June Stash Report and Goals Update

I was away on vacation for a couple weeks in June, so not much quilty stuff happened. 

I managed to piece together a larger size version of PCQ Community Service's Irish Chain pattern in a curated palette so I could check the yardages, etc. I turned in the top and the pattern early in the month and promptly forgot all about it. No photo, sorry.  

I did finish another Scrappy Serendipity top, this one using all one background fabric. I made it to test the yardage requirement for the background if using all one fabric. And also because I liked the analogous pink/purple palette. This scrappy pattern works so well in analogous colors. This version finished at 50 by 60 inches, a good kid size throw. 

 (Pardon the crooked indoor photo. It's 114 degrees outside right now

 and I don't feel like going out there in the heat to take photos.)

Along with sewing the top, I wrote up the pattern. I also designed and wrote patterns for two friends. One had a QOV eagle panel that turned out to be squares (blocks) so we came up with a diamond medallion layout and I gave her dimensions, cutting, etc. She has already finished the quilt and it turned out looking good. The other friend wanted a layout for some BOM blocks of an awkward size, and after struggling to come up with something that would fit, I gave her a couple options with measurements. 

My other accomplishment for the month was just one more hourglass block of the three remaining for the teal project. Now only two to go!

No stash was added this month. I didn't even visit a single quilt shop on my vacation! But since I finished this Scrappy Serendipity top, I get to count its fabrics out, and the yardage of mine used for the Irish Chain test. 

June Stash Report

IN this month: 0
OUT this month: 11 yards (Irish Chain test sample, my fabrics, about 5 yards. Pink Scrappy Serendipity top, about 6 yards.)

IN YTD: 38-1/4 yards
OUT YTD: 65-5/8 yards

YTD Net Change: 27-3/8 yards out

Goals Update: 

June Recap: 

1. Piece a top for pattern testing an enlarged version of the Irish Chain pattern for Community Service. Edit pattern. Turn in top and pattern on 6/6. DONE

2. Work on the teal value study blocks. Yes, but still have two left to make.

3. Work on the Leftover Strata project. No, not touched.

4. Quilt Cherry Jubilee on 6/29. No, time slot cancelled. 

5. Work on design requests from two friends in EQ. Yes, provided a QOV pattern for Cherie's eagle blocks and two layout options for Paula's BOM blocks. 

6. Play with color combos for Scrappy Serendipity in EQ and start another fabric version. Yes, made a pink/purple version with one fabric for the background. Wrote up the pattern for both versions, two sizes. 

7. Prep for retreat in July. Yes, the collaborative project with Cherie is ready to go, and I'll take along the Postage Stamp project and the Leftover Strata project.

Wow, it looks like I got a lot more quilty stuff dome in June than I thought. Not so much sewing, but a lot of designing, calculating, and writing. 

July Goals: 

1. Finish the last two blocks for the teal value study project.

2. Repurpose a kit from PCQ Community Service and make a top. Must be smaller than the twin bed size originally kitted up.

3. Plan for and attend retreat at Ritter Ranch.

4. Quilt the pink Scrappy Serendipity quilt

5. If possible, quilt the Cherry Jubilee quilt. 

Just Three More Blocks

 I put the blocks for the teal project back up on the wall. This is where I'm at now: 

Only three more blocks needed! They're all the 8-pointed star block (second row on the left) which uses hourglass units. I don't like making hourglass units - I have trouble getting them to come out even. I guess that's why these blocks are the last ones I still need to make.

Maybe I can get them done this month? We'll see. 

Link up: Alycia Quilts 6/13,  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 6/16

May Stash Report and Goals Update

 Wow, I kind of got carried away with Scrappy Serendipity in May! What started out as blocks inspired by something on Pinterest became a big disappointment, until I tried a half-drop layout. Problem solved, and I liked it so much I made another!

After teaching a Dancing Plus class, I quilted up my teaching sample top, so that's another finish for May. 

