30 Something More Progress

30 Something 4 Patches
30 Something 4 Patches

I have been using my 30 Something project as leaders and enders while I work on my quilt class presentations and the UCAB tutorials. It is slow going, but I can see light at the end of the 4 patch tunnel.

There are 4 Patches at the center of some blocks. I decided to use some black and white in those 4 patches, so the quilt had a tiny bit of structure. We’ll see how it looks.

Also, it the photo, you can see that I started making random 4 Patches. Those may end up somewhere in the quilt or as a basis for a super tiny Spiky 16 Patch. We’ll have to see.

Guild Generosity

Cheri's Bags and Coasters
Cheri’s Bags and Coasters

I was thrilled and amazed by the largess I received this week from my team of Door Prize people.

First, Cheri gave me a full year’s set of coasters and bags. She had given it to me last year, but I told her to hold on the gifts until the next month, then we stopped meeting. Tim picked up the items from her house and I picked the items up from him.

Sue's Zipper Pouches
Sue’s Zipper Pouches

Next, SueG brought me fabric and some zipper pouches. I am all set on zipper pouches and have some good fabric to include with future bags.

The purple and blue paper airplane pouch was actually made and donated by Tim. It goes well with Sue’s contribution, though.

Carrie's Door Prize efforts
Carrie’s Door Prize efforts

Finally, Carrie made some cut little bubble bags and sent me needles, needle threaders and WonderClips to include in future bags.

I really have a great team!

Piebald Pouch Progress

Piebald Pouch in Progress
Piebald Pouch in Progress

I started my first project from Minikins 3, the Piebald Pouch. I like the shape. I know you can’t tell the same from these weird pieces. Upper right hand corner holds the top.

Despite the plethora of zippers I have, I didn’t have one for this pouch. I will soon, however. In the meantime, I am making as much progress as I can.

My idea is to update SIL’s yarn minder with this pouch.  This version is not it. I want to make it for myself first, then hack it. The yarn minder version will include a shoulder strap and a double head zipper.

Check out the finished project on Sara Lawson’s Minikins page.

26 Projects 2021 #3

No joke,I have finished a few more projects.

Finished 2021 Quilt Projects

Finished 2021 Small and Non-Quilt Projects

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

Doing Good

In Process or To Make
The ‘In Process’ is used to denote projects on which I am actively working or are on the design wall waiting for me to stitch. I am continuing to try not to put away projects. I find putting a project away ensures I never work on them, because I just lose steam.

Quilts

Small Projects to Make or in Process

Most of my progress involves thinking or just cutting.

  • One Hour Basket for organizing my decks of cards – Creative Strength, mindfulness, etc. I may switch to one of the Minikins or a Catch All Caddy projects for this purpose.
  • One Hour Basket for my stuff that tends to accumulate on the dining room table. I may switch to one of the Minikins projects or a Catch All Caddy for this purpose.
  • One Hour Basket for DH’s stuff that tends to accumulate on the dining room table. I may switch to one of the Minikins projects for this purpose.
  • Retreat Organizer – another project from the Crafty Gemini Organizer Club, also on my list, but not yet started
  • Superbloom tote using Hindsight fabric – not started
  • Ultimate Project Organizer – another project from the Crafty Gemini Organizer Club, also on my list, but not yet started
  • Ultimate Carry All Bag gift – Bag-a-Long for BAM – I have the inside pockets made and am struggling with the front pocket for one of them.
  • Ultimate Carry All Bag for me – I have the two large pockets made for the second one and am working on the small front pocket.
  • Westchester shirt – this is a Crafty Gemini pattern. I bought the fabric at PIQF in 2018. I have the pattern ready and need to start cutting.

Handwork

I decided that some of my projects are in a different class because they are hand piecing or embroidery or beading. They take longer. Thus I created a new category and have moved some projects here.

Ready for Quilting -at the longarmer

In the Quilting Process

In the Finishing Process

Still WIPs
I still have WIPs. Who doesn’t, after all? A project in the ‘UFO’ category means I am stalled. A nicer way of saying UFO is a WIP. The list is a lot shorter and the projects are newer, for the most part.

