In Progress

      This week my main focus has been on a quilt for my guild “Rainbow Challenge”. The rules say it has to include all the colors of a rainbow and have curves or the illusion of curves. I am not afraid of sewing curves as I have made at least 3 that I loved, but I wanted to do something different. On Facebook this Calypso pattern  popped up in my feed and was the inspiration for my design with blocks that are pretty basic. I have made great progress and all the blocks are pieced. For now I'm calling it “Suncatcher Crystals”. The one color crystals were easy to plan and piece. The alternate blocks had to be planned in place so that the triangle in a square units were the appropriate colors. 

 The crystal points will be completed in the first border so are not part of the blocks. I am pleased with how it is coming together.

    Most afternoons have been spent with GDs. After school GD Lily worked on her quilt block layout. She is deciding where to have a few yellow Friendship Stars complete with yellow center. Then she can sew more rows together.  She wants to do it herself. 

   That is about all the sewing for this week. I'm linking up Alycia's Finished (Or Not) Friday. Check out the inspiration and fun.

Have a great week with some time for quilting.

“When Life gives you scraps, make quilts. “

Happy Monday Sewing

     We had rain most of the day Sunday and this morning started with thunderstorms so it should be a great day to stay inside and sew.

How I did on last week's goals-

1. Finish last of the blanket-stitching on Celtic Fantasy units. Done. Now the challenge will be sewing all those unusual curved seams; however, that will not happen this week.

2. Continue March Block a Day Done. I have 48 blocks made so as is the top will finish at 48” by 64”. I am thinking of adding sashing to make it larger; however, I'm not liking it with sashing. Maybe I just don't have the right fabric for it or it doesn't want sashing. Here are some of the blocks with a light blue-purple sashing. It would definitely need a cornerstone to pop.  

   
   
   

3. Finish paper-piecing Easter basket blocks into mug rugs. Done. I made 2 for granddaughters and the one with a border went in the mail to a friend.

              

4. Start piecing Rainbow Challenge quilt top. Done. I have made a great start, although I find I need more scrap squares of orange and aqua. I guess those are not colors I use as often.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week- Used: 0.5 yds Added: 0 yds
So far this year- Used: 34.05 yds Added: 21 yds
Net decrease 13.05 yds

Goals for this week:

1. Continue progress on my guild Rainbow Challenge quilt top.

2. Plan for participating in the Hands 2 Help challenge 2023

You can find out more about it at Confessions of a Fabric Addict's blog.

Have a great week with some time for quilting.

“When Life gives you scraps, make quilts. “

Weekly Progress on Projects

     It is officially spring this morning but early temperatures were just above freezing. Last evening there was a freeze warning so I tried to protect a few new garden sprouts. This past week I enjoyed a couple of mornings working in the yard before focusing on quilting projects in the afternoons.

How I did on goal for last week:

1. Continue blanket-stitching on Celtic Fantasy units. Done.

   The blanket-stitching is almost finished. I only have one more large piece to do and then the curved piecing begins. I am a little anxious about that part. Even though I have done curved piecing before, I have not use Ricky Tims' technique.

2. Continue March Block a Day Done

   Piecing is going great as I have been doing 2 each day using the same floral with 2 greens. I have 42 of 48 blocks finished so this week should have them all. I am considering whether to add sashing between blocks. Here are most that will fit on my design wall. 

   

   
   

3. Paper piece a Peony Star Not touched

   Instead, I pulled fabrics for a new guild challenge quilt. Some counted as fabric used but other pieces were pulled from my precut scraps so are not counted in the stash report.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week- Used: 2.825 yds Added: 0 yds
So far this year- Used: 33.55 yds Added: 21 yds
Net decrease 12.55 yds

Goals for this week:

1. Finish last of the blanket-stitching on Celtic Fantasy units.
2. Continue March Block a Day
3. Finish paper-piecing Easter basket blocks into mug rugs.
4. Start piecing Rainbow Challenge quilt top.

    I have a fairly busy week scheduled. Wednesday is quilt day at church and I plan to demo paper-piecing on a cut Easter basket block. Then I hope to get a couple of comfort quilt tops sandwiched and ready for quilting.

Have a great week with some time for quilting.

“When Life gives you scraps, make quilts. “

Productive Week- inside and out

     Even with very high pollen count here the weather was too pretty not to get some yard and garden work done. Forecasters predict we will have another freeze or frost, but we are hoping it will not hurt fruit blossoms.

     I did great on my goals for last week:

1. Finish triple blanket-stitch on at least 1 more Celtic dragon. Done. The blanket-stitch is finished on all 4 dragons. Here are the sections laid out. 

There are only 4 more sections that need the blanket-stitch before I start the work to sew the curved units together. I even started on the last sections and finished ½ of one

2. Continue March Block a Day Done.

For Pat's March Block a Day my plan now is to use 24 floral fabrics for 48 blocks set 6 by 8. which will finish 48” by 64”. Here are 18 blocks made the first 9 days.

     I finished quilting a comfort quilt for church. The “Stepper” pattern from Alycia is an easy quick pattern. 

Stash Report for 2023

this past week- Used: 1.25 yds Added: 0 yds
So far this year- Used: 30.725 yds Added: 21 yds
Net decrease 9.535 yds

Goals for this week:

1.  Continue blanket-stitching on Celtic Fantasy units.
2.  Continue March Block a Day

3.  Paper piece a Peony Star

Have a great week with some time for quilting.

“When Life gives you scraps, make quilts. “

Projects and Weekly Goals

     The old saying “time flies” was surely true yesterday. I was so busy I did not have time to think about my projects and goals. I met another member at church at 10 and we pieced “Franken-batting” for at least 3 hours. We used most of the larger pieces but there are more small scraps of batting to deal with. We can use some for prayer squares and mug rugs. The rest of the small pieces will be cut up sometime for cat beds.

    For my recent birthday I was given a kit for a mug organizer. The directions were not the easiest to understand but I made it Friday. I plan to make more but will make some pockets wider.

  Following are other projects I worked on last week. I finished a doll dress for my GD.

I added 4 more crumb blocks for one more row to make the crumb top longer and plan to add a scrappy piano key border.

     I am participating in Pat Sloan's March Block a Day. Here are my first 8. So far I have chosen 15 floral fabrics and am making 2 of each with 2 different greens. I plan to use 20 floral fabrics for 40 blocks set 4 by 5.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week-   Used: 1.66 yds Added: 0 yds
So far this year- Used: 29.475 yds Added: 21 yds
Net decrease 8.285 yds

Goals for this week:

1. Finish triple blanket-stitch on at least 1 more Celtic dragon.

2. Continue March Block a Day

     I would like to get some quilting done on a comfort quilt but the garden is calling me so I will see. If the pollen limits my time outdoors, I may get some quilting done.

Have a great week with some time for quilting.

“When Life gives you scraps, make quilts. “