FOs: Wholecloth pillows

I was looking through my unblogged projects, and I noticed a few wholecloth pillows from late last year.

Sometimes, a fabric is just too happy to cut up into patchwork. I made this pair of pillows from a yard of glorious Echino, and I loved quilting along the strong geometric lines of the fabric.

On the other side of the print scale, there was this cute pillow I made for Jeni. This penguin print was just so happy, and I knew Jeni would appreciate it!

Funnily enough, I quilted both projects with yellow Aurifil (one of my most used thread colors, for sure!).

I'm as big a fan of patchwork pillow as the next crafter, but sometimes it is nice to let the fabric take the lead.

2017 crafting

Since January is nearly done, it's probably wise to finally share my goals for the new year. I am keeping the goals fairly broad, so here are the bulletpoints (accented by some WIP photos, which will hopefully be finished this year):

• Carry less WIPs into 2018 - I started the year with 26 quilting WIPs, and I would really like to finish the year with 10 or less
• Sew one garment a month
• Knit/weave at least 1000 yards of worsted/DK weight



• Knit/weave at least 1600 yards of sport/sock weight
• Knit 15 minutes a day in January (I am considering making this a full year goal, as it has been really motivating for me!)
• Reduce stash/buy less

I'm working on my second quilt finish for the month, and I hope to share both with you in the next few weeks. It feels nice to focus on finishing, although I am also a big fan of an indulgent beginning!

I hope to start something with this bundle in 2017 (Bird's Eye View by Sarah Watson and some stash favorites).

FO: With Love

Last week, I shared two quilt projects in-progress, and I have one finish to share with you today!

With Love finished at 63" square, and features the happiest pixelated heart. The pattern is from Quilt Now, Issue 1, by Katy Jones. I chose lots of favorite pink and purple fabrics, with a low volume background.

I quilted it simply in a crosshatch design.

For the back, I used a large cut of mint Brambleberry Ridge and several soft corals.

This was a fun quilt to make, and I love the finish.

Two quilt WIPs

This week, I'm working on quilting (some free-motion, which I haven't done in awhile!) this top:

It's Jeni's Florette pattern, which is a great pattern that works up quickly and lets large prints shine. I'm quilting it with clusters of flowers, and while time-consuming, I think it will bring lots of depth to the pattern.

Here's a progress shot, mostly so you can see cats.

I also recently finished quilting this lovely number:

It's the Rapture quilt by Katy Jones, in Issue 1 of Quilt Now.

As soon as I finish quilting Florette, I have three quilts to bind. I don't normally wait to bind a quilt once it's quilted (because for me, binding is the best part!). But soon, binding and some sort of Netflix marathon will be on the agenda.

FO: A quilt for Ginger

I was recently asked to make a memory quilt for a sweet dog named Ginger. Ginger belonged to a close friend of Elliott's, and I was given a collection of scarves from Ginger's groomer. Given the oblong shape and size of these fabric pieces, I thought a coin quilt would be a simple way to showcase them, and I used a Timeless Treasures Sketch print for the background. The quilt is a decent throw size.

I embroidered Ginger's name near the center (I traced a printed version to get the bubble letters, from a Word document), and the embroidery is my favorite part. I quilted it simply in a very light blue thread.

I never thought I would make a memorial quilt for a dog, but I'm glad I could give her family some comfort.

FO: Strippy Strings

Back in December, I shared a quilt top.

I really can't tell you how much I loved this quilt top. Maybe it's because I made it among friends at a small retreat in the woods.
Or maybe it's because fabric is a medium for time travel, each scrap reminding me of a project (or multiple projects) made before.
Maybe it's because it's super colorful and scrappy, and that's the way to my heart.

Probably, it's all of these. And these reasons probably explain my delay in finishing the quilt. Quilting is the step that often stumps me. After seeing C use painter tape as a quilting guideline, inspiration struck.

I placed several pieces of tape in various directions, and then began to quilt straight lines in each section.

In this photo, you can see the intersecting lines. It was a slow process, but it gave me a chance to spend time with this beloved project.

And it is beloved.

I used Joel Dewberry herringbone for the binding. I've used this on countless quilts. I debated a scrappy binding, but I really wanted something that matched the back of the quilt.

The back features a large piece and a few large scraps, mostly from Jeni's Color Me Retro line.

And now, I will love the finished quilt as much I loved that top.

I will probably make another strippy string quilt in the future, since my string box is overflowing again.

FO(s): Lazy Sunday quilts (on a Friday)

Instead of talking about why I haven't posted in awhile, how about I show you some quilts?

I've been crafting up a storm, and I finished this set of quilts for my step-mother a few months back.

Terri gave me free reign on the pattern and fabrics, just requesting quilts with a chevron look, one in brown & mint and another in brown & light blue. I chose to work May Chappell's Lazy Sunday pattern. This pattern was part of the gift bag at the Stash Bash two years ago, and I was happy to finally use it.

