A Possible New Project?

One of my goals for the last couple of months has been to think about a new challenging long term project. After hours of scrolling Pinterest and playing in EQ, I may have something. 

But it involves templates, paper piecing, and tight curves. Do I really want to do this? I need to make a test block to try it out. So of course I had to first make the templates and paper piecing segments. 

This certainly meets the criteria. It's neither fast nor easy. Let's see where this goes. 

Link up: Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Positively Scrappy Progress

The Plus blocks are all made and are up on the wall, but not carefully placed yet. I need to move them around so that the same fabric isn't touching itself or in line with itself. And I see two patches that are too dark that need to be replaced, easy fixes at this stage. 

Even though the background fabrics are all low volumes and the Plus fabrics are black or charcoal variations, this quilt has A LOT of color and print in it. So different from how I usually do low volume backgrounds. 

After I get these blocks arranged, I'll make the ones for the tops and bottoms of the half-drop columns. I don't want to make them until I know which fabrics they'll be adjacent to, so I can avoid using those same fabrics. 

These blocks will finish at 8" so the quilt will be 56" by 72", a good size for a throw. 

As is often the case, this new project captured my attention and has completely taken over. I haven't touched any of the other WIPs on my to-do list. Funny how that happens...

Link up: Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Positively Scrappy, Not Yet Ready for the Design Wall

Once again, I saw something inspiring on Pinterest. It was credited to "StitchMischief, Dec. 2020," but I can't find the link now. It's a scrappy quilt similar to but not the same as Scrappy Serendipity. This design features dark Plus motifs on a colorful low volume background. Here's the inspiration photo: 

Credit: Stitchmischief, Dec. 2020, via Pinterest

Edited 9/9: Link to image source: Instagram

In my ongoing efforts to use up scraps and stash, I pulled out everything that could work for the black or charcoal plus shapes. Then I pulled out all the harder-to-use low volumes, the ones with light grounds but a lot of color or pattern or contrast in them. After raiding my scraps, I also cut bits from yardage. Didn't make a dent! 

Now I'm in the process of making blocks. I think I'll need 54 of them. 

Just a few more needed, then I can lay them out on the design wall. Like Scrappy Serendipity, this design uses a half-drop layout, so I'll have to make end blocks for some of the columns. 

One of my goals last month was to think about a new long term project. This is the project that called to me, not long term at all, but I am having fun with it. 

Link up: Small Quilts and Doll Quils

August Stash Report and Goals Update

I had some finishes this month; thus, I had good stash usage. I've been making an effort to use as much as possible from my stash this year, and my stats are looking good. 

The big finish was Cherry Jubilee. The fabrics in the top were already counted out, but now that it's finished I can count the backing and binding. 

Cherry Jubilee

Backing for the UFO baby quilt also counts, as does the top of the pinwheel baby quilt (no photo yet).

Wanda's Squares UFO baby quilt

August Stash Report

IN this month: 2 yards (Bob's Variety- 2 yards.)

Out this month: 9 yards (Backing & binding for UFO Baby quilt, 1-3/4 yards,  Backing for Cherry Jubilee, 4-1/2 yards.  Windmill baby quilt top, 2-3/4 yards.)

IN YTD: 46 yards

OUT YTD: 88-5/8 yards

YTD Net Change: 42-5/8 yards out.

Goals Update

This month was so-so on the goals front. Some accomplishments, something extra, and something untouched. 

August Recap: 

1. Quilt Cherry Jubilee next time I have a time slot on the long arm. Done. Also bound; needs label.

2. Assemble the Teal Blocks into a top. No, not touched. 

3. Test a smaller scale Scrappy Serendipity block for a baby quilt. Done. Not pursuing this because it consumes more than my available one yard of background fabric. 

4. Make a back for the red & black churn dash. Done. 

5. Work on the confidential project from retreat. Progress.

6. Start thinking about a new complicated long term piecing project. Started cutting for a new scrappy project; don't know how long term it will be. 