With all those finishes, a lot of fabric was used this month! The stash report is looking good for the year. 

May Stash Report: 

IN this month: 6 yards (3 yards Kona Snow; 3 yards wide backing)
OUT this month: 25-1/4 yards (Scrappy Serendipity 1 top (multi), estimated 7-1/2 yards. Dancing Plus top, 2-1/4 yards, class samples & step-outs, 1/2 yard. Dancing Plus backing, 1-3/8 yards; binding, 3/8 yard. Scrappy Serendipity 2 top (blue/green), 7-1/2 yards. Backings for both SS tops, 3 yards wide back plus 1-1/2 yards regular width. Bindings for both SS quilts, 1-1/4 yards)

IN YTD: 38-1/4 yards
OUT YTD: 54-5/8 yards
YTD Net Change: 16-3/8 yards out

That's a lot for one month!
I may not have as much to show for June. A couple of the things I'm working on are design requests from friends: help to figure out layouts for BOM blocks and panel squares. Also, I have some non-quilty things going on that will take some time. And prepping for retreat in July needs to happen, also. So if I don't accomplish much in June that's picture-worthy, or I don't post much, that's why. 

Goals Update: 

May Recap: 

1. Prep for and Teach a Dancing Plus class. DONE. 

2. Finish Scrappy Serendipity (formerly the Scrappy 5-Patch Plus) top. DONE. 

3. Prep a backing for Cherry Jubilee. DONE

4, Work on piecing the Leftover Strata project. No, not touched.

5. Prep a backing for Scrappy Serendipity. DONE x 2

6. Book time and quilt something on the club's new long arm. Double DONE! Both the original multi and Blue/Green SS quilts have been quilted due to a bonus time slot on the long arm. 

Other:  - Prepped backing, layered, pin-basted, and quilted the Dancing Plus top on my domestic                        machine. Bound it.
            - Pieced, quilted, and finished another Scrappy Serenade top in blues and greens.
            - Bound and labeled both SS quilts. 

June Goals: 

1. Piece a top for pattern testing an enlarged version of the Irish Chain pattern for Community Service. Edit pattern. Turn in top and pattern on 6/6. 

2. Work on the teal value study blocks.

3. Work on the Leftover Strata project.

4. Quilt Cherry Jubilee on 6/29.

5. Work on design requests from two friends in EQ.

6. Play with color combos for Scrappy Serendipity in EQ and start another fabric version.

7. Prep for retreat in July.

Link up: Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Two Scrappy Serendipity Quilts

I got lucky and scored an open time slot on the long arm this week! I quilted the original multi color Scrappy Serendipity on Saturday during my original reserved time. Just an all-over free motion meander, with light taupe thread. It came out great, and no hiccups with the new machine.  

When I went into the reservation system to book my next time slot 21 days out, I saw that there was an opening on Tuesday, so I nabbed it. Per the rules, jumping on an open time slot in the current week doesn't count toward or against your 21 day allowed reservation. Whoo-hoo! 

So with my bonus time I was able to quilt the blue and green version. This time I had a helper, which was great (thanks, Paula). I used a medium blue thread on this one and it worked well with both the pale background prints and all those blues and greens. 

Both have mostly the same backing, a wide back fabric in newsprint, but I had to add in a little of another grey print to bring the second backing up to size.  Both quilts are 60 x 80", good for teens or adults. They'll both go to the local family services agency, which typically experiences an uptick in need at the end of the school year. 

Always one to take a pattern and make it better, Paula suggested using black prints where the whites are, along with bright colors. I'll try that in EQ and see how it looks. I'm sure I'm not done with Scrappy Serendipity yet. 

Link ups: My Quilt Infatuation 5/29,  Alycia Quilts 5/30

Scrappy Serendipity

I might have been a little obsessed with the block I was making for the top shown in my previous post. 

