Month: August 2024

26 Projects 2024 #8

Time marches on. The year is more than half over and I ate up most of my yardage progress with the fabric that I bought on vacation. Still I am back in the green (barely) and continuing to sew up a storm.

Finished 2024 Quilt Projects

Finished (for me!) Donation Quilts

As you know, I don’t quilt much. I really enjoy the collaborative effort of making a top and allowing someone else to quilt it. Thus, the quilts below are mostly tops, but I will include a finished quilt once someone else finishes it for the group.

Finished Bags and Small Projects

This category covers bags, toys, aprons and knitting as well as other non-quilt projects.

Ready for Quilting / In the Quilting Process

In the Finishing Process

  • Nothing at the moment

WIPs

WIPs are projects on which I am working. This means that I am past the cutting out of pieces stage,  some sewing has taken place.

  • La Passacaglia – I am working on the border, but need to work more and harder.
  • Ombre Weave – I am working on blocks and have cleared off my design wall so I can work faster.

Cut Out & Stopped

  • EPPic Bag – I need to make a cover/ main exterior piece for this bag. I was thinking of a Pineapple block, but haven’t gotten back to it yet. I am also kind of scared of this pattern. I know what to expect from Sew sweetness patterns, but this is a new designer to me.
  • Hildegarde Notions Trunk – I worked on this project a little at Tim’s house. I realized that I didn’t cut out some of the specialty substrates.

Still UFOs

I still have UFOs. Who doesn’t, after all? A project in the ‘UFO’ category means I am stalled, it hasn’t been worked on in awhile or it is waiting its turn to be worked on. The list is a lot shorter and the projects are newer, for the most part.

I am annoyed that some of these are still UFOs. I have to give myself credit for completing some of them last year.

  • Rose Petrillo bag – I found the pieces for this bag cut out, but not sewn.
  • Superbloom tote using Hindsight fabric – not started. I did pull the fabric, supplies and found a photo I plan to use as inspiration that others posted, so I am one step closer.
  1. Handbag Sampler – I found the blocks! I found them in a bin I thought I had thoroughly searched! I also found the fabrics carefully stored together. Hooray!!
  2. Self Portrait: started in 2006 at a class at Quilting Adventures in Richmond, Virginia. After a brief burst of inspiration, I am stalled on this again. As one of my oldest (I am pretty sure) UFOs, I put it on my blog and out into the Twitterverse and Diane suggested that I not consider this as a self portrait. I think that strategy is a great idea. I am now trying to think of a new persona for her.
  3. Serendipity Lady – I am still planning to take this piece to be framed. It might need a bit of quilting first.
  4. Fabric of the Year 2020
  5. Fabric of the Year 2021 – I may combine 2020 and 2021 into a COVID edition.
  6. Fabric of the Year 2022 – yes, I added this one to the list, but this is the last one I plan to do.

Various & Sundry 2024 #7

Admin

The Minikins page is updated again. So many patterns! So little time.

The Niece-phews page has also been updated. The more nieces and nephews I get the more quilts get added to that page!

The Quilts in Print page is one I haven’t looked at in a long time. I took the time to update it this month when a quilt was mentioned in a book I was reading.

The Color Strip and Chunk page has also been updated to include the new green top as well as some new formatting.

Projects, Classes, Patterns, Techniques & Tutorials

Friend Julie found a Backpack Organizer tutorial and posted it in her July Cornucopia post. She has a lot of other interesting links on a variety of topics as well.

At PIQF I was startled by a designer who was glad I had returned to her booth and was ready to demo something like the 1 hour circle technique for me. I was startled because I had never visited Snapdragon Quilting before. Once we got that straightened out, I was able to look around the booth. I like the patterns she has designed. They are fresh and fun. It is also great to see a new and enthusiastic designer. She has a blog. One of her posts has good information about pre-washing fabric.

Check out the new subscription box options from Alison Glass. Kudos to her and her team for thinking up something new: 2.5 inch squares. There are a lot of good quilts to make from 2.5 inch squares!

