Back to some UFO's

Finally after a bit of a break I am back to working on some UFO's.

I got the borders put on my striped "log cabin" quilt.

 

I hardly ever work with these colors so I had to pick up some thread for quilting. I am machine quilting this and I think it will be just a simple meandering pattern. The light blue turned out to be brighter than I thought it would but the thread I picked out will tone it down a bit (I hope)! 

 

Then I made this bag for a birthday gift for a friend.

Now that it has been given I can show it!

 

 

The pattern was from the Fall 2009 issue of Quilts and More.

It is a great size for a summer tote!

 

I have been giving thought to what is next for handwork...I think it is time to challenge myself again and get more comfortable with needle turn applique. First up, something small and simple. I have been giving some thought to starting with the Orange Peel Quilt from the book Remembering Adelia by Kathleen Tracy. That would be quite portable for the summer. Then I am going to use the blocks from Piece O'Cake's Fresh Picked Posies to make a larger quilt. I can't wait to get started.

 

This week I'll get started choosing a fabric palette and get started cutting!

Maybe I'll even get started sewing!

 

Happy Stitching!

Another UFo well underway!

After I finished the geese quilt I had a lot to choose from for my next UFO project. So I chose what was on top...I had strips of the striped fabric and coordinating solids cut into 2" widths. I cut them into length for log cabin blocks.

 

First the blocks with the stripes on the outside...

 

 

Next with the solids on the outside..

all organized and ready to sew!

 

 

I had enough to do 9 blocks in all!

 

 

Now I just need to sew these together and figure out a border. I have small amounts of the solids left but very little of the stripe...

 

 

This is going to be a bright little quilt!

 

Happy Stitching!

 

 

 

 

 

More UFO's done!!!!

Despite being away for a week and working faithfully on my hand quilting, I have managed to get a couple small UFO's completed! This little quilt (just 22" square!) has been lying around just waiting for binding. I even had the binding cut out!!!

 

 

And I love this striped binding!

 

These next UFO's were two tote bags made from a small batik jelly roll! They are a perfect size!

 

 

It was a fun and easy bag pattern to make too!

 

 

 

 

 

And just because I like to have a pair of socks on the go...this pattern is Jaywalker Socks by Grumperina! I have made them before and really liked them. It's an easy pattern that doesn't require your complete attention! Just what I am looking for!

 

 

And now a hand quilting update...I am almost finished border #2. I am hoping by next weekend I'll have the last 2 sides marked and started. Yes...I will have it finished in time for the quilt show in Moose Jaw at the end of April!

 

Back to my UFO's!!! Happy Stitching!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A UFO kind of week!

Sometimes I just have to say WOW! Did I do good!

I am on a mission to work on my UFO's...one big one at a time and smaller ones mixed in.

 

 

I laid out my flying geese and sashings...it is going to be huge!! 104" x 104".

 

 

(Do you like all the foot scrunches?) It is all ready to piece the rows together now. I'm needing one full day in my sewing room though so when I get started I won't have to stop.

 

Next on the UFO list...

 

Two small lap quilts got machine quilted and bound.

 

I have not a clue what I am doing with this one. It was made from scraps from a quilt kit.

It will probably become a gift eventually.

 

 

This one is going to become a car quilt...

 

 

And I finished a bit of knitting too! I am glad I got these done BEFORE winter was over!

 

 

 

So...WOW! Now to go clean up a bit!

 

Happy Stitching!

 

 

 

 

Done the center!

It happens every time I hand quilt...I fall in love with the quilt.

This one is no exception!

 

I am finished quilting the center!!!

I'm so excited to get started on the borders.

 

I spent the afternoon marking 2 of the borders.

 

 

I really wanted to get quilting again so I thought 2 borders was enough.

 

I also have been getting in small chunks of sewing room time and I have geese going again. I have to admit...I am tiring of the geese but I can't start working on another UFO until my geese quilt is finished. One UFO at a time....

 

And we have a little blooming going on! So beautiful!

 

 

Happy Stitching!

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!

 

 

 

 

 

More UFO's and a Lesson Learned

First I'll show my progress on two UFO's. I spent a few hours in my sewing room (OK a bit more than a few) and I managed to get 2 UFO's ready for basting!

 

Here is the Farmers Wife quilt I finished putting together. My plan is to use this quilt for machine quiting practice. It measures 47" x 54". A great lap size!

