Rick Rack Quilt Finish

      Friday afternoon I finally sat down and started quilting the Rick Rack quilt and the binding was finished by machine Sunday afternoon. Yay!

 It was pieced using the Rick Rack block pattern from Carol Thelen. It is great for using jelly roll strips. From Carol's YouTube video of instructions there is a link for the free pattern. I added sashing and cornerstones to mine. 

     I have another quilt sandwich waiting for quilting but I have not decided what thread to use. I probably should pull another UFO to work on until I can decide.

Have a great week and enjoy sewing, quilting and creating.

Finished Quilt of Valor Top

      Last week I sandwiched 2 quilt tops so I would have them ready to quilt this week. However, the week flew by and I am disappointed that I didn't quilt one. Instead I did some sorting and pulled orphan blocks from a foundation paper piecing class I taught for guild. I planned a simple QOV to use them. I pieced 2 more stars and sixteen patches of blue, light and red. I am excited the blocks have been used and I have a quilt top. Here is the finished QOV top.

     I am pleased that so far this year I have finished several projects and used only my stash. I'm planning to sew along with Alycia's new QOV and hope to use more of my stash fabrics.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 1.88 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 23.45 yds Added: 0 yds

   Net decrease 23.45 yds

I'm linking up with Finished or Not Friday.  Check it out and get inspired. 

Have a great week and enjoy sewing, quilting and creating.

Weekly Progress

      Last week I worked on several different projects and the only thing that was finished was 4 place mats for Meals on Wheels.

The biggest use of fabric was by preparing 2 quilt backs and they are now sandwiched and ready for quilting.  Next I pulled some paper-pieced blocks that I made when I taught a foundation paper-piecing class over a year ago. I spent time in EQ planning how to use them in a charity top. Then I pulled and cut all the fabric for that but that is where work stopped.

I have plenty to work on this week.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 7.64 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 21.57 yds Added: 0 yds

Net decrease 21.57 yds

Have a great week and enjoy sewing, quilting and creating.

More Finishes

      The past week went by in a blur. It was important to finish a quilt for the youth auction and that got done. I quilted a simple loopy meander all over in medium blue thread. Here it is quilted before Joan finished the binding.

     Later in the week I was distracted by the weather and preparations for a big snow storm with subfreezing temperatures. We received several inches of very dry fluffy snow and temperatures around 18 degrees which is Highly unusual for Columbia, South Carolina. It has been about 10 years since we have had any snow to stick.

     Since I was staying inside, I worked on a few small projects. My older GD requested I make her a cosmetic bag. I found a YouTube video; however, the instructions were mostly pictures and measurements without explanation. Not easy to follow. I finished the bag but plan to make another with my own directions for improvement. I forgot to take a photo before I packed it for the mail.

     I also made 5 Valentine mug rugs. The design is called “Sweet Tweets” from “Quilters Newsletter” in 2015.

     Next I worked on a UFO. Raggedy Ann and Andy were intended to be pillows. Long ago I thought I would applique their fronts on the front of a quilt and applique their backs on the back. I also found 3 pieces of vintage Raggedy Ann Classic Border print. I used the widest piece and machine blanket stitched around them. When I was almost through, I discovered a flaw in the old fabric so I appliqued the heart to hide that.

I will probably add a border. Not sure what I will do with the back of the figures.

Stash Report for 2025

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

So far this year – Used: 16.43yds Added: 0 yds

Net decrease 16.43 yds

Have a great week and enjoy sewing, quilting and creating.

Project Progress

      The cold icy weather has been perfect for spending days inside sewing so I happily made progress on a few quilt projects. Several years ago at quilt guild I adopted a bag of lovely batik Lemoyne Star pieces. There was no pattern; however, I recognized the “no Y seam Lemoyne” design. I played with the pieces to construct as many similar units as I could and used the remainder for a top and bottom border.  I pulled fabric from my stash to add borders so it is now 50” by 58” which is a good lap size. Binding is also made.

