Finishes and more...

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays. We hosted a large celebration yesterday and have been doing a lot of relaxing today.

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My first finish is a basket liner. Our youngest grandson, age 2,  needed a basket/bin for his music stuff. We couldn't find a bin that looked childish so I made a liner to help this one look like his. 

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Have I mentioned that a friend gifted me her stash? Well, she did! I was able to sort through and only keep what I thought I'd use which was quite a bit! So I'll continue working on my  clean-out-this-stash project...  

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The  grandsons that live nearby came to make cookies right before Christmas. For the first time, we also made a gingerbread house. I 'glued' the house together the day before and they did the rest.

I thought I'd have to help but the 9-year-old did most of the frosting with the 7-year-old helping some. Everyone including the 2-year-old decorated and sampled the candy.

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I have a few knitting finishes. The first is a Cabled Winter Headband. I used Cascade Yarns Cash Vero that I found in my stash. Yes, I have a yarn stash too!

The button is cherry wood.

Next is a hat. When I bought the yarn at Knit Circus in Madison, Wisconsin, the girl said it was enough to make an adult hat with the pattern Barley by Tin Can Knits. I tried making a hat but I didn’t have enough yarn. So I found the recommended pattern and began knitting the adult hat but ran out of yarn. Then I made the child's hat and had just enough. I wonder if my skein was the actual length that it was labelled. In any event, our youngest grandson likes his new hat!

And last is a hat that does fit me. The pattern Chunky Gansey Cap by Bonnie Marie Burns is a fast, easy knit. I used Jagger Spun Mousam Falls yarn and love my Gansey Hat.

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One of my Christmas gifts was the Bernina ruler foot and ruler set. I was able to play for a while today.  One of these days, I'll have another finish to share.

Pepto Pink

Pepto Pink is done! This is another donation quilt from my  clean-out-this-stash project. The original quilt made from these prints was for our oldest granddaughter. Then there were a couple more quilts that used some of the fabrics. Of course I kept all of the scraps. By adding some pink and green, I have finally used all of these fabrics.

When I started this quilt and grabbed one piece of pink from my stash, I commented something about Pepto Bismo and the quilt was named. I know many girls that would love this quilt with the pink, the hearts and the flowers.

The back is light pink with white dots. I used Aurifil thread to piece and quilt this quilt. The FMQ motif is 3 large loops like flower petals with echoing.

The binding is from my stash - it had all of the right colors.  The batting is Dream Cotton which is my favorite. The quilt is 49.5" by 49.5"

The quilt has been laundered and I love the texture. I just added it to my donation pile which is small but growing...

First Scrappy Stars Quilt, Mariner's Daughter Socks are done!

I bought this quilt as a kit a number of years ago. The flannels in the kit caught my eye - I loved the colors. So at a retreat this fall, I finally made the top. Now the quilt is finished! The pattern is Kwik Scrappy Star.

It is not very big - just 37" X 45" but very snuggly. The batting is Dream Cotton and the top and back are both flannel. 

I used Aurifil thread to piece and quilt this donation quilt. I attempted to free motion the Jester Hat motif. I'm almost dyslexic with that design - I'm not sure why. Sometimes it looked okay!

While working on my  clean-out-this-stash project, I decide to make another larger quilt with this pattern. The pattern is pieced like Buggy Barn patterns - not my favorite way of piecing but  I liked the outcome. The other quilt is in the pile of 15 waiting to be pinned and quilted. They quietly wait for me which I greatly appreciate!

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I also finished my Mariner's Daughter Socks. I used Ann Budd's Knitting Socks book and am happy with the results. 

The yarn is Lichen and Lace 80/20 sock yarn from New Brunswick. I purchased the yarn at The Mariner's Daughter in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia on our trip last spring/summer.

I am blocking a sweater for Ray and a headband/earwarmer fro me. I'll take pictures when they are done. 

Sailboats are ready to sail...

A finish! The sailboat quilt is done. Another quilt from my clean-out-this-stash project. The sailboats were left from a baby quilt and I just couldn't throw them away. I think that is how my stash got way out of hand - I just can't throw fabric away! I added strips of bright colors and cut some strips to include a sailboat or two or three.

The back is blue with little white flecks. I added a column of bright colors to add interest. 

