It’s time for me to get it into gear. The sewing machine is still in its case and not on the table. On the other hand, I have put the design wall backup and cleared the ironing board. No, I don’t really know what I’ve been doing all week – but clearly not using my sewing machine.
This week it’s batiks. First up is a quilt that I just need to finish stitching the binding on. I made the top back in 2012 – started it in a class. The pattern is Abbey Memories from Turning Twenty book #8 – Stained Glass and Scraps. I quilted it Friday morning and took it to the quilt retreat to work on. The batiks are from Connecting Threads and I’m 99% certain the “leading” and binding is Kona Cotton.
After finishing the pillowcase and tacking down the label on Eeyore, I primarily worked on this batik project. All of these batiks also came from Connecting Threads. I need to press the last corner down then sew on a bright colored strip to either side of the block so far before I can start assembling them into a top. Right now this quilt is called “August C – Batik” a cheat sheet for the block can be found HERE.
So, what’s up for the rest of the week? Finish the binding on Abbey Memories, make and attach the binding to the DWR and make the Alphabet BOM “T” block. Then I’ll go back to work on the new quilt.
Linking up with Patchwork Times today.
The Eeyore quilt is done and delivered!! 2 years 11 weeks after the initial goal — which with my quilting is right on time. It is reversible on the off chance that at some point Eeyore is no longer a favorite character.
The back was cut from my music fabric collection. Sydney not only plays viola and string bass, but is in the Performing Arts program in school.
Now the quilt statistics:
I need to say this UFO was on my lists in the following challenges:
Last week was productive. Didn’t get everything done by Friday morning as I hoped, but got enough done that I was able to get everything done at the retreat that I wanted to.
So, here are the numbers:
Fabric Added Since Last Report: 0.333 yards (someone’s “scraps” at the retreat)
Fabric Added to Date: 147.067 yards
Fabric Used Since Last Report: 8.308 yards (fabric for Sydney, 2 pillowcases, backing & binding for quilt)
Fabric Used to Date: 98.275 yards
Net Increase in Stash to Date: -48.792 yards — Yea, I’m back under the 50 yard mark!
See how others are doing with their stash over at Patchwork Times.
The first pillowcase went together without a hitch (there is no accent band). It goes with the “forgotten quilt” which I can show in early November. The second case? Well I’ll be ripping the seam out. Since I integrate the accent fabric into the cuff so it doesn’t roll up after washing, I have to be careful when I sew the cuff to the body fabric. Clearly I wasn’t paying attention. As soon as I finish the pillowcase, it and the Eeyore quilt go into the wash.
On Design Wall Monday, I listed 4 things which I needed to get done by Friday morning. And by golly I think it’s going to happen.
First, finish Eeyore.
This is the last picture of this quilt until it’s washed. The binding and label are done. I just need to trim the threads on the back and wash it.
Next, cut 320 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ bricks for Sydney’s quilt. It is done and sitting in front of the sewing machine she uses when she visits. I wonder if she’ll be ready for them?
The third thing was to get the quilt I’m sewing on this weekend cut out. Done – well except for the borders, but I’ll deal with those later. I’ve even made the first block.
The final thing on my list is get the quilt on the zippers for the long arm. Well, I haven’t done that yet, but I have pulled it out and now I’m trying to decide on the thread. variegated or Black. My first instinct is to go with the black thread. It will however stand out in the blocks. On the other hand the variegated thread will stand out in the sashing and disappear in the blocks.
Once I get Eeyore in the wash and the quilt on the zippers I’m going to add a 5th thing — prep some leader/enders. I’m thinking I’ll pull down the Sew Scrappy project I’m doing. Lots of 1-1/2″ squares to make into 9-patches and 25-patches.
This week I’ve got 4 things going on — all of which MUST be done by Friday morning.
First up finish binding Eeyore. I’ve got about a foot of the binding attached to the front of the quilt.
Next, cut this pile of fabrics into 320 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ bricks for Syd to use in her new quilt — neither of us are quite ready for her to use the rotary cutter.
Then I need to finish cutting this pile of FQs and yardage for the quilt I plan on working on this weekend.
Finally I need to get this top and the backing on the zippers. I have a date with the longarm Friday morning.
I don’t know if my quilting mojo is back, but all of this stuff simply has to be done.
Check out what others have on their design walls over at Patchwork Times.
Sydney came over and started a new quilt. We got half the fabric cut for her new quilt – 160 2-1/2″ x 8 1/2″ strips. While I had the pink fabric out I cut a few 2″ strips to potentially use in a quilt I’m considering making my niece for graduation. I haven’t committed to the pattern, so those strips will go in to the 2″ strip box and are not counted, nor is the quilt considered started.
On the other hand, I’ve cut 10 of the 17 FQs I purchased back in March for a quilt for my college roommate. At this point I’d like to give a shout out to Bonnie Hunter’s Scrap User System. It took me less time to cut half the fabric for Sydney’s quilt than it has my quilt and I got more of her fabric cut. Anyway, my FQs won’t get counted until I get the quilt top put together. With luck perhaps next week.
I am however counting the fabric I made for the bias binding for the Eeyore quilt. Yes, Eeyore is quilted and just needs to be bound and washed.
So, here are the latest numbers:
Fabric Added Since Last Report: 0 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 146.734 yards
Fabric Used Since Last Report: 2.986 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 89.966 yards
Net Increase in Stash to Date: 56.768 yards
See how others are doing with their stash over at Patchwork Times.
Nada. But as you can see, there are a few things stacked up waiting for me. On the ironing board, top to bottom, a pillowcase, Scrappy Trips & the backing and the DWR waiting for binding. Over by the design wall, Diamond Links, which I need to finish quilting, is sitting on the basket of shirts. Behind the red and white stool is a stack of batting scraps and the second Ladder to the Stars which needs a label and pillowcase.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a quilting funk which has lasted this long and I’m ready to get out of it. So, I am going to finish Eeyore this week! And if I finish it sooner than later I’m going to trace off a few pages of Virginia Bound (if I can find my book!) and pieces a few blocks from the basket of shirt strings under the shelf. Then again I may do something else completely.
Others I’m sure have more interesting design walls — check them out over at Patchwork Times.
This week I’ve got a couple of thing going on. First off, I corrected the Rail Fence and Spools block for the Alphabet BOM. It really didn’t take long once I focused. There are still 7 more blocks, so I’ve been thinking about how I’m going to set 26 blocks. Nearly every plan I do I either have 1 block left over or need a few more. But playing in EQ I may have come up with an idea.
Obviously the Letters are simply place holders and if I go with this plan there is no guarantee the blocks will end up in order.
I’ve not forgotten Eeyore — I’ve got the cable marked on the center border. Now I need to clear the space around the sewing machine so I can finish it up.
Check out the links over at Patchwork Times to see what others are up to this week.
