Needlepoint Continues

Needlepoint Flowers - April 2025
Needlepoint Flowers – April 2025

I am surprised I haven’t talked about this project since last November! I have been working on it steadily and have made good progress. I usually just work on it in the evenings after dinner. I meant to use it as a project for when I didn’t have a quilt project on which to work. What has really happened is I haven’t been working on La Passicaglia. I really need to work on that project, but for now, I am enjoying the needlepoint.

At this time I need to roll the canvas up so I can access more of the bottom, but what happens is I find small holes – one stitch or so – that I didn’t stitch. It turns out that I have to wait until an area is filled sometimes before I can finish, because I can’t see the color. I have to look carefully at the rows and make sure there are no holes. When there are, I fill them, then try and use that strand of color before moving to the next color and filling in more holes. There really aren’t that many. It is an interesting process, though. Very different from quiltmaking.

New Donation Quilt Idea

Last year I went to the Sonoma County Fair with friends from Austria. They

2.5 inch square sashing quilt
2.5 inch square sashing quilt

have something similar in Austria, but it isn’t exactly the same. Of course, I visited the quilts and found one that I am going to try as a new design for a donation top.

I don’t know what to call this design and don’t know if it is actual pattern or not.

2.5 inch square sashing quilt - detail
2.5 inch square sashing quilt – detail

The piecing is in the sashing and the blocks are plain. The maker of this quilt, Elysha Ozanian, did a great job making the sashing really stand out. I drew out the quilt and found that instead of making the normal guild donation block, I could make half of one and that would be the pieced part of the quilt. I tried to make a block out of the plain block and the pieced sashing, but it didn’t work, so I will just build the quilt using individual units of the small plain block, the large plain block and the pieced portion using chunking.

The units comprising one plain block, 4 small plain blocks and the pieced sections are over 14 inches. I am not quite sure how big I will make my version. Maybe 4 plain blocks wide with the sashing units on the outside? I’ll have to see.

This might be another option for the guild to make as a donation quilt design.

Grey Improv Finished

Grey Improv Donation top finished
Grey Improv Donation top finished

I have finally finished the Grey Improv donation top and back. It has taken awhile, though much of the time was it hanging on the design wall going nowhere.

I did a good job working through my odd sized grey scraps, which is the whole point of the exercise. I am even more convinced that improv works much better in a monochromatic palette. I think that a complementary color scheme would work as well. I haven’t tried that I think the quilt would end up being bed sized.

Grey Improv back
Grey Improv back

This quilt is about 45 in. x 45 in., which is on the large size for a baby quilt, but definitely kid sized. Also, in this color scheme I could imagine it working well for a boy.

I used the leftovers from two quilts for the back: the Hugs and a Kiss quilt and the Half Hexie Star. Good use of some good fabrics.

Elephant Pet Bed and Changes

Green elephant pet bed
Green elephant pet bed

The guild is changing the way they make pet beds. The pet beds filled with schnibbles have been hard to wash and some shelters and animal rescue sites refuse to take them. I can understand the problem with washing. I, however, produce a lot of schnibbles and want to put them to good use. Erin and Michelle found another project where schnibbles are packed into a cube and used as seating for children. I can now fill up a bag with schnibbles and the team will fill the cube, called cubies (pronounced cube-eez). Cyndi offered to get me one when she heads down to the shop that hosts the group who coordinates them.

We will still make pet beds, but will fill them with more batting and leftover polyfil batting and less schnibbles.

 

Starting Chain Link

Chain Link block
Chain Link block

I should have called this FINALLY Starting Chain Link. I didn’t like the way the pattern was written and that was a “launch blocker”, as we say at work. I finally sat down on the last day of the Retreat and figured out how to make this pattern work for me.

This project seems to be fraught with problems. Besides the challenges of the pattern, I cannot find the white fabric I chose to use.As you can see, I have already cut some up and sewed it into sections of blocks.

It MUST be around somewhere, but it wasn’t where I thought it was. I hope I didn’t use it for a donation quilt. We’ll have to see if this becomes a ‘design challenge.’

Finished: Butterfly Superbloom

Finished: SMAP Superbloom
Finished: SMAP Superbloom

I finally finished the Butterfly Superbloom, but it is bittersweet. The organization to whom I planned to donate it has decided they have something similar and don’t want it, or the Dogwood Pouches, for their auction. 🙁

I have to figure out to whom to gift it or whether I can do my own raffle and send the money to the scholarship fund. Let me know if you want to buy a bag for a good cause!

I am happy with the way this came out. I like the positioning of the butterfly on the side.

Superbloom: Side pockets exterior
Superbloom: Side pockets exterior

Of course, I love the side pockets. They are so fun!

 

I think I am done with the Superbloom pattern for awhile. I think the white of the zipper tape stands out a bit, however the rainbow teeth go well with the fabric. The side seams stands out a bit in the photo, but it isn’t as noticeable in real life.

 

Superbloom: Side pockets interior
Superbloom: Side pockets interior

I accidentally put a treat inside one of the side pockets. I hope whoever ends up using this bag will appreciate the various places where the butterflies are located.

Butterfly Superbloom: Interior
Butterfly Superbloom: Interior

 

 

The lining and interior is similar to the Hindsight Superbloom.

I think I am done with the Superbloom pattern for awhile. It’s a good pattern!

Old Town Sashing

Old Town Sashing - done
Old Town Sashing – done

I visited Cyndi for a Sew Day last weekend and was able to get the Old Town sashing to a good place. I had a lot of 1.5 inch squares to cut and then a lot of trimming to make a house shaped rectangle. It was a lot better to do all of that work with a friend. We were able to chat while I did the tedious parts and that was great.