Other: pieced a windmill baby quilt top. No photos yet; separate post coming soon. 

September Goals: 

1. Help Edna quilt her large quilt on the long arm. May take two sessions. 

2. Assemble the teal blocks into a top. 

3. Piece franken-batting for the red & black churn dash top. 

4. Piece backing for the Postage Stamp top. See if I have enough batting off-cuts to franken-batt together for it. 

5. Make progress on the Leftover Strata top. 

6. Make progress on the new scrappy project. 

7. Make backing for windmill baby quilt. 

Cherry Jubilee

Finally finished! 

I started this top back in November, pieced with lots of tiny scraps. Then the top sat for a while. I finally had an opportunity to make the backing and quilt it. Bonus, I got the binding on, too. 

Because of the cherry red and cream color palette and some low volume prints with cherries in them, I'm naming this quilt Cherry Jubilee. I really like how it turned out. 

For the backing, I used a beautiful William Morris print in burgundy that I had purchased for something else and then opted not to use. I had almost enough, so I spliced in a little of the burgundy print fabric used for the binding. 

Can I say again, I really like how this turned out. My husband likes this one too, and he almost never comments on my quilts. 

Cherry Jubilee, 64" x 88" 

Link ups: Alycia Quilts 8/28,  From Bolt to Beauty 8/28,  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 9/1,  My Quilt Infatuation 9/4

When "Mindless Sewing" Requires Brain Work

At QuiltCon in February, I picked up a 1-yard cut of a cute ivory/multi star print. Low volume but with a lot of color variety. 

Last week I was in the mood for a little mindless sewing. Nothing complicated, just something that could use the star print and solid colors to go with it, small, for a baby quilt. 

While searching in a drawer for something else, I found an old windmill template I had made years ago. Ah-ha, perfect! I drew the quilt design up in EQ to make sure I had enough yardage, liked the result, and started cutting. 

And that's where the brain work did not kick in when needed. I had forgotten that asymmetrical pieces need to be cut with the fabric all face up, not with the fabric folded together as it comes off the bolt. Not a problem when using solid fabrics, so my seven colors, cut with the fabric folded, turned out okay. 

But definitely a problem when I cut the print with the fabric folded. Half of the cut pieces faced the wrong direction - wrong side up when facing the right direction - and were not usable. Yikes! 

Plan B, find some more prints in my stash that I could use for alternate blocks with the star print and the solids. Back to EQ to design where to place them. With a final plan I could recut the pieces needed and kit up the blocks. 

With different background prints in some of the windmill quadrants, I had to follow the printout carefully, to sew up the right quantities of the correct combos. So much for "mindless sewing." Then I had to lay them out exactly as planned, no possibility of moving colors around because the backgrounds wouldn't match. 

Now, instead of having the star print for all of the background, there are three prints: the stars, a pale yellow batik and a light cream/multi that has yellow, blue, and orange in it. 

It's a baby quilt for donation. It's fine, even though it's not quite as originally intended. Maybe it's more interesting because of the varied background prints? 

Next time I'm in the mood for mindless sewing, I think I'll stick to strips or squares.

PS - Those wrong-side-up cut pieces of the star print are just large enough to eke out a 2-1/2" square, so I'll find another use for them. The cute fabric won't go to waste.

Link up: Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 8/18 and Alycia Quilts 8/22

Almost Postage Stamp Blocks

I took the previously made Almost-Postage-Stamp blocks with me to retreat but did not get a chance to work on them. Since I've been home, I put them up on the design wall so I can make sure the same fabric isn't next to itself. I also made sure the blocks were arranged so that all the seams would nest. 

(Pardon the poor photo. My new can lights are wonderful

for working but not so great for photos.)

This project was originally started back when PCQ was pushing to make twin bed quilts. Since we no longer need such large quilts, I held out one row of blocks to make it smaller. The blocks on the wall will come out to 60 by 72". With borders, this quilt will be 69 by 81", still plenty big for a throw. 