  1. Handbag Sampler – this is still the forgotten project. It should be on the UFO list. The blocks were teaching samples when I taught a sampler class some time before I started writing the quilt class sampler tutorials. I found one block recently, but otherwise I actually don’t know exactly where the blocks are hiding. I crawled up in the far reaches of my fabric closet to see if I could find them and they weren’t where I thought. I am sort of mystified as to where they could be. I haven’t even found a picture of all the blocks. Sad.
  2. Lobster – I think I might make this into a tablerunner for the buffet. I think that will be a good and fun use of the piece even if the colors aren’t quite right for the dining room.
  3. Pies and Points from 2016 Victoria Findlay Wolfe class. The last time I worked on it was when Julie and I had a playdate in April 2018. I brought this piece with me so I could cut more elements (Julie has a Sizzix). I lost my excitement about this piece shortly thereafter and still have to get it back. Thus, I had to move this to the WIPs area.
  4. Pointillist Palette #4: Fourth is a series of 6 quilts; needs tiny square patches sewn together. No progress.
  5. Self Portrait: started in 2006 at a class at Quilting Adventures in Richmond, Virginia. I am still stalled on this again. As one of my oldest (I am pretty sure) UFO, 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.
  6. Serendipity Lady – I am still planning to take this piece to be framed.
  7. Who Am I? – This piece is still languishing. Perhaps having a larger design wall will help me regain momentum. The amount of satin stitching I was facing was a problem until I thought of BIAS TAPE. I am going to make the words with bias tape, perhaps different widths, then I won’t have to sew the satin stitching. Red Scribbles and Friend Julie helped me come up with this solution. Now I just have to do it!

Various & Sundry 2021 #4

I updated the Minikins page after I made another project from the Minikins series. I am not making great progress on this series of patterns, but I am making some progress.

Articles, Media, Exhibitions and Shows

Friend Julie had a great February Cornucopia on her blog at the end of February.

Barbara Brackman posted a wonderful article about Arnold Savage, a quilt historian of sorts who shared his family’s quilt legacy with others. I didn’t know she had designed a fabric line using his fabrics as inspiration.

AllPeopleQuilt has an article about where to donate fabric scraps. If you have a lot, this might be a good article to start with. If one of these places takes your scraps it is much better than putting them in landfill. You can also make pet beds and fill them with your scraps and schnibbles.

I was looking up information about circles on Latifah Saafir’s website when I saw she was part of a ‘Back to School’ blog hop. Her post is about accurate seams using masking tape. Other entries in the blog hop are about sewing long seams without stretching, Say Yes to Y Seams (or just read my tutorial) ruler slipping and a lot of other basic-adjacent topics.Take a look at the whole list included after the end of Latifah’s post.

Sharon from ColorGirl Quilts has posted a video on making HSTs from scraps. she uses the method where you have to draw a line. This is a fine method and you don’t need additional tools. However, check out the Simple Folded Ruler for another method with no drawing of lines.

Weeks Ringle is starting a lecture series about color … “She is a modern quilter and taught at a college along with her husband Bill Kerr …. They always have interesting videos. ” The first video is now available.

Melly Sews has a post called “9 Things Sewists Do That No One Understands”

Projects, Classes, Patterns & Tutorials

I was surprised to the see the Emmaline March Bag of the month club pattern, The Tumbleweed Toiletry Tote. It looks just like the Cavalcade Travel Bag by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness, though smaller. It makes me suspicious about copying, though it is also none of my business. I do like the smaller size of the Tumbleweed.

The Bagineer Bonanza is coming from Mrs. H and her affiliates. By joining you can sew along with Mrs. H and friends. There are a number of bags you will make.

Vanessa at Crafty Gemini has a new Snappy Wristlet video tutorial. She says that it is a quick weekend project. This was part of her 12 Days of Christmas series of small projects from a few years ago, so you may have seen it already.

In case you don’t have enough machines associated with quiltmaking, there is a tutorial on making templates using a 3D printer.

Bonnie Hunter shows readers how to make a zillion HSTs with the Simple Folded Corners ruler in a recent (for me) tutorial. I wasn’t able to find any tutorials on how to use that ruler for more than flippy corners, like I talked about in my tutorial. I am sure there is a discussion in the many patterns available, but I was hoping to see something so I could make HSTs or other units when I wanted not as part of a pattern.

Zen Chic has a tutorial on getting a perfect 1/4″ seam every time.

If you want to learn to read a knitting chart (not quiltmaking, I know), check out the Maker’s Mercantile video on that subject. I actually sat in on the class and it was great. I have a much better understanding of reading charts. I wouldn’t say that I am an expert, but it was very useful. Perhaps I’ll try a knitting project that requires a pattern!

