Three Hundred Four Patches: The EASY Clue

I have 257 four patches complete.

 I have 50 more sewn, but they still need to be pressed.  I just got tired of standing up, so I'll do them tomorrow. Some of my oranges lean toward coral or gold, but it was raining all day yesterday and today too, and I didn't feel like going to the quilt shop, so I used them.

This is all the orange fabric I have left.

I have a few decent sized pieces to cut strips from, but  a lot of my orange is trash scraps:  crumpled up, odd shades of orange and/or too small to use.  If  there is more orange in this quilt, I will need to buy more.

To see more Celtic Solstice progress:  http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-4.html

Celtic Solstice Caught Up

I completed my pinwheels for Celtic Solstice just 5 minutes ago, so I am caught up with the clues for about another 10 hours.  Then the next clue comes out, and all bets are off!  This is a hard time of year to drop it all and sew.

I was supposed to make 61 of these, but I got carried away and made 75.  Someday I'm going to make a kitchen sink quilt and these extra pinwheels will be in that quilt. I like the orange and yellow combination!

Reflections on Quilting Resolutions for 2013

I played along with Sandy at Quilting for the Rest of Us and made some quilting resolutions last year  for 2013.

She asked what each of us  wanted to accomplish.

1. One Block Wonder Quilt:  The top is done.

2. Kathryn's graduation quilt:  Done, quilted and gifted!

 

3. Using more stash than I buy. As of last Sunday, here's where I stand.  I didn't succeed here.

Used this week: 2.5 yards
Used Year to Date:  91.125 yards
Added this week: 1.5 yards
Added year to date:  100.625 yards
Net Added:  9.5 yards

BUT I made 3 quilts using only scraps in my stash:

 

 

 

 

She asked what each of us wanted to learn.  I said:
I want to learn how to paper piece well. (And I want to learn to like paper piecing)

Mission accomplished in learning to paper piece well.  The Harry Potter quilt was a crash course in paper piecing.  I found that I do like to paper piece too!

She asked what I want to experience through quilting. I said:
I want to experience 'green' quilting.  I want to make a quilt from recycled clothing or some other kind of repurposed fabric. I want to be more mindful of waste in my quilting and waste in other aspects of my life.

In response to this goal, I made 3 quilt tops out of men's shirts.  I really enjoyed this process and plan to make more recycled fabric quilts in the future.

 

 

My guiding word for my quilting life in 2013: focus.  I feel like I did focus on my quilting in 2013.  Maybe my word for 2014 should be 'balance'. With all the quilting, I didn't have time to  get the cross stitching and knitting done that I wanted to in 2013.  But overall, I am pleased that I met most of my goals.  Linking up with Patchwork Times:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/12/31/get-it-done/

Celtic Solstice, Behind Already

I finished step 2 this weekend. Step 3 was released last Friday, so I'm already officially behind.

 Several times while I was working on this step, I found myself wondering if I really wanted to make the king sized version or do the small one.  The small version only needs 100 chevron units.  The king size needs 244.  I persevered and made 250.  I like to have extras just in case I miscount or have a quality control issue.

 

I am glad I bought those extra yellow fat quarters early this fall, or I wouldn't have had enough to do this step.  I may have to go out and buy a few more, but I'm hoping I have enough. 

 

Step 3 looks easier than the first 2. Maybe I can catch up this week. To see more CS progress:

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/celtic-solstice-mystery-monday-link-up_4572.html

Stash Report

I finished one pillowcase and 9 rice bags this week.  I think my Christmas sewing is done. 

 

Used this week: 2.5 yards
Used Year to Date:  91.125 yards
Added this week: 1.5 yards
Added year to date:  100.625 yards
Net Added:  9.5 yards

To see more stash reports: http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/12/15/stash-report-week-50-2013/

Celtic Solstice, Step 3

I sighed with relief when I saw step 3 of Celtic Solstice:  half square triangles!  A unit I can make easily and accurately.  I'm still working on step 2.  I thought I was done, but then I realized I was ONE HUNDRED units short. I worked last night on it, but I still have a long way to go.

