It’s only nearly done because I figured out where that “extra L” goes. And it still needs quilting.
My sister was thrilled with the quilt top.
Year of the Pig – Question #11
This week’s question from Jill is:
“Your guild has challenged you to complete the PIGS that you least want to work on. What project would it be and why?”
I’m not sure I can limit myself to a single project, so let’s take the top 3 which are on my Quilts in Progress tab.
#1 – the Jeanne Kimball Christmas BOM published by Oxmoor House at least 12 years go or longer. – I started work on this quilt in 2003. I really want to finish it, but always put it off because:
- I want to make it big enough to fit on our king size bed and haven’t figured out exactly how I’m going to do that.
- I’ve made most of the pieced blocks and all that is left are the applique blocks and the really big blocks.
- This is for me, so everyone else quilt get’s done first.
#2 – the Hancock Fabrics star BOM from 2004/2005
- I’m doing this Quilt as you Go.
- I’m making the quilt big enough for the king size bed, and my plan to enlarge the quilt isn’t working as expected, so I’m designing on the fly.
- I”m not sure I want this quilt King size anymore
- It’s on my challenge list at Patchwork Times so my guess is it will get done, or at least looked at closer this year
#3 – True Friends – a kit I won. Started it in 2006.
- I’m not excited about the quality of the fabric
- I haven’t figured out what I’m going to do for borders and I can’t find matching fabric.
- It doesn’t have a destination
- It’s on my challenge list at Patchwork Times so my guess is it will at least become a top before the end of the year.
As for the quilts on my Tops to be Quilted tab it’s pretty easy.
- I haven’t figured out the quilting motif
- I don’t think I can do it on my home sewing machine
- I want more experience on the long arm
- Need to gather the money for backing, batting and rental time.
I’ve found that Judy’s UFO challenge is working well for me – sort of . I picked 20 UFO’s (some tops, some QAYG and some still in pieces) that I knew I would keep putting off and I’ve finished 4 so far this year. One I finished before the challenge started but after our lists were turned in. Additionally, having a destination and a hard date works well too.
June’s UFO – #8
Judy has pulled the UFO # for June, so now it’s time to report if I finished May’s UFO.
May # was 9. That’s the Cream & Green quilt as you go project that was on both the “to complete the top” and the “get it quilted” lists. Needless to say, given that I’m in full swing on my self imposed challenge, I didn’t bother to open the box this quilt is in.
However, I did finish two quilts – the BQ2 with Peacocks and the Turning Twenty Again that I’m calling “Summertime”. Both of these quilts were on my ‘To Be Quilted” tab on January 1st, so I’m counting them as my UFO completion for May.
#8 is the pick for June. Not that it matters what #8 is, I have 5 more quilts to finish by the 22nd – all but one were on my lists January 1st. So, look for me to complete the Crossword Puzzle top, and finish Victoria’s Rose, The Chain Event, Ribbon Candy, Kansas Troubles and the Neutral Strip Twist (not technically a UFO) in the next couple of weeks.
When July rolls around I’ll may set a new challenge for myself — get caught up on the quilts I skipped over!
One More Name Needed
Then the last names up top and the wedding date (it’s Saturday!) on the bottom.
Progress Report
Progress has been made, although not as much as I would have liked. As far as the names go, I’ve got all the letters sewn in except for Jeremiah II and the last A in Thaleia. My biggest fear was dealing with the blocks that only had one letter in them. Turns out it wasn’t too bad.
What’s on my Design Wall
Saturday I got the top left quadrant sewn together. Sunday I received a call. One of the names is spelled wrong! So, my husband and I went out shopping. When we got home we put our heads together and found a solution. Now all I need to do is finish stitching the last few letters then get them sewn into the top.
I will NOT quilt this before the wedding Saturday. We are going to hang it in the reception hall and let everyone proof read it!
See what others have on their design walls by following the links over at Patchwork Times.
Stash Report
This past week no new fabric was purchased. I used the fabric for the backing of the Neutral Strip Twist and the center of Candy Sunflower Seeds. I still don’t have the borders on that quilt. The biggest thing I worked on was the crossword puzzle quilt and all that fabric has been counted – well except for a 4″ square and I’m going to count that square when I determine if I need to make more blocks.
Fabric Added last week: 0 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 86.769 yards
Fabric Used last weeks: 8.91 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 111.083 yards
Net Used for 2011: 24.314 yards
Checkout the links over at Patchwork Times to see how others are doing.
The Push Is On
It’s been a whirlwind of activities or lack there of this week. Down with a sinus infection early in the week and then dodging tornadoes before finally getting my momentum back. I’m still not at full power but there are quilts to get done.
I’ve tossed some blocks up on the design wall for my sister’s wedding quilt. When she and her fiance were here last weekend I finally showed it to them. She loves it — or at least what it will become.
This is about 1/4th of the quilt. My design wall is not big enough for the entire quilt, so I’m going to have to work on it in sections. That 5th block down on the left side of the quilt is going to have to move. I think I’m going to find a spot where the really light part is under a letter.
I have more blocks to piece and letters to applique, but hopefully I’ll get some of the blocks sewn together by this time tomorrow.
The Binding is Finally Done
Just pulled this quilt from the dryer. I finished the last 3″ of binding last night. It even has a label! The top was finished in 2007 and I finished quilting it at the beginning of the month. Normally I stitch my bindings down on the machine — I want to know they’ll stay down — but I was having issues and figured I’d just stitch it down by hand. I won’t make that decision again unless I have no other choice.
This is one of my challenge quilts, so only 6 more to complete in the next 28 days. I best get a move on it!
What’s on my Design Wall
We interrupt this quilting marathon ( Complete 10 quilts between March 16th – June 22nd) for a new quilt top – Candy Sunflower Seeds (I’m using the pattern The Chain Event by Dorothy Young).
Say what?!!
After the disaster I created quilting this quilt a few weeks ago, I had to back up and punt.
Thanks to S for ripping the quilting out. Anyway, I decided I needed to use a template on my curves and quilting in the setting squares and triangles. Since I hadn’t done that, I figured a “test” quilt was in order. Thus the new quilt top.
Of course, now I don’t think I need a test quilt. Yesterday I quilted the Neutral Strip Twist and I did half way decent considering I hadn’t done any template/ruler work previously.
Since I’m reporting, here’s the status of the marathon quilts.
1 – Dragonflies — Completed 3/29
2 – Miniature Ohio Star – Completed 4/19
3 – Crossword Puzzle – Still piecing – need at least the top 6/3
4 – BQ2 – Needs label, otherwise finished 5/14
5 – Summertime – 8 inches of binding left to stitch down, label attached
6 – Neutral Strip Twist – needs border quilted, etc
7 – The Chain Event – needs quilting (appt on 6/5)
8 – Victoria’s Rose – needs border quilted, etc
9 – Kansas Spirit – needs quilting (will do on DSM)
10 – Ribbon Candy – binding attached
There’s still a lot to do, but I’m confident that with the three-day weekend coming up I’ll be able to get it all done by my deadline.
Follow the links over at Patchwork Times – I’m sure you’ll find great inspiration and quilters who aren’t as crazy as me.
