December

Again, I've missed a couple of months... Nothing to report on the UFO list, but I did sew some projects....and have more that I'd like to do before the end of the year.


My DD and I sewed 2 tops - one flannel, one cotton. We're trying to take all of the scraps and piece the backs for both from them.


I've also been working on placemats. About 20 of them... I have the "fall" side blocks done. They just have to be sewed together. Then, I need to create the "winter" side. I have a great idea for that, so we'll see how they go together. I want to get them done by February. Shouldn't be a problem.


I downloaded the template for All People Quilt's 2017 UFO challenge. I have a great idea. I'm going to make a couple of lists...one will be books and for that month, I need to make a project from the book specified. One is for ideas but nothing started. One would be a true UFO list. That's my idea... we'll see when I start looking at what I have and what I want to sew how those lists develop. I'll post either later this month or in January. I have other non-sewing UFOs, so maybe there's a list just for that...

September

I guess I took the summer off ... well, at least from my blog... I did quite a few things. I don't remember if they were related to the UFO challenge. I have been working that list, just maybe not in order... for now, let's see what I've accomplished since June...
In non-quilting projects, I finished a cross stitch project. They are quilt blocks from a blog called Quilty Stitches. Took me a few months and now the stitching is done. I'll post when I finish it.


I made 1 baby quilt.

The print has pink and blue bears. The baby is due in September and is a girl. The mom wanted neutrals...and a little pink. I think I nailed it. The pattern was a Moda Bake Shop and something like Jungle Path...I modified it slightly...

 Close up of the center blocks and quilting. I love loops and stars! The focal fabric had some stars so it fit well.

 The back was my usual scatter type block. I love making these blocks as I get rid of so much fabric...and I think they are fun.

 Close up of the back with the quilting. See how many different fabrics are incorporated?

 I like to bind my baby quilts with the satin blanket binding. This one, I machine bound back and front. It was giving me fits so I intentionally sewed a couple of times around...trying to make it look like a design choice...


I also made 1 shirt. I actually don't have a picture of it - so this is the first one I made (minus the pockets). This one has Chargers fabric (and it was at the time they were leaving so you can't believe the ribbing I took with this one...good thing they are now staying!).

The shirt above I made last summer by taking a class. The shirt I just finished has Padres fabric. I think I did a better job on the Chargers...but guess what? My DH wears both of them! I have 4 more to make - all fabric purchased, just need to cut them out...

I worked on the shirt at a sit and sew class on a Friday night. A couple of weeks later, my daughter and her friend came to the same class...

 Here's my daughter working on a quilt that came as a kit. We took 3 of them with us... She's got 1/2 of her blocks done. I'll show you my progress below.

 This is my daughter and her friend. She made a pillowcase that night so we were excited.

 Here's what I made... I got most of the blocks done that night and by the end of the weekend, I had the entire top finished. Here's the blocks on the design wall working on the layout. We had a limited number of options as the pattern was done a specific way - but I didn't like that layout...


I also made a table runner from a kit I won. No picture of that one yet...as I think I can quilt it myself.


I also have a small quilt I made using Thimbleblossom's Round and Round as inspiration. No picture of that one either as I think I can quilt it myself too...

Lastly, I'm working on placemats, 6 of them. I had some fabric from a project I made last year. It's specific fabric for a specific person...and they requested placemats. I want to get them done before next weekend. They are double sided...but are turning out pretty cute. I have to trim them and bind them so I think I can get them done this weekend!


And that's me caught up.  And September UFOs? According to the list, it's #12 for September.

I only have 1 number 12 - The Colorist. Hhmmm, that's a difficult pattern and I'm not sure I have all of the fabrics I need for it. It's a round rainbow quilt - really cool... so probably not happening...but maybe I can get some of those other projects quilted...

2016 UFO Challenge - catching up through June

I can't believe it's been nearly 2 months since I posted an updated. I've been busy outside of the house and when home, didn't spend my time in front of the computer. For the entire month of May, I didn't sew one stitch - not even on the long holiday weekend...