I'm also working on rice bags for a friend's family for Christmas.  They all need one, including the two boyfriends, so I've got 9 rice bags to make plus one pillow case, 4 dozen cookies for the cookie exchange and 3-4 batches of caramel corn for the neighbors. 

My oldest son graduates this week from college too.  He isn't interested in attending the ceremony.  I am not sure if they even have a ceremony for kids who graduate in December.  After 5 1/2 years of college, I am  just ready for him to graduate.  He has amassed 225 1/5 credits ( instead of the usual 120 credits needed to graduate). So if anyone is looking for an over-educated mechanical engineer with math minor,  and a BIS in set design and technical theater, email me!  He would love to work as an Imagineer at Disney but realizes his first job might not be his dream job.

Celtic Solstice, Sweet Potato Pie

I've made a big dent in Celtic Solstice, Part 2.  Almost all my uphill units are done as well as about 1/3 of my down hills.  I put one unit all the way together to make sure everything would line up and nest well.  I think I could have finished the whole step this weekend, but I wanted to spend a bit of time with my DH and son.

 

Here is my pile of waste triangles.  Bonnie said they would be good for her pineapple paper pieced quilt, but I have no plans to make that one, so if you want them, let me know

 

To see more Celtic Solstice progress: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/celtic-solstice-mystery-monday-link-up.html

 I also took time to make a sweet potato pie with pecan pie topping this weekend.  YUM!  This recipe is a keeper!

Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Pie Topping

Topping:
1 egg
3 Tbsp. dark corn syrup
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 tsp. maple flavoring
1 cup chopped pecans

Pie:
2 medium sweet potatoes, baked, pealed and kept warm
1/4 cup butter
1 14 oz. can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. each cinnamon, nutmeg, grated orange zest
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs

1 9-inch pie crust  (The recipe didn't say to do this, but I pre-baked my pie shell, so it wouldn't get soggy.  Worked great!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Topping: Combine egg, corn syrup, brown sugar, melted butter and maple flavoring.  Mix well.  Add pecans and set aside.

Pie:  In large mixing bowl, beat warm sweet potatoes with butter until smooth.  Add condensed milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest, salt and eggs. Mix well.  Pour into pastry shell. Bake 30 minutes.

Remove from oven and spoon topping carefully over the pie.  Bake an additional 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Stash Report

My LQS was having a fat quarter sale (10 for $15).  The plan was to go with a friend, and we would each buy 5 FQs since neither of us really NEEDED more fabric.  I ended up buying 15 FQs instead of 5.  I was low on yellows, oranges and pinks, so  got a few of them.  Then I got several neutrals and greens for my Celtic Solstice and finally 3 purples because I really liked them. 

Earlier in the week, I also bought fabric for one more pillow case.  I know I'll finish this one soon because it is a Christmas gift.

Used this week: 0 yards
Used Year to Date:  88.625 yards
Added this week: 5.25 yards
Added year to date:  99.125 yards
Net Added:  10.5 yards

The bad news is I only see my self using 1-1.5 yards before the end of December, so I don't anticipate reaching my goal of using more than I added this year. I have 2 mystery scrap quilts in the works, though, and a one block wonder cut out and ready to sew.  I should have some quick finishes in 2014.  To see more stash reports:
http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Celtic Solstice: Part 1 Complete!

I am thrilled to have finally completed part 1 of Celtic Solstice.  I had forgotten how long each step of a Bonnie Hunter mystery takes.   I made 240 blue/white units and 140 blue/orange units because I'm making the king sized quilt.

 

I'm very happy with the quality of my units.  I have used the Tri-Recs tool before, and was not happy that many of the block I made with this tool were a little warped, not quite square.  This wasn't the fault of the tool but of my technique.  For Celtic Solstice, I used Deb Tucker's V-Block ruler instead of Tri-Recs.  With this ruler, the blocks are made a little over-sized and then trimmed down. In my mind, this extra step was worth the time.

