Quilting and Stuff by Knitnoid

My Weekend Progress

August 5, 2025 10:19 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

I spent the entire weekend in the Quilt Studio as I had some major deadlines to hit. Although not critical, I did get the Stockings blocks made from A Vintage Christmas Sampler. I’m no longer behind, I’m just not caught up. I still need to do last Thursday’s blocks before this Thursday.

I finished the quilting on this gorgeous customer quilt.  It was picked up Monday afternoon.

This is the first shop sample I needed to make.  The focus fabric is a custom fabric called Graffiti.  The pattern is a slight variation on Felicity from the Fabric Cafe Big Block 3-Yard Quilts book.

This is the 2nd shop sample. I do not remember the name of this fabric. I have enough fabric left over that I plan to make a Mini Bow Tucks tote.

I’ve pulled an stripe from my stash for the bottom.

This project has been added to my goals. I’d like to have it done by Sunday!

This quilt is from a customer and I need to deliver at the next guild meeting on the 18th.

While she was dropping off the quilt, we got to talking about UFO and BOMs. We both worked on this quilt years ago. It is not on my list for this year, but I was saying I was going to pull all the quilting out and simply assemble the top and toss is on the longarm to quilt. I’ve not finished it be cause I deviated from the pattern to make it larger, then didn’t like how it was going together – not to mention I’m not a fan of QAYG.  She suggested I get someone else to finish it. Anyway I pulled it out and put it on the design wall to see what needed to be done.  I have an idea, but have no idea if I have enough fabric.  Ideas are percolating, so it might just get done next year. It’s safely put away in it’s bin to not distract me.

I also got the next clue for the mystery written, but have one more clue and the finishing instructions to go.  I wonder what I can get done this week?

Posted in: A Vintage Christmas Sampler, Bags, DaniellePeach, DanillePurple, Hancock Stars BOM, Longarm, Mini Bow Tucks, QAYG

August Goals

August 1, 2025 4:14 pm ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

It’s a good thing I don’t freakout about missing quilting “deadlines”.  I have a list this month which should prove challenging to meet given I’m going to a regional quilt guild event one weekend and have a work trip 2 weekends later.  But hey – Labor Day weekend is coming up at the end of the month and I have a 4 day weekend then.

Here’s the list (LtoR, TtoB):

  • Finish Cascades. It just needs the borders before it can be quilted.
  • Keep up with the KTQ A Vintage Sampler Quilt Quilt along.  I’m currently 2 blocks behind. Looking at the schedule we should finish the top by the end of the month.
  • Monterrey Medallions.  I’d like to get the blocks made for this quilt.
  • Sheryl. I just need to sew the binding strips together and get this one bound.
  • Auction Quilt Top. It’s a bad picture, but I need to rip out what little quilting I’ve done.
  • Shop Samples.  Yes there are two quilts in the picture and I want them done by Monday! Guess what I’m doing first?

Not pictured:

  • There is a customer quilt on the frame. I should get it done tonight – I don’t think there are any thunderstorms expected.
  • Decoupage fabric to glass for a friend.
  • Prepare the mystery quilt clues (the next one is due Monday!)

It’s a lot and I just need to stay focused!

Posted in: goals

July Recap

August 1, 2025 3:37 pm ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

I started off July with a long list of goals. The question is did I meet them?

  • Keep up with A Vintage Christmas Sampler Quilt A Long.   –  I am officially 2 blocks behind.  I did not get the Stockings made and yesterday the Candy Twists were shown. I hope to get caught up before then next blocks are shown.
  • Bind Wonky Trees  
  • Decide where I’m going to hang the framed backing. – It’s is hanging over my kitchen buffet.
  • Quilt the American quilt on the front of the frame. completed
  • Complete the Cascades quilt top.  – still needs borders 
  • Make Hummingbird Napkins – Done
  • Cut RWB Napkins – Done
  • Cut Strips for RWB Jelly Roll Rug – Done
  • Complete the Sheryl top
  • Add top coat to barn quilt. – did not do. I’ll bump this it next month.
  • Finish the prep work for the Wonky Tree class. Class cancelled, so no need to complete
  • quilt & bind the Auction Quilt Top I bought last year – pulled off the frame due to machine issues.
  • finish the mystery quilt clues (the next one is due Monday!) – I got this done, but now another one is due!
  • help Ruby put up her design wall (I’ve got to find my other flannel sheet) – postponed due to water

Overall I’m happy with what I accomplished in July. Now for the Stash Report.

