Quilting and Stuff by Knitnoid

Category Archives: Log Cabin

First Finish of 2023 – Donna’s Log Cabin

Earlier this week I put the last stitch into the log cabin. This is the quilt I’ve made for my cousin.  We decided on a log cabin and when I asked about colors, the answer was blues, greens, peaches, yellow. I pulled all of the fabric from my stash except for the center squares, a Dan Morris fabric, and the binding, a Kaffe Fassett fabric.  I even had the backing in my stash.

The blocks have a 2″ center square and 1″ logs – 4 ‘dark’ and 4 ‘neutral’, so they finished at 10″.  The quilt before washing was about 101″ square (clearly my seam allowance needs work).

  • It is quilted with Glide 40Wt thread, top and bobbin, in Strawberry Blond.  I used just over 4 bobbins.
  • The pantograph is Fresco Feathers (LQPanto0398)
  • After quilting and washing it measures 91 1/2″ x 95
  • Legacy 80/20 batting
  • Started 9/20/2022
  • Finished 1/15/2023

 

This is one of the 12 quilts on my 2023 Brandon Quilters UFO Challenge list.

A Little Bit of This and That

I had grand hopes of having my Chilhowie top finished, the Log Cabin finished, and perhaps even the Pizza Box top quilted.  But the last few days since I checked in I’ve done a little bit of everything so nothing is finished.

Bonnie released the final clue to Chilhowie.  The clues will only be available for a short time — my guess is the end of January 2023. Anyway, I need to make 4 more blocks and corresponding border and sashing pieces to finish the top.

When I get the Chilhowie top finished, I have the backing for it. I found it in my stash while digging for binding.

 

Binding was the challenge on the log cabin. The original plan was to carry the center fabric to the border.  I had been warned off using a yellow for the center, for fear it would leap out, but it doesn’t. However, I was afraid the yellow border would, so I dug through my stash and came up with these options.  Each of them had their advantage and disadvantage, but none were “right”. Facebook was evenly divided. So I went to my LQS to see if I could find the “right” fabric. It was suggested that I use the backing fabric and I was just about to walk out of the store when the “right” fabric was spotted.

 

This Kaffe Millefiore. It’s darker than the yellow so will “frame” the quilt nicely, but at the same time it’s lighter than my previous choices.  Finally, it has all the colors.  After my running around over the weekend I started working on the binding. However, in my haste to finish it up missed spots when machine stitching it down.  I’ve got to take another look at it.

In addition to finding the backing for Chilhowie, I found another 3 Yard kit.  I think this was a ‘contest kit’ at the Quilted Cow. They called it ‘Anthony’, but I’m calling it Dragonflies & Flowers. I am adding it to my WHIMMs page.

Today it the last day to post about the results of the Final Countdown tasks. Here’s my recap.

Day 1 – Choose something you can finish quickly and do it  Big dreams, but I finished my pillow – a UFO from 2008.

Day 2 – Clean out a storage area – I got all the books put up which were stacked in the “Quilt Studio Annex”. As I look at the before and after pictures, I realize that I had already started putting the books up and when I took the before.

Day 3 – Take a project inventory and devise a plan. Since my Quilt Tops and Quilts In Progress (aka UFOs) were already tracked, and I had my UFO Challenge List defined, I decided to work on my PIGs and WHIMMs and what that means to me. I’ve added two tabs at the top of my page. I spent a good bit of time digging though my stash cataloging my projects.  I still haven’t found everything.  Earlier I wrote down “Bubbles – 4/23/22 Have a collection of FQs, now need pattern”. I have no idea what this is, but I’m sure it’s bagged up together and when I find it I’ll add it to my WHIMMs page.

Finally, I’m gearing up to begin the next phase of renovations.  My contractor and I have decided to tackle the den next.  I’ve narrowed down my paint color to one of the 2 purples that nearly blend into the sheetrock.  The paneling will be replaced with sheetrock.  The doors will get trimmed out, ceiling accent lights will be installed and replaced, and new flooring and base board trim will be installed.

 

 

Mid-Week Review

The Log Cabin is Quilted! Now to get it finished by Monday.