It's a great log cabin project, and one I would definitely make again! Although I started both versions simultaneously, at some point, it made more sense to concentrate on finishing one, and then the other.

I quilted them in the same way, using diagonal straight lines, and I love the effect. These are twin-size quilts, so quite an accomplishment! I especially love the backs.

I used a few leftover blocks and leftover stash to make my favorite scrappy back. These quilts were entirely made from stash (my blue/aqua stash doesn't look as if I touched it).

Personally, I love the light blue version.

I've been working on lots of other things, and I promise to visit this spot more often, and I hope you will, too!

FO: A quilt for Mom

If you don't follow me on Instagram, this quilt is new to you.

I haven't shared it here or on flickr, because my mom wanted to be surprised with this gift. She knew I was making her a quilt (I started earlier this year), but didn't want to know anything about it. No sneak peeks! I took pictures along the way, though, so I could share them here.

I gifted it to my mom this weekend, and she loves it. She's a purple lover, to the max. She's been patiently waiting for a quilt, and I wanted to make her something really special. I love a good log cabin, but I have never made a light and dark or "lights and furrows" version. It was fun to limit myself to just two colors on this project, and yet, it is still very scrappy.

Working with several eggplant and light gray fabrics from the stash (with a few additions over the months), I started making blocks.

I finished the top (approximately 60" square) in June and it sat for a few weeks while I contemplated quilting.

I finally decided to quilt it with two threads: a dark eggplant and a light gray. Quilting with two threads allowed me to maintain the contrast of the quilt blocks.
I love the density of the quilting, too.

I used a variety of purples for the back. My mom said she loves the back just as much as the front, so it worked out well. A scrappy back is always happy!

And even though there were no tears (a mark of a good mom gift), I know she truly loves it. And I love her.

FO: Scrappy Trip

Hello! I got back into town a few days ago from visiting E's sister and family in Granada. I have thoughts and pictures to share from that adventure, but first, I want to show you my scrappy trip around the world.

I finished this up and photographed it before we left, and I really love it. I won't lie; the process of making this quilt was a little boring to me. I started the quilt over a year ago, and stalled out with just a block or two made before January.

I took it to the Stash Bash, and was able to finish a few more blocks.

When I was planning my projects for round two of Madison, WI (I went last month, and I don't think I shared that here!), I knew that this quilt would be goal number one.

I managed to finish the top while I was there, and immediately quilted it when I got home.

I quilted in a simple crosshatch through each square, which really didn't take very long at all.

Oh, and the backing is two similar prints from the stash: (Alison Glass Bike Path in grass and Patty Young Circle Stitch in Olive. I bound with an eternal favorite: Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow Herringbone in Lake.

This quilt reminds me of our wedding, because many of the strips I used are leftovers from the wedding souvenir napkins I made.

On the Madison trip, I kept insisting that this would be only scrappy trip quilt ever, and Jeni teased that I would change my mind on that. As much as I love it, I really don't see myself making another, but who knows?

ETA: Check out Holly's recap for more retreat photos, including some of the finished scrappy trip top!

FO: Spinning Plates

It's finished. I love it.

It started with a lovely pile of Nordika fabrics by Jeni, and some other stashed prints for good measure. I added a mix of Kona grays and started making blocks:

.

It grew over time, and ten months later, it's finished.

I love the mix of colors, the mix of grays, the simple quilting (less dense than my norm), the fun shapes, I love it all. I love that it makes me think of two friends, Jeni, and Natalie, who wrote the wonky pinwheel tutorial.

I named it after a favorite Radiohead, because I love the movement of the shapes (although I know they are not specifically plate-shaped). I completely, totally love this.

A good friend asked me to make a quilt for her to give to her almost-born niece, and as much as it pains me, she is getting this one.

So maybe, I'll have to make another someday.

FO: A Study in Blue

I have been pretty obsessed with the BBC Sherlock series. I haven't finished it yet, but I've been rewatching the older episodes in preparation. Additionally, I just read "A Study in Scarlet" for the first time. It was fun to compare the episode and story as it was originally written. It popped into my brain when I was coming up with a name for this project.

I just sent Amanda her Wonky Bee swap package. A few years back, we had plans to each make this mini quilt, from the Purl Bee Golden Wreath tutorial.

Of course, we got distracted, and I sort of forgot about it. When I was planning my package for Amanda, I thought it would be a nice treat for her.

I used a variety of blues, predominately Kona Cotton, and I used a favorite light grey Alison Glass Sun Print for the background and binding. Elizabeth suggested using the same fabric for the binding and background, and I'm so glad I took her advice!

I used several blue threads to quilt it, with converging lines in the center. I chose to do this in a random way, to match the scrappy wedges.

I used one of Amanda's favorites, from Lizzy House's Constellations, for the back. Oh, and I used Jeni's machine binding tutorial. As much as I LOVE to hand bind, I chose to machine bind, since my wrist has been giving me fits lately.

Honestly, it was hard to give this one away, but I know it will have a good home with Amanda, and she deserves it.

