Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Quilt Alongs are Rewarding

Rewarding because they keep you on task, on time, and using a chunk more of your stash. This quilt-along that I jumped in on is Cheryl Brinkley's Takes 2 Charms and the pattern's name is Betty. I am in a granny square kind of trend right now. These quilts with squares so appealing!

I have the Betty blocks sewn together now and it is currently a flimsy. I've been debating on purchasing some large print border fabric to extend it a bit more. Hmmm....

I love the charm pack fabrics I used. They were Moda's Field Notes by Blackbird Designs. No guess how long I have had these charm packs. At least since 2016 when a local quilt shop closed. 

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I made 18 of these little prayer pockets to pass around to the ladies in my Small Group Bible Study. And another 8 that I gave to my darling grand-daughter to pass on to her teachers and friends. She sewed the crosses on hers, and tucked in little prayers for the back pocket.


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And while I wait for my Maymont to come back from my quilter, I am working on this Wee Woodland cake mix pattern. 


Oh how fun and easy this pattern is! These whimsical 9-patch blocks are stacked with background fabric, and cut using different widths both horizontally and vertically. Be careful not to get ahead of yourself though. I would only work on 2 at a time.

I have all the blocks completed with what I had left of a  layer cake pre-cut. I will add a narrow border and perhaps order a nice border fabric to bring it to a 70" x 70" throw size. 

I have several more layer cakes in packages. Perhaps I will make another using this pattern. 

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So how many layer cakes do you have? Jelly rolls? Charm packs? I have a drawer full and it is time to use them up, or pass them on.

Hope you are staying warm and looking forward to spring. The days are getting longer and Daylight Savings time is about to spring forward in a couple of  weeks. It is time to take inventory on seed packets.

Happy stitching!

 


Wednesday, January 31, 2024

A New Year and New Starts

While we are getting used to the fact that it is 2024, I have been biten by the New-Year New-Start Bug that was lurking in the sewing room (and online browsing). It was a BIG bite because I have 3 new starts to share here today.

My New Year's Day Mystery with Merry Mayhem was completed into a flimsy the first week of January. It was a fairly rapid project that finished at 55" x 65". I dug into my stash of civil war reproduction fabrics because I have more than I need and can afford to "waste" on a mystery project. But this was no waste of fabric!! I really enjoyed this mystery quilt making and am delighted with the end result. I will either take this to my long arm quilter, or maybe quilt it myself when I catch up on my current hand projects.


If you decide to make this yourself, take seriously her advice of sorting and labeling blocks A & B. It can get confusing fast as they mirror one another. This is my third Merry Mayhem Mystery that I have participated in and I have always been happy with the big reveal. I highly recommended her mystery projects!

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I finally got my Maymont beast sewn together and it is now ready for the outside edges to be trimmed. This is not a new start and has been an ongoing project since last August of 2023. I am happy to have come this far with it.

And oh how I love, love, love this quilt! I fell in love with it at first sight and knew I had to make it. Bonnie Hunter strikes again! It ate quite a bit of my 2" scrap strips and squares. After trimming the edges, I will add a 3" border, have it quilted, and am considering adding prairie points when I bind it.  I have never made prairie points before and I think it will be an appropriate finish effect to this quilt. My goal is to have this off the wall and ready for the long arm quilter before the end of February.

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Another new start this month was an unnamed quilt block that I found on a Youtube video by The Quilted Forest. It is their December 2022 Block of the Month block. How original, right? It seems like a variation of a double disappearing nine-patch, but it is assembled very differently than a double disappearing nine-patch. 


This is an extra block that I did not use because it was too pastel and faded into the overall look. Do you know the name of this 16" block?


These are the 20 blocks that made their audition. They are now sewn into rows and ready for final assembly and a simple 3" border. This will also be taken to my long arm quilter. Did you notice it is on top of my Maymont? I can't wait to get them both down and sandwiched for quilting.

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And lastly, I got the notion to make a handful of prayer pockets for the ladies in my small group Bible study for Valentine's day. Originally, I wanted to make them into hearts, but I fear I won't get 15 of those finished in time for gifting. Instead I have chosen to make simple blocks from 3/4" squares (finished size).

