Showing posts with label UFO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UFO. Show all posts

Saturday, December 28, 2024

Easy Street Finished...and Gifted

In usual fashion, I was in such a rush to get the Easy Street quilt finished that I didn't get good photos. It was really big and my husband didn't have enough reach to hold it up for me.

It was gifted right after Christmas when my husband drove down to see his family.

My brother loved it and I'm happy to have finished a UFO.

I used the Quilter's Dream Green batting and lavender Glide thread. I quilted it with Anne Bright's Feather Garden. It's a beautiful pantograph, but it took so long to quilt. It was more than an hour for each row, plus the time to advance the quilt and fiddle with realigning the design.

Linking up with:

Monday, November 4, 2024

Blocks Assembled

Over the past couple of days I've managed to get my Easy Street blocks assembled.

I still need to iron it, get the edges trimmed down, and add borders.

Linking up with:

Design Wall Monday
Monday Musings
Monday Sew & Tell

Monday, October 14, 2024

Easy Street

Back in March 2023, I dove into Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street pattern (from her More Adventures With Leaders and Enders book), excited to use up some of my colorful scrap stash. I happily cut out and assembled all the block components. But, in a classic crafting twist, when I checked the original pattern, I realized I'd made a little goof—I had set the block size too large in my planning. Usually, I transfer patterns into Electric Quilt to test out fabric choices, which I had done here, but this time there was user error. (Sadly, this is not the first time I've made this mistake.) Maybe, someday, I'll learn to double-check the proper block sizes before I cut everything out.

By the time I spotted the mistake, all the pieces were already cut and sewn. Looking over the components, I realized I could cut them all down to resize them to the correct dimensions, although it would mean quite a bit more work. At the time, I wasn't quite ready to decide, so I dropped everything into a project tub and stashed it on the shelf.

Now, feeling overwhelmed by the election, I'm ready to immerse myself in a project, I've decided to forge ahead and finish this quilt. I can't quite bring myself to waste all the fabric from cutting down these pieces so I think I'll go ahead and assemble the quilt as is. It'll be a larger than planned, but I'm embracing the done is better than perfect motto.

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Morris Garden Quilted!

Hip-hip-hooray! 🎉 I managed to get this beauty quilted just in the nick of time—right before the month's close. Binding, however, will wait until after I do my next round of quilt labels. 

It's another really big quilt so it's hard to hold it up to get a good photo.
The quilting shows up better in dim light

This project pushed me into uncharted waters, throwing me design and alignment curveballs. It was a fantastic practice session, letting me flex and explore the alignment tools of my ProStitch long arm computer. What a relief it is to wrap up this quilt—it's been patiently waiting, making it the last 'flimsy' in my pile, urging me to summon the courage to quilt it.

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Insulated Bag, Take 2

After making three zipper units and wasting two zippers, I gave up putting a zipper on my first insulated bag project. I cut everything with the dimensions given in the pattern and they just don't end up the same lengths. So, I decided to cut my losses. I spent an hour or two putting the insulated lining and exterior bags together and added binding around the top edge. It's not my best project, but in this case, done is better.

But, I am still determined to make an insulated bag with a zipper so I decided to try again. I bought a ByAnnie pattern called Every Day Every Way, which is basically a diaper bag. 

Today I quilted up fabric for it. This is some very old Hoffman Fabric called Kaleidoscope and it looks like peacock feathers to me. For the batting, I used Pellon Insul-Fleece and a second layer of Quilter's Dream 70-30 batting. I used 100% cotton Harmony Violets Variegated thread. The manufacturer claims it produces minimal lint; that was not my experience.

I quilted it with the Modern Peacock pantograph from Kim Diamond. It is a really creative pantograph, but OMG it uses a lot of thread. I quilted about a yard and a half of fabric and it used SIX bobbins. 

Now I get to spend a couple hours cutting everything out. I'm hoping this one goes as smoothly as the last two ByAnnie bag projects I've made.

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Flapper's Fancy Finished!

Flapper's Fancy is Finished! I actually finished it a couple of weeks ago, but I've been too lazy/distracted to finish my blog post.

I originally designed and pieced this quilt in April 2021. I tried to find blocks in Electric Quilt/Blockbase that aligned along the edges and I think I was pretty successful. I'm quite happy with how it turned out. 

