First of all, an update from Part 1, pattern and teaching samples -
I talked to the new co-chairs of PCQ's community service committee, and they want me to hold on to the unquilted pattern samples. I haven't had a chance to talk to the veterans' quilts chair yet about Star Spangled Spiral. I will keep the Scrappy Nine Patch Stars pattern sample. So, no reduction in UFOs in that category.
The second category is unquilted tops. I donated almost all of my unquilted tops in 2020 while downsizing for moving from Missouri to Arizona. One top that I kept is very old; some tops are more recent UFOs, and some are current WIPs. Some are for donation quilts and some are for keeps.
The oldest UFO is a small tessellated top, made sometime between 2006 and 2010. I have a backing for it. The top is marked for quilting with viney leaves and the stencil is packed with the project. The hold-up is that I didn't have the quilting skills back then to free motion quilt it. Also, the small size, about 46", always seemed like an awkward, not-very-useful size.
Feathered Star, 40", 2021, made as a test to see if I wanted to make a queen size feathered star quilt for my bed. (The answer was No.) This could be finished as a baby quilt, but I don't need a baby quilt for anyone now and PCQ doesn't currently have a charity that wants baby quilts.
Top from Cut and Shuffle Block Mamas. The Block Mamas were made in 2014 but the plan for the
Kaffe fabric quilt in the book changed so they were not used. Since I have a
Cut and Shuffle quilt in these fabrics, these Block Mamas just sat in a box for ten years. Finally last year I came up with a different plan, added the purple polka dot sashing, and pieced this top at retreat. Needs backing.
Kaffe Gradient Top: This project has been on my monthly goals list many times but always gets bumped for higher priority projects or squirrels. What does that say about my dedication to it??? The backing is pieced and I have batting. I want to quilt this on my domestic machine, in the ditch using monofilament thread. The holdup is procrastination over: a) getting it basted, and b) my anxiety about finishing it with facings, not binding. I have wall space in my sewing room where this could hang when it's finished.
Edna's Pattern: sample made in early 2024. Needs backing and I couldn't find enough pinks and turquoises of the right shades in my or the club's stash to cobble a backing together. After quilting it will be given to Edna and she can decide what to do with it, probably donate it.
Lozenges top: Blocks made at retreat last July, finished piecing in October. Backing is pieced. This was going to be next up for quilting, but Kevin's tops came and I made those the higher priority for quilting. Then the club's long arm broke down, and now quilting is on hold. This will be a donation quilt.
Storyboard Stacked Slabs: 58 x 68", pieced in September. I have fabric from the club's stash for the backing but it needs to be pieced. This is intended to be a donation to a local family services agency that occasionally needs quilts for teen boys.
Cherries Jubilee, 64 x 88" for twin bed, pieced in December 2024. Backing needs to be pieced.
Some of the tops to be quilted are recent WIPs, but getting them quilted may be a while.
The club's long arm broke down in November. The PCQuilters board and members voted to allocate funds for replacing the motherboard. After the repairs, the machine was briefly available again for about 10 days in December. It's still not working properly, and the members of the club's long arm committee have been working diligently with the Gammill tech. They have determined that the machine is not safe to use. It's 25 years old and although it's an industrial model, it's had hard use, often by inexperienced users. It needs to be replaced. The long arm machine is actually owned by the Pebble Creek HOA, not the quilt club. The club leaders are working with the HOA to see what our next steps are. In the meantime, no long arm quilting is happening.
I guess my unquilted tops will remain unquilted for a while longer....
Linking up with Finished *or Not* Friday at
Alycia Quilts. Like the pattern samples last week, these are definitely in the *or Not* category.