 


I have passed out a few of these already but am busy making more.  These are such fun assembling by using and coordinating just a few scraps. You can find free directions, pattern, and prayer sheets on Hello Sewing and ShabbyFabrics.com. Make a few for gifting yourself. You can tuck these in get well cards, leave on the table for your server at the restaurant, or anytime you want to encourage and uplift another with a little prayer and love. 

Now that I got my January post in, I can get busy with putting the borders on the above two tops and embellish some prayer pockets.  


Happy Stitching!


 

 

 





Friday, December 29, 2023

Finishes for 2023

 All totaled up my 11 finishes added up to busting 105 yards of fabric. That makes my goal of using up a minimum of 100 yards a succeeded goal. It is not so big when you find that these were not projects starting from scratch.

1, Fidget Quilt - 20" x 28",  2 yards total, made for my dear sister. It was a fun project of hand embellishments and fun textures.

2. Just in Cases - 57" x 68", 9 yards total. American Jane has such cute (and sometimes challenging) patterns. This was made using 30's reproduction fabrics. The backing I used was a vintage muslin. It was 58" wide and was heavy yet not very finely woven. 

3. Red & Green Train Tracks Kid's Quilt - 47" x 47", 3.5 yards total. This small quilt was given to friends for the birth of their first grandson. Backing was a minky and was so very soft!

 

4. Blue & Gray Boomerang 3-yard quilt - 44" x 58", used 6 yards total. Another small quilt I had quilted with soft fleece backing. It has a warm and cuddly feel and ready for gifting. 

5. Brown & Black Vertical 9-Patch - 47.5" x 58", total of 8 yards.  This top has been hanging around a while so I sandwiched it up and hand quilted it in the evenings,. Made a nice throw for the TV room.


6. Jelly Nougat - 85" x 91", used up 18.5 yards of stash. This finished as one of my favorite scrap quilts. Made using muslin and a huge amount of "crumbs".


7. Trumpet Vine - 53" x 68", used 8 yards. A Karen Griska pattern that used up a lot of scraps in my Brights box. Loved the backing so much I had to go back and buy several yards more for future use.

8. Green & Yellow Moda University BOM Medallion - 98" x 98", used 18 yards. My largest finish this year. It has been hanging around since 2008(?) and just needed borders. Its finished and on the bed now.


9. Red Churn Dash - 78" x 87", used 14 yards. Love how I found a random remnant in the closing of a local quilt shop to use as vertical rows. I had just enough to finish it with only inches left over. 


10. Vintage Column Quilt - 94" x 94", used up 17 yards. A totally scrappy quilt using 1.5" finished size squares. Fell in love with this pattern the first time I saw it. My box of scraps took a big hit with this one. (that's a good thing)


11. Steampunk Violinist Christmas Wall Hanging - 14" x 28", 1 yard used (barely). Embellished with sequins and beads for extra holiday sparkle. 


So that is what 105 yards looks like. I also completed a Partridge in a Pear Tree wall-hanging but it cannot be counted this year as it still needs to be quilted. Its on the UFO list for next year.

I am now planning and dreaming up goals for 2024. So far I have a list of 18 UFOs and 5 or 6 new starts planned. I'll need to sew like the wind to accomplish all that! Especially when you know that the top 5 UFOs are labor intensive - Dear Jane, Montmellick, Love Entwined, Antique Wedding Sampler, and  Jaye's Bouquet. Maybe I should rethink those new starts!

Blessings and Happy Stitching!




Tuesday, December 5, 2023

The Partridge in a Pear Tree Challenge

Have you ever worked on a project that was a bit challenging and you felt the need to baste the pieces together before sewing them together to ensure that they match up nicely? That is what I have been doing to make these triangles with multi points to line up in my Partridge in a Pear Tree wall-hanging. Below you will see the two triangular pieces marked and ready to be sewn together.

These are the 2 pieces that make up the sides of the tree trunks and the sky blues. I hand sewed them together, matching end points and seam lines, and then pressed the seams open for a flat finish piece. 


Once these triangular blocks were sewn together, it was time to sew the rows together. I place a pin in EXACTLY the point where the seams should meet. Keeping the pin vertical.

 

You can see on the opposite side that the pin meets exactly on the seamline I want it to match up with. 

I carefully keep that pin in an upright position as I pin along each side. I often use the edge of my sewing table to do so.



 I then place 2 pins on both sides of the vertical pin all while keeping it upright the best I can. 