Create Whimsy has an EPP resource page. It includes tools, supplies, books and a lot of information to help you start learning English Paper Piecing.

Need some binding refreshers? Ali from Arabesque Scissors has three different binding options on a recent blog post.

MaryC did a trunk show at the guild meeting this month. I loved the show and learned so much about her quiltmaking life! One thing I didn’t know is how much she loves Jelly Rolls. One quilt she made is called Simplify from Cluck Cluck Sew. This is a great quilt and I might want to make it. I don’t really want to buy another pattern, however.

Tools, Books, Fabric, Notions & Supplies

Have you seen all the new kits, fabric, patterns and books on Victoria Findlay Wolfe’s website?

Check out the new fabrics on Sewing Party’s website.

Media, Books and Articles

Desiree Habicht designed the steampunk aquatic print I bought at Feather Your Nest in Gresham. I went looking for more information and found an interview with her on Create Whimsy. I love reading about how artists get to where they are and how they find inspiration. Find more about her work at her website, Desiree Designs.

The DAR is hosting a symposium on November 1 about the role of sewing and textiles in American history, and it features a lecture on “Quilts as Messengers” Lynne Zacek Bassett! In this lecture, Bassett will explore the historical roots of today’s popular use of quilts to convey powerful messages. If you’re interested in learning more about how quilts have been used to express love, sorrow, protest, piety, community, patriotism, and memory, this is the event for you! You can learn more about the symposium  on Eventbrite.

 

Other Artists

OMG! What is happening? Quiltmakers are passing away at an alarming rate! We lost Faith Ringold in April. Recently, I talked about my sadness at Ruth McDowell’s passing. In the last week or so I heard that Carol Lyles Shaw, Freddy Moran and Sarah Bond also passed away. I am really sad. The guild had a very successful workshop last year with Carol Lyles Shaw. I didn’t take it, but I have been enjoying the results and the confidence people got from her.

As far as I can tell, Freddy Moran does not have her own website, though search results point to a number of artists and journalists talking to her or about her. There are a number of videos. I was a fan of Gwen Marston and became more of a fan of Freddy when the two of them started to collaborate. Their book, Collaborative Quilting**, is wonderful. I worked with red and pink as backgrounds and was thrilled when Freddy started to tout red as a neutral.

Finally, I am really sad about Sarah Bond. She had been fighting breast cancer for years. She couldn’t quit her engineering job to teach full time, because of the health insurance. She needed it for her illness.  Her work is shown on her IG feed. I am sad because she was young, but also because I loved her designs and never got the chance to take a class from her. I really like her Flying Geese quilt and the plates quilt(s). I don’t see any patterns or a website for her, but will continue looking.

I guess this is a lesson to take the classes I want to take when I can, don’t wait.

NQR

Cups for Pups: Join my Lil Sissy in helping to fund the Recovery Ranch Sanctuary via GoFundMe. She is working on creating a place where the dogs of those needing recovery will be taken care of while their people are getting help.

Tim showed me a bag he bought recently on his travels. It is from Coba and made of some kind of thick felt. It is a really interesting bag.

 

 

 

 

 

**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

August Donation Blocks

I didn’t think I would have time to make very many donation blocks, but I ended up making a few. Many of these blocks are already part of some quilts.

Finished: Crafty Carrier

Finished: Crafty Carrier - front
Finished: Crafty Carrier – front

Yay! I finished the Carrier in time for the next Sew Day. Yes, I am finishing a lot lately. It feels great, though I still have a lot to finish.

This is a large bag and it is simply a bag. There are no ironing pads or tool holders and there aren’t 45 pockets. I even forgot to put a leash in it with a lobster clip!

As mentioned previously, I thought it would allow me to be modular in my transport of tools and supplies to Sew Day.

Finished: Crafty Carrier - front/handles
Finished: Crafty Carrier – front/handles

There are 8 pockets, six on the outside and 2 on the inside. The inside pockets might have been better as vinyl pockets. I had already added Soft & Stable** as the interfacing. This means that the first time out, I was reluctant to add another layer to some already thick seams.

