Monday, September 26, 2022

End of September Progress

    With cooler weather I hope to get out in the yard and prepare flower beds before winter; however, the past week was very productive for quilt projects.  I hope to continue the momentum until the end of the month.  After church supper Wednesday we had a great beginner class with two enthusiastic students. This Wednesday will be the third class. I plan to demo squaring a quilted top and machine sewing binding. All the prep work is done.

    On other goals I have made great progress. You can see some on my design wall. 


 I have 3 columns of geese pieced. I am caught up with Pat Sloan's Block of the Week for “Hometown Charms”. Not shown I finished all the stitch in the ditch quilting on the watercolor comfort quilt.

    Then I tackled the freezer paper pattern for the Celtic Fantasy quilt. The background templates are ready.  The templates are one-quarter of the quilt.  

Several sections still need an applique motif. The motif for others need to be customized more. It is a process. Tuesday I will check with my son to see if he approves of the motifs so far.  I have a selected palette of fabrics but am anxious about which fabrics for each area. I hope that will become clear.

Goals for this week:

1. Continue piecing the columns of geese.
2. Enjoy Grandparents Day with granddaughter
3. Work on dog costume for Halloween

Stay safe and healthy while enjoying some time sewing and quilting.

Monday, September 19, 2022

Weekly Goals

      Wow! Monday is already half gone and I am just sitting down to think about my weekly goals. This week is starting out like last week.  Last week was full of activities and that is okay. I did find time to work on a few of my goals. I pieced one column of geese and a few more. The couch size quilt will have 6.


I cut out and fused all the pieces for my new “Fall Memories” wall-hanging. It will wait a little to be quilted.

I did not buy any fabric and all the fabric I used has already been counted so there is no change in my Stash count.

Stash fabric used or added:

    this past week- Used: 0 yds Added: 0 yds
    So far this year- Used: 124.625 yds Added: 41.75 yd
    Net decrease 89.875 yds

     I had hoped to work on the Celtic Fantasy quilt pattern or cutting up scraps. Wednesday was busy with church quilt group. I brought home one to quilt. In the evening I taught a small beginner quilt class at church. The focus was on sewing rail fence blocks. The class will take place for the next 3 Wednesdays. I did the planning and prep for next week's class to focus on 4 patches.

Goals for this week:

1. Plan and prep for next Wednesday night quilt class.

2. Continue piecing the columns of geese.
3. Finalize freezer paper pattern for Celtic Fantasy quilt
4. Quilt watercolor comfort quilt for church.

Stay safe and healthy while enjoying some time sewing and quilting.


Monday, September 12, 2022

Weekly Goals

   The past week was busy with several quilt projects, however, very productive. There were a couple of finishes plus work on all my goals. Before I could sandwich Halloween quilt tops, I needed to clean off my cutting table so I used that as an opportunity to cut up and sort the scraps that had been piled there. Friday I shared my finished “Brunhilda” wall-hanging. She is a favorite. Saturday I finished the “Boo Crew” wall-hanging from Fat Quarter Shop. 

 Here is a close-up of some FM quilting.

    Progress was made on other projects. I made a few more geese for the adopted project to have the needed 162 geese for an adult size lap quilt.

    A friend encouraged me to join her for Pat Sloan's Block Wednesday “Hometown Charms” quilt that has started. I did not buy any fabric but pulled a fat quarter bundle that had been gifted to me as well as the background fabric. I also pulled a few pieces from my stash.  Even though only a small portion of it was used the first week, I included the fabric yardage in my added and used stash count as it is designated for this project. 

 I am not totally happy with my color choices for the first block but hope as more blocks are added that it will come together. Here is my first block.

    Last year I bought the “Fall Memories” pattern and kit from Laundry Basket Quilts. I gave that wall-hanging to my DIL. Then I wanted to make one for myself or someone else using my batik stash. I had trouble finding something I liked for the border. I finally bought a yard. Sunday evening I made a great start on all the applique for the new one.


Stash fabric used or added:

    this past week- Used: 9.5 yds Added: 6 yds
    So far this year- Used: 124.625 yds Added: 41.75 yd
    Net decrease 89.875 yds

Goals for this week:

1. Start piecing the columns of geese.
2. Finalize freezer paper pattern for Celtic Fantasy quilt
3. Work on “Fall Memories” wall-hanging
4. Use AccuQuilt dies to cut scrap fabric

Stay safe and healthy while enjoying some time sewing and quilting.

Friday, September 9, 2022

Halloween Finish

     This morning started at a nice 68 degrees and I am getting in the mood for fall and Halloween. Last night I finished my “Brunhilda” Halloween wall-hanging ( pattern from Country Threads 1997).

I shortened the cauldron a few inches and tried to have the FM quilting add some light texture.

I love the bright fun fabric colors which all came from my stash.


I have one more Halloween wall-hanging ready to quilt which is this year's free "Boo Crew" from Fat Quarter Shop.

Hope you are ready for fall.

Check out other projects at Alycia's Finished (or Not) Friday.

Stay safe and healthy while enjoying some time sewing and quilting.

Monday, September 5, 2022

Labor Day Goals Update

 

   Things are quiet here. I don't have any special plans. I can't do my usual morning workout since the gym is closed for the holiday and it is a little rainy outside so no walking there. That means more time to make progress on sewing/quilting projects; but first any update on how projects progressed the past week.

    I began the week by finishing a couple of mug rugs, turned pillowcase style and quilted with walking foot.


Next I added to the cat quilt top a black border with white polka dots.


Then I quilted and bound the “Woven” comfort quilt. I shared pictures in Friday's Finished (or Not) post.

     My DIL loves to decorate for Halloween. In the past I have made placemats, a table runner and chair leg covers. Years ago someone gifted me an old Halloween wall-hanging pattern ( “Brunhilda” from Country Threads 1997). I pulled it out, shopped my stash for fabric and now it is a top. 

 My choice of fabrics gives it an updated feel. I am over half-way done stitching around the applique parts. That means I will have 2 Halloween wall-hangings to quilt very soon.

Stash fabric used or added:

    this past week- Used: 5.625 yds Added: 0 yds
    So far this year- Used: 115.125 yds Added: 35.75 yd
    Net decrease 80.375 yds

     Since I got sidetracked on the new Halloween wall-hanging, the only goal from last week that I accomplished was quilting the comfort quilt. This week I hope to do better and not start anything new.

Goals for this week:

1. Work on geese UFO.
2. Work on Celtic Fantasy quilt
3. Sandwich Halloween wall-hangings
4. Use AccuQuilt dies to cut scrap fabric

Enjoy the holiday.  Stay safe and healthy while enjoying some time sewing and quilting.


Friday, September 2, 2022

A Finish

     I have made progress on several projects but have one real finish to share.  This scrappy "Woven" comfort quilt is quilted and bound. 


 I quilted FM loopy meander because I wanted to practice that motif. 


     Now I want to get buy finishing a couple of small Halloween wall-hangings.

I'm linking up with Alycia's Finished or Not Friday. 

Stay safe and healthy while enjoying some time sewing and quilting.