As I previously reported, all the quilt pantographs I used were from Donna Kleinke's Genevieve line. For the extra large blocks, I stitched them out in two pieces, as shown in this Handiquilter video on how to stitch Oversize Blocks. For the sashing, I was fortunate it fit (just barely) in my quilting space and I was able to do the sashing strips without rotating the quilt on-point, so this project actually ended up being easier than anticipated. It really did help that I selected pantographs which came in smaller pieces.

This is basically what I stitched out, though the outer flower border sashing is better aligned on the actual quilt.

This quilt has already been gifted; my brother visited last week, and I sent it off with him to deliver.

But its departure is a little bittersweet because I do really like it so I may dig through and see if I have enough of the Deco Elegance border/medallion fabrics left to make another for myself.

Linking up with:

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

August's UFO

I joined our local quilt guild's UFO challenge this year and I've been doing a great job at working my way through my list of 12 UFOs. This month's draw is quilting up the Morris Garden quilt flimsy I finished in Nov 2021. 

I don't have a backing figured out yet, so I'll need to dig around and see if I already have something that will work. I hope so, I hate making backings from smaller pieces.

I've been working on a quilting plan for a couple months and I think I finally mostly have one. I'm still not happy with the outer border, but so far I haven't found a better option in my pantograph library. This border fabric is just so wide that most of the coordinating borders don't look good on it. I might try playing with a multiple border design to see if I can figure out something I like better.

I did edit a pantograph to assemble that funky filler shape.

Saturday, July 8, 2023

New Old Project

For my recent Friday Night With Friends project, I chose to work on this month's UFO, which is an Insulated Shopping Tote. For the majority of the project, I've followed these directions, although I made a few modifications: I swapped out the nylon lining for a canvas-type material, and decided to skip the interior pockets. I'm really just aiming for a sturdy bag suitable for carrying frozen goods when we go grocery shopping.

I think I started this project a couple years ago when Jeff asked me to make it for him. However, at the time, I got frustrated because I couldn't figure out the inset zipper panel so I set the project aside.

When I pulled out the project at the start of this month, I found the assembled canvas lining with the Insul-Fleece and the inset zipper unit.

After dedicating tonight to the project⏤mostly rereading the 17 page directions⏤I'm happy to report I've now also put together the exterior pouch fabric. I also began to disassemble my previous attempt at crafting the inset zipper unit, but then realized (again) it was an inch too short. Rather than continue trying to salvage it, I decided to order a new zipper from WAWAK (along with some new colors of serger thread for the long arm).

Having made a solid start, I feel pretty confident I'll be able to wrap up this project before the month is out.

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Tuesday ToDo #75

I skipped last week's post as I got sidetracked before I could finish it. However, I did manage to accomplish all the tasks on my list, and even a bit more. My Rose Lane quilt is now quilted and waiting to be bound; I shared about it in a previous post here.
At the moment, I'm contemplating what my next project should be. There are a couple of projects with impending deadlines, so my strategy is to list everything out and simply check them off as I tackle each one.

The tasks on my list include:
  • Finishing the quilting on the Deco Elegance quilt, which needs to be done by the first week of August.
  • Creating quilt labels for all the quilts.
  • Binding my stack of quilts - six in total, including the Deco Elegance.
  • Completing my insulated shopping tote, which is this month's UFO.
I'm eager to see how much I can get done and how each project turns out. It's going to be a busy, yet rewarding month!

Linking up with Tuesday ToDo.

Friday, June 30, 2023

Rose Lane Quilted

Just as June is coming to an end, I've managed to wrap up my One Monthly Goal! Taking inspiration from the floral theme and the original pattern name, I've decided to name this creation "Rose Lane". The pattern, Diamond Lane, was a free one from Wilmington. Although I made adjustments to the size of the blocks and the border, the final quilt still holds true to the spirit of the original pattern. This was my focus for June's One Monthly Goal.

I used a variety of rose and garden theme pantographs to quilt it. I'll go ahead and list them here for reference.

Donna Kleinke, One Song Needle Arts

Carmen's Roses Block
Carmen's Roses Border
Carmen's Roses Frame 2-Quarter
Carmen's Roses Motif (with an edit to add extra leaves)
Wind Dance Sash

Darlene Epp

Chloe's Garden Frame 5

Patricia Ritter

Rosebud Border (free right now)
Rosebud Border Corner (free right now)

The batting was the last bit of Hobbs Heirloom 80-20 batting. And I used Madeira Aeroquilt Red #8380 thread.

