First 13 in 2013 UFO Parade

Wheee!  Look how many finished quilts were accomplished in January!  Our "number" for January was Quilt #5.  But before I start the parade, let me draw a number for the February UFO.  For this short month, we will work on UFO

#4

Here is my #4 UFO, an oldie from the 2006 Thangles Buck-a-Block series:

I have nine of the twelve blocks made, so this should be a pretty quick finish.

And now:

In no particular order, here are the finished projects.  Remember, you decided what is finished for your project -- whether it be pieced, quilted, bound, or not even a quilt at all, you are in command!

First up, and I think the first reported finish, Debbi tied this excellent example of curved piecing:

Deb totally wins the "longest held UFO" prize.  She reports she started this variation of "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul" in the 1970s!

Next, Sooli's "Blooming Aussies" blogged here:

#3 is by a Fellow Quilt Camper from Idaho:

Deb started this beauty in 2002 as one of her first quilting projects.  Minnesota Ladyslippers -- see blog post here.

Sandi at KwiltnKats finished her Easy Street Mystery!  She made a few changes, read her blog post here.

Karen finished this gorgeous Bonnie Hunter "Patches and Pinwheels."  It's a free pattern, so if you love it as much as I do, you can make one, too!

I have to post two photos of Elizabeth's masterpiece. She made this for her parents -- wow!  Here is what Elizabeth wrote about this "Labor of Love":

This is the "Christmas Beast" that I made for my parents. I purchased the material and started in August 2011 and finished and delivered it January 27, 2013. This was definitely a labour of love with lots of learning a long the way. This is only my fourth quilt that I have ever made but I feel like I've gained huge skill through this experience. I'm showing the top plus the back so you can get a sense of the detailed quilting I did on it.

Just look at the quilting on this beauty! Additional details at her blog post, here.

Nurse Jessi has been busy this month!  Look at this incredible Hexie project she calls "Hexies out the Wahzoo!"  This isn't her only project this month, go to her blog and see what else she has been up to.

Here is another "Easy Street," this one from Debra:

Debra apologizes for not being able to get the whole quilt in the photo -- it's just too big.  Right on, Deb!

My Best Blogging Buddy, Susan, from Australia, completed this adorable turtle pincushion from fellow Aussie, Anni Downs:

Click on the photo so you can see the detail of the fabrics Susan used.  Or go to her blog post, here.

Every challenge has to have an over-achiever.  Lynette completed not only her #5 UFO, but her "bonus UFO," #13 as well!

First, Marissa's Moment of Caprice:

Here is what Lynette says about this quilt:

The most work-intensive:  Marissa's Moment of Caprice, started summer of 2010. It's twin-size, a personal design, and free-motion quilted on a domestic machine. The heart flowers are yo-yo's sewn on upside down with a little fiberfill in them. The pinwheels have opalescent buttons in their centers, and I quilted secret messages for my daughter on each side. It's blogged here.  

And, "Heather's Synergistic Windmills," begun in 2009 and worked on "in fits and starts" since.  Blogged here.

Irene finished this beauty -- I'm pretty sure that is hand quilting in the border!  The purple rectangles are to hold photos.  Won't this be something when she gets the photos inserted?

Look at this!  Just under the wire, Elizabeth of More than a Mom sent me a photo of her second UFO finish for January.  Be sure to go to her blog post here to see how she uses this very cool messenger bag.

And last, but not least, a colorful Irish Chain from friend Carol in Idaho (via Airzona).  I can't wait to see how this one is quilted!

Thanks for coming by to see all the January UFOs, and thank you especially to everyone who played along.  Next month, I hope to have a better system for keeping track of all your submissions.  I sure hope I didn't miss anyone, but if I did, let me know please and I'll update the post!  I'll be away at Quilt Retreat this weekend, so I'll announce the giveaway winner from among all the finishers on Monday.



From the desk of your

WIP Wednesday

Are you keeping up with your Blocks of the Month?  The only one I am doing well with is the 2012 Designer Mystery Block of the Month from Fat Quarter Shop.  We're up to Block 8.  This month's block was designed by Bonnie Olaveson and Camille Roskelley, who also designed the fabrics for this year's quilt.

Someone will point out to me that the center of my block is reversed, but I doubt it will be noticeable in the finished quilt.

I've finally completed all the blocks for my version of the Quiltmaker's Scrap Squad quilt.  The March/April issue of the magazine should be on newsstands soon, so you can see the original quilt that is our inspiration.  Or go to the Quiltmaker blog, Quilty Pleasures.  We're making scrappy versions of Monique Dillard's Majestic Garden.  Mine uses scraps from an old Moda University project, "Chocolat."

I don't dare start another project until this one is complete.  My deadline is February 22!

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

And BOM Rehab at Pink Pincushion: 

Is your January UFO complete?  Send me an email with a photo and description of your project to AuntMarti [at] 52Quilts [dot] com by tomorrow so you can be in the parade!

From the desk of your

Tuesday Tool: Spinning Triangles

I'm shocked (shocked, I say!) to realize it has been more than one month since I've posted a "Tuesday Tool." Isn't it about time to learn something new?

How about a new template?  This one is called "Spinning Triangles," and it comes from Nancy Zieman at Nancy's Notions.  I took some classes from Nancy 25 years ago (!) at the Northwest Sewing Expo in Puyallup, Washington.  She is an excellent and gracious teacher, she never gets impatient when students ask stupid questions.  (Ask me how I know this.)

Here is one of the blocks made with this template:

To make the Wind Farm block, cut strips from three different fabrics.  Nancy recommends stabilizing the fabrics by using spray starch or Best Press.  Sew them together with the narrowest strip in the middle:

The template is labeled to position it over the strip strata:

There is some waste with this method -- but you can donate the waste fabric to someone who makes pillows for cats at the humane society!

I find it a lot easier to cut odd-shaped templates if I use my rotating cutting mat.  Buy one when it's on sale at JoAnn, and you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

For each "Wind Farm" block, you'll need four triangles.

To make a perfect center, "stab" a pin through both layers of fabric exactly through the center of the seam.  Leave this pin inserted vertically, it's only to match the seams, not to hold the layers together:

Next, insert a pin on the seam allowance either side of the vertical pin:

Remove the vertical pin and stitch the seam.  Remove the other pins just before you get to them -- I try to catch the seam allowance in my machine needle before I remove the pins.

And see?  Perfectly matching seams!

Press (don't iron) the block.  Be generous with the  Best Press, and remember, the outside edges are on the bias.  A newish quilter I met last week wondered about the difference between "pressing" and "ironing."  I prefer to say "press," don't "scrub."  In other words, it's OK to move your iron around a little, but don't lean hard on the iron and "scrub" it back and forth over your project.  That way madness lies -- or at least, misshapen blocks!

The Spinning Triangles template comes with directions for four projects and three different styles of blocks. Unfortunately, it makes only one size of block (10" finished).  But 10" is the perfect size if you need a row of blocks that finishes at 40"!

New snow in Colorado today -- a good day to stay inside and quilt, doncha think?

From the desk of your

Sunday is for (QOV) Scraps

Today was "Quilts of Valor" day at Ruth's Stitchery.  My project was  a "Strip Club" pattern from Cozy Quilt Designs, "Stars from Stripes."

I had a hard time figuring out the directions, but with Beth's help, I completed all the pieces for my blocks:

I only have room on my design wall for three blocks, the top of the design wall is filled with my Scrap Squad project::

Only three more rows, plus borders, to go!

Mitzi is making a lovely QOV quilt, and I hope she'll join the Jelly Roll Party on Friday.  Hook 'em Horns!

How progresses your 13 in 2013 UFO?  I'm collecting photos for the UFO parade on Saturday, send yours in as soon as your UFO is complete!

From the desk of your