Loving the Progress

      The Celtic Rhapsody quilt for my son is finally finished including binding, label and hanging sleeve. I recently wondered why Ricky Tims named his quilt designs “rhapsody” quilts so I looked up the meaning of rhapsody and it made sense. Merriam-Webster says rhapsody is “a musical composition of irregular form having an improvisatory character”. Ricky composes music and quilts. This quilt design is composed of both irregular forms and has an improvisatory character.

       I am participating in Alycia's QOV mystery “Stars Like Spaghetti” and step 2 is complete. I don't know Alycia's plan, but here are my blocks on the design wall. I love the possibilities.

I haven't decided which UFO to work on so I am piecing a quick comfort quilt.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week- Used: 1.125 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year- Used: 20.475 yds Added: 4.75 yds

          Net decrease 15.725 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“When life leaves you scraps, make a quilt.”

Finished Quilting 2

      This week has been a week for quilting and I'm excited to have finished the quilting on 2. First is an adult lap size comfort quilt that is 54” by 67”.

One of the ladies in my church quilt group pieced it; however, we are not sure by whom. Here is a close up of the flower and leaves FM quilted.

     I am most excited to have the quilting finished on my son's quilt that I have named “Celtic Dragons”.

Pattern construction started in September 2022. I don't have an time estimate for the pattern construction and piecing, but I tracked some time for the triple stitch applique which is about 24 hours. Then the quilting took about 28 hours. I used Ricky Tims' Rhapsody Quilts workshop guide and his Celtic Fantasy supplement.  The quilt edge looks a little strange because I still need to hand sew the binding on the back and the hanging sleeve. This has been the most challenging quilt project I have made. I am pleased with it even though I know it is not perfect.

Check out what other quilters are making at Alycia's Finished or Not Friday post.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“When life leaves you scraps, make a quilt.”

Weekly Progress

     Alycia has designed a new QOV Mystery, "Stars Like Spaghetti", and it is early so you can still join in. Here are 4 of my blocks for step 1.

The directions were very clear that we were to make 7 blocks; however, as I was cutting I was carried away and cut units for 8. When I was sewing and realized I had cut too many, I just kept sewing. At least I can have a choice of blocks and save the extra block as a seed for a new quilt.

     I spent a couple of days quilting on the “Celtic Fantasy” quilt for my son. I wanted to quilt cables in the border and sketched out an idea. I did not like the corner. My sister Irene guided me to this website with many suggestions. Here are the drawings of my plans.

The website shows hand quilting but I was able to transfer the idea to machine quilting with a walking foot. I like the new corner quilting.

There still needs to be more quilting added in some areas, but the finish is getting closer.

1. Finish UFOs - Done

I used as many pieces as possible and have a finished top that is 64” by 70” which I call “ Rainbow Sherbet”. 

(Last week I shared that the construction was inspired by the “Birch Bark” quilt design.) I have 4 extra blocks that I was not able to use for the top and a very small pile of scraps. I hope to use the 4 extra blocks for a small project.

2. Reduce fabric stash - Done

A little fabric was used this week and nothing was added.

3. Control and use scrap fabric - Done

For part one of the “Stars Like Spaghetti” mystery I was able to cut all the pieces from my scraps.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week- Used: 1.25 yds Added: 0 yd

So far this year- Used: 19.35 yds Added: 4.75 yds

             Net decrease 14.6 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“When life leaves you scraps, make a quilt.”

Small Finishes

      My focus the past week was finishing on small quilts for a local hospital NICU. A member of my church quilt group had pieced a top. I quickly found a backing and batting scrap and got it sandwiched. Before starting to quilt it, I decided I could quickly piece a kit that was waiting. I soon had both ready for quilting. I had a little trouble finding a binding for the first but green is okay. Here they are finished.

  

On the first I quilted a flowery motif.

On the second I quilted a simple continuous design.

Here is how I'm progressing on my goals:

1. Finish UFOs - Done

2 NICU finished

2. Reduce fabric stash - Done

I added a 2 yard cut found on clearance for on $2.40 a yd. I just could not resist since it will be great for a child's quilt.

I pulled fat quarters to make kid's comfort quilt kits and cut 2 NICU quilt backs and binding

3. Control and use scrap fabric - Done

My craft table remains clear of scraps.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week- Used: 3.85 yds Added: 2 yds

So far this year- Used: 18.1 yds Added: 4.75 yds

Net decrease 13.35 yds

     Sunday I pulled another UFO to work on. Really the pieces were made for a border that did not work with the center so they are becoming their own quilt.

