MY FINAL FINISH BEFORE OUR TRIP

Last winter, a quilting friend gave me all of her scraps.  There was lots of flannel in various shades and prints, so I began making mini rail fence blocks.  

I pulled the project bag out on the weekend, and decided to finish the quilt.  I have a large collection of small cuts of flannel, saved from the backings of the kids' and baby quilts that I make, so I started cutting strips, and paired them light to dark.  After stitching and pressing the pieces, they were cut into 4 square units, 3.5 inches square, and stitched into blocks.  I mixed the two collections of blocks and discovered that I needed to make 2 more blocks to complete the quilt centre.  I found a larger piece of white flannel, with colourful printed letters for borders, and soon the top was complete.

I pieced the backing as well, to use all the odd pieces of flannel looking for a home.  I used a striped cotton for the binding, and had it completed to take to my guild's Community Quilts sew day this morning.

Including this quilt, I have used 94.5 yards of fabric this year, and only added 68.5 yards (mostly gifts).  My net used fabric for 2019 is      26 yards!!!!

I'M CAUGHT UP!

I finally got my two quilt holders over so I could take a picture of my latest large quilt. 

Some time in the past, I used Electric Quilt to draw this design, and called it Celestial Magic.  I can't remember where I saw the quilt, when, who the designer was, so I extend my apologies to all.  I often see a quilt and make a drawing of it in my software, so I can play with colour, switch blocks and easily re-size.

I made a receiving blanket for our next extended family member, using the tutorial from Missouri Star.  It makes a lovely, two layer flannel blanket!     


It is completely stitched by machine, which makes it a quick gift.

I used a serpentine stitch on my machine to topstitch the layers together.  I couldn't resist the cute fabric, and found the monkey print for the back and edge, that mimics the little money with the umbrella in the main fabric.

I went out to my sewing room to work on the sashing and borders for an applique project, and I hunted, but couldn't find the background fabric.  I didn't want to waste my stitching time, so I pulled this cute panel out of my bin, along with the backing flannel, and the fabric for the binding.  I pieced the batting, pin-basted, and had fun quilting this cute project.
When DH returned home, he discovered the bolt of fabric in our bedroom closet, tucked in behind the clothing.  I remember stashing it there when we were having overnight guests, and I was trying to tidy up the spare room!  Now back to the applique project!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  13.25 yards

Fabric used year to date  13.25 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date 12 yards

Net used 2017  1.25  yards 

I'm in the black this week, but I just squeeked in!  Since I hadn't done any machine quilting for a while, DH and I pin-basted a baby quilt panel when we were pinning the other 2 quilts.  I use it to "warm up" my quilting muscles, including my brain......

I outlined many of the elements in this cute panel, then stitched loops and swirls in the pink gingham-look border.  The quilt has pink gingham-look flannel on the back to make it cozy for a new baby.  It will be donated to my guild for the Hugs program at our local hospital.

 For the pinwheel quilt, I stitched double circles looping back and forth in each block.  I used a neutral thread in the light blocks and a variegated thread in the dark blocks.

The plain border was stitched with simple leaves, forming a zig-zag pattern, and then large swirls in each of the outer border blocks.

 I finally have my first two finished for 2017.  The top and binding of this quilt was made entirely from my stash of pre-cut charm squares (5 "), while the border and binding was made from leftover backing fabric from a previous quilt.  The backing fabric was part of the order that arrived last week.

Check out all the progress shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

A COUPLE OF SMALL FINISHES

I've been busy with Bonnie's mystery quilt, Grand Illusion, but I managed to get a couple of small items finished this week.

 First is a miniature quilt called Shooting Star.  It is 23 inches square, and made with some gradated fabrics leftover from a previous project.

The blocks are paper pieced from a pattern in a 20 year old magazine!
I stitched feathers in the wide border, and a feathered wreath in the cornerstones.

I also layered and quilted this cute panel that has been in my stash for quite a while.  I used yellow "gingham" flannel on the back.  The stuffed animals, letters and shapes are outlined, with a large stiple in the background.

I stitched alternating leaves in the faux pieced border.  I'm sure it will keep a little one warm!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

The large floral heart is completed.  Now I just have to figure out what to do next.  I am thinking about making a small wall hanging, with just some simple borders.  It looks very traditional to me!

 I also completed a small quilt, to be donated to my guild's community quilts program.  The 4-patch centres were made from some leftover pinned fabric from a "stack n whack" type project from a few years ago.  There were 4 layers of matched fabric, enough to make 20 blocks.  I used two different fabrics to add triangle corners, then sashed with blue and used white with pink windowpane fabric for cornerstones.  I found the cute "cat" flannel in my stash, with colours that echo the colours of the top...

Check out the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week 0 yards

Fabric used year to date  115.25 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  28.5 yards

Net fabric used 2014  86.75 yards

Nothing completed this week, although I have 2 more scrappy flannel quilts in the works, just waiting to be quilted!