 

While the longarm was running, I had 2 projects going on.  I was stitching on Chilhowie.

And compiling my PIGs for The Final Countdown Challenge.  As mentioned yesterday I have a lot of PIGs. Much in the same way I divided my UFOs into WIP and Tops, I’ve decided to divide my PIGs into 2 categories.  PIGs or Projects in Grocery Sack will be those projects and kits that I have all of the fabric for the top and the pattern. The second list will be WHIMMs – Works Hidden in My Mind.  I’m defining those as projects aren’t quite complete — a stack of fabric I plan to use together, but haven’t decided on a pattern or maybe I have the pattern and some of the fabric. It might not be the ‘true’ definition of a WHIMM, but it is my interpretation. These are just some of the PIGs I have. I’m still looking for some that I know I have.

Finally, while I was digging around looking for my PIGs, I found some clothes that Betsy can wear.  These were my clothes. The blouse was worn with a red velvet jumper when I was about 18 months old. It fits Betsy nicely.  The blue jumper it a bit big.  My best guess is I was about 5 or 6 as I know my sister had a matching dress and my brother had a matching romper. Somewhere there are pictures of me wearing both outfits.

In the background you can see my Christmas present.  My Den cabinets were installed before Christmas. I’m not sure what’s next on the remodeling — my bedroom and bath or the den.  They’ll more or less be back to back along the hall bath.  I need to reach out to my contractor and get him going again.

Design Wall Monday

 

On this first Design Wall Monday of 2023, I have a quilt top finish. This is the log cabin quilt I started piecing at the quilt retreat in September. When I packed up after the retreat half the blocks needed 3 logs and the rest just needed two logs. I got those added last week and started piecing the top New Year’s Eve.  I had the first half finished about 4 minutes before the clock struck midnight, ringing in the new year. The 2nd half of the top was finished by 11:30 PM on the 1st. Up next is the quilting.

This is the backing I’m planning on using. Now to figure out the quilting design.

As I was assembling the quilt my Rivanna HST were getting created.  At last count I had 11 bags of HST. I still have a few more of this combination, then it will be on to another fabric.  I have 2 more fabrics prepped.

 

I’ve stitched a bit more on my Faux Applique. This is a direct result of the Final Countdown Challenge over at Prairie Moon Quilts.

Chilhowie Clue 6 will be worked on this week. It’s simple enough, but I ran out of bobbin thread the night I was working on it, then got caught up with the log cabin.

 

2023 Brandon Quilters UFO Challenge

Happy New Year!

Over the next few days I’ll update my list of Finishes, Quilts in Progress and Tops to be Quilted, but today I’m listing out my 2023 Brandon Quilters UFO Challenge quilts. My list was created and turned in at our December meeting.  The goal to finish all of these quilts by our meeting December 4th, 2023. So here’s the list:

  • Mom’s Sweatshirt – Started in December 2008. My goal now is to have it finished by September at the latest, preferably May.
  • Black & White Stacked 4-Patch – Started this in Spring 2008. I started the quilting on it, but needed to rip it out since the border wasn’t lining up.
  • Christmas Row Quilt – This was a block swap I did in October 2008. I want to have the quilt finished by July.
  • Fairy Frost Sunset – The top was mad in 10 days in September 2010. It’s time to get it quilted.
  • Auction Strings IV: Turquoise & Cheddar –  These are the last of the blocks I bought at the auction in September 2018.
  • Princess & the Pea – The retreat mystery quilt started with a panel. I got it quilted last month, then realized I don’t have binding fabric.
  • Christmas Star Swap – These was swapped in April 2019. I have a plan and the fabric on how I want to set these blocks. My goal is to finish by July.
  • QBHD 2022 Pizza Box – We finished the swap in November, my goal to to take it finished to our next meeting on January 16th.
  • Athena – I started this quilt last January.
  • Donna’s Log Cabin – I started this quilt at the September retreat. All the blocks are finished and I sewed the last seam of the 1st half of the quilt just before midnight.
  • Rainbow Challenge – These squares were swapped during the year. I started doing “something” with them in October. I have a plan.
  • Chilhowie, the 2022 Quiltville Mystery – My plan is to keep up with the rest of the clues, but I will lengthen the top.

