Another January Finish

    After finishing the BYG Sampler, I started quilting on smaller comfort quilts instead of working on another large UFO from my list.  This Narrow Rails quilt is finished. 

  

I started the blocks as leader/ender sewing until about half were done.  Then I decided to get it done.

You can find out more about where I learned about the block from ExuberantColor on this post.

Here is a photo of some of the quilting and the backing.

Enjoy some time sewing and quilting. 

Leader / Ender Blocks Become Top

     Wednesday was sew day for my church quilt group. I worked on turning Carolina Chain leader/ender blocks into on-point rows and now it is a top. 

 I first saw Bonnie Hunter piecing these blocks on Quilt Cam.  I love them for leader/ender sewing.  I can usually pull sets from my 2 1/2" squares and 2 1/2 by 4 1/2" bricks to create block sets. I have a couple of blocks leftover which will be the seeds for the next comfort quilt. 
    I spent Thursday quilting and have the Narrow Rails half quilted as well as 2 yards for a duffel bag. 

Enjoy some time sewing and quilting!

Narrow Rails Top

      Inspired by the work of Wanda at Exuberant Color blog, I started cutting strips for leader/ender sewing.  The block kits made  a good leader/sewing project. After I had pieced a collection of blocks, I planned for quilt size and cut more block strip sets.  Wanda gives directions for her quilt blocks, but I did not find a block name.  I added an outer border and named my quilt top “Narrow Rails”. 

This one is now sandwiched and ready to quilt. 
      I spent hours piecing batting scraps ( happily cleared out lots)

and piecing backings so I have 4 small quilts sandwiched 

so whenever I am in the mood to quilt, I have one waiting.

Next up I plan to sandwich the Blue/Green Made-fabric  UFO quilt top which is full bed size.

    My church quilting group wants to make duffle bags again.  We did several years ago.  I plan to quilt my own fabric to make one so 2 yards top and backing will also be sandwiched for quilting and I better get busy. 

Finished Is Better Than Perfect

*update*    
 My Blue, Yellow, Green Sampler is finally finished. It started with a Hancock Fabrics BOM kit purchased in 2005.  I finally pieced the BOM blocks in August of 2016.  You can see them here.  I really like them set on-point with sashing. I used a fluffy wool batting which caused some issues with the quilting and this quilt may benefit from blocking although I have never blocked one.  Even though not perfect, it will be warm on my bed. 

This is the best photo I could get with limited space in my kitchen. Sorry the bottom corners are cut off. 

   I quilted a custom design in each sampler block.  Here are a few that I like most.   

    Wednesday was comfort quilt sew day for my church group.  I added the borders and finished this quilt top.  The center stack and slash blocks were someone’s UFO that they gifted.  I had several packs of purchased cream cording which have been in the drawer for years.  It adds a special accent to the borders.

Enjoy a wonderful weekend with a little sewing and quilting.

Quilting Plan for 2017

    My quilting plan for 2017 has been formed and is in progress.  I have prioritized 6 UFOs for the new year ( 3 are complete tops ).  I hope to start the year by quilting the 3 and get them finished.  

    The quilting for my Blue, Yellow, Green sampler is in progress.  I started by ditch quilting.  Then I paused to plan a custom design for each sampler block.  Here are sketches of the plans.   

First I found the block in EQ or drew it.  I printed the block outline and planned a continuous line motif that I liked.   Quilting continues.

2017 UFO List

1  Blue, Yellow, and Green Sampler- BOM kit purchased 2005

2  Green/blue Made-fabric quilt – top pieced 2016

3  Blue & White Mystery -  top pieced Sept. 2012

4  Made-fabric Hexagons – center pieced in Nov. 2014

5  Red, White & Blue  Star  - begun Aug. 2015

6  Score 1 – begun May 2016

  

There are numerous other partial projects, but I will be very pleased if these get finished.

I’m participating in the 2017 Finish-A-Long with Rhonda’s ( Quilt) Ramblings to motivate me for more completed quilts.

Make some time for sewing and quilting.

Scraps in 2017

    My quilting plan for 2017 has been formed. I have prioritized 7 UFOs for the new year ( 3 only need quilting) and 1 new project that has been in the planning for a couple of years.  The 1^st is to finish quilting my Blue, Yellow, Green sampler.  The ditch quilting is done but each block wants a custom design and I am working contemplating what to do. 

   

When I needed a break, I turned to blog reading for inspiration which led me to Cynthia’s blog and her Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

I love scraps and wanted to play some so this was great timing.  January’s color is purple.  I already had some purple made-fabric and pieced another purple heart block.

If you love scraps, you might think about joining in. I hope to end the year with at least a couple of rainbow scrap quilts.

Somehow I found my way to this 16-patch star quilt by ScrapboxQuilts 

It reminded me of the wonky, maverick stars I have made in the past and decided to use my stash of 4 1/2” squares to make one.  I wanted all the 15 purple squares to be different so I had to dig and even cut a few more.  

Enjoy time sewing or quilting!

First Finish of 2017

   This small quilt is my first finish for 2017.  All it needed was machine quilting and adding the binding which I hand sewed.  It is the class sample for the JoAnn Fabric beginner class this Saturday.  Because it is for beginners, I did mostly walking foot quilting.  I did do a simple point-to-point FM motif in each block.

   As I looked back at my sewing for 2016, I estimated the thread I used by the spools of thread I emptied.  I first did this in 2014 with 18,700 yds but I must not have counted at the end of 2015 because today I counted 91 empty spools of various sizes for 38,035 yds which is more than twice that of 2014. 

Is it unfair that I also counted these 2 spools because they do not have enough thread to fill a bobbin?

 

  

    My goals for 2017 include finishing more UFOs and using fabric in a variety of projects to reduce my stash. I will be pleased if I can accomplish these.

Have a productive New Year and enjoy time sewing and quilting!