My husband commented that he likes all the little squares. I think I'll keep this quilt for him. All the fabrics used are my own, not PCQ's, and the planned backing is a fabric I purchased in 2010. If I use my own batting, not the club's, then I can keep this quilt; it won't have to be a PCQ charity quilt. 

Since this is smaller than originally planned, I have six blocks left over (I had one extra block to start with). I'm thinking about what I can do with them, so they don't go to waste. I might alternate them with print squares and then add borders for a hospice quilt. Just need to find the right prints. 

Link up: Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

An Old UFO, Finally Finished

Do you take an extra project to retreats, just in case you run out of things to work on? I've been taking the same small, simple baby quilt kit to retreats for years, but I've never gotten around to working on it. 

Back in the early teens I was making donation quilts for kids with Circle in the Square Quilters. The quilts were given to first responders in University City MO and to Operation Shower. Wanda of Exuberant Color sent me a package of 5" squares in bright vibrant prints to make kid quilts. Some of the squares have found their way into several quilts over the years. Thanks again, Wanda! 

Years ago, I laid out selected squares in a Plus design and kitted them up. The kit has been to girl scout camp, Sew Me St. Louis, and Ritter Ranch retreat multiple times. 

One of the reasons I haven't pushed very hard lately to get this kit sewn up is because so far, PCQ hasn't had a charity that wants small quilts or baby quilts. That recently changed with the approval of Luke Air Force Base as a recipient for baby quilts. PCQ has lots of members who like to make smaller quilts, so I think we'll be supplying the young families at Luke for quite a while. 

So, rather than let this kit languish any longer, I sewed it up last month and quilted it on my domestic machine. It's ready for donation. I hope a young Air Force family can use it. 

41 x 45" baby quilt

One more UFO finally finished! 

Link up: Alycia Quilts

Finishes, with a Little Help from My Friends

Back in February my friend Cherie visited for a few days, to go to QuiltCon and to sew together. PCQ's old long arm machine was officially dead at that time, and the new one wasn't in yet. It would be a couple more months before it was installed and we could be trained. Cherie has a long arm at home in Pennsylvania. She graciously offered to quilt two of my charity tops that were finished but not quilted yet. She took the tops, backs, etc. home with her. 

She came back to AZ to go to retreat with me in July. She had such a good time last year that she was excited to go again. We had such a great, friendly, and eclectic group of quilters this time. It was the best retreat I've ever been to. 

Anyway, Cherie brought back the quilts she had quilted. Since retreat, I've bound and labeled them.

Another shout-out goes to blogger friend QuiltDivaJulie, who has very generously sent some de-stashed fabrics from her "resources" to PCQ on several occasions. Some of the fabrics in the tops Cherie quilted were from Julie. 

Without further ado, here are two finishes thanks to a little a lot of help from my friends:

Storyboard Stacked Slabs
This is a large throw suitable for a teen boy. Many of the fabrics in it are from the Storyboard collection by Seth Apter (plus some additional prints from my stash). Thanks, Julie, for donating the fabrics to PCQ. 

Black, White, and Bright Lozenges

This was inspired by a Tula Pink quilt I saw on Pinterest. My attempt to make something similar to the original was a disjointed jumble, but reorganizing the lozenges in vertical columns of medium, light and dark helped. Many of the black and white fabrics were donated to PCQ by Julie and others. 

One of the charities PCQ supports serves victims of sexual violence. They occasionally have a need for boy quilts. Both of these quilts are suitable. The Storyboard one measures about 58" by 68" and its masculine palette should appeal to a teen boy. The Lozenge quilt measures about 60" by 74", large enough for a tall teen, and is gender neutral in design and color. 

Thanks so much, Cherie, for quilting these for me. Thanks also to Julie and others for donated fabrics. These quilts will be shown at the August PCQ meeting and then donated. 

Link ups: Alycia Quilts 8/1,  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 8/4

                Quilting Jetgirl 8/25

July Stash Report and Goals Update

Wow, July was a pretty incredible month, with almost no blogging to show for it. 

I came down with Covid when I returned from vacation in June, so I quarantined at home until I tested negative and could go on retreat. During my time at home I repurposed a PCQ kit and assembled a long-kitted-up baby quilt UFO. 

Cherie joined me for retreat and we worked on a confidential project. When she was here in February when PCQ's long arm was down, she took two of my charity tops home with her to quilt on her long arm. She brought them back and I bound and finished them. Story to come in a separate post, but here's one of them.  

All of this used some yardage, but I also acquired some, too. I invested in some much needed low volumes using a gift certificate my students had given me in thanks for teaching the color class. And of course I couldn't go to Ritter without buying something from Shiela's shop!

The biggest accomplishment for July was the pink Scrappy Serendipity and its pattern. 

July Stash Report:

IN this month: 5-3/4 yards (3 yds low volume prints from Prickly Pearadise. 2-3/4 yds from Ritter.)
OUT this month: 13-1/2 yards (Backing for Stacked Slabs - 4 yards. Backing for Lozenges - 4 yards. Binding for Stacked Slabs, 5/8 yd. Binding for Lozenges, 5/8 yd. Binding for pink Scrappy Serendipity, 1/2 yd. Sashing for black & red churn dash, 1/2 yd. Top for bright Plus baby quilt. about 2 yards. Backing for same, 1-3/8 yards. binding, 3/8 yard. )

IN YTD: 44 yards
OUT YTD: 79-5/8 yards
YTD Net Change: 35-5/8 yards out

Nicely moving in the right direction, and I'll have more to count out yet this year as I finish the teal project and some other WIPS. 

Speaking of the teal project, assembling the top is one of my goals for August. 

Goals Update: 

July Recap: 

1. Finish the last two blocks for the teal value study project. DONE. Also pieced the border blocks. 

2. Repurpose a kit from PCQ Community Service and make a top. DONE, red & black Churn Dash. (No photo yet, story & photo later)

3. Plan for and attend retreat at Ritter Ranch. YES!!! Best retreat ever!!!

4. Quilt the pink Scrappy Serendipity quilt. Yes, quilted, bound, and finished. Needs PCQ label for donation. 

5. If possible, quilt the Cherry Jubilee quilt. No, I only had one time slot on the long arm so this will have to wait until August. 

Other: Pieced Orange Plus baby quilt UFO, long kitted up, and quilted it on my domestic machine. Photo and story to come later. 

I need to take some photos of some of these projects and post about them. Stay tuned! 

August Goals: 

1. Quilt Cherry Jubilee next time I have a time slot on the long arm. 

2. Assemble the Teal Blocks into a top.

3. Test a smaller scale Scrappy Serendipity block for a baby quilt.

4. Make a back for the red & black churn dash.

5. Work on the confidential project from retreat.

6. Start thinking about a new complicated long term piecing project. 

Perhaps I should add something about writing blog posts to my August goals. The hold-up is getting good photos. The sunlight is brutally strong and the shade is deep dark, so I've been having trouble getting decent photos lately. Plus it's 110 degrees here in the afternoons, not fun to be outdoors wrestling with quilts. I may have to make do with indoor photos. 

All the Teal Blocks Are Finished

Whoo-hoo! I finally got those last two blocks for the teal project done, the ones with the hourglass units. Still don't love those units, but I'm getting better at squaring them up. 

And do you see what else I got done? All the border blocks!!! The top row (not in this photo) and the bottom row are sewn together. The sides will be added to each row as I join the blocks in to rows. I don't plan to get this to the finished flimsy stage this month, but maybe next month. We'll see. 

Linking up with Alycia Quilts 7/11 and Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 7/14

Pink Scrappy Serendipity Top, and Pattern

Before I went on vacation in June, I finished another Scrappy Serendipity top. I swear, these blocks are addictive. The fun comes from selecting the fabric combos one block at a time, not knowing exactly what the final quilt will look like. It's amazing what I found in my scraps and my stash that I had forgotten I had! 