All in all, I'm thrilled to have reached my goal for the month, and I'm even more thrilled with the final outcome of Rose Lane. The floral patterns truly bring it to life, and I'm eager to start on my next project!

Linking up with:

Brag About Your Beauties
Finished Or Not Friday
Friday Foto Fun
Off the Wall Friday
One Monthly Goal Finish
Peacock Party
TGI Finished Friday


Monday, June 12, 2023

ToDo Tuesday #74

I did fairly well on my list from last week.

  • Draft the Cricut files for the sashing units.  ✔️
  • Cut out the needed pieces.  ✔️
  • Piece together the sashing units.  ✔️
  • Assemble the central quilt section.   ❌
After I spent all night binge sewing it together, I took the weekend off. Now that my husband works all week, I tend to take weekends off sewing now so I can spend more time with him. Most of my progress happens during the week.

This coming week I'd like to:
  • Assemble the central section.
  • Add the skinny borders.
  • Assemble the border pieces.
  • Quilt the customer quilt coming to me on Thursday!
Linking up with Tuesday ToDo.

Thursday, June 8, 2023

Cricut Convenience

Usually, when I'm cutting out quilt pieces with my Cricut , I gloss over that part in the blog. However, with this particular Diamond Lane pattern quilt, I found the process noteworthy, primarily because I think it actually improved the sashing block design. The original design had sashing comprised of multiple pieced squares, but I managed to consolidate them and then utilized my Cricut to carve out the shapes. The outcome? A more seamless and visually pleasing grey gingham strip!

I won't deny that turning the block design into an SVG (cut) file can be a bit challenging, but over time, I've found a method that works for me. (One can only hope that with the rising popularity of cutting machines, Electric Quilt might soon integrate a straightforward SVG file exporting option.) 

Once you have the block SVG file ready, you can upload it to the Cricut design software, and from there, it's quite easy to merge pieces and eliminate unnecessary seams. Often, I take the time to organize the pieces on the mat to avoid wasting fabric in between. This usually requires a bit of rotation to ensure the pieces nest nicely and attaching them so the Cricut machine respects my carefully planned arrangement. (I regret I forgot to take any photos of the uniquely-shaped pieces, though.)

Since getting the machine last year, I've been genuinely impressed with my Cricut's fabric-cutting performance. 

Initially, I was a bit apprehensive the consolidated shapes might complicate the assembly of the sashing blocks. But, to my delight, everything went smoothly. I just built the units progressively, leading to the final assembly. The sashing blocks were turning out so well last night that I couldn't resist pressing on until they were all sewn up, even if that meant crafting until the early hours of the morning!

Linking up with:


Monday, June 5, 2023

New Project Started

Since last week, I've made significant strides on my to-do list. The Cosmic Revival quilt? Quilted and done!

Creating a backing for the Comet's Revival quilt  ✔️

Quilting the Comet's Revival quilt ✔️

Make Quilt Labels for the finished quilts  ❌

Bind the Cosmic Cabin so it can be Mailed  ❌

Instead of tackling the binding of my pile of quilts, I felt an irresistible urge to embark on a fresh project from my UFO list. For June, my aim is to wrap up the flimsy for this Diamond Lane pattern from Wilmington Fabrics. For my take on it, I'm weaving in Farmhouse Chic florals along with a duo of complementary rose-colored prints.

Since finishing my quilt last Wednesday, I managed to piece together the corner blocks and the uncomplicated large blocks.

Now, it's time for a couple of dozen of these sashing pieces to take the stage.

So, for the week ahead, my game plan is:

  • Draft the Cricut files for the sashing units.
  • Cut out the needed pieces.
  • Piece together the sashing units.
  • Assemble the central quilt section. 

I'm ready to dive in and stitch up some progress!

Linking up with:

Design Wall Monday
Sew & Tell
Monday Musings
Tuesday ToDo


Saturday, June 3, 2023

Jun Friday Night w/Friends

My jump into the project experienced a bit of turbulence when I realized my original plan would result in a whopping 99" square quilt! With my 10-foot long arm frame, that size is nothing short of a hassle – imagine wrangling a bulky quilt onto the frame with the long arm in your way. Plus, I don't really have a need for another queen-size bed quilt. So, I decided to downsize.

