Friday, November 6, 2015

TGIFF: Jelly Roll Party

Because I've been in Texas, I've missed a few Jelly Roll Parties at Ruth's Stitchery. I'm excited to see my stripper friends this afternoon!

The latest "Jelly Roll Finish" is "No-Measure Bargello" from Cozy Quilts.


I used a Moda jelly roll, "Lakeside Gatherings" and yardage to make my version. The only modification I made was to make a narrow third border rather than the flange called for in the pattern. I knew a loose flange would annoy my long-armer, as it would require stopping and starting the quilting so as not to stitch down the flange. We must keep our long-armer happy!


CJ quilted a lovely loose paisley design. 


I used the dark anchors yardage for the backing, and inserted a leftover bargello strip to add a little interest:


The methodology for this pattern makes cutting the bargello strips a lot easier. But fair warning: there is a LOT of stitching required for this one!

Today we choose patterns for the 2016 Jelly Roll Party. What's your favorite jelly roll pattern?


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Thursdays are for Knitting: Hats for Sailors Send-off

My knitting goal for 2015 was to knit 52 Hats for Sailors.



So what exactly is "Hats for Sailors?"
The Hat for Sailors' mission is to provide deployed Sailors of the US Navy and the Coast Guard with handmade 100% washable wool hats made by loving volunteers from around the world. These beautiful hats are delivered in time for the December holidays, a bit of warm love and thanks to those who unselfishly take time away from their families to serve our Country.

Each year we select one or more ships to receive the hats we've knit that year. In 2014, we knit more than 500 hats! 


Well, I did it!



On Monday, I mailed 55 hats (52 knit by me and 3 by friend CJ) to Sandra to forward to the ship selected to receive hats this year.

I printed a little label on business card stock to attach to each hat. It reads:
Thank you  for your service to our country.
You are remembered and appreciated
by someone in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Here are close-ups of the last few hats I made:




This one is modeled by my friend who just returned from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan. Yes, I knit a hat for her, too!


And just in case you're thinking I've used up all my yarn knitting all those hats -- here is the haul I collected on the "Best Little Yarn Crawl in Texas" last month:


If you're a knitter or crocheter, I hope you'll consider making a hat for a Sailor. Go here for the details. If you're on Ravelry, my user name is AuntMarti. You can read the pattern and yarn info on my project page.

Fair winds and following seas, Sailors!




From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Monday, November 2, 2015

Design Wall Monday: Block a Day

This season's "A Quilt Block a Day" is "Flying Birds." The tutorial is here.

November 1 was the 40th day  of Autumn. I thought I was caught up, but when I placed the blocks on my design wall, I realised I am short eight blocks.




It only took two hours to make eight blocks, so I should be caught up by tomorrow!

Post your "Block a Day" blocks on the Facebook page, "A Quilt Block a Day."



From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Sunday, November 1, 2015

November UFO Parade: Just One More!

It's time for the second-to-last UFO Parade of 2015. We've enjoyed some great "finishes" this year, and October was no exception.

But first, the number to work on during November:


And, just in case you're planning ahead, the last number of 2015 is:


And now for the parade!

I am in love with this gorgeous "Lady of the Lake" by Sandi. I'll let her tell you about it:
My October #8 UFO is complete (as are all of the remaining 2015 UFOs).  So here's the story on Krystal Kreek.  It is a Bonnie Hunter design called Lady of Lake Erie that was published by Quiltmaker Magazine in the May /June 2011 issue.  I made mine a smaller version.  My sister coined the quilt's name; it is a good one being bright crisp blue fabrics that one could just feel from a rippling creek.  


Go to Sandi's blog, KwiltnKats, to read more. Sandi, that would make a great "A Quilt Block a Day" project!

Thanks also to Sandi who did the needleturn applique' on this lovely sea turtle for Debra of Quilting Pretty Quilts:


My first finish is a Karen Brow, Java House Quilts, Newly Hatched Quilt. It is a wall quilt and I am giving it to my daughter who has a water theme in her house. Sandi Delman (thank you, thank you, thank you) did the needle-turn applique on the baby and I did freezer-turn applique on the mom. I am really happy with the "finished" little wall quilt.

Debra also finished this quilt, using a tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Company:




I really have enjoyed the quilt tutorials by Missouri Quilt Company and the quilt photo is of a disappearing Hunter's Star. Youtube has a wonderful tutorial on how to make the quilt. The finished size that I made is 51 x 71.5 - enough to wrap around yourself and tuck under your feet. This top is being donated to Rosie's Calico Cupboard Camp Reach for the Sky (http://www.rosiescalicocupboard.com/). It is an excellent organization!!! Woot! Woot!


Debra has really made up for lost time this month! Here is finish number three:



The attached photo is of a quilt I found in Primarily Quilts by Di Ford. The quilt is called Oak Alley and measures 65 x 65. I enjoyed every moment in making this quilt. I loved the fabrics, I loved the pattern and I love the way it came together very easily. I have marked quite a few other quilts from the Primarily Quilts book that I hope to make in the very near future. This is my third entry this month. I guess you could say I am making up for lost time. Thanks Aunt Marti for all you do.

