This is my first weekend home for a few weeks. Looking at my November and December schedules, it looks like I will be home more than not for once. This fall has been crazy busy with hockey tournaments. We will be heading out again this weekend for a weekend of hockey in Long Beach! Let’s get started on what I have been working on this weekend.
Sewing on the Go
I like this as a header topic. It better describes the types of projects I am working on.
Ruby’s Garden Quilt (English Paper Piecing)
I was able to work on this Friday night and wrapped up block 2 of 83. It is the mirror image of 1. Looking at my stack of fabrics, I have a lot of teal & aqua in this quilt with a sprinkling of greens, pink, and yellow. As I add fabric to the stack, I’ll have to mix it up. Speaking of fabric, I received my first two bundles of liberty fabrics. Not sure yet how I will be working it in but it definitely needs to blend. Here are diamond blocks 1 & 2:
Farmer’s Wife 1920 Quilt (English Paper Piecing)
I finished up another block (#33) last weekend and I am almost done with another (#34). I brought it with me to Starbucks (current blogging location). When I say almost done, I mean one seam left baby! I am surprised at how this is moving along so much faster in year two than in year one. October marked 12 months of working on this project (October 2018 start date). Here are my official photos of blocks 31-33:
Wooly Mug Rugs (wool applique)
I am relieved that I finally traced, cut, and fused both my October and November projects. I was never home in October so it is not surprising that I didn’t finish ANY of my Halloween projects. Of course, I wanted to work on my Jack ‘O Lantern, but I am forcing myself to work on my Turkey. They should be quick and easy with not a lot of embroidery involved on this one. Here they are:
Japanese Boro Stitching Sampler
This was one of the class projects from PIQF 2019. I have not made any progress so no update photos. Click here for project pic.
Social Sewing
365 Block Challenge
I haven’t worked much on this one with the Halloween rush but I did finally get around to taking a picture of my last block finished. I have plans to cut at least 4 more blocks now that I am not currently involved in any daily challenges other than this one.
Quilter’s Planner 2019 Block of the Month
I almost forgot to work on my October blocks with all the travel. I found myself October 30th sewing up this cute block. It would have been a shame to miss the deadline when I have everything cut. Enjoy!
Cotton Cuts Cosmos Mystery Quilt Fall 2019
Before heading out to Starbucks, I wrapped up month 4 clues. I am so loving these vibrant Guicy Guice fabrics. I’ve been trying to guess what this will make when it is all done but nothing is regular shaped or consistently shaped. The B clues seem like a border to me but we shall see. I received the flyer for the Spring 2020 Mystery Quilt. I will definitely be participating.
#100blocks100days2019
I’m not sure if I mentioned it but this quilt will be going as a wedding gift to one of my daughter’s friends. I just need to finish putting together the other 50 blocks. LOL! Stay tuned for progress pictures in later posts.
Fabric Pictures
Just an update on what is currently in progress in my sewing room.
Sunflower Thread Painting
This is another PIQF 2019 project that I haven’t done a darn thing with since class. I have every intention to complete this one as well as a few others that I bought. I adore sunflowers! If you want to see pics click here.
Blooming Series – Pumpkins
This weekend I finally started machine appliquéing this gorgeous wall hanging. I finished up the orange thread. Next up is brown!
A Year in Words – Halloween
Since I had orange thread in I went ahead and stitched out the orange on this wall hanging as well.
A-Door-N-Aments – Leaves
Yesterday I pulled out my November projects since there is a lot of color crossover with October and November projects. This come as laser cut so it is quick and easy to fuse and lay on the background. I have it prepped and ready to applique!
Blooming Series – Leaves
Wow! This was one of the easier blooming series to layout. Each “leaf” is only one piece and the colors are easy to spot where they go. I have it all laid out and fused. I will be able to apply to background which I just sewed before running to Starbucks this morning. I love the colors so much. The vase fabric is just freaking adorable. This will be a fun one to stitch.
A Year in Words – Give Thanks
I haven’t actually broke this one out of the package yet, but I have plans to get everything out. This is a pieced and applique wall hanging so is a little more involved but they always turn out fabulous. I will consider getting the mini blocks cut and sewn a win today.
Blooming Pansies
Still just need to do purple thread. Now that I am working on the fall projects, they all have purple so this should get finished up. Click here to see last progress picture.
