Review of 2018 Quilting

     As I look back at projects I worked on and finished this year, I am satisfied.  I believe making my focus list for the year helped me finish more UFOs even though all on the list were not finished.  Seven of 12 were finished and good progress was made on 2 more UFOs.  Along with those on the list, I made and gave 3 baby quilt gifts and a long quilted buffet runner.  Following Angela Walters’ first FM Quilt Along I finished a lap quilt which I have yet to give away.  She is starting a new quilt along with a new technique you can check out on YouTube.

   More quilting was accomplished to finish and donate 3 quilts for the local children’s hospital and 9 to my church quilt group plus 4 quilted duffle bags, placemats, numerous mug rugs and even 5 costume squirrel tails. I had the perfect amount of brown long fake fur in my stash and it was great to use it. Sorry I did not get a photo from the show with children in costume. 

    

More sewing this year included dresses for granddaughters and doll outfits.

     Today I plan to sandwich my “Have Faith” top. Sarah shared Jamie’s pattern on her blog here.     

 Later in the day I plan to consider my many remaining UFOs and make my focus list for 2019.

Wishing all a blessed Happy New Year with some fun time to sew and quilt.

Holiday Sewing

     My UFOs have been sitting while I have been inspired to work on holiday themed small projects for gifts.  Wish I could get inspired to make them earlier in the year.  I have enjoyed making a few.

     I used Julie’s Holiday Mug Rug Tutorial to make a couple using scraps. I did change mine  some.  Instead of sewing on a binding, I folded the back over to the front for a binding.

I appliqued a snowman face onto 2 kitchen towels.

I thought he was so cute I made 2 mug rugs with the same snowman face.

Next I shrank the snowman from the Imagine pattern by Art to Heart.  I love this snowman and made 2 mug rugs.

    Some years ago I made some quilted postcards with silk poinsettias.  I decided to use some flowers still in my stash and made a couple more mug rugs.  I hope they will hold up to washing.  I did test a flower in the sink.

     When my sons were young, I had them draw a Christmas picture each year on our holiday table cloth with fabric crayons.  When my granddaughters came along, each year I have had them draw a holiday picture with fabric markers on fabric squares stabilized on freezer paper.  I have been considering what to make with them.  This year I finally started making placemats.  I chose 2 drawings for each and used a variety of holiday fabrics.  This is just the start.

Hope you are enjoying the season.  Happy Holidays!

I'm linking up with Whoop, Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict blog. Hope you check out what others are doing.  I find it inspiring. 

A Modern Quilt Finish and More Progress

      I enjoyed a great Thanksgiving Day with siblings and some nieces and nephews.  I hope you enjoyed time with family or friends.

      Friday after I returned home, I sewed the binding on my modern quilt from Score 1 of The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters.  I wanted to use a new modern quilting technique so I quilted it with a continuous spiral using the walking foot. I’m glad I did but don’t know that I will use that technique again. 

      Today I pulled out another UFO from my focus list I made last January.  These are blocks from last year’s Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  My design wall is not large enough so I laid out blocks on the floor. I moved 2 after this photo but they are now pinned in row stacks and ready to be sewn together. 

      Last week I tackled another UFO from my list and have 60 blocks sewn for the Four Patch Swirl. It is a stack'n whack technique.  It is interesting how different the block can turn out depending on which corner is toward the center.  Here are some examples.  

I have not decided on sashing or alternate blocks so these are waiting for inspiration.

      With the holidays coming and the end of year fast approaching, I looked back at my focus projects for 2018.  Seven of the 12 have happily been completed and I have made progress on 2 more at least one of which may be finished before the year’s end.  Having the focus list has been a great help.

  

UFO Focus List for 2018

Finished

1.     Score 1 started 2015

2.     Rainbow Wonky Star quilt - started 2017

3.     Scrappy anvil quilt started about 2014

4.     Scrap Dance Waltz   -started 2017

5.     Cat child’s quilt - started 2013

6.     Graduation gift –due in May

7.     red, white and blue star improv – started 2012

In Progress

8.     Rainbow star and brick quilt - started 2017

9.     Four Patch Swirl ( stack ‘n whack blocks) - started 2007

Still Waiting

10.  Gypsy Wife type quilt from orphan blocks – started 2015

11.  Quilt Day Bee Mystery started 2012

12.  Scrappy anvils with string centers- started 2014

 Enjoy some time sewing or quilting.  I'm linking up with Scrap Happy Saturday.  