And, if you can believe it, here is finish number four!



This will be it for me for the month. My fourth UFO. This is just a fun little quilt I had cut and finally decided to make it into a quilt.  This quilt will be donated to Rosie's Calico Cupboard's Camp Reach for the Sky. The finished size is 45 1/2 x 63 1/2.
Kerry is also a multiple-finisher this month. Here is Bonnie Hunter's "Lady of Lake Erie" in a different colorway. Now I can't decide which one I like best!



Bonnie’s original was made in blue and Cream, I chose to make mine in red and cream. This quilt will be for my mom, once I get the quilting and binding done!


The second one is for one of our grandkids and is from a Planes panel. I pieced all the blocks around it. The pattern came from Aretoy Quilt shop and was designed by Julie Calvario.
Pam has really outdone herself this month. I love her story!

This month there were several finishes. What can I say, mid-August myhusband and I came up my 'Crazy Challenge II" which was to finish 13 quiltbefore the end of the year. As with Crazy Challenge I from several yearsago, the list has expanded.


First up is Diamond Links. This was started as a mystery quilt back in 2007.The top was completely quickly - it was the quilting which took forever.Technically a September finish, I pulled it out of the dryer too late tophotograph it for last month's parade. Yes, that's Susie's Magic Binding.http://pamela.avaraarts.com/diamond-links-3/


My first official finish for October is my Sylvia Bridal Sampler Blue &Brown Swap. The "pieced" blocks were swapped back in 2009 and it took meuntil 2012 to decide on a setting, make the chain blocks and finally get theborder on the quilt. Then it sat. I didn't know how I wanted to quilt it anddidn't know where the quilt was headed. In mid-September this quilt wasadded to the Crazy Challenge II list. I then had to decide how to quilt it.Several thoughts went through my mind, but in the end 'done is better thanperfect' kicked in and I opted for crosshatching. Another quilt with Susie'sMagic Binding. As quick as they are to stitch down (30 minutes on thisquilt) I plan on doing more of these bindings when at all possible.http://pamela.avaraarts.com/sylvias-bridal-sampler-swap-quilt-is-done/




















Next up is the 2013 Aiming for Accuracy. The top was finished timely, but it took 2 years for it to float to the top of the To-Be-Quilted pile. Not having enough yardage to piece the backing from a single fabric, I pulled blocks from my orphan block box to create the backing. In some ways I like the back better than the front!  Yes, Susie's Magic Binding was used. http://pamela.avaraarts.com/aiming-for-accuracy-is-finished/
Here is another finish from Pam in KC, taking time out from watching the Royals in the World Series to finish up a quilt (or four! or five!)


Well, the pic is not the best – but its supposed to be wet all day so I just have the quilt pinned to the shelves which always distorts the quilt. This is Orange Crush – the Bonnie Hunter Mystery from 2008. I hope to have a better picture on my blog next week.
And here is the fifth finish from Pam:



. . . got distracted by the World Series. This is the 2nd of the 3 Disappearing 9-Patches I'm making for my nephews. One more to go.

Sue writes, "I can't understand where the year is disappearing to!" My sympathies, Sue, I have the same feeling!
But she managed to put together this clever quilt with string blocks:



I've have blogged about it here. http://quiltybitsandbobs.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/a-ufo-update.html
I'm beginning to think this year will be a write off from here and start over again in the new year, I can't understand where the year is disappearing to!

It seems to me that I'm not the only "BOM" addict. Nancy finished this pretty BOM, "Wishes" from Fat Quarter Quilts,  She blogs about it at Fabric-Addiction.


Mary J sent in a fun "Black and White and Red All Over" quilt. 


My biggest October finish is attached, and I'll blog about it tomorrow. I'm calling it  "Black and white and red all over". Remember that old joke?  The pattern is "Lemon Pepper" by Madison Cottage Design.  I rarely use patterns, but this one was quick and fun! 
Mary, I have a kit to make that quilt in the original black and white and lemon yellow -- guess I'll add it to the queue for 2016!


And another multi-finisher! Heather sent photos of three finishes -- you're all making me feel like a real slacker!

Heather's first two quilts are both made using directions in Pat Spaeth's book, Nickle Quilts. I urge you to go to Heather's blog, Peachy Pages, for details on "Labor Day Madness." 


Would you believe this quilt is made at the same time? Heather persuaded a friend to make the same quilt, using different fabrics. Then they swapped the duplicate/reverse blocks to have a completely different quilt, "Pinwheel!"


Elizabeth's Prairie Garden is part of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle. That's a lot of hexies, Heather!


Sixteen finishes is darned impressive! 

Looking back at my "2015 UFO Challenge" list, I see that I missed awarding a Parade prize a few times. So this month, there are four winners! Heather, Sandi, Kerry, and Sue -- please send me your mailing addresses. I have a prize for you!

Only one more parade in 2015 -- let's get finishing!





From the desk of your auntmartisignature