Quilting and Stuff by Knitnoid

Category Archives: House

Cascades Progress – and a Table!

July 18, 2025 8:12 am ⋅

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

What I’m Working On this Week

July 11, 2025 8:41 am ⋅

I did not do my What I’m Working on Wednesday post as I had nothing new to show and Wednesday evening was spent installing spice racks.  I bought the Vertical Spice racks I’ve seen on my Facebook feed — but not before actually going to the home office while I was in Minnesota. I probably would have bought them on the spot had I not decided the week before I left for the trip that I wanted to lower the shelf so my original measurements were all wrong.

When I got home, I pulled all the spices out of the cabinet, as well as bringing in the last box from the sunroom.  Turns out I have duplicates of some of the spices. I combined bottles where I could and pulled the duplicates out. They now live in the bottom of the utensil pull out.  The plan was to get what I needed for the bottom shelf first.  I ended up putting the larger slide on the 2nd shelf. I failed to consider the angle of the door in my calculations, so the wide slide out didn’t fit. I haven’t decided if I’m going to get more slides or not.

For my segue to quilting, I offer these napkins.  The plan was to have 6.  However, it’s been a couple of years since I made any and I simply couldn’t remember how they were done, as a result the first one ended up smaller.  After I took this picture and had them put away, I found the 5th large napkins.  For future reference, I washed the fabric first, then cut the back/binding square at 13 1/2″ square — essentially 1/3 the width of the fabric. The contrast was cut at 9 1/2″ square.  Cutting the inside 4″ smaller allows for a 1-inch border.

Last night I finished block 1 of the 2025 Brandon Quilters Mystery Quilt.  I have 2 weeks to get the next set of instructions written.

Finally, I’m still working on A Vintage Christmas Sampler.  I started working on the Tall Trees last night.  I have 2 or 3 small trees to do, then it will be on to the Candy Canes.

Posted in: A Vintage Christmas Sampler, Chain of Blossoms, designwall, goals, House, mystery quilts, Napkins

Goals for the Week of June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025 2:06 am ⋅

Last week I picked just 3 goals:

  • Quilt, bind & label my the Gunge 2025 Brandon Quilters BOM. – DONE – See it HERE.
  • Process & put away the scraps from the Grunge quilt. – DONE
  • Continue moving stuff back into the kitchen. – Still a work in progress.

I am continuing to enjoy my newly remodeled kitchen and I’m still dragging stuff back into the kitchen.  On the quilting front, I’m looking forward to receiving the first installment of A Vintage Christmas Sampler by Kansas Troubles Quilters. It is my understanding it is being shipped out this week. The first FB Live tutorial is Thursday, June 12th.  My SIL and I will work on them this summer.

In the meantime, I’m working on Cacophony, my 2025 Orphan Block quilt.

My goals for this week:

  • Finish the Cacophony top
  • Pick a block for a Barn Quilt Block – I’m taking a class at the Summer Gathering of the Mississippi Quilters Association
  • Prepare the Quilters By Hearts Desire Newsletter — this can carry over into next week
  • Revise “Got Blocks, Now What?” presentation – this can also carry over into next week

 

Posted in: Cacophony, House

Goals for the Week of May 26, 2025

May 26, 2025 11:18 pm ⋅

Last week I had three goals:

  • Label & Bind Compass Lone Star – Done!
  • Quilt, Label & Bind Dragonfly Dance – Done!
  • Move into the Kitchen! – In progress!

The 2 quilts are done – they can can be seen HERE.  The kitchen is still a work in progress, but I’ve cooked multiple times.  Friday night was pork chops, green beans, rice  & gravy. Saturday night my SIL and nephew came over and we had pork loin, green beans, mashed potatoes & gravy.  Then I had leftovers the next day.

So what are my goals for this week?

  • Quilt, bind & label my the Gunge 2025 Brandon Quilters BOM.

This got put away back in September as I was struggling to figure out the layout.  Actually it was more of a case of I didn’t like my fabric choices and I was stubborn and wanted to find a way to finish the quilt without buying any additional fabric. The sashing fabric was purchased to go with the Dragonfly Dance panel. I didn’t use it in that quilt, but it was just what was needed here.

  • Process & put away the scraps from the Grunge quilt.
  • Continue moving stuff back into the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

Posted in: 2024 Brandon Quilter, 2025 Brandon Quilters UFO, goals, House

Two Finishes

May 25, 2025 6:04 pm ⋅

Or 3 if you count the kitchen.