Day 2 – The Final Countdown with Prairie Moon Quilts

Today’s task is:

Clean out a storage area

My Quilt Studio doesn’t have any closets, so everything is out in the open, albeit it storage totes. So, I’m going to first focus on this tote and project box.

The tote on the left is the leftover fabric from Frolic – the 2019 Quiltville Mystery. Although I finished the top in the middle of 2019, I knew I needed to make the backing wider and wanted to make additional blocks to piece down the middle. I had both a project box and this tote with the top in it. Once the backing was complete, I put everything “away” into the tote.  I finished the quilt this past summer so now it’s time to really put this fabric away.  The project box on the right contains the leftover fabric from Shimmer and the 2021 SQG BOM.  Those fabrics need putting away as well.  There is another project waiting to go into the project box and I’m sure I have enough fabric laying around to fill up the tote.

The 2nd area which needs worked on is the Sunroom AKA The Studio Annex.  Although I won’t be able to move the pile of quilts in the corner, I do need to get the books back on the shelves.

 

Here’s an update on yesterday’s task.

Option 2 – the Faux Applique.

I found the floss — and it was in the first place I looked! Many moons ago a couple of friends and I took an applique class and we had matching sewing baskets.  Apparently a few years later when we went to the Faux Applique class we took our baskets because that’s where I found my floss. Now if I could find my hoop.

Option 3 is the log cabin quilt.

One log was added to all of the blocks and I started stitching the second log when I ran out of bobbin thread.  So I called it a night.

The Final Countdown with Prairie Moon Quilts

I have sporadically participated in The Final Countdown with Prairie Moon Quilts over the years and I’ve decided to do it again this year.

Today’s task is:

Choose something you can finish quickly and do it

 

This past year I’ve been working hard to knock my UFOs out.  I finished all 12 of the UFOs on my 2022 Brandon Quilters UFO Challenge list, plus another 5, so there’s not a whole lot left that is a quick finish.  After going through my UFO list these are my options:

On the left is the Machine Quilting Sampler from a class in 2008. Free motion quilting on my sewing machine is not a skill I ever became proficient at and at this point it is unlikely that I will.  However, my free-motion skills on the long arm could use some practice. I could add some fabric to each end so I can load this on my longarm and finish the quilting there.

On the right is another class project, this one from May 2012. The first thing I need to so is sit still, in good light, and do the embroidery, then I can decide how to finish the piece. Maybe I need to pull my notes and thread and set this by my chair to work on while I’m watching TV in the evenings.  Currently I’m re-watching The Librarian — both the moves and the TV show.

A third option is to simply finish these blocks.  I think there are 26 or 27 blocks that each need 2 more logs.  Once that is done I can start on the quilt top. This quilt is on my 2023 Brandon Quilters UFO Challenge. It is what I’m working on until the next Quiltville Mystery Quilt clue comes out on Friday  I want to have this quilt completed (quilted, bound, labeled and washed) by mid-January, so I can’t procrastinate on this quilt.

On my 2023 UFO list5 is the Pizza Block quilt. I plan to have finished by mid January as well.  I haven’t decided how it will be quilted, but I can make the binding so when it comes off the longarm I can finish it.

Finally there is this quilt – Princess and the Pea.Also on my 2023 UFO list, I threw it on the long arm and the computer quilted it earlier while I was working on the log cabin blocks. Then I realized that I have no idea what I’m going to use for binding.

 

So, in summary the plan for my  ‘quick finishes’ are

  • loading the machine quilting sampler on the long arm to practice my free-motion quilting
  • gathering the thread and working on the embroidery on my Faux Applique in the evenings
  • finish the last of the log cabin blocks so I can begin assembly
  • make the pizza box binding so it will be ready to go when when the top is quilted
  • decide and make the binding for the Princess and the Pea quilt.

I won’t get them all done before the first, but I should have significant progress on all of them by the 9th.

