Another Block for Hearts & Wreaths

The 6th block for Hearts & Wreaths has been appliqued. This block was finished before I went to my retreat a week ago. The applique goes relatively fast, it's the prep work that takes so long!

The blue heart fabric is the same design as block 5, it's has the scissors in it! Except this fabric is blue instead of dark purple.

Here is a link to my first post about Hearts & Wreaths. The blocks will finish at 16". 

I did take along 4 background squares for Hearts & Wreaths to the retreat. The chain stitch embroidery was completed on all 4 backgrounds.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Handmade Monday, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away!

Another 16 Patch Quilt

I had worked with the 16 patch blocks before retreat but didn't have time to finish it. I bagged it up and stuck it in my retreat bag. It was the first project under the needle Wednesday afternoon/evening at the retreat.

I didn't have quite enough of the 16 patch blocks to make an entire quilt so I used some of the leftover puss in the corner blocks from the first 16 patch quilt top.

The sashing for this quilt was leftover quilt backing. I've always liked this gray fabric. The cornerstones were going to be all darker grays from the 2.5" squares box. While I was bagging the pieces for the quilt, I noticed a mini charm pack that I had won. It has been sitting on the small table in the cutting room for years! I threw that little pack into the bag and they were also used for cornerstones.

The flimsy measures 62" by 81.5" and will be donated to the comforter bash.

The 16 patch blocks were made monthly through the RSC, a good way to make them!

Someone commented that my Christmas tree looks lovely. This isn't my tree, this is a tree from the Farmstead Motel in Shipshewana. We don't have a buggy in our house either!

There were 4 of the alternate puss in the corner blocks left. I thought how interesting a tone on tone quilt would be, wouldn't that be fun? I decided to sleep on it. The next day I thought what was I thinking?! I put the extra blocks into the extras block box, all the 2.5" squares were put into their correct box and same way with the strips. I'm not chasing that squirrel up a tree, at least not right now anyway.

Linking to Peacock Party, TGIFF!, Off the Wall Friday, UFO Busting, Scrap Happy Saturday, Oh Scrap

Flower Patch SAL

I made sure I pieced the next two blocks for the Flower Patch sew along before I went to retreat. And I wrote the post so it would be ready to go!

First is block 4.

The pinwheels in my block aren't turning the same direction as the pinwheels in Denise's block. Oh well, that just makes my block an original.

I added two new blues to the block. I thought I had a lighter batik blue but I guess that got used somewhere else. The pinwheel fabric hasn't been used before. Also the outer edge of the flower is a new addition.

Here is block 5. Block 5 is a repeat of block 2 which is the cardinal block. I made a few changes to my block. I added more of the darker red and changed a placement. It didn't turn out like I thought but I'm not taking it apart and redoing it!

I also positioned the segments of the block differently to make it slightly different then block 2.

I pinned the new block to the display wall and took a picture of both cardinal blocks. They're pinned over other projects which you can see the edges peeking.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Flower Patch Sew Along, Midweek Makers, Stitch Sew & Show,  Wednesday Wait Loss

More Cross Hatching!

There was even more cross hatching to hand quilt this time across Welsh Beauty but I did it!

The right side of the quilt.

The whole swath of cross hatching. Yes, I know the picture looks kind of weird but photos that are the long way make for challenging positioning in a post. You get the idea.

And the left side of the quilt.

The start of the center design is making it's appearance after I rolled. Quilting across the row this time is still mostly cross hatching but it's exciting to be so close to starting the center! 

Let me be clear, I'm not at the center of the quilt, the center design is large, I just at the bottom edge of the center.

Here is a link to a picture of the quilt. Look at the bottom of the center. After I complete the next swath across the quilt, I might have 1/4th of the quilting completed, maybe . . . what do you think?

Here is a link to my first post about Welsh Beauty. This gives you more details about my quilt and other whole cloth quilts.

Here is an updated photo of my Thanksgiving cactus, it looks so pretty!

