Progress on UFOs

    This past week I worked on several different orphan or UFO projects . I found two 14” blocks from a class I taught years ago. I decided to make them into simple placemats by adding side strips. They will go to Meals on Wheels clients.

     In the same bag as those blocks there was a collection of HSTs and some bricks in similar fabrics except the HSTs would finish at 4”. There were enough matching units to make a couple of Monkey Wrench blocks; however, the biggest pile did not have enough matching units. So I decided to make all scrappy blocks. The result is 12 scrappy monkey wrench blocks in red, blue and cream.

I have a plan to make alternate blocks which will make the quilt large enough for a QOV.

     Next I pulled a bag of bright kid fabric crumbs. There were a couple of 6 1/2” blocks and 2 orphan simple NY Beauty blocks. I made a plan and spent Friday piecing crumb blocks. I now have 40 crumb blocks 6 1/2” by 12 1/2”. The bag of scraps is much smaller now.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 7.61 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 29.18 yds Added: 0 yds

   Net decrease 29.18 yds

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

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.