Quilt Diary: Going on a Picnic and other Sew-a-long Updates

It is hard to believe that we are now in the last week of July.  Where did the month go?  I kept thinking I was going to post every week. LOL!  That never happened.  Realistically the writing gets done, it is the photography that is lagging behind.  This time around I thought I could do a follow-up on all of my Sew-a-Longs.

It feels weird not participating in the 100 days 100 blocks this year as I have done it the last two summers.  I still have 2018 and 2019 to assemble.  Plus it is not a new pattern this year.  It takes a lot of effort to do a block every day although 100 days is easier than 365 days.  For 2020, I am sticking with some easier sew-a-longs so I can get caught up.  Is that an oxymoron?

Quilter’s Planner Block of the Month 2020

I didn’t realize that I had not posted any of these blocks since April.  I am current so I thought I would post an update with all the blocks through July.  This is such a fun quilt and the solids are fantastic!

 

Monthly Color Challenge 2020 with Patterns by Jen

The monthly color challenge is tweeting along very nicely.  It was a bit of a stretch to use Rust (versus Orange) this month because Alison Glass doesn’t really have Orange.  So I used as close I could get.  Here is everything through July with a little help from Simba.

Spring 2020 Monthly Mystery QAL with Cotton Cuts

It is hard to believe we are on Clue 6 already.  I still need to sew this one but here are clues 4 and 5.  This has been a fun colorway for the Name of the Rose Mystery Quilt – Colorific.

Going on A Picnic with Pat Sloan

At the end of June, Pat Sloan started a this new weekly block sew a long.  Even though Pat has two broken wrists, she continues to find a way to do what she loves.  Although she admits that she really misses sewing herself!  Here is my fabric pull and the first three blocks.  I totally went with a selection of fabrics I picked up in Tucson, AZ in 2012.

Jolly Bar RowALong with Fat Quarter Shop

Fat Quarter Shop is hosting Jolly Bar (5×10) row-a-long using their newly released book Jolly Bar Vol 2.  This sampler does not use every block presented in the new book but over half.  This is another weekly block.  I would say row but it is more block.  The first week’s blocks were for the top and bottom rows while the next two weeks blocks share one row.  I used a layer cake cut in half for mine and it was one that I have had for a while.  Once we are done with this, I will probably make up the other half (jolly bar) into a quilt.  I forgot the name of this adorable cat metallic fabric.  It is fun and I added a pale aqua grunge fabric which is working well.

Jelly Snowflake Mystery Quilt with Fat Quarter Shop

This Mystery Quilt is another weekly block release and was designed with the idea of using a Christmas Jelly Roll.  I had ordered Clothworks Purrfect Christmas jelly roll before I found one in my stash.  Lucky for me, Pat Sloan plans on doing this one again when she has use of her hands so I can make it with the other jelly roll.  Now that I know what the layout is, it will help with appropriate color placement.  Here is my progress so far.  You may notice Nala assisting in the photo.  The two kittens kept wrestling on my blocks while I was trying to get a “group” photo.  I finally gave up and just took the picture!  LOL!

Good Morning Mug Table Runner SAL with Pat Sloan

A second sew a long that Pat started at the end of July is the Good Morning Mug Table Runner kit using Lori Holt’s Happy Charm pack.  The kit included the charm pack, background, sashing, borders, backing, binding, and some real cute rickrack.  We are suppose to do six blocks for three weeks with the fourth week assembling and finishing the table runner.  Uhhh.  I am a wee bit behind.  Just one week though!  I did cut everything and started sewing the blocks yesterday.  They are way easier to put together than they look.  I found that pressing the seams open worked much better if I want a pretty block.  No trimming until the block is complete is another must.

Singing in the Rain Stitch-A-Long with Flamingo Toes

As you may be aware, I started up with cross stitch during these trying times.  This Stitch-A-Long with Beverly over at Flamingo Toes was too cute to resist.  I love how she made the stitch-a-long easy to stay current.  Typically, I can do each week’s row in one night and I am not a quick stitcher.  I am off by a week which was the border so I am doing the border as I go.  I haven’t done all the accent colors yet, but I am good with that.  Totally adorable! 

