QUILT DIARY: Under the needle for January 2021

How has your January been? Here in California we have had the strangest weather. You may recall that last week we had sunny days in the high 70’s. It began to rain on Friday and hasn’t stopped. We had temperatures drop below freezing over the weekend. Crazy indeed!

Let’s talk a little quilting this week. Overall my focus has been quilting on my Wedding quilt but I have snuck in some other sewing throughout the month. Here is my update:

Are You Game? Mystery Quilt by Cotton Cuts Update

This month I was able to get current on these two mystery quilts in two different colorways and two different sizes. They are both batiks and the fabrics are fun! The clues are so different from each other!

Name of the Rose Mystery Quilt by Cotton Cuts Update

I have been working on assembling all the clues and adding the setting pieces (clue 10) for this mystery quilt! It is challenging but very interesting. I can’t wait to see how it goes together.

Monthly Color Challenge 2020 by Patterns By Jen

Wow, this was a very challenging block. On top of that, I thought I had everything cut out – and didn’t! At last this red block came together to make a beautiful block. It is really hard to tell this is a 9 patch block. It almost looks like it was put together as Y seams.

I have started messing around with different layouts for the 2020 blocks but have not landed on THE one yet. I’m considering onpoint with sashing and cornerstones.

Monthly Color Challenge 2021 by Patterns by Jen

For 2021, I have decided that I would do my Alison Glass low volume fabrics as a white background. I will be using all Alison Glass fabrics again. For Jaunary, I was able to have the white with purple line with a Purple cloth and black lines. I am loving the look!

Quilters Planner Block of the Month 2020

The last block for the BOM was another foundation paper piecing block. I am sure if I was a better quilter, I could have done it without the paper. It is a very striking block.

For now, I put this one away to assemble a little later. I have several that I am attempting to assemble at the moment from prior Quilter Planner SAL – two from 2018 and the 2019.

Christmas Advent Wedding Quilt Update (January APQ Resolution Project)

I have a few more days left in January to finish quilting this one. I finished all the stitch in the ditch with my walking foot and then decided to add a few accents on the black borders. I love how it looks. I used the orange peel fmq for the pieced border and decided to straightish line quilting for all the blocks and sashing.

You see that squiggle in the picture – it is supposed to look like a Christmas tree. LOL! It just looks like a squiggle. Oh well. I still feel good about it. I don’t ever quilt very straight so this time I deliberately didn’t go straight but am attempting to cover a certain area. They are really actually gentle wavy lines. I get bored some I throw in circles, hearts or whatever else comes to mind. I am sure before it is all over there will even be a swirl in there.

Once I finish quilting the center, I will need to go back and quilt the two black borders. I have a pattern in mind, but I could easily change my mind so I will not share until I am actually done.

Placemats

As you may recall, I have some Spring placemats that go with my May table runner in corals and aquas that I made. I bound the first two with another shade of aqua and I have two left to bind with a soft shade of coral.

I had written on my to do list January placemats and napkins. I already have a perfect table runner in purples, teals, and white batiks for the table runner. So I order some more fabric that would go with this to make placemats and napkins. While waiting for the fabric to arrive, I rediscovered some awesome snowman panel that I think will make a great main part of the placemat. I am once again making four of them, so I will have one square left and that I decided would work great as a napkin. Keep your fingers crossed that I actually get it done. LOL!

Wrap Up

I have an extensive to do list of quilting projects. I am focusing on finishing projects this year. I created a lot of tops during 2020 and they need to be finished up. I am once again jumping in on my 365 block quilt as well as finishing tops. It’s hard not starting something new and staying focused on finishing. I know I will feel good each time I finish a quilt (but I want instant gratification!!!).

I have in my to do bucket a wallhanging that I did by Elizabeth Hartman and a table runner by Lori Holt. I had pre-cut fabric for Valentine placemats and napkins. I cut a mask to sew. These are all small projects.

Enjoy what is rest of January everyone. I wanted to share another photo of my helpers.

Peggy