Monday, January 11, 2016

Quilting Projects for 2016

A quick word about my changing blogs. I appreciate all the kind comments and willingness to help me with the Wordpress problem. I don't want to spend anymore time trying to make changes with Wordpress. I'm here on Blogger now and plan to stay. I also think  a lot of people didn't read the last paragraph in the last Wordpress post and didn't realize I was moving. Someone told me they only read the important stuff. That is their choice. And yes, I did accidentally hit the publish button for this post before I was ready but fortunately there is a return to draft button. That was part of the learning process. Someone e-mailed me and said Blogger wasn't the same as Blogspot. When I am writing the draft of my post, the information in the bar says blogger. When I hit the publish key, it changes to blogspot, so to me, they are the same. 

Now, onto the fun stuff!

The first finish of 2016 is completed!  I've quilted the Snowflake Zippy-Strippy on my sewing machine. I'm not the best machine quilter, hand quilting is my speciality but I'm trying to learn. I've got the straight line quilting down pretty good and I'm pleased with the borders. The curves in the white border leave a lot to be desired but my grandchildren aren't going to care. The flange binding adds some extra zing to the quilt.

I've noticed most people wrote about their 2016 projects at the end of December but I work at my own pace. I'm starting three long-term projects but I plan to make time for other short term projects too.

Some friends and I have started piecing the Salinda Rupp quilt, also known as Nearly Insane, published by Liz Lois. I plan to foundation paper piece this quilt row by row, like I did my Jane quilt. We've drawn up a tentative schedule and will need to piece approximately six blocks a month to have her pieced in 18 months. Some of these blocks have a huge number of pieces so I will try to piece more than 6 a month this winter. When spring/summer arrives in several months, I may need to put Insane on hold until fall.  I'm hoping she doesn't take over my life like Jane did. So far I've pieced 1 block, block #1. I'm piecing her in blues and yellow from my stash and need to get to working with the prep work.


There are two applique projects in progress. The first is a Baltimore Album called The Pastor's Attic Quilt. I actually started appliqueing these blocks last year. I've completed 5 blocks so far and am working on the 6th block now. There are 25 blocks total and all of them are applique. I plan to eventually hand quilt her.



The second applique project is Sweet Surrender designed by Sue Cody. Half of the blocks are applique and the rest of them are pieced.  My quilt will be made using 30's fabrics and I have been busy with prep work. 
















I've completed several blocks, they work up very fast. I'm pleased with the 30's fabrics, they make a very nice change from the more somber fabrics in the Pastor's Attic Quilt.

These three projects won't be completed this year, but that is OK, these are slow projects. I'll keep working on them and eventually they will be finished.








I have several UFQ's (unfinished quilts) I hope to finish this year and I'm starting with these two.


1st project - Piece the border for the Cherry Blossom Quilt by Karen H. The fabric is cut and ready to go. Once the borders are finished, the top will be completed and ready for quilting. Cherry Blossoms will be long-arm quilted sometime. The Cherry Blossoms pattern was designed by Karen H. Her blog is Faeries and Fibres. Click on Patterns by Karen H on the headings line.
2nd project - The blocks for the Summer Lake Log Cabin quilt are pieced and just need to be sewn together. I need to lay these out on the floor and didn't want to do that earlier with all the extra people here. 

Summer Lake Log Cabin was designed by Judy Martin and is from her Log Cabin Quilt Book.

This isn't an old UFQ since I pieced these blocks in November.


Once I get these two unfinished quilt tops sewn, I'll get to the 'older' UFQ's.



And finally, some little, cute and fun projects to make.

I think my granddaughters will like the Lazy Girl purses but I need to figure out how to do the zippers. You take them apart and only use one side of the zipper!

The Sit & Stitch Pincushion is actually a sewing kit with a pincushion attached. I've already decided how to make changes so it will be more convenient for me. 


There are several crib and youth bed sized quilts I would like to make and of course, the Fussy Cut Star quilt is still in the quilting frame, very slowly being hand quilted.


I think this looks like a reasonable and manageable list but it isn't a legal contract and I may change my mind. We'll see what happens in 2016.