I've spent the week catching up on some chores around the house, finishing some cross-stitch Christmas ornaments for my friends' church sale in the fall (I make things when I have time), looking through some quilt books for inspiration for some up-coming projects, visiting with friends, etc.

After stitching each pattern, I "fringed" the edges, then mounted each on felt, trimming the felt with a pinking blade.  The hangers are made of a sparkly silver yarn that was leftover from a long ago knitting project.

Check out the stash reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I managed to get the quilt top finished, and the backing was bought and laundered.  Flannel always shrinks, so I always wash it first!  
Now I have to get the back pieced, and clear my table for some pin basting.  Hopefully I can get the scrappy split 9-patch basted at the same time!

The kit was great, and the instructions were fairly clear.  I did substitute a piece of my own green fabric for the one included, as it was a better colour match.  Binding is made and pinned to the design wall, in plain sight so I don't forget where it is......

 Check out all the creativity at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I guess I should just call it "design pile".  I just opened one of the quilt projects that I brought home from our last community quilts get-together.  This one is all flannel, with 3 1/2 inch assorted squares, 12 1/2 inch pale mauve/gray sashing strips with small squares, and the oddest shaped backing I've seen in a while!  I'm really going to stretch my "creative" side to make something out of this!  I always try to make my donation quilts as nice as those for my family - not something that everyone does!

Wish me luck, and check out the creative efforts at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

FUN WITH MY STASH

Although I'll be the first to agree that I have too much fabric, it certainly helps when you are in the mood to sew!

Today was community quilts day - a sewing day at the convener's home with a pot luck lunch.  Unfortunately, I had a dental appointment right in the middle of the day, and it wasn't going to be productive to attend for such a short time.  I decided to work at home instead.

One of the panels I found at the local quilt shop recently had a cartoonish spaceman theme.  Unfortunately, like more and more panels, this one wasn't a full yard.  I rummaged through my stash to find this....

I also checked my stash of flannel bought for backings and found this..

Then with the addition of some blue fabric for more borders and a red for the binding, along with a few minutes with EQ7, I designed this...

 
I managed to get all the border pieces cut to size before my dental appointment, and then finished the top when I returned home.

During my hunt I found two more "space" themed flannel pieces, along with another small panel - this one has two large square designs, and the coordinate has 6 squares @ 9 1/2 inches.  Now I have to come up with a good design and some coordinating fabric.

Time for tea......

Final Flannel Rail Fence Quilt

I saved all the brighter coloured flannel to make on final quilt.  (I still have more flannel scraps, but they will have to wait for another day.)

This one is twin bed sized.  I added three borders, with the centre one pieced using left-over block pieces.  There wasn't always enough pieces to make a full block (needs 4 strips alike), so I saved them all and stitched them end to end, cutting the length needed for each border strip. 

The bright puppies on the flannel back was the perfect complement to the scrappy front.  I must have found this flannel on sale, as I know that I have used it before, and there was still enough left to back this quilt.  

The cotton binding was made from a bright stripe that was printed on the diagonal.  It mades a fun binding without having to cut on the bias!
I usually buy flannel fabric to back quilts on "black Friday" at Joann's Fabrics - a couple of years ago they had flannel on sale for $0.99 per yard, so I stocked up.  I can usually find one in my stash that will go with whatever current quilt I am working on.......

I

I stopped making blocks when I had 35, so used a five by seven layout for this brighter scrap rail fence quilt.  I like the higher contrast of these blocks, as it shows the pattern much better.  I never realized that I used so much green flannel for backing quilts!  I am planning to use three borders, a plain one, then a pieced one, made of leftover pieces, and then a final plain one.
After this is stitched, I have to concentrate on laundry, then packing for our week of adventure.
Hopefully, I'll have internet access while on the road, so I'll be able to report on our trip and quilting opportunities along the way.

Still Stitching

I finished 3 scrappy flannel rail fence baby quilt tops, all with similar blocks but each has a different border.  I'll be doing lots of machine quilting when I return from my trip!
  Now I'm working on some brighter colours to make another quilt top, this one will be larger than the baby tops.  I still have a few more blocks to complete before working on a pleasing layout.
It has been raining here for the past two days - great for the garden, but not for taking pictures of quilts outdoors.

Design Wall Monday

Since finishing Indigo Stars (picture to follow), I looked around my sewing room to see what other areas needed work.  I had a half a shelf full of flannel trimmings.  I like to use flannel on the back of baby and kids' quilts, but always have a few inches left over.  I saw a picture of a nice 
scrappy rail fence quilt, and thought this might work for the flannels.  
I began by cutting 2 1/2 inch strips, then into sets of four pieces 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch rectangles.  After cutting for a couple of hours, I began matching darker and lighter rectangles, then stitching them into blocks.

This is the first quilt centre, waiting to be stitched, and I have enough leftover blocks to make two more!