I'm not home right now, this is the last day of the Jane Stickle retreat. I'll link up after I return home this afternoon.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Handmade Monday, Design Wall Monday, BOM'S Away

Hearts & Wreaths

The applique of block 5 for my Hearts & Wreaths quilt. 

I love the the scissors on this purple fabric!

First the embroidery is completed. I'm working on 4 blocks at a time so I embroidered all 4 of them. Then I appliqued the hearts on all 4 blocks. Then I auditioned the outside circle of leaves and took some off. I needed to add more dark leaves, otherwise the leaves all smeared together when viewed from a short distance.

The last time I posted about Hearts & Wreaths, someone asked me what size these blocks are. They will be trimmed before sewing together, the finished size is 16".

Here is more information Hearts & Wreaths.

Linking to Oh Scrap, Patchwork & Quilts, Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Handmade Monday, Design Wall Monday

16 Patch Block Finish

I have a finish to show you today, the blocks were made in conjunction with the RSC. I think I started making these 16 patch blocks in 2020.

The 16 patch blocks have an alternate puss in the corner block. This quilt top measures 62.5" by 82.5".

I had several small yardage pieces of floral fabrics on hand so I cut them up and used them for sashing.

I'm not sure what this top will be used for. I had originally planned to donate it as a comforter top. That still may happen but for now I'll hang onto it just in case I need a quilt this size to be used as a gift.

Linking to Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Food Down, Peacock Party, Whoop Whoop Party, TGIFF!, Finished Or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Brag About Your Beauties, UFO Busting, Scrap Happy Saturday, Oh Scrap

What Now?

I've been concentrating on finishing UFQ's this fall. So what am I doing now? I'm prepping! The Jane Stickle quilt retreat is later this month and I'm planning on starting several new projects.

I'm not going to tell you the name of the projects, just give you some hints. You can see later if you guessed right.

Yes, these fabric groupings are unusual for me but in case you think I've forgotten about my beloved blues, here is another picture.

None of these projects are huge like the queen or king sized quilts I sometimes piece at retreat.

I'm also taking cut off triangles to add blocks to my nameless quilt. This quilt will never be finished, as long as I keep piecing quilts, I'll keep on having cut off triangles!

Of course Hearts & Wreaths is coming along for handwork.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Stitch Sew & Show,  Wednesday Wait Loss, Put Your Foot Down, Needle & Thread Thursday

Miles & Miles of Cross Hatching!

It's taken me two weeks but I've completed another row of quilting. Most of this row was cross hatching and it got rather boring. Thankfully there are plenty of movies for me to watch on my Ipad. I subscribe to Acorn TV.

First to be quilted was the right side feathers design.

See, like I said, miles and miles of cross hatching!

Finally, I was able to quilt the left side feathers.

When I'm quilting cross hatching, I like to have a lot of needles going at a time. I stitch down diagonally then up diagonally. I put a pin on the top of where the row of needles ends so I know how much I've quilted at a time. This doesn't work for everyone but it works for me. I need to keep the thread toward the back so they don't get tangled.

The last time I posted about Welsh Beauty, someone asked me about my quilting frame so here are some photos.

My frame is a Grace hand quilting frame. I don't believe the hand quilting frame is available anymore. I purchased my frame from the resale table at the Jane Stickle quilt retreat many years ago. I am the 3rd owner of the frame but I am the first person to actually use it. The two former owners never took the parts and pieces out of the box.

I have 4 rollers on my frame, the very front which has all 3 quilted layers rolling onto it. The top roller holds the quilt top. You can see that in the picture.

Some frames don't have a roller for the batting. I wouldn't like that, I don't want the batting dragging on the floor. This way I'm able to vacuum under the frame.

The back roller holds the batting and covers the backing fabric roller. 

On the sides of the frame are gears which I turn to move the quilt forward. The gears have stops which I need to pull up to loosen the quilt. There are clamps which don't show, they're under the batting along the edge where I basted. The clamps are attached to elastic cords which pull the edges of the quilt tight.