When pinning, be sure to take large enough "bites" so that your seam does not bunch up in thickness and make it hard to run under your machine needle. It can sometimes shift or bunch up into a knotted mess if you don't. 

This might be a good time to give suggestions for the pins I use. They are extra long and very thin. They are my FAVORITE pins to use. Actually, they are the only pins I use. These silk pins are made in Japan and are perfect pins for piecing.


I have no affiliate link. They are sometimes hard to find but they last a long time. When they become bend or damaged, I save them in a special box.


The Japanese have a special day they call, Hari-Kuyō. It is celebrated by women in Japan as a memorial to all the sewing needles that have become broken in their service during the past year, along with the added opportunity to pray for improved skills. My collection of broken pins and needles are several years' worth, but I think of their tradition and it reminds me to pray for improved skills along with being thankful for useful tools in my sewing box. 


My little box sits on the shelf above my sewing table. Do you like my little antique "studda bubba" pincushion? She makes me smile too and reminds me that I am becoming a studda bubba myself (old lady). Although I do not have a babushka. :-)

So back to the Partridge challenge. You can see my machine needle is lined up ready to sew this seam together below. My pinned seam joints are laying flat as I gently WALK my machine needle over the pins. Yes, I have hit a few now and again (see hari-kuyo above), but because it is s-l-o-w I have not knocked my machine out of time....yet. The only other solution is to baste these points together. That is probably what my Home Economics teacher, Mrs Starr would suggest. No wait, Mrs Starr did not suggest anything. Her motto always was, "There is a wrong way, and a Mrs. Starr way" Haaaa! I owe my attention to precision sewing to her. Thank you Mrs Starr! ♥


Pressing those seams to "set" once they are sewn. You can see my stitching has been guided along with my markings.


This results are points matching nicely once done.


And the real test is the basted seams with multiple points matching up together. Yippee! Success! These were the half diamond pieces (tree trunk and sky blue) sewn together by hand and them basted before sewing together in rows. (did not risk the 3 pin technique here).

So how do you conquer your sewing challenges? Do you baste and/or hand sew? Is there another technique you use? 

Do you have a favorite quote from your Home Economics teacher you can share? Do you have a favorite pin cushion? 

Please leave your comments below as I would love to read your insights and tips.

Happy stitching!


Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Pre-Holiday Sewing

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

With Christmas coming in a few short weeks, I thought I would dig out that project from last year that gave me fits! It is done with paper piecing and somehow I forgot the proper steps, and wasted material with plenty of mistakes (triangles and diamonds anyone?). So I bagged it up for... just a time like this. Feeling brave (and more patient) I dove in and alas! I made the remaining 6 pears in one evening! Don't stop me now! Another day of cutting green diamonds from my stash that would compliment the existing pieces that came with this "kit" and another evening was spent cutting the blue and setting pieces.


I should mention, I purchased this at a Quilter's Garage Sale last year. I found this steal at Mary Huey's booth, and being a big fan of Mary, and her work, I felt quite pleased that I managed to bring home something that she had put her mind to.  Even though it took me a YEAR to finally attack it successfully myself. 


Some of the work had already been completed by Mary. The partridge was finished, and 4 pears, and several dark green diamonds were cut out. The fabrics were from the late 90's and the pattern was featured in QNM's Quilt It for Christmas, 2001. This was when you could purchase a magazine for $4.99!


So now I am happily at the stage in piecing the diamonds into rows and sewing the rows together. While this sewing gets done it is fun to contemplate border ideas, right? I have little fabrics leftover and not sure I want to introduce new ones for borders, so I am not really sure how that part will go. Stay tuned.


The pattern says this quilt hanging finishes at 45" x 54" but mine will probably be smaller because of a lack of borders as the pattern recommends. I am not even sure I will have this finished in time to display it this year for Christmas, but I am enjoying the process and I am committed to finish it regardless.


Another holiday project I found was this block featuring a violinist in a steampunk style. My daughter is also a violinist, has a Christmas birthday, and has a liking for steampunk so this work for her. This orphan block came with a bundle of scraps I purchased a few years a go. I think it is a Loralee design.


I added a few borders, and I will sandwich it with batting and a backing to begin hand-quilting it. I remember having some beads and embellishments leftover from January's Fidget Quilt so now I am brainstorming how to make this mini hanging sparkle for Christmas. I may need to forage for some metal and leather trinkets in the button tins.