I think it was Thursday that the vent hood was finally installed. There are a few touch ups that need to be done, but essentially, the kitchen if finished.  I love the backsplash behind the range.

My washer and dryer have been moved back into the laundry room.

And the plastic has been removed from the doorway.  Now I just need to get all the kitchen stuff back into the kitchen and give this place a deep clean to clean up the construction dust.

The first quilt finish is Compass Star. This quilt is 19 1/2 years in the making.  The plan was to use Quilt As You Go, but it is not my favorite was of quilting, I finally decided to get it done this year for my sister’s 60th birthday.  It was quilted by then, but it took a few more days to get it bound. I’ll deliver it to her in a few weeks.

This took 7 bobbins of Glide. I used Mercury thread.  Nearly 187,907 stitches. 4 different patterns.  Betty’s Border / Corner MI-120 in the outer border. The Corner in the corner of the Lemoyne Stars.  ST-025-8-pointed-star-w-frame.  This I split using the center for the Lemoyne Stars and the Compass Star.  I used the the frame in the center, then added a few stems to fill up the space. The sashing is “lola sash”, the yellow inner border had a flat curve. I can’t remember what I used in the triangles of the stars.

The quilt measures 81 1/2 x 81 1/2 before washing. Legacy 80/20 batting. The binding was stitched to the back and flipped to the front.

This project is completely wrapped up.  I’ve dealt with the scraps and have an empty bin.  It’s the 6th quilt on my 2025 Brandon Quilters UFO list and my MQA list.

The empty zipper bag is from my 2nd quilt finish this weekend.

Dancing Dragonflies.  It is now bound with both a hanging sleeve and label.

  • Started 5/11/25 – Finished 5/25/25
  • used just over 1 bobbin of Glide in Mint
  • E2E – Dancing Dragonflies
  • Measures approximately 37″ x 55″
  • Stitch count 61165 at 11 spi

Although not on a UFO list, ‘a panel project’ was on my 2025 goals.  All of the fabric I purchased when I purchased the panel has now been put away and the scraps dealt with.

This brings me to the W

The Stash Report.

Fabric Added Since Last Report: 0 yards
Fabric Added to Date:  82.58 yards

Fabric Used Since Last Report: 1.46 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 77.7105 yards

Net Fabric Stash: 4.869 yards

I’m itching to just push fabric through the machine.  I just looked at my 2025 goals, and I think I’m going to attempt to finish the last 2024 Brandon Quilters BOM. It, and and Auction Quilt are the only 2 project left on that list. I can quilt the top when I get back from Kansas City and it would be great to have another BOM done before I go and speak to the Candlelight Quilters.

 

Posted in: 2024 Brandon Quilter, 2025 Brandon Quilters UFO, Compass Star, DragonflyDanceWallhanging, House, Stash Busting Report, UFOs

What I’m Working on 5/21/2025

May 21, 2025 3:22 pm ⋅

On the quilt front I have 2 quilts I’m focused on.  Getting the Compass Star quilt bound and labeled and quilting my Dragonfly Dance panel.  It is going to hang in my breakfast room.

The kitchen is done except for installing my vent hood — and taking down the plastic into the den. This view is from against the range.

Behind that door is my laundry room. The washer and dryer is on the left side.

On the right is a counter for folding clothes with cabinets and drawers.  That’s my hot water heater behind the mesh and a broom closet below.

Here’s a view of the sink and range with the under cabinet lights on.

Here I just have the pendant lights on over my buffet.

This is basically the same view but with the ceiling lights on. The next picture is a collage of what the kitchen looks like before.  I think the new layout will be much more functional, not to mention prettier. Now to get moved in!

 

Posted in: 2025 Brandon Quilters UFO, Compass Star, DragonflyDanceWallhanging, House

Goals for the Week of May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025 11:51 am ⋅

I did not hit all my goals, but I made significant progress.

  • Finish the Compass Star quilts — quilt it, bind it, and label it. -It’s quilted and trimmed.

  • At least piece the Dragonfly Dance Wall Hanging – Bonus if I can get it quilted and a hanging sleeve on it. — It is pieced.
  • Keep the tables cleared. –So far so good. 
  • Make a quilt hanging rod for the breakfast room.  – I thought I wanted to paint the rod the same color as the wall, but I think I’m going to pass.

So what on the list for this week?

  • Label & Bind Compass Lone Star
  • Quilt, Label & Bind Dragonfly Dance
  • Move into the Kitchen!

