Excited for a UFO Finish

     If you have visited my blog before, you may know about my blue and white day bee mystery UFO. The quilt top was pieced by September of 2012. I wanted to improve my free-motion quilting skill before quilting it. This year I decided my FMQ was as good as it was going to be. I quilted the center. You can see details of that quilting here.   Then the quilt sandwich sat while I decided how I wanted to quilt around the applique in the border.  This week I finally quilted the last part. I used “Iced Blue” Signature quilting thread.  The background fabric is a very pale blue mottled print. 

I must say I stretched my skill for quilting the motif Patsy Thompson calls “plumify it” and the plum based “revolving swirl design” from her Bluprint class “Ultimate Free-motion Feathers”. Here are some close-ups.  

I am not totally happy with my quilting but overall am pleased. I'm very happy to say it is finished and off my UFO list.

     I have been sewing a lot during this pandemic; however, I am not making much progress with my UFOs. I have started more new projects than I have finished from my UFO list. My finished tops are collecting, but at least they are organized.

     A friend shared pears so I made 28 cups of pear honey.

I still have plenty of pears in the fridge to use for something else.

The vegetable garden is struggling with the heat and so are we.

With Covid-19 cases on the rise around the country, please stay safe and healthy while enjoying some sewing or quilting in a cool space.

I'm linking up with Whoop, Whoop Friday and Finished (or Not) Friday.  Check them out for inspiration.  

Making UFO Progress

     Another split 9 lap quilt is quilted. This one is a joint project. Several members of my church quilt group pieced the blocks. I pieced them together and quilted the top. Another member plans to add the binding when I can get it to her but there is no rush.

I quilted a swirl over the center and used a Laura Fritz motif in the border. 

     I pulled a small UFO and I'm finishing it as a wall-hanging or table topper.  It was planned to be donated for the small quilt auction of a guild quilt show that is not happening this year so I can take more time.  The bright Whig Rose was hand appliqued about 2009. I decided to add trapunto under the flowers.

It will show up more when the background is quilted. 

 I got inspired by this example from Patsy Thompson.  

In her Bluprint class “Ultimate Free-motion Feathers” she teaches 

 a variation of the motif she calls “plumify it”.  I am practicing on paper; however, I'm not yet comfortable enough to try on the small quilt. If I can get comfortable with it, I would like to use the motif as a background filler on the large border of my blue and white UFO. The border is the only part not yet quilted. I better get busy practicing.

I'm linking up with “Finished or Not Friday”. 

Please stay safe and healthy while doing something you enjoy or to help others.

Quilting During Social Distancing

It is a good thing that I have a hobby that I love during this time when we need to practice social distancing.  I normally spend a lot of time sewing or quilting; however, I have spent even more time and this week quilting on multiple projects. I made good progress on my Day Bee Mystery UFO but I am definitely not rushing. All the light area of the center is quilted.  

Here is a close-up.

I was ready to change to a darker thread and did not have the thread I wanted to use.  I am also finding it more difficult (less pleasurable) to work on large quilts so instead I started quilting a comfort quilt. This Garlic Knot kid's quilt got quilted and ready for binding.

Also, this Hugs & Kisses kid's quilt is quilted and ready for binding.

     When I needed a break from quilting, I worked on piecing for my Seeing Stars Quilt Along 

and my Jewel Box Stars which has been my leader / ender project.  I also took an hour to work a little in the yard.  There is much more to do to clean flower beds.  Before my knee replacement in November, I loved to get down on my knees to pull weeds.  Now I need a new position for comfort.

Hope you stay healthy and enjoy the weekend.

Making Progress Quilting and Organizing

     Wednesday a friend came over and helped each other with quilting projects. I needed some ideas for the quilting motifs for my Day Bee Mystery UFO. Today I finally started the quilting in the ditch to stabilize.

     I have been trying to organize orphan blocks and projects in progress. I pulled out 6 Hugs and Kisses blocks that I made when I taught quilting classes for JoAnn Fabrics. I chose a couple more fabrics, made 6 more blocks and pieced this top. It will be a great quilt for the Children's Hospital.  Next I will search my stash for backing.

      I also made some progress on a modern improv quilt using leftover units from a friend's quilt project. I'll show pictures of that another week.

     I am happy ( “Whoop Whoop”) with progress made this week and found blocks.

Stay warm and dry and have a great weekend enjoying some time sewing and quilting.

Linking up with Whoop Whoop Friday.

