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.”

A Finished Top - Hurray

      I missed my usual post Monday for weekly progress and goals so I will share my progress now. My goals were to:

1. Adjust piecing on “Celtic Fantasy” Done. Not only did I fix the problem with the outer curved pieces but I added a simple wide border.  

I am excited to have the top made. This was the most challenging piecing I have worked on because of so many inset corners, irregular curves and an abundance of applique. Even by machine it took many, many hours. Now the challenge will be to quilt it and decide which colors of thread and what designs. I would also like to try some big stitch quilting to accent certain areas.

2. Start quilting charity/ comfort quilt. Done. I have done all the stabilizing quilting but did not take a photo to share.

     I enjoyed Mother's Day weekend with 2 of my sisters at Irene's home in the mountains of north western North Carolina. 

 A couple of days we went walking in New River State Park and enjoyed the wild flowers. I used a new-to-me app on my phone named “Seek” that identifies plants and animals. This plant was identifed as Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) which is also known by several other names.

After a rain shower there was a lovely rainbow.

     One morning I went with my sister to her figurative artists meeting. You can see some of their work on their Facebook page. This the “Raven Queen” doll she made for a challenge.

     A friend has moved to senior living and needed a new home for her fabric stash. This is some of what I brought home to share with church quilt group and a refugee mother who enjoys sewing. I have spent a couple of days washing it, organizing and putting some into groups for possible quilts.

It rained most of the day yesterday and is expected to rain a lot today, so a perfect day to sew or quilt.

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

and   

Sarah's Whoop, Whoop Friday. Hope you will check out what others are doing. 

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“When Life gives you scraps, make quilts. “

Making Progress

      I don't have a finish to share but I have made great progress on a couple of projects.

Here is how I did on my goals for last week:

1. Do more quilting on “Suncatcher Crystals”. Done.

I did a lot of custom FM quilting with a different motif in each border and each crystal is quilted the same. Now I am ready to change thread color to quilt the yellow background.

2. Start piecing “Celtic Fantasy” Done.

     I finally started piecing “Celtic Fantasy” together. I created the pattern from Ricky Tims' Rhapsody Quilts and Celtic Fantasy workshop books. I have done curved piecing before but never with such free form pieces. I got a LOT of practice with inset corners.

One good thing about Ricky's technique is that all the curved seams are stay-stitched to help prevent distortion. I felt good about the process until the last set of units on the outside edge. They currently don't lay as flat as they should so I need to do some adjusting before I add an outer simple border.  I was too tired to tackle that yesterday afternoon. 

     With all that quilting and piecing, I did not use any new fabric so my stash report did not change.

Goals for this week:

1. Do more quilting on “Suncatcher Crystals” .

2. Adjust piecing on “Celtic Fantasy”

3. Cut and piece a H2H quilt top.

Have a great week and enjoy some time quilting.

“When Life gives you scraps, make quilts. “

Fabric Sale Temptation

      GD Mattie is getting her bedroom redecorated and I was pleased that she asked me to make her a new quilt. She shared a photo of color inspiration so I shopped my stash for the needed fabric. I found 2 suitable pieces in my stash and decided to shop the store for the others. When I checked Hobby Lobby's sale fabric I found more than I needed and could not resist the price of $3 a yard. I came home with 5 fabrics for a total of 21 yards so I am in the red on my goal of decreasing my fabric stash.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week-  Used: 9 yds      Added: 21 yds
So far this year- Used:10.83 yds    Added: 21 yds
Net decrease -10.17 yds

Goals for last week:

1. Make progress on a comfort quilt - Done   One was sandwiched and found a back for another.

2. Start applique stitching on Celtic Fantasy - Done   Ricky Tims suggests use of the triple blanket stitch which is very time consuming. I have completed the triple blanket stitch on 3 of 21 sections which took about 8 hours.

   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Tidy up a shelf of fabric odds and ends - Done I chose two small sections of my fabric shelves. They are more organized plus I found several things to donate.

                Before                                          After

             

Goals for the week of Jan. 15^th :

1. make progress on Celtic Fantasy

2. start quilting charity/comfort quilt

3. control and use scrap fabric

Hope you have a great week with some time for quilting.

“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember

that amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built

the Titanic.” —Humor columnist Dave Barry

Year End UFO Progress

     With a few holiday activities on the calendar I spent minimal time sewing this past week. I redid the black Celtic knot with a solid color and like it better. Since all the Celtic Fantasy appliques have been fused I started making some test thread samples to decide which colors to use for the blanket stitch to secure them. I didn't get very far. This is how one quarter of the pieces look.

     I added the final border on the Carolina Chain top so it is ready to be sandwiched at the next church quilt day. 

    Next I pulled out another UFO project. I'm calling these blocks Dogtooth Stars. They started with leftover units from a Bonnie Hunter mystery several years ago. I now have 15 blocks pieced.

