Planning Party Update, 3rd Quarter Check-In

It's time for a Planning Party update and I'm posting my summer progress. Here is a link to the list I made in January of my tentative quilting plans for the year.

The Anniversary quilt was finished the first of August. This quilt is an anniversary (obviously) quilt that will be gifted next year. The wife loves purple!

In July, Tula Hexies was finished, machine quilted by me.

Several compassion quilts were also quilted by me. You can find links to them here, here and here.

Here is the largest of the quilts I've machine quilted. She's called Dots & Dashes.

Dresden Stars was also finished in August. Colleen Gall was the long arm quilter.

Dresden Stars and the Anniversary quilts were both started and completed in 2024.

Linking to Planning Party, Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts

Blueberry Pie Borders

The borders on my Blueberry Pie quilt won't be completely appliqued, just the corners. However the applique does extend 18 or 20" on each side of the corner.

The first corner is completed and ready to show. I love it!

I wasn't sure about the flower in the point but adding the leaves made the difference.

The pattern for Blueberry Pie is found in the Red, White and Sometimes Blue book but it's not called Blueberry Pie. You'll find it listed as Writer's Block. I thought the name was rather unimaginative so I changed it to reflect the blues used in my quilt.

The pattern in the book does NOT have an applique border, this is my addition. The border is a variation of the center medallion in the Lady Jane pattern, designed by Nancy Rink.

There will be a dark blue border added the outside of the applique border when the applique is finished. 

I was in Wakarusa last week so I took pictures of the quilt garden.

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

Blue Pineapple Blocks

I'm finished, the 64 pineapple blocks are pieced!

Sixty-four blocks make quite a stack. The next step is to remove the paper from the backside of the blocks. Normally when I foundation paper-piece, I remove the paper immediately after piecing each block. This time I didn't because I had the blocks on the display floor since the first part of August. I could pick them up in a hurry if I needed to and they wouldn't get wrinkled.

We've been having lovely early autumn weather this month. It's definitely sweater weather in the early mornings but the afternoons are perfect for sitting on the porch and removing the papers. That's the plan anyway. 

Finished, these blocks will measure 12.25". 

I purchased the foundation papers from Gigi's Thimble. Gigi had a sew along in 2022 but I wasn't aware of it. I thought her quilt was beautiful when I stumbled across it. Of course it was in blues, how could I resist, so I ordered the foundation papers.

I was surprised when the papers arrived. The pattern was printed on ordinary white paper, just like what I would run through my printer. Normally paper used for foundation paper piecing is a lighter weight paper, easier to tear for removal, less apt to make the edge seams come undone when removing the paper.

I had the papers so I used them, however I do not recommend them. When I wrote my post in April about the blocks, someone commented that they normally use regular paper for foundation paper piecing. After foundation paper piecing 64 of these blocks, I am definitely NOT a regular paper fan and will stick to newspaper weight paper from now on. That's my opinion, you use whatever weight of paper you want to use.

Linking to Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts

More Pineapple Blocks

Another group of pineapple blocks have been pieced for a total of 52 completed blocks, just 12 more to go for an eight by eight block arrangement.

When I made the original 20 blocks, I pieced them with more dark blues but I thought they looked too dark. Now I'm piecing the blocks with lighter blues. I think they blend ok, what do you think?

The above picture is not the final layout. Once all the blocks are completed, the papers have to be removed from the back of the blocks. That will take some time.

September is a busy month for me, I don't know if I'll have time to complete the rest of the blocks this month. I hope you all find time for stitching this month.

Linking to Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts

Blueberry Pie Borders

The flowers are appliqued in the first corner. The next step is to add leaves and the circles. 

I'm not sure I really like the flower in the corner but I'm not going to change it.

The pattern for Blueberry Pie is found in the Red, White and Sometimes Blue book but it's not called Blueberry Pie. You'll find it listed as Writer's Block. I thought the name was rather unimaginative so I changed it to reflect the blues used in my quilt.

The pattern in the book does NOT have an applique border, this is my addition. The border is a variation of the center medallion in the Lady Jane pattern, designed by Nancy Rink.

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

Dresden Stars

 Dresden Stars came home from the long arm quilter several weeks ago. The binding is finished and she's ready for her debut!

Colleen Gall is the long arm quilter who custom quilted Dresden Stars for me. 

I have many close up pictures of the quilting to show you. I added a red binding, it adds a touch of color to the edge.

A cream on cream fabric was used for the backing fabric. Colleen used the same brown thread for quilting both sides of the quilt. The cream backing fabric displays the quilting designs very nicely. Of course I took pictures of the back side.

