Another UN-Done ----DONE!

Finally after about 18 months and many interruptions this quilt is finally done. I had a lot of fun making this one and will be doing another one. I put a sheet on the back of it and it worked up beautifully. I did this on my quilt frame and I must say that I am beginning to get the hang of that thing and I like it.

I just took another Un-Done quilt off of the frame and got the binding on it so hopefully in the next couple of days I can have the binding hand stitched and be done with that one too.

It feels so good to get these projects done. I have a couple more to get caught up on but already feel that strong urge to start another one. I may cut some fabric this afternoon as we are to have some strong storms with a good chance of severe weather. Cutting fabric is a good thing to do when the weather is like that and I have to shut down computers and the sewing machine. I had one computer ruined by a lightening strike and I won't take that chance again. Do you leave your computer on when it is stormy? How do you protect it from a lightening strike?

Whew!

I have been extremely busy lately getting some thing done. It feels so good to get these finished. It has been about a year since I made these if not more. Time goes fast doesn't it?

First.... a Dresden Plate that I made out of some scraps just to see if I could do it. I hand quilted it. Not that great at it and have only tried to hand quilt a couple of times but you don't learn if you don't try!

Second....This quilt, loved the quilt but hubby had bought the quilt frame for me and although I had practiced quite a bit on it I still didn't have the hang of it but went ahead with this quilt anyway. I was not happy with it when it was quilted and debated on tearing it all out and said it can sit. And sit it did but I love the quilt and finally said time for this thing to get out of the UnDoneBox and get Done. So I put some binding on it and it is all done and on the bed. I had a nice flannel sheet for the back of it.

Then I figured that some practice wouldn't hurt on the quilt frame because I have two more twin size quilts to get quilted. One has been sitting here since I can't remember because I couldn't get any backing for it for a long time then the other one has been sitting here about a year. So I made a quilt out of some sheets and am working on that. I am getting the hang of the whole quilt frame thing but have a long way to go on it yet.  I can't do anything fancy just some meandering is all. I will have "finish" photos later. The quilt is not anything fancy or great just rectangles but something that was easy and quick to put together.

Hope your UnDoneBox is getting empty too!

Practice on FMQ

As most of you know I have not done a lot of FMQ so I thought a little practice was in order. I should do it like once a week but I don't. I had made these blocks just for fun and thought it would be good to try some FMQ. I must say that I didn't do too bad. I might be starting to get the hang of it. More practice is needed though. I also need to make more of these string blocks, I have scraps coming out my ears : )

I did finish that other quilt top and now have two to get ready to quilt. Actually I have more that that but I am talking about current projects here. Secretly...... I have at least 3 to get quilted. Plus a few other things to finish up to the point where I can get them ready to quilt as well but we shouldn't go there right now. : )

Have a good week...I will be back soon

Quilting

I just started quilting my scrap quilt. Tomorrow night, Friday the 18th is the Friday Night Sew In. I will continue to work on the quilting and hope to finish it up then.

String Quilt Top Finished

I finished this top about an hour ago. It is the first one in the Use It Up that I started and the 4th top I have made. I wanted to run the blocks in columns but I was a little concerned with sewing them that way. It may have been nice with the sashing but was easier to add a piece of sashing onto the side of each block and then sew them together and into rows. Let me tell you that thing is heavy. I did the blocks on muslin and this will be one warm quilt. I only put a 2 inch border on it because it is plenty big enough and didn't want to fool with more borders. I didn't measure the quilt but it is about the size of the last one I just finished and will go nicely on a twin size bed.

I will finish Mom's up after I go to the quilt shop for some border fabric for it. They are having a big sale this weekend and I don't want to miss it. Any Super Bowl sales in your local quilt shops?

String Blocks

I had started these a while back you can see them here. In fact it was before I did the last two quilts. Since I came to a sudden stop on my Mom's quilt I thought I would try and finish this top up. I had the fabric I just needed to get the blocks out and cut the strips to go in between the blocks.

YAY!

Bricks and Stones

I just now finished this quilt top that I have been posting progress of for the last couple of weeks. I am so happy with it. The final quilt measures 72 X 84.  No border on this one. I am not 100% certain what I will be using for binding but I am leaning toward a dark fabric.  I am going to leave it sit for a few days while I do some other things and then quilt it with an all over meander.

The Last 12

I just finished the last 12 blocks for my quilt. It will be so much nicer now. 70 something by 80 something and no border which is what I wanted for this quilt. I don't think I have enough of the light blue to use for binding so I will have to dig up something else from my stash but that is what stash is for. Now to sew the blocks together.

48 More

Just 48 more 4-patches, then turn them into 12 double 4-patches and I will have a quilt that is a more suitable size. I did get some made today but I am withering tonight, too many distractions and too many things going hay wire today. Well tomorrow is another day...............

Friday Night Sew In.....

Last night was the first Sew In of the New Year. Hubby went to work and I sat at the sewing machine, put my 4-patch blocks together and watched John Wayne movies. Now, after laying them out I need to make about 12 more blocks. I need it to be a bit wider and a bit longer. So back to cutting.

