Stash Report

October 4, 2015 12:45 am ⋅ Pam

One trip to the quilt shop, plenty of money dropped, and no fabric added to my stash! Just bought batting and thread. I picked up a cone of Cairo-quilt in Military Gold — it’s nearly a perfect match for my Coats Camel thread with the added bonus of not having any trouble using it on the long arm. I have enough batting to get through all of the original Crazy Challenge II quilts, but I think I’ll need more for the extra quilts which were added to the list.

This week I’m counting the backing, binding and pillowcases from Diamond Links. That’s just over 8 yards of fabric used.

Fabric Added Since Last Report 0 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 193.198 yards

Fabric Used Since Last Report: 8.091 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 103.878 yards

INCREASE in Stash to Date: 89.26 yards — I wonder if I can get this # down to 50 yards before the end of the year?

See how others are doing over at Patchwork Times.

Posted in: Stash Busting Report

September Recap / October Goals

October 2, 2015 9:01 am ⋅ Pam

September was a very productive month for me. Crazy Challenge II seems to have gotten me going.

Over the month I pieced 3 quilt backs. They are for the Green Disappearing 9-Patch, Aiming for Accuracy, and Nifty Thrifty.

Seven pillowcases were made – I still need to make the one to go with Nifty Thrifty.

And I finished 4 quilts – Out of the Blue, the Orange Disappearing 9-Patch, Nifty Thrifty and Diamond Links.

For the block count over at Prairie Moon Quilts, I’m counting 20 blocks which went into the Aiming for Accuracy backing. That brings my block total for the year to 584.

Now for the UFO Busting Report. I’ve dropped below 60 UFOs!

Projects In Process September 1 – 63
Projects Completed – 5 (I’m counting the extra pillowcases I sent w/Out of the Blue as a project)
New Projects started – 1
UFOs re-purposed – 0
Projects in Process September 30 – 59

So, what’s on tap for October?

Piece the last shirting back
Complete SBS swap block quilt
Complete Orange Crush*
Complete Aiming for Accuracy*
Complete at least one Disappearing 9-Patch

Bonus: Complete Sew Scrappy top, 2nd Disappearing 9-Patch, Compass Lone Star or Green & Cream Swap

*The Pink & Brown quilt and the Black & White Strip Twist might be substituted if they are needed in early November, pushing the listed two quilts out to November.

Posted in: 2015 -350 Blocks, Challenges, goals, UFO Busting - 2015

Diamond Links

October 1, 2015 5:27 pm ⋅ Pam

Diamond Links was the 2007 Mystery Quilt on the Yahoo! Group apocketfullofmysteries owned by Dorothy Young. It’s been a top so long and I’ve gone through a couple of computers I’m not sure I even have the pattern any more. Unlike more recent mysteries where I pull from my stash, most, if not all of the fabric was purchased specifically for this quilt.

A couple of people have commented on the border fabric. It is Pattern # BTR-4407 from Blank Quilting with a copyright of 2006. The pillowcase fabric is Masquerade IV by fresh designs for Henry Glass & Co. Pattern # 9246. I bought it while back as well.

I rented time on a long arm back in January 2013, but ran into some issues and brought the quilt home. Where it sat and sat and sat. It hit the Crazy Challenge II list as a wedding gift so I needed to get it done. I finished the quilting on my DSM, the used ‘Susie’s Magic Binding’ to quickly bind the quilt.

The quilt also has a bit of ‘back art’

and of course pillowcases.

A couple of notes on the pictures. Turns out there wasn’t a good place to prevent shadows. I guess I’ve got to get out earlier in the day for shadow free pictures. Cropped out of the first picture, but visible in the second is the temporary hanging sleeve — I simply pinned it on for the pictures.

Top Started: January 2007
Top Completed: 3/18/2007
Quilting Started: January 2012
Quilt Completed: 9/30/2015
Batting: Warm & Natural
Thread: Superior Threads King Tut #40/3 Color # 978 “Rosetta Stone” on the top and Black Bottom Line in the bobbin
Measures 74″ x 91″ after washing

This quilt is on my list for the 3rd Quarter Finish Along – but only because I included everything on the list. I’m sending it to Aunt Marti for the UFO Parade, but since I didn’t get the picture until after 5 it will be in next month’s parade. It’s also being sent in for the 2015 UFO Busting over at Field Trips in Fiber. It is part of my Crazy Challenge II which started August 15th.

Posted in: Challenges, diamond links, Finish-A-Long - 2015, UFO Busting - 2015, UFO Parade - 2015

Getting Ahead of Myself

September 29, 2015 10:00 pm ⋅ Pam

Diamond Links still needs binding (it’s made!), but I pulled out my Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler Swap top as it is part of the Crazy Challenge II and needs to be done by the end of October. Fortunately I have the backing already seamed, binding is made (although I’m having second thoughts) and have picked a thread (or maybe not). All that is left is for me to get batting and start the quilting.

The quilting gets me every time. I really shouldn’t say “every” as sometimes, I know exactly how I’m going to quilt a top. But I’m stymied on this one. Continue curves in the chain and either feathers or a cable in the borders depending on whether I quilt it on my DSM with my walking foot or rent time on the long arm. But the pieced blocks – I have no idea. I hope someone comments either here or on my Facebook post that triggers an idea so I’m not trying to get this done at the last-minute.

Now I’m off to finish up Diamond Links.