I have been sewing this month and have a "finish" to report. I finished my Nordic Snowflake quilt top. Ok, it's only the top, but still it's a finish!


I just finished it last night, so I have to take photos and then I'll post them. The top is 72" square and turned out really nice. I paper pieced a dala horse into the center and boy, was the a trial. I must have sewn it twice by the time I completed the block....lots of ripping and resewing. It may me realize it's been a long time since I paper pieced and I need to do more as I'm very out of practice. Still, the top looks fantastic!


June's number is 10 - which means,........antique kites and Amanda's Dino quilt. It's over halfway through the month, so I'm sure I won't get either done. I have a block drafted for the kite block and I plan to use my scrap box - which is nearly full. I have a photo for the Dino quilt. Since it's for my daughter, I'll see if she like the design or would like something else. I did use the dino panel fabric for decoration in May so that was fun.


I'm also doing some cleaning and organizing this summer so we'll see how far I get on the list in the next couple of months. It is nice to be sewing again!! Next post will be at the beginning of July - or sooner - and I'll have photos then!

2016 UFO Challenge - March Update and April start

Well, technically, March was a fail... I don't have any progress on the two March projects. The Nordic stars is still sitting in a pile... fabric and pattern waiting. I didn't do anything on Pickle Dish #2. I did complete the February quilt top Burgoyne Surrounded. It's 57" square...and I may measure the rest of the fabric to use as the back...although I'd really like to make a 4 block version which is predominantly red... we'll see.


I spent the month making hats for my cousin. She's going through another round of chemo and needs summer hats. She sent me two patterns to use and I made about 10 hats... I'll make her more, but I had to stop for a week and get my sewing machine cleaned...


I also made a couple of potato bags to make baked potatoes in the microwave...I also want to make some microwave bowl potholders. I found a couple of patterns for this and after heating up leftovers at work last week, these are going to the top of the list! Plus I have some placemats and coasters to make too...


The April number is 1 - which for me means Baby Quilt and Hawaiian Runner #2. The baby quilt is for someone I work with and has to be done before the beginning of May if I can... The Hawaiian Runner would be similar to two I made for a friend. They have little girls and boys holding hands and a great print - that I found more of in a shop and bought some extra! I made the runners for the twin beds in her guest room. I wanted to make one for me...so maybe having two smaller projects for this month - I'll make some progress. I also need to get in gear and make shirts for my husband. He's been very patient...and I could use some of the leftovers for the baby quilt...

2016 UFO Challenge - February update, March start

I've been thinking about this post for a week, but thought I'd wait until March 1 to also post what projects are up for March. First, February update...


My projects were placemats and Burgoyne Surround. I did very well on the placemats - I was able to complete 8 of them! I'll get pictures posted soon - they turned out so cute! They will be a gift for an occasion in April, so it's cool that they are done. I made progress on the Burgoyne Surround. I'm going to use the pattern from American Patchwork & Quilting magazine February 2014 issue called Tone it Down - only I'm not going to make mine scrappy. I'm going to try and make two small quilts - one with a red background and one with a teal background... Both are using Bonnie & Camille's new fabric line...there was a quilt run that started last Friday and I bought the fabric during the run. We're down to 10 local stores, so I completed it in two days. I only bought tools and some fabrics for specific projects...and a couple of gifts.


March's number is 3:

Nordic Stars / Dala Horse and Pickle Dish #2. Well, cool. I also picked up some fabrics for the Nordic Star pattern. It was in American Patchwork & Quilting's December 2013 issue called Nordic Snowflakes. I have the most gorgeous red batik so use...I used it as a small border on the Hawaiian quilt runners...and I found more during the quilt run! The Dala Horse - well I think I have a pattern. I was actually going to combine them into some kind of a quilt - so we'll see - or I may make two small quilts.  I finally got the first pickle dish quilt done early this year. It was quilted beautifully. I thought of making a 2nd one before the quilting... this one would be smaller and I'd quilt it myself. Here's the 1st one...

