Tag: Gifts

Chain Link on the Wall

Chain Link blocks on the wall
Chain Link blocks on the wall

Putting Chain Link up on the design wall the other day made a huge difference. I could finally see what was going on with this quilt. I made good progress over the past couple of days and am pleased that this quilt is finally going in the right direction.

In the photo, the fabrics look plaid. Except for a couple of gingham charms, there isn’t any plaid. The rainbow stripes contribute to the effect, I think.

I worked really hard on putting the strip sets together. It is a tedious task, but had to be done, so I just got on with it. Once all the blocks were in place, I could see what was going on with this quilt. I could see how to put it together and the way the design was supposed to work. I don’t know why I couldn’t see that before. 

Now on to chunking.

 

 

Chain Link Takes Center Stage

Chain Link on the design wall
Chain Link on the design wall

I finally took Sidewalk off the design wall and replaced it with Chain Link. No, Triumphant gets no time on the design wall. LOL! I have a lot of quilt projects happening at the moment. This is the result of starting so much.

This isn’t actually all of the blocks. I have to find a step stool and put the last two rows up at the top. It is enough for me now to see what is happening with this quilt top. 

As you can see, I have a lot of the strips sets to make. I think this quilt will go together quickly once those are done. 

It is so much easier to get a grip on this design when I can see it. 

Pillowcase Day

Route 66 road trip pillowcase
Route 66 road trip pillowcase

I sent off the next pillowcase for my youngest nephew the other day. He should have received it by now.

I was able to see him on Mother’s Day, but didn’t really get a chance to talk. I do know that his next big adventure is heading down to Santa Barbara to attend SB Community College. I wonder if he will take these pillowcases with him?

Christmas Pillowcase Project Continues

Christmas pillowcases
Christmas pillowcases

I spoke about the pillowcases I wanted to make for ‘new’ family members that have joined since the last time I made pillowcases for the nieces and nephews. I gathered the fabric and was planning on slowly working through the 8 I needed to make when I had time.

Well, I had time at work when I had to listen to a meeting, but didn’t need to participate. I was able to cut and trim. It is really good, because my hands are busy which helps me pay attention.

Then, while I was sewing the endless bits for the Old Town borders, I used the pillowcases as leaders and enders. Suddenly, the pillowcases were done! More than 6 months early! WTH?

Now they get to hang around waiting for November. I plan to write cards and package them up now so they are ready to go.

Morning Flower Patch Start

You are probably wondering why I am starting yet another quilt. I am kind of wondering that myself. I seem to be in starting mode.

Morning Flower Patch & Pencil Roll start
Morning Flower Patch & Pencil Roll start

As mentioned a few days ago, I cut a lot of pieces for this quilt, which can be found in the book, Just Two Charm Pack Quilts* by Cheryl Brickey. I got it out of the library and used Hoopla, but if you have a lot of charm packs, you might be interested in buying it.

Cyndi turned me on to this pattern and she made a really nice version, which I know I photographed, but can’t find the photo. Stay tuned for more.

 

 

 

 

**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.

Vervain Progress

I think I might have had a little dip in my Sew-jo and didn’t really know what was going on. I had a great sewing session over the weekend and I think I bag to my normal enthusiasm and energy.

Vervain in progress
Vervain in progress

I really made good progress on the Vervain belt bag for my aunt. You might think this doesn’t look like much, but the sewn bits are the result of about 20 steps!

I was concerned about making a belt bag (fanny pack). I am not sure why, but it seemed harder than normal bags. I think I was just feeling down.

I have a few more steps to go – maybe another 15? I am excited about this project and how it is evolving. I’ll probably be done by next week. We’ll see.

Christmas Pillowcases Redux

Yes, so far May seems to be all about pillowcases!

After reminding myself of the Christmas pillowcase project on which I want to work, I finally made time to check my stock of Christmas fabric. Fortunately, I have 8 yards I can use, though I may need to find some cuff fabric. I’ll mix and match a bit, but I may not have enough.

2025 Pillowcase project fabrics
2025 Pillowcase project fabrics

The fabrics I have are more subtle than I usually use for Christmas pillowcases. I want to use fabric I have, however, so these are the choices.

The mermaid fabric is the one girly fabric I have, so I’ll have to decide which of the two girls get it.

 

Next steps:

    • Wash the fabric
    • Cut pillowcase bodies
    • Decide on cuffs
    • Sew

Maybe I’ll have to think about Christmas pillowcases for the Angel family?

Hooray for progress!

Kathy’s Pillowcase

Kathy's Pillowcase
Kathy’s Pillowcase

I forgot to post about this pillowcase when I posted about the Angel Family pillowcases.

This is a pillowcase I made as a bonus when I found I had enough extra fabric to make one additional pillowcase. I also made it at the Retreat. I used the green Tilde fabric for the cuff as Jess’ favorite color was green.

I made it for my friend as an homage to her daughter, Jess, who died last year very suddenly in an accident. The daughter enjoyed fun and kindness and I thought a ‘Sweet Dreams’ pillow would be just the thing.

Adventure Pillowcase

Brown stitch adventure pillowcase
Brown stitch adventure pillowcase

It’s a new month and I am sending my youngest nephew his new pillowcase. This time it is the Brown stitch adventure pillowcase.

I really like that brown stitch fabric. As I have mentioned before, I have it in several colors (or had it!) and have used it in Old Town and lots of other projects.

For brown, I have quite a large piece even after this pillowcase. I am not sure why I bought so much.

My nephew is always very kind and sends me a thank you text, often after 10pm. LOL.

I really am going to have to find some more fabrics and make his brother a few more pillowcases. I know I made him fewer and he is the one nephew that has said he really loves these pillowcases. Of course, I also have the Christmas pillowcase project I mentioned a few months ago.

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: 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.

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.

 

All the Gifts for SueG

After posting about SueG’s Classmate Tote, I wanted to review all the gifts I have made for her. I finally found a previous post.

As usual, I always think I have made more gifts than I actually have. Still, I am pleased with what I have made for Sue.