  

Comfort Quilt Finish and Gifts

     For Thanksgiving this year I will be gathering with my siblings and some nieces and nephews.  It will be a good time to take Christmas gifts instead of putting them in the mail. So I have spent time recently to finish a few more.   Years ago I bought batik fabrics on sale to make each sibling a duffel bag.  At that time I only made one.  Last year I made one more.  This time I made 2 more. I had enough quilted fabric left to  make matching shoe bags.

I recently found several bag classes on Craftsy and Bluprint by Annie Unrein that I want to make.  They may end up being gifts another year. 

     I finished up this scrappy split 9 patch quilt for my church quilt group.  It might benefit from a little blocking.  

We have started making squares for a bed size quilt to donate to someone affected by the hurricane that hit Wilmington, NC.

You can get the free pattern and participate by checking out FromMyCarolinaHome.com and her hurricane relief project.  

    My women’s circle was discussing what to do for our college students.  I volunteered to make each a mug rug (aka snack mat) to be put with cards to let them know we are thinking of them. Here are the ones I’ve finished. 

     I also took a little time for some applique on kitchen towels for Thanksgiving. 

 

Wishing you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Maybe you can find time to enjoy a little sewing and quilting time before the big day or after a big dinner. 

Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict Whoop Whoop Friday. 

Another UFO Off the List

     Just in time for the end of the month I am happy to say that the Rainbow Wonky Star quilt is a FINISH.  The blocks were made as part of the 2017 Rainbow Challenge with a different color each month.  I am proud that the entire quilt was made from my stash.

The blocks are quilted with a simple FM meander.  I changed thread color and quilted a special motif in each star. 

I quilted Lazy Eights (aka Wish Bones) in the sashing and border.

     Son 2 and I tried out a recipe and technique from Food Wishes for Pig in a Pumpkin.  The pork was baked inside the pumpkin. It was very tasty and I would do it again.  

       GDs are ready for Halloween.  They spent one afternoon helping with jack-o-lanterns.  They designed and cleaned out while their dad did the carving.

Happy Safe Halloween.

If you don’t celebrate, I hope you enjoy some time sewing or quilting.

     

I'm linking up with Whoop Whoop Friday and what many quilters are doing.
Also linking up with SoScrappy UFO Challenge.

Quilting in Progress

     This week I sandwiched 2 of my UFO tops and started the quilting on the Rainbow Wonky Stars. All the stablization quilting is done for the sashing using the walking foot.  Now I am working free-motion on the rest.

    Last weekend I went to visit my sister Irene and attend the opening for her art doll group’s show at the Ashe Arts Center in West Jefferson, NC.  It will be open until November 14.  The exhibit is set up with dolls for 11 different areas of a house.  My favorite was the Music room and my sister’s doll, Muriel.  I don’t know where she found a small clarinet for the doll to hold.

Enjoy the cooler fall weather and some sewing or quilting.

UFO Progress and Finished Small Projects

        Last January I made a list of 12 UFOs that I really hoped to finish this year.  So far I have finished only 5 from the list. The good news is that today I finished another UFO top. 

       This is my Score 1 from The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters which I started at quilt retreat in the spring of 2015.

      I currently have 3 UFO tops finished stacked with their backing waiting to be sandwiched.  Next week I hope to get busy quilting.

     I finished a long Christmas runner for my son and DIL’s new buffet. 

I quilted with a FM motif of HolIy leaves and berries from Lori at The Inbox Jaunt. 

     I have been making great use of plastic and zippers recovered from those plastic bags sheets, etc. come in.  I have made a “Zippy Hold All Pouch” from a pattern by Fiona at www.designbyfee.com.

I made a “Peek-a-Boo Pouch” from a pattern by Caroline at www.sewcanshe.com/blog/2016/6/21/the-peek-a-boo-pouch-free-sewing-pattern. 