Top Finally Complete

Early this evening I thought I was finally finished with my version of the Day Bee mystery quilt.  I took a photo and was preparing to upload it for a post WHEN … I noticed a problem.   Can you see what I did wrong?  

Here I marked the 2  blocks that were rotated.  I could not leave it that way.  

It only took me about an hour to rip them out

… and resew them correctly oriented.  NOW  the top is finished.  

Working on Binding and Machine Appliqué

    The King size floral pinwheel quilt is back from the long-arm quilter.  Yesterday I did the part where I sewed the binding by machine.  Now I have the hand sewing part to blind stitch 412” on the back.   It is too long to do at one sitting – part each day while I watch (listen) to TV will be fine.

     I am adding an appliqué border to my Day Bee Mystery quilt.  I had all the components ready a couple of days ago.  Today I cut the panels and started the machine appliqué.  I used iron-on tear away embroidery stabilizer.  One panel is now stitched down - three more to go.    

Preparing for Appliqué Border

     This morning I am preparing the last components for the appliqué border to be added to my Day Bee mystery quilt.  My favorite method uses freezer paper templates and liquid starch.  I iron at least 2 layers of freezer paper together and cut out the templates, which are then ironed to the wrong side of the fabric.  About ¼” is allowed for turning the fabric under and the pieces are cut out.  Then I use a q-tip to apply liquid starch to the edge.  While it is still damp, I turn the edge over the template and iron it dry.   The template can then be removed and the piece ironed flat.  Since I need 24 of the same leaf, I could have cut a template from no-melt Mylar, but then I could have only worked on one leaf at a time.

 

For circles I ran a long running stitch around the edge with a single thread – similar to making a yo-yo.  I starched the edge and pulled the thread to create a smooth circle.  I ironed it dry, removed the thread and template, and ironed it flat again.

I like the look of neat turned edges much better than fusible raw edge appliqué.  To attach the pieces I use a narrow blanket stitch with matching or blending thread color. 

Border Ideas

     I worked a little in EQ to try out appliquéd border ideas to add on the Day Bee mystery quilt.

I first tried a curved vine. 
 My sister suggested a straight stem and flowers.   Here are a couple of variations I've created.
All 4 corners is probably too much,

but I think 2 corners is not enough.

I’m still looking for an idea I love.

Mystery Top Together

   Wow!  For a long time I have wanted a blue and white quilt so now I almost do.  I feel great having sewn the last strip of HSTs together and the whole Day Bee mystery top together.   Some how I miscounted and had to sew about a dozen more HSTs today to have enough to finish the border.  I knew from the beginning that the design had a lot of pieces.  I’m glad I challenged myself and tackled this project, but I am also very glad the top is complete.  I do like the rectangular shape better than the original square.  It currently measures 48 by 70”. 

 The outer HST border needs a stabling strip before quilting so I may add a light and then dark plain border.  All the piecing should be the star and not the quilting so the quilting design should be simple.  I will have to give that more thought.   I’m just glad the top is done.

Mystery Quilt Reshaping

     On this quiet Sunday afternoon I’m sewing and making progress on the Day Bee mystery quilt.   Since I decided to make it a rectangle instead of a square, I have made 2 more large squares. 

To have enough strips for all the sashing, I needed to sew another strip set.  When you sew 18 -1 ½” strips together in a strip set, you can understand that it is IMPORTANT to sew accurate ¼” seams. I managed well enough.

Now I’m working on the extra 64 – 1½” HSTs that are needed for the outer framing.  I am especially thankful for the HST paper that Lari suggested.  We ordered it through her from www.quiltime.com .  It is accurate and easy to tear off. 

Back to Work on Mystery

     After Tuesday Day Bee meeting I was motivated to get back to work on the mystery quilt project.   Jean showed her lovely top.

When we started, our leader gave us the directions for a 3 by 3 layout or 2 by 2.  Some time ago I had 4 large blocks pieced for the 2 by 2 layout but have decided to make my quilt 2 by 3 so I needed 2 more.  I have made good progress. As you can see in the photo, the top 2 are the new additions.

I have the strip sections pieced.  They just aren't added. 
It is interesting how different Jean's and mine look. The directions gave us the option of using a pieced unit in the center of the stars which I have done.

       Since it is nearing football season, I decided my granddaughters needed team outfits.  I hope they will fit. 

 I found free directions for the 3 tiered dress at http://scatteredthoughtsofasahm.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-sew-tiered-pillowcase-style.html

The free diaper cover pattern and directions are at http://www.babyvilleboutique.com/home .

