Progress on a UFO

     A few days ago I decided I needed to clear off my cutting table so I could sandwich a couple of quilt tops; however, I wanted to take to time to sort and cut the scraps into usable units at the same time. I made a lot of progress. The cutting table is almost clear and I have piles of scrap units to put into their bins. I have not calculated the yardage of the scraps I cut into units but I'm guessing at least a yard.

     Sunday afternoon I made 10 little pocket prayer squares. My church quilt group has been making them for years. We first learned about them from Shabby Fabrics.  Over the years we have made and shared hundreds. 

     Also in my organizing last week I pulled another pile of UFO blocks. I have 14

8 inch finish Economy blocks. Originally these were to be the centers of larger blocks with lots of HSTs; however, I decided to make 6 more Economy blocks for a 4 by 5 setting. I grouped them by color to see what I had and what was needed; however, they will probably not stay that way when set.  With sashing and a border it will be a charity quilt. I had to cut a few more triangles and put them into sets.

     I hope to finish clearing off my cutting table, but weeds in the yard need to be dealt with if the rain holds off.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 2 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 98.045 yds Added: 38.5 yds

Net decrease 59.545 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Weekly Progress and Goals

     It is vegetable garden time here so some of my time needs to be spent in the garden but then I can relax in the afternoon and sew or quilt. I am pleased with progress on my UFOs and goals. It helps me focus when I have specific projects I want to tackle.

How I did on last week's goals:

1. Sandwich “Celtic Fantasy” Done.

I pulled the thread I want to use to start quilting but decided to work on a different project before I start the big job of quilting this. 

2. Make progress on piecing alternate blocks for UFO Done.

I finished piecing all the blocks, sewed the center together and Sunday afternoon added the borders for a finished top. This project started when I adopted someone's UFO at guild. It had a couple of pieced circular stars and parts with fabric cut for borders.

This is how the original pattern was supposed to finish.

I came up with a different design for a larger quilt using the same fabric; however, I did buy the green setting fabric. I put together the name of the original pattern and the alternate block for the name of this finished quilt top. “Peony Stars in Summer Winds”

3. Make progress on piecing a charity/ comfort quilt. Done.

I'm using Pat Sloan's free pattern named "Traffic Jam".  I  have  pieced all the blocks and cut the sashing plus making the quilt a row longer. 

I still need to piece blocks for the border.

Stash Report for 2023

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

So far this year- Used: 47.46 yds Added: 37 yds 

Net decrease 10.46 yds

Goals for this week:

1. Start quilting “Celtic Fantasy”

2. Sandwich “Peony Stars in Summer Winds”

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“When Life gives you scraps, make quilts. “

A Finish and Quilting Progress

       We have had a few rainy days so a perfect time to quilt and I am pleased to share my finished “Plaid-ish” quilt. The free tutorial is from Kitchen Table Quilting.   

I simply meandered the center section and then quilted Angela Walters' “Wavy Wavy” design in the outer border.

      I started quilting my “Jewel Box Stars” quilt. 

 The block was Bonnie Hunter's scrap challenge block for 2018. I took a photo of the block, printed it out and put the picture in a sleeve protector so I could try out different quilting ideas. This is the first part which has been quilted.

The next part is to quilt the neutral square on-point area and I am still trying quilting options.

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

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

Finally Back to Sewing Time

    Wow! Time sure flew by and I was left behind. The past 2 weeks I have not accomplished much of anything quilting to write about. It is the time of year where I try to work in my vegetable and flower garden early before it gets too warm and then hope to sew/quilt after lunch. I am enjoying many lovely bearded iris blooming (at least 10 kinds) in my yard. Here is one sample. 

I have way too many. That just means I get to share more. Last weekend I brought home and set out 2 new perennials from my sister. Friday I gave away the last of the tomato plants that I did not want to set out and most vegetables planted are growing nicely.

Progress on my goals for this year continue:

1.  finish UFOs

The border of the made-fabric hexagon quilt has been added so the top is done. I think it took so long because I was not using a pattern.  The piecing was mostly improv inspired by ideas from Victoria Findlay Wolfe's book 15 Minutes to Play.  The border is brighter than I expected; however, I am happy to move this 2014 UFO on to the next stage. It is almost too large to fit on my kitchen floor.

Here it is on a full size bed.

 

2.  decrease stash fabric

The only stash fabric used was to add a pieced border for a comfort quilt.