40 Day Challenge – Day 24

This is how Day 24 started off.  When I pressed the last seem  I saw what I thought was one HST turned.  Then I realized the ‘turned’ one was correct. Then I realized the flying geese on the left are turned wrong. My solution? Mark the block and keep going.  After quilting “all day” I have 3 blocks done.

This is the log cabin quilt my sister and i made for my niece and her new husband.  They received it today so now I can show it. A more in-depth report  in a few weeks.

 

 

I did get one other thing done.  The label for the quilt that I’m delivering tomorrow.  I had lost the piece of paper that I had the original piecer’s name written on and decided to make a label anyway.  I have a small bag with a few more pieces and my sister asked if the paper was in the bag. I told her no, but said I’d look anyway only to discover the quilter’s name on the back of envelope. It turns out I had her name all along, but didn’t realize it.

 

  • A customer’s quilt – binding needs to be pressed, then can be attached and stitched down 6/6/2020
  • Allietaire – plan do do both scallops and a 2 color binding.
  • Narragansett Blues 6/11/2020
  • Sister Swap # 3 – The binding is made just needs to be attached and stitched down 6/6/2020
  • Then & Now 6/7/2020
  • Baby 4-Patch Stacked Posies
  • Tablerunner – Finally figured out what I am going to use – 6/7/2020
  • The quilt with the striped backing needs a label and delivered. Label sewn 6/27/2020
  • I’m behind on my Star Studded BOM. I have fabric for 7 12-inch blocks and 23 6-inch blocks as of 6/12/2020
    • 5 6-inch blocks made 6/13/2020
    • 2 12-inch blocks made 6/14/2020
    • 6 6-inch blocks made on 6/16/2020
    • 12 6-inch blocks made on 6/20/2020
    • 2 12-inch blocks made on 6/21/2020
    • 3 12-inch blocks made on 6/22/2020
  • The log cabin quilt needs to be quilted, bound and labeled. – 6/24/2020
  • The blue, black and white quilt is my Frolic the goal is to finish the top. Started with 5.
    • 3 blocks 6/26/2020
    • 3 blocks 6/27/2020
  • Although not quilting, there are 8 pair of pants which need to be shortened.
    • 2 pair hemmed 6/8/2020
    • 2 pair hemmed 6/9/2020
    • 1 pair hemmed 6/12/2020
    • 3 pair hemmed 6/13/2020
  • Bonus #1 – Pillowcases:
    • the customer quilt 6/6/2020
    • Allietare
    • Narragansett Blues
    • Log cabin quilt (2) 6/25/2020
  • Bonus #2: Pillowcases for quilts already completed
    • Christmas Crazy 8s
    • On Ringo Lake 6/16/2020
    • En Provence (2)
    • Carolina Chain
    • Good Fortune 6/16/2020
  • Bonus #3: Quilt, bind, label and make pillowcase (2) for Frolic.

40 Day Challenge – Day 21

Part 2 of the reason behind the 40 Day Challenge is done!  I need to make a couple of pillowcases then it goes into the wash.  Although I’ll take pictures this weekend it will be next month before it’s shown in all it’s glory. Even the label is stitched down.