 

 

I've also completed the next step in Scrapitude, but I need to trim the dog ears.

 

 

 

Celtic Solstice, Part 1

I've worked on Celtic Solstice this weekend.  All of my part one pieces are cut.  I am using Deb Tucker's V-Block ruler for this step.  I've used the Tri Recs in the past, and I haven't been happy with my accuracy using it.  The V-Block ruler is very forgiving in your cutting and sewing, but you have to trim down at the end. I am willing to do that trimming for the sake of accuracy.

Here's a real life picture of my blocks in progress.  It looks chaotic, but I have a system.

 Some of my blocks are sewn but not trimmed.

 

I should have most of these units complete by the time the next clue comes out, but I do have a little bit of Christmas sewing to do too.

 

Linking up with Bonnie Hunter this week:  http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/celtic-solstice-mystery-monday-link-up-1.html

Christmas Pillowcases and Stash Report

I made 5 pillowcases this weekend.  Three of them are early Christmas gifts for college kids.  I like to send them something while they are studying for exams.  I also made two for my BIL.  They match the quilt I made him for his birthday, and they use the same 3-D fabric.

 

 Used this week: 6.125 yards
Used Year to Date:  88.625 yards
Added this week: 7.25 yards
Added year to date:  93.875 yards
Net Added:  5.25 yards

 

 

Carolina Christmas Progress

I had hoped to get all the poinsettia blocks done this week, but my sewing time was limited.  By Monday night, I had this much done:

 

To say I'm finished with the poinsettia blocks, means I'd have to have these 48 units sewn into blocks of 4 to make 12 big blocks.  That hasn't happened yet, and now I'm thinking that I may wait to do it because it is easier for me to store 8 inch blocks than 16 inch blocks without getting them  all wrinkled up. 

 

In any event, I would have never even begun this quilt without the push from Jo.  Thanks, Jo!  I've always wanted to do Carolina Christmas, and now I might even have it done for Christmas 2014.

I'm linking up with:

http://www.joscountryjunction.com/bonnie-challenge/

Silk Ribbon Roll-Up

I took a class last Saturday with Susan Gay of Berryhill Heirlooms.  Here is my Silk Ribbon Roll-Up:

Three pieces of double sided satin ribbon were joined with a featherstitch.  It was a challenge for me to get the featherstitches even.  I am used to working on linen, not silk. 

Susie Gay was an excellent teacher. There were about 15 people in the class, at all different stitching levels, and she managed to keep us stitching.  I got about 75% of the piece done in a 6 hour class.

The beaded ends of the ribbon ties were hard for me.  I redid the first one 3 times before I got it done to my satisfaction.

Here is what the piece looks like on the inside.  The inner layer is wool felt.  The pocket at the end closes with an antique button.  It holds a beeswax strawberry.

Here is a close up of my beaded grapes.  I had the same spacing issue with the Antwerp stitch edging that I did with the featherstitch:  no threads to count to keep the spacing even. 

I did ribbon embroidery for the first time on this piece.  It was fun! I'd like to do more ribbon embroidery.  I signed up for a class last spring, but it was cancelled due to lack of interest.  I hope my guild will offer more surface stitching classes as I really need the practice.

This project was published in Creative Needle, August 2008.  I'm linking up with Sarah and Amanda Jean.
 http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2013/11/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-restoring-past.html

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2013/11/scrap-vortex.html

http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/05/23/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-59/

November Ornament

I finished my November ornament a week early (or my October ornament 3 weeks late).

 

The gold beads, gold thread and sparkles woven into the fabric don't show up very well.  This is Christmas Box Ornament.  I'm afraid I don't know the designer of this one.

 

To see more ornaments:

http://stitchinglotus.ca/2013/11/ornament-sal-november-check-in/

 

 

 

Carolina Christmas Continues

I've gotten 48 small poinsettia blocks done.  These need to be sewn together in 12 sets of 4.  I hope to get that done tomorrow.  I will soon need to stop sewing and start cleaning because  about 30 people are coming to my house for Thanksgiving.