My first version was totally scrappy. My second version was curated scrappy, blues and greens. Both versions worked well. Now my third version is curated scrappy also, in pinks and purples, but this version features one consistent background fabric. 

I wanted to use one consistent background fabric in this version instead of a scrappy background. Both options work, but I do like the constant background here with all the variety in the pink and purple prints. The fabric is a confetti print on white that I had in my stash. Because there is a lot of cutting involved, by using a constant background fabric I was able to die cut 2-1/2" strips which made the cutting go much more quickly.

The block is 10 inches finished. The earlier quilts were 6 by 8 block layouts for 60" by 80" quilts. The pink version is a 5 by 6 block layout, 50" by 60".

Making this version also served as a test for the Scrappy Serendipity pattern. The pattern is ready to go now. 

I will be sharing the pattern with members of PCQ. While not specifically developed as one of our community service charity patterns, it would certainly work. I am offering the PDF for any charitable purpose. It looks great in patriotic prints! 

If you would like the Scrappy Serendipity pattern PDF, leave a comment. YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL WITHIN THE TEXT OF YOUR COMMENT, otherwise I have no way of sending it to you. 

Linking up with Alycia Quilts 7/4, and Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 7/7

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

April Stash Report and Goals Update

A lot of sewing happened this month, using a lot of fabric. On the other hand, a lot of fabric was added to the stash. Surprisingly, more fabric went out than came in. 

A four day retreat resulted in the completion of two tops. I have given them, along with backing fabric and binding, to two of the quilter friends who were at the retreat.  

to Edna

to Judy

At the retreat I also got all the blocks finished for my Almost Postage Stamp quilt. They were already started.

Since I've been home I chased a squirrel. I saw something on Pinterest that intrigued me, figured out the block, dove into my scraps, and made blocks. The good news is I'm having fun making them. The bad news is, my version looks boring. I have a solution, which I'll share in another post. 

I also finished a donation quilt this month. Most of the fabrics were donated, so I'm only counting out the ones that came from my personal stash. 

While at retreat I shopped at their little fabric shop, and a few yards came home with me. Then an on-line end-of-bolt sale caught my attention. Plus, an outing with the girls to a couple of local shops resulted in some purchases, so there was definitely some stash enhancement this month. My finishes and gifts more than made up for it for the month, but I'm still up for the year. 

April Stash Report: 

IN this month: 18-3/4 yards (Retreat purchases, 6 yards. Bernina Connection, 5 yards. Modern Quilting, 1-1/2 yards.  Online end-of-bolt sale, 6-1/4 yards.)

OUT this month: 19-5/8 yards (Navy/Pink LCT variation top, 4-5/8 yards; backing, 3-1/2 yards; binding 5/8 yard. Kaffe flying geese top 4 yards; back 3 yards; binding 5/8 yard.  Urban Jungle Stacked slabs top, my fabrics, 1-1/2 yards; backing 1 yard; binding 3/4 yard)

IN YTD: 32-1/4 yards
OUT YTD: 29-3/8 yards

YTD Net Change: 2-7/8 yards added. 

Since I started a new scrappy project and got wound up in making blocks for it, I neglected some of the other items on my goals list. Oh, well, it's just a hobby anyway, no pressure. 

Goals Update: 

April Recap: 

1. Finish packing for retreat and have a good time there.  YES!!!

2. Make progress on the Postage Stamp project. Yes, got all the blocks pieced at retreat. 

3. Make progress on the Kaffe flying geese project. Yes, finished the top at retreat using Plan D and sashing purchased from Shiela's shop.  

4. Assemble the navy and pink LCT medallion blocks. If possible, add the borders. Yes, finished the top at retreat.

5. Quilt the Urban Jungle stacked slabs quilt on April 11. DONE and donated. 

6. Prep for teaching Dancing Plus in May.  Progress; I still have to send out pre-cutting instructions to the students. 

7. Prep backing for Cherry Jubilee top. No

8. Develop new project using leftover strata. Yes, I've started a project, something mindless I can pick up as time permits. 