At this point, I don't plan on getting this quilt done in a month. The first one took me several months...just to foundation piece the arcs!!


So first 2 months down, and only 2 projects done...but you know what - I still feel like I'm making good progress!!


I have also been working on my latest Swedish Weaving afghan during the week. It's really extensive having both vertical and horizontal rows. I'm almost done with 2 skeins of yarn...and only 1/2 of the horizontal and 1 vertical rows are done...it's looking really good!

2016 UFO Challenge - January update, February start

Since it's the beginning of February, I thought I'd start with January status update and jump into February projects. When last I posted, I had completed the top to my Ombre Dutchman and was using all of the leftovers for the backing. I don't have a picture of the backing, but it is complete. AND I did have the entire project sandwiched together and had two lines of stitching into it...and then pulled it apart and made a hole in the back... Yesterday I ripped part of the back apart and fixed the hole (the good thing is it happened in a small block so I just replaced the block). I have the 3 pieces waiting for me to rebaste. I didn't baste close enough so I'm going to start all over...


The good news is - I found my little red and white top, got a backing made, quilted it and bound it... (not crazy about how I finished the binding, so I may redo that). I have it draped over my Grandma B's treadle sewing machine. Here's what it looks like when you walk in my front door...

... and here's the entire quilt - top:

and back:

I love both! I tried something new with the binding...in that I used a decorative stitch as the last stitching on the top. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. I'll probably pull it out and resew.


Onto February. Per All People Quilt's 2016 UFO Challenge, February's number is 5:

Burgoyne Surround and Placemats!


As I was piecing the back of my Ombre Dutchman, I decided to do Leaders & Enders per Bonnie Hunter (Quiltville). I don't have an exact link, but search her site and you'll know what I'm talking about. Anyway...I started piecing together red and white squares to make strips. Last spring, I pieced 8 stars to make placemats that are like American Flags. I'm starting with those 8 placemats... I had to buy more red fabric last night as it's taking more than I had cutup..and the reds I had on hand were not right...I also found some great white on white fabric. During the Superbowl game today, I intend to sew! So, without knowing they'd be next, I'm working on placemats!


As far as Burgoyne Surround, I have a couple of patterns, including the one used in a previous American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine (All People Quilt) challenge (I think 2014?) I just have to figure out what color palette I want to use and how big I want to make it. I'm thinking of making just a small table topper to see how I like making it...


Great projects for February! I'm feeling good about my January progress - and think I can do well on February!

January UFO Challenge Progress - Ombre Dutchman / Mini Red & White

I thought I'd check in as January is almost over. I haven't done a lot of quilting, but I have progress on my 2 UFO Challenge projects.



First - Ombre Dutchman - I have a completed quilt top! I love it! The directions were a bit misleading as sometimes I think the pattern referred to making 1 block instead of 2 per color... At any rate, I was able to make my 4 HUGE blocks for the quilt - can I say it again? I love it! Here's a picture of the top:


I needed a bit more of the white backing, so I had to add to a couple of the left over triangles to make them bigger and be able to use them. Here's a close up of a couple of the blocks:



I just love how I arranged the ombre blocks. The top is about 48" square.


I've been working on the back. In my true fashion, I've been using up the leftovers from this project. There's a 1/2 yard of pink ombre and the left over white triangles. Oh, and using the left over ombre triangles. I've got a gray batik that I'm using also, so we'll see what happens. I've got the bigger blocks together in a cool double pinwheel block. I'm working with the small extra triangles that are in a hourglass layout. Hopefully, I can get everything pulled together for the back.


Second - Mini Red & White - Sad to say, no progress on this one at all to date. I haven't even looked for it to tell the truth! There is hope -  since it's so small - that I just may still get it done in January. It's just second to the Ombre Dutchman!


I have been working on a new Swedish Weaving pattern and a cross stitch pattern...something easier to work on evenings after work. When I get further along, I'll post something.