Mistletoe Lane Mystery Stitch A Long with Fat Quarter Shop

Another Myster Stitch-a-Long with FQS.  You sign up and pay for the pattern not knowing what you are getting – The Mystery!  I wish I wasn’t just stitching in a fog.  I saw quite a few color changes that were awesome!  I am behind on this SAL as I am still working on Week 3 – The house.  The last week was released on Friday, July 31st.  It was a tree and I am not a big fan of the way the greens were stitched.  I think I will end up swapping the light and dark green.  Still thinking about the changes I want to make to the presents.  I really do not want a pink present with the pink house.  I was so tired of working with the pink, that earlier this week, I worked on the white snow parts of the house just for a change of pace. Here is my progress so far:

 

Prim Stitch Series with Lori Holt

I bought the club version of this from FQS.  I get the latest release each month.  We received Release 1 early July.  I am spending one evening a week working on it and I am almost done.  This is another one that the border was out and I didn’t realize it.  I decided to stitch as one piece although I see the appeal of doing them as individual items.  This happens a lot with Applique.  You have to decided to do as one or individually.  The quilt version is going to be released soon, but I don’t like her applique so I will just do the cross stitch. 

Lost and Found Quilt with Paper Pieces

I was doing so well with this QAL until covid.  With no hockey practice, games, or tournaments, I am missing my stitching time.  English Paper Piecing is my on the go project.  I find it better suited than even cross stitch.  I missed the July email for the July blocks released so I only recently printed out the instructions for July.  I need to do the fabric pull and cut.  Meanwhile, I am slowly moving forward on June’s blocks 11 and 12.  This month found me having some hockey time, so I am almost done with block 11 which is great colors.  I decided I wanted to see blocks 1-10 laid out.  I threw in block 11 even though it is not done (at the right of the pic with purple/blue/sea foam).

The Challenges, SAL, RAL, etc that aren’t quite current

I have a number of social stitching that I am behind on.  Some I haven’t even done anything in weeks but I thought I would throw them out there so you know I haven’t given up yet.

Sugaridoo/Bernina Row-a-long is one that started in November and I fell by the wayside because a majority of the rows are foundation paper piecing which isn’t my strong point.  I still like the idea but haven’t figured out how I will deal with this.  Maybe I will use the No More Tears Method.

365 Block Challenge not only is this a challenge I started in 2018, I am in the middle of June and have only made one block this month and this is my APQ Resolution quilt this month too.  #sigh  This is just a monster of a project.  I honestly get pretty burned out on this one because most blocks take me an hour or more to piece.  I just need to cut a bunch more and have the blocks next to the sewing machine and use the project as enders and leaders for other projects.  That way I will still make forward progress.  If I get a bug to do more, then I can.  I like that plan!

Feels Like Home Mystery Stitch A Long is one where I was hoping to do it with everyone but didn’t receive the materials until the end of the stitch-a-long and I just have been swept up with other things.  Set aside but not forgotten.

PC Monthly Truckin’ Along is one where I joined late and so I missed the first two months already.  I find it very de-motivating to be behind.  Even though I started with the current project, I found the project itself challenging as well.  So I am working on the August Truck.  I have only finished the banner and haven’t even started the truck itself.

Bloomtopia Charity Mystery Stitch-a-long is another one where I was late to the party to begin with but didn’t receive my materials until it was almost done.  It is now a filler project when I don’t want to work on other stuff.  It is actually a very easy project.

Farmers Wife 1920 English Paper Piecing project is one that ended a long time ago.  I started it back in 2018 and am still plugging away.  July found me only finishing one block.  I normally onle EPP when I am at hockey so this is causing me to rething my approach to EPP.

APQ Resolution is a love/hate relationship for me.  I usually am so relieved from the last month that I don’t even start until mid month which means I am already behind.  This was my first year to do this.  While the idea is to work on “the quilt” of the month, I think next year, mine will be just ones READY to quilt.  This month was the 365 block challenge quilt which has been a total flop as mentioned above.

Wrap Up

I use wordpress to do my blog and they updated the software recently.  I am struggling with the photos.  First it takes a lot of work to gather photos for all the projects and then when the software doesn’t display it how you want it, then it takes that much longer to post the blog.  So I played around with a few apps on my phone to make collages instead.  I kind of like them.  I will probably continue doing that.  Obviously it is easier to upload to the website that way.

Now that I am getting a few more finished quilts, I will probably start a gallery as soon as I figure out how to do that on the website. LOL!

I want to leave you a picture from today while I was trying to take a photo of all my blocks for one of my monthly challenges.  Enjoy Simba!

Wash your hands and enjoy your stitching!!!

Peggy