Assembling La Pass But…

Because I finished Month 18, I started assembling the rosettes. The goal, after all is to have a quilt top, right?

La Pass: Upper right hand corner - wrong
La Pass: Upper right hand corner – wrong

I was very pleased that I finished assembling the first bits, the top right corner. Then I realized I hadn’t lined the pieces up properly – or they had gotten out of alignment somehow – and I had sewed the pieces together wrong. Sigh.

I need to turn the bottom part a bit, because I need to add one of the Month 9 rosettes to the side of month 18. The flat part of Month 18 needs to be turned 90 degrees as it is parallel to the top of the quilt.

Sugar Skull Hackney

Yes, I am definitely on a Hackney kick.

Sugar Skull Hackney
Sugar Skull Hackney

This one is an International Women’s Day gift for Gerre.

This is the fourth one I have made and I plan to make a few more. I have made them all in the large size. I could make the smaller sizes; I just haven’t yet. For some reason I like making these as gifts.

Sugar Skull Hackney interior
Sugar Skull Hackney interior

I used the same lining fabric as I used for the Skeleton Hackney. It is a good lining fabric. I haven’t used it as a background as it is pretty dynamic and doesn’t fade into the background like other fabrics.

I did the pocket a little differently, too. I made a vinyl pocket using the Glitter vinyl from Sew Hungry Hippie. There was a little bit of a problem sewing the turning opening closed, but not much. Some of that could have been from forgetting to use a 3/8 inch seam allowance on the top.

Sugar Skull Hackney handle
Sugar Skull Hackney handle

I also added a handle to this one and remembered not to sew through the lining! It was much easier to put the whole thing together.

I put a few small gifts and a card inside. I hope she likes it.

I try to make sets of things using the same fabric, but I have very little of the Sugar Skull fabric left. I thought the dots coordinated well.

Finished La Pass Month 18

La Pass M18 in process
La Pass M18 in process

Lindsay was kind enough to give me a scrap of fabric so I could finish Month 18 without having to buy more fabric.

I inserted that skinny diamond and the two pentagons into the empty space you saw in the post last week. That is one thing I love about EPP! You don’t always have to put the pieces together in order.

La Passacaglia Month 18 - finished
La Passacaglia Month 18 – finished

The finished rosette is a partial rosette.I have enough fabrics to finish the blue and peony ring. I think the woven design would look good finished.

I am still mulling over the edging of this quilt. One of the options is to finish all the rosettes so the edge is more round. I really don’t want to cut off the edges of the piecing I have done, but may end up doing that.

Another Pink Journal

Another Pink Journal cover
Another Pink Journal cover

I had some bits of made fabric in my pink scrap drawer and they were getting in the way of me making new donation blocks. I decided to make another journal cover. The project also served as a palate cleanser after I finished another project.

This version isn’t as long as the tutorial demands. Basically, I was lazy and it works fine as is. There won’t be as much security if I were to put things in the cover, but this is a journal from 2009 and I don’t think I will be taking it off the shelves that often.

Another Pink Journal cover - back
Another Pink Journal cover – back

I took the opportunity to look through it. I saw a lot of studies for the Creative Prompt project. Those made me smile. I liked doing those drawings. It was a great thing to do while I waited for the YM.

This one includes some fun fabrics.

I am out of practice making them so there was quite a bit of ripping at the assembly stage. The inside doesn’t look that great, but it doesn’t matter.

Does this Go?

I am making another Hackney with some of the Carrie Bloomston fabric. While I was in the North Coast, I saw a ByAnnie zipper in the color called Twilight**. It’s a dark greeny blue, but more blue than green (maybe).

Hackney Color Choices
Hackney Color Choices

I thought it would go well with the Carrie Bloomston fabric, but when I got it home, I wasn’t so sure. The background of the fabric is less blue than charcoal, though the zipper doesn’t not go. I liked the contrasting zipper for the Hand Bone Hackney. This one isn’t exactly contrasting, though, and I might just look like I made a bad choice.

What do you think?

 

 

 

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La Passacaglia Month 18

La Pass M18 in process
La Pass M18 in process

All the quilts I received back from Colleen have slowed me down on La Pass. I am continuing to work on Month 18 and am almost finished with it.

I really wanted to do the weaving motif (?) and I forgot I wanted to do that until I had finished cutting all the fabric. Month 18 was my last chance, so I went for broke. I wish Pink Door had done different layouts like the spikes (in M16).

La Pass M18 in process
La Pass M18 in process

I also kept changing fabrics, so I had to sew as much as I could, then go back and cut and baste more fabrics, then sew again. I also cut a few things wrong.

Anyway, I am progressing.

Various & Sundry 2023 #3

Admin

I have been making a plethora of Minikins patterns lately, so I updated the Minikins page. I definitely have favorites and Minikins Season 2 isn’t a favorite. I have only made one project from that season. I have one on my mental to do list, but it remains there.

Media

Sara of Sew Sweetness posted a video of the top 10 items you need for intermediate bagmaking. This follows the “Beginner Bagmaking Toolkit”

I got some great thank you notes at Collage in Portland. They are from Seltzer, which is a great name even though it makes no sense for stationery.

Definitely check out Friend Julie’s cornucopia post. She found some interesting tidbits I did not find.

Check out the QuiltCon winners for 2023.

Shop

A friend went to Denver and visited Gallerie Quilt. She bought a quilt there. I looked at the website and was shocked at the prices. I can’t believe anyone can make any money at those prices. I would be reluctant to encourage them to sell quilts at those prices. It depresses the market for everyone else.

Tools, Books, Fabric, Notions & Supplies

My friend Carrie told me about a shop called Mashe Modern. It has an interesting selection of bagmaking supplies and quilt fabric. They already have Tula’s Everglow!

Projects, Classes, Patterns & Tutorials

Tula has a fabulous version of the EPPic case on her FB page. It uses Everglow and I love the look. It reminds me of my childhood bedroom. The EPPic case is by ChasingTigers on Etsy. I saw that they have a bundle of two bag patterns with multiple sizes.

I promised myself not to buy more bag patterns, but occasionally I get tempted. This Zip & Grip bag is awesome. This bag is by Sew Yours LLC. I am reluctant to buy the pattern as I haven’t heard of this company and have no idea how well they test their patterns. I’ll think about it and see after I make a couple of patterns I have in the queue.

My friend Maureen is teaching at the Collage Lab Virtual Retreat in April. Sometimes making a mess is really fun. Even if you normally don’t create collages, save some junk mail and do it.

 

Valentine’s Pillowcases

Valentine's Pillowcases
Valentine’s Pillowcases

Well, the Valentine’s pillowcases didn’t happen on time. I went to Hancock’s of Paducah early in January and bought Valentine’s fabric – some really nice chocolate box fabric that was okay for college boys. It turns out that Hancock’s does not even, apparently, look at your order for two weeks.  Soon after, when I was in Portland, I got an email saying that most of the fabric I ordered was out of stock, including the Valentine’s Day fabric.

By this time, it was about a week before February started, so I cancelled most of the order and tried to decide what to do. Finally, went to the Hart’s of Santa Cruz online shop. I found the chili pepper fabric, which is, at least, red. I received the package the next day. Still, I had a lot to do and some weekends out of town in February, so the pillowcases didn’t get made in time for celebrating. I sent them along this week with the St. Patrick’s Day pillowcases. They got some socks and chocolates for Valentine’s Day.

26 Projects 2023 #2

Finished 2023 Quilt Projects

  • BAMaQG IRR
  • The Lobster tablerunner
  • The Tarts Come to Tea

Finished (for me!) Donation Quilts

I don’t quilt much and I 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.

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 (machine work)

  • Who Am I? – I have made progress on this quilt. the applique’ is done. Now just borders, backing and sleeve.

Quilts (Handwork)

I decided that some of my quilts 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.

  • Half Hexie Stars Project– I am reignited about this project after working on it at the November Sew Day. I have been working away steadily and can see the light at the end of the tunnel
  • La Passacaglia – I am now working on Month 18, the last month with rosettes. Next is finishing the quilt.

Ready for Quilting

Nothing at the moment

In the Quilting Process

Nothing at the moment

In the Finishing Process

Small Projects

Most of my progress involves thinking or just cutting. I don’t have a bag in process at the moment.

