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.

Stash Report Week # 33

It was a simple task. Go to the LQS and get the 4 5/8 yards of fabric for the finishing kit for the Kansas Spirit BOM that I’m writing the finishing instructions for. True, I’ll need to get border fabric for my Blue and Yellow stars to finish it, but I don’t have to do that right now. There’s plenty on my plate that I want to finish that I have all the fabric for. But since I was in the store, I wandered back to the clearance shelves to see if anything on them would work for the stars. Maybe – but I’ll need to have the quilt with me before I buy. As I walk out of the room what do I spot but a bolt of fabric with music notes in Red on White!

But I’ve already finished the music quilt top! And I have enough music fabric to make 2 or 3 more — including backing. But I am working on those red work snowmen and they’ll have red and white pieced blocks — so a FQ came home with me in addition to the 4 5/8 yard — ok 5 yards of fabric for the BOM finishing kit.

So much for not making it though the first day of Burton’s UFO Challenge on her blog Quilting Literati

Outbound I made 2 sets of 6 blocks for the SBS swap (6″ blocks), 4 blocks for the birthday swap (12″), the last block for Kansas Spirit and cut all the fabric needed for the setting blocks.

So now for the report:

Fabric Added this Week: 5.25 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 168.25 yards

Fabric Used this Week: 3.865 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 62.618 yards

Net Stash: +105.632 yards

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

Mid-August Update


Here it is mid-August and time for an update on my August goals.

  • At least 2 sets of blocks for the SBS Brown/Blue Swap Done 8/9
  • Keep up with the SBS BOW – 3 blocks done, 2 more to be announced
  • Finish star blocks to go with birthday swap blocks Done 8/7
  • Work on Josh’s quilt – spent 1 night hand quilting
  • Make up mind about applique on table runner – still deciding
  • Work on DWR – top needs to be done by mid-October – got my templates today — Thanks Mark!
  • Make rest of Birthday Swap Blocks (4 more needed) Done 8/12
  • Quilt a baby quilt to get a finish! Replaced with new goal
  • Keep scraps cut up – so far so good

    But what’s that picture of Kansas Troubles fabric doing at the top of this post? Well, this is how my goals change. Although the last block for the Kansas Spirit BOM at Heritage Fine Fabrics won’t be picked up until October, the fabric for the finishing kits need to be ordered now. And in order to know how much fabric to order, I’ve got to write up the instructions. I’ve got the easy part (for me) of the instructions written (setting blocks and triangles) so I now I get to test it. That’s bounced the baby quilt off my list. Oh and did I mention, that once I got the star blocks done, I decided I had to sew them together into a top?

    So for the remainder of the month:

  • Keep up with the SBS BOW
  • Work on Josh’s quilt
  • Make up mind about applique on table runner
  • Work on DWR
  • Finish at least center of birthday swap block quilt (will need to buy border fabric)
  • Finish Kansas Spirit Top and pattern instructions
  • Keep scraps cut up.
  • Waiting is Over


    DH came out of the procedure with basically a clean bill of heath. Apparently the test Monday was a “false positve”. What a relief.

    I didn’t get much done on the snowmen. Dad’s left arm, chest, neck and a bit of the face. It’s exhausting sitting around waiting and the surgery was running about 2 hours late. While the procedure was done, I ran down to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat and then read few pages in my book, before the doctor was telling me the results. Then we waiting and catnapped until it was time to come home.

    Waiting

    So what does this redwork pic have to do with the title of this post? Well, when I’m waiting, in doctor’s offices, for concerts or musicals to start, or for us to get somewhere (long drives), I work on my redwork snowmen.

    There were no plans to work on this project this month, however a trip to the doctor’s office changed all that.

    My DH is having a cardiac catheterization later this morning. So, I while I’m waiting for him to come out of surgery, I will do some stitching to try and keep from worrying.

    Everyone reacts differently when a loved one is in the hospital or in surgery. The last time DH had surgery I was working in the hospital computer department. My choices were to sit in a hard chair in an empty room and watch TV, or do something. I chose the latter. The nurses all had my pager number, and they let me use a small office to participate in a conference call that was on my schedule (my choice — not my employer’s). Then I wandered off to the medical records department to check on a software install we were doing — again my choice. Now admittedly, I couldn’t stay focused on any of these tasks, but it kept me from actively worrying.

    Today in my bag of tricks, I’ve got the redwork, a book to read and my husband’s netbook. Although I still work with hospitals and computers, I don’t work for the hospital — so there will be no running around working to keep me occupied. Of course this procedure won’t take near as long, so I won’t need to keep myself distracted as long.

    SBS Block Due 8/16

    B-7 Swamp Patch

    For this block I used the Companion Angle ruler and 1 1/2″ strips instead of cutting squares into triangles. I’m not sure how long I’ve had this ruler, but I know until I needed it for one of Bonnie Hunter’s mystery quilt I never used it.

    Now to file under ‘clearing the counter’ is this orphan block:

    About a year ago a group I quilted with made a quilt to auction off for charity. I think the kits were from a shop hop quilt from a few years earlier. Given that I had a limited amount of fabric – and no way to get more – I started to make a sample block. Once I saw that I wasn’t going to have trouble with the block I made the ‘real’ block and tossed the sample block into the scrap box. Back when I was working on my scraps I found the pieces and pulled it out. It’s been sitting on my sewing table for the past 6 – 8 weeks. Last night I decided to finish it. I have no idea what I’m going to do with it, but for now it’s in my orphan block drawer.

    Also finished in the last couple of days are a couple of Mini Bow Tie blocks from Quilterscache.com for the birthday block swap. Sorry no pictures, because the birthday ladies occasionally read my blog.

    What’s On My Design Wall? – 8/10


    The stars are still on my wall. I’ve decided on this arrangement of blocks. Still no idea on borders, but I figure I’ll figure that out when I get there.

    Check out other design walls by visiting Patchwork Times.

    SBS Swap Block Set # 3


    This is the third of the five block sets I’m making for the SBS swap. I finished F10 – Aunt Sukey’s Choice last night, and now I’ve finished C1 – Contrary Husband. Two more sets are needed, but my goal for August was to just get two sets done. Cross that goal off my list.

    Stash Report Week # 32

    No fabric in this week. Found fabric in my stash for 3 of the 4 remaining sets of SBS blocks, but have only counted one set since that’s all that’s cut. Also finished up the star blocks to go with the birthday swap blocks.

    Check out how other quilter’s are doing with their stash at Patchwork Times.

    Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
    Fabric Added to Date: 163 yards

    Fabric Used this Week: 1.605 yards
    Fabric Used to Date: 58.753 yards

    Net Stash: +104.247 yards

    SBS Swap Block #2


    Here’s the first block of the second set I’m making for the SBS Swap. It’s F10 – Aunt Sukey’s Choice.

    I still need to make the flying geese for the rest of these blocks, but I’ve been called away to assist with swim suit design. I’ll enjoy the time I spend with my mom this afternoon, but I’m not looking forward to the designing. She promised me she’ll have the cutting board cleared by the time I get there. So I best get a move on it.

    All Stars


    Not athletes, but rather all of the star blocks are done that I need to go with my birthday swap blocks. Cross one thing off my August list.

    I still need to decide proper placement, but tomorrow and tomorrow. I guess it’s time to work on one of those tiny blocks.