Years ago I purchased two kits for Dresden Star quilt at Lolly's Fabrics in Shipshewana. Completing these kits was one of my goals for this year and I've done it! The center of the quilt is Dresden Star, a pattern by Edyta Sitar.

The Dresden Star pattern does not make a large quilt, two pieced kits were larger but still not bed sized. I added pieced borders to enlarge it. The finished quilt measures 91" by 104", a queen sized quilt.

I have a tub full of civil war fabrics, some of which I purchased, some were gifted to me by my friend Deanna when she moved. I liked civil war fabrics back in the early 2000's, now, not so much. The kit from Lolly's had some really blah fabrics so I pulled from my stash.

I'm planning on taking Dresden Stars along to the retreat this fall to display at show & tell. I worked on these blocks at several of the retreats. Some of the ladies told me they also bought the kit, maybe this will encourage them to sew their kits.

As I said, civil war fabrics are not my favorite fabrics, Dresden Stars will be donated to the 2025 Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale next year.

Linking to Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts

Elegant Garden

I have started another applique project in addition to the applique borders of Blueberry Pie. Pie is a large bulky project, I don't want to take it out of the house to work on. I need a small transportable project and Elegant Garden is perfect. 

Block 1 was started at the handwork group I attend once a month. Of course I had to finish it when I returned home.

These blocks are small enough I could easily applique a block a week but I'm going to try limit myself to one a month until I give in and work on them full time. The blocks will finish at 9".

I am using my civil war fabric stash for my blocks. I have enough fabrics that I shouldn't need to purchase any.

Elegant Garden is an older quilt designed by Edyta Sitar from Laundry Basket Quilts. 

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

Blue Pineapples

I started piecing pineapple blocks at the Jane Stickle retreat last April, I didn't realize how time consuming these blocks were!

This August, I've managed to foundation paper piece 20 more blocks so 40 blocks are completed. 

Sorry, this picture has a dark tint to it. Here is a close up picture of some of the blocks.

I had originally planned to piece 49 blocks for a 7 blocks by 7 blocks setting. The blocks finish at 12.25" which means the quilt would be 85.75" by 85.75" square, but knowing me, I'll probably come up with a different measurement even though these blocks are foundation paper pieced. I don't intend to add a border.

85.75" square is an odd size for a quilt, too big for a throw, not large enough for a bed quilt.

If I would piece 24 more blocks I would have an 8 by 8 setting which would be 98" square, a decent bed quilt. I'm going for 24 more blocks.

I purchased the foundation papers from Gigi's Thimble. Gigi had a sew along in 2022 but I wasn't aware of it. I thought her quilt was beautiful when I stumbled across it. Of course it was in blues, how could I resist, so I ordered the foundation papers.

I was surprised when the papers arrived. The pattern was printed on ordinary white paper, just like what I would run through my printer. Normally paper used for foundation paper piecing is a lighter weight paper, easier to tear for removal, less apt to make the edge seams come undone when removing the paper.

I have these papers so I'm using them, however I do not recommend them. When I wrote my post in April about the blocks, someone commented that they normally use regular paper for foundation paper piecing. After foundation paper piecing 40 of these blocks, I am definitely NOT a regular paper fan and will stick to newspaper weight paper from now on. That's my opinion, you use whatever weight of paper you want to use.

Linking to Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Patchwork & Quilts

Blueberry Pie Borders

It's been a year since I completed the center for Blueberry Pie. The plan has always been to add applique borders but Pie had to wait while I appliqued the borders for Hearts & Wreaths. Then I hand quilted Hearts & Wreaths so Pie had to wait even longer!

It's taken me several months to find my handwork mojo again. I enjoy hand applique, it's just all the time that goes into the preparation before I can actually applique that is so tiresome.

Finally, the applique borders for Blueberry Pie have started. There isn't much to see, just appliqued vine so far.

I have Lady Jane hanging in the dining room area. I really like the center medallion applique. 

I took the center medallion and altered it to become the border design for Bluebery Pie. This obviously isn't a professional layout but it works for me!

After the pattern was revised, I traced it onto the fabric borders, with a black Frixion pen.

I cut the bias vine fabric at 3/4" wide then used a 3/8" Clover bias tape maker to make the bias vine. When I marked the quilt, I only made a single line for the vine. 

Here is a link to the Lady Jane pattern which is designed by Nancy Rink. Nancy designs lovely patterns!

I was in Wakarusa a week and a half ago, and took pictures of the quilt garden, it's really growing!

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

The Anniversary Quilt

Back in January I posted a list of quilts I wanted to make this year. One of those quilts was an anniversary quilt to be gifted next year. It's finished!