The Stash Report

Fabric Added Since Last Report: 21.75 yards
Fabric Added to Date:  180.683 yards

Fabric Used Since Last Report: 11.833 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 114.469 yards

Net Fabric Stash: 66.214 yards

 

Posted in: goals, Stash Busting Report

What I’m Working on Wednesday – 7/30/25

July 30, 2025 9:55 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

This week work continues on the KTQ A Vintage Christmas Sampler QAL. This is the first of the 2 Christmas Cactus blocks. This is all I got done Tuesday evening. Nothing too complicated, just a big block with lots of pieces.  Tonight I’ll load a beautiful customer quilt on the longarm to quilt and finish up the other cactus block and hopefully get the stocking blocks done. If I can do that, I can say I’ve kept up with the QAL which was one of my goals this month.

Posted in: A Vintage Christmas Sampler, designwall

Sheryl Is Quilted

July 29, 2025 6:29 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

That’s the pattern name.  The fabric line is Lagoon, so I quilted it with the E2E pattern Dragonfly Dance.  I used Glide thread in Peacock and it virtually disappears.  The lavender on the back is what I’m going to use to bind the quilt.  All the fabric came from stash.

While the longarm was running, I cut the fabric for the Christmas Cactus blocks in A Vintage Christmas Sampler.  I need to get these 2 blocks done, as well as the Stockings to get caught up before the next block is released.

Posted in: A Vintage Christmas Sampler, Longarm, Sheryl

Last Week’s Quilting

July 27, 2025 12:01 pm ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

Last week I discovered a slight warp in my quilt frame which brought my machine quilting to a halt.  Not that this is great FMQ quilting, but see where the arrow is pointing…that’s where my machine was hanging up on the frame.  Although I haven’t tested it yet since I had pulled the quilt off the frame, I think I’ve solved the mystery.

That red lever is supposed to be flipped up when I’m doing free motion quilting.  When that lever is flipped up, the carriage does not rub the frame, so I’m 99% certain this will resolve my issues an the ‘warp’ is in tolerance.

Since I wasn’t on the long arm, piecing continued on Cascades.  It’s now ready for borders. They didn’t get done as I went to a 2 day quilt retreat with Quilters By Heart’s Desire.

I was able to pack everything in the large Tutto case I purchased at the guild auction a few months ago.  I’ve got my large Brother sewing machine, an electrical cord reel, power strip, phone charger, light, 2 spray bottles, mini iron, notions rollup bag, wool pressing mat, spinner cutting mat, assorted rulers (all smaller than 12″), Gypsy pop up bin, jelly roll, 16 napkins, and my main project “Sheryl”.  There was room to spare. The only issue is loading it into my car.  It gets hung up on the seats, but as I’m writing this, I think I’ll be able to put it in horizontally across the back of the car, then turn it so I can see out the back.  I’ll try that when I go to the overnight retreat in September.

Sheryl was my main project.  It’s a Villa Rosa pattern.  As I had a layer cake, I decided to make it larger, using 40 squares.  I precut my fabric so I was ready to sew once I got set up. Before I left for the evening I was able to layout the quilt to know what square went where.  The next day I had the top put together. I was even able to start on some of the napkins I had with me.

I found this floral print with a black background in my stash, but I only have 4 yards. Then I realized the fabric is directional.

So, instead of running the seam across the width of the quilt, I need to run it vertically and need 20″ of length on each strip. Not perfect, but perfectly acceptable, I will extend each panel with the binding fabric, which is the lavender.

I did not work on the KTS Christmas Sampler so I have fallen behind.  It’s one of my goals this month to keep up with this sampler.  I’ll work on the sampler blocks while Sheryl is quilting, then when I put my customer quilt on the frame I’ll put the borders on Cascades. Once Cascades is getting quilted, I’ll rip out the quilting on the auction quilt so I can load it.

Wait — totally forgot. I’m expecting fabric on Tuesday or Wednesday for a quilt which needs to be done by August 15th!  I guess I better get to it.

Posted in: A Vintage Christmas Sampler, Cascade, Longarm, retreat, Sheryl

Weekend Quilting

July 21, 2025 9:42 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

I took my Vintage Christmas Sampler down — not because it’s finished, but because I needed the space for Cascades. I finished the blocks and have started the assembly.

Meanwhile on the longarm, I’ve pulled the Auction Top off the frame.  I was trying to do some free-motion quilting and ran into a spot that just drags really bad.  I’ve known about this spot for a while, but since the robotics has no issues with it, I’ve not done anything about it.