I devoted 3 to 4 hours to tinkering with different options to trim it down: eliminating rows of blocks, reworking the border, you name it. None of them hit the mark. For a fleeting moment, I even considered changing the pattern entirely. Ultimately, I decided to simply reduce the block size from 6" to a more manageable 4.5".

Of course, this meant all the effort I'd put into devising a Cricut cutting plan had to be scrapped and reworked, leading to a bit more delay. But, after some adjustments, I finally started making headway.

Progress was slower than anticipated, but hey, at least it's a start!

Here's a snapshot of my chosen fabrics. The lighting isn't the best, but they look delightful. 

During my reshuffling of the plan, I reworked the colors. Originally, I had a rust tone in the mix, but it didn't gel with the rest of the fabrics upon a closer look. So, I brought in these rosy hues from my stash, which harmonize perfectly.

Usually, I wouldn't cut out squares with my Cricut, but with the resized blocks, some squares landed at rather awkward dimensions.

Here's the fruit of last night's labor. I'm eager to carry on with the project today. My goal is to complete these checkerboard squares and the nine patches. Then, come next week, I can dive into the sashing and border units.

Thursday, June 1, 2023

June One Monthly Goal

According to my Quilt Guild, this month is supposed to be finishing my Aged Elegance bonus crib quilt. But guess what? I've got that one in the bag already – I finished it back in February. So, I've got the freedom to dive into whatever project my heart desires.

Sure, there's the Easy Street quilt that I prepped a couple of months ago. But, I ran into a little hiccup; it turns out, I made the blocks larger than the original pattern. Now, I'm in a bit of a pickle – do I go ahead with the supersized blocks, or do I take the extra step to trim them down to the size that Bonnie Hunter had in mind?

Instead of dwelling on that conundrum, I've decided to shift gears and dive into my Diamond Lane quilt using the Farmhouse Chic fabrics. These were an impromptu pandemic clearance fabric binge, and it feels good to finally put them to use.

Today, I've been knee-deep in creating the Cricut fabric-cutting files. Cutting out triangles isn't my favorite pastime, and this quilt demands plenty of them. But come tomorrow, during our Friday Night With Friends, I'm aiming to kick off the cutting stage.

So, what's my game plan for the month? My sights are set on finishing the quilt flimsy. Quilting it completely would be a bonus, but I'll be perfectly content if I manage to put the finishing touch on the flimsy.

Linking up with One Monthly Goal.

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Cosmic Cabin Quilted!

I was on a real roll from Sunday afternoon straight through to Monday evening, only pausing for a well-deserved sleep break! I've been absolutely set on completing these two quilts by month's end, and that resolve has turned me into a quilting powerhouse. It's been all about stitches, patterns, and fabric - until these quilts are done, my world revolves around them!

It's 92x92 so a little large for one person to hold it up

Here's a glimpse into my quilting strategy...

I employed Donna Kleinke's Spiral Pantograph (slightly tweaked to make it a block design) on the Comet blocks, while her Simone's Gems Corner block brought the log cabin blocks to life. The border was adorned with her Simone Feathers Border and Corner Set, and oh boy, did it turn out beautiful! It was rather thread-hungry, practically devouring a whole 3000-yard spool, but it was worth every inch.

The backing of the quilt sports the 108" Dream Cotton Solid in a rich Hunter Green from Marshall Dry Goods. The quality-to-price ratio is just stellar, and I'll likely incorporate more of their fabric into future projects.

As for the batting, I opted for Hobbs Heirloom 80-20 Premium Cotton Batting. It was the perfect width, so no piecing necessary! I bought a 15-yard bolt several years ago and I've been slowly using it up. After this quilt, there is just a remnant left, freeing up some much-needed space in my long arm room.

And let's not forget the stitching! I used a budget-friendly MaxiLock serger thread in a delightful Tea Rose shade. It was conveniently on hand, and this year, I've been on a mission to finish projects without splurging on extra supplies.

So there you have it, the cosmic journey of my Cosmic Cabin quilt. I should have just enough time left to finish quilting my Comet's Revival before the end of the month!

Linking up with:
Wednesday Wait Loss
Brag about Your Beauties
Friday Foto Fun
Finished (or Not) Fridays
TGI Finished Friday
Off the Wall
Peacock Party