Progress and a Finish

     What a week!  Even though some surprise work came up at the house and I spent a lot of time with an elderly friend,  I finished quilting another comfort quilt for my church quilt group. The pattern is “Fat Quarter Four Patch” from Fat Quarter Shop and is free.

This is the third time we have made the pattern and love it. This time we downsized the pattern by making fewer blocks. I quilted overall FM swirls. Joan will add the binding.

      I sandwiched the dog panel quilt and did in the ditch quilting around borders. I used plastic over the panel to practice how I want to quilt; however, I have nothing to show you. I also finished another Meals on Wheels placemat from scraps.

   I hope to get more quilting done this week and more yard work is calling too.

Stash Report for 2026

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

So far this year - Used: 96.995 yds Added: 11.875 yds

Net decrease 85.12 yds

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

Finished Top and Pieced Backing

      When I pulled out the dog panel, my first plan was to make a quilt for a birthday gift. I did not finish in time. Now I have finished piecing the quilt top.

The section above the panel and on the sides is how I planned in EQ; however, I made some changes from the plan for the bottom section. I am happy with how it turned out. I used a few leftover stars plus large scraps to piece a backing.

Now I hope to get it quilted and ready as a Christmas gift.

     I made a little time to sew together a kit of squares from guild for a small lap quilt. I believe after it is quilted, someone will sew a pocket on for a wheelchair patient.

Next week I hope to do some quilting on tops that are waiting.

Stash Report for 2026

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

So far this year - Used: 95.995 yds Added: 11.875 yds

Net decrease 84.12 yds

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

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

Weekly Progress

      Last Wednesday was quilt day at church and we worked to finish many fall pumpkin placemats for Meals on Wheels. After I came home I quilted one more. I had fun FM sketching leaves on a vine for the pumpkin.

    I made a pair of fall leaf placemats as a thank you gift. I mostly used my stash but did buy the border fabric which was also used on the back.

    I finished this small cute dog panel as a pillow and got it in the mail as a gift.

     Then I tackled the 3” finished stars for the dog panel quilt. I managed to finish 6 a day. Sunday I pieced together all the units for the top row and the side sections and then sewed them to the panel.

I have the bottom rows on the design wall but my design wall is not large enough for the whole top. I'm not sure I am happy with the bottom section so may move some pieces around before sewing it all together.

     We had a few cool mornings and a couple of days with rain. When it wasn't too wet, I worked in my flower beds.

Stash Report for 2026

this past week - Used: 1.25 yds Added: 1.5 yds

So far this year - Used: 92.495 yds Added: 11.875 yds

Net decrease 80.62 yds

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

Top in Progress

       I'm not sure where the time went. I have not accomplished much in the sewing room. I shopped my stash for browns and yellow golds to go with a dog panel after I made a plan in EQ. I needed to buy dark brown so I could add the border. I have done a lot of cutting. Then I started piecing stars. All the 6” stars are made and the 12” are in progress. I plan to make some 3” and fill the rest in with squares. Here is the top part on my design wall. Units will still be moved around as stars and squares are added.

Stash Report for 2026

this past week -   Used: 5 yds Added: 3 yds

So far this year - Used: 96.245 yds Added: 13.375 yds

Net decrease 82.87 yds

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

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

A Finish, a Top and Some Small Projects

      The past week was a busy time in my sewing room with a variety of projects. I pieced and quilted another leaf placemat and a pumpkin placemat. I also cut kits for church quilt group to sew placemats for Meals on Wheels.

     I was looking for something and saw an old border print. I decided to played with my 60 degree ruler. It was enough to piece a small table runner and a table topper. The remains of the fabric will be in my scrap user system.

     I shopped my stash for border fabric and sewed the borders on to “Brightly”. The border may not be the best but it was the best my stash had so it is good enough. This was pieced totally from my stash. That feels good.

    Last time Shandon Quilt Group ( my church quilt group) met we sandwiched 3 quilt tops. I brought home the blue and green potato chip to quilt. Saturday I started and made quick work. I did a simple meander. Here it is all trimmed and ready for Joan to bind.

Stash Report for 2026

this past week - Used: 4.875 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 91.245 yds Added: 10.375 yds

Net decrease 80.87 yds

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

Just Another Project Added

      Early in the week I thought I would work mostly on my “Brightly” quilt top. I finished piecing all 20 of the blocks and here they are on my design wall. 

     However, instead of continuing on that, I started yet another project. I am pleased with all the finishes I have accomplished so far this year; however, I've started several new ones when I could have been working on UFOs.

     Wednesday at church quilt group we sandwiched 3 tops for quilting. I brought one home to quilt. We discussed making fall theme placemats in September for Meals on Wheels clients. Thursday I pieced a couple of pumpkin and leaf placemats as samples. I also typed up the cutting information to help get started. Here are 2 simple ideas for the pumpkins using only 2 ½ “ strips and squares.  

The leaf placemat is a little more complicated. I hope the group will be motivated to make a few by seeing the samples.