Olfa has a tutorial on making HSTs. It is the two triangles method. This is great if you want scrappy HSTs.

Books, Fabrics, Notions & Supplies

The new and improved updated Blockbase is now available. To celebrate EQ is hosting a BlockBase quilt-a-long. Starting March 29, the team will feature a block to sew from BB+ every two weeks. Each blog post will highlight a different feature of the BB+ software. You will choose the size and method you want to use to make the blocks. “At the end of each two week period there will be a link up post” on the EQ blog “so you can share a photo of your sewn block and we can all oohh and aahh over each other’s beautiful blocks!” The only requirement is that you have the new BlockBase software installed on your computer. You can purchase it (no affiliation!) on the EQ website. Check out the chart comparing the older version of BlockBase with the new version.

Here is a chart for hand sewing needles.

Want to know about the new Tula Sew-Tites? Friend Julie has a review.

Craftsy has a sale going on. I get notices in my email, via FB and IG. You get a premium membership for $2.49 per year for one year. Yes,  2 dollars and forty-nine cents. I almost did it, but then I read the rules on cancelling. The good part is that you can cancel any time. The bad part is that you have to call their customer service and request cancellation. That means talking to a person who will, probably, do a really big and hardcore sales job on me to try and get me to keep my membership. I completely understand why they would want to do that, but it makes it hard to cancel. I’ll think about it. I haven’t watched many of the videos I have there now, which tells you how much I might use it.

I saw a box called The Sew Stack by Noble Notions in the Maker’s Mercantile newsletter. It is mostly a knitting/yarn related newsletter, but they are starting to have fabric and I can pretend I am an experienced knitter. There are two versions of the Sew Stack. One is for machine feet and the other is for bobbins. They also have one for thread. The thread color would be protected by the solid colors. I love the shape and style of these things. I can’t tell whether they are a soft plastic or hard. They are latex free & made in the USA.

For those of you who used to work in offices and have been working remotely for the past year, you may have heard rumblings about going back to the office part-time. I read a WSJ article that said that a certain pouch would be critical for carrying cords, chargers, etc to the office as we would not have desks to stash these items ever again. Of course, by the time I clicked on the link, the pouches were sold out. I could still see them and though they were very basic. I have started to troll my favorite bag designers for something similar. I think the Crafty Gemini Zip Away Organizer is the perfect type of bag. You no longer have to buy the club, but can buy the pattern (with video!) on its own. I think it might need a wider spine and more cord holders on the inside, but it is the right shape and the zipper all the way around would make it fit a lot of those types of items. If I figure out how to make the modifications, I will definitely let you know.

Other Artists

Need to pass on some good quality materials? Friend Julie provided a list of Native Americans who accept good quality fabric for mask making and quilts.

I watched a video from Ehrman Textiles about Kaffe Fassett and color in his house.

 

 

 

**I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item 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.

All the Jane Market Totes

The other day I talked about the Jane Market Tote I made for the guild’s monthly door prize. it occurred to me that I had made a lot of Jane Market Totes, but I had never seen them together.

Voila! Here they are!

I am surprised to say I can’t remember making most of these. I guess they are kind of ephemeral since they go together so quickly. I am sure I will make more. I am definitely getting my money’s worth out of this pattern.

I-Spy Pouch Finished

I-Spy Pouch Finished
I-Spy Pouch Finished

I might be having a fit of reorganization. At least you might be thinking that after seeing yesterday’s post and reading today’s. I am sort of.

I have a number of acrylic templates for various projects. Many are for pouches and bags that I will make over and over. They come in thin plastic bags. Ideally I would like a set of map drawers in which to store them. Until I can take over the entire house, that isn’t happening. I have been looking at various bag patterns for ideas on how to store them.

I-Spy Pouch Finished with templates
I-Spy Pouch Finished with templates

This is my first attempt. The I-Spy pouch from Sew Sweetness’ Minikins Season 1 fits my templates for a Minikins Season 2 project called the Day Trip Wallet. Not all of my templates will fit in the various sizes of the I-Spy pouch, but some will and that is a start.

The pattern comes with 3 sizes (this is the medium size). It is a very quick sew, so I can look through my other templates to see which will fit in the various sizes. I am thinking I can easily adjust the sizes to fit other templates. Finding the right-sized zipper will be the challenge if I change the size. I have a bunch of different sizes, so I should be able to manage.