This donation quilt is 44.5" by 59". I used Dream Cotton batting and Aurifil thread for the piecing and the quilting. I machine quilted waves using a walking foot. The quilt has already been laundered so you can see a bit of those puckers that I love.

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We saw the doctor and we got meds - LOTS of meds. It's taken a while but we are both FINALLY feeling better. A few days ago, we both were able to go a whole day without a nap - long naps like 2 hours or more. We both still have a cough and aren't 100% but we are MUCH better and the doctor says we are no longer contagious. We are not usually sick so this has been unusual for us and it's been off and on for almost 2 months.

Today I walked on the treadmill - my first real exercise in weeks. It felt good but I think it will take a few days to get my endurance back. At least we are on the road back to normal, whatever that is!

Red Lasagna Finished and turtles???

Red Lasagna is finished! It is 57" by 60". I used Aurifil thread and Dream Cotton batting.  I quilted this with a wavy line using a walking foot.

It's another gorgeous day so I had to go outside to photograph this donation quilt. I obviously did not do a good job of spreading it out flat.

The back is a very dark navy with birds. By piecing the backing, it took about a yard less of backing fabric.

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That green quilt is on the design wall again and it has turtles! I think it adds a great kid friendly element and some needed color. I just need to decide on borders. 

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Today is go-see-the-doctor-day. Ray is there now and my turn is coming soon. I'm hoping a little medicine will make all this crud disappear...

Blue with Sunshine is finished!

Another quilt from my clean-out-this-stash project is finished. I added a few yellow strips to this blue jelly roll race quilt. My strips are not all width-of-fabric but I really don't think they need to be. It finished at 56" X 63".

The batting is Dream Cotton. I quilted it with my walking foot and a wavy stitch. 

The back is a light blue. I think you can see the quilting in this photo. The Signature thread is blue variegated.

Yesterday I finished with the blue fabric in my clean-out-this-stash  project. I have either used them or they are cut into 2 1/2" strips (lots!), cut into squares, or put into the string basket. There is a very small pile of usable small pieces. Just so you know, I still have LOTS of blues (and every other color) that I'm not cleaning out.

Since today is Halloween, I decided to work on the oranges. I finished with them this afternoon! 

I'll keep using the strips in quilts - I'm just trying to get the colors under control. I still have a ways to go but I'm making progress and enjoying the whole process.

At the moment, I have 2 quilts pinned and ready to be quilted. Thirteen tops are finished and need to be sandwiched and pinned. I think there are 6 quilts that are cut and need to be sewn. I'm not sure how many finished quilts are in my donation pile.

The new BLOCK magazine arrived today. I think I'll make one of the quilts with some of my 2 1/2" strips. Maybe I can get that kitted one day soon. 

I think Trick-or-Treat is about to begin so I'd better get ready for all of our little ghosts and goblins.

Finishes and many WIPs

I finished a quilt last night and washed it today. It is one of the clean-out-this-stash donation quilts. It's really cute but it doesn't look great on the brown carpet. The middle is flannel including the inner dark blue border.

The quilt is 50" by 43" with Dream Cotton batting. I used Aurifil thread for the piecing and the quilting.

The back is brushed cotton. I quilted this in a new-to-me design that I recently learned. It's large loops in a rather controlled design.

I really am serious about my clean-out-this-stash project. I'm going through fabric and pulling out quilts. It's kind of fun! Here are some WIPs (works-in-progress):

blue and yellow jelly roll race quilt waiting for a binding

red lasagna quilt top

red lasagna with sunlight quilt top

red, white, and blue lasagna quilt top

I think I have 13 quilts or more cut and kitted. There definitely will be more!

Here are some peeks at the design wall as I'm figuring out what I want to do.

sailboat quilt

pink pepto quilt

circus quilt

I hope to have a few more tops sewn together soon - I have a 3 1/2 day retreat next week. 

Today I decided to cut a scrappy Trip Around the World quilt. As I was looking for some strips to sew, I pulled out almost enough blocks-in-progress for the quilt. It is now a kit waiting for attention. 

I'm trying to make easy quilts because I'd like to get them done. I am enjoying this whole process though and I AM MAKING PROGRESS! 

