Quilting and Stuff by Knitnoid

July’s Finishes

July 31, 2011 7:16 pm ⋅

If you had told me on July 1st I’d have not one, but two finishes (ok, they are small), I would have told you there’s no way.

But earlier today I finished stitching not only the binding down, but also the label.  Who knows, I might even get the quilts washed before midnight.

First up is Fireworks Over John Deere.  What else can I call this?  The pattern is called Chain of Stars.  I wrote it as the 2008 retreat mystery quilt.    I found in my stash a couple of John Deere pillow panels, so naturally they went on the back of the quilt.  This quilt top has been hanging around since the retreat.  This is the July UFO pick.

The second quilt I finished  this month is called Gift Wrapped.  It too is a mystery quilt — for this fall 2011 retreat — so you only get to see the back of the quilt until the retreat in September.

So what was I supposed to be working on this month?  The Crossword Puzzle quilt.  Progress was made.  1 – I got the missing “L” inserted into the quilt; 2 – removed the temporary hanging sleeve and ribbon stabilizer; 3 – decided the quilt is “square enough” to quilt and then square up; 4 – returned the Go! I borrowed to cut the blocks out;  5 – pieced the quilt backing and 6 – tentatively settled on a quilting design.

Let’s hope August is a productive.

Posted in: Uncategorized

Stash Report

July 31, 2011 1:47 am ⋅

This week the report is mixed.

One of the quilts I signed up to finish as part of  both Judy’s UFO Challenge and Heritage Fine Fabric’s UFQ program is my QIAD Christmas Row Quilt.  I participated in a block swap in November 2008 and my goal is to have the top done by the end of the year.  I think it was June’s UFO.

Anyway, I’ve finally come up with quilt top design which handles the variances in the block sizes (they were all supposed to finish at 12″).

The red fabric I’ve picked is called Holiday Luminosity.  I’m not sure what the green fabric is call and believe it or not, the white fabric is included in the picture.

So, that’s what came in. Who knows when I’ll start to use it.  It’s got to be washed first.

But fabric used.  I get to count the backing & binding for Fireworks Over John Deere and the backing for the Crossword Puzzle quilt.  I finally got the second seam done.  I’m going to bind and label the baby quilt and the mystery quilt, then make a decision about the quilting on the Crossword Puzzle quilt.

Fabric Added Last Week: 9.365 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 99.384 yards

Fabric Used Last Week: 10.333 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 126.195 yards

Net Used for 2011: 26.811 yards

All is good as I’ve used more than I bought and I hope to use what I bought before the end of the year.  Although Judy is frantically packing and not sewing, check out the link at Patchwork Times to see how others are doing with their stash.

Posted in: Stash Busting Report

No, It’s Not a New Quilt

July 27, 2011 11:29 pm ⋅

It’s the backing for “Fireworks Over John Deere”.

Posted in: Uncategorized

The Scrap Bucket

July 26, 2011 5:15 pm ⋅

Part of the cleaning of my sewing room resulted in all of the scraps (and larger pieces)  from the last 6 or 7 months getting corralled into one place.  To be fair, most of the popcorn tin contains “crumbs”  too small for me but I know there are quilters who love crumbs.

So, yesterday after sewing ONE of the two seams needed for the backing of the Crossword Puzzle quilt, I started working on this pile. I filled a 2 gal bag with crumbs from the tin (had to start there so I’d have a place for the crumbs I’ll generate working the scraps).  There was also a good bit a fabric which was too big to be called scrap which I’ve put away. So I’m actually down to just the plastic box which needs dealing with.

I put the lid on the box and set it over in the basket of thrift shirts which still need cutting up.

What can I say — I’ve got a pile of batting scraps which need to be dealt with — not to mention another seam on the backing for the Crossword Puzzle quilt (and all of the stuff I had spread out on the ironing board Sunday night.

Posted in: scraps

What’s On My Design Wall

July 25, 2011 12:27 am ⋅


Today there’s a little bit of everything on my design wall/ironing board.  I’ve had a bit of a problem settling down and working on just one thing.

At the top is the Crossword Puzzle quilt, which has been fixed and now needs to be quilted.  I haven’t totally decided how I’m going to quilt it, but I should make the backing.  It’s the plaid that sticking out around the edges.  Yes, two long seams will need to be matched.  The fabric was pressed this weekend.

Another easy “finish” is Candy Sunflower Seeds.  This got set aside in May or June and it just needs the borders.  The top and border fabric surfaced while I was cleaning this weekend and it’s been pressed.  Now if I can only remember if I was planning on a narrow border before the brown outer border.  At least the stars ‘float’ so I don’t have to worry about them disappearing into the border.

The red is the mystery quilt pattern I was testing a couple of weeks ago.  I have the straight line quilting done and now need to add the holly leaves.  7 sets of 3 to go.