  • A customer’s quilt – binding needs to be pressed, then can be attached and stitched down 6/6/2020
  • Allietaire – plan do do both scallops and a 2 color binding.
  • Narragansett Blues 6/11/2020
  • Sister Swap # 3 – The binding is made just needs to be attached and stitched down 6/6/2020
  • Then & Now 6/7/2020
  • Baby 4-Patch Stacked Posies
  • Tablerunner – Finally figured out what I am going to use – 6/7/2020
  • The quilt with the striped backing needs a label and delivered
  • I’m behind on my Star Studded BOM. I have fabric for 7 12-inch blocks and 23 6-inch blocks as of 6/12/2020
    • 5 6-inch blocks made 6/13/2020
    • 2 12-inch blocks made 6/14/2020
    • 6 6-inch blocks made on 6/16/2020
    • 12 6-inch blocks made on 6/20/2020
    • 2 12-inch blocks made on 6/21/2020
    • 3 12-inch blocks made on 6/22/2020
  • The log cabin quilt needs to be quilted, bound and labeled. – 6/24/2020
  • The blue, black and white quilt is my Frolic the goal is to finish the top.
  • Although not quilting, there are 8 pair of pants which need to be shortened.
    • 2 pair hemmed 6/8/2020
    • 2 pair hemmed 6/9/2020
    • 1 pair hemmed 6/12/2020
    • 3 pair hemmed 6/13/2020
  • Bonus #1 – Pillowcases:
    • the customer quilt 6/6/2020
    • Allietare
    • Narragansett Blues
    • Log cabin quilt (2)
  • Bonus #2: Pillowcases for quilts already completed
    • Christmas Crazy 8s
    • On Ringo Lake 6/16/2020
    • En Provence (2)
    • Carolina Chain
    • Good Fortune 6/16/2020
  • Bonus #3: Quilt, bind, label and make pillowcase (2) for Frolic.

40 Day Challenge – Day 19

It’s day 19 and have finished all but 1 of the Star Studded blocks I have in my possession.  I’m not fond of paper piecing, but I’m even less fond of hand stitching and applique which is what the next block includes.  I’ve finished 7 12-inch blocks which is what I started with at the beginning of the challenge, but I suppose I really need to do that 10th block before I mark this as complete.

Today during the Facebook Live event Stitch-On Needlework did, they showed this pattern. I’m not sure what it is that I like about it.  My original plan was to go swing by and pick it up this weekend, but my sister was on her way to the shop and offered to bring it to me. That saved me money, not only for the gas, but for whatever I would have ended up buying while in the shop.  I still have 2 patterns and the fabric to make a quilt and a wall hanging that I bought last summer that I haven’t even started.  Perhaps that will be my next challenge.

Up next really needs to be the binding on the log cabin quilt. My sister is coming over this weekend to use the longarm and while she’s here she wants to use my sewing machine to attach the binding to the 4 quilts she’s quilting since she can’t find the walking foot for her machine.  That means binding needs to occur before Friday.  While she’s here, if the weather is good I hope to get pictures of some of the quilts and I guess I’ll spend the weekend working on Frolic and assorted pillowcases.

 

  • A customer’s quilt – binding needs to be pressed, then can be attached and stitched down 6/6/2020
  • Allietaire – plan do do both scallops and a 2 color binding.
  • Narragansett Blues 6/11/2020
  • Sister Swap # 3 – The binding is made just needs to be attached and stitched down 6/6/2020
  • Then & Now 6/7/2020
  • Baby 4-Patch Stacked Posies
  • Tablerunner – Finally figured out what I am going to use – 6/7/2020
  • The quilt with the striped backing needs a label and delivered
  • I’m behind on my Star Studded BOM. I have fabric for 7 12-inch blocks and 23 6-inch blocks as of 6/12/2020
    • 5 6-inch blocks made 6/13/2020
    • 2 12-inch blocks made 6/14/2020
    • 6 6-inch blocks made on 6/16/2020
    • 12 6-inch blocks made on 6/20/2020
    • 2 12-inch blocks made on 6/21/2020
    • 3 12-inch blocks made on 6/22/2020
  • The log cabin quilt needs to be quilted, bound and labeled.
  • The blue, black and white quilt is my Frolic the goal is to finish the top.
  • Although not quilting, there are 8 pair of pants which need to be shortened.
    • 2 pair hemmed 6/8/2020
    • 2 pair hemmed 6/9/2020
    • 1 pair hemmed 6/12/2020
    • 3 pair hemmed 6/13/2020
  • Bonus #1 – Pillowcases:
    • the customer quilt 6/6/2020
    • Allietare
    • Narragansett Blues
    • Log cabin quilt (2)
  • Bonus #2: Pillowcases for quilts already completed
    • Christmas Crazy 8s
    • On Ringo Lake 6/16/2020
    • En Provence (2)
    • Carolina Chain
    • Good Fortune 6/16/2020
  • Bonus #3: Quilt, bind, label and make pillowcase (2) for Frolic.