End of Third Quarter Finish A Long

I had mixed results for my third quarter UFO finishing.  My pillows got done. They went from this:

 

To this:

 

 

 

I got my pincube done.  It took FOREVER to do the four sided stitching on every side of the cube.  Then I had to figure out how to stitch it together and what to use inside, so it would keep the square shape.  This really stretched my finishing skills.  It went from this:

 

 

To this:

 

 

 

I completed a friend's cross stitch UFO.  It went from this:

 

To this:

 

 

 

 

 

My spider web quilt went from this:

To this:

 

The top is complete, but it isn't quilted, so it doesn't 'count' as a finish.

 

My selvage quilt went from this:

 

To this:

But I lost my motivation didn't feel like string piecing any more.  This quilt doesn't count either.

I knew getting this next one done would be a stretch, and it was.  I didn't touch it at all.

 

To see more third quarter finishes: 

 

http://www.quilterinthegap.com/2012/09/709/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feedburner%2FLOhfT+%28Quilter+in+The+Gap%29&utm_content=Google+Reader 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Phase 3 UFO FAL

It is time to set goals for the third quarter finish-a-long. The first project I want to finish is one I had on my second quarter post that I failed to complete.  This is my spider web quilt.  I'd like to get four more of the big blocks done.  Then I'll have a decent sized quilt top.

Next on my list is this scrappy batik quilt.  This was a QAL I found on http://piecemealquilts.wordpress.com/skill-builder-series/test-your-skills-sampler/  I am not sure that all the blocks have been posted yet.  I need to do some research and see if I need to come up with some blocks on my own to finish this quilt.

Here is a selvage quilt experiment that I started a couple of years ago.  I don't know why I didn't complete this one.  Maybe I ran out of selvages?  I do like this one and look forward to getting it finished. 

Last December, my needlework guild (Virginia Guild of Needlewomen) had a pinkeep project that I also failed to complete.  Most of the stitching is done, but they didn't give step by step instructions on how to finish it.  I'm going to have to think a little and decide how I want to do it.  I also have some holly leaves that need to go on part of it.  The stitching on this is over one thread, and my eyes don't like over one anymore.   Maybe that's why it didn't get done.

This UFO is a Drawn Thread pattern.  My friend Jodi stitched over half of it in 2005, according to the date on the piece.  It is over half done and shouldn't take more than 10 hours to complete, probably much less. 

 Then there are the pillows for the porch swing.  I don't like doing this kind of sewing, and I'm not sure why.  I have four done, two to go.  I'd like to finish them soon, before the swing is installed would be great!  A neighbor has agreed to help me do the big seat cushion because I don't think I'm up to a cushion that is 72 inches by 30 inches. 

Finish-A-Long Second Quarter Check In

 Back in April, I listed 5 UFOs that I wanted to complete this quarter.  Three of them did not get 'all the way there'.  The zipper quilt went from this:

To this:

But it did not get quilted or bound.  The pineapple quilt went from this:

To this:

                But it also didn't get quilted or bound. 

It turns out that I didn't have as many spider web quilt blocks done as I thought I had, so this top did not get completed.

I did get the binding on my Dr. Seuss quilt.

And I FINALLY  completed one of my oldest UFO's, a cross stitch project by Long Dog Designs called Mouline Rouge.  I started this project in 2004.  Several of my stitching friends worked on this project as well.  It went from this:

To This:

I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have this piece complete.  Here is my original post for this quarter's stitch along.      http://sewingoutofmycomfortzone.blogspot.com/2012/04/finish-long-phase-2.html

Finish-A -Long, Phase 2

Phase 2 of the Finish-A-Long includes one of my oldest UFOs, a cross stitch project that I started about 8 years ago ( Long Dog's Mouline Rouge).  I know it was 8 years ago because I wrote the date I started it on the chart. My plan was to stitch one page of the nine page chart each month until it was complete.  I did well for about 3 months.  Then it sat for a while until I decided I could never complete it on my own.  I sent it off to some of my stitching buddies (Ming & Juli in Canada, Gaby, Dane & Ilsa in Germany, Angela in England ).  They did most of the rest of the stitching, and when it came back to me I had only about one and a half  pages left to stitch.

You would think I could complete the rest of it in less than  5 years, but it has been sitting in my stitching cabinet since it got home.  I keep moving it around, and  every time I reorganize my stitching stuff, I look in the bag and feel guilty.  Time to get it out again and finish it!

The next UFO to complete will be my zipper quilt.  This is a scrap quilt I started last summer after seeing something similar on someone else's blog. Sorry I don't know who inspired me.  I like the way this one looks from far away.  Close up, the zipper pattern is lost.

Then there is my pineapple passion quilt.  I have completed the center and just need to get the borders on.  I really need to finish it, though before I start on the zipper quilt, or I'm afraid I won't get back to it. 

There is a slight chance I could finish another quilt, so I pulled out my second spider web quilt.  I think I have about 1/2 of the blocks done.  I like making the blocks.  I dislike putting the blocks together, so we'll see how far I get.

The final quilt I need to finish is a quilt I'm making for my sister.  I had it long arm quilted in July of last year.  I got the binding sewed on the front, but I still need to hand stitch the binding on the back of the quilt. 

Considering how little I've been quilting lately, this is a lot  for me to get done in 3 months.  Here's the link to see what other quilters hope to accomplish. http://gapquilter.blogspot.com/2012/04/pre-second-quarter-linky-party.html

Stash Report and Finish-A-Long Update

A boring Stash Report this week since I didn't add or use anything this week.

Used this week: 0 yards
Used year to date: 32.5 yards
Added this week: 0 yards
Added year to date: 16.25 yards
Net used for 2012: -16.25 yards

I have been cutting scraps, though, getting ready to make a snail trail quilt with stars for my BIL. My husband is pretty good about not making comments when the dining room table looks like this for days on end.

I made a sample block for my quilt, but I'm not really happy with it because it is not quite the right size, and it really isn't square.   I need more practice.  Fortunately, I have a lot of scraps to practice on.

Just a friendly warning:  don't google snail trail without adding 'quilt block', or you will get quite an education! 

All three of my finish-a-long projects are complete.  There was just a little bit of cross stitching  and back stitching left to do on this, so it is hard to see the progress.

                                                                 Before

                                                                            After

My Orca Bay top is done.  My king sized quilt is quilted and bound. Maybe I should have chosen 4 projects instead of 3 to get done this quarter.  But now that I have completed 3 UFOs, it feels like I have month to play, and I like that.

Big A$$ Quilt!

I just finished putting the binding on my king sized quilt. I bound it by machine, and it took 2 1/2 hours to do, but I had no mistakes to rip out.

 It is 116x116 inches, and it is really too big for my bed.  But it will be going on the bed anyway!  I tucked the bottom border under in this picture.

I like how long it hangs over the sides, but I could have cut 20 inches off the length.

I learned how to miter a border, how to do fusible applique, and how do do a bargelo pattern on this quilt.  I still need to wash it, but I wanted to try and get a picture of the quilting.  It looks like loopy feathers. 

Most of the fabric is Bar Harbour by Minnick and Simpson.  This quilt is the third and final finish for this quarter in the FAL.