One Nation

I joined a cross stitch SAL to help with my motivation.  Everyone in the group choses their own focus piece, and we all blog about third every third week.  This is the first week I am participating, and I hope they don't kick me out before I even get started because I'm so late posting!

 I think One Nation is a great cross stitch pattern, but it is so big, it is awkward to work on.  I don't use scroll rods, and with the state of my health, I am trying not to buy any more hobby equipment than necessary.  I am using q-snaps for this project, but it is too big and heavy to use a q-snap frame to fit the whole flag in. I hate putting the q-snaps on top of my stitching, but I'm having to do just that, because the project is so big.  So I've been putting this off, and I want to finish it.

Here's where I am now:

Four more long rows to go, plus the little bit on this white row, and all the stars.  It's a lot of stitching!

To see what others in the group are working on:  

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie

Week 8, PoD Block

I was ready to do an easy block this week.

 I spent a lot of time picking out fabric for the books.  I'm trying to use scraps and not cut into my fat quarters.

Forest Friends, Birds

I haven't reached my One Monthly Goal for March, but I'm halfway there.  Look at my bird blocks!

This quilt is moving along quicker than I thought it would.

One Monthly Goal, March

My OMG for March is to make 16 blocks for my niece's graduation quilt.  I have just started cutting it out.  Here's a link to the pattern, Forest Friends: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/721736433/paper-pattern-for-forest-friends-to-be?ref=shop_home_active_20&frs=1

My niece is on her girl scout troop's rowing team, and I think she will really like it.  I know I do!

There are so many Sew Fresh Patterns that I like:  the Giraffes in a Row baby quilt, Layin Pipe,  Life in the Pond, and Lemur Love.  Every time I scroll through Lorna's site, I find another must-do pattern!

I have made two Sew Fresh Quilt patterns already.

This one was a wedding gift:

This one I kept for myself:

These quilts are not paper pieced.  The cutting is complicated, and you need to stay very organized to make these quilts, but the results are worth it.  

Linking up:https://www.elmstreetquilts.com/2020/03/one-monthly-goal-march-link-up.html

Week 7, PoD Block

If you aren't a Harry Potter fan, you might not recognize this week's block.  The red and white thing that looks like a tent is Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. My block is a little small, but I should be able to hide this in the seam allowances later.

While I'm working on the PoD quilt, I'm also working on a paper pieced leader and ender project, Bonnie Hunter's Wild & Goosey.  This is the second time I'm made Wild & Goosey. https://sewingoutofmycomfortzone.blogspot.com/2015/10/wild-and-goosey.html  This quilt will take quite a while as each little block is only 3 1/2". I like using my tiny scraps in these blocks.

A local quilt shop is closing, fortunately for me, not the one I work at.  They had a 40% off sale today, and I bought fabric for my next graduation quilt. I will miss this quilt shop as it is the one closest to me.  It is also a Bernina dealer.  The closest Bernina will now be an hour away.  I hope another local shop picks up these machines.   

Stash Report:                                                                                                                                        

Used this week: 0

Used YTD: 17.75 yards

Added this week: 14.0 yards (Elyse's quilt)

Added YTD: 34.0 yards

Net:  +16.25 yards

Week 6, PoD Block

Here's this week's PoD block:

I had to put them all on the design wall to check my colors.  I am trying to not repeat any book fabrics, so I need to keep reminding myself what I've already used.  

String Quilt

I finished piecing this string quilt today.  It is 60" x 70".  I had to talk myself out of adding a black border.  As it is, this quilt is a good size for  a lap quilt.  It doesn't need to be any bigger, and I can bind in black.

This is the first quilt that  I webbed.  I think it is probably quicker than the way I was sewing, but I don't like all the pressing that has to be done after the top is together.

Stash Report:

Used this week: 3.375 yards (string quilt)

Used YTD: 17.75 yards

Added this week: 9.5 (backing)

Added YTD: 20.0 yards

Net:  +2.25 yards