Two UFOs done!

I finished two UFOs today! They are both kid-size, destined to be donation quilts.
I drafted this first one from a photograph of a quilt that I saw in a catalog. The pattern was called "Serengeti", and was easy to make. I love digging through my stash to match up fabrics that play well together.

This 2nd UFO is a string quilt. It was so fun to make & those strings are addicting! I put the red centers on skewed, instead of exactly in the center of each block.
I machine-sewed the binding down on both of these quilts. They'll be donation quilts, and that method is faster and more durable than hand sewing, in my opinion. I'm still getting the hang of it. At first, I attempted to machine-sew down the mitered corners just using pin basting, but it got all twisted and distorted, and really frustrating. Now, I hand-sew just the corners, like I would normally hand-sew binding. Then, when I machine-sew that area, the stitching goes smooth and looks nice. Definitely worth the extra effort!

I also learned, for future quilts, to find a binding
fabric that blends in better with the backing. I had to be really careful to sew the dark blue thread in just the right spot to keep it from showing on the lighter-colored backing fabric. I managed to most of the time, except for a few small areas. I think after the quilt is washed it will look better. Actually it's hard to notice, but I know it's there!






I've had TV on while sewing, listening to the 9-11 programs. The tributes are so moving and bittersweet. So many heroes emerged on such a tramatic day, often sacrificing their own lives. I only hope that if, someday, I find myself in similar situations that I would choose the heroic route.

Louise

UFOs finished to date: 5

It's been a long, long time............

.....since I made a blog post. I'll try to do better!

I intended to use the blog to keep track of UFO progress, and of acquisition & depletion of fabric. Like many quilters, I have a large fabric stash. Every year, fabric designers create more & more beautiful fabric, and I just can't sew fast enough to keep up! My goal, for the rest of this year, is to dispose of (use up or donate) a net of at least 10 yards of fabric per month. I got off to a bad start this month. I visited the sale room at a local quilt store and took these home:


It's about 8.75 yards of fabric. The light color yardage is a good neutral reproduction print and the brownish fabric will make a great antique-looking backing, perhaps for a civil-war or 1890-1900 era quilt. Reproduction fabrics are my weakness!

As for UFOs, well, I only finished 3 so far this year. I've worked on lots and lots of projects, but I lose enthusiasm when it comes to sandwiching and quilting. I have 4 projects that are almost done and I intend to finish them this month.

This is the book I'm currently reading:
Yes, it's a history textbook. And no, I'm not taking a class. I took history years ago in high school & college, but forgot most of it. I just need a refresher class so I don't feel so ignorant about our country's beginnings, and this book is interesting and easy to read, probably high school or freshman college. I bought it at a thrift store, and it's in perfect condition, likely never read.


I'm trying to read about 25 pages a day, and at over 1,000 pages that will take several months! I'm in no hurry. After this one, I have a college political science textbook to read. I want to be more informed on how all the branches of our government works.

Louise


UFOs YTD - 3
Fabric status beginning 9-1-10 - + 8.75 yds

Decking the halls

I haven't done too much Christmas decorating, as we'll be visiting relatives. Why decorate an empty house? I found this banner at a thrift store a few years back, and I love the retro look! God Jul, I believe, is Swedish and/or Norwegian for Good Yule, or Good Christmas. Since I'm 25% Swedish, I somehow can relate to it. Isn't the cat just too cute??! Below is the bottom half of the banner.

The photo below are some aprons that I've collected over the years, mostly from thrift stores. When Christmas is over, I'll put up some different aprons. The middle one, which isn't specifically Christmas, has feedsack and 1930's/1940's fabrics, and even some older fabrics in the waistband. Maybe I'll replicate it someday....it is just made up of squares and bound with rick-rack.

Shopping thrift stores for these types of things has a few advantages: First of all, there are real bargains. In addition, you can find some really unique things. You won't find Scandinavian banners or vintage aprons at Walmart! These kinds of things have real character. Third, trolling Thrift Stores is cheap entertainment, at least for me. You just never know what you'll find. It's downright addicting!

Louise

Carolina Christmas taking shape

This is step #5 from Bonnie Hunter's mystery, Carolina Christmas. http://quiltville.com/carolinachristmas5.shtml

The top photo is the block Fox and Geese, and the bottom one is Poinsettia Star. I'd prefer more contrast with the Fox and Geese blocks, but I'll wait and see how Bonnie put them all together. If mine looks too "muddy" because of inadequate contrast, I may consider making two smaller quilts, perhaps adding sashing to create more definition.

I do like the vintage and snuggly feel of the colors, however.

Louise

Carolina Christmas, part #3

I've been working on part #3 of Bonnie's Caroline Christmas. There are lots and lots of units like these, and I can't wait to finish them all so I can look at part #4! I originally planned to use a medium blue for the center part, but there just wasn't enough contrast between that blue and the red, so I found some light blue shirts. I like these much better! I can't wait to see how it all comes together!

While looking in my bins for the right shirts, I realized I have more than enough shirts for now! I'm still going to look for black (or dark indigo) shirts and orange shirts, however. I saw a photo of an antique quilt using this combination and it was very striking! I'm thinking of a future Halloween quilt, with an antique feel!

Louise

Carolina Christmas, step #1 and #2

I've been working on Bonnie's Carolina Christmas. I'm using light neutrals where Bonnie is using gold and I got brave (or impulsive), and decided on using red as my background. I love the look of antique quilts that have a red background, and that's my inspiration. Once I got going, I didn't see much contrast between the red and the green, but as the smaller units turned into bigger units, the look of the subtle contrast grew on me. I'm really curious how this will turn out! I'm using green for Bonnie's green, and blue for Bonnie's red. The photo shows step #1 and the finished product of step #2.

Well, more sewing to do to get ready for step #3!

Louise

Carolina Christmas

Bonnie Hunter is starting her new mystery, Carolina Christmas, tomorrow. Do I really need to start a new project? Of course not. But, Bonnie's mysteries are fun and I want to participate.

I've challenged myself to use only recycled clothing for this project, except for the batting. For several months now, I've been picking up 100% cotton clothing from thrift stores really cheap, mostly from their clearance sales or from bag sales. I now have a few bins full of clothes, so I really need to do something to pare down my supply!

Below are my choices...red, blue, green and a light neutral. My cat approves, too! I don't know how I'll position each color yet. I'm so tired right now after hours cooking Thanksgiving dinner, but tomorrow my only plans are to start on this quilt.

I'm looking forward to giving myself a mini-retreat and getting some sewing done. Does anyone else feel guilty and selfish if they sew all day? I do sometimes and don't know why. I think if I got more UFOs done I'd feel better about starting a new project. Heck, I'm just going to have fun tomorrow playing with fabric!

Louise