I'm linking up to Quilt Story, Linky Tuesday, Cooking Up QuiltsEsther's Wednesday Wow, Freshly Pieced, My Quilt Infatuation, Confessions of a Quilt Addict, A Quilting Reader's Garden, Crazy Mom Quilts, Quilting is More Fun than Housework and Slow Stitching Sunday.







26 comments:

Karen said...

I am not familiar with the Sweet Surrender designs but I like your blocks.

Mari said...

Wow, looks like you'll be busy! I love all your projects and envy you taking on the applique. And UFOs are forever, I'm afraid. Welcome to Blogger, too. It's nice here. I've found it pretty easy to use. Good luck!

Vicki in MN said...

Oh your strippy caught my eye for sure, it's so pretty! Good luck with your upcoming projects.

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

Well, you have provided me with an idea if I do not do Farmer's Wife with my 1930's fabric. I may make my Sweet Surrender with the 1930's. I really like your blocks. Log Cabin will be a beauty! I love the purples. Pastor's Attic quilt is coming along nicely. Love the colorway in the Cherry Blossoms.
You will be a busy lady this year too!

Kimberly Smith said...

I really like your mix of styles. Great job!

Becky said...

Beautiful projects! I especially like the snowflake quilt. Very nice!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

It's fun to follow what you have going on / I understood the move :)

RobinLovesQuilting said...

Here via WIP Wednesday, that Zippy Strippy Snowflakes quilt is ADORABLE. Your accuracy at appliqué is also commendable (love those sweet surrender blocks!) and those sweetpea pods look like fun!

Melissa said...

Those blues are perfect to snuggle up to in January! Welcome to Blogger/Blogspot - I don't really see a difference either! :)

Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts said...

You have lovely projects for this year! I really like the snowflake quilt. Just got the snowflake die for my Accuquilt and will have fun playing with it later in the year.

Wehago designs said...

Your projects look so fun for the year, I also have big and small projects and often list way too many. But if you don't aim high you will never reach the sky! Anyway j started blogging with Wordpress and moved to blogger And I am so so happy That I did

Chris said...

You are so doggone organized !!!
Do you suppose if I visit you again some of it will rub off ???

Nancy said...

Wow, your applique blocks are gorgeous. I should think the Baltimore Album would take a lot of patience and skill. Thanks for sharing.
Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrace.blogspot.com)

Jennifer Fulton Inquiring Quilter said...

A long list of lovely projects! You're organized so you'll get them done. The applique blocks are wonderful.

Sue Daurio said...

Love the snowflake quilt! You have some beautiful projects going on for 2016, especially those sweet surrender blocks. Just love them.

Jenny said...

Your quilting year is well planned, good on you. I tend to bumble along, flitting from one thing to another. Maybe I should get more organised too.

scraphappy said...

What a fun variety of projects you have to work on. You will never get bored with so many different fabrics and styles going on.

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

Oh such beautiful stitching. Your applique is outstanding. I am just learning to machine quilt. Small lap and baby quilts are a great size to practice. Anything larger I think is easier to hand quilt.

Gretchen Weaver said...

Thank you for your kind comments. The straight-line quilting is very easy to do. Stippling is more of a challenge and I haven't figured out how to maneuver larger quilts through my machine. For now, I will stick to the straight lines. I'm still suffering burnout from hand quilting my Jane, I'm into easy and fast projects right now.

SandraC said...

Love seeing all your projects, especially Sweet Surrender as it is one I will be starting after my current "big applique". I also love working with 30's since they are just so darn jolly!

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

So many lovely projects. I especially like the applique. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

sophie said...

Your applique blocks are charming–what a sweet quilt that will be.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Lots of wonderful projects and love the snowflakes on the quilt!!

Ellen said...

So many beautiful projects...slow is good!

Angie in SoCal said...

Gretchen - all of your projects are great. I especially like the Sweet Surrender. I like how you are pacing things. Look forward to visiting again. And thanks for linking to WIPs Be Gone.

Maggie A said...

Some lovely quilts here