It seems like there is a bulge in my frame. It also looks like I may have some thread in the wheels.  Still have no idea what it’s not an issue for the robotics.  Anyway, I’m getting a customer quilt tonight, so I don’t want to mess up the machine. Once it’s quilted I’ll look closer a the thread situation and re-load the quilt.  I thought the MQA challenge ran through June, but found out this morning it goes through the end of July, so there’s still time for me to get it done.

Posted in: A Vintage Christmas Sampler, Auction Quilt Top, Cascade, Longarm

Cascades Progress – and a Table!

July 18, 2025 8:12 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

Cascades has 2 different pieced blocks. I’ve finished the first block with the yellow/gold 4-patch chain and have started the 2nd block with the single yellow 4-patch.  I fully expect to shuffle the blocks once I get them all made.  I’d really like to finish the top this weekend, but I’ll need to do more work on it than I did last night.  I’m not sure if it was the chiropractor visit, the run to Walmart for groceries or maybe adrenaline from the notification that my breakfast room table was arriving at 3 PM instead of Friday between 7 – 9 AM.

When I moved to Mississippi I didn’t bring a kitchen/dining table.  We didn’t have a table in our breakfast room and the dining room table had seen better days.  I started looking for tables then my sister offered me our parents dinning room furniture for my dining room.  I still needed a table for the breakfast room. I stepped up my search at the beginning of the year and simply wasn’t finding anything in the stores.  The Facebook algorithms sent me an ad for Contemporary Craftsman Furniture. Their flagship table The Concord was exactly what I was looking for.  Pricy, but solid wood and like nothing I’ve seen.  It’s traditional and yet contemporary at the same time with twist in the base. This table will last for generations.

I ordered the table once the kitchen construction was far enough along I could visualize the space.  I picked my wood – Hard Maple – and my stain – Manchester, then waited for it to be built and delivered. I’m very happy with it. Now I need some custom placemats!

 

 

Posted in: Cascade, House

I’ve Started Cascades

July 15, 2025 6:39 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours cutting the fabric for my latest quilt – Cascade.  I purchased this kit from another quilter when I went to the Shipshewana Quilt Retreat in November 2019.  It’s been sitting in my stash ever since.   This year one of my goals is to make at least one kit from my stash and as it turns out it goes great with the backing fabric I bought earlier this year simply because I loved it. This quilt is destined for a relative.

All my 4-patches are made.  Since everything was cut I couldn’t resist making one block before shutting down for the night.  I have 11 more of these to make, then I’ll start on the alternate blocks.

Posted in: Cascade

Update on July’s Goals

July 14, 2025 7:18 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

  • Keep up with A Vintage Christmas Sampler Quilt A Long.  – I’m happy to report I have all of the blocks done that have been presented thus far. — and a few bonus HST.

  • Make Hummingbird Napkins – Done

  • Cut RWB Napkins – 12 napkins cut at 14″ and 4 at 13 1/2″.  Since I don’t need them immediately, I’ll put them in my retreat bag.

  • Cut Strips for RWB Jelly Roll Rug – The strips were cut last week, but I cut the 45-degree angle to sew them together. This will go in the retreat bag as well.
  • Decide where I’m going to hang the framed backing.  – Decision made. I’m putting it in the kitchen over the buffet where the lights can shine on it.  Now to get it put up.
  • Finish the prep work for the Wonky Tree class. – No longer needed – the class was cancelled.

This still leaves the following:

  • Add top coat to barn quilt.
  • quilt & bind the Auction Quilt Top I bought last year – Its on the frame – we’ve had thunderstorms in the evening so I can’t turn on my longarm.
  • finish the mystery quilt clues (the next one is due Monday!) – Monday’s clue is posted (and corrected) Still need to do 2 more clues and the finishing instructions.
  • help Ruby put up her design wall – Can’t find the sheet so she’s ordered flannel
  • Complete the Cascades quilt top.  Bonus if I get it quilted and bound
  • Complete the Sheryl top

Previously completed

  • Bind Wonky Trees  – I want this done so I can take it to the guild meeting on Monday. – BOUND and LABELED
  • Quilt the American quilt on the front of the frame. I’ll do that tonight, as my customer wants to bind it this weekend. – DONE
  • Bind Wonky Trees  – I want this done so I can take it to the guild meeting on Monday. – BOUND and LABELED
  • Quilt the American quilt on the front of the frame. I’ll do that tonight, as my customer wants to bind it this weekend. – DONE
Posted in: A Vintage Christmas Sampler, Cascade, goals, Longarm, Napkins, Sheryl