Other: 

 - Chased a squirrel: started a scrappy project inspired by something I saw on Pinterest and made 45 blocks for it. 

 - Wrote a pattern for the flying geese top shown above.

The friend I gave the flying geese top to likes it so much, she wants to make a queen size version in autumn colors for a grandchild's wedding in the fall. She asked for the pattern, so with the help of EQ8, I drafted it for her. I had forgotten how much I like writing patterns. More about this in a future post. 

May Goals: 

1. Prep for and Teach a Dancing Plus class. 

2. Finish the Scrappy 5-Patch Plus top. 

3. Prep a backing for Cherry Jubilee. 

4. Work on piecing the Leftover Strata project. 

5. Prep a backing for Scrappy 5-Patch Plus. 

6. Book time and quilt something on the club's new long arm.

Recently, new LED lights were installed in the ceiling of my sewing room. The light is so much brighter in there now and it's much more pleasant to work in there. So much so that I've been spending a lot more time sewing, mostly making blocks for the new scrappy project. 

If I continue to spend that much time in the sewing room, I'll definitely knock out everything on my May Goals list, but those are the priorities for now. We'll see what I can get done in May. 

A New Scrappy Project

I saw something intriguing on Pinterest and I thought it would be a good project for my Scrappy Celebration friends to make next. Here is a link to the Pinterest post.

I sent the girls the image, and one was interested. So I figured out the block:

I raided my scrap drawers for low volumes and darker colors, and cut a lot of pieces. I may have gotten carried away.... So far I've made several blocks. They go together easily and they're addictive to make. 

Here's the original Pinterest inspiration photo. 

Pinterest: Shonda at Calico Flower

You may notice, there are blocks that emphasize the Nine Patch, and others that feature the Plus. I'm trying to keep my blocks as random as the ones in the photo, but if you know me, you know it's hard for me to do random. 

My blocks use 2-1/2" scraps, so they finish at 10". I'm shooting for a smaller quilt than the one in the photo, a 6 x 8 block layout for a large throw. Or if I get carried away making blocks, a 7 x 9 block layout for a twin size. I have more than enough scraps! 

I didn't really need another piecing project right now, but sometimes you just have to chase that squirrel. 

Link up: Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Another Retreat Project: the Postage Stamp Quilt

 Another project I worked on at retreat was this Postage Stamp type quilt. The squares finish at 1-1/2" so it's not a true Postage Stamp, but this is as small as I care to work. Here are 32 blocks on the design wall, plus border strips.

Months ago I started this project to use up some of my yellow-green stash. I used my die cutter to cut 2" strips of nearly every fabric in my yellow-green basket, and some true greens. Then I selected some other warm colors and purples for more variety. 

The strips were sewn into strata. Then the strata were carefully cross-cut, again using the 2" die.  I laid out the strips in a checkerboard, and wrapped them up in blocks. I need 35 blocks for a 5 x 7 layout, and I ended up with enough strips for 36 blocks. Each block has 64 little squares. I didn't count the individual fabrics used, but it's a lot. 

I made one sample block and packed the rest up for retreat. With all seams pressed toward the dark fabrics, the seams nested nicely. They'll nest when I sew the blocks into rows and sew the rows together, too. 

I was pleased that I was able to get all the blocks made at retreat. I'll lay them out on my design wall at home and make sure the same fabric isn't adjacent to itself, then label them, and pack them up for a future retreat. 

This quilt will be twin size when finished. Did it make a dent in my yellow-green stash? A bit, but there's still plenty left. At least I can jam the basket into the shelf where it belongs now. 

The outer border fabric in the top photo will also be the backing fabric. It's a tiny olive-on-cream paisley. I bought 9 yards of it back in 2009 but it wasn't the right shade of green for the top it was intended for, so it's been languishing ever since. I'm glad to eventually have a use for it.

Some people don't care for yellow-green and olive shades, but I like the way this is turning out. And it's gender neutral. It will eventually be a donation quilt.  

Link ups: Alycia Quilts 4/18,  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 4/21