My Jaye's Bouquet embroidery project is falling behind but I will pick it up in the new year. Yes, it is time to begin planning next year's goals. I have TWO big commitments in 2024, so my sewing time will take a hit...but you know how they say if you want to get something done you ask a busy person? I hope to get better at managing my time because I can get cranky if I don't get into the sewing room on a consistent basis. Can  you relate to that too?

Happy November. Count your blessings before shopping for more "stuff", and happy stitching!

 





Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Vintage Column Quilt Finished

I had so much fun in the making of this scrappy quilt. And did I ever use up the 2" squares in my scrap box! It is nearly empty as you can see! Just the "uglies" are left.

This quilt was originally featured on Jo's Country Junction website. I went as far back as 2017 trying to find the direct link but was unable to locate it. There was some discussion about this quilt on the Stashbusters' group list as I couldn't quite get my head around the actual block. Nancie V was so very helpful by sketching a block for us. Thank you, Nancie! This quilt is credited to you! Here are my expanded sketchings and scratchings.


Once the blocks were made,  I debated on the setting for this quilt. I considered just a straight layout - the easy way. But after a brief break away from it, I decided to just go "all-in" and make it on a diagonal setting. Which meant MORE blocks (setting triangles) that needed to be made and the trimming on the edges had to be done. 


Notice my garlic knot blocks on the right...another project that I am anxious to get finished. (2024 goal)



You can see the partial blocks that were needed on the outside edges, and if you look at my "cheater" sketches above you will find their actual layout. It got confusing so I needed to stay close to those drawings. 

 


Then it was time to consider the borders. I had yardage leftover (still do) so I went with the Thimbleberries pansy print that was also used in the diagonal centers. 


Once it came home from my long arm quilter, it was time to wrestle this big quilt on my machine and sew on the binding. More of that pansy print fabric.


Which brings me to the most relaxing part of making a quilt - hand sewing the binding on. Ahhh. These chilly nights have been nice to sit under this quilt and sew in the evenings. 


So now she is finished. The binding and label is on (using 1/2" squares) and is ready to put on our bed for winter coziness. 

So many scraps that recall past quilts and projects.  I calculated the total squares when determining the total yardage. There were 3,280 squares in the making of this quilt. (2500 in 25 blocks + 660 squares in setting triangles + 120 squares in corners = 3,280). Phew! That is a lot of fabric squares!


The completed measurement is  94" x 94" and I used up 17 yards of stash. That brings my total to 104 yards of fabric used so far this year and this is my 10th finish! It has been a good year.

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Meanwhile, I pin basted my Dear Jane Siggies quilt at the church a few weeks ago and now I am able to hand quilt it at my chair in the evenings. It is so enjoyable to devise different ways to quilt each little signature block. At first I had it in a hoop to quilt but had to take it off and quilt it without stretching (relying on those pins to do the job). My hands just cannot work that hard anymore.

This one will take me a long while. I may have to set it aside as I try to catch up on my Jaye's Bouquet BOM as I am falling behind. And then there is the Maymont on my design wall waiting for its rows to be sewn together. It is sometimes nice to have a few things going on at the same time. Do you work like that too? 

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Another finish to celebrate is the final work of using up this years apple crop. I tried my hand at making apple butter. It took 3 days of cooking!! First day was just cooking them down  S-L-O-W-L-Y.  For effect, when someone asks you how to make apple butter, you are supposed to delay your response to prove they have the patience! Haa! Day two after pureeing in the blender, I cooked it down some more. And day three was just to bring it back up to a simmer so I could process it in jars. Each day I refrigerated it overnight for fear of scotching it. Today's crock pots still cook it too fast. During the day I constantly stirred it and it finished beautifully. 


This is so good on toast and biscuits. And mixed with cream cheese makes an excellent spread on bagels. There are more recipes on what you can do with apple butter - pies, cakes, breads...




And keeping with the theme for this year - downsizing and thinning out the stuff in our house - I donated 3 quilts and 5 table toppers at a benefit auction last week.


No idea how many yards of fabric those included. Just happy they found new homes where they will hopefully give warmth and comfort as quilts always do.

 

Are you still here? We recently went to a Justin Hayward concert. Nothing like hearing the music of our youth. It was an enjoyable evening.


 

Happy stitching!