The Great Backyard Bird Count, that is. It is not too late to jump in and they have some great apps to help you. This is my first year participating. I have been wanting to do this for years, but I would seem to think of it only after it was over. So this year I am excited to be on time and having fun with it. You can check it out here.
https://www.birdcount.org/
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I have been very busy in the sewing room, and also have a quilt to claim as a finish. This quilt is my "ugly" quilt. Made of fabrics from the bottom of the barrel, so to say. My goal was to simply make a utilitarian quilt that would take a lot of use and laundering, and use up some scraps that were very near disposal status. Perhaps you can spot some "oldies" in there. That little fruit print I can remember from my early quilting days in 1982 (?). I can even remember the little quilt shop I purchased it at.
I had an old blanket that I had saved just for the purpose of using in such a quilt as this. It was not a heavy blanket. It was the kind that was popular in the 60s and 70s and had the satin binding on both ends. They remind me of quilt batting, but with a heavy layer of scrim. Maybe that is how they were made, I do not know, but decided to use it here. Does anyone have any background to these types of blankets?
I made a pieced backing with some yardage fabrics I had saved. Although I first thought I would just tie this quilt, I decided to hand quilt it using pearl cotton and a big quilt stitch. I used a roll of variegated thread just to "use it up". So this quilt truly does have all the markings of a utilitarian quilt. A make-do project for sure.
Pin basting on the floor will soon be a task that I will have to give up on. So hard on the knees and hips, right? It is presently on our bed and is rather heavy. But really warm and that is a cover we can appreciate.
I did not do a lot of quilting on this quilt. In the ditch, and some diagonals on each block. We will see how well she launders. I may have to go back and add some more later, but I hope not.
It measures 90" x 90". The blanket was 84" x 93" so I sewed on an additional 9" to the short side to square it up with a leftover piece of warm and natural batting. Total stash yardage busted was 17 yards which includes the 5 yards for the backing.
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Sew the Scrap Out of March is coming up soon. What will you be working on? Pat Sloan has a sew along. Actually, she is calling it her String Bean Challenge. I love the thought of sew up a bunch of scraps and strips. I surely have a lot of them.
I recently purchased a couple of patterns from Karen Griska. On my! I am so glad I did! I love her simple designs that sew together quickly and use up a lot of leftover scraps. I will be posting again about my progress. I am trying to get my supply of strip/strings reduced by half this year.
Hope you are sewing up a finish or two in your sewing room. We have been getting some snowy, cold, winter days here.
Happy stitching!