RJR solids

I'm so excited to share these pillows with you. Are you familiar with RJR Cotton Supreme Solids ? Thanks to Brenda and the RJR team, I was able to try them out, and I found them to be an excellent line of solids.

The range of colors is immense, and the fabric has a lovely hand.

I felt a little overwhelmed when I was choosing colors, but I decided to go outside of my comfort zone. I started with Night-290 (which is less purple than the link), and promptly added Flamingo-338, Seafoam Green-301, Just Peachy-278, Cove-294, Denim-106, Arabian Nights-160, and Cinnamon-196.

I was in the mood for some half-square triangles (I used my favorite method. Using the leftover strips I cut to make the HSTs, I made a second simple pillow, which allowed for some free-motion quilting practice.

I really love how these pillows turned out, and they've made a nice addition to our bedroom window seat!

And we have a little giveaway, thanks to RJR Fabrics! You can win a fat quarter bundle of the eight solids I chose.

Just leave a comment here
(and please make sure you leave an email address, if you are a no-reply commenter!) and tell me about your current patchwork obsession. I've been wanting to make a lone star quilt for about a year now; maybe someday soon!

I'll pick a winner Monday morning.
Thanks for entering!

And if you're on facebook, check out this page, where you can easily follow along with the blog hop. There are lots of fun projects being made with the Supreme Solids!

Comments are now closed. Thanks!

FO: Geodes

I really, really, love this quilt. This started with Penny's Improv curve tutorial, and my desire to make a fall-colored quilt. The do.Good Stitches Love circle made lovely blocks!

Assembling the curvy blocks was fun, but I especially enjoyed building the patchwork background. I used a variety of Art Gallery solids and sewed together strips, chopped, then repeated.

I stuck to simple quilting on the curvy blocks, just outlining in red thread. But I let the quilting shine on all that negative space, with a boxy free motion stitch.

The back features a couple of blocks, and some mixed neutral prints from the stash.
I machine-bound the quilt. I usually prefer to handsew the binding, but I wanted to practice doing it on the machine, and I think I did pretty well.

I actually finished this a month ago, but after washing, there was a small hole on one of the curves (where a seam was cut a little short). I let it marinate for a few weeks, while I decided how best to mend it.
Amy suggested a simple zig zag, which is what I ended up doing. It's not noticeable, and it will ensure that the recipient will have a lovely quilt!

Oh, and can I just say, Elliott is so sweet to help me photograph my quilts. He is a tall dude, and was totally ducking in these shots.

Favorites (quilts and such)

It's always hard to pick annual favorites, but I managed to do it.

Click through to see larger pictures, or details on any of the projects!

After the Christmas craziness, I plan to do my list of non-sewing annual favorites, and also share a few end-of-year FOs.

Wishing you a peaceful end of 2013.

FO: Polaroid Quilt

More than a year in the making.
I first blogged about this quilt in May of last year, after receiving most of my blocks from the Wonky Bee.

First inspired by a few online examples, and a tutorial found here, I was so excited for an eclectic quilt made by my friends in the bee.

This past April, I finally managed to finish the top at the Stash Bash. I don't know why it took me so long, but I really love how it turned out. I basted it shortly thereafter, but again, stalled out before quilting.

After several FMQ finishes, I was happy to return to a meandering line quilting, mostly straight, with a few waves here and there. It's fairly densely quilted, too, which I love.
The crinkle is so so good.
Never gets old.

I backed it in several favorite prints in cool colors.

I considered giving this one away, but I just can't bear to do so. Each block makes me think of my bee girls: Amanda, Jessica, Melissa, Nicke, and Sara.

And so, my quilt stack is growing.

FO: To Grandmother with Love

I always wanted to make a postage stamp quilt. A scrappy one, of course. I made a mini and a pillow last year, but dabbling wasn't enough for me.

Months ago, I started cutting 4" squares from scraps. I did this gradually, as I was cutting for other things. I cut many from two partially used charm packs (Circa 1934 and dark solids).
I sat down to count about six weeks ago, and calculated what I needed.
For this 70" x 80" quilt, I needed 400 squares.

I was way short with my gradual cutting, so I started working through scraps. There are a few duplicates, but this is a nice representation of scraps. I randomly started assembling them into 16-patch blocks, and then into a top.

To tame the gorgeous color a bit, I backed it with the ever-popular IKEA Britten print, as well as a half yard of an Avalon print.

It is quilted in a meander free-motion stitch, but a few blocks were used for experimenting with other FMQ techniques. It was fun!

As I was finishing it up with some scrappy binding last week, Elliott suggested that I gift it to my grandmother.

We visited my family this weekend, and she is recovering from surgery. This was the perfect chance to give her something special.

My grandmother is, without a doubt, one of the most influential people in my life, crafty or otherwise.

And I didn't even think about it at the time, but my grandmother has collected stamps throughout her life, so really, how could I not give it to her?

She wrapped up in it immediately, so I know it will be loved.

P.S. Whenever I think of postage stamp quilts, I think of Molly.