Stash Report for 2026

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

So far this year - Used: 86.37 yds Added: 10.375 yds

Net decrease 75.995 yds

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

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

Just Piecing Projects

     Twelve days ago I had some outpatient surgery on my right hand and have been restricted in what I can do so no quilting. Hopefully stitches will come out tomorrow and the doctor will say I can do whatever I want. The past few days I have started using it more and doing some piecing. I pulled a cloth book panel and finished it. I will see whether the nursery at church would like to have it.

     I pieced the next round for my improv star project. I used EQ to design a setting to make it a rectangular lap quilt. For now I am calling it “Stellar Corona”.

     I have been trying to clean up fabric scraps off my craft table. I decided to use some of the GA scraps and finished 2 mug rugs. They are ready to go in the mail to my GD and her roommate.

     I used one pile of red, white and blue scraps for a set of 6 placemats. The tops are pieced and backings cut but that is as far as they got. I spent many hours cutting up scraps for my scrap user system. My craft table is almost clear.

Stash Report for 2026

    this past week - Used: 5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 84.87 yds Added: 10.375 yds

    Net decrease 74.495 yds

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

On the Design Wall

     Over the weekend I didn't have anything I wanted to work on, so I went to my UFO stash. I had a bag of yellow made-fabric from which I had cut 8 large diamonds. I pulled them and decided I would make them into a quilt. I have made several Lonestar and Lemoyne Star quilts but wanted to change it up a bit. I paper-pieced the spiked curves. Fabric samples are next to the star on the design wall so I can decide which gray blue fabric to use if I have enough for the next round or it may need to be scrappy since I only want to use my stash.

There is no pattern – all improv. I know I want it to finish at least as a small lap quilt and be a rectangle. It is already 43”.

Stash Report for 2026

this past week - Used: 0.66 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 79.87 yds Added: 10.375 yds

Net decrease 69.495 yds

I'm linking up with Design Wall Monday.  

I need some inspiration to clear out some scraps and I have a lot.  I also have many UFOs.

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

A Finish and Other Progress

      Actually I already showed this one as a finished top from Alycia's Winter 2026 QOV Quilt Along.  Then a member of my quilt guild QOV group long-arm quilted my top. I sewed on the binding so it is ready to be given to a veteran.

    On last Friday's Finished or Not post I was inspired by a scrappy quilt made and donated to CIL by Linda in Indiana. You can see it here. Her quilt appears to use the pattern “Radiant” from Cozy Quilt Designs. I decided to make a test block. First I pieced these 2 blocks. Then they were used to make HSTs to create these blocks. I hope to use this block for a scrappy quilt similar to Linda's.

  

     Next Wednesday at church quilt group I hope to sandwich tops.  I pulled 2 fabrics from my stash and pieced backings for 2 comfort quilts. I am glad to be using and reducing my stash.

Stash Report for 2026

this past week - Used: 6.2 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 79.21 yds Added: 10.375 yds

Net decrease 68.835 yds

Last weekend I delivered the Georgia quilt to my GD for her college dorm. She was very pleased.

I'm linking up with Alycia's Finished (or Not) Friday. Check out all the creative projects for inspiration.

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

A Special Finish

      My older GD will be starting the University of Georgia in a couple of weeks and I have been making her a quilt for her dorm bed. She shared pictures she found online of GA quilts that she liked. Thursday I finished her quilt; its labeled, bound and stored in a coordinating pillowcase waiting for delivery to her before she moves into the dorm.

     Then I took some time to play, made more continuous bias and practiced sewing it to petal shapes. Here is what I have now. I know I need to make a variety of bias tape.

No telling where this will go but I am enjoying the challenge. So much so that I signed up for Sherri Lynn Wood's online workshop

Freestyle Curve Engineering. She is offering 3 different improv curve workshops this fall. Check the link for more information if you're interested. 

Stash Report for 2026

this past week - Used: 5.625 yds Added: 2.375 yds

So far this year - Used: 73.01 yds Added: 10.375 yds

Net decrease 62.635 yds

I'm linking up with Alycia's Finished or Not Friday. Check out all the creative projects.

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

Progress on Comfort Quilts

       As I was planning to be out of town visiting, I packed quilt projects in progress that I could easily work on when I had a few minutes and I made a lot of progress on a few. First I added a simple border to this top (pieced by someone else) to increase the size and then pieced a backing so we can sandwich it Wednesday at church quilt group. I am wondering what else it might need to be more interesting but maybe quilting will be enough.  

     Next I laid out my blue green potato chip blocks and sewed the top. I will probably add a simple narrow border to frame it and control all the seams on the edges. Potato chip blocks are my current favorite scrap pattern for a fast simple quilt because it has no nesting seams to match and looks so different depending on choice of fabrics.  

     Then I worked on my “Rainbow Crumb Chain”. I cut and sewed the alternate blocks with the black strip and pieced the top. I added a 2” border to help control all the seams on the edges of the crumb blocks.  