On the Sewing Table
New Projects for November:
Large Fall Tablecloth for Caitlin
Yesterday found me designing the requested tablecloth for Caitlin’s kitchen table. Since I don’t have a ton of time, I went with simple and reversible. A couple of weeks ago I picked up a bunch of fat quarters and some yardage of two good backgrounds. I had in my head the possibility of appliqueing some leaves on it but I might have to let that go for now. I went with a four patch with 12 1/2 inch fall fabrics blocks and then very large borders to make it 48 inch square. Did I mention that it will be reversible and have no batting. More true tablecloth style. Still thinking about whether to bind or not.
Small Fall Patio Tablecloth for Caitlin
I had enough fabrics leftover to make a matching table cloth just half the size for Caitlin’s patio table. This one will have binding because it is a slotted table and we can’t have stuff falling off can we? It will also be reversible. I have already been thinking about the quilting. I think we will go with simple and clean cut – straight lines.
Halloween Projects To Do:
Spooky Placemats
It seemed to take forever and was very boring but I finally finished quilting the 4 reversible placemats. They turned out well. Click here to see quilting. Now they just need to be trimmed and bound. *Not happening this weekend*
Halloween Napkins
Zero. Nada. Zilch progress. I promise to get something done soon on this one. Another easy to kick off the list. Just got to do it.
Easy Pieced Table Runner – October
With missing the holiday, it is hard to be motivated to make this a top priority. It has definitely slipped down the ever growing list. I do still have everything out. The center blocks are cut and ready. Fabric is purchased for the applique and just waiting for me to trace out the shapes on fusible paper. It is a complicated project to begin with and will take quite some time to stitch down so I am guessing a few months with all the other more pressing needs on my sewing table.
Halloween Hexies
They are still hanging out in the sewing room taking up space. I should just finish them up so they are done! They are designated to be two mug rugs and two potholders. Grandma grid quilted the background before applying the hexies on her potholders. I like the idea of doing that versus trying to do it once they are on. That will mean hand appliquéing them. Go here if you want to see the hexie flowers.
Other Sewing Projects
Halifax Temperature Quilt
Still plugging away at this one. The 2 1/2″ half square triangle blocks make great leaders for other things. But I am actively working this quilt – slow and steady.
Tula Pink Zuma Charm Squared Quilt
No new progress. Check back later this month on this one. With all this time at home, I should have some forward movement on this one. I am at the sew the rows together step.
Thanksgiving Placemats & Napkins
I pulled these out thinking I was going to finish these up. But now I think I will be putting these back and finish these up next year. Since I am doing all these projects for Caitlin, I just don’t have time for them in November. Besides we are having Thanksgiving in Canada this year. Maybe I will pull them out in December to work on them, but I am not making any promises on this one.
Quilting to be Done
As you may note above, I was able to finish the quilting on the Halloween placemats so they have moved back to the sewing section. This was the only quilting I did in the past two weeks.
Hexagon Charity Quilt
This quilt is still hanging around for almost two years now. I may take this one with me and pick out all the quilting I have done. I think I really don’t like the burgundy thread as it takes away to the hand quilted butterflies. I will be throwing this one in the To Go Bag to work on. Then I will do something in a light thread to fade into the background so those butterflies stand out. Just saying this makes me feel better!
2010 NYE Quilt
I’ve been thinking about this quilt. While I still would like to practice my free motion, if I just fmq the borders and either leave the stitch in the ditch as final or do a little more straight line quilting, this will be better. But I am letting you know right now, this is not a November project. This month we will be focusing on removing the stitching from the above quilt and getting the tech out to fix my longarm.
Little Quilty projects
I hope to quilt the hexie mug rugs or hexie potholders. Waiting to be quilted are the blue pinwheel potholders, Sunflower star potholders, and of course the two table cloths I will be making for Caitlin. I am giving myself a week to put those tops & backs together.
Wrap Up
Well that is all the quilty news for this week. I hope to have more progress to report at the end of this week. Work will be very busy with meetings all week and then travel at the end of the week. So keep your fingers crossed. Here is a picture of my quilty cat helping me design the table cloth. She is just full of ideas!
Safe Travels and Happy Quilting!
Peggy Stockwell