Cold, cold, cold its been here! I have done lots of sewing, but the only finish is this elephant baby quilt, 2.75 yards.
My eQuilter order arrived with 15.5 yards, so the numbers will be lopsided for a while. But it is beautiful fabric (and I’ve already used some of the elephants).
This week: +15.5 yards, -2.75 yards
This year: +15.5 yards, -6.25 yards
Net fabric destashed added in 2015: 9.25 yards
Keep warm and keep sewing! I’m linking up to Sunday Stash Report at Patchwork Times.
This week I’ve been sewing 6 1/2″ string blocks, about a million of them. No, yesterday I finished the seventy-seven little blocks, trimmed the last few, then removed all the paper while watching tv.
My insiration came from Jackie at Sew Excited Quilts. When she posted these amazing layouts for HSTs, I knew I wanted to use one of the star designs for a QoV.
I think this is my favorite. Now I just have make the rest of the 154 HST units… No, they’ll go pretty fast. I’m drawing a line down the center of each Kona Snow square, then sewing on each side before cutting down the center of each pair of blocks. Very easy and stable for the string blocks.
On what are you making progress? I’m linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.
The first report in a fresh year! And I have a finish to start the year! No new fabric came in, but I have ordered some, so the numbers will probably be bouncing around. This year I’ve set my destashing goal at 50 yards. (Here are the rest of my goals for 2015.)
.
This week: +0 yards, -3.5 yards
This year: +0 yards, -3.5 yards
Net fabric destashed: 3.5 yards
January Goals
1. Sew a Quilt of Valor from stash.
2. Order supplies for surface decoration on quilts.
3. Design and begin a winter-themed art quilt.
4. Deliver quilts I’ve designated for donation.
5. Audit Jenny Beyer BOM Craftsy Class.
6. Complete Step One on Charlotte’s Scrap in a Box Mystery Quilt.
This is more items than I usually focus on, but January is prime sewing time, and I truly do expect to get a lot done!
Hope you are off to a great start in 2015! I’m linking up to Sunday Stash Report at Patchwork Times.
This week I got off to a great start by sewing up a little quilt that was easy, fun, and all about the scraps. I sewed it up quickly before I could over-think it, and I enjoyed every step. An auspicious start to the new year!
At Christmas, I went through my 6 1/2” scrap drawer to find pieces for the tissue holders, similar to these, and spotted these six different prints, all from different projects, I think. I pulled 28 squares, paired them with 28 squares of Kona White to make half-square triangles, and tossed them up on the design wall. The first try was a slight fail, but was soon adjusted to make a light, airy quilt of girly prints against a white background.
The stash also yielded this perfect piece of batik for the back. Not only is it gorgeous on its own, but it saved the quilt from being too pink. I used the trimmings from the back to bind the quilt, careful to offset the colors so that it contrasts a little with the back.
This time I didn’t begin the quilting by stitching between the blocks, or by basting it with water-soluble thread as I have with the other chevrons. I reasoned that it is a small quilt, and that my feather spines would serve to stabilize it instead. Apparently, it worked, because it all turned out flat and square and fine.
For the feathers, I marked the spines and then quilted the rest free-hand. For the vines, I drew one side of each vine and traced a circle every place a flower would go, then free-handed the leaves and flowers. On largish flowers, I need that guidance or my flowers don’t turn out very round.
I quilted that part with a pretty variegated thread from Signature that gave my a few fits. It wasn’t the thread so much as the way the spool was made. I solved it in a low tech way.
I didn’t add any extra batting to poof the feathers, and I really like all the crinkly texture that resulted.
I hope all of you are finding time to sew things that give you pleasure in 2015!
Good wishes to you all on the cusp of the New Year! It’s a good time to look back over the things I’ve accomplished and to set some goals for the coming year.
This is most of what I sewed this year:
Nine of the quilts and all the pillowcases were donated. Nine have been sold.
You’ll find my 2014 Goals here.
I’m pleased with my progress on them. I tried a few new blocks and an old one with curves, and changed up and improved my quilting. I did try two kinds of zipper pouches. I managed them well, but I really don’t care for making them. I won’t be making fancy bags anytime soon. I designed, pieced and sandwiched my Slow Quilt, and I’ll make the quilting decisions for it in the new year. I did reduce my stash by another hundred yards (third year in a row!).
