Archive for the ‘Piecing in progress’ Category

Usually we have a couple projects during the year in addition to working on our standard blue and red centered blocks but this year rather than choosing just one color combination we’re going to run a 6 month project and let people chose their own combinations — the catch is they need to make a full set of blocks (24 for a child, 48 for an adult). The blocks can be assembled and sent in as a top to be finished, the block sets can be sent in, or participants can finish their own quilts and donate them locally.

So while the start date isn’t until Feb 1st, I got an early start. I’m starting with my Strips and Strings Log Cabin blocks rather than our standard HeartStrings since I’m going to make my quilt from start to finish.

Do you save crumbs? I don’t make crumb quilts but they make the perfect starters for my Log Cabin blocks so I keep a bin under my sewing machine table and toss small scraps there rather than the trash. All my blocks will have a red center so I separated the reds out first.

And in a few hours … I have 20 blocks (I need 48 for a quilt) done and my string/strip bins all ready to make more blocks next Monday.

The number of half square triangle blocks are growing.

I was lightening up the above photo in a photo app when I noticed the pencil drawing of it. Kind of cool.

There are some that wouldn’t have wanted to come home from a tropical island to Minnesota but we were ready. We feel very fortunate that we are able to travel and that we love coming home too.

From sand to snow…they’re not calling for much but it’s a nice welcome home.

My main goal between now and the next trip is to quilt 4 HeartStrings tops but the best view in the house for watching the snow fall is my sewing room. This time of year I’m so happy I moved my machine in front of the window.

So a little progress was made on the assembly of this “I Spy” tumbler UFO of mine seen here on my design wall. I expect that this top will be done before I leave for San Francisco too.

I just love how cute these novelties are cut into tumblers.

I decided to pull out another UFO. These tumblers were a “kit” I cut last spring when I thought we’d be moving but we didn’t and they sat in a baggie all year. I tossed them up on the design wall and got all the rows sewn together … Now I’m going to take a break!

I know it’s busy but I love using my tumbler die to make these I Spy type quilts. I still have a great selection of novelty fabrics thanks to a box of fabric my friend Cecile sent a couple years ago. They’ve been showing up in my donation quilts ever since!

While not on my list of 12 UFO’s to finish in 2012, I do hope to get those in pieces at least to the finished top stage this year so I pulled out this “leftover” quilt. I had strips left from another quilt pieced last year and had started some Roman Stripes blocks.

This is where I’m heading — just 35 blocks set 5×7 and depending on the fabric I have left it might or might not get a border.

My black fabric has a really cute confetti print. It’s been in my stash for quite a while so I’m happy to be using it.

Dresden Plates are one of my favorite quilt patterns — I’ve always wanted to make one so when I saw this antique quilt on eBay, I started thinking. I’d signed up for the Take a Stitch Tuesday project on Pin Tangle but I’m not much for practice pieces so I knew I’d need to have some kind of blocks to work on and I love fans and Dresden Plate quilts that have been embroidered. One concern is that usually the number of stitches used on these types of quilt are limited but I’m going to give it a shot anyway and see what happens.

Here’s the start of my first block. I used my Accuquilt GO to cut the blades and circle and it’s a little fuller at the center than it should be but the embroidery will hide that small flaw. Don’t ask me why but I’m going to needle turn the outside edges and fuse the circle. Both will have covering stitches.

I’m still thinking about thread but think I want to use black perle cotton on all the blades. Where the blocks come together there will be an opportunity to add more embroidery or embellishment. Wish me luck!

Now I need to head back downstairs to quilt more of my Irish Chain blocks … There are 80 in this quilt and I’m more than half way done now … I’ve done 24 today but I need to pick up my pace.

I should be quilting but while I’m waiting for a phone call from my nephew who’s setting up mom’s new phone I thought I’d get started on this one.

I rarely do any appliqué especially machine appliqué but I’m stitching down these circles with an open zig zag and it’s not too bad.

Doesn’t my floor look like its filling up? I’m spending some time on and off fusing and machine stitching these circles. This quilt is on my To Do List but it’s NOT the priority – oh well…at least some progress is being made.

Keith and I are enjoying our few days together so I haven’t been doing much sewing other than a few minutes here and there – working on the Drunkard’s Path and Circle quilt.

The design wall hasn’t been put back up so I’ve just tossed the blocks on the floor for now.

I’m not sure how much I can get done — after all I still have things I haven’t even unpacked from Maine yet — but I needed to start a new quilt.

I’ve got all the Drunkard’s path sub blocks sewn – just need to sew the rest of them into groups of 4.

And this is where I’m going with this quilt in case you didn’t remember — it’s one I designed a while ago. I’ve been wanting to do a pink and green quilt so I’m using pink rather than the purple.

My sewing goals for the next 10 days will be:

Quilt 4 tops

Bind 2 quilts

Sew a hanging sleeve on a quilt

And get as much piecing done as possible