She was quilted by one of the long arm quilters at Calico Point. I think all the employees know how to use the long arm machine. I don't know the name of this quilting design but I thought it would look very nice on this quilt, and it does.

I used a white backing fabric which shows the design better than the front side does.

She measures 94" square.

Here is a link to more information about the anniversary quilt.

Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Patchwork & Quilts

More Comforter Bindings

The comforters for binding had been piling up while I had been machine quilting binging. Of course I took pictures.

Some of the comforters are more attractive than others but they will all be loved.

These comforters have been take to the MCC rescourse center where they will be distributed for use.

Let me clarify, I did not piece these tops or knot them, I'm one of the binders.

This is the way I bind these comforters. There is a quick link to this tutorial on the top right hand of my blog.

Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts

Tula Hexies

Tula Hexies was by far the most challenging quilt to quilt. I decided to use the same orange peel design I used when I quilted the placemat. Moving a placemat around under the needle is much easier than moving a whole quilt! 

The orange peel curves are not always smooth but the quilt is finished! The orange peel quilting is not free motion quilting, I marked every curve but still couldn't follow the lines.

Part of me wishes I had sent the quilt out to be machine quilted, part of me is proud that I persevered and quilted her myself. I'm never going to be come better at machine quilting if I don't actually do it.

Even though the quilt 'sandwich' was spray glue basted, I still pinned in the center of each hexie. I wasn't taking any chances with fabric slippage.

After washing, Tula Hexies measures 50" by 78".

The black & white stripe is the perfect binding for this quilt and the mini Tula placemat. Tula Hexie is staying here at my house and I'm using the mini Tula as my personal placemat.

Okay Blogger, don't place the picture horizontally!

I even purchased a special backing fabric for Tula Hexies, these hexies are a larger version of the smaller hexies in the quilt.

I was inspired to to hand piece my Tula hexies when I saw Deb and Hanne making their hexie quilts last November at retreat. Hanne also hand sewed her hexies while Deb utilized the EPP method. Hand sewing was easier on my hands than EPP.

Tula Hexies is the last quilt in my machine quilting journey this summer. I'm ready to move onto other projects now.

I do feel more proficient with machine quilting. I don't think I'll let a whole year pass before machine quilting something again.

Linking to Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Free Motion Mavericks, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts

Dots & Dashes

Dots & Dashes is the largest of all the quilts I'm machine quilting. Stitch in the ditch was the easiest way to quilt. After quilting and being laundered, my dots & dashes measures 58" by 72".

I think she looks so pretty. My ditch stitching wasn't always accurate but you don't notice so much since she's been washed. You see the block rows alternate, I stitched along the edge of the white sashing so the quilting alternates in each block.

A friend of a friend, who decided to quit quilting/sewing, donated their fabric stash to me several years ago with the specification that the fabric be used for charity quilts. The green backing fabric came from that stash.

The striped binding fabric has been in my stash for years. I thought it would make good binding since there were so many different colors in the quilt.

In this picture you can see how I stitch in the edge along the long sides of the white sashing.

Dots & Dash, along with 4 smaller quilts, will be donated to the cancer center at Goshen Hospital.

You may have noticed in the large picture that there are 4 patches in the side borders. Do to a lapse of mind in planning (😕), they ended up in the side borders instead of the corners where they were supposed to be. I didn't notice this until I took pictures of the quilt before I quilted it. I just didn't feel like taking the quilt apart. We'll just call it a design feature and let it go at that.

The pattern for Dots & Dashes is found at the Quilted Twins website.

Dots & Dashes is the only quilt in this quilting marathon to NOT have a pieced batting.

Just one more quilt to be quilted in my quilting marathon, Tula Hexies!

Linking to Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, Free Motion Mavericks, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Patchwork & Quilts

Blooms

I'm still in my machine quilting phase. Blooms has been waiting since 2022 to be quilted. Blooms was designed by Sherri and the pattern can be found here.

I'm a basic machine quilter and I'm using white thread for quilting on all of the quilts.

This quilt was quilted by stitching in the ditch, first along the sashing horizontally and vertically. The diagonal red corners are also stitched in the ditch along with the center square. I thought the center section was too large to not quilt so the center yellow hexies are stitched on the inside.

The backing fabric is a light gray and shows the stitching for the Baptist Fan design in the borders better than the front side.

I'm pleased that my quilting has improved enough that the curves actually look fairly smooth, no zags.

After washing, Blooms is 41" by 51" and will also be going to the Goshen cancer center.

And if you are wondering, I'm still sewing batting pieces together for use in these quilts.

Linking to Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, Free Motion Mavericks, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Patchwork & Quilts