I think I have enough for a good size throw. The units were originally inspired by a quilt design called “Birch Bark” and made from jellyroll strips plus and accent fabric.

This week I hope to get more quilting done.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Off to a Great Start and First Finish of the Year

     My quilting projects for the new year are off to an amazing start. Sadly, I don't believe this can be sustained, but I'm happy with the early progress toward my yearly goals.

1. Finish UFOs

2. Reduce fabric stash

3. Control and use scrap fabric

I started with a clean craft table so was able to easily sandwich my holiday “Oh My Stars” top. The next day I quilted and bound it for the first finish of the year.

    A couple of days I added quilting to the Celtic Fantasy quilt and that leaves mainly the border to be quilted. I also did quilting on my “Traffic Jam” quilt for church. I pulled fabric from my stash and pieced backs for 3 UFOs and cut and prepared 1 binding.  Saturday I sandwiched another UFO - “June” which was a QAL in 2021 by GE Designs.

     Next I pulled some squares cut from a child's growth chart panel. I decided to piece extra blocks. Sunday afternoon I pieced the following child's quilt top and made binding.

     I have not bought any fabric but was gifted a lovely jelly roll of Asian prints. I am planning an easy project so it will not languish in my stash.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week- Used: 14.25 yds Added: 2.75 yds

So far this year- Used: 14.25 yds Added: 2.75 yds

Net decrease 11.5 yds

     Even after a busy week of working on quilt projects, the scraps have been sorted and my craft table is again clear and ready for a new week.

   Just for fun here is a collage of my major quilts finished in 2023.

Check out what other quilters are doing at Alycia's for Finished or Not Friday.

I hope your new year is off to a fabulous beginning.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

     As the end of 2023 neared I spent the day dealing with scraps on my craft table and finishing projects that I could.  I added the binding to finish my “Bursting Forth” quilt. I couldn't find suitable fabric in my stash and decided to purchase a half yard. The piecing was inspired by a free AccuQuilt pattern and used only dies 13 and 15 of the GO Angles companion set. It is similar to a kaleidoscope block.

I stitched the final pieces to finish a child's comfort quilt top for guild.

Saturday I finished piecing this comfort top for church quilt group. It started from an adopted bag with a couple of blocks and more pieces.

     As the new year begins and I'm making plans for my 2024 quilting projects, I looked back at 2023 to take stock of what I accomplished and didn't.

Here is how I did on my yearly goals:

1. finish UFOs

I started 2023 with a list 17 UFOs. I am disappointed that I only finished 3 of those 17. At least 5 other UFOs are now finished tops. Sadly or interestingly that is far from all that I did. Often new projects stole my interest away from the UFOs. I believe my UFO list is helpful but not my priority.

I started and finished 6 new quilt projects for myself and family and pieced 3 new tops. The last few days of 2023 I knew I didn't have time to finish a project; however, I could at least make progress and finish a UFO top.   Sometime in the past 2 years I started making a few blocks as I was intrigued by this pattern called “City Girl” by Svanhild Schmidt-Hovstad from the Dec/Jan 2009 issue of Quilters Newsletter magazine. I finally made a plan in EQ for a quilt using the blocks. Last Wednesday I finished piecing the top I've named “Pinwheel Flowers” and I have the backing and binding ready. 

There are currently 9 quilt tops waiting for quilting.

2. decrease stash fabric

Year End Stash Report for 2023

         this past week- Used: 3.16 yds Added: 0.5 yds

        So far this year- Used: 109.51 yds Added: 50.5 yds

Net decrease 59.01 yds

I am pleased with the decrease in my stash; however, it did not decrease as much as in 2022.

3. control and use scrap fabric

I occasionally worked on this goal during the year; however, I do not have a way to measure the result. There remain plenty of scraps in my stash with only part under control in my scrap user system.

     For church I finished 13 comfort quilts and pieced 8 additional tops that await quilting.

      After taking note of all my projects in progress, my next step is to rewrite my UFO list to begin 2024 and look forward to all the quilt/sewing projects I will tackle in the new year.  I have a lot of tops for myself and for church waiting to be quilted.

I hope your new year is off to a fabulous beginning.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.