Quilting and Stuff by Knitnoid

Author Archives: Pam

I made my first quilted item as a visual aid for a math project in 7th grade. Over the next 25 years quilting was hit or miss, but quilting took over all the other crafts I've done in 2003.

Stayed on the Straight and Narrow


Well, after an evening of fingers itching to start something new, I stayed on the straight and narrow and finished up the sashings for Ladder to the Stars. They are all finished, and I’ve got the setting triangles cut. Now to sew them together.

Bloggers Quilt Festival

Today is the official last day of the Bloggers Quilt Festival that Amy at Park City Girl is hosting. However, the links to the quilts entries will remain on her blog. Which is a good thing since there are over 650 entires and I still haven’t made it to all of them!

I want to thank everyone who has commented on my entry, and encourage everyone to check out the rest of the quilts in the show by clicking on the badge at the top of this entry.

Itching to Start Something New

Someone please stop me.

I’m itching to start something new.

I’m so close to completing the piecing of my DWR. Just two more rows.

I’m just over halfway through the sashings on Ladder to the Stars.

There are another 24 projects in various stages of completion on my UFO list which I want to finish — eventually — and that doesn’t include the tops which need to be quilted.

But I want to start something new. I’m not sure if it’s one of my various kits or something else completely.

Stop me. I need to finish a few more UFOs (Or at least get them to the top stage.)

This is Just a Technique Block


If you don’t count the Blue and Brown Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler Swap I joined in late July, I haven’t started anything new since May 17th. That’s nearly 5 months! Unbelievable! I didn’t know I could go that long without starting anything new.

Wait — I’m looking at my sidebar. Perhaps I should say I haven’t started anything new that I haven’t FINISHED since May 17th. Cherry Frolic was started and finished in June, and the Cranberry Wishes Table Runner was started and essentially completed in June, although it didn’t get declared finished until August. I didn’t think I had enough focus for 5 months. I’m still surprised it’s been 3 1/2 months.

Over the past couple of months I’ve been looking at my strip bins — which are full — and thinking I need to do something with them (but refraining). If you asked me a 3 or 4 weeks ago, I would have told you I was leaning toward a log cabin. The last couple of weeks I’ve browsed Bonnie’s site, Quiltville.com eyeing Star Struck. Today, it’s the pineapple block.

I’ve seen several pineapple quilt’s recently. The ones last night at the quilt shop, Mary’s mom made one, and I suspect I saw one as part of the Blogger’s Quilt Festival. Anyway, I decided I had to try to make one of these blocks.

I used the instructions on the Possibilities website.

If I decide to make a pineapple quilt, I think I’ll either use them a leader/enders for the first few rows, or at least cut up the strips to the right length and do a bunch at a time.

Meanwhile this block will go in the orphan box to be put in some future quilt, and I’ll get back to the UFOs I’m currently working on – Ladder to the Stars, DWR, SBS and Josh’s Quilt.

Kansas Troubles Stash Society


Last night was the Kansas Troubles Stash Society meeting at Prairie Point Quilts. There are five of us which generally attend the meeting together, but forces were working such that I’m the only one who made it to the meeting, and then just barely.

I got out of the house in time to run by the library to pick up Part One of Diana Gabaldon’s Voyager and grab a bite to eat at the Sonic across the street before going to the meeting. While I was waiting for my food, I popped in the first disk and started listening to the book. When I got ready to leave, the engine wouldn’t turn over. Apparently, between the cold and leaving the lights while waiting on my food, my old battery couldn’t take it. So, I called my husband to the rescue. We jumped my car off, swapped vehicles, he went home and I got to the meeting about 5 minutes late.

Lots of great quilts using Kansas Troubles fabrics both in KTQ patterns and other patterns. There were two pattern books which caught my eye. Scrap-Basket Surprises by Kim Brackett and Positively Pineapple by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith. I’ve looked at Scrap-Basket Surprises a number of times, but I haven’t gotten to the point of purchase. Tonight was no different. I’m not sure what is holding me back, except for my pile of UFOs and more patterns in my personal library than I’ll ever get around to making.

Positively Pineapple came closer. There was a quilt with 2 1/2″ strips and another with 1 1/2″ strips. Neither the book nor ruler came home tonight, but I do have the book on reserve at the library. After I look at it closer we’ll see if it makes the cut the next time I have a bit of book money.

What did come home with me? Just those 4 eighth yard cuts — which were paid for back in January or February.

So tell me, does it count as a new project if I make a sample block, or if I’m using strips from my pre-cut bins?

SBS Block Due 10/18


K8 – Grandmother’s Fan

I am not a big template fan — as in draw around a template and cut it out with scissors. However, sometimes it can’t be helped and this is one of those times. Fortunately I have EQ6 and was able to draw this block and print out the templates. I suppose I could copy them out of the book, but I don’t know if I could get the book to lay flat enough in my scanner, and I haven’t taken it to the office place to get a spiral binding.

Anyway, I’m pleased with the way this block turned out. After working on the DWR, I didn’t have any problems with these curves.

Next to the Last Block


This is the next to the last block to be hand quilted before I can pull the quilt off the frame. I finished it up Sunday night after a two week hiatus. I pushed myself a couple of weeks ago and aggravated my wrist. Needless to say there was no hand quilting for a while and now I’m limiting my time at the frame. I’ll miss my self-imposed deadline of October 15th, but since my DWR is not going to be finished by then I still have time — my guess is it will take another week — for both.

What’s On My Design Wall? – 10/12

Ladder to the Stars is up on the wall. The blocks have been made since May, I’m currently working on the paper pieced sashings. I’m not sewing the sashings to the blocks yet, as I’m still deciding if the blocks are in the right spots.

I’m flitting back and forth between this quilt and the DWR.

See what other quilters are up to by checking out the link’s on Judy’s blog Patchwork Times.

Stash Report Week # 41

Two weeks in a row with no fabric coming into the house. Tomorrow night is the Kansas Trouble Stash Society meeting so I’ll be in a quilt shop for at least an hour, so there is no telling what will come home with me. At least 1/2 yard of Kansas Trouble fabric.

After Monday’s marathon sewing, I was only able to spend 10 or 15 minutes at a time at the sewing machine. But still I accomplished a bit. Finished another 9 sashings for Ladder to the Stars and added arcs to both sides of 12 melons for the DWR. Saturday I had more time and it all went to the the SBS Block.

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 281.583 yards

Fabric Used this Week: 1.125 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 76.054 yards

Net Stash: +205.529 yards (162.583 was gifted)

See how others are doing with their stash over at Patchwork Times.

SBS Block Due 10/11

H7 – Odd Fellow’s Chain

73 tiny pieces. The half square triangle units finish at 3/4″. Originally I planned to paper piece this block, but this evening I realized I could use my Easy Angle and Companion Angle rulers. All in all, the block went together quite well, it just took ‘forever’.