Stash Report: All Low Volume, All the Time

Interestingly, my "low volume" addiction isn't lessening at all. Even though I have a pretty good stash of low volume fabrics, every time I see a lv bundle, I just have to buy it!

I guess I could have worse addictions.

This bundle is from The Intrepid Thread. They're all Art Gallery, whose fabrics I think have the smoothest hand in the quilt fabric world.

Two of the prints are so fun, I had to pull them out for an individual photo. First, Belles Parisiennes from the Cherie collection by Frances Newcombe.

 And Jungle Avenue by Sara Lawson.

This is my "personally curated" bundle from Bobbie Lou's Fabric Factory.

Here is "Word Up" from Pink Castle Fabrics.

My 2015 "treat" is the Low Volume Club from Sew Lux Fabric. A sweet little bundle like this, every month? Yes, please!

Looks like I'm going to have to plan another low volume quilt!


From the desk of your

600 Posts Giveaway Winner

I'll share some Stash enhancement with you later today. But, just so you don't have to wait, here is the winner of the 600 Posts Celebration Giveaway.

There were 173 comments on this giveaway! That does include several where I replied to comments on the blog, because the comments were from "no reply commenters." Thank you, no reply commenters who included your email address!  I tried to hunt down everyone who commented. I answered via Google+, I searched on blogs for email addresses (surprising how many bloggers have no way to contact them posted on their blogs!) and finally, I answered via comments on my own blog.

In the end, the pink random number generator chose:

Which is Becky H, who wrote:

I think a bargello quilt is an excellent idea for this bundle of strips, Becky! Please send me you postal address and I'll ship off the strips, plus some other goodies I've collected for you.  

As soon as I dig out of the 10" of snow that fell yesterday!


From the desk of your

A (Belated) Friday Finish

I can't believe I never posted the February Jelly Roll Party quilt!

Or the March one, but that can wait. For now, here is "Twirl," pattern by Fig Tree & Co.

Wow, not the best photo!  Here is the one from the pattern cover at Fig Tree & Co. so you can see the whole quilt!

The fabric I used was also from Fig Tree, "Somerset." Here is a look at the fabrics in the collection:

(Photo lifted from Missouriquiltco.com)

The stems on the leaves are applique'd. I didn't realize that until I started sewing the quilt (four days before the sample was due!). So I used Wonder Under and raw edge applique'd them in place. While the quilt was hanging above the register counter at Ruth's Stitchery, it wasn't even possible to see my sloppy applique' job!

The fabric were so pretty, more than one "partier" used the same jelly roll for her quilt. I quilted it on my Viking Mega Quilter using my favorite "loops and swirls" pattern.

Remember to comment on Tuesday's post for a chance to win 

my 600 Posts giveaway!

From the desk of your

Thursdays are for Knitting

I'm ahead on my "52 Hats for Sailors" goal, so I joined a KAL at Serendipity Yarns in Buena Vista. And I cast on for another shawl!

Depending on which weather forecaster you believe, Colorado Springs will receive from 8 to 20 inches (that's 22 to 55 cm for my Australian readers) of snow this weekend.  Eeeek! Knitting weather for sure!

Before I show you the photos of my "beginnings," here is a "finish." This is hat #19 of my 52  Hats for Sailors project. The pattern is Noctilucent Cloud by Kate Agner, and the red yarn is Cascade Yarns Superwash Aran. The variegated yarn is a one-off from Colorful Yarns by the Mineville Yarn Project. A fun, and fast, knit!

I'm trying to make more "XL" hats for Sailors. Both my DH and My Little Sailor wear large-sized hats, so I figure there must be a lot of XL heads in the Navy!

My first "cast on" project is the Brickless Shawlette. I fell in love with this yarn at Ewe & Me. It's "Yowza" by Miss Babs. The colorway is "Perfectly Wreckless," a Babette colorway. "Babettes are one-of-a-kind, unrepeatable colorways. Several knitters chose the same colorway when Deb received the order from Miss Babs, and it's amazing how different each giant (560 yards!) skein looks.