Stash fabric used or added:
this past week-  Used: 1.25 yds  Added: 0 yds
So far this year- Used: 51.25 yds Added: 10.5 yd3

3. control and use scrap fabric

I pulled down a bin of 4 1/2” squares and found 5 complete split 9 patch blocks with 15 more sets of HSTs made. I spent an afternoon preparing block sets to finish a lap quilt. I only had to make 3 HST sets and pull light and dark squares from the precut units.

4.  make charity/comfort quilts

I added a 3” finished border to my Jelly Bean lap quilt of 16 blocks ( instead of 30 from a block a day with Pat Sloan) so it will finish at 54 by 66”.

 

It was sandwiched when my church quilt group met last Wednesday.  I also brought home a sandwiched top to quilt that was pieced by another member.  There was a little time left to add the semicircles to the fans of another project.  

 I know the garden will need some time; however, I hope for time to make more quilting progress.  

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

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

Goals and Progress

    Last week was great to get some work in the garden and also in my sewing room. In the house I am enjoying the 2^nd bloom on my pastel amaryllis.

Progress on my goals for this year continues:
1.  finish UFOs

I quilted my “Seeing Stars” from 2019 and the binding is sewn to the front. I just need to do the handwork to stitch to the back.

I sandwiched my Chunky Churn Dash so it is ready for quilting.

2.  decrease stash fabric

I used stash fabric for a backing and even though I bought some inexpensive background fabric, I also cut up and pulled lots of fabric scraps to participate in Pat Sloan's March Block A Day.

     Stash fabric used or added:

this past week- Used: 6 yds Added: 3 yd

So far this year- Used: 35 yds Added: 8 yd

3.  control and use scrap fabric

I wanted to sandwich quilts so cleared off my cutting table and cut lots of scraps into units. I did not take a photo of the piles but it felt good to get that done.

4. make charity/comfort quilts for church quilt group

I sandwiched my Old School 2021 BOM and hope to quilt it this week.

I made 12 pocket prayer quilts and delivered them to my pastor Sunday.

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

Goals and Progress

     Before I get to my quilting, I want to share, “We had 2” of snow in West Columbia, SC”. It fell over Friday night so this was my yard Saturday morning. Previously we last had snow in 2014.

My major goals for this year are to:

1. finish UFOs

   --progress- I added a 3” pieced border to my “Seeing Stars” 2019 mystery UFO from ButterflyThreads and used a lot of stash fabric to piece the backing. 

   --progress- I pulled out a bag of 18 Chunky Churn Dash blocks and pieced 17 alternate blocks. Here they are laid out. Bonnie Hunter revised her free pattern in February of 2017. She made 6” finished blocks. I upsized mine to 9” finished and not sure when I started making blocks.

   
   
   

-- progress- I pulled out a bag with 3 orphan butterfly blocks and started working on a small quilt. The tulips were inspired by “Flower Power Kids Quilt” on Midnight Quilt Show S7E4 on YouTube. I also made 2 different flowers and improvised the stem and leaves.  Coriander Quilts shared flower blocks for her Spring Brook Blossoms BOM quilt and I made one of her flowers. The 3 D pinwheel was an orphan from a quilt class many years ago. My design wall went from this -

to this -

and finally this.

I love it and I'm pleased to use the butterfly blocks. It will become a gift for a great-niece expected in March.

2. decrease stash fabric

   Stash fabric used or added: 
           this past week- Used: 10.75 yds Added: 0 yd

             So far this year- Used: 16.25 yds Added: 1 yd      

2. control and use scrap fabric

   Some scrap squares of various sizes and strips were used for the flower blocks in the baby quilt top.

3. make charity/comfort quilts for church quilt group

      I didn't work on a comfort quilt .

2. clear out unneeded items in the house I tackled a box of old school files from when I taught elementary school. It felt good to upcycle usable folders and also fun to look back at some very dated science posters about such things as the US Space program.

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

Small Finish and Progress

     I'm on a mission to make progress on UFOs this year. For many years I had this small square pinned to my sewing room bulletin board.

Not really a UFO since nothing was started; however, it wasn't doing any good just hanging there. I had wanted to make a small wall-hanging but decided a placemat would be more useful. Now it is finished.

     I also made progress on a larger UFO. I pulled out my “Seeing Stars” 2019 mystery UFO from ButterflyThreads and added a 3” scrappy pieced border so it will finish 78” by 87” to cover a full sized bed. I loved how the quilt is made up of 18" by 27" pieced panels. You make the number you need for the size quilt you want to make. I made 12.  Diane still offers the pattern along with others on her blog under the Free tab.

Check out projects for inspiration at Finished (or Not) Friday.