 

I made 2 “Teeny Tiny Zipper Pouches” from a pattern at so-sew-easy.com.  These are really cute and will be for my GDs.

 Enjoy some time sewing and quilting.

Update on Sewing Projects

    I recently enjoyed a few days with granddaughters. GD Mattie and I made her a Gryffindor robe for Halloween. I did the cutting, pinning and ironing.  She did most of the sewing.  I attached the hood (which was improvised from basic directions found on YouTube).  The last post shared where we found simple directions for the robe instead of a purchased pattern. We love how it turned out.

 

    I am learning how to use my new-to-me Bernina 730. I burned up my Bernina 185.  The repairman said they usually see the problems when it has been hit by lightning.  I was sewing at the time it failed so I am pretty sure it was not hit by lightning; however, I bought a new surge protector, but I also marked the date for service to the new machine on next year’s calendar.

Enjoy some sewing or quilting time. 

Current Projects

    My sewing recently has not been very interesting. One project still in progress is a Wickedly Easy Quilt ( free pattern from www.byannie.com) which I’m changing a little to fit a day bed.  I started using a scrappy version for the color scheme of pillows I have. 

That may have been my first mistake.  I added a lighter neutral; my second mistake.  I still need to sew about 8 strip sets before piecing blocks but I am not liking them. Here’s hoping I like it better when the top is together.  

   My older GD asked for help to make a robe as she want to be Hermione for Halloween. A simple robe is started. 

I found some simple directions on the web here.  She started sewing yesterday after school.  She also wants to add a hood.  We will see how that goes.  

Enjoy some sewing or quilting. 

Working on More Small Projects

     During recent rainy days and threatening hurricane/tropical storm, I stayed busy working on many small projects.  Thankfully my area missed most of the storm. 

     I got another comfort quilt top pieced.  

     Then I  pulled Thanksgiving fabric and pieced 6 mug rug tops. Instead of finishing with binding, I finished them all pillowcase style.  I layered batting, backing right side up, then top right side down and sewed around the edge leaving an opening for turning.  I trimmed the excess batting and corners, turned inside out, pressed and hand sewed the opening closed. Last will be the quilting which is not finished on these.  

Next I pulled out Halloween fabric scraps and pieced 5 mug rug tops. They also have been finished pillowcase style.

I fussy cut more printed Halloween fabric for 4 pot holders.  I used scraps of Insul-Bright and batting scraps to quilt the pot holders. I sewed the binding by machine.  

The following photos show some of the steps in my process.  After sewing binding onto the back, flip to the front and pin in place.  The loop portion gets top stitched first (even though in the photo it is not folded yet, then I turn the corner to finish top stitching the binding. 

After sewing almost all the way around, insert the tail of the binding and secure it. 

     It feels good to use scrap fabric and scraps of batting to create useful small gifts and I now have a stash of mug rugs and a few potholders.  I still have a large stash of batting scraps that I can zigzag together for such projects.

I have a Christmas table runner sandwiched in progress.  I want to practice a new FM motif of holly and berries before I start quilting on it. Hopefully soon I will sandwich one of my large quilt tops waiting to be quilted. 

 Hope you enjoy some time sewing or quilting.

Week of Progress

   I have been busy sewing and quilting this week.  I finished quilting another Carolina Chain comfort quilt. 

I tried a new motif in the border inspired by a floral motif I saw Lori Kennedy teach on a “Sewing with Nancy” episode which you can still watch on YouTube or Nancy's website.

FMQ motif  

     All the Split 9 Patch (v blocks) are made and ready to sew into a top.   Then I pulled out another UFO from my list, finished the blocks and designed a setting. Happy with the progress.

  

I pulled fall fabrics and made a bun basket. 

I followed Sew Very Easy YouTube video.  It stores flat, is washable and easy to make.

  

     Before I could work on another UFO, I decided to clean off my craft table.  

After 2 afternoons of ironing and cutting, I have piles of usable scrap units.  

            

We are having cooler mornings like fall; however, the afternoons continue to be hot and dry like summer.  Hurry up, Fall.

Hope you enjoy time sewing or quilting.

I'm linking up with Whoop Whoop Friday.