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.

What’s On My Design Wall

January 12, 2015 7:32 am ⋅

AlphabetBOMA-Z

 

26 Blocks up on the wall. The last 3 were released together so I knocked them out quickly while I was on a roll.

X is for XQuisit

DY - XQuisite

Y is for Yankee Puzzle

DY - Yankee Puzzle

Z is for ZigZag

DY - ZigZag

Now the goal is to find something to tie all of these shirting and muslin blocks together. Just when I think I have it figured out I decide that perhaps it’s not the best option and go off in another direction. I suspect these blocks are going to have to age a bit before they become a top.

Hop over to Patchwork Times to see what other are working on.

Posted in: Alphabet Blocks, designwall

Stash Report

January 11, 2015 10:42 am ⋅

Nothing in this week simply because it hasn’t arrived in the mail. Nothing out this week because I haven’t finished quilting the quilt.  — wait I forgot the pillowcase I made.

Fabric Added Since Last Report 2.91 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 2.91 yards

Fabric Used Since Last Report: 0.556 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 0.556 yards

Increase in Stash to Date:  1.298 yards

As for my new quilting habit I another 1/2 an hour last week working on the scrap bin.

habit-bin

 

I can actually see where the scraps are going down this week.  The plastic bag holds 2 1/2″ scraps as I’m currently focusing on the 2″ scraps.

habit-strips

 

The 2″ strip box is beginning to fill up as well.  Those pieces on the right will be sub-cut into bricks and blocks when I get the bottom of this box. I’m only keeping as strips anything longer than 12″.

Check out how others are doing with their stashes over at Patchwork Times.

Posted in: habit, scraps, Stash Busting Report

2015 Finish-Along

January 9, 2015 5:24 pm ⋅

 

I’ve hemmed and hawed about whether or not I was going to join this year’s Finish-Along. I find that I list projects A, B & C, but then end up finishing projects X, Y & Z or start and finish something brand new. So, with this in mind, I’ve gone through my list of UFOs and have picked three that I think are realistic finishes (i.e. have deadlines separate from this year’s Finish-Along) and then put together a list of dream projects from my UFO list.

Here are the realistic projects for 1st Quarter (January – March).

FinishAlongRealistic

 

  • Scrappy Trips – I want this done by mid-February
  • Jared Takes a Wife – also done by mid-February
  • Thangles BOM – I was looking for a quick 3rd project that could be finished and was started prior to 2007

Now for the Dream Projects:  Most of these are on the list because they were started prior to 2007 (my focus this year), the others have some other reason I would like to at least move them forward and if I’m lucky get them finished this year.

FinishAlongDream

 

  • Christmas BOM – 2003 – My oldest UFO. I ordered border fabric earlier this week and already have the backing. As soon as I figure out how to quilt this it will go to the head of the line once the top is completed.
  • Sew Scrappy – 2013 – I’m not fond of my fabric choices, but know who I want to give it to. Getting it done will be a win for both of us.
  • Sisters Swap – 2005 – Once I decide on the layout (and if it’s one quilt or two), quilting it shouldn’t be a problem. A panto with lots of texture.
  • Orca Bay – 2011 – Although a newer start, I’m excited to get this done since I know where it’s going.
  • Alphabet BOM – 2013 –  a newer start, but I don’t want to see it become a UFO. I’ve got a rough idea of what my layout is going to be but need the last three blocks
  • Scrappy Hearts – 2006 – Currently the top is hanging on my wall. I have the backing fabric so perhaps this will be my “easy” 3rd project for 2nd quarter.
  • Star-a-Day – 2014 –  My newest project. I’m behind by 2 months, but plan on the top being done by the end of August. Will I get it quilted in 2015?  Ask me after I get the top done.
  • Quilted Sweatshirt – 2006 – As cold as it is, I should get it in gear and get it done!
  • Christmas Crazy 8s – 2006 – I want to modify a panto then I’ll quilt it.
  • Hancock STAR BOM – 2004 – my next oldest project. I want this year to be the year it’s done — but don’t see it happening before March.
  • Diamond Links – 2007 – Just missed the cut off, but since it’s partially quilted it would be nice to finish it.
  • Whitework – 2005 – started this in a class. I don’t think there’s much left to quilt on it, so I just need to get it done and make it into a pillow or something.
  • Stack-n-Whack – 2006 – I have no idea how I’m going to quilt it or what I’m going to use for backing, but it’s here because I want to clear the older quilts
  • Candy Sunflower Seeds – 2011 – this is on the list to have an easy finish as I know how I’m going to quilt it once the top is completed
  • Green & Cream Swap – 2006 – another quilt I want to finish so I can say I have started from prior to 2007. Will probably work on this one this summer.

What are you planning on finishing in the next few months?  See what other are by following the links over at On the Windy Side.