That yellow, green  and fireworks is Fireworks Over John Deere.  It is also this month’s UFO to be quilted.  It measures 45 1/2″ wide and of course my backing fabric is only a tad over 40″ wide.  So, I’ve got to make a backing.

I’ve got four of John Deere pillow panels and I’m considering using one or moe along with the fireworks fabric to make the backing.  So, naturally, after I got the fabric and panels pressed I just left it on my ironing board while I make a decision.

Finally, believe it or not, I did a bit of hand quilting.  Finished up 2 more hearts and moved the hoop for the first time in several months.  I’m not sure when the last time I worked on the quilt.

To see if others are bouncing all over the place, check out the links at Patchwork Times.  In the meantime, I’ll see if I can focus on just one or two projects.

Posted in: Candy Sunflower Seeds, crossword, designwall

Stash Report

July 24, 2011 11:42 am ⋅

This week I spent time cleaning up the sewing room/office.  And I got two new ceiling fans/lights installed.  Love the extra light and in this heat the extra fan is a bonus.

So with the cleaning, there’s very little sewing going on.  I did fix the crossword puzzle quilt and press the backing for it.  Making the backing is on the schedule for this week.  I also sandwiched the mystery quilt, so I get to count the backing for that.

Fabric Added Last Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 90.019 yards

Fabric Used Last Week: .847 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 115.862 yards

Net Used for 2011: 25.843 yards

To see if anyone else has used their stash this week, check out the links over at Patchwork Times.

Posted in: Stash Busting Report

So That’s How You Spell Kendall

July 22, 2011 11:42 pm ⋅

Now to figure out how close to square the quilt top is and get it quilted!

Posted in: crossword

What’s on my Design Wall

July 18, 2011 12:20 am ⋅

As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve been piecing.  In fact I finished piecing the project Saturday evening and started quilting it yesterday.  But it’s a mystery quilt and if I show it on my blog it won’t be a mystery.  So, I’m showing you the fabric I used.  The gold is the background, the red the main color and the green the accent.   If you’ve followed my blog, you know I’m a scrappy kind of gal, but this time, just three fabrics are perfect.

While you are waiting for me to reveal the mystery (it will be a while) check out the links over at Patchwork Times for more inspiration.

Posted in: designwall

Stash Report

July 17, 2011 12:32 am ⋅

It’s been nearly a month since I sat in front of my sewing machine to piece, but Saturday that’s exactly what I did.  I spent the day writing and testing the first draft of a mystery quilt pattern.  Looks like I’ll be sending it off to the 2nd round testers next week.

The fabric came from my stash (yea!) and I have backing fabric as well.  No new fabric was added to the stash.

Fabric Added Last Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 90.019 yards

Fabric Used Last Week: 1.19 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 111.015 yards

Net Used for 2011: 24.996 yards

To see how others are doing with their stash, check out the links over at Patchwork Times.  Then if you have a minute visit  the Quilting Gallery and vote for your 3 favorite quilts by 11:59 PM tonight (Sunday, 7/17).  Mine is Kallikat – a pink Yellow Brick Road with cat silhouettes.

Posted in: Stash Busting Report

Quilting Gallery Contest Entry

July 15, 2011 11:52 am ⋅

Quilting Gallery hosts a weekly quilt contest.  This week’s contest is Quilts for Little Girls.  I entered Kallikats.

I made this quilt for my niece when she was 8.  This was back when I thought every quilt you started needed a known destination.   Two or three days before I attended the Missouri State Quilt Guild quilt show, I called Kalli and asked her what her favorite colors were.  The conversation went something like this:

Me:  What’s your favorite color?

K:  Pink.

Me: What other colors do you like?

K: Hot Pink.

Me:  Any other colors?

K: No.

Me:  Ok, what types of things do you like?

K:  Kitties

Me:  Anything else?

K:  Girly things

So off to the show I went with the intent of picking fabric and a pattern to make my niece a quilt.

The pattern is Yellow Brick Road.  The cat silhouettes are from a Tuxedo Cats. It was in The Quilters’ Magazine – I’m not sure which issue.  If I remember correctly the quilting was pretty basic.  Stitch in the ditch between the blocks, outline the cats and maybe one or two cat outlines and a mouse in the center of the quilt.

In the border I machine satin stitched block letters.  The top border says MEOW MEOW.  The left border says KITTY KITTY, the right border  – PURR PURR and the bottom KALLIKAT — our nickname for Kalli.

My best guess is the quilt finishes at 69: x 96″ based on the pattern and that I added an extra border.  Kalli just got her room redone and the quilt fits in perfectly.

If you would drop over to Quilting Gallery and vote for my quilt — and two others.  They are giving away FQs to the top 3 quilts and I could always use more fabric.

Posted in: Uncategorized