With this bag, I was already considering whether or not I needed an industrial machine. The top stitching around the handles and the edge was difficult, but I lengthened the seam allowance and that worked pretty well. I really don’t want additional machines hanging around. If I had a larger workroom, maybe, but I don’t.

The pattern called for ‘heavy interfacing’. Peltex 70** was suggested. As you know, I have yards of Soft & Stable and I know how that works. I haven’t tried Peltex 70, that I remember. I also know how to work with Soft & Stable, so I went with that interfacing. The bag stands up, which I like, so I call it a win.

Finished: Crafty Carrier - interior
Finished: Crafty Carrier – interior

The lining isn’t as tight as I would have liked. I should have used a larger seam allowance. I trusted the pattern maker and the lining was very saggy baggy. I went back and increased the size on some of the seams I could reach once the bag was all together. That made it better, but not as I would like it. I have to review the directions in a different pattern, which is rumored to include anchoring the lining in the seam allowances. Stay tuned for that.

I also painted Odicoat** on the bottom. Not photo since you can’t see it in a photo. I put on two layers after the bag was completed and I don’t see any harm to the bag. I don’t see much, if any, shrinkage. When I do this again, I’ll still pay attention.

I still have to migrate all of my ‘going to Sew Day’ tools and supplies to this bag.  That’s a project for another day this week.

Making bags is always a learning experience. I learn something every time. I need to remember to incorporate my preferences into each bag regardless of what the pattern says.

 

 

 

**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

Holland Pouch Plans

Holland Pouch + fabric idea
Holland Pouch + fabric idea

As I was organizing all the fabric to wash, I made notes and took pictures of projects I had in mind for the fabric. I need to do that because I am excited about sewing. I am excited about making gifts and some donation projects. I have a lot going on and I don’t want to forget what I was thinking.

Holland Pouch + fabric idea
Holland Pouch + fabric idea

First up is the Holland Pouch. I saw this pattern at Stitch in Ferndale and decided to get it. I love the Hemingway pattern by the same company and it was convenient to purchase the print version while I was there. I found the fabric above and I know the perfect person for it.

I bought the black cat fabric in the second photo for the same person. I bought it first and if I had seen the cat fabric above, I wouldn’t have bought the second fabric. Still, I might make this person two bags. I’ll use the same lining for both.

Finished: Green Strips #3 Donation Top

I worked hard over the weekend to clear out some projects. My workroom and my brain was getting cluttered and I needed some space.

Green Strips #3 donation top
Green Strips #3 donation top

The first one was the Green Strips #3 donation top and back.

The top is finished. It looks a bit weird, but I was trying to accomplish a couple of things. I wanted it to be mostly square, thus the borders only on the sides.

I also didn’t have enough fabric to make the side borders all one fabric. It is more interesting, or it looks weird.

Green Strips #3 donation back
Green Strips #3 donation back

I also made the back.

I was a little sick of this top by the time I got to the back. It has just been hanging around for too long; it isn’t a bad top or anything. I couldn’t find any large pieces of green I wanted to use for the back in my green bins, so I dug into my pile of backing fabrics. I found that stripe, which I know would make  great binding, but I wanted to finish it. That piece of fabric has been hanging around for awhile, so it is time to use it for a good cause.

This is ready to go to the Community Quilt ladies.

Finished: Petunia Pouch

Petunia Pouch for Alex
Petunia Pouch for Alex

I think I mostly like saying “Petunia Pouch”. Here is the finished version. It is not a hard pouch, but what a pain this one was!

I had to recut the exterior to get the print going in the right direction. The zipper is a bit off and I had to rip a lot. I don’t know why. Perhaps I was just tired.

Petunia Pouch for Alex - interior peek
Petunia Pouch for Alex – interior peek

More Tula on the inside – this time the tiny stripes in pink.

This is done and gifted and I am pleased.

Ombre Weave Start

A few days ago, you saw a few of the Ombre Weave blocks on the design wall.

