foot and some FMQ.  There were a gazillion threads to bury at the end.  

Primary fabrics used were Kona Crocus, Kona Morning Glory, Kona Duckling Yellow, Bella Magenta, and Bella Summer House Lime.  (Contributors could add additional solids of their choice.)

The quilt measures 51" x 66".

Patent Pending will be entered into QuiltCon in the Group category.  Fingers crossed - I hope to see it in the show and then I can grab a photo with everyone and the quilt.  Until then, I jumped into the picture!.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

The Gateway

An upcoming issue of Curated Quilts has an opportunity to make a challenge mini quilt with the prompt of symmetry and paper piecing and requires using a color palette that includes the Prussian blue fabric I chose as my background color.  (Read more about the challenge.) 

I've been playing with a similar design of nested diamonds on a larger scale so it was fun to go small with this piece.  My initial goal was for the quilting to blend into the background but when the closest color thread match turned out to be a Sulky 12 weight, I decided to give it a try.

(Note, I always have trouble capturing the right color of a fabric with my phone - the photo above was edited to get it closer to the right shade.  The photo below was not edited.)

I am very pleased with the end result and am now looking for an opportunity to use 12 weight thread in my machine again in the future!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

My Newest Sandhill Sling

This is my second time making the Sandhill Sling by Noodlehead.  The pattern is well written and construction was fun!  (See my first bag.)

The fabric used came from Spoonflower - it was leftover from the Range Backpack (also a Noodlehead pattern) that I made for the trip to QuiltCon I ended up not taking!  (I'll use it in Atlanta though!)

For the inside, I used a Carolyn Friedlander print from my stash.

I made this bag for our annual beach vacation.   The color will work well as my fall bag too.

The Sandhill Sling is a very useful size - I love my new bag and can see myself making this pattern again! 

Have a wonderful day! Patty