Last New Project Of The Year

After Christmas, I always get the itch to start a new project. Of course, there are always UFOs that I could work on, but something new is more fun. I made a few blocks of Scrappy Mountain Majesties, a free pattern on Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville blog. My favourite sister, Linda H gifted me with some new fabric for Christmas, I'll use some of it in this quilt.

Two More "Ten Minute" Table Runners

I needed a few more gifts so I thought I would "whip up" a couple more table runners. I figured out the decorative stitches on my Bernina 350 by watching some You Tube videos. The instructions in the sewing machine manual were vague and my old brain couldn't make sense of them. I selected a fancy stitch, then proceeded to sew down the folded triangle corners on one of the runners. I should have stopped right away, but kept going like a fool. The fairly dense stitching was pushing the layers unevenly, by the time I went across, it looked awful and skewed. Out came the seam ripper and I spent a couple of hours picking out the tiny stitches. After removing hundreds of thread pieces with a pair of tweezers, I was ready to try again. This time I used a walking foot and sewed down the triangles with a straight stitch first. Then I picked a different decorative stitch that wasn't as dense as the original. Even though I've been sewing since I was seven years old, then started quilting in 1987, there is always something to learn. I seem to learn everything the hard way. :)

A Friday the 13th Finish, With A Black Cat For Good Luck

I finished "Crooked Courthouse Steps", a Bonnie Hunter pattern. Changing the pattern a bit, I put sashing and cornerstones between the blocks. The backing is some fabric that I've had in my stash for just about 2 decades. Nice to get that used up. I got a little carried away with the free motion quilting. Glide thread is a dream to quilt with, no breakage or lint. Igor had to get in there and show how black cats go with everything.

Fabric Gift Bags

Here we go again, it's fabric gift bag season. Every year I make some to reduce paper waste and use my Christmas fabric stash. I've made different styles, my favourite is lined and has boxed corners. I used to make drawstring bags, but it's faster and easier to just tie the top with a ribbon or some fancy yarn.

Second Mystery Table Runner

After I made a mistake by cutting the ends wrong on the first table runner, I made another one the correct way. There were leftover fabrics from the botched project, so I used them and added a few others. Now I don't feel like such a failure, haha! Look HERE for some information about the pattern.

Ten Minute Table Runner

I wanted to make a quick hostess gift for when we go for Christmas dinner. I looked up "Ten Minute Table Runner" tutorials on You Tube. There were a few videos on there, one had the centre of the runner measuring 9 inches wide, the other video called for a 12-inch wide centre. I went down the middle and made mine 10 1/2 inches. The outer piece measured 18 inches wide. I put medium weight interfacing between the two layers. There is a reason why my table runner took two hours to make instead of ten minutes. I couldn't figure out how to make a decorative stitch on my machine. The instructions in the manual are vague. I kept pressing buttons and making test samples. The machine would stitch for a bit, then switch to a different stitch on its own. Finally, I got it to switch back and forth regularly, but it wasn't really what I wanted. I was so frustrated, I let it do its thing on the runner and called it a day. There probably isn't anything wrong with the machine, it's the nut behind the wheel.

Color Study By Linda H.

Linda made "Color Study" and donated it to her quilting group. The quilts go to women's shelters, foster kids or other places in need. The pattern, "Color Study, Inspired by a quilt designed by Janine Burke of Blue Underground Studio, made by Kristine Peterson". This was in the Fons and Porter Scrap quilts, Spring 2013 issue. Linda used two different burgundy prints for the backing. Of course, I had to start making one of these quilts too but my blocks aren't completed yet. This is a great way to use up odds and ends. Linda's quilt is fantastic, I'm sure someone will enjoy it.

Big Blue Quilt Is Completed

This quilt is all finished except for a label. The pattern is "Cloudgazing" from McCalls Quick Quilts, December-January 2019, designed by Kathryn Wagar Wright. Linda H also made one, I posted about the one she made on September 2, 2019. A member of Linda's quilting group is making one as well. I will ask for pictures of her quilt when she finishes it and will show all three of our projects in one post. My quilt is going to be given to some friends in the Yukon, their favourite colour is blue. I think I'll name it "Yukon Skies" when I make the label.

Baby Quilt By Linda H.

Linda made this baby quilt to donate to the local hospital gift shop where her friend volunteers. Nice and cheery! I'm sure it won't be sitting around in the shop very long, somebody will buy it.

Mystery Table Runner Completed

One of our guild members hosted a mystery table runner this fall, I just finished mine. The pattern says "2014 Nicole Chambers-Kaya, All Rights Reserved, This pattern is for personal use only". I always like to give credit to the designer. I ended up making a mistake with the borders, I trimmed the ends off before I added the borders. They were supposed to be trimmed after the strips were added. To fix my error, I made a mitred border on each end. Whew! I thought it was ruined at first, but the "design opportunity" salvaged it. This is going to decorate the top of my treadle sewing machine cabinet for Christmas.

Birthday Card By Linda H

Linda designed and made this birthday card for her friend, Joanne. The card was a big hit because Joanne enjoys camping. She liked the card so much, she's going to frame it and hang it on the wall. Linda also made an envelope for the card.

Crooked Courthouse Steps Quilt Top

I just finished sewing the victory lap on this Crooked Courthouse Steps quilt top. It was from a free tutorial on Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville blog. When I started making the blocks, I wasn't sure how they would look, it might resemble a dog's breakfast. Now that the blocks are all sewn together, I am pleased with it. To make it a little different, I put dark horizontal sashing and light vertical sashing with cornerstones in between. The original pattern doesn't have any sashing. Instead of letting this sit and brew for several years, like I quite often do, I'm going to quilt it right away. I found a suitable piece of fabric for the backing and will figure out a quilting design.

Day Three Of The October 2019 Quilting Retreat

Today I made some more X and Plus blocks, there are now twenty of them. I was working on these last spring but put them away for several months. I called them "a face only a mother could love". In other words, I'll probably have to keep this quilt for myself because the colour combination is so gaudy. :)

Day Two Of The October 2019 Quilting Retreat

For most of the day I was quilting the big blue quilt. After supper I switched to the mystery table runner many of us have been working on. It still needs two end borders.

Day One Of The October 2019 Quilting Retreat

Today I started quilting a big blue quilt. I had to take quite a few breaks so my wrists and shoulders didn't get sore. As I was going out the door this morning, I realized I forgot to grab my baking. That would never do, we need the fuel to keep us energized for the day. :) I ran back in and got the food, then started to drive away. My phone was still in the house. After retrieving that, I made another attempt to leave, then realized I had to go back in and get the blue quilt. After all that, I arrived at the retreat only to realize my thread stand was still at home. I was able to manage without it.

I Just Had To Try It

Today Bonnie Hunter posted an interesting tutorial on her blog. The block is called "Crooked Courthouse Steps" I wanted to give it a try, so I went in the sewing room and made a few blocks. Some of my light strips may look too dark. One of the blocks is a little extra wonky, haha! I'll probably learn what will or will not work. I got the winter tires put on my Jeep today. We already had snow! The picture was taken on September 29. Our quilting retreat is this weekend. It can snow all it wants because I'll be inside sewing up a storm.

Getting Sidetracked Again

I'll blame Linda H for this one, haha! She's making a quilt from "Fons and Porter's Scrap Quilts 2013". Of course, I had to jump on the bandwagon and start one too. The blocks are fast and easy to make, this would be a good pattern for a donation quilt. We have a quilt retreat coming up the first weekend in October. My project is all pin basted, with some help from Igor. I'll start quilting it that weekend.

Twenty Years In The Making

This 20-year-old UFO is finally finished! In 1999 I crashed while rollerblading and broke my arm. The Quilters-Funtalk online quilt group sent many neutral coloured fat quarters to me as a get well gift. I decided to use these fabrics in one quilt, this was the result. After the quilt top was completed, it sat there for many years until I dug it out last March and started quilting it at our retreat. It was set aside for several more months until I completed it. The backing is made up of some odds and ends. I don't remember where the pattern came from for the quilt, I think it may have been from a magazine.

Friendship Star Quilt Top

All the blocks are made for the Friendship Star quilt. Now we have a quilt top. It's interesting how the blocks form a secondary pattern when they are put together.

Making Friendship Star Blocks

I've got 46 of these Friendship Star blocks made so far. I think I'll make the quilt 7 blocks wide and 9 blocks long, which will measure 63"X 81". That is a good size for a cot quilt, or I call it a "couch quilt".

Blue Skies By Linda H.

Linda finished "Blue Skies" a few weeks ago. The pattern was "Cloudgazing" from McCalls Quick Quilts, December-January 2019, designed by Kathryn Wagar Wright. The original pattern was a lap size but Linda made it queen size. It was supposed to be a donation quilt, but Linda's husband wanted to keep it, his favourite colour is blue. Now Linda will have to get busy and make a different quilt to donate. The ongoing quest to try to use up the colossal fabric stash. I am also making a quilt from this pattern, it's pin basted and I'll start quilting it at our next retreat. One of the members of Linda's quilting group has started some of these blocks, I don't know how many she's made so far. When we get these other quilts finished, I'll post pictures of all three.

Crocheted Afghan

I started making this afghan in June, then finished it last week. The pattern came from the book, "Modern Crocheted Afghans, Throws and Pillows" by Laura Strutt. I made the afghan bigger than the pattern stated because my crocheting is so tight. I hang onto the hook with a death grip. It's difficult to change that after crocheting for 51 years!