 

 

To see more design walls:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/11/18/design-wall-november-18-2013/

 

The Backup Machine and Carolina Christmas Whine

I sew on a Bernina 1260 that is about 17 years old.  My machine has been in the shop this week for its annual cleaning, so this week I've been using my son's 830 Record.  The Bernina tech told me that the 830 is considered a perfect sewing  machine.  It is still in  high demand  after 40 years because it is a great machine. 

Perfect or not, I miss my 1260.  I like having a needle up/down button.  I miss the way my 1260 can sew backwards without my holding down a button.  I even miss the razor thread cutter on the side.  My 1260 foot peddle is more sensitive than the one on the 830, which seems to only have a super fast or super slow speed. This sewing machine also likes to grab the corners of triangles and pull them into the bobbin area, even when using the leader/ender technique.  I am grateful to have a backup machine, but I will be glad when mine is out of the shop. 

Another thing I feel like whining about is this unit:

I've made almost 200 of them for this quilt.  Some of them look pretty good, but most of them are mediocre, just a hair too big or small or not quite square on the ends.  Quilting muggles will never notice, but it is driving me crazy.  A few of these units were so skewed that I decided not to use them.  

Is there a better method than sewing a neutral square to the end of the red rectangle on the diagonal? I actually drew  the diagonal lines on the triangles, hoping to improve the accuracy of my units, but it didn't really seem to matter.  I just made a boatload of these units this past summer for Lazy Sunday and had similar accuracy problems. Usually I get more accurate the more repetitions I do, but I can't say I'm really improving at this.  If anyone has a more accurate method, please let me know.  I like making units a sliver bigger than needed and trimming them down to the correct size, but am not quite sure how to do this with this unit.  If I knew the name of it, I would google it.  Someone must know a better way.

This week I got in about 3.5 hours of sewing time and made some progress, but I'm not as far along as I'd like to be.

For more Bonnie Hunter quilt progress:  http://www.joscountryjunction.com/bonnie-challenge-update-2/

Carolina Christmas Continued

I've gotten a moderate amount of piecing done this week on Carolina Christmas.

All 192 neutral and gold parts are done.  I have completed 40 of the 192 red and neutral 'petal' units, and have another 80 half way done.  I am saving my bonus HSTs from this quilt.  I have a boatload of them right now because I saved the bonus HSTs from Lazy Sunday too.  Using up my  2 inch bonus HSTs will have to be a project for next year. 

Jo, my ironing board looks as bad as yours does!  Maybe making a new cover should be on my short list for 2014.

To see more Bonnie quilt progress:  http://www.joscountryjunction.com/bonnie-challenge-update/

Carolina Christmas

I spent last week cutting trash scraps for Carolina Christmas.  Trash scraps are the winkled up balls of odds and ends of fabric that never properly get sorted.  Trash scraps are the kind of scraps a lot of quilters throw out. Trash scraps include the bandannas the dogs get when they go to the groomer. Trash scraps are lots of work to harvest:  they have to be starched and ironed flat before they can be cut.   I've gotten all the pieces cut for the poinsettia blocks cut.  My goal is to finish all of these blocks before Thanksgiving.

 

I cut some extra 2 1/2 inch neutral squares.  I don't think I've made a quilt of Bonnie's where I didn't need a few ( or 200) of them.  I'll use the extras in this coming mystery.

 

To see more Bonnie Quilts:  http://www.joscountryjunction.com/the-bonnie-challenge-update/

Stash Report

I used 2.5 yards this week in Julio's quilt.  I also bought 13 fat quarters (buy 12, get 1 free) because I am so low on yellow and orange, both colors that are going to be used in Bonnie Hunter's new mystery, Celtic Solstice.