The block is satisfying to make because each block's palette is designed individually, so it doesn't get boring. My scrappy version was fine, once I landed on the half-drop layout, but it would probably look even better if I used an analogous palette. I might have gotten carried away and I started another version. Cutting ensued. 

I had pretty much depleted my low volumes and nicer scraps, so pulling from stash was needed. I cut a 2-1/2" WOF strip of 40+ different blues, greens, teals and purples.  I also cut strips from an unknown number of pale low volumes, probably at least as many. I cut the strips into the small pieces needed and made up packets for 43 blocks. I was so involved I forgot to take photos. 

After cutting, these blocks are quick to make, and sewing them in pairs helps for chain piecing. Within a few days I had another whole top's worth of blocks on the design wall. After a bit of tweaking the layout, I ended up with this finished top. 

Like the first one, it's 60 by 80", a suitable size for an adult or teen throw. It's pretty gender neutral, so it could go to any of the charities we support. Backs for both are ready.  I'll get the first one quilted next week, and this one later when I have my next booking on the long arm. 

I'm calling this quilt Scrappy Serendipity, sort of a nod to all the Scrappy Celebration quilts my friends and I made last year. I'm sure this won't be the last time I make this pattern! 

Link ups: Alycia Quilts 5/23,  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 5/26, 

Not So Bad, After All - I Like It!

 

It's pretty amazing what just a simple block layout change can do. This went from just a boring grid to something more interesting by just changing to a Half Drop layout. The half drop layout allows the horizontal "arms" of the blocks to interlock into the negative spaces between the adjacent blocks. 

Is it beautiful, wonderful? No, not at all. But it's certainly acceptable. 

Would I make it again? Absolutely! But there are a few things I would do differently, mostly having to do with Value and value placement. I would only use the very lightest low volume prints, avoiding the ones that read darker, like the piece below the red motif at the center. I would also make sure there's enough contrast between the four small patches and both the background and the arms. I might try a more controlled scrappy palette also, such as all cool colors. 

These blocks are fun to make because each one is designed as its own palette, so it's not boring to make multiples of the same block. Want to make your own version? Here's the block plan, but avoid busy, high-contrast background fabrics like in this EQ image: 

For a half drop layout like mine you need 45 blocks and 6 end fillers. The end filler blocks finish at 5" by 10" (5-1/2 by 10-1/2" unfinished). They're made of 2-1/2" by 5-1/2" low volume pieces, 5 per block.  The finished top measures 60" by 80", a good size for an adult or teen throw. 

I have backing ready and time booked on the club's long arm at the end of the month, so this will be finished and ready to donate in June. Since we know that one of the agencies we support has an uptick in need at the end of the school year, this will go to them. 

Link ups:  My Quilt Infatuation 5/8,  Alycia Quilts 5/9,  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 5/12

Half Drop Layout to the Rescue

The scrappy blocks I wrote about last week are fun to make because each one is designed individually. From a selection of cut pieces, I can lay out two blocks, chain piece them, and have them finished in a half hour. It didn't take very long to make most of the blocks I need for a 6 x 8 block layout. Here they are on the design wall: 

How disappointing! Disjointed. Boring. And no matter how I move them around, they don't look any better. 

I was shooting for a 60 x 80" throw size for a donation quilt, so I still need two rows of blocks. Not a problem to make the blocks, but the resulting quilt will not be one that I'm proud of. So I played with layout options in EQ and landed on Half Drop Blocks. 

After changing the layout on the wall, I need 45 blocks, not 48, and 6 end fillers. Here they are laid out on the wall in the Half Drop configuration, still a 60 by 80" quilt: 

Much better. Still not the most beautiful quilt, but much improved from the first version. I have time booked on the long arm at the end of the month, so I'll get this quilted and send it on its way to the local family services agency PCQ supports. While not a beauty, it can still bring comfort to an abused teen. 

Link up: Small Quilts and Doll Quilts