A Layer Cake

I used to have very few precuts in my stash.  My rule was one jelly roll at a time.  Somehow I ended up with a few layer cakes with no plans for them.  A few weeks ago, I pulled out a fall colored layer cake and decided to do something with it.  The fabric was mostly dark.  The colors remind me of Civil War prints.  I found a simple tutorial on the Missouri Star website for this quilt.

All the colors were dark except for 2 fabrics, so I decided to add another light fabric.

I like the crow fabric I added, but in retrospect, I don't think this quilt needed it.  And by adding a fabric, I ended up with 3 extra blocks that don't fit in the quilt.  My biggest frustration with this quilt was that my layer cake had duplicates of a lot of fabrics.  It was hard to get the fabrics spread over the quilt in a pleasing way.   In the end, I just gave up and sewed it together.  I am not sure if I'm going to keep this quilt or not.  I don't love it.

I might donate the top.  I could add a border or two and keep it for when one of my brothers or brothers-in-law get sick since it has a masculine feel. Without borders it is 48" x 64". A nice fall pantograph of leaves, acorns, squirrels and pumpkins might change the way I feel about this quilt.  Using flannel or minky for the back would help too.

Stash Report:

Used  this week: 2.5 (Fall Layer Cake quilt)

Used year to date: 140.375  yards

Added this week: 3 yards

Added year to date: 126.625 yards

Net Used: 13.75  yards

Linking up:  https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/2019/12/design-wall-monday-december-16-2019.html

Frolic, Step Three

It was a cold, rainy day yesterday, and I only left the house to go to the  mailbox.  I spent all morning working on step 3 of Frolic, making over 150 HSTs.  I am out of the right size triangle paper, so I did the them Eleanor Burns way (eight at a time) and trimmed with my Bloc Loc ruler.

I am easily keeping up with the first weeks of clues, but my schedule gets busier around Christmas, and that is usually when I get behind.  

Washing the Red and White Quilt

My Sedona quilt had a spot of sewing machine oil on it, and I was a little (just a little because I'd tested the red fabric) concerned that the red fabric might bleed.  Sedona, and all my red and white quilts, are made from Moda Bella Solid Christmas Red and Kona Premium Ultra White.

 I believe that using white fabric that will not accept excess dye is as important as using a red that does not bleed.  I have had an issue with one of my red and white scrap quilts where some of the red fabric bled, and some of the white and cream fabrics picked up the excess dye.  But only some of the white fabrics did, and they were generally Modas.  That is why I chose Kona white for these quilts.

To remove the oil spot, I squirted blue Dawn dishwashing liquid directly on the stain.  Then I filled my laundry sink with warmish water, added a color catcher, and soaked the spot for about a half hour.  After soaking, I transferred the quilt to my washing machine, added a few more color catchers and washed the quilt in warm water.  I was willing to risk a bleeding red to have a better chance of removing the oil.

Fortunately, all the oil came out.  Fortunately, I had also added the color catchers!

I love the way this quilt crinkled up after it was washed.  Now I'm feeling brave enough to wash my other red and white quilts.

The one hanging on the wall has been up for about 3 years and is looking a little dusty!

OMG, Sedona Bound

I completed my OMG for December today, binding Sedona.

I love the visual impact of this quilt, and I love the quilting Denise did on it.  This quilt is not soft and cuddly.  It is for display, so it doesn't matter that it is a little stiff. There is a small oil spot on it, so I'm going to take my chances and wash it.  I am 75% sure that the red is not going to bleed. 

I have room for one more red and white quilt!

Stash Report:

Used  this week: 5.0  yards (Sedona back, Gobble It Up Pillow)

Used year to date: 137.875  yards

Added this week: 0 yards

Added year to date: 123.625 yards

Net Used: 14.25 yards

Linking up:https://www.elmstreetquilts.com/2019/12/one-monthly-goal-december-finish-link-up.html