Used this week: 2.5 yards
Used Year to Date:  82,5 yards
Added this week: 3.25 yards
Added year to date:  86.625 yards
Net Added:  4.125 yards

To see more stash reports:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/10/27/stash-report-week-43-2013/

People have been posting beautiful arrays of fabric they are going to be using for this mystery.  I am going to start with my scraps first before I cut into any fat quarters.  Otherwise, those ugly scraps will NEVER be used.  Mix up the uglies with some pretties, and no one will ever notice how dreadful some of the scraps I have are.  Here are my fabrics for Celtic Solstice.

I also started cutting  scraps for another of Bonnie Hunter's quilts, Carolina Christmas.  I am going to join Jo and Nell in a Bonnie Hunter along.  The goal is to finish a BH quilt by Thanksgiving.  I won't finish the entire quilt, but I'd like to finish all of the poinsettia blocks by then. 

http://www.joscountryjunction.com/join-me-and-nell-on-a-bonnie-challenge/

Big Quilt, Little Quilt

I have finished the top for my brother's baby's quilt.  It is made from my brother's, my BIL's and my husband's shirts. 

This is a Swirly Girls Pattern, Patchwork PDQ.  It is super simple.  All the Swirly Girls patterns I have used have had very clear directions.  This quilt is 45x 60 inches. I had a lot of shirt scraps leftover, so I made a smaller version they can use in a stroller or car.

 

I ordered gray minky for the back and will take them both to the longarmer as soon as it arrives. 

Wrapping A Quilt

I spent a long time trying to fold my sister's quilt to fit well into the pillowcase.  I don't like to use  paper to wrap gifts, if I can help it.  It seems so wasteful. I finally came up with this:

 

She may guess that she is getting a quilt.  But if I draw someone's name in the family Christmas drawing, it is a good chance he or she will be getting a quilt from me, and everyone knows this already!

The People Blanket

I made my first quilt in 1991.  I had sewn garments for years and had made a couple of applique pillows (long worn out by now) and several pieced pot holders (also, long gone by now), but this was my first quilt.  I was taking a class an Irish Chain quilt at an LQS (long gone by now as well).  We used Eleanor Burns Irish Chain book for this class.

 I only went to the class because my friend twisted my arm.  She was pregnant as well, so we both decided to make Irish Chain baby quilts.  I bought my first and still favorite olfa rotary cutter for this class.

My kids always called this quilt The People Blankie.  You can see here why!

As I recall, she used tradition soft baby colors.  I used red, white and black because I knew babies liked contrast.  I did not use quilt shop quality fabrics.  I think I bought the red, black and white at Cloth World (also long gone around here).  The backing I know was from Walmart, $1 a yard fabric.

Don't believe anyone who says you MUST  use quilt shop quality fabrics in your quilts.  This quilt had many years of hard use and washings.  DS2 used it for at least 6 years and then passed it on to DS3 who used it.  It spent a lot of time in the car and on the floor.  After 21 years, it is a little faded, but no holes, no fraying or worn places.  I did the quilting inexpertly, but that has held as well.

To see more baby quilts:
http://amyscreativeside.com/2013/10/25/bloggers-quilt-festival-baby-quilts-2/
http://mychellem.blogspot.com/2013/10/lets-make-baby-quilts-week-43.html

Scrapitude, Part 2

I finished part 2 of the Scrapitude Mystery quilt found over on Sandy's blog. http://quiltingfortherestofus.com/blog/  It's too early to know what the block will look like, but I suspect the blocks are 3 by 3 grids of 4 inch units, making the blocks 12 inch finished.  It is a square quilt, so I might add another row to the end and make it twin bed sized for a niece or nephew going off to college.  My own kids have more quilts than they need!

 

 

I currently have 4 nieces and 8 nephews, but my brother is in the process of adopting a year old baby, so that will soon make it 9 nephews.  I have started making a simple quilt for the new baby.  It is going to be made of shirts that came from his dads.  It will be a simple pattern since we just found out last Friday that tomorrow is the day they get the baby.

 

To see more design walls: http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/10/21/design-wall-monday-october-21-2013/