Something Ugly

I got caught up in the jelly roll race madness a few years back. After making a few tops that I loved, I decided to attack a box of my scrappy strips and use up the blues and browns. 

What did I get? Yuck! It is ugly! And not even usable size. So it's been hanging around since and was nearly donated to goodwill until...

I found a pattern in Modern Quilts that gave me the idea of adding a strip of plus blocks. Plus blocks are so popular right now and this worked out perfectly to give this old Yuck! into something new. I am much more satisfied and even anxious to get it done. It measures 71" x 87" and hope to quilt it soon for a complete finish!

So, never give up on projects that you might call duds. Sometimes they just need to "cure" in the back closet until the next idea comes along!

What have you made that disappointed you? Have your found a new way to make it into something you like? I'd love to hear your story!

If you would like more ideas for plus quilt designs, you should check out Cheryl's Meadow Mist Designs. She is hosting a Modern Plus Sign Quilts book hop through the month of March. I am afraid I have added to my wish list of future creations by visiting these designer's take on patterns from this book. Have fun!  

A Few Works in Progress

It is amazing how much progress you can make in the sewing room when there are no interruptions or places to be. That is my favorite part of winter! Besides, the beautiful, quiet, and fresh blankets of snow. I hope you are having fun in your sewing space as well.

And with the Olympics on, there is plenty to keep my mind entertained while doing some handwork. Speed skating, bobsledding, alpine racing...what's not to love, right?!

Snowball sew-a-long report: I have 100 dark center blocks complete and 73 light center blocks done. This is truly a scrap project. I am not putting any forethought into this as I pull collected 5" charm squares out of the box. It will be fun to see the end result. I imagine a utilitarian quilt and may even use an old blanket for its wadding layer. Perhaps I may even be delighted by the time it's finished! You can jump in on this sew along at Temecula Quilt Company. She uses 4.5" and 1.5" squares whereas I have been using 5" and 2" squares. I hope to have this sewn into a top by the end of March.

Edyta Sitar is hosting a Block of the Month this year. All patterns are from her Patches in Blue book. I am so thrilled to participate and could not resist adding this project to my many others. Block 1 (January) and Blocks 2 (February) are pictured. I only have to sew the tops to the basket bottoms. I jumped ahead a bit by making a little Ohio Star there. Aren't they cute? Check out her blog at Laundry Basket Quilts for the completed quilt. It's not too late to join in! 

My Lemoyne Star border has been attached to my Medallion Ca'rlene quilt. I ran out of the fabric for the setting triangles and even had to piece a couple. So I used some of the dark turquiose from the next border for the 4 corners. The turqoiuse border is now attached and I am working on the 4 patch blocks that will be set on the diagonal in the next border.
 
This quilt has really been a challenge. It was a purchased kit so I do not have a lot of extra fabric for mistakes. I did purchase a few pieces of Judy Rothermel's fabrics to use in a pinch and they have been lifesavers! 

Another challenging factor is that there is no forgiveness in a medallion quilt. The borders fit, or they don't. 

The directions state that at this point this top should measure 54" square. Mine does not! It measures 60" square. Ugh! Now I have to make the 2" (finished size) 4-patch blocks fit and because they are on point my math is all confusing! Once these blocks are sewn I can begin to see how far off I will be...my cornerstones may end up being "Corner-rectangles".


I only have 2 more borders to complete after this one and this baby is complete! Wow! Will I be Snoopy dancing!!

If you have any helpful suggestions, I welcome your comments below. Thank you!

A Vintage Stitches Quilt Top Finish

Number 3 on my First Quarter Goals list is the leftover Vintage Stitches blocks I've had stored and waiting for some inspiration and a nice setting. Although I am over these color combinations, I really do love the charm and design of these blocks. 
 
This was the plan I originally dreamed up. I suppose it would work but it did not really make me motivated enough to finish...

There has been discussion of an Irish Chain Challenge on Stashbusters recently so that was the beginning to making these blocks into a new top. I had a few yards of a medium beige background fabric in my stash that complimented these blocks fairly well so decided to use that up. And did I! There was only one piece of about 2.5" by 15" leftover! Phew!

 
I dipped into my box of Thimbleberrie scraps for cornerstones and went to work. 

 Now I have another top waiting to be quilted. She finished at 78" x 78" and including the 5 yards of  fabric I found to piece a backing I busted a total of 13 yards! 


Not an official finish of course, but I am happy to have that project box emptied, the backing fabric off the shelf and everything pressed and hanging together for the next step. Having some of my tops un-quilted do not bother me too much as I find a use or a person to gift it to, I can deal with it then.