Christmas Sewing and Distractions

I have been attacking the easy finishes first from my list of Fourth Quarter Goals. 

Christmas Irish Chains 

 

Christmas Irish Chains is finished and ready for a label. I just got a new machine and am anxious to learn how to use the embroidery unit so I can make original/personal quilt labels.

This quilt was made as a leader/ender project and it has taken several years to complete - but that is the nature of a Leader/Ender! I cut a couple hundred 2" squares and assembled them at my machine in between other projects. By sewing these squares together at the beginning and end of each sewing session, I save thread, and sew a "bonus quilt" with no extra charge. 

Once I ran out of the green fabric, I cut into some red that I had and sewed more 4-patches until I ran out of the background fabric. This is what I came up with. She's ready for Christmas snuggles this year! This was my 10th finish this year. She measures 89" x 89"  and I used up12.5 yards of stashed fabric. 

For more information on this method, you can read Bonnie Hunter's post.  She challenges us yearly with a new pattern to use up your scraps and this year's is Tulip Swirl. 

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Company Picnic

 

This is another quick finish as it was just waiting for the binding to be sewn on. It is now done and ready for gifting....if I can bear letting it go. I adore these colors! This was my 11th finish this year. It measures 75" x 89" and I figure it used 10 yards of fabric. She is quilted with my favorite design - Baptist Fans. ♥

 

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I recently took a class to learn how to assemble a Lemoyne Star using the Rapid Fire method by  Deb Tucker at Studio 180 Design. It takes a lot of trimming at several steps but the end result is very pretty and very accurate. It is now on my UFO list to finish. Hopefully before Christmas...this year! I only need to make 2 more blocks and then add borders for a table runner. 

 

I am debating on signing up for next week's Banded Lemoyne Star. I already have the ruler so why not? 

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Our guild has been making Christmas Tree blocks. Stack and Whack style!  This has been a fun project and I need to focus on getting it done for our show and tell time coming up next month.  

 

I am considering arranging my blocks a bit differently, and maybe adding a few stars or mini-dresdens. We'll see how much time I have left to carry that through.  

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And while I SHOULD be concentrating on finishing  those 2 small items above,  I have been distracted with sewing together more UNallocated blocks.  They are addictive little things. I now have 440 3" HST assembled and I cut the 1.5" strips last night so they are ready to attach. While pressing all those HSTs, I was rewarded with a bit of joy as I opened them up and saw the colors complement each other. Isn't that the fun of make scrap quilt units? 

 

If you want to make one of these yourself, you can check out Muddy Puddles.  I found this darling scrap quilt on Instagram and fell in love. I can't wait to get the blocks assembled. I am already dreaming up ideas for a border. 

Here is a captured picture of Michelle's Unallocated quilt that she designed! I hope mine is half as pretty!

 

The farmers have been busy getting their corn cut down and harvested during this dry weather period we have been having. Now the wildlife is swooping in to feed on the leftovers. These Sandhill Cranes flew in last night. Can you see them? (their heads are poking up) They are such pretty birds. A blue gray color with red topped heads and they stand 4 feet tall! I hope they come back so I can get a closer camera shot.

 Happy stitching!