Catching Up!

It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks and although I have not been doing much sewing I have shopped a bit and planned a bit. I did manage to get this mini Dresden Plate finished! It is so sweet and I really need to find a spot to hang it. The finished dimensions are 19" x 23".

 

 

 

I also had a quick trip to Billings, MT and was thrilled to go to Fiberworks !It was a beautiful quilt shop and I was sorry to say I was shopping with a list. Before going I figured out what I needed for a couple of UFO's and I mostly stuck to my plan.

 

First I was looking for fabric for my upcoming needle turn applique quilt. I am loving these colors!

 

 

Then a needed a white batik to make a star quilt that I have a Bali Pop set aside for.

 

 

Next on my list was fabric for borders, etc for these star blocks. They were made a couple of years ago with a Honey Bun (Aster Manor) but I didn't have matching fabric. I was so lucky to find some!

 

 

And finally, because I could not resist (they had an amazing sample)! I can't wait to dive into this pattern, but first I have a few projects to finish I guess!

 

 

I could have spent so much more time (and money) at that store!

 

Now I better get washing all my fabric so I can start using it!

 

Happy Stitching!

 

 

 

 

 

So Glad I Have a Blog!

A blog is a wonderful way to document your UFO's! These next couple of UFO's I have actually blogged about so I know for sure without even looking they are not too many years old! But I thought I should look perhaps at when I did blog about them....

 

The first little UFO is this adorable Dresden Plate that I have been finishing. I started it about 3 years ago before I even had a blog! Then it sat until just recently when I decided to finish the quilting. I had actually started quilting it, and I remember that I was quilting it without a hoop and with a long needle at the table. I decided to continue the method but I sat in my rocking chair instead. I have to say that my stitches were way better at the table. Maybe I had a bit more control and I learned that I really do prefer quilting in a hoop. That said...it is so cute!!!!

 

 

Each little block is just 3-1/2" square. My intention was all along to do a scalloped border. Here is my tip for scalloped borders. I never cut them before quilting. All I do is mark on the desired edge of the quilt. Then I know where my quilting lines should end. When the quilting is done, I baste just inside the line (maybe 1/8"). Then  you just need to trim on the line. This will keep your edge together nicely while putting on the binding and you don't have to worry about weird edges while quilting.

 

 

Now it's ready for binding!

 

Remember my Farmers Wife blocks I started back in October 2010. I found them in the bottom of a container last weekend. I had 23 blocks in all. That's enough to make a lap sized quilt. I dug around in my fabrics and found just enough blue and brown to get it done. Here it is in progress...

 

 

The missing row is sitting beside my sewing machine!

 

While I was searching for old posts on these UFO's I realized I should really get better at using labels on my posts. I never did find the post for the Dresden Plate but I'm sure it's there somewhere!

 

And finally, winter is coming so I thought I had better get these scarves finished. All they needed was blocking.

 

 

The top scarf is Strangling Vine . It was a fabulous knit! The only change I made was that I cast on 33 stitches instead of 42. I used Knit Picks Palette yarn for this one.

 

The bottom scarf is Saroyan. It was fast, fun and beautiful. Very girly!!! This scarf is made from Knitpicks Sugarbunny. Angora is so soft. I often don't make swatches (I know...bad , bad, bad of me) , and this is a case I should have. Although it is beautiful and great the way it is, if I was to knit it again with Sugarbunny, I would go down a needle size.

 

Back to my UFO's - it is so satisfying to get a few of these done! I wonder what I will find next?

 

Happy Stitching!

 

 

 

 

 

It's a Puzzle!

I love this part of a large project! 

The anticipation is almost too much to bear.

My hexagon puzzle is coming together. I can now see the end of the endless nights sewing them together...to be replaced by endless nights of big stitching! Another week and I'll be removing the freezer paper.

And another project finished! I am smitten with how cute this pineapple is...it's just 18" square!

Now it is time to dig out the next UFO....

Happy Stitching!

Testing a Block!

I finally started a test block using the John Flynn Miniature Double Wedding Ring template set. 6" double wedding ring blocks are small! Once I decided to actually follow the instructions (!) it went together very nicely. It was a good thing I still had the smallest rotary cutter size to get around the templates!

I did notice that the templates fit nicely on a charm pack so I picked one out to make a very scrappy mini. Now I have to get sorting the charms into lights, mediums and darks. After that I will start cutting!

After testing that, I thought I would work on some more Farmers Wife blocks. Six more done!

I am still trying to figure out what size of quilt I want to make with these. I am now thinking I may make a lap size quilt. That would mean I have about half the blocks made that I will need to finish the quilt!

 I also finished the shawl I have been knitting in the evenings. It was actually quite an easy patterrn and I was very able to do it in front of the tv without getting too lost. It is the Meandering Vines Shawl found on Ravelry. I did mine with Alpaca Cloud. It is so soft!

Here is a close up!

My sewing room is a MESS so the next thing I am doing is a good cleanup!

Happy Stitching!