This and That

     The past week I spent more time in the kitchen and garden than quilting. I used about 20 lbs of pears to make pear chutney.

I worked one morning in my yard then visited sister Irene and helped her in her yard a couple of days. She sent me home with a small quilt top to quilt for her.

A couple of afternoons I did some simple sewing. I added a border to a scrappy floral top.

I started cleaning scraps off my cutting table and decided to make another placemat. I pieced the 2 color binding for a faux flange but have not attached it yet.

I pulled another UFO to work on but needed to purchase an accent fabric. That is now washed and ready to be used.

     I still have more pear to deal with so this week I know that is one thing that will keep me from sewing. I hope I will accomplish more.

Stash Report for 2025

        this past week - Used: 3.4 yds Added: 2 yds

So far this year –Used: 96.195 yds Added: 40.5 yds

    Net decrease 55.695 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

A Quilt Finish and More

     Monday I pieced all the Rick Rack blocks into a top with sashing and cornerstones. The block can be easily pieced from 2 ½” strips. I found the pattern from Carol Thelen. You can watch her tutorial on YouTube and there is a link there for the free pattern.

     Tuesday I picked 90 lbs of pears from a friend's tree. Some years I have canned pear honey or preserves. I usually freeze a lot of cut up pears. Last year I shared pears with Sally and she shared her pear chutney and the recipe so this year I plan to make pear chutney.

    Wednesday quilt group met at church. We had a small group because many were on vacation. We chose a backing and sandwiched my Quick Quarter Quilt top. When I got home I decided to quilt our Village quilt and make the binding. I quilted overall FM swirls. Here it is quilted and trimmed. Another will add the binding.

     Friday and Saturday I quilted my Quick Quarter Quilt. The binding was finished Sunday evening.

     I sent my latest QOV top to my sister's guild in NC for them to finish. Now to pull another UFO to work on and then make some pear chutney. 

Stash Report for 2025

    this past week - Used: 2.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 92.795 yds Added: 38.5 yds

    Net decrease 53.995 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Only a Little Sewing

   This past week I was busy at church with Art and Bible Camp from 9 until 3. When I got home I did not feel much like tackling quilting or gardening. I managed some small projects. I used stash fabric to make 2 more placemats for Meals on Wheels clients. One is finished and the other is an in progress sample.

     I hope this week to get much more done in my sewing room. Tuesday is quilt guild day and Wednesday is quilting day at church.  I still have a church quilt sandwiched and waiting for quilting.  I pulled out 2 of my UFOs to work on next.

Stash Report for 2025

           this past week - Used: 1.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 90.295 yds Added: 38.5 yds

        Net decrease 51.795 yds

What are you working on?

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Preparing for a Guild Demo

     I have been asked to demo in August how to add a faux flange binding. When I first learned the technique years ago, it was called a “2 color binding”. Today some call it simply a flange binding. Using a flange binding can add a “pop” of color to the binding. I decided to make several placemats for the demo. Afterwards the samples can go to Meals on Wheels clients and I could use scraps of fabric in my stash.  Here are some in stages to show the steps.

      In Friday's post I shared a finish and other quilt project progress. I have another sandwiched quilt top waiting for quilting; however, most of my days this week will be filled with Art and Bible Camp.

Stash Report for 2025

         this past week - Used: 3.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 88.795 yds Added: 38.5 yds

              Net decrease 50.295 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Quilt Progress and Happy July 4th

     This week I made some progress on quilting projects. I added simple borders to Kenny Koala but he will wait for quilting.

     I quilted a simple continuous FM motif on my Trip Around the World and meandered the busy border fabric. A church friend will bind for me so it counts as a finish.

     I sewed together all the columns of my Quick Quarter Quilt. This is an Eleanor Burns pattern from her book Quick Trip Quilts and uses 18 fat quarters for lap size. I have chosen fabrics for a breaker and outer border. I think the top is a lot prettier than it appears in the photo.

    That is all my sewing for the week as I've been tackling weeds in the yard most mornings before it gets too hot.   For this July 4^th holiday I plan to enjoy BBQ with son John and a friend. We will probably hear pops from neighbors' fireworks but I don't plan any. I hope others will enjoy a safe and happy day.

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

Have a great day!

A Couple of Finishes

     I love to sew things for family so when GD Lily requested a seashell pillow for her bedroom, I wanted to make one. Since we don't have JoAnn Fabrics anymore, I had a little trouble finding the right fabric to use. I created my own pattern from an internet photo that she shared. For dimension I cut 2 layers and stitched lines to create the sections.

After stuffing the sections for a front and back,

I sewed the 2 halves together, turned right side out and stuffed more. Here is GD Lily with her seashell pillow.

     At the last church quilt day I sandwiched a child's quilt and Saturday I finished the quilting. It is not my favorite quilt but I hope a child will enjoy it.