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I also finished a summer sweater - I know it's a little late or maybe very early! I made a sweater early in the summer with the same bamboo yarn. After wearing it, I found that the bamboo has a tendency to stretch. This sweater was already started so I decided to finish it. I probably won't wear either sweater vey much but it's there if I want it.

It's hard to get a good picture of a sweater laying flat!

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This past Tuesday, the 18th, was the 50th anniversary of my 18th birthday. We were gone much of the day but I was able to sew while Ray fixed a delicious dinner. One stop during our day was at my favorite quilt shop. I bought batting but NO fabric! 

Blue Jelly Roll Race with Brights

The first blue jelly roll race quilt is done. There are two - I'm not as fond of the other one (no photos yet) but it will get finished. It needs to be sandwiched and quilted. These are both made from the blue stash that I've been clearing out. 

For this finished quilt, I decided to use only strips that read solid so I had to use some of the shorter strips too. I found some 2 1/2" bright colored squares It's amazing what I find in my studio! and decided to put one in between each strip. 

For the back, I used a bright print that I bought in Sault Set Marie, Ontario, Canada last spring.  The binding is left over pieces from other projects. Am I the only one that saves all of my leftovers so I can use them later?

I used Dream Cotton batting and quilted this in straight lines with my walking foot.

This is a donation quilt and I hope someone finds it bright and cherry.

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I've now attacked my red fabric! I have about 12 yards, mostly fat quarters, that I plan to gift to friends. The rest is cut in 2 1/2" strips, 3 1/2" pieces/strips, strings, and 5" squares. I think I've removed about 25 - 27 yards of red fabric. The good news is that I can now close the red fabric drawer! 

Sorting reds while many blue strips remain on design wall.

I've already kitted one quilt using 5" red squares and 2" red squares with white surrounding them. The next idea is for a Lasagna quilt using the 3 1/2" pieces and strips.

Here are the 3 1/2" strips. I was sorting by fabric - there are MANY!

I have started the Lasagna Quilt. This is similar to a Jelly Roll Race but each row is pieced and then the rows are sewn together. I'm thinking that I have plenty of fabric to do more than one.

I have a large drawer where I have decided to keep my 2 1/2 " strips. At last count there were over 300 strips -  someday I plan to use them! I also have all of the strings in a VERY large basket. The next time my grandsons are here and want to sew, I think we'll work on string blocks. 

I do like organization and I feel that I am slowly regaining control of my stash...

Dinosaur quilt done and more stash busting...

The Dinosaur Flannel Quilt is finished. You may recall that I am trying to clean out some of my stash. Everything used for this quilt is from my stash.

This quilt is 47" square and has Dream Cotton batting. We aren't having great weather so all photos are done inside. I just finished a Craftsy class - The Secrets of Free-Motion Quilting with Christina Cameli so I decided to try out a few of the designs.

The backing is a blue flannel with darker blue dots. The binding is orange cotton. 

I think the binding really helped bring out the colors in this donation quilt.

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I am still in the clean it out - use it up mode. I decided to focus on blue cotton fabric for awhile. I still have lots of flannel. I went through ALL of my blue fabric and chose my least favorites.  I also grabbed most of the smaller pieces which were some of my favorites. My big criteria was that the fabric was blue or blue and white - no other colors. During the process, I found some other cut up pieces and a leader/ender quilt in progress that got hidden away! Oh my!

I pressed the blues and cut most into 2 1/2" strips. There are over 100 WOF strips. There are a few hundred strips that are shorter than WOF - anywhere from 5" to 30" long. Most are well over 20" long. There are some 2" squares, 2 1/2" squares, 4 1/2" squares, 3 1/2" triangles for HSTs, and some circles. And there are many strings - strips that are 1" to 2" wide and varying lengths.

Here is a photo in the midst of my pressing/cutting/sorting.

During all this, I told Ray that I thought my fabric stash was out of control. I asked if he had anything in his life that was so out of control. With a smile, he said yes - his wife!

In all, I've cut up between 19 - 20 yards of blue fabric. The good part is that I can now close both drawers that contain blue fabric! Of course I have a zillion strips to store somewhere.

I think a Jelly Roll Race Quilt is next up - blue, of course, maybe with a little yellow. Yes, I have yellow fabric...

Will this use what you have phase ever end???