Two weekends ago, when the weather was springlike, the DH and I took BlackJack for a run across the mountains to Buena Vista. I visited Serendipity Yarn and Gifts while he went for a 6-mile run up Cottonwood Pass. Sheryl announced the next KAL, the Multnomah Shawl. The designated yarn is a new one, Uluru, from Queensland Yarn. I've managed to lose the label, so I'm not sure which colorway I chose -- but it's turning out to be gorgeous!

[Note: Thanks, Sheryl, for letting me know I purchased Color 19, Spring Lilac. Isn't it gorgeous?]

Although this yarn looks like mohair, it's made from cotton, acrylic and polyester. I love mohair, but I go nuts itching when I wear it. I'm hoping this will be wearable for me. If it's not, it can go into the Christmas-gifts box!

Remember to comment on Tuesday's post for a chance to win 

my 600 Posts giveaway!

From the desk of your

WIP Wednesday: Contemporary Twist

The sub-heading for this post should read "and a lesson learned!"

Can you see why? The lower left seam  doesn't line up. It's not that I cut the dark purple too short. The fabric shrank when I pressed it using steam!

I love the colors in this fabric (American Made Brand) so much I bought a half-yard of every color in the collection (thanks, Nancy, for all that cutting!) at Ruth's Stitchery. Now, I've said many times I'm a "don't pre-wash" quilter. On the rare occasion I do pre-wash, it's because someone reported a problem with the colors running.

But I've never had a cotton fabric shrink this much! That's nearly 1/4" shrinkage on a 7 1/2" strip! I'm glad I always make a sample block before I cut the fabric for the entire quilt. I'll wash the rest of the fabric before I cut it.

BTW, the pattern is "Twist" by Beth Lohnquist at Ruth's Stitchery. It's for the "Contemporary Quilts" class.

Have you commented on yesterday's post for a chance to win 
my 600 Posts giveaway?


From the desk of your

Celebrate! 600 Posts Giveaway

While the "Grow Your Blog" party was underway, 52 Quilts published post #600. I didn't want to compete with the GYB giveaway, so I waited until this week to kick off the celebration.

Oddly enough, I don't seem to have observed the milestones of 100, 200, or 300, or 500  posts. Only 400 and 500! The very first post was published on November 21, 2011. I remember being so excited when we reached 50 followers. Now, 52 Quilts has more than 700 followers on Bloglovin' and the same via Google. I have no way to verify how many follow by email -- but that's a lot of readers, huh?

Thank you!

I appreciate you, each and every one. And to say "thank you" I think there should be a giveaway, don't you? How about this?

It's a Timeless Treasures "Tonga Treats" package of 40 strips in the colorway "Java Flame."  Plus some additional goodies that will be a surprise.

Want to win? All you have to do is:

1. Comment on this blog post. Tell me how you would use this Tonga Treats pack.
2. If you're a no-reply blogger, please include contact info. If I can't find you, I can't send you the prize.
3. My blog is set not to allow anonymous comments so that the robots cannot find me. If you do not have an ID, you can still enter by email at the address listed under "About Aunt Marti" in the right-hand column of this page and I will post your comment for you so you have a chance to win. 
4. International entries welcome, of course!
5. Giveaway ends Saturday, February 21 at midnight Mountain Standard Time. The winner will be announced on Sunday, February 22.

600 posts! It's been a fun ride -- thank you for coming along!

From the desk of your

Grow Your Blog: We have a Winner!

Thank you, Vicki at 2 Bags Full, for hosting this year's "Grow Your Blog" party.  

More than 400 bloggers participated, and 52 Quilts received 179 comments on the giveaway!

For my giveaway this year, I have seven of Miss Rosie's "Schnibbles" patterns plus two charm packs of Bonnie & Camille's Vintage Modern to give away. 

I used a random number generator to choose the winning comment:

The winner is Helen, who wrote:

I am a recently retired (yea!!!) quilter and I sew and crochet. My quilts are more traditional and practical as I make 10-20 charity quilts a year for the Pediatric Infusion Therapy Unit (kids chemo) at Mayo Clinic/St. Mary's Hospital when I go there for my own follow-up visits.

Congratulations, Helen! 

I've send you an email asking for your postal address. 

From the desk of your