Return of the Quilting Mojo

I haven't been doing much quilting recently. This year I think I've only sewn bindings on two previously quilted baby quilts. Not good. But I saw something I really liked on the Moda Bake Shop blog and that got me going again. The idea is to take a 9-patch, cut it down the middle both vertically and horizontally, then rearrange the four smaller squares into a bigger one. I have plenty of bits and pieces of fabric -- so why not?

My quilt has 9 big squares, so I needed 81 small squares to start with. I went with 9 squares of 9 fabrics -- no duplicates in the 9-patches. Here's one of the finished 9-patches. Really ugly, I think (and the bad lighting doesn't help).

But after I chopped them up, reassembled them, and added a sashing -- I really like the finished look.


Having said that, I did try two new techniques -- quilt as you go blocks and free motion quilting. I like both of these concepts -- my execution just leaves a lot to be desired. More practice needed, I guess.

And why didn't the gray chalk marker wash out? My white and yellow ones always have......but those gray lines look like pencil lines....after two washings. Oh well, the Little A won't mind -- this quilt will be her fireplace blanky. At ~40x40 inches, it's too small for much else.

I'll definitely make another of these......hopefully the quilting mojo will be around for awhile.

What I'm Up to Wednesday

There hasn't been much posting lately because there hasn't been much progress. Right now, there we have two works in progress -- with a heavy emphasis on the in progress.

I machine quilted a lap quilt......not a stellar job....

And the Swallowtail Scarf is moving along -- at a snail's pace. The budding part is done.....

How do other people manage to churn out finished objects at lightning speed??

I'm on a Roll

It must've been the new ironing board cover. Or the inspiration I'm getting from Finish or Frog It Friday (too bad it applies to knit/crochet items only). But whatever/wherever it's coming from...it's great. This week I finished two kid's quilts. These have been languishing in the spare room (they weren't even in my sewing room), missing only their bindings. Now they're done.

The first is from some Little Suzy's Zoo licensed fabric -- just simple bordered squares.


The other is just as simple -- fun squares (pre-cut from Keepsake Quilting) with contrast sashing.


Both were professionally machine quilted. Now all they need is a recipient.

Next target -- those unfinished quilt tops......I'm going to (try to) machine quilt them myself......

I'm So Lame...........

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day to all.



I am such a big spender. This week I splurged and bought myself a new ironing board pad/cover set! The ironing board itself was a hand me down about 35 years ago when I finished college and got my first apartment. It's been used and abused for years. But now, after a cleaning, new rubber feet, and new pad and cover -- it's like brand new.


What's the ironing push? I have five quilts that need finishing. Two baby quilts just need binding. And three lap quilt tops need to be quilted and bound. No more starting anything new till these are done.

Do My Eyes Deceive Me???

Last week my eyes were bigger than my stomach.....or I bit off more than I could chew......whatever........I didn't finish any of my goals. This week, to add insult to injury.....I added two new ones. But what's amazing is that the two new ones are sewing projects. Woo hoo!!


At the top we have fabric squares for a new quilt. Now I need some background fabric....fortunately, there's a sale starting tomorrow at the LQS (local quilt shop). The denim on the right is for a reusable shopping bag for B-Dad. One that has no advertising. And the jumble of yarn is a Swallowtail scarf, fingerless mitts (red), and ponytail hat (blue). All are moving along -- it's just that none are finished.

It Was a Challenge

You might have noticed that there hasn't been much quilting going on recently. I just seemed to have lost interest for a while. But I finally finished my entry for Keepsake Quilting's latest challenge -- Fright Night. For the challenge you buy a package of fabric -- six pieces, each approximately 18 inches by 20 inches. Everyone gets the same six fabrics, sight unseen. The goal is to make a wallhanging (30 inches by 30 inches) using at least four of the fabrics. You may add up to two more fabrics of your own choosing. You can also use the backs of the fabrics.

On the left are the fabrics. There's always at least one I never would've bought on purpose (that'd be the third from the right)! And on the right is the finished back......notice the giant quilted cobweb.

I call this "Ghost of Pac Man." It uses all six challenge fabrics (even the really ugly one) with one addition (the black). This is certainly not an award winner, but it was fun and a challenge.

It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day

Yesterday was just a bad day, project wise. Everything went into the frog pond (multiple times). Rippit, rippit, rippit. Knitting, quilting -- anything I touched -- and these weren't even hard projects. I finally had to give up for the day to avoid further damage.

But it's new new day and things are better. My SAM5 March socks have turned the corner (literally) and the short-row heel on sock 1 is complete. There was still a stitch missing -- didn't seem like there should've been and (I think) it looks OK without it. We'll see if it turns up on the second sock.

The challenge quilt is not recoverable (way too ugly to hang anywhere in the house), but the fake (or is it faux) applique using blow pens was lots of fun. Something kids would like. And best of all is that the fabric stays soft, unlike many other fabric paints. This calls for a trip to Michael's to see if they still sell them. And a run through the washer to make sure they're colorfast.

Spring Ahead

There is finally light at the end of the tunnel. Some of the spring bulbs are starting to pop up. Yes, it's only the ones in the sheltered areas around the house. But the days are longer, snow is melting, and mud is everywhere -- so spring must be ahead.

There are only two weeks left to submit the "Home Sweet Home" quilt/wallhanging for the latest Keepsake Quilting challenge. Time to get busy. The borders are done -- it's the center panel that's causing a problem (there's nothing like pressure to inspire). Got to bite the bullet and just finish it. Here are the fabrics to work with......

Finishing Fever

I think I've caught the finishing fever and am finally finishing some of the long-languishing projects. Here's a quilt that was just missing the binding for oh so long. Well -- it's finally done. It's a child size quilt that made use of a six pack of fat quarters (plus background, border, and backing fabric -- the 3-Bs).




And just because I think they're beautiful -- my Valentine flowers......I love the three color arrangement.

Winter Routine

Now that the holidays are over, we've settled into our winter routine. At least the weather has moderated a bit and we're above freezing for the next few days. We just need the snow to melt off the roof so we don't worry about ice dams.

Progress continues on the SAM5 socks -- but not enough to show in a picture. You can visualize the progress as we get cozy in the official "knitting seat." The Little A sits on the fleece under the yellow quilt (her tent). I use the pink quilt. You can see a UFO (well -- it's a sock, so I guess it's a UFS) on the side -- awaiting our return.

This weekend we discovered a new yarn shop...... Hub Mills Factory Store. We picked up some superwash wool for the men's charity caps and some Trendsetter Super Kid Seta for the Ice Queen cowl. Those are next in the queue.

Time to Gear Up for the New Year

Now that the holidays are over, it's time to gear up and get organized for the new year.

I finished knitting my socks for me. They're toasty warm (see earlier entry showing them as a WIP for details) -- perfect for snow blowing/shoveling wear. The self-portrait wearing socks (over socks) looks lame.



These socks were a "learning experience" -- as is my life, it seems. What's wrong? Stripes don't even closely match. Toes are too square. Little holes at the heel where I picked up the gusset stitches. Probably all the mistakes everyone else has made. Next, I'm doing toe ups -- all the pictures show more roundy toes.

And it's time to get busy on the latest Keepsake Quilting Challenge -- Home Sweet Home. Here are the fabrics we have to work with. Love the fabrics -- now for some ideas....... Entries are due at the end of Mar.