     I spent some more time cutting up scraps; however, not enough to record a change to my stash report this week.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Working to Reduce Scraps

     I am still on a mission to finish UFOs and pulled a kit of fabric. In 2017 I tested the Kenny the Koala pattern for Ruth Bourke of Crafty Corner Designs. You can find the pattern here.  Most of the fabrics I used then were still together. There was enough for another koala with a few pieces were already cut. It did not take long to piece Kenny the Koala #2. The original pattern is 36” square; however, I added the bottom rows of 3” finished squares so he is now 36” by 48”. I will add borders.

      I spent Saturday and Sunday afternoon cutting up scraps. I pulled my 2 1/2” scrap strips that were less than 16” long and cut them into bricks and squares. Then I cut other scrap fabrics into 2 1/2” HSTs with my Accuquilt cutter. I cut 444. It felt good to make a dent in the scrap stash.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 4.75 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 85.295 yds Added: 38.5 yds

Net decrease 46.795 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Progress on Several Projects

      I decided to focus moving projects to the next step in progress. I pieced a backing for my crumb top and my recent “Trip Around the World”. I had hoped to sandwich the crumb top but did not. Instead I pieced a backing for a child's charity quilt top.  It felt great to use fabrics from my stash.

     Next I pulled 2 UFO's and added borders. Here is the QOV top with it's borders so it is ready for quilting.

     About a year ago I watched a tutorial by Carol Thelen about the “Rick Rack” block. I was intrigued and made 14. I decided I wanted to make 35 for a 5 by 7 setting. I pulled fabrics and cut kits for the rest of the blocks. Over a couple of days I got all of them pieced. Following is a link for Carol's YouTube tutorial with links for her free pattern.

Here is a link for Missouri Star Quilts tutorial for the same block.

     After making my recent “Trip Around the World” top I watched a couple of YouTube videos by Eleanor Burns about the quilts in her Quick Trip Quilts. My library happened to have a copy which I checked out. I was inspired to make a “Quick Quarter Quilt” with uses fat quarters. For the lap size I needed 18 fat quarters. After church Sunday I pulled floral fabrics from the church quilt room stash. When I got home, I pulled a few from my stash to get the 18 needed. I'm pleased with my selection and think it will make a lovely quick quilt top.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 20.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 80.545 yds Added: 38.5 yds

Net decrease 42.045 yds

     That must be a record for me to use 20 yds of fabric in one week. It is mostly because I pieced several backings. Hope I will make time this week to sandwich and start quilting.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Many Small Finishes

     For the past few weeks I have been busy making quilted journal covers and finished the last 5 for 18 total.

  I thought you might be interested in seeing more about my process. I adapted a free pattern from The Wooden Bear. You can find the original pattern here. I pieced the tops, then sandwiched and quilted.

Next it got trimmed to the 10 1/2” by 16 1/2”

and then sleeves are sewn on.

A standard composition notebook fits well.

These will be gifts to a group in August and I'm happy to have them made so that I can focus on a UFO.

     A few months ago I went with my sister to a small quilt show. She bought a quilt top and asked me to quilt it for our great niece. I finished the quilting. She will bind it.

     Last Wednesday I did a demo for my church quilt group on an easy 5 fabric Trip Around the World pattern. Wednesday I got my center pieced. Saturday I added borders. I chose the color palette based on the colors in the border fabric  and shopped for stash for fabrics.  I used almost every inch of the fabric to add a wide border.

      My church quilt group pieced little houses using the free “Village”pattern by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. for Moda Fabrics. I created an alternate setting in EQ and pieced the top. It is really cute.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 5.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 65.545 yds Added: 38.5 yds

Net decrease 27.045 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Sad Farewell to Joann Fabric Stores

      Saturday was the last day my Joann Fabric store was open. All of the Joann stores will be closed by May 30. I did not go the last day but 4 days before the closing. It was sad to see all the empty racks and think of not having the store to shop for sewing items. I did take advantage of the clearance sale to get fabric that I will be able to use; however, there was not much selection. Even though I have been working hard to reduce my stash, this was an opportunity I could not pass up and the price was right at $2.05 per yard so I bought 31.5 yds. I bought a lot of dark blue because I use a lot. Some of that yardage will probably be donated to my church quilt group. Even so that is quite a hit to my effort to reduce stash; however, Joann Fabrics is gone and I don't know when or whether I will be able to buy fabric at that price again.

     A few years ago a member of my church quilt group made a 7 fabric Trip Around the World lap quilt and she suggested that would be a good project for others. Instead of 7 fabrics, I found a design using 5 fabrics that will finish about the same size using larger pieces. I shared the directions with them. So that I can show them the steps, I pulled fabric from my stash to make one. I pulled a multicolored fabric to use as the border and found 5 fabrics to coordinate.

 

I used the filter to change the photo to black and white to check the values.  I wish I had a darker aqua blue but made do with what I had. As I was sewing my sample, I found an error in my directions so I will need to correct it. 

     I am continuing to make quilted journal covers and have 3 more finished. I have made a couple of similar covers but I am trying to make many different designs and use orphan blocks or units I have. The cover on the right was made from a FM practice piece when I was practicing several FM motifs. I hope someone will find it interesting.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 6.25 yds Added: 31.5 yds 

So far this year –Used: 60.045 yds Added: 38.5 yds

Net decrease 21.545 yds

      For this Memorial Day, let us take time to remember the the brave men and women who served our country and gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

More Journal Covers

       I have finished 5 more journal covers and have 2 covers pieced.

I am on a mission to make 18 for gifts and I'm half way there. It has been good to use some orphan blocks and scraps even though it is quicker to just use pieces of fabric. I'm trying to use scraps but as a quilter you probably know even that creates more scraps. I hope to spend a day this week sorting scraps and cutting them into usable units.

Stash Report for 2025

       this past week - Used: 2.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 56.295 yds Added: 7 yds

     Net decrease 49.295 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

March Block a Day Finish and More

     For several years Pat Sloan has hosted a March Block a Day sew along. This year the block was a half log cabin block with a larger center. I chose to raid my 2 ½ “ strips for all the greens I could find. I cut a few more to get the contrast of light and dark. I started using brown squares for the start but added some greens later for more interest. I chose the overlapping squares layout and only made 20 blocks for a 4 by 5 setting to make a lap quilt. I FM quilted swirls. Here is my finish with a simple border to frame.

     I have been thinking about making many small gifts that I can give as a thank you. I usually make a lot of mug rugs so I wanted something different. Saturday I decided to make quilted journal covers. I finished one.   Then I pulled batting scraps and pieced 14 “Franken-batting” pieces for 14 covers.

 I thought about using orphan blocks. I was able to finish 3 more journal covers.

However, I think it takes longer to use the orphan blocks than just using fabric scraps.

   This week I have more journal covers to make and a baby quilt top to quilt.  

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 2.6 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 53.795 yds Added: 7 yds

Net decrease 46.795 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Pink Potato Chip Finish

     I discovered the potato chip block on YouTube like many other quilters and was interested in using my scraps. One of my sisters said her granddaughter only wanted pink so I pulled all my pink scraps to make her the Pink Potato Chip quilt. I used the block variation with a lighter round after dark center 2 bricks.

I had to cut a few more strips to finish the 30 blocks. The quilt measures about 64 by 76” .

    I recommend the potato chip block as it is easy, made with only one size unit, few matching seams, and several color value variations can make it more interesting. You can also easily change the size brick unit or even the number of rounds. Search YouTube or Google and you will find many tutorials and inspiration. Give the potato chip block a try.

    Yesterday I made good progress quilting my March Block a Day quilt with half log blocks and should have it finished by Monday. After many days with lots of lawn and garden work, it felt good to get some quilting done.

    I'm linking with Alycia Quilts for Finished (or Not) Friday. Hope you check out what other quilting are doing. 

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Sandwiching Quilt Tops

    The past 2 weeks I have spent very little time on quilting projects. Most of my time has been spent on the yard and garden. I cut back some old azaleas and moved a couple. Here is one corner before

and after.

    After a morning in the yard, I was not in the mood to tackle anything difficult. I finished a couple of simple placemats for Meals on Wheels clients.

Sunday after church I cleared off my craft table so I could sandwich quilt tops. I sandwiched the pink potato chip quilt.

Then I sandwiched the March block a day half log cabin top.

Now I just need to make time for the quilting.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 4 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year – Used: 51.195 yds Added: 7 yds

Net decrease 44.195 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Preparing for Easter Guests

     Last week I worked in the yard and house so that it would be at its best for Easter guests. I enjoyed having family here for Easter weekend. Younger GD was still interested in decorating eggs.

Here is the family before church.

     There was a little time for sewing and prep. I cut a couple of simple placemat kits from stash for Meals on Wheels that can be sewn at quilt group this Wednesday.

I also pieced a backing for a comfort quilt to be sandwiched at church quilt group.

     I pieced the last of the Scrap Dance Waltz blocks and sewed them to create the quilt center.

It will get borders later. I made this pattern before and used a scrappy border.  Maybe this time I will do something different or simple.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 3.83 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year – Used: 47.195 yds Added: 7 yds

Net decrease 40.195 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Two Comfort Quilts

    This past week we had rain showers a couple of days.  Then the weather was beautiful and great to work outside. After mornings in the yard, the afternoon was a great time to quilt. I finished the quilting on 2 comfort quilts for church. I did not piece either top and someone else will bind.

    First is a brown and orange “Two Step” quilt. Very simple. Each step has 2 squares and a bar. I quilted FM swirls.

     Next is a hot pink with purple 3 yard design with pinwheels, framed squares and plain large squares. I played some by quilting a different motif on each set of blocks.  Sadly I did not take close up photos to show the quilting. 

There was no change for my stash report.

 I'm looking forward to having family here next weekend for Easter.

Hope you all have a fabulous week and enjoy some time for quilting.