      Next I pulled another finished top and made the binding for it. I looked through my stash for a backing but will have to look again. I pulled 2 more UFOs and sorted units from my scrap user system so that they have all the pieces needed for a complete pieced top. I was happy to be able to use the scrap units.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 2.59 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 13.93 yds Added: 0 yds

                Net decrease 13.93 yds

Have a great week and enjoy sewing, quilting and creating.

A Finished Top and Quilt

      The “Ragged Heart” which is a group project for church was first on the list because it has a deadline that is fast approaching. The top is pieced, backing pieced and binding is made. Hopefully it will be quilted early next week.

    Then I could take time for my quilting. I used many different motifs to quilt "Kenny Koala #2". I tried to make his ears look hairy. I wish I had added trapunto to his face or just ears. He is still cute and finished.

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

Have a great week and enjoy sewing, quilting and creating.

This and That

      Last week I worked on several projects. My church quilt group was asked to make a quilt for the youth fundraiser. I created the design in EQ. In December members sewed all the HSTs. Wednesday we sewed them into nine patches. I brought them home and sewed all the rows together.

Next a white inner border and navy outer border will be added. It will finish at 56” by 72”. I hope it will raise a good amount for the youth activities and mission.

      I sandwiched the Kenny Koala top and started quilting. I am custom quilting and no photo of the progress.  

       When I wanted something else to sew for a bit, I used 4 similar orphan blocks and pieced 4 placemat tops. I cut backing for them but that is where I paused to find batting scraps that will suit. It is so hard for me to get rid of orphan blocks and scraps. I am very glad these will make nice placemats for Meals on Wheels clients.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 1 yd Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 11.34 yds Added: 0 yds

Net decrease 11.34 yds

Have a great week and enjoy sewing, quilting and creating. 

A Comfort Quilt Finish

      I started the new year with multiple tops waiting to be quilted and today marks my fourth finish of the year. The sampler started with sample blocks made several years ago when I was teaching quilting classes for my local JoAnn Fabrics store. Last year I made a few more blocks from coordinating fabrics and finished the top. Saturday I finished the quilting and the binding.

     Sunday afternoon I pulled another top and pieced a backing. I hope to get it sandwiched this week, however, a project for church will have priority.

     I am excited that I am finishing quilts but I am SO tempted to start something new. I really want to get more tops quilted and then I may start something new.

Stash Report for 2025

    this past week - Used: 2.61 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 10.34 yds Added: 0 yds

    Net decrease 10.34 yds

Have a great week and enjoy sewing, quilting and creating.

Friday Finishes

      The holidays are over and my week was back to normal. I spent 2 mornings doing yard work and several afternoons quilting. I finished my second “Red Bird wall-hanging”.  

     Next I quilted my “Floral 4 Patch Swirl” with meandering loops. The 4 Patch Swirl pattern uses the stack and whack technique; however, I was using a limited amount of the floral fabric and some scraps that I just loved and wanted to use it. I made whatever size swirls I could, added coordinating fabrics and pieced units just to make the blocks the finished size I wanted. Here are a couple: large and small. 

 

The quilt still needs a binding but I'm counting this as a finish today.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 0.25 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 7.73 yds Added: 0 yds

Net decrease 7.73 yds

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

Have a great week and enjoy sewing, quilting and creating.

First Finish of 2026

      My quilting for 2026 is off to a great start in just a few days. I am still working on the same goals as last year.

1. Finish UFOs

2. Reduce fabric stash

3. Control and use scrap fabrics

       My first finish for the new year was a UFO. I finished quilting and binding “Horse Fascination”. This quilt will be donated to the hospital for a child.

     I pulled fabric from my stash and pieced 2 backings and then those 2 got sandwiched so I have them ready to quilt.

  

I pulled another I thought was ready but it needed an other border. So I found the fabric and added that border.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 7.48 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 7.48 yds Added: 0 yds

Net decrease 7.48 yds

Have a great week and enjoy sewing, quilting and creating.