January Progress

My January Mini was a record-breaker for me - inspiration to binding in eight days!  The quilt is 12" square, so hand quilting breezed along.  I followed the character (wrong turn on a couple blocks) to replicate the charm of the original.  There are 36 1" hourglass blocks in the center and 12 3" Four Patch blocks.  I might not have chosen the best backing, but my winter stash is limited.  Washing added a lot of texture - I used Quilter's Dream Request batting.

Here's my January progress on Dear Jane -

Triangle Right 7, F8 Church Window, D10 Battlefield, Triange Right 13, D12 Crosse Swords, A8 Florence Nightingale, J3 Rick's Volleyball Net, and A6 Uncle Homer.  The block that's missing sashing is A11 Pebble's Protest.  I ran out of fabric to finish the narrow outer block border so hoping I'll find more of the fabric when I return home in the spring.  The DJ blocks finish at 4 1/2" - tiny when the block contains lots of pieces.

I'm also working on a large quilt I started at a November retreat.  This project is fun to intersperse with other sewing because all the cutting is done!

I've selected my February Mini and started drafting the center applique block.  More Hourglass in my future this month.

Thanks for stopping by - Happy Stitching!

Quilt Challenge

Occasionally, Jan and I will instigate a quilt challenge.  The latest one I completed was lingering for a few years.  We each bought a custom jellyroll of reproduction strips from Boline's at the Chicago Quilt Festival.  I can't remember the 'official' challenge rules - I just know I didn't adhere.  I added two yardage fabrics and bits and pieces to finish out the nine patch blocks.  It's been so long ago that Jan's quilt is MIA.  I call mine 'Who Are You?' cause it's so different from my usual.

The lighting is never good for pictures - sorry.  Not sure if it's finished or if I'll add on - breaking more rules :).  Here's a close-up of one section.

We're taking a road trip next week which includes a little retreat time.  I found this Faye Burgos fabric, Chestnut & Vine Strip-It, while working on a fabric storage project.  There are 17 different strips in the width.  I cut the yardage in half and offered the challenge.  Each fabric length is about 40".  I plan on some creative cutting in advance.  My added yardage is across the top.

Here's a peek at my fabric storage project.  This armoire is in my back hall.  It was a big open area with three tipsy stacks of yardage - hard to see and retrieve.  I've been wanting to tackle the problem for a year, but couldn't get the engineer (husband) to land on a solution.  The answer was in the lower level all that time.  Sometimes you just have to take the bull by the horns :)!

Thanks for stopping by - have a great week!  Weather has been glorious here.

Good Ol' Dependable Math

The center was complete and the inner border would bridge the gap for the independent outer border.  I 'did the math' multiple times - always the same answer :).  The inner border was cut and attached to the quilt center.  The outer border pieces were constructed and laid out on the design wall.  As the first side section was pieced together, I kept thinking it was going to be short in length.  I knew the math was correct, but maybe the logic was faulty.  The first side had to be completed in one session cause I had to know.  It was perfect - Good Ol' Dependable Math!! 

The bottom border and corner aren't attached yet, but so happy everything fits together.

I'm close to completing the top, but have no plan for the next large project.  I'm working on something small that I'll share next time.

Have a great week!

Summer Sewing

I've been having some trouble making fabric decisions on my current project - sashing, cornerstone, and inner border choices.  The first to get resolved was the sashing fabric.  The cornerstone fabric was a dilemma - because so little fabric was required, almost everything in the stash was a candidate.  Yesterday was the day to pick something and move forward.  Inner border fabric is still simmering.  I have a small section sewn together -

Here's just one block for a better look at the cornerstone.  The sashing is an old Documentaries print by Benartex I found in a shop last November.  I had bits of this print in other colorways, but not this brown.   The one yard piece was enough for the sashing with some to spare for future scrap piecing.

I was hoping for low contrast on the alternate hourglass blocks (all brown fabrics), but I see I wasn't successful :).  It's a 5 x 5 layout - 13 Goose Chase and 12 Hourglass. 

I try to do one needle of floss on the sampler each morning before I start my day. 

I'm knitting a sweater while watching the Cubs in the evenings.  Last night Walla decided my project basket was the perfect spot.

A TISKET, A TASKET

A CAT IN THE BASKET

And best of all, it's peonie season - a fabulous treat for the senses!!

Have a great week!

Skinny 'T' Milestone

A successful week - all Skinny 'T' blocks pieced and sewn together with sashing and cornerstones.  This will be followed by a solid border and then another pieced section.  I'm tentative on this green (can you tell that's green?) for the border.  Final decision will come after the next section is complete.  Cutting will commence shortly.  The most time consuming part of the 'T' blocks was fabric selection - the pitfalls of a healthy stash.  Am I right?

Hope you find some sewing time mixed in your holiday!

Porch Sewing

Schedules permitting, Jan and I get together once a week during warm weather months for porch sewing.  We usually work on hand quilting small projects - doll or crib quilts.  My current work-in-progress is from Lori's Humble Quilts  'Cheddar Cheese and Crackers' quilt-along from January 2010.  Yikes, way overdue to quilt and bind.  This is the first top I'm hand quilting freehand with no chalk guidelines.

I've been working on Skinny 'T' blocks - 12 complete, 13 to go.  The first six blocks included just pink, blue and brown.  That seemed too repetitive, so I expanded the color pool.  I have a couple green fabrics I'm considering for borders, so hoping to bridge the color transition.

Have a sunny, summer week!

Skinny 'T'

A post from the December 2017 archives of Petite Quilts by Annette Plog was the spark for the back quilt of Devil Stars (the quilt top from my recent posts).  Here is a link to purchase Annette's pattern (no affiliation).  If you're not familiar with Annette's blog, you'll enjoy reading thru the archives.  May 2018 posts include her trip to Paris and Nantes to attend the Pour l'Amour du Fil show with Betsy Chutchian, a featured artist this year.

I've always loved Skinny 'T' antique quilts.  My blocks will finish at 8.25", so the pieces are large and sew up quickly.   I'm exchanging the center square for an hourglass on eight of the blocks and for a four patch on the center block.  I'm planning on five rows of five blocks - 25 'T' blocks.  I was originally planning on setting block -to-block, but I like the look of the cornerstone and sashing.  I have another block in mind for the next round, but haven't decided on specifics.  Sorry for the rough picture, but it is a 'work in progress'.

Update on our new family member, Jacks - the vet puts him at 1 to 1 1/2 rather than 3!!  He's a good boy, but did chew the library audio plastic book case when left alone - Uh Oh.  At least there was no damage to the disks.  Not looking forward to returning it :(

Thanks for stopping by!

Devil Stars

The top is not complete, but getting close.  My design wall is hung down my main hallway, so I can't get a straight-on shot.  This quilt has been a lot of cutting and unit piecing, but also a lot of fun.  It's large - 94" before quilting.  The inspiration quilt is from the May/June 1991 issue of Lady's Circle Patchwork Quilts pictured on page 45 - an 1890's Devil's Claw in the collection of Bernice Stone.  A quick look in the Brackman 'Encyclopedia' didn't find a match, but I'll do a more thorough search later.  Now, I'm headed out for a day of birthday fun!

Cheers