June UFO Parade

I know of no quilter who doesn't have at least one UFO -- Un-Finished Object. Those of use who have many are striving to finish 12 UFO in 2014. Click here to see how you can play along!

First, the UFO number for July:

My #10 UFO is another Thangles Buck-a-Block project. And I know it's not going to be finished this month, because the DH and I are going on vacation. Good thing those UFOs don't cost anything to keep, huh?

I did finish my May UFO, my Farmer's Wife quilt. I'm waiting to share a photo until it comes back from the long-arm quilter.

However, 52 Quilts followers sent in some incredible finishes for May!

Heather send in her May finish the first week, so she could go on to work on her garden -- "another UFO!"

Read all about it on Heather's blog, Peachy Pages.

One of our newer "finishers," Katie, is going great guns. She tells me this quilt was "started in 1996 by my quilt group the Winters Dam Quilters. I assembled the squares and appliquéd the leaves in each corner. It is all hand quilted. It took me 9 months to hand quilt, working an average of two hours per day."

I have to show you this close-up of Katie's hand quilting:

And look, she used Susie's Magic Binding!

Gorgeous, Katie! I'd love to see this one in person! Maybe while we're on vacation in Idaho?

Ohmygoodness, just look at this beauty by Debra B!

Here's a closeup:

And here is the "back story," in Deb's own words:

My UFO is entitled Dipped in Chocolate and it is by Button Stitch Designs. The blocks are made up of 1.25" strips and then made into 4-patches. The total 4-patch size is 2", if you can believe that. You then put four 4-patches together with a 1.25" sashing between the 4-patches. This then makes a 4.5" block. I have 840 4-patches in this quilt. It is 14 x 15 blocks in size. The total size of this quilt was to be 65 3/4 x 74 3/4 with borders. Mine turned out to be 75 x 84 - I was having such a good time I didn't know when to stop.

Wow! Debra says she has been making large quilts since the first of the year, and thinks it is time for some stitchery work or applique. I agree, Deb!

Donna gets the prize for the cutest photo this month -- here is her grandson with the pillow Donna made him for his birthday:

How fun is that?  Donna writes:

My grandson has been crawling up onto his pillow to go to sleep in his crib. But it was a normal sized bed pillow so he was pretty scrunched up. So for his 2^nd birthday this week, I made him a 24” x 24” pillow with monkey fabric and leftover batting/stuffing.

When he saw all his birthday gifts, he went right over to the pile and grabbed the pillow first saying ‘Pillow!” I refuse to believe he chose that one first because it was the only unwrapped one.

 Hey, Sandi, I think I have this same quilt in my UFO bin:

As you might remember, Sandi's quilt names begin with the letter "K." She had help naming this one:

My sister Karen came up with Koliding Krosses as a name.  Seems appropriate for this design by Cheryl Malkowski (www.cherylmalkowski.com) called Earth and Sea.  It was a free pattern provided by Timeless Treasures in 2009 to introduce new Tonga Batiks.
Here is a link for those who want to see more about Koliding Krosses: 
kwiltnkats: Sunday Stash Report, May 18, 2014

I'm going to look for that one, Sandi, the finished project is inspiring!

Oh man, here is another project that I've also started! Kerry finished her Scrappy Trip Around the World:

This quilt was started in a workshop with Bonnie Hunter a couple of years ago and your UFO challenge was the perfect opportunity to “get it done” The pattern is Scrappy Trip Around the World and is a free pattern on Bonnie’s website. It uses up a lot of 2.5” strips and was made from many leftovers from other projects. Red is my favorite color, so that became the border!

Here is the link to my blog: http://www.kerrysquilting.com/2014/05/sunday-stash-report_18.html

Kerry, I love it!

Doesn't Gill's finish just make you jealous? 

Here's the story, and why it makes me want to vacation with Gill:

This one feels great to finish! I started this wall hanging last year on holiday in France. It is for our hallway and is a picture of the lighthouse and beach huts/cafés/restaurants that are about 100 metres from the campsite we visit every year. There are some small appliqué embellishments to represent some of the different food outlets, and the bench we like to sit on to eat our ice creams! It is very densely hand quilted - every hut in a different design - I almost began to regret starting off on that road, feeling that I had bitten off more than I could chew! However, sitting in the French sunshine again this year on holiday, I finally finished it. I cleared the beach towels off the washing line behind our caravan to take the photo!

Gill, it's stunning -- and it just looks like the perfect holiday!

Here's a pattern I bet a lot of us have started -- but not yet finished!  It's "Twisting Twenty," made by Betsy:

It's from the "Turning Twenty" book. Betsy says the blocks are really fast to make, and great way to use up scraps. Something for "Sunday is for Scraps," Betsy!

Mary finished a charity quilt made from orphan "improv" blocks. So cute!

For charity quilts, I like Mary's machine-stitched binding:

More details on Mary's blog ZippyQuilts.

Noela is getting ready for the holiday season with her "Cabin in the Woods" table topper:

She writes:

I started this about 2 years ago when i joined an online shop for  Xmas in July. This was a pattern provided by one of the designers Janelle Wind. I have always loved log cabin blocks as my first foray into quilting was learning how to make a log cabin quilt. I’m really happy with the quilting and feel at last I am getting much better at it.

Your quilting looks great, Noela -- and I love this block design!

Donna slipped in a second finish at the last minute. She writes "A table runner using a small jelly roll I got on sale at JoAnn’s. All the fabric is of natural looking material resembling stone like marble and slate."

Donna, my DH would love the colors in this one!

We have a new finisher this month! Christine sent a photo of her "Shortcake" made with Fig Tree & Co.'s "California Girl." I love this fabric line -- in fact, I made the same quilt with the same fabric a few years ago!

Here's a "glamour shot" that shows off the fabric better:

Twelve finishes! Let's see who the Random Number Generator chooses to win the prize this month:

I love it! #12 is our newest finisher, Christine! I've sent you an email asking for your postal address, Christine, and your prize will be in the mail as soon as I receive your address.

Oops, here is a last-minute entry! Elisa writes:

I chose a smaller project since we were on vacation for 2 weeks. This came back from the long-arm quilter just in time for me to finish for this month's challenge. I ran out of binding fabric (I'd originally planned to bind it in the same orange as the front blocks), and had to "sub" in these cute fish. Sometimes mistakes are a good thing!  And because fish don't always go with the flow, one binding strip is attached so that group is swimming against the tide.

So cute, Elisa!

Happy Rabbit Rabbit Day!

From the desk of your

Tuesday Tool: 4-Patches

One of the block Parties I belong to at Ruth's Stitchery is making Lori Holt's "Quilty Fun" row quilt this year.

 I'm making mine with American Jane's Potluck from Moda: 

With two rows finished, I am in love with this quilt!

I'll get on to the tutorial in a minute, but first I want to show you something exciting:

This quilt is "Hope Takes Flight," designed by my friend Melissa, who blogs at We Shall Sew. The pattern will be available free from Robert Kaufman in March. I used Mellie's technique to make the butterfly row for my Quilty Fun. It is just the most clever technique I've ever seen -- be sure to watch for the free pattern!

The next row is four patches. Lori has an unusual method to make scrappy four-patches, but I have to admit I prefer my Crosscut 4-Patch Square in a Square ