Tag: Doing Good

June Donation Blocks

Yes, I am behind in reporting on June. Life is busy and I am heading to a week long quilt retreat with Friend Julie, so I am preparing to have a whole bunch of posts for you to peruse.

It is fun to see all the different blocks I make. I like remembering where the fabric came from and what I used it for.

Donation Blocks turned in at June meeting
Donation Blocks turned in at June meeting

The group of blocks are the blocks I turned in at the June meeting. I know you have seen all of these blocks before, but I thought it would be great to show all of them together.

My donation block production has slowed as my work schedule has ramped up. I am spending less time at the machine, which affects my production. Still, I have money, which is nice. Don’t worry, I am not giving up, but other guild members will have to step up and fill in the gaps.ell

Spiky 16 Patch n.2

Spiky 16 Patch n.2 Top
Spiky 16 Patch n.2 Top

I got up Sunday morning feeling a little sore and slightly disgruntled at my computer still being in the shop.

Fortunately, the Spiky 16 patch blocks were front and center on my design wall and wanted attention.

I found the formula for creating setting triangles and corner triangles and set about doing math and then cutting up squares. Large squares.

After not too long, and only a few cutting errors, the top was finished and I wasn’t as disgruntled. I like the way this turned out and hope someone will get it who really enjoys it.

My SILs said it was sweet.

I have more HRTs, so I will be making more of these blocks. I may more quilts with them, we will see.

Ends Donation Top n.5

In the course of putting away fabric and other supplies from the Stepping Stones n.2 project, I came across some rich looking prints that I didn’t think I would use in a quilt, but would make a great donation quilt. One was an Anna Griffin print from the Bailey line (or perhaps the name of the print was Bailey?). The other had a kind of scrollwork design on it. Both had kind of a blood red background.

Ends Donation Top n.5
Ends Donation Top n.5

I thought these prints would not only go well together, but also with the ends of the Triple Star. Happy to distract myself from tidying, I started in on a new Ends top. I finished the top last night and will make a back soon.

Blue Cat Pet Bed

Blue Cat Pet Bed
Blue Cat Pet Bed

It has been awhile since I made a pet bed, but the schnibble bag was getting too full.

The fabric is one of the last I got from Amanda, *I think*. I had to trim the gusset a little as I thought it was too long and made a long tunnel in the opening, which makes getting the schnibbles into the pet bed, without much on the floor, difficult.

I thought I had a lot of schnibbles, but the bed isn’t even half full. Refer to my post on having less time to sew. 😉

5 Spiky Blocks

5 Spiky Stars
5 Spiky Stars

I made the last Spiky 16 patch block and I am pleased with the way it looks.

I am liking the look of the the colors together. There are some purples and light, icky greens, but I think they add interest rather than disrupting the sea/calm look. What do you think?

Next step: on point triangles. I think I mentioned I found a new technique for creating these. I know I printed it out and now need to remember when I put it.

Spiky 16 Patch n.2 Layout and Thoughts

As mentioned, I finished the fourth Spiky 16 Patch Block I worked on over Memorial Day weekend. I found some interesting directions for cutting side triangles for an on point setting and wanted to try them. Yes, I have rulers galore that are supposed to deal with this problem, but I can’t seem to get them to work.

Spiky 16 Patch n.2 laid out
Spiky 16 Patch n.2 laid out

First, however, I needed to look at the piece laid out. I laid it out on my design wall and decided that that giant plain square in the middle would be a nuisance. If I were a master quilter, that would be a great square for a feathered wreath. Since this is a donation, I thought it would be a pain for whomever decided to quilt it and I should make another block to fit in that spot.

Spiky 16 Patch n.2 - new layout
Spiky 16 Patch n.2 – new layout

Even if I ultimately decide not to put the block in the center, it won’t be wasted. I can’t use it for another quilt. Pam suggested another block in the center, which is a good idea and would make a great variation. Not sure what it would be though. I’ll keep it in mind if the center block ends up not working out.

My goal is to have this done to turn in at the meeting. We’ll see.

More May Donation Blocks

As I mentioned the other day, I have been in a sewing drought and that affects all aspects of sewing, including my donation sewing. I took some time over the long weekend to sew as much as I could. Part of that included sewing some 16 patches.

I am trying to use similar fabrics so there are sets of blocks that people can use. My colors, especially the backgrounds can differ from what others use. I felt like making some blocks that would work for boys. It was fortunate I had some greys left over from the Triple Star. Not many, but some to add to my pile to donate when I go to the meeting in June. And this group does not include my work on the Spiky 16 patches.