     I had some time Sunday afternoon so decided to try a fun new challenge - making continuous bias strips and sewing them to some improv petal (Orange Peel) shapes. I was inspired by Sherri Lynn Wood.   An 11” square made 3 yards of bias 2” wide. This is a technique I want to practice more. It is difficult to get them to lay flat but I did okay.  

       Stash Report for 2026 (finally updated correct year)

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

So far this year - Used: 67.385 yds Added: 8 yds

Net decrease 59.385 yds

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

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

GA Quilt Progress

      Last week I did a lot of cutting: 192 – 4.5” squares, 192 – 2.5” squares and 384 – 2.5 x 4.5” rectangles. I wanted more variety so ended up buying 3 new pieces. Then I started sewing. Chain piecing was a friend although a little boring. I needed to stop and press for a change. I finished piecing all 192 blocks. My design wall is only large enough for about a quarter of the quilt so I sorted blocks into 4 groups. This photo shows a little more than a quarter of the blocks.

I have the top half laid out, rows pinned and I started sewing rows. The G will be appliqued about in the middle.  I may make it a little larger.  I am excited to see the quilt top coming together.

    For a change I pulled some very old adopted double wedding ring units. Several years ago I used some of them for a small quilt. I had pieced some into curve units that I want to use in a more modern project. I plan to applique the curves so I pulled out a small paint brush and liquid starch to turn under the curved edges. That is done. Next I need to choose a background but there is no rush.

Stash Report for 2026

   this past week - Used: 7.625 yds Added: 2.5 yds

So far this year - Used: 66.385 yds Added: 8 yds

Net decrease 58.385 yds

      This week I will be helping with Art and Bible Camp 2 days, then I will be visiting family for the rest of the week. I'm taking a couple of projects with me so I expect to get some sewing done.

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

UFO Progress

      Happy Friday! It feels great to be making progress again on UFOs and using my stash. This week I pieced a top from blocks started 1 years ago. This will be the second quilt from them but there are no more left over. I still plan to add a simple border and here is the top I'm calling “Wild Rainbow 2” unless I get other inspiration.

   A friend is celebrating her 88^th birthday Monday so I made her this mug rug.

I started cutting units for my GD's dorm quilt and I want to get busy sewing the blocks.

I'm linking up with Alycia for Finished or Not Friday. Check it out for inspiration.

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

Progress on Many

      I did not post last Monday because I didn't have anything to share. The week was spent with family and in the garden. This past week was a different story and this post is photo heavy. I spent more time in my sewing room and made progress on many different projects.

     I used red, white and blue scraps to make 2 mug rugs that will be small thank you gifts for a couple of men.

     I spent a lot of time on projects for my church quilt group. I quilted a small comfort quilt (40” by 40”) that someone else pieced. It will be good for a baby or someone in a wheelchair.

    Next I pieced the “Squiggle” blocks, a group project, into a top. The design is from Carol Thelen.  

    I also added sashing and a border to create this child's quilt top. The rows were pieced by another group member. 

    I finally took time to work on some of my own projects. I pulled 20 UFO blocks. I had already chosen a sashing fabric from my stash and laid out the blocks for my plan. The blocks were leftover after I made this "Wild Rainbow" quilt for a great niece 

and will be similar with different sashing, cornerstones and border.

     Lastly I pulled fabric for my GDs collage dorm quilt and hope to get busy on it soon. With all of those projects I did not use much fabric from my stash. I won't count the fabric used until I cut units which I hope to do this week.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 0.25 yds Added: 1 yds

So far this year - Used: 59.01 yds Added: 6.5 yds

      Net decrease 52.51 yds

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

A Finish and Scrap Block Drive

     It has been a while since I quilted since it is prime garden time. Friday I started quilting on one of the quilts I had sandwiched and waiting. It measures 49” by 56” and was a project where I adopted someone's cut units and partial blocks. I am happy with how I was able to use them. Hand sewing the binding to the back is in progress; however, I am counting it as a finish. Here is the batik partial lemoyne quilt. 

 Here is a close up of my FM quilting.

     Cynthia posted a new block drive for Many Hands and Many Hearts.  It is an easy potato chip block variation using complimentary colors. I pulled units from my scrap user system and have 8 blocks made and 3 more kits. I am short of orange and purple units. 

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 0.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 59.26 yds Added: 5.5 yds

Net decrease 53.76 yds

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

Progress on Several

      Last week in my organizing and cleaning, I discovered a UFO that did not start with me but I was determined to make it a finished top. The note pinned on it said it was missing one block; there were 15. I decided to set them 4 by 5 so I made 5 more. It was not very pretty and only about 42” by 51” ; however, a dark border made the perfect accent.

    I cleared off my craft table and pulled two tops that already had backings made. They have now been sandwiched and are ready for quilting when I have the time.

     After getting a little work done in the garden, I started piecing the neutral uneven 4 patches that I want to use as a background for special applique. It is now a small top 48 by 64”. I have wondered whether or not I should quilt it and then add the applique. The last time I made a similar quilt, I added all the applique and then quilted around it.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 2.25 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 61.01 yds Added: 5.5 yds

Net decrease 55.51 yds

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