Posted in: goals

Alphabet BOM Catch UP

January 9, 2015 8:19 am ⋅

DY-catchup

 

 

It was August when I made my last Alphabet BOM. Now I’m caught up — at least with the block patterns which have been released.

  • September – Underground Railroad
  • October – Variable Star
  • November – WCTU

I haven’t seen the December or January block, but plan on making them as soon as they are released.  Then I can work on the layout.  In the meantime, here’s a picture of all of them.

AlphabetBOM-AtoW

Posted in: Alphabet Blocks

Time to Decide on the Borders

January 7, 2015 6:04 pm ⋅

christmasBOMcenter

 

I took some liberties with the snowmen and declared the block finished.  Now the center of the quilt is done and it’s time to figure out what to do about the border.

Right now the top measures roughly 48″ x 64″, which I suppose is a good size for a throw, but I have another Christmas quilt top that is 51″ x 59″, so I think I want it larger.  The pattern was shown in three sizes:

  • Small –  58″ x 74″ with a 1-1/2″ white spacer border followed by a 3-1/2″ border from what appears to be a woven plaid and heart
  • Full – 70″ x 86″ which then adds a 6″ white border with appliqued holly leaves, stars and hearts
  • Queen – 86″ x 102″ same as above with a final 8″ border in a green gingham

The small size is roughly where I’d like to finish up — maybe a bit bigger at 60 x 76 — so perhaps the 1-1/2″ spacer and then a 4-1/2″ print — but which one?

christmasBOMborders

 

Maybe I need to see what I can find in my stash for the spacer and go from there.

 

 

 

 

Posted in: Christmas BOM

The Christmas BOM

January 7, 2015 12:33 am ⋅

christmasBOM-1block

 

Earlier this week Shelly over at Prairie Moon Quilts issued a Procrastination Challenge. Pick something you’ve been putting off and move forward with it.  Well, this quilt fits the bill.  Currently it is my oldest UFO.  It’s been on my list to work on for at least two years. A couple of years ago I made significant progress on it and then there were two blocks left to do — Santa in his sleigh and the snowmen family.  As you can see the sleigh is completed.  The snowmen family still needs a bit of hand work done on it.

Although this quilt is on my list to work on this year, it wasn’t what I was planning on doing first. I’ll give it until this weekend, then get onto those things I need to get done this month.  But even if I don’t get the top finished this week, it has been “moved forward”.  Thanks, Shelly.

Posted in: Christmas BOM, goals

At the Antique Mall

January 6, 2015 6:00 am ⋅

antquepinkbluewhite

antiqueblueandwhite

antiquelogcabin

antiqueredandwhite

Posted in: Uncategorized

Christmas BOM – One Block Left

January 5, 2015 11:28 pm ⋅

christmasBOM-sleigh

 

The only block left now is the Snowmen Family. This could become a quilt top this year.

Posted in: goals

What’s On My Design Wall

January 5, 2015 1:20 am ⋅

JewelsintheNight

 

This is what’s off my design wall today.  This version is “Jewels in the Night”. I’m going to call the pattern Diamond Rails.  The first version can be seen HERE.

The quilt measures 62″ X 77″ after washing. The top fabrics are all batiks from Connecting Threads.

The backing is a wide batik I purchased last weekend.

batik-backing

 

The batting is Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 in black and I used Fil-Tec T-40 Cotton Poly Corespun Black thread on the top and Superior SuperBob in black on the bottom — just over 1 M-Style bobbin.

The quilting pattern is the pantograph “Popcorn”.

While I was at it I made a pillowcase.

batik-case

 

Check out what other’s have worked on this first week of 2015 over at Patchwork Times.

Posted in: designwall, Jewels in the Night

Quilting Habit

January 4, 2015 2:18 pm ⋅

It was less than a week ago I said I would work on my scraps for 30 minutes a week and report it on my Sunday Stash Report.   I nearly forgot!

Step 1 was to deal with the batik scraps after I finished the batik quilt and pillowcase.  I may have cheated.  I simply folded them up and put them in my shoebox of batiks.  But they are not laying on my ironing board so perhaps it’s not cheating.

Step 2 deal with the top box — the one that I called my stirring box.

countdowntask3 -scraps

 

My 2″ strip box got dumped in there, along with some of my wider strips so this should be an easy box — simply pull out the strips and fold them into the box.

After 15 – 20 minutes (I spent an hour working on the pillowcase and scraps) I had sorted out these.

scrapswk1-a

 

They are now folded up and in the 2″ strip box.

scrapswk1-b

 

I’m only keeping strips which are 12″ long as strips, the rest will get cut down into either bricks or squares, but for now will reside in the box.  I’ll work on the box again later in the week.

Posted in: scraps