Another 60

Finished up the other 60 blocks. Now to pair these 4 patches with the other 4 patches and I am all set to sew them into a top.......starting to slow down a bit now. Friday Night Sew In is tomorrow night....that will help.

I also updated the "Crock Pot" tab to let you know how I am doing with it.

Next Step...

All pressed and ready to sew into a 4-patch. The other 120 will be paired with a solid block. This will make 60 blocks.

Also tried another crock pot recipe the other night.....very good. I will put it on my crock pot tab soon.

It is snowing like crazy here, so many places are closed already. Supposed to get 5 to 9 inches and they say it could be more. Yikes. I feel bad for people that have to drive in it for work, like hubby. Stay safe everyone!

Pile of Bricks

Pile of Bricks

And now to clip apart, iron, then sew in pairs again..........

700+

Here they are.....all 700+ of them. Now to get that dust off the sewing machine.

Cutting......Cooking

More Scraps

I am in the process of cutting up 2 X 3.5 inch rectangles. I would have loved to have done this with all strips but a lot of my pieces were small. Some were so small that I could only get two pieces out of them. Others are in strips but not enough of them to make it worth while sewing together. I hope it doesn't  take as long as I think it will to sew them all. I need a little over 700 and so far I have almost 500, if I didn't count wrong that is.

I was thinking about putting them in a basket or a bag and just grab two and sew them but I am not sure if I will do that or not. I am only sewing them in pairs and then I will put the pairs together into a 4 patch. This is one of Bonnie Hunters quilts. It's called Fun with Bricks.

We had another crock pot meal the other night and it turned out great. However, I am not sure my hubby and I were a big fan of this recipe so onto something else. I think I have one for sausage and one for chicken coming up next.

It has been very cold here and snowy. I heard today that every state in the United States has snow except Florida. I think they said that last year and the one state was Hawaii. So every one stay warm and dry.

My Mom Did It Again!

Old Quilt Magazines and Books

Here are some 50+ magazines and about 4 books that my Mom sent me from an estate that she worked on. I didn't look at all of them yet nor all of the dates but one was from 1981. I love to look at the old magazines. Most of them are in black and white but some of the later ones are in color. Still they are fun to look at. Like the one that has the article on scrap quilts and the pattern for a tumbler quilt. Amy included about 100 or so tumblers that she cut for me in the Christmas box. Then she said if I wanted some more tumblers cut to make it a bit bigger then let her know. I decided that I wanted to make my quilt a bit bigger so she is cutting me some more tumblers. Hooray for Amy and thanks a bunch, your the best.

On another note we are due to have a big storm come in tonight and leave us with 5 to 8 inches of snow. We shall see. Some snow I don't mind but when it makes driving hazardous then I don't like it. It should be a good time to cut some more fabric for those 2 scrap quilts I am working on. Everyone stay safe.

The Other One

Use It Up..Quilt #2

 I worked on sewing the binding down on this through out the day yesterday and got it in the washing machine about midnight last night. Again I had everything I needed for this quilt but that was the whole point in this Use It Up thing. I used the poly/cotton batting in this one too and really like it. I never thought I would but I do. The backing is a thrift store twin size sheet I had, it looked like it had been washed once maybe. I have another set of blocks started so I will have to see about them but first I have some other projects that I need to get done.

I wanted to see the lunar eclipse last night but it was cloudy here so I stayed in my warm bed and slept. Did any of you see it?

Out Of The Dryer and Ready To Go!

Use It Up..Quilt #1

Back of Use It Up Quilt #1

Finally I got one done. I had everything that I needed for this quilt except the batting. I even had the old sheet. I think it worked well for the back. It was a double size flat sheet and worked out great to put the butterflies up the side. I used a poly/cotton batting in it and it is so thin and soft. I think I like it. That green fabric was so very nice to work with and even nicer when I hand stitched. The needle went through so easily. I like projects like these, almost no money involved. Quilt # 2 will be done soon I hope.

Finished One

I finally finished the hand stitching the binding on one of the quilts. It is in the washer. It seems so good to have it done. Now on to the next one. If I can get hubby to hold it up for me tomorrow after he gets up I will post a nice photo of it.

Hand Stitching and Needles

Hand Stitching the Binding

I am trying to get these two Use It Up quilts done. I got them both quilted before I left and the one I actually got the binding on it. The blue one I put the binding on the other day, now I am trying to get the binding hand stitched down on both of them. I had the wrong needle and it was going so slowly. I hunted for another needle and finally found a sharp #10. I can never remember what needles are for what and which one I like and works best for me. I did a little research on needles and found some helpful sites. Hopefully now I will remember which one I like.

http://www.sewing.org/files/guidelines/22_110_hand_sewing_needle_guide.pdf

http://www.craftstylish.com/item/2405/know-your-hand-sewing-needles

The #10 sharp is the smallest one but one web site did say they had a #12. The # 10 is the best one for me. What size needle to do you like for hand stitching? By the way, I love the clips for the binding, so much nicer than using pins, don't you think?