July Recap

August 1, 2025 3:37 pm ⋅ Pam

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 ⋅ Pam

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 ⋅ Pam

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 ⋅ Pam

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 ⋅ Pam

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 ⋅ Pam

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 ⋅ Pam

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 ⋅ Pam

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

What I’m Working On this Week

July 11, 2025 8:41 am ⋅ Pam

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

July Goals Update

July 7, 2025 12:35 pm ⋅ Pam

It’s only been a week, but I have a few updates on this month’s goals

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
quilt & bind the Auction Quilt Top I bought last year – Its on the frame
finish the mystery quilt clues (the next one is due Monday!) – Monday’s clue is posted (and corrected)
help Ruby put up her design wall (I’ve got to find my other flannel sheet) – Can’t find the sheet so she’s ordered flannel
Keep up with A Vintage Christmas Sampler Quilt A Long.
Decide where I’m going to hang the framed backing.
Finish the prep work for the Wonky Tree class.
Complete the Cascades quilt top. Bonus if I get it quilted and bound

Additional goals

Complete the Sheryl top
Make Hummingbird Napkins
Cut RWB Napkins
Cut Strips for RWB Jelly Roll Rug -DONE I cut 21 half yard cuts.. The large rolls have 2 of each fabric and small roll just has one.