Ready to get a head start on holiday sewing? This Ready to get a head start on holiday sewing? This #holidaytrimmingsquilt is a fast and easy project. The pattern releases TODAY! Head over to Shereece's site @sewhookedontreasures to grab your copy.
It's time to get excited! The #holidaytrimmingsqui It's time to get excited! The #holidaytrimmingsquilt pattern release is coming June 9th. I was happy to test this lovely quilt and even more happy with the way it turned out. Thanks, @sewhookedontreasures. I can't wait to show the full reveal!!
Blocks complete. Now it's time to sew the top toge Blocks complete. Now it's time to sew the top together. Look for this fun new quilt pattern coming soon from @sewhookedontreasures!

#holidaytrimmingsquilt #quiltpatterntester #patchworksampler
Fun fabric pull to test the lovely #holidaytrimmin Fun fabric pull to test the lovely #holidaytrimmingsquilt by Shereece @sewhookedontreasures. 

Does the new Hustle and Bustle fabric by @official_basicgrey on a Grunge Hits the Spot background put you in the holiday spirit?
This is my most recent finish. I stitched the last This is my most recent finish. I stitched the last bit of binding just about a half hour ago! I love the fabrics in this quilt and they were just random fabrics from my stash. The pattern is #theellaquilt by @kitchentablequilting. I may have to hang this in my family room until it finds a new home.

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day14 #patchworksampler
Today's prompt is pressing matters. I love flat bl Today's prompt is pressing matters. I love flat blocks and these three items are my essentials for achieving that: white fluffy bath towel, cheap Black & Decker iron that steams like crazy, and a Jackson's Woodworks square clapper.

I have a wool pressing mat, but I like the bath towel better. It has enough nap to "grab" the fabrics for a super flat press and it can be tossed in the washer and dryer. 

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day12 #patchworksampler
One of my cherished quilts is one I didn't make. T One of my cherished quilts is one I didn't make. This album quilt was made by members of a club I ran for many years when I had a brick and mortar shop. Several members continued to meet in my home monthly until COVID hit. 

It is special to me because it is a reminder of what is important; the friendships, camaraderie, and encouragement that developed within the group. 

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day9 #patchworksampler
This super scrappy quilt is one of my favorites fo This super scrappy quilt is one of my favorites for a couple of reasons. First it is proof that any fabric works when you cut it small enough and second I pieced it on a little mini retreat with a couple of friends. The pattern is Rectangle Wrangle by Bonnie Hunter.

I love, love, love scrap quilts, the more fabrics the better, and that's how I justify buying all the fabric I do.

This particular quilt was chosen for today's prompt because tomorrow it will be on its way to Poland along with nine others from my "quilt room" (see day 3 prompt).

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day8 #patchworksampler #scrapquilt
Lesson learned. I could write a book on all the th Lesson learned. I could write a book on all the things I've learned through quilting, but one I can't seem to get through my head is that I don't like foundation piecing, paper piecing, or hand piecing.  Slow stitching is a concept I can't wrap my head around.

This String Spiderweb was started at a retreat so I jumped on the bandwagon without thinking it through. I have a bunch of these units made but no interest in continuing. As I was snapping the photo though, I had an idea. Stay tuned.

Are there quilting techniques or methods you don't enjoy?

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day7 #patchworksampler
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quilting · January 19, 2017

Dealing with January UFOs

There is a laundry basket beside my sewing table that holds about 30 UFOs.  Last year I numbered them and drew two numbers each month and tried to complete them during the month.  It worked pretty well and I finished quite a few projects.  During my annual cleaning I pulled a number of additional UFOs and added them to the depleted basket, wrote up a new list of numbers and pulled out two for January.

The projects this month have just been overwhelming and frustrating.  The first number was a Kansas Trouble charm pack project.   It was abandoned because of this:

UFO-1

The border is too short.  When I realized I didn’t have enough fabric, I re-measured and checked my receipt.  Sure enough, it was 1/4 yard less than what I had asked (and paid) for.  I bought it on an out of town trip so wasn’t worth it to go back and get the right amount.

I don’t like to piece outer borders but I will have to on this one….when I find the fabric again.  That’s right, I can find THREE border strips and that’s it.  The fourth border strip and remaining hunk of fabric has gone MIA.  I searched all the logical places it could be hiding, but so far haven’t found it.  This one goes back in the pile until the fabric shows up.  If I get down to my very last UFO and it still hasn’t appeared, I have a substitute fabric, but it’s not quite as good as the original.

The second number drawn was Folk Art Fancies.  I didn’t even remember what that was, but once I found it, realized it would be more than a one month project.  It was a block of the month and ONE block was finished.  I pulled out the picture and pattern sheets and decided the one block would become a Halloween pillow.  I’m just not into folk art like I once was and calendar projects like this strike a little discord in me.  When do you display them?  I don’t really want to see a Christmas block in July.  Only background and a few other fabrics were in the bag so those went to stash and scraps.

UFO-2

With the first project on hold and the second an easy finish, I pulled another number.  This was a table runner kit and the bag contained the pattern and fabric cut for the runner, along with scraps from a previous table runner I made from the same pattern.  This was another easy decision.  I don’t need another Christmas table runner so all the fabric went into the scrap bin.  With 83 years worth of UFOs (see my 2016 year end review post here), I can be selective about the projects I work on. 

UFO-3

So, onto the next number.  It is a braid project I started two or three years ago.  It will be a donation quilt and I have four braids complete.  After auditioning a number of fabrics, I found a pea soup colored green stripe that works well.  Naively, I thought I could just sew sashing strips between the four pieced braids and call it good.  But nooooo, I decided the braids should go in opposite directions so in order to have symmetry, I need another braid.  I KNOW I cut enough pieces to make about 10 braids, but again, can’t locate the box they are in.  This is what happens when I clean my sewing room and move things around.  I can picture the box with all the little strips neatly stacked inside, but have no idea where the box could be.  So frustrating!

UFO-4

It would be much easier and so soothing to just pull out some fabrics and start a new project, but I won’t.  I’m going down to my sewing room, load a top on the frame and quilt for awhile.  Then I’ll cross my fingers and draw a new number.

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In: quilting · Tagged: block of the month, scrap quilts, UFO

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Comments

  1. maggie says

    January 19, 2017 at 8:39 pm

    my Ufo list is playing out pretty much the same as yours. sigh. I wish you great luck – your finishes last year were great.

  2. Patricia says

    January 20, 2017 at 12:01 am

    I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR IDEA for managing UFOs! Awesome! If i had the fabric for your border I would send it to you. You know, you could post a picture of it on Instagram with the #quiltywishes. It’s a way to get a wish granted. You can search the hashtag and perhaps be someone else’s fairy godmother! Great idea about the pillow for your Halloween block!

    Your determination is to be admired. You’ve greatly encouraged me as I, too, am working my way through UFOs this year! Thank you for sharing!

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