Ombre Weave Start
Ombre Weave Start

After gathering the supplies, I made a start on the Ombre Weave quilt at Sew Day the other day. The pattern was written for a jelly roll, which I didn’t have, and there were no alternate instructions. That meant that, first, I had to rewrite the instructions to accommodate the yardage and dessert roll I had. I also had to make sure I could understand them.

Once I did that, with the help of Mary C, I got busy sewing blocks. These are super easy blocks to make and I was able to make 22 during Sew Day. On Sunday I was able to make another 20. I am going to make blocks until the fabric is gone.Then I’ll see where I am.

Finished: Green & Grey D9P

Finished: Grey & Green D9P
Finished: Grey & Green D9P

I was able to finish the binding for the Green & Grey Diagonal 9 Patch. I am thrilled.

There is still a lot of yellow-green, but this pattern is magical. It works so well with a variety of different colors. I want to play with more different color combinations using this pattern.

Finished: Grey & Green D9P back
Finished: Grey & Green D9P back

The back is one of my typical backs. As usual it is made up of large pieces of fabric. Lately, I have been using older fabrics. I am finding that fabrics are better in a quilt than in the Fabric Closet.

I think it looks great and I can’t wait to send it off, though I think I might make a bag for it.

Starting Ends n.18 Donation Top

Ends n.18 donation top start
Ends n.18 donation top start

I started a new Ends donation top with the leftovers from Scrappy Celebration. I also used some from the back of the Diagonal 9 Patch #3.

I did some processing of the various ‘ends’ I had received back from Colleen over the past few months. I decided I had enough to make another donation top.

Desktop Cube Scrap Solution?

Desktop Cube
Desktop Cube

I spent a little time looking through my patterns to try and resolve my scrap organization problem. Once I found a few I decided to make the Desktop Cube from Minikins Season 1. As mentioned, if this doesn’t work, I’ll make a Faithwell Storage Bin and see if that works better. If neither of those work, I’ll rethink.

The Desktop Cube is a pretty easy project and I was able to make it in a few hours while I sewed with Tim. I am also thrilled to make another new-to-me Minikins pattern. It will beef up my Minikins page. ;P

Desktop Cube with scraps
Desktop Cube with scraps

I brought it home and immediately tossed my scraps in it. Of course, they overflowed even the large size I had made right away.

I am undaunted! I need to process the scraps I have now before I decide that the Desktop Cube won’t work.

Note that I used new fabric for the Desktop Cube! I bought that fabric at Boersma’s last month. 😉

Green Strip Donation Top #3 Progress

Green Strip donation top #2 in progress (v.1)
Green Strip donation top #2 in progress (v.1)

I have been fiddling with this quilt for awhile, ever since I finished #2. My design walls are full of the grey improv, the black improv and the Pantone Project. I basically had no space in which to put it up and look at it.

Design floor to the rescue.

I finally decided to lay it out and see what needed to be done. I finally laid it out and inventoried the different blocks that I had available.

I am farther along than I thought.

The image above shows my first layout with what blocks I had. As you can see, I have been adding sashing to certain blocks even though I have not seen them up on the design wall.

Green Strip donation top #2 in progress (v.2)
Green Strip donation top #2 in progress (v.2)

I had enough blocks to add another row, so I did that to see how it looks. I know it is going to be a weird shape again, but I decided that using up the blocks was more important than my worries about shape. If I were really worried about shape, I would make square blocks.

I have sashing cut, so I prepared sashing and cornerstone strips for the last blocks and see how far I can get in the next little while. I really feel like I need to get this quilt off to the Community Quilt ladies.

What’s on the Design Wall

Short answer? Everything.

Small Design Wall
Small Design Wall

You can see that the small design wall is filled. I still like the improv pieces; I just haven’t gotten back to them, though I have a few more scraps to add to each one.

The Ombre Weave blocks are there to remind me where I am going. I have 40 of those blocks sewn already. I might need to get more fabric as the blocks are small and I don’t want to make a miniscule quilt for a teenager.