 

 

This UFO has been pieced except for the borders for about 4 years. I made it from leftover fabrics from a quilt kit. I finally got around to finding fabrics that worked for the border and finished piecing it this week. This will be machine quilting practice too! I think this one will get donated.

It measures 45" x 57".

 

 

Yes it has been a while since I practiced machine quilting and yes I learned a lesson...several in fact!

1. Practice as often as possible...that means more than once every 2 months.

2. When you try a new free motion quilting pattern, really try it out on paper...as much as it takes to figure it out. Don't wing it because you won't be happy.

3. After you have it figured out on paper, figure it out on a practice quilt sandwich before going to the real quilt.

4.Go with your instinct

5. I'm not sure I like clear thread. It is too hard for my 'old' eyes to see where I have been.

 

So what quilt made me learn ALL these lessons?

 

 

I obviously did not practice on paper enough (i.e. half a sheet is not enough).

My new rule is at least 2 sheets.

 

So , my first thought was that I was going to do a diagonal grid with an off white thread. How could I have gotten so far off track????

 

 

Really, it isn't THAT bad but I can't help but think I'm going to regret not starting over. It is only a little quilt but do I really want to spend my time tearing out stitches???

 

I found the perfect binding too, but I won't do anything until I am sure.

 

 

Finally, I cut up all my scraps of batting into machine quilting practice sizes. I cut as much as I could 15" square and what was left I cut 12" square. I got a good stack to start practicing. Now all I need is some muslin.

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

 

One Thing Leads to Another

Someone please stop me because I am supposed to be trying to finish some UFOs- not start some new ones!

It all started with finishing these bags. The charm squares were cut before Christmas and I knew I probably wouldn't get these bags made right away but I had them ready to go anyways. This past week I got to work on them...part of my endeavour to finish some UFOs.

This one is the only one with the zipper in it so far...5 to go but they go in quite quickly. Then they will be completely finished.

Here they all are...

The pattern was the Button Bag from This &That  patterns. They have been quite fun to make and are a great size! I also got to use an old tool I have never actually used before. The Quilter's 1/4" Ruler made marking the seams to make the hourglass blocks easy and accurate. Along with my sandpaper board these went together wonderfully. Too wonderfully.

That led to trying blocks of different sizes. I like making little quilts so how small could I go?

In the bag pattern I started with 4-3/4" squares so I tried 4", 3" and 2-1/2" squares. I ended up with 3-1/4", 2-1/4" and 1-3/4" unfinished blocks.

And here is a picture of the ruler and the finished samples!

So now I am just itching to make a little quilt with that small size. I am not sure I would go smaller but I may try one block starting off with 2-1/4" squares just to see.

I did not mean for this little bag pattern to lead to something else but it seems as if it has!

Happy Stitching!

A New Year and MANY UFO's!

A new year seems to be a good time to look around and see what you've got hiding in bins, hiding under other UFO's and just hiding in plain sight...in other words it has been a UFO for so long that when you look at it you don't even realize it's not done! It's become a fixture. Well, I have a couple of those...OK... maybe more than a couple.

My January find is this little pineapple quilt (3" blocks) that has been pinned to my bulletin board for months (almost a year actually!). I think it's time to get the paper out and finish it.

It is going to take me a while to get all those papers out!

I did finish two things this week though...

My Christmas bags-22 of them!

A scarf all done and blocked. I think it is going to be a wonderful gift.

And we have an amaryllis in bloom finally!

It is so beautiful!

In the sunlight you can actually see gold shimmer on the petals!

Happy Stitching!

A day in my sewing room but first...

I spent a whole day in my sewing room yesterday! What fun...but before I could get started I cleaned up a bit and while I was putting things away I found a few UFO's!

Some I will probably never do anything with but some I really want to finish.

This is a quilt (just 36" x 48") that I made from scraps left over from a kit. It just needs a border but I keep forgetting to bring it to the quilt shop with me.

Then I have these two sashiko panels to use. I am still undecided whether to frame them one day or use them for a front panel in a tote bag.

Then I have this double stitch project from Mountain Patchwork . It is an interesting technique where you stitch your pieces together with a running stitch and then again through the seam allowance.

Here is a close up of the front and back.

Finally here is another quilt to hand quilt. I have had this top done for many years but could never decide how to quilt it. I absolutely love it so it is staying out to inspire me to get it finished!

Next time, I'll show you what I worked on yesterday after cleaning up!

Happy Stitching!