I Started Another Project

Last month I listed all my UFOs and WIPS, in hopes of getting something on the list finished this year. But instead of working on an existing project, I started a new one. 

Some Kaffe scraps were donated to PCQ but they were smaller than we usually keep, so last year's chair passed them to me. They must have been a fat eighth bundle from which someone cut some chunks. I was able to cut a 7-1/4" square from each. I also added some of my own Kaffe scraps. 

For now, the new project is just flying geese units. I also have a Kaffe jelly roll to do something with. I have a vague idea for where this is going, no actual pattern. It will evolve, I'm sure.

Linking up with Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Kevin's Quilts

I was able to quilt the tops that Kevin the Quilter sent, and now they're ready for donation.

Both have the same backing, a light blue swirl print. Both got allover meander quilting. Both have blue binding, but different fabrics so I could use what I had.

The larger of the two is about 48 by 64", made of immaculately pieced 1" squares. 

The smaller one is about 45 by 60", with 1-1/2" squares, with equally beautiful piecing. 

These will go to the local family services agency. They serve clients ages 7 and up, mostly teen girls but sometimes boys and adult women. I like that these are gender neutral and don't pertain to a specific age, suitable for whoever receives them. I'm glad to help Kevin create quilty hugs for someone going through a traumatic time. 

Kevin's tiny patchwork has inspired me to work with small pieces. Not that tiny, but I have a couple of projects going that use 1-1/2" finished squares. Slow going, but that's okay with me.

Linking up with Alycia Quilts

New Charity Quilt Pattern: Irish Chain Variation

Last month one of the co-chairs of PCQ's Community Service Committee asked me to help make a small Irish Chain quilt and draft the pattern so we could use it for Community Service sew days. The intention is to use up the massive stash of fabrics languishing in the club's cabinets. 

A true Irish Chain design has a lot of negative space, usually very light, which makes the chains pop. We don't have much in the way of very light fabrics. We do have some white/beige/ivory pre-cut 2-1/2" strips.  We also have a few pieces tucked away from which we could cut more strips or squares, but we value it for the contrast it provides too much to use it all up in one or two quilts. So, my challenge was to come up with something that still has the Irish Chain look but uses something other than the background fabric in the alternate squares. 

EQ8 to the rescue to start playing with ideas. What I learned while working in EQ is that the more closely the alternate squares match the background in value, the more the chain effect stands out. The more the alternate squares contrast with the background, the more the pattern looks like a nine patch variation, Win-win! 

Then we raided the fabric bins. This is the first top Teri and I made to introduce the project at the sew day. It's 42-1/2", wheelchair size for Hospice or possibly baby quilt size. Our members prefer to make smaller charity quilts. 

This is a scrappy version, all from the club's stash. Many dark blue, green, olive and brown fabrics were used for the chains, and several whites, off-whites, and creams for the background. Four watery novelty prints, related by theme and color, worked for the alternate squares, although the dark part of the ombre one is darker than I would have preferred.

In order to test the pattern, I made another version in a curated palette as well. Good thing I did, I had to make some corrections. EQ to the rescue once again! Here's my curated version, all fabrics from my personal stash. If the alternate squares are light, even a medium (as opposed to a dark) can stand out well enough for the chain effect. 

The corrected pattern has been made available to all the PCQuilters who want it. I will add it to the Free Charity Patterns tab above. 

We have an overabundance of Floral prints and Novelty prints. We're hoping that this pattern for small quilts will prompt our members to use them up. Plus, when we get the new long arm machine we'll all have to be trained on it, and the trainers want some smallish charity quilts for us to learn on. These two will be available for that. I just have to make a backing for the blue and white one. 

Linking up with Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts. This definitely counts as a finish, or two or three if you count the pattern as well. 

January 2025 Stash Report and Goals Recap

Well, there was a bit of a change in direction this month, so some of my goals went by the wayside and I worked on something else instead. I also worked on my teal project, which required purchasing additional fabric. Here's the current state of the teal project, incorporating the new fabric:

Teal Blocks

January Stash Report: 

IN this month and YTD: 7-1/4 yards (Teal prints - 2 yards. Mulqueen's - 5-1/4.)
OUT this month and YTD: 1 yard (Binding for Kevin's quilts)

Month and YTD Net Change: 6-1/4 yards added to the stash.

Two things happened to change up the goals for the month. One, the club's longarm broke down permanently, so no actual quilting was accomplished. Two, one of the co-chairs of the community service committee asked me to develop a pattern for a small Irish Chain quilt that PCQ members could work on at Sew Days, to use up some of the club's stash. She and I quickly pulled medium fabrics and cut pieces from our bins of light and dark strips, sewed up the blocks, and ended up with this: 

Irish Chain Variation Charity Quilt 
Pattern Prototype

Outside appointments and Sewing Club classes have cut into my "social sewing" time. The Sewing Club officially has the Fiber Arts Room on Wednesday mornings. They're giving serger lessons and teaching simple makes twice a month now and ongoing, so no open sewing those days. That's okay from a quilting standpoint, but it cuts into my "going out to lunch with friends" schedule. 

Prep for teaching my color class took a bit of time this month, too. This will continue with two classes in February and two in March. Even though I've taught the class before, I still have to review my notes and make sure I have all my materials organized, including printing out handouts. The class continues to be well received, but I've told the club this is the last time I'm offering it. 

Goals Update: 

January Recap:

1. Prep for and teach lessons 1 and 2 of my color class. DONE. 

2. Find fabric for the last block of the teal project; make at least two blocks. DONE.

3. Bind Kevin's quilts. DONE. (I need to take photos of the finished quilts)

4. Piece the backing for the red scrappy quilt. Book time on the long arm and prep leaders for basting it for quilting on my domestic machine. Not done. Long arm machine still not available.

5. If possible quilt the lozenges quilt on PCQ's long arm; bind it. Not done. 

6. Layer and baste the Kaffe gradient project. Not done. 

7. Play with a new project, a Postage Stamp variation. Progress; cut and kitted up to work on at retreat. 

Other: With Community Service co-chair, made a scrappy prototype of an Irish Chain variation top and drafted the pattern for it. Cut and partially assembled a second curated palette version of it. 

Postage Stamp project kitted up

February Goals: 

1. Prep for lessons 3, 4, and 5 of my color class. Teach lessons 3 and 4. 

2. Prep for and work on a previously started collaborative project with Cherie when she comes to visit. 

3. Attend QuiltCon.

4. Continue piecing the teal value study project. 

5. Attend the first training overview meeting for the new long arm.*

6. Continue piecing the Scrappy Pinterest Project at social sewing.

7. Prep a backing for something in anticipation of using the long arm at some time in the future.

The collaborative project with Cherie is something we started with another friend before Covid, and we've both since moved. It's a piecing and engineering challenge as quilt projects go. Wish us luck! 

*If you read this far...
  Yes, PCQ is getting a new long arm, an Innova M24!!!! More to come as info becomes available.