Pantone Project - almost layout
Pantone Project – almost layout

On the large design wall is the Pantone Project. I haven’t made any more progress since my last post, but progress is coming. It is too long and thin, so that is one challenge that needs to be resolved.

This all means there is no space to lay anything else out. I guess I should work on these projects.

 

Border Print Project Idea

Border print
Border print

I got a border print thinking it would be great to use in a bag. I like the idea of the denser motif being at the bottom and thought it would be a great look for a bag.

After thinking about it, I decided that the free Retreat Bag pattern from Emmaline Designs, enlarged, would be a good pattern to use. I couldn’t find information on the enlarged version I had seen, but got a video from a friend that was really helpful.

I am pretty sure I saw a bag using a border print. I am also fairly sure I took a picture, but I can’t find it. I am starting to put inspiration in a tool called Notion, so I hope it helps eventually.

 

I thought I had made more of these bags, but I have only made four. It is a good pattern and I can now find the frames (Small = Style A**; Large=Style B**) on Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 

**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

Crafty Carrier Project

While I am thrilled that I was able to complete the Ultimate Carryall Bag, it isn’t working for me as a tote for hauling tools to Sew Days and Retreats. One reason it isn’t working is that I forgot to interface the inside pockets and the quilt weight fabric alone cannot stand up to my hard use.

It occurred to me that the one thing that worked for my old Quiltmaking go bag (going to Sew Days/Retreat system) was that the tote bag I used allowed me to be modular. I could put in my Tupperware box of tools as well as rulers and other things as needed. In the Ultimate Carryall Bag, items have their dedicated space and other, less used, supplies I need have to be crammed in where they can fit. The UCAB is bulging.

Finished: Kit Supply Tote
Finished: Kit Supply Tote

Yes, I have the Kit Supply Tote I made to replace the UCAB. My original idea was to make myself a Running with Scissors Tote (RwSt) using some of the quilted fabric/foam that Colleen quilted for me to organize my tools inside the Kit Supply Tote. I still have to measure to make sure the RwSt will fit in the Kit Supply Tote! I just haven’t gotten to the measuring or the making yet. I have the pattern** on my cutting table as a reminder.

All Rolled Up tote with handles: open
All Rolled Up tote with handles: open

This problem has been on my mind for awhile. I have searched through my patterns as well as available patterns to see if I could find another bag that would work. The UCAB is pretty unique in its design as a quiltmaking/sewing tote. I really haven’t seen anything else like it. The All Rolled Up Tote is a great bag, but somehow I have never considered using it for this purpose. Perhaps I should. It currently holds a lot of embroidery supplies.

Crafty Carrier by Ellie Mae
Crafty Carrier by Ellie Mae

I was thinking about the problem again as I was organizing the fabric and patterns I bought on my trip.

Awhile ago, I checked Etsy to see what was available as ready made or in pattern form. I found some bags that might work. One was the Crafty Carrier by Ellie Mae Designs. I came across the pattern and pulled it out.

I bought this pattern a long time ago, on a previous trip to Portland, at a shop called A Common Thread. (N.B.: I don’t know if that shop is still business.)

Crafty Carrier exterior in process
Crafty Carrier exterior in process

While I have a lot of projects in the queue, I started working on this bag over the weekend. Sometimes I have no self control about what I work on!

I cut out everything and interfaced almost all of the pieces on Saturday. Then Sunday, I started to sew. I am making good progress. The picture shows the exterior (inside out) without the bottom

I am using a lot of canvas and Essex linen-type fabrics. You can see the Echino I bought at PIQF. I am thrilled to be using fabrics so soon after purchase!! It is so fun to buy fabrics and use them right away.

The inside doesn’t have many pockets, so I added two, but also thought about keeping it empty so I could put other carriers inside for the modular idea. I could have put an inside zipper pocket, but I didn’t think of it and it might be a bit too late.

Anyway, progress. I think I’ll have to make the Running with Scissors tote sooner rather than later. Having one with my various tools organized and together would allow me to tuck it into whichever bag I was taking to class, retreat or Sew Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.