Yoko Saito's Natural Patchwork bag
Yoko Saito’s Natural Patchwork bag

I am still looking for a bag pattern with slots in different sizes that I can just slide the templates into and not worry about resizing. I have been looking at Yoko Saito’s bags, especially this rectangular bag from Natural Patchwork. It might be too small, but I like the shape. I’d have to make different blocks for the front.

Stacking Up Books

My workroom is also my office and workout studio. Since I have been spending so much time in it, I am getting sick of the life-sucking beige walls. I do have a lot of stuff on the walls, but that beige and the various places that have uneven paintwork are icky. I am sick of them. I have decided to paint. And remove the beige carpet.

I don’t like beige.

That means I have to clear out the room. I started with my quilt books. I plan to replace the ugly wood-like pressboard bookcase with two white bookcases. I hope two bookcases will be enough to get all the books off the floor.

Quilt Books in Boxes
Quilt Books in Boxes

While I am putting the books in boxes, I am taking the opportunity to reorganize them. All the art quilt books together, all the quilt history books together, etc. It is fun to see books that have been hidden for a long time. I am also taking the to weed books that I won’t use anymore.

I am slowly filling up the YM’s room with boxes. He doesn’t know.

Baby Improv Quilt

Tim's Improv Baby Quilt
Tim’s Improv Baby Quilt

Tim showed me the start of his baby quilt. He is making it loosely based on the Give & Take Quilt by Tara Faughnan. (You’ll have to do a search as there is no good way to link out to her site for a photo). I love his colors much more than in the original.

The blocks that look yellow are actually more of a chartreuse (icky green), which is one of Tim’s go to colors.

He is figuring out how to put this together as he goes along, which I applaud. I told him to tell me if he needed help, which may have been too smug as he is a very competent piecer.

More 16 Patches

I finished all of the 16 patches I need for the 30 Something* quilt.

16 Patches n.1
16 Patches n.1

 

16 Patches n.2
16 Patches n.2

This isn’t all 42 of the 16 Patches – just a sample, but I am pleased with the way they came out. The next step is to make a bunch (30??) Churn Dash blocks. I am working my way through the various units that make up that block.

I have tons of the various patches leftover. I cut way too many, but will be using them for something, possibly donation blocks.

I haven’t decided if I am working on this as my main project or if it is still a leaders and enders project.

 

 

 

*I’d really like to link to this quilt so you could make it as well, but it doesn’t show up on the AllPeopleQuilt site. 🙁

Superbloom Finished!

Superbloom Finish
Superbloom Finish

I am really thrilled with the Superbloom finish!

First I am excited with how well the bag came out.

Next I am excited at how well the fussy cutting looks.

Third, I am thrilled with how the Linework print and my strips fit together.

Superbloom top closed
Superbloom top closed

Fourth, I am ridiculously happy about the top zipper placket. I don’t know why this bit of a bag makes me so giddy. I don’t think I have ever done one before, so that may be part of it. I’ll probably come down off my cloud tomorrow.

Superbloom open
Superbloom open

Finally, I just love those turquoise zippers. Could they be any better? They add such a spark of color.

The lining is a little baggy even though I followed the directions and used different seam allowances. Not sure what that is about, but I will do better next time.

I was surprised at the size of the bag. I thought it was much larger. It isn’t a stupid size or anything. It is a reasonable size, just smaller than I thought. I really like the angled shape, though I don’t know if you can tell that from the top photo. I forgot to put a D-ring in it, though I know where I will put one next time. I plan to make another of these, especially since I bought the templates. So many bag patterns…so little time.

30 Something 16 Patches

Years ago, I saw a pattern in a magazine called 30 Something. It is called 30 Something, stupidly IMO, because the maker used 30s prints. I saw beyond the 30s fabrics and began cutting out various pieces I would need for the blocks.

30 Something 16 Patches
30 Something 16 Patches

Recently, I began sewing some of the pieces together as leaders and enders.This means I get quite a bit done, but not on donation quilts.

The first step is to make 16 Patches out of the 1.5 inch (yes, THAT small) squares I had been cutting. I need 42 of these and have 24 so far.

I am happy with the progress I have made. As you can see, there are no 30s prints in my 16 patches. I need to think of another name for this quilt, but nothing comes to mind so far.