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

Goals and Progress

     Last year I set weekly goals and tried to stay on track. I thought it was helpful for me; however, I want to change up a little.

My major goals for this year are to:

1. finish UFOs

2. decrease stash fabric

3. control and use scrap fabric

4. make charity/comfort quilts for church quilt group

5. clear out unneeded items in the house

    Thursday I finished the first UFO on my list for the year. ( Photos on Friday's post.) Plus I added a border on 2 more tops so they are ready to be sandwiched for quilting.

There are several quilt tops waiting so it may be awhile before they are finished.

Then I chose another easy UFO to work on. This week I hope to spend time quilting.

      I don't need a new project, but I started A Quilting Life's free BOM with a few members of my church quilt group. This is the color palette I chose. 

Here is my first block. 

Each month's block will have the churn dash frame, so I have those pieces all cut and am using them as leader/enders.

       Stash fabric used or added: as of 1/16/22

             So far this year- Used: 5.5 yds Added: 1 yd

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

A Small UFO Finish

     I did not post last week because I have been working in the yard so much, not much quilting has been accomplished. Saturday I finished piecing 48 “Hope” blocks from GE Designs 2^nd Quarantine Quilt Along, May 3^rd. Here is a sampling on my small design wall.  

 

I still need to lay them all out on the "design floor" and play with placement but I do not need to rush to finish this one.

Sunday I enjoyed a relaxing Mothers Day.

     Monday I finished the quilting on the Whig Rose wall-hanging. After a couple of false starts, I was excited how the “plumify” motif went 

and the “swirl with plumes” I quilted in each corner. 

 Both were FM motifs I learned from watching Patsy Thompson's “Ultimate Free-motion Feathers” class on Bluprint. I practiced a few times on paper before I was brave enough to try on the quilt. Because the background fabric was beige, I thought light brown thread would look good for the quilting. After doing a small area, I decided that it was too dark so I unsewed.

I switched to cream thread. After quilting a small area, I noticed the tension was terrible so that had to come out.

I rethreaded and was finally successful. I love it! 
* I updated the photo to show the quilting texture better. 

       With all the yard work and handwork recently, arthritis in my right hand has flared up so it needs a little rest. Today I machine sewed binding on a lap quilt and pieced backings for 2 more. My stack of finished tops waiting for quilting is growing.

Stay safe and healthy while doing something you enjoy (maybe sewing or quilting) or to help others.

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.

Dye Using the Microwave

     I’m still clearing some unfinished projects and finding all kinds.  At the NC Quilt Symposium in the summer of 2010, I took Velda Newman’s class on “Texture and Form”. (Don’t think she teaches anymore.)  Yesterday I found the incomplete projects from the class.  I find it VERY difficult to throw the pieces away. I expect it is the way I was brought up by parents who grew up during The Great Depression. Instead, I want to do something with them. At least I can make a placemat, table topper or wall-hanging.

     I refreshed my memory on how to dye with Rit Dye in the microwave.  You can find the instructions here. 

 Here are my pieces before dye: 

melon shape –texture was created by stitching with a layer of batting on the back and cheese cloth on top of the main fabric.

Basket shape- texture was created by stitching contour lines with a layer of batting on the back of the main fabric. 

Here they are after the dye process: 

 I can image the melon with a vine and leaves. 

 I plan to add some highlights and shading with fabric markers or paint.   Velda did multiple empty baskets but I think mine needs some flowers. 

     

What do you do with incomplete projects and orphan blocks?

Hope you enjoy time sewing or quilting. 

Excited to be Almost Finished

* update  -totally finished

There are 63 swirl blocks that I started in 2007 so this is a long time UFO.  I started out trying to quilt the floral pattern and did a good job.  Here is a close-up of the quilting on one swirl block.

Then I got tired and frustrated with trying to figure out how to move around in the block (about 30 different ways) to end up where I wanted in order to move to the next without breaking thread so did not do a pleasing job.  I am excited that it is trimmed and ready for binding.

    When I had to take a break from quilting, I pulled out a few more UFOs to work on. About 2012 I took a workshop from Deb Karasik and only paper-pieced one wedge.  Now I at least have 4 done.

 

I chose a different color palette but hope one day it will get finished.  Her pattern is called “Inner Light”.  

    I don’t need another project to work on but adopted a UFO from a guild member.  This week I also pieced 4 quarter units and cut more units and made some progress on this project.  

Both of these are tedious paper-piecing projects so I can only do a little at a time before I need a change.

Hope you enjoy some time sewing or quilting.