Organizing, Finishing and Quick Project

     This weekend has been a good time for work on a variety of quilt projects plus a little gardening time.  I was cleaning the house to get ready to host Monday night’s Quilt Mavens group and spent a couple of hours organizing my stash.  I was looking for a piece of green recently and could not find my tub of green fabric.  I finally did and I took that as a hint that I needed to reorganize some fabric.  I found out that I have a lot more brown and cream than I thought I did. 

   

    I finished step 7 of the Day Bee Mystery Quilt.   We had the option of using a solid piece of fabric for the center of each star, but our leader encouraged us to piece something.  Originally I pieced some small nine patches and some four patches.   When I started the step to sew the stars together, I did not like the look with the nine patches and I used only four patches.  I almost wish I had used a solid piece of fabric.  The stars would look very differently. 

       My church quilt group will be giving a short talk for the XYZ ( eXtra Years of Zest) Club about our work and show quilts.  It was Joan’s idea for us to have a mug rug in the center of each table; and after our talk have a drawing to give them away, so this afternoon I made another mug rug from Woodpile quilt crumbs.   

Working on Day Bee Mystery Quilt

   Today I decided to tackle the HST borders for step 7 of the Mystery Quilt.  Each border is made up of 44 HSTs.  Two are done; two more to go.  I am a step behind so I would like to get more done.  This is not a quilt for a beginner.  There are LOTS of pieces but I like how it looks so far.

Working on Day Bee Mystery

     Tuesday is the Day Bee meeting and I'm expecting our Bee Queen will give out the next step for the Mystery Quilt.  I am a couple of months behind on the Day Bee Mystery quilt so I pulled out the parts to work on. I chose to make the small version so it was not difficult to finish step 6 with only 4 large blocks.  Here they are.

For the next step we will be using the HSTs ( half-square triangles ) we made in step 3.  It takes 44 HSTs to surround each of the large blocks.  It took at least 2 hours to press them all.  I pulled the paper off about half but decided not to start sewing tonight.

Have a Happy Easter!

Working on Smaller Projects

     I have at least 3 bed size quilt tops (Lego quilt,  One block wonder with tree and Devine Mystery ) waiting to be quilted but I have not taken the time to sandwich one to start quilting.  Instead I have spent a little sewing time each day piecing on smaller projects like the Day Bee Mystery.  I have all my small stars made and I’m ready for the next step of putting together star units that have 5 together like the beginning you can  see in the left part of the photo.

 I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest will come together. 

       This afternoon I decided to work on the guild monthly challenge of creating an oxymoron block.  I found a great list on the web and picked out several that I liked.  I pulled out crumbs and sewed to create fabric.

Then I used it as the background fabric and pieced what I’m calling “Good Garbage”.  It was made totally from my scrap bin.  It made me think of the saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure."  Here one woman's trash becomes another woman's quilt block.

Part 3 of Day Bee Mystery

       Today I finally worked on part 3 which I have had for 2 months.  We need to make 576 or 300  1 ½” half square triangle units (depending on the finished size we want.  I’m working on the smaller.)  Our leader Lari suggested triangle paper which we purchased from www.quiltime.com.  So far it has been fairly simple to use and the finished half square triangles are accurate.  You lay out the 2 fabrics right sides together, pin the paper on top and stitch on all the lines.  Arrows direct you for a continuous stitching line.  Then cut on all the solid lines, pull off the paper and you have a bunch of half square triangle units. 

     I have pieced together my 12 fan blocks.  

I was going to stop there and just quilt it.  36" by 48" would be a good size for someone.  Then I thought if I added a few borders it could be twin size.  I played with EQ and this is one idea.  

 The fabrics are not correct but I hope you can get the idea.  This example would finish 54 by 78"  It won't get finished until I decide what size I want to make. 

Starting on Day Bee Mystery

  I still have not decided which big UFO to work on; instead I started something new.  I agreed to participate in my Day Bee Mystery quilt.  This weekend I got started.  Step 1 was just collecting fabrics and cutting strips.  I have a great collection of blues which I love so decided to use all blues.   

Step 2 was making flying geese units.  Our leader provided the directions for the “no waste method”  which I wanted to try.  I don’t have them all finished yet but I’ve made a good start.  

Each large square and 4 small squares  makes 4 flying geese units.  You do need to mark the diagonal on the back of each small square which takes time.   From there the sewing is very easy.

 

You can find the directions for the “no waste method” for flying geese units at

  http://www.patchpieces.com/sharingpatch.html