Spiky 16 Patch n.4

Spiky 16 Patch n.2, block 4
Spiky 16 Patch n.2, block 4

I am back to working on the second Spiky 16 Patch donation quilt.

Over the long weekend, I got a chance to sew together some of the bias rectangles I had prepared. It turns out I made a lot of the ones I already had and very few of the ones I needed. Sigh.

I sewed the ones I had prepped together anyway and cut the 5 inch strips required for the rectangles. I was cutting for the Stepping Stones, as mentioned, and just used some of the same blues and greens I was using for the Stepping Stones to prep more.

There is something comforting and satisfying about making these Bias Rectangles. I really like the Split Recs ruler. I think it works really well. Yes, I trim, but I get really nice HRTs out of the process and they are a joy to sew. I am trying to think of different blocks to make from HRTs. I have units to make several more of these Spiky 16 patch blocks, except for the HRTs of which I am chronically short. 😉

Spiky 16 Patch n.4, quilt 2
Spiky 16 Patch n.4, quilt 2

I did finish this block and I am pleased with it. These are really nice blocks. I will lay out the piece on point when I get a chance.

Spiky 16 Patch n.2 Again

I have been looking at my three Spiky 16 patch blocks and trying to decide if I can get away with a quilt made from 3 blocks. As I mentioned, I need to make some HRTs and I haven’t had a chance to finish them up.

Spiky 16 Patch - offset test n.1
Spiky 16 Patch – offset test n.1

I had an idea to make sort of a square with the on point blocks offset. the effect wasn’t quite what I was expecting.

Spiky 16 Patch - offset test n.2
Spiky 16 Patch – offset test n.2

I tried to offset the blocks again leaving space for a fourth block. It still didn’t work the way I expected. It isn’t what I want.

Spiky 16 Patch Long Layout Test
Spiky 16 Patch Long Layout Test

Finally, I thought about the Donation quilt that Kathleen and I put together from color blocks. This gave me my last idea of the day for laying out three blocks.

I don’t think three blocks will work, but I wish they would. I’ll get busy making more blocks

HRTs in Process

HRTs in May
HRTs in May

A lot of what I am doing at the moment is prep. Cutting fabric that I can’t sew together now, but will do so later. Pressing fabric that will be cut whose small pieces will eventually be sewn back into a large piece of something. This is the sad nature of Hunting & Gathering.

As I mentioned the other day, I have been cutting clues for more Spiky 16 patch blocks. I have quite a number of 16 patches waiting to be spiked, so there is a never ending need. For some reason that I can’t remember right now, I couldn’t actually get fabric under the machine, but I could cut and I cut a lot.

I have to say and I am really liking the Split Recs ruler by Studio 180 Designs. I can cut gazillions of these pieces without thinking twice. Watch the video!

Design Wall Monday

My small design wall is fairly empty this Monday, but stuff is happening there. Mostly donation stuff.

On the bottom left are my new group of FOTY 2018 pieces. I posted about the most recent group on Saturday.

The middle of the design wall shows my most recent Spiky 16 Patches.

Below the Spiky 16 Patches is one last 9 patch. I forgot to include it in the Octagon Nine Patch.

On the right, a donation block in process.

I am linking up with Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, the relatively new hosting site of Design Wall Monday.

Another Spiky 16 Patch

Spiky 16 Patch n.7
Spiky 16 Patch n.7

In between all that sewing for the Octagon 9 Patch, I made a few 16 patches and another Spiky 16 Patch. The center 16 patch is actually one of the 16 patches I made. Instead of putting in the pile and taking one of the centers I intended for the Spiky blocks, I just started adding bias rectangles to it.

I won’t be able to make anymore of these until I make some more of the left facing HRTs. I am almost all out and I always forget to make them.

Now I have three blocks for this donation quilt. I am thinking 4 or 5 blocks will make something nice. I want to set it a big asymmetrically like the giant Sawtooth Star quilts I made. I’ll have to play around as these 16″ blocks are larger than the Sawtooth Stars.

Donation Scarf

Green Donation Scarf
Green Donation Scarf

I have been quite remiss in writing about this scarf. I am already halfway through the second skein. My mom is heading up an effort to provide holiday gifts for women at a domestic violence shelter in her area. They can’t give a gift to a woman unless they have enough of the same types of gifts to give to all of the women. Since everyone I know has already received a scarf, I thought I would contribute to this effort.

I found the yarn at Tuesday Morning, which had just opened. I had never been in a Tuesday Morning and wanted to take a look. It doesn’t feel icky even though it is partially acrylic. Mom said that a bit of acrylic is better so that the women can wash the scarf in the machine. It is kind of a cheerful color, too.