This week: + 0 yards, -7.5 yards
YTD: +126.25 yards, -229 yards
Net stash used 2014: -102.75 yards
So what about next year?
2015 Goals
This year I want to make more art quilts, including representational quilts. I’d like to experiment with using various printing techniques for surface decoration. I’ve been collecting some ideas and a few photos. I might start with a winter piece.
I want to quilt the Slow Quilt, and if I’m happy with it, consider entering it in show.
I have an idea for my own version of stack and whack that I want to try on a piece of fabric.
And I want to continue to reduce/turn over my stash. I’m not sure I can remove another hundred yards, though. I’ve already taken it down a lot, and I’m planning some very small quilts. I’m setting my goal at fifty yards, and if I do better than that, all the better. Fifty yards in ’15.
We wish you all a healthy, happy, prosperous, and productive New Year!
I had this quick baby quilt on my design wall this morning.
Then I changed it to this one
by moving one row! Yes, I moved the top row down to the bottom and now its a white quilt with pink and aqua chevrons. I see a few more blocks to move around, but I like this one much better!
What’s on your design wall? I’m linking up with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.
Happy Winter Solstice! And Happy Destashing to me! I did it, I made 100 yards net fabric use for the year! Thank you to all who said I could, and to all who cheered some of the very scrappy quilts that got me here. Nice to go into the new year 100 yards lighter. Now, if that would work with pounds…
Here is the quilt that put me ove the top, using 7.5 yards.
This week: + 0 yards, -7.5 yards
YTD: +126.25 yards, -229 yards
Net stash used 2014: -102.75 yards
And here is last week’s project that I couldn’t show. Each gift contains a box pouch, zipper pouch, and tissue cover.
Hope you are enjoying your Christmas crafting and that you have a wonderful holiday!
I’m linking up to Sunday Stash Report at Patchwork Times.
This morning I finally put the binding on the chartreuse rail fence quilt. I chose a medium blue (Kona, Candy Blue, I think) to bring out the blue in the prints. I always use a 2″ binding, sewn to the back with a 1/4″ foot, then sewn to the front with a blind stitch. (Tutorial here. Yuri helps!)
It washed up nice and cuddly, but I will need to lint roll it for a few pills. I discuss quilting it here. Again, yeah, Yuri helps. What would I do without that cat?
My 20 year old DS (home from college) likes to lounge in my studio and offer opinions, and he was very positive about the colors in these donation quilts. He often faults me for not using bright enough colors, and he thought these were great. With any luck they will be as appreciated by the kids who receive them.
For me, this quilt takes me over the hundred yards net use of fabric mark, and it clears my stash of fabrics that have overstayed their welcome. Win, win!
And I’m on to one final Christmas project, a t-shirt quilt for DH, with a fleece backing, so it won’t affect the numbers (I currently don’t expect to use fabric, there are so many shirts), but should be fun to sew on these days leading up to Christmas.
Hope you’re finishing everything you wish! I’m linking up to Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.
Today I’m quilting this chartreuse Rail Fence quilt. It’s for donation, and is sort of the companion to this more girly one. I’ve stitched in the ditch between all the 8″ blocks. Now I’m working on free motion spirals in alternate blocks, with only the outer edge marked. It’s a learning experience, but I’m getting better.
Of course, I have good help. (This paw wasn’t here when I started to take the picture, but wouldn’t cat paws be awesome for fmq-ing?)
Thinking of simple stars for the alternate blocks, unless you talk me into something else.
What are you working on?
I’m linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.
The sewing definitely lost out to the Christmas shopping, dining out, and wrapping this week. And what I did make were gifts, so I didn’t post any progress. They only used 1.5 yards. This is a teaser, freehand roses quilted in metallic thread.
This week: + 0 yards, -1.5 yards
YTD: +126.25 yards, -221.5 yards
Net stash used 2014: -95.25 yards
Creeping up on it…
Here’s a Christmas puzzler for you. See if you can spot the cat who’s not allowed on the table. You’ll have to look very closely, she’s sure that sitting perfectly still and avoiding eye contact makes her invisible. Right.
I’m linking up to Sunday Stash Report at Patchwork Times.
Evening in the Garden Quilts 