Posted in: Challenges, SBS

Quilt Cabinet

September 28, 2015 10:29 pm ⋅ Pam

As many quilts as I have given away, I have numerous quilts that I’ve kept. We keep them on the top shelf of the hall closet and it is nearly impossible for me to put them up or pull them down. So, I’ve been looking for something accessible for me to store them in. Oh, but I have to keep in mind, I really don’t have any place to put another piece of furniture.

Well, all of that changed this morning. I’ve been keeping my eye on Craigslist looking for an affordable pie safe and a few weeks ago I saw a stereo cabinet on the free list. I was too late, but I added that to the things I was looking for. This morning I spotted this cabinet about 40 minutes after it was posted, and sent the link to my husband. Turns out he had spotted it and had already heard back from the guy when I sent the link to him.

I was worried about the dark glass, but I think it’s going to be just fine. Now, to gather up a few more quilts to put in the cabinet.

Posted in: Uncategorized

What’s On My Design Wall

September 28, 2015 1:56 am ⋅ Pam

Not really my design wall, but it’s what I finished up after watching the eclipse last night. This is Diamond Links and the quilting is complete. So, up next is binding. Since it’s been a couple of years since I started the quilting, I have no idea what I was planning on using for the binding, but I’ve decided to do use the red inner border fabric as a faux piping and the border fabric as the binding.

Here are a couple of the pics I took of the moon last night.

Don’t forget to check out the links over at Patchwork Times.

Posted in: Challenges, designwall, diamond links

Nifty Thrifty

September 27, 2015 3:16 pm ⋅ Pam

Nifty Thrifty is a Bonnie Hunter pattern found in her book Scraps and Shirttails.

Quilt Statistics:

Top Started: 3/3/13
Top Completed: 7/19/13
Quilt Completed: 9/21/15
Recycled Fabric Used: 12.181 yards – front, back and binding
Batting: Hobbs Tuscany 100% Unbleached Cotton & Bleached Cotton
Thread: Coats Machine Quilting 100% cotton 30wt. Article V34 color 309A – Camel
Measures 69″ x 78″ after washing

This quilt is on my list for the 3rd Quarter Finish Along – but only because I included everything on the the list. I’m sending it to Aunt Marti for the UFO Parade. It’s also being sent in for the 2015 UFO Busting over at Field Trips in Fiber. It is of course part of the scope creep for my Crazy Challenge II which started August 15th.

Posted in: Bonnie Hunter, Challenges, Finish-A-Long - 2015, Nifty Thrifty, UFO Busting - 2015, UFO Parade - 2015

Stash Report

September 27, 2015 6:30 am ⋅ Pam

This week I made 5 pillowcases (these plus the one above) and bound a quilt — didn’t quite use enough fabric to break even with what I brought home from my sister’s, but close.

Fabric Added Since Last Report 7.333 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 193.198 yards

Fabric Used Since Last Report: 6 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 95.787 yards

INCREASE in Stash to Date: 97.351 yards

See how others are doing over at Patchwork Times.

Posted in: Stash Busting Report

Orange is the Ultimate Favorite Color

September 26, 2015 11:16 am ⋅ Pam

I gave this Disappearing 9-Patch the name “Orange is the Ultimate Favorite Color” as that is what my nephew is fond of saying. When asked, he says “I have 2 favorite colors, red and yellow, which make orange, which is my ultimate favorite color.” The quilting is simple – diagonal lines.

Quilt Statistics:

Top Started: 5/19/15
Top Completed: 6/5/15
Quilt Completed: 9/5/15
Recycled Fabric Used: 8.7 yards (front & back)
Purchased Fabric Used: .968 (orange)
Batting: Hobbs Tuscany 100% Unbleached Cotton
Thread: Coats Machine Quilting 100% cotton 30wt. Article V3 color 880 – Autumn
Machine Quilted on my DSM
Measures 62″ x 77″ after washing

This quilt is on my list for the 3rd Quarter Finish Along. I’m sending it to Aunt Marti for the UFO Parade. It’s also being sent in for the 2015 UFO Busting over at Field Trips in Fiber. It is one of the original quilts on my Crazy Challenge II which started August 15th.

Posted in: Challenges, DP9, Finish-A-Long - 2015, UFO Busting - 2015, UFO Parade - 2015

Out of the Blue

September 25, 2015 6:50 pm ⋅ Pam

The top for Out of the Blue came about a few years ago as a desire to get my orphan block box closed. A few weeks ago I was asked if I had something I could quilt quickly for a 7-year-old girl and immediately thought of Out of the Blue.

I finished the quilting on it and got it bound last week, but it still needed a label, threads trimmed, washing and the pillowcases for the girl’s siblings made. Now that all of that is done, I have a good picture of the quilt.

Quilt Statistics:

Top Started: 7/19/13
Top Completed: 8/3/13
Quilt Completed: 9/17/15
Yardage Used in Top and Binding – other than Orphan Blocks: 1.825 yards
Yardage Used for the Backing – 2.667 yards
Batting: The same batting I used in Dancing Flowers — I’m not sure what it is other than a black batting.
Thread: Superior Threads Omni Thread in Green Turquoise # 3092 top and bobbin
Measures 45-1/2″ x 58-1/2″ after washing

This quilt is on my list for the 3rd Quarter Finish Along – but only because I gave in and listed EVERY UFO. I’m sending it to Aunt Marti for the UFO Parade. It’s also being sent in for the 2015 UFO Busting over at Field Trips in Fiber. It is of course part of the scope creep for my Crazy Challenge II which started August 15th.