Quilts?

 Long ago, I started a quilt for my son. He picked fabric not that I think he was particularly interested and the pattern.  It just so happened to be a quilt pattern that I loved but I did not love it by the time I had finished the quilt top.  I really intended to get it ready for the long arm quilter in Pittsburgh but instead moved across country.  This year I decided to clear space on my fabric shelves by finishing up quilts.  

In August, I finished a quilt that just needed the binding.  You can see it here.  Finishing that quilt really motivated me.  A queen size quilt really takes up a lot of space.  On to the next project, the quilt for my son.  I could not find any posts that I blogged on working on the quilt but it must have been in the spring of 2016.  The long arm quilter here in Arkansas just called to say it was ready.  Here's a glimpse:

All I need to do now is the binding.  Maybe this will be the year that I will have two finished quilts.  My goal is for this to be finished before New Year's Day or better yet Christmas.  I am fairly excited about this being so close to being finished.

Happy Stitching!

It Was An Unfinished Project...

 Long ago, I started a mystery quilt.  Here is the last post on this particular quilt - here.  I finished the top and sent it off to the quilter.  The quilter did a beautiful job quilting it for me but I have left it sitting in a bag since I got it back.  Yep, it moved across country with me.  The hard part was done.  No idea why I stopped at the easy part.  In an attempt to get some of the unfinished projected finished, I decided it was time to finish this quilt.  I used this calculator to determine how much fabric that I needed to create my double bias binding.  So 3/4 of yard later, I was ready to start the process of attaching the binding.   Here is my finished quilt:

There is one more unfinished quilt.  At this point, it is a finished top.  I need to locate a quilter.  The quilt top was finished in the same time period as the one above.  I think it is time to get this finished.  This one will remove a huge chunk of fabric out of the stash closet.  I am ready.  Some day, I will be able to empty my storage unit of fabric.  

Happy Stitching!

It's a Mystery...Let's Frolic

It's that time of year again when Quiltville does a mystery quilt.  It's been a couple of years since I participated so I decided to stitch along this year.  I have no doubt that I will fall behind because I just do. 

The Frolic introduction call be found here.  This is all the good stuff - needed yardage, colors, etc.  Part 1 of Frolic can be found here.   There are some interesting instructions here.  I don't know how much of the fabric I actually have in the needed colors but let's see if I can get started anyway.   I hope you enjoy frolicing.

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Quilt Sew-Along...Block 16 & 17, 2 Rows, and Drum Roll....

I'm all caught up with the blocks for the mystery quilt.

Block 16

Block 17

Row 6

Row 7

Finished scrapped quilt top.  Does it feel like Christmas?

Now, I just need to get the backing prepped, decide on the batting type, and getting the binding ready.

What do you think?  The only block I'm not sure about is the cup.  I may go back and out line it so it will pop a little bit.  I should have gone with my instinct and made a dark red cup.  I'll post another picture once it has been quilted and bound.

Have you finished your Mystery Quilt?

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Quilt Sew-Along...Block 13, 14, 15 + Rows

I'm still moving right along.  I'm amazed at how long it takes to figure out the colors for each block.  I know that that the little stash that I have is slowly decreasing but I think I can make a few more scrappy quilts.

Block 13

Block 14

Block 15

Row 5

Rows 1 through 4 sewn together.

There is one more row and this quilt top will be ready.  I need to get figure out how much fabric is needed to be the backing.

How's your mystery quilt coming along?

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Quilt Sew-Along...More Blocks and Rows

I'm working hard to get caught up. Here's a little more progress:

Block 11

Block 12

Row 4

Rows 1-3 sewn together.  Yippee! It's starting to look a little more like a quilt.  I think the connecting block really stand out.  I feels good to be close to catching up!  Just two blocks left and I will be catch up.

How are you doing on the Mystery Quilt?

Happy Stitching

Mystery Quilt Sew-Along...2 Blocks and more!

I have fallen behind on the mystery quilt but I'm trying really hard to get caught up.  Here's the latest:

This is Block 9 of the mystery quilt.

This is Block 10 of the mystery quilt.

Row 3.

Real progress is starting. Row 1 and Row 2 sewn together.

Hopefully, I can get caught up soon.  I'm not sure at this point how far behind I am.  I haven't checked the blocks in a couple of weeks.

How are you doing on the sew-along?

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Quilt Sew-Along - Row 2

I'm still working on the colors for the next block but I have gotten the next row sewn together.  Here it is:

It is so exciting to see this mystery quilt starting to come together.  It's fun to sift through the bits and pieces of fabric in cotton stash to create this quilt.  The best part is that I know that the stash is getting slightly smaller.

Have you been working on the mystery sew-along?

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Quilt Block 8 and Row 1...

I'm running behind on the mystery quilt but I'm trying to get caught up.  While I was working on this block, I ran out of thread.  Now, how is that possible?  I have a lot of thread but not white thread.  So, off to the store I went to purchase thread.  Oh, yes, it was price shock.  A 1000m spool of thread was $8.99.  Really, I think I have a box of thread but I wasn't able to locate it today.  Here's Block 8:

In person, it doesn't look so crooked.  Hope it shows correctly in the quilt.  Here is the next surprise:  Row 1 -

You can't see it but I was doing a happy dance as this was being finished.

If you're doing the mystery quilt, how are you doing?

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Block 7 plus Connecting Block

Yesterday, I felt like I was way behind on the Mystery Quilt.  Today, I'm feeling pretty good.  Here's my blocks:

I like the look of this block.  I could have done better with the cardinal placement but I wasn't willing to recut the blocks.  Here's the connecting block:

I'm still keeping everything scrappy with the exception of the back ground on this block.  Next time, I should have some rows stitched together.  On to the next block.

How is your version of the myster quilt coming?

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Sew Along Block 6

I'm caught up with the individual blocks.  Here's the next one:

I really like this particular block.  With each block you are also provided an extra project, this one was a quilt layout.  I may work this out to be a baby quilt.  We'll see.

I've been working steadily on the connecting blocks for the quilt and will soon have something other than a piles of various fabrics.  With the exception of a consistent background, I'm still trying to make them a little bit scrappy.

I have fallen behind on the house challenge but still intend to get caught up.  It's really hard trying to figure out all of the fabrics in a scrappy manner but I'll get it done.

How are you doing on your version of the quilt?  Still keeping up?

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Sew Along Block 5

I'm a little behind.  This block was from 2 weeks ago but I got it done.  Here's block 5:

When last week's block appeared, I realized that I needed to order a couple of yards of fabric.  It just arrived.  With any luck, I will be caught it next week.  I am working on many other things though so we'll see how it turns out.

How is your version of the sew along or challenge coming?  Have you been able to keep up?

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Sewalong...No Block This Week

There wasn't a Mystery Block last week but I staying up with the challenge.  I made two additional blocks:

I now have a total of 6 challenge blocks.  I have no idea what I will do with these blocks. Maybe they will will get additional decoration.

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Sew Along Block 4

I feel like I'm getting into a routine with keeping up with the sew along.  Here's block 4:

There is also 2 more blocks for the challenge:

So far I have 4 out of 16 houses made.  I'm going to attempt to use the same blue fabric for all the blocks.  I don't know if I have enough fabric but we will see.

How are you doing on the sew along or the challenge?

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Sew Along Block 3...

Somehow, I'm managing to keep up with the Mystery Sew Along.  Here's block 3:

Yeah, I missed taking a picture of the block before sewing but that's okay.  I've even started the challenge that is going along with the sew along.  Here are new additional houses:

Stitching up those scraps couldn't be better!

How are you doing on the sew along?

Happy Stitching!

Goodies Have Arrived...

Did you participate in the Crafty Black Friday event?  I did go shopping and got some lovely little items:

1.

Collins Fine Line Blue Water Erase Pens -  I had just tossed the ones I had as they weren't functioning any more.  That is a win-win.

2.

Everyday Table Runner Holiday kit -  I love decorating for the holidays and to add something new every year.  Hopefully this will get completed before Thanksgiving.

3.

Package of Pellon Shape Flex.  This is always good to have in the stash.

4.

Clover Antique Yarn Threader.  This is definitely not a necessary item but it is so pretty.  I do like like have pretty equipment and this will come in handy when I finish things that I have knitted.


Did you get any goodies at the Craftsy sale?  I tried really hard to not spend much but I did spent a little more than I had intended.

Happy Stitching!
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Mystery Sewing Along Block 2

I was able to continue the trend of selecting my fabrics quickly for the mystery sew along;

I was happy with the fabric selections.  Here's the finished block:

The momentum is still rolling.  Two blocks down.   I have decided to do the challenge and make extra house blocks.  We'll see how that goes.  I have fabric selected for two houses.  I have no started the cutting out process yet.

How are you doing with the sew along?

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Sew Along Block 1...

I did find the time to select fabrics and cut out the pieces pretty quickly.  Here's the results:

Isn't that one crazy looking layout?  Here's the finished block:

One block down!  Hope I can continue the momentum all the way through to completion.

Are you doing the Merry & Bright Mystery Sew Along?

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Sew Along...

I've decided to join a Christmas Mystery Sew Along at Ilovetomakequilts with Pat Sloan.  It's called "Merry & Bright".   At first, I was going to purchase a bunch of fabric and make it exactly like the one she is making and then, I decided I would do scrappy and purchase the background fabric.  That's will reduce my fabric scraps / fabric stash a little and that is something that definitely needs to be done. 

I have a ton of other projects that need to be worked one so I'm hoping that I will be able to keep up by doing a block a week.  It was a lot of fun digging through the stash looking at different fabrics.  My first thought when I was doing this is I didn't have much in the blue family of scraps.  Maybe I didn't dig deep enough.   I'll share my finished blocks as they are done.

Hope over to the website and check out the sew along.  May be you will want to join in also.

Happy Stitching!

It Took 32 Years....

Thirty-two years ago my Grandmother gave me a bag with a quilt in as a wedding gift.  The quilt wasn't quite finished.  It needed the binding.  My Grandmother said the long arm quilter had messed up the backing on the quilt which she had intended to use as the binding.  Well, I didn't know what to do with the quilt and have carried it with me from house to house, from state to state.  Occasionally, I would take it out and look at it.  Each time, liking it a little better.  This winter I decided it was time to finish it.  Here are the results of "Grandma's Quilt" -

I can say with certainty that the long arm quilter messed up more than the backing on this quilt.  There were places where the batting was missing, the batting was quilted to the front of the quilt.  I did have to do a little stitch removal on it.  The quilt isn't even remotely square but I decided not to square it up.  I see it as part of the charm of the quilt.

Here's a close up of one of the squares:

I'm not sure if  this particular pattern has a name but I'm sure is it a postage stamp variation.  I did find a look alike on pinterest that called it a Postage Stamp 9x9.  It is definitely a wonderful, scrappy sort of quilt.  My Mom said that many of the fabrics were most likely a flour sack.  There are many unusual fabrics in the quilt.  I was a little afraid of washing it but I did and it turned out fine.  Currently, I working through the process of stain removal.

I have lots of wonderful memories of my Grandmother.  She taught me how to crochet and use it to decorate towels and such.  She purchased my first sewing machine for me.  It was a beautiful turquoise color.  The one thing she never showed were her quilts or any of her quilt designs.  I did find a book that had one of her designs in it but have been unable to locate any of the other published designs.  As a child, I most likely slept under the quilts that she had made.

Happy Sewing!