With a plain alternate block they will make a setting 5 by 6 for 30 blocks. Here is my EQ plan.

I am trying to use only my stash so I may end up piecing the alternate blocks.

Stash fabric used or added:

this past week- Used: 0.5 yd Added: 0 yds
So far this year- 143.5 yds Added: 53.75 yd
Net decrease 89.5 yds

Hope you are getting projects finished for the end of the year.

Stay safe and healthy while enjoying some time sewing and quilting.

Weekly Progress and Goals

     Like many parts of the US my area has had a week of cold temperatures. This morning got down to 29 degrees which is unusually cool for SC this time of year. Before the freezing temperatures killed garden plants. I picked all the good size green tomatoes and processed them for a delicious batch of Green Tomato Muffins. They taste like zucchini bread.  I baked the muffins for 30 minutes.

The cooler days made for great sewing/quilting days.

Progress on last week's Goals:

1. Start adding appliques to “Celtic Fantasy” background units-   Done.

So far I have fused appliques to 2 areas.  It is looking a lot more interesting. 

2. Sew a few more Kaleidoscope rows together.     Done.

Four rows are sewn together. I have been pinning to match best I can.  Only 2 more rows and a border to be added.

3. Enlarge vintage jumper pattern for GD-Lily          In process.

I have traced the old pattern and know how much to add. I watched a video on YouTube by Nancy Zieman showing what to do. Now I just need to do it.

     On another project I chose a backing from my stash, sandwiched the cat top and started quilting. So far I have done straight lines with walking foot to stabilize.  I want it finished before Christmas for a gift so I need to continue the progress.

Stash fabric used or added:

this past week- Used: 4 yd Added: 0 yds
So far this year- Used: 138.875 yds Added: 53.75 yd
Net decrease 85.125 yds

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday I may not get a lot of quilting accomplished this week, but there are some I need to make progress on.

Goals for this week:

1. Cut out GD-Lily's jumper and start sewing.

2. Quilt on cat quilt

Hope you enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends or family.

Stay safe and healthy while enjoying some time sewing and quilting.

“Celtic Fantasy” Progress and Goals

    Hope you enjoyed a peaceful Veteran's Day and relaxing weekend. After the remnants of the tropical storm/hurricane moved through here, weather has turned cooler and feels like fall. The rainy days were great for sewing time.

    I have enjoyed tracking my Yearly Goals and seeing how I decrease stash fabric. 

Stash fabric used or added:

this past week- Used: 5.75 yd Added: 0yds

So far this year- Used: 134.875 yds Added: 53.75 yd

Net decrease 81.125 yds

As far as progress on last week's goals, I did well.

1. Cut out units for “Celtic Fantasy” quilt. Done

All the fabric for the 6 background templates are cut out and those that fit are on my design wall. The appliques should really transform the look. Here's hoping that they will. I have not taken Ricky's class but have watched his videos and have the book so hope I am up for the rest of the construction.

2. Layout Kaleidoscope blocks and start piecing together top. Done    2 rows have been pieced together but this is not a rush project.

 

Goals for this week:

1. Start adding appliques to “Celtic Fantasy” background units

2. Sew a few more Kaleidoscope rows together.

3. Enlarge vintage jumper pattern for GD-Lily

     I don't know whether my cacti are supposed to be the Thanksgiving or Christmas variety; however, they are all full of blooms now.

Stay safe and healthy while enjoying some time sewing and quilting.

Remember Our Veterans

    The weather here is not cooperating for a Veterans Day parade; however, they are remembered and appreciated. I love Alycia's latest Quilt of Valor mystery, “Long May She Wave” and look forward to making time to finish one to share with a veteran.

   On other projects I have a few small finishes and progress on a couple of larger ones. I have spent most of my craft time piecing; however, one day I will make time for the quilting. I finished several fall themed mug rugs and put them in the mail with Thanksgiving cards. Here are the most recent 2 embellished with silk leaves.

    Wednesday at church quilt group I put all my kaleidoscope blocks on the design wall and have them pinned by rows ready to sew into a top.

    Next I made progress on the “Celtic Fantasy” quilt. It is quite the process designed by Ricky Timms. Some weeks ago I made the 6 large freezer paper templates with are repeated in each quadrant and I have designed the templates for the Celtic appliques. The process goes like this. 1- iron the freezer paper template to the right side of the fabric, rough trim.

2- stay-stitch close to the edge and mark registration lines in the seam allowance before a neater trim.

All except the center template are made 4 times. Paying attention to the grainline uses a lot of fabric for the odd shaped pieces.

Here are the first 2 fabrics on the design wall. It doesn't look like much yet because the appliques will be the focus.

I have several quilts with more regular curve piecing.  I hope I will not struggle too much with these irregular curves.  That is why it is important to do the stay-stitching and registration marks. 

Thank you to all our veterans.

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

Stay safe and healthy while enjoying some time sewing and quilting.