Quilting and other Things

A very successful month. Both quilts are bound and labeled. Pinwheel and Rail Fence Done as Guild Mystery Gravity Quilt I was surprised to find that there wasn't binding already made for the mystery quilt but that was quickly fixed. I was a bit concerned when adding the binding to the mystery quilt because I started to run short. Fortunately there was just enough Leftover binding bits. I also made good progress on the stars. Three are ready to be pressed and the corners add. The fourth needs two more diamonds added to the outer ring.  These are hand pieced up to this point because the seams are so short I find it easier than using the machine.  I'll add the corner pieces by machine I think.  I also have the half square triangles made and ready to be pressed and trimmed for this quilt. Three more Stars for Common Bride I'm linking up with OMG over at Elm Street Quilts

I didn't do much stitching the last half of last year but I did eventually finish the rug that was my One Monthly Goal in June (the last time I participated). In December, I quilted two tops.  A gravity quilt and the guild BOM top. guild BOM - Pinwheels and Rail fence Gravity My goal is to get them both trimmed and bound.  I'd like to be able to take them for Show and Tell and the next guild meeting. I'm also working on piecing the stars for Common Bride.  Since the diamonds are so small, I'm doing the first part by hand.  The diamonds are in my purse so I can work on them when I'm out.  Four are to the point that they need the corner triangles.  The next 4 are in progress.  Getting these to the point they need corner triangles this month would be a bonus. Joining up with Patty's One Monthly Goal

I finished the centre blocks last weekend and even remade some of the ones I had made originally as I didn't like them in the setting. I had misunderstood what was going on with the outer ring. After staring at the blocks for a bit I decided they would bug me and they need to be redone. Fortunately they are fairly easy to do. This week I've been working on cutting out the background so I can start stitching those blocks. Tonight I finished that and laid the first three background blocks out for stitching this weekend. The yellow flower pins have letters written on them to remind me which fabric is which. For the most part it's easy enough to tell but the darkest two are very close in colour. I'm looking forward to being able to assemble the top. As I look at it on the wall I see six hearts and am thing some heart shaped quilting in those sections would be good.

The note book and task master list that Elaine described here and here is working well.  I haven't been colour coding my lists but I may try that for a bit and see how I like it. In February I finished the binding and labeling of the tulip blocks.  These were made in our Swap a Block group in the late 90's I think.  It was the perfect piece to try quilting from the front on the long arm. Before quilting the little top, I had played for a bit with some flannel, batting, insulbrite and fabric.   These got turned into thermos covers for hiking.   Two tall ones for Tea (in cold weather) or Lemonade (In warm weather)   I had meant to make the tops a bit differently on these ones than on the original one I made last year but forgot.   There’s enough room though to wiggle a finger in between the Velcro so it will work. In February I went to the guild retreat over Family Day weekend.   It was Friday to Sunday so I took a...

Last month I signed up to do a Gravity Quilt workshop at Hobby Horse .  Yesterday was the second class.  I decided that I should take some of the 365 blocks with me to use as enders and leaders while I was stitching the blocks for the gravity quilt.  The gravity quilt blocks I was making used 6.5" components.  The 365 block had me make half square triangles that I trimmed to 7/8" the joined with some 7/8" squares to make a four patch before joining with some slightly larger pieces to make a 3.5" square. Its a study in contrasts :) two gravity blocks and Tulip Lady Fingers for the 365 quilt I really enjoyed sewing the larger seams.  I had a second block with me but didn't get to it.  That's the block from Oct 21st so I have three more blocks to make from this week to be up to date.  (since the designer is in Australia, I always get tomorrows block today.  Rather fun).  Soon I'll start stitching these small dark blocks into four pat...