  • Ultimate Project Organizer – another project from the Crafty Gemini Organizer Club, also on my list, but not yet started. I did pull the fabric, supplies and reviewed some finished photos that others posted, so I am one step closer.
  • Retreat Organizer – another project from the Crafty Gemini Organizer Club, also on my list, but not yet started. Recently, I saw one of these made up and I am not so nervous about it. I did pull the fabric, supplies and reviewed some finished photos that others posted, so I am one step closer.
  • 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.

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 WIPs. I just need to work on them!

  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 don’t actually 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. WTH?
  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.
  7.  

Finished: The Lobster

Lobster tablerunner
Lobster tablerunner

I know I finished pretty fast considering the quilts were returned to me not that long ago, but, yes, I finished the Lobster. It is now on my dining room buffet protecting the surface. It also brightens up the space.

I want to use it for the July timeframe, but I still have so few non-holiday tablerunners that I will use it for awhile and then switch it out for another. I guess I need to work on tablerunners for all the holidays like I made napkins for many holidays.

Orange Vertical Strip Donation Quilt

Finished: Orange Vertical Strip
Finished: Orange Vertical Strip

This quilt came back to the guild last week at the meeting. This is the quilt I made from the trimmings off the Orange You Glad blocks. I couldn’t find a post about it, though I am sure I must have taken photos when I finished it, though maybe not.

Anyway, I don’t know who quilted it, but they did a great job. Roz bound the edges and it looks great. I love a striped binding.

Finished: Hand Bone Hackney

Hand Bone Hackney - top
Hand Bone Hackney – top

I made another Hackney. It is a gift for a friend. As you can, no doubt, see this one also uses the Timeless Treasures fabric that I used for the Skeleton Hackney.

Hand Bone Hackney bottom
Hand Bone Hackney bottom

I talked about this one in another post. I am really liking the pink zipper, of which you just get a slight glimpse. It is a fun addition to the somber skeleton fabric.

Every time I make one of these, I feel like getting a Switch and seeing if it would really fit in here. Stupid waste of money since I probably wouldn’t play with a Switch. Still, I am curious.

Hand Bone Hackney -interior
Hand Bone Hackney -interior

I used an older Joel Dewberry fabric for the inside and it is cheerful. I am making another one as a gift and I am going to change the mesh pocket for something different. Maybe a vinyl pocket?

I think the mesh pocket looks ok and I did a good job. There is something about having the zipper where it is that bugs me.

Hand Bone Hackney - handle
Hand Bone Hackney – handle

I added a handle, because I think it makes the bag more useful. I haven’t quite figured out the placement and I think this one is a little too tight. It was a little hard to get my hand around it. I also sewed through the lining as well and that caused some challenges for later steps in the process. Since the handle isn’t part of the pattern and I have to add it before the whole thing is put together, I think I am doing ok. I’ll do better next time.

Quilts Return: BAMQG IRR

BAMQG IRR; quilted
BAMQG IRR; quilted

This is another quilt that I had returned to me for finishing. This has been a long time in coming. The start of the project was in 2015! I know Rhonda, who was also in my group, was working on hers recently as well.

I probably won’t keep this one, but for the moment I don’t have a recipient. I’ll need to check my Niece-phews list and see if it would be appropriate for anyone on it. I have an idea, but would need to make another for a sibling.

BAMQG IRR back
BAMQG IRR back

I remember my excitement at using the Queen Street fabric in this quilt. I think the solid turquoise dominates more that Queen Street, though the Philip Jacobs shell fabric is no slouch either.

Queen Street really shines on the back. You can see all the prints, but they aren’t highlighted by piecing.

More binding!

Quilts Return: PP4

PP4 Night - quilted
PP4 Night – quilted

PP4 was the third quilt I got back from Colleen. The basics of this series are discussed in a post from 2012.

The idea I had for quilting was similar to Fabric of the Year 2019. I really liked the connected little circles. Colleen added some diagonal wavy lines in this one, which weren’t exactly what I was thinking but look ok. This quilt is so old that I really don’t care that much. Sad to say, but this is one reason I don’t like UFOs.

PP4 back - quilted
PP4 back – quilted

I made the back specifically for this quilt. It wasn’t a UFO. It was a completely new piece of the quilt and I really like it. I think it really goes with the Night theme.

On to binding.