After I've rolled, I baste the outside edge of the quilt top. I use a larger needle for this. When I've basted the inches I need to baste, I make a knot but don't cut the thread. This way it's ready to go the next time I need to baste.

After I've basted, I trim the batting to the edge of the quilt. When I put the quilt in the frame, I always leave plenty of batting to trim. That's just the way I do, you don't have to if you don't want to, I'm just cautious.

Did you notice the double blue line in the upper photo? The outside basted area will be cut off when I trim the quilt after it's quilted and out of the frame. I've started quilting the next row. I place my knot in between those lines. When I trim, I'll cut on the outside line. The section in between the lines will be covered by binding.

Like I said in the title, more miles and miles of cross hatching! What you can't see in the picture is in the very middle of the quilt top, on the left hand side, is the very start of the center quilting design. I have to quilt and roll two times before I reach there. Miles and miles of cross hatching indeed.

Here is my set up. This chair is my quilting chair, it's just the correct height. I have an Ott light that shines on the quilt while I'm quilting. I always cover my quilt with this cloth when I'm not quilting. This cloth protects it from sun light or any dust or anything else. The day I took this photo was a gloomy, gray, rainy day. But when the sun shines, this room is flooded with bright light from the south. There is also a large window behind my frame in the wall right behind my quilting frame. I normally keep the blind down on the west window but not all the way.

For something different I decided to show you my Christmas Cactus, or more correctly, Thanksgiving cactus. It will bloom a 2nd time later in the winter.

Here is the first post I wrote about Welsh Beauty. It covers information about batting, thread and other things of interest about whole cloth quilts.

Linking to Patchwork & Quilts, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Show & Tell Monday, Monday Making, Handmade Monday, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away

16 Patch Blocks

Since I've met my goal of finishing 3 UFQ's before the end of the year, I've turned back to finishing other projects. One of my RSC project for 2021 was 16 patch blocks. Time to get a quilt made with them.

That is what I'm making now, neutral puss in the corner blocks! I need 31 of these neutral blocks. There will be sashing and cornerstones added the blocks. 

Both sets of blocks have been pieced using 2.5" squares.

I've pulled the darker of the 16 patch blocks to be used in this quilt.

This is a quick and sloppy photo of the blocks without the finishing sashing in between the blocks. It will be busy but hopefully the neutral fabrics will keep eyes from going all over the place.

I have plenty of 16 patch blocks so there will be a 2nd quilt coming from them but I'm not sure how I'll sew those blocks together yet.

Linking to Put Your Foot Down, Needle & Thread Thursday, Peacock Party, Whoop Whoop Party, TGIFF!, Finished Or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Brag About Your Beauties, Scrap Happy Saturday, Oh Scrap

Embroidered Double Wedding Ring Flimsy

I have met my goal of completing 3 flimsys before the end of the  year. I thought I could but  you never know what life is going to throw at you.

My oldest UFQ is finished! What a feeling of relief and the guilt is gone!!!! I embroidered the blocks at least 25 years  ago and it's been waiting all this time!

The blocks had been sewn together and were waiting for a finish. I laid the center on the display floor then auditioned several blues for the border. Those blues ranged from deep dark black/blue to cobalt blues to light blues. This medium dark blue was the one that just looked right. As I was adding the borders, I noticed how close in color this fabric was to the darker blue embroidery thread. The fabric looks darker than it is in real life.

After the border came the 6" finished stars. They're framed with lovely white rosebud fabric then finishing with an outside border of blue that will finish at 4.5". I should have cut the border at 5.5" but I forgot, oh well. This isn't a large quilt, it finishes at 80" by 96" but it will do.

For now the flimsy will be stored in the to be quilted closet until I know how to quilt it. I'll probably have this one long arm quilted someday.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Stitch Sew & Show,  Wednesday Wait Loss, Put Your Foot Down, Needle & Thread Thursday, UFO Busting, Oh  Scrap