STILL STITCHING

No finishes yet!  My group has been making a paper pieced wallhanging, using a pattern by Carol Doak.  I have my quilt top completed, but haven't decided on a backing fabric yet.
This is a picture of all the pieces, cut, labeled and ready to stitch.

 

This is my completed top.  I changed the orientation of the side-centre blocks (they were supposed to be stitched to form an X shape).  I called it my mistake,  design decision!  There are several in my group trying this pattern, and I am excited to see all the different quilts when they are completed.

We are also working on a pieced project, but I think that there are only 3 of us working on it at this time.  There are 9 fabrics used in the quilt top, and all the pieces were cut before any sewing occured.  Again, zipper bags to the rescue, as each colour had a bag, and I labelled all the parts with their designation.  It certainly made it easier to work on each step, by colour and part number!

I have the blocks completed, but they need another border around each before they go together into the quilt top. The sets of blocks form pinwheels in different directions.  As you can tell by my colour choices, my main colour is pink, in honour of my new granddaughter!  I hope this will be used in her room in the future.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week 0 yards

Fabric used year to date 0 yards

Fabric added this week 6 yards

Fabric added year to date 6 yards

Net used 2019 - 6 yards

Yesterday DH and I made a quick visit to Dade City.  I picked up some novelty prints to make pillowcases for Ryan's Cases for Smiles.  My group is having another sew-a-thon in February, so I like to have some samples to show the steps, as we have new people come to help every year.

 

Each colour combination will make 2 pillowcases.

MACHINE QUILTING

I've been busy working on a quilt for my sister-in-law.  A few years ago, I helped her make some "stack-n-whack" star blocks.  She made a quilt top, but recently decided that she wanted the quilt for her king-size bed.  More borders were added, but then it sat for a while, as she had difficulty working on such a large quilt. She gave me the fabric for the backing, but wants to put the binding on when it is returned.
I brought it south with me for the winter, and just before Christmas DH and I pin-basted the quilt. 

I started, as always, to stabilize the quilt, stitching in the ditch with Superior Thread's MonoPoly and Bottom Line in the bobbin.  Then I auditioned various thread for the top.  I used a light blue twist thread on the yellow border and sashing.

 I stitched hooked feathers on the wide border, and alternating swirls on the sashing.

Next, I use a lemon yellow thread to stitch square and triangular flowers in the solid fabric in each of the 30 blocks.

I still haven't stitched inside the stars, and I also have 2 more borders to quilt, with one in the solid fabric, and the other in the original print fabric used in the stars.  I need to ponder what type of machine quilting to use in each of the areas.

I've also been working on the two mystery quilts that my group is working on.  I made step-out samples for the first block units of the paper pieced wall hanging, and today I worked on the sewing the first step of the pieced lap/twin quilt.

HAPPY 2019!

I've been reading many different blogs today, with many goals and resolutions shared.  I don't think I've ever made a resolution or set goals for myself, other than this:

My only choice each day, is to have a good day, and a positive attitude.

I don't set quilting goals, as I sew almost every day.   I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren and other family members.
DH and I celebrated our 50th anniversary in October, and are enjoying our 17th year of retirement.  We have two sons who are happily married, and we have two lovely grandchildren to love and spoil.   We are blessed!