I got out the Simply Folded Ruler** again to create the flippy corners of those house shapes. That ruler is a gem. I always forget, but it really makes those flippy corners easy to sew. I didn’t have to draw diagonal lines on the squares, which would have made the process even more tedious. AND there was no trimming afterwards which meant no opportunity to cut off the wrong triangle. I haven’t tried one of the Simply Folded patterns (actually Antler Quilt Designs). I remember seeing one that was interesting at the Granary, but thought I was too busy to buy it. I was surprised at how many patterns the company has. I remember them being kind of country colors and having weird looking angles, but that isn’t true. There are a variety of patterns, some with brighter colors and fewer weird angles.

The good part about Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilts is that she suggests different methods of making the various units. I was reintroduced to the Simply Folded Ruler** through this project. It is good to be reminded of how I can use different tools.

More Dogwood Pouches

Dogwood - F & J
Dogwood – F & J

I cut out some more Dogwood pouches the other day. I am using the same sizes (F & J), mostly because I didn’t want to take the time to print more templates. The organization to whom I wanted to donate the set is having their luncheon soon and I wanted to make as many bags as possible. I have only the Superbloom and the Cotton Candy so far.

I need to get busy sewing.

Even More Old Town Blocks

Work has been very busy. It is stressful and I have been sewing a bit at lunch and after work. I haven’t had much time, but my effort at the Retreat at block making has gotten the process down to a science. I can make each block in about half an hour. Still, it has taken me several days to make this batch.

With this group, I only have four more left to make.

Finished: Hindsight Dogwood Pouches

Finished: Dogwood Pouch-F
Finished: Dogwood Pouch-F

I finished the two Dogwood pouches at the Retreat. This is a worthwhile pattern as there are multiple sizes, but also a couple of new techniques to use in making your pouches.

Pouch F is the larger one and would be great for chargers and other small electronics. It went together very quickly.

The zipper instructions were a little tricky, but I watched the video (glad I brought my tablet to the Retreat!) and it was clear. I was actually kind of excited about the zipper instructions. They make a very cool finish to the zipper ends.

Finished: Dogwood Pouch-J
Finished: Dogwood Pouch-J

Pouch J is the smaller one. It would be good to corral small items in your handbag.

I found that the boxing of the corners was a different technique as well. I had to watch the video (Yay tablet, again!), which made the technique clear.

These are already off to their new home. I haven’t had a clear answer as to whether the Angel Mama likes her set of bags, but I feel good having made an effort to thank her somehow.

Starting the Vervain

Vervain start
Vervain start

I started the Vervain at Sew Day the other day. The Vervain is a small belt bag (fanny pack). A front pocket on the outside and a lining zipper pocket on the inside lend storage space. The main compartment secures with the top zipper.

I am making this for my aunt, mostly because I have more iris fabric. She wants to use it to hold her cell phone on her daily walks I am happy to do it as she is my favorite aunt and I have wanted to make this bag.

Honestly, I almost cut out two of them. I restrained myself, though. I decided just to make the one and go from there.

Sew Sweetness has no templates for this one, which is a shame as the pieces are weirdly shaped. I used my scissors and that worked fine. I have a couple of pieces of foam I cut separately rather than on the fold. I’ll either stitch them together or cut a new piece on this fold this time.

Two More Old Town Blocks

I didn’t have much time to sew on Sunday due to my caregiving duties. Between Sunday and Monday, however, I sewed two more Old Town blocks. I really like having my design wall on which to lay them out.

These two blocks were possible because, first, I sewed all the HSTs I would need to finish the block assembly. Now it is just laying them out and sewing the pieces together.

Angel Family Pillowcases

These are some of the pillowcases I made at the Retreat.

Angel Family Pillowcases
Angel Family Pillowcases

I wasn’t planning on making them, but I was inspired by the chocolate fabric. I have been thinking of making the kids pillowcases and seeing the fabric at Family Threads was a little nudge. Knowing I had 2.5 days to get them done made the weekend a good opportunity. I don’t need another small project hanging around.

I chose some of the V&Co Galaxy fabrics for the cuffs. I wanted the pillowcases to be mostly equal so the kids wouldn’t fight. I like to call the chocolate  pillowcases “Sweet Dreams.”

I used different bodies for the older kids. One of them really likes soccer and the other is really grownup, so I wanted to make him a pillowcase that was a little more sophisticated. The older boys got the same cuffs in different colors.

I wasn’t able to wash the fabric and I was pleased that I didn’t have any kind of reaction to ironing the unwashed fabric. I am giving them some Color Catchers** and strict instructions to wash them in hot water with the Color Catchers so they don’t bleed on their other laundry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**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 website.

 

Matching the Star Legs

Old Town Block - color selection
Old Town Block – color selection

As mentioned, I made about 15 of these blocks while on Retreat. The pattern called for sets of Flying Geese and Half Square Triangles ( HSTs), so slapping them together any old which way didn’t work. As you saw in my initial efforts, I had to choose the sets carefully. Surprisingly, it mattered which turquoise Flying Geese star legs went with the pink ring made up of Flying Geese and HSTs.

I call this type of work ‘controlled scrappy’. The paper bag method alone doesn’t work for me. I want a scrappy look, but I want the quilt to be cohesive.

I ended up coordinating the fabrics that make up the pink ring of Flying Geese and HSTs. Then I would match the lavender so that it wasn’t too dark or light in relation to the pink ring. I got a lot of different looks. I think it will make the viewer’s eyes move around the quilt.