There haven’t been any pictures of the Kitchen since the floors were put down as it went from gorgeous to a mess.  But the appliances are installed & the cabinet pulls and knobs are installed.  Today they are painting more trim and doing touch up paint. Later this week the vent hood will be installed.  I need to do a good wipe down of the cabinets to get the dust out, then start washing dishes so I can put them away.

Posted in: 2025 Brandon Quilters UFO, Compass Star, DragonflyDanceWallhanging, goals, House, Panels

What I’m Working on Wednesday – 5/14/25

May 14, 2025 9:04 am ⋅

The quilting continues on the Compass Star quilt. Last night I finished the setting squares/triangles of the last 3 stars on the top and quilted the 2 yellow borders.  I opted for something simple and didn’t think to get a picture.  Then it was time to roll.  I started working on the left star and ran out of bobbin halfway though the setting pieces.  The new bobbin was giving me issues, it was late, so I called it a night.  Tonight I hope to get the two Lemoyne Stars quilted and the top half of the center.

On the kitchen front, the tile is grouted and the floors are down.

Back when I started the house makeover I bought enough flooring to do the whole house — I thought.  As near as I can tell, because the floors were laid in sections, there was a little more waste, but the biggest issue is that there was an accident in the warehouse which broke a bunch of the planks. We found out about a month ago this company no longer makes this flooring.  Fortunately, other companies make the same thing – they just don’t necessarily use the same locking mechanism.

We put the other manufacturer’s flooring in the laundry room (and eventually the hall bath).  It looks the same to me.

Posted in: Compass Star, designwall, House

Quilting the Compass Star

May 13, 2025 11:52 am ⋅

I loaded the quilt on the longarm Sunday evening, the was faced with the actually quilting.  This quilt needed custom quilting, but my free motion skills are not there yet.  Probably because I haven’t taken the time to practice, but I digress.  So I started looking for computerized designs. At Quilters Niche, I found the perfect design – ST-025-8-pointed-star-w-frame.  In the block I’ve only used the center of the star.  The corner blocks and border are MI-120 Bettys Border.

The sashing and triangle motif were something I already had. I need to look it up so I can reference it again.  I have 2 of the blocks completely stitched out and the stars on 3 more blocks done.  Once I finish stitching the setting triangles/squares and sashing, I’ll go back and quilt the yellow border.  Then it will be time to roll!

Given that I’m “nearly” complete with Compass Star quilt, I naturally started another project.  This is for my breakfast room.  I love this Dragonfly Dance panel.  I found the purple in my stash.  I haven’t gotten any further than this because of the custom quilting on the Compass Star.  To get the border to work as I envision it I need to cut the border to the exact measurements, and I haven’t wrapped my head around that yet.  Perhaps when I start quilting the center star.

Meanwhile, the tile is up in my kitchen. Today they are grouting and laying the floor.

Yesterday I was asked what color blue/teal my cabinets are.  With the white backsplash, they look more blue than teal and photographing them…well it’s a challenge.  I had Sherwin Williams match Kyrlon Fusion Rolling Surf.  This is the swatch from Kyrlon’s website.

 

 

Posted in: Compass Star, DragonflyDanceWallhanging, House

Goals for the Week of May 11, 2025

May 12, 2025 12:16 am ⋅

  • Make the rest of the Lemoyne Stars for the Compass Lone Star quilt. – DONE
  • Find something to use for my Leader/Ender Project – DONE
  • Clear the tables AGAIN and go through at least 1 of the DOOM bags. – DONE

So far so good with setting of the weekly goals.  Not only did I make the rest of the Lemoyne Stars for the Compass Star quilt, I finished the top. I’ve got it loaded on my machine ready to quilt.

I picked the 9-patches to use as my leader/ender project.  I’ve finished all the brown ones and now I’m working with the yellow squares.

And I cleared the tables and sorted and put away all the stuff in one of the bags.

So this week I have the following goals.

  • Finish the Compass Star quilts — quilt it, bind it, and label it.
  • At least piece the Dragonfly Dance Wall Hanging – Bonus if I can get it quilted and a hanging sleeve on it.
  • Keep the tables cleared. – The fabric on them in the picture at the top of this post is for the wall hanging.
  • Make a quilt hanging rod for the breakfast room.  I’m using the same Stas Picture Hanging system that I have in my office and entry area, I just need the pole.

Speaking of the kitchen/breakfast room, the counter tops were installed on Friday. Today they are installing the backsplash.

Posted in: Charm Challenge, Compass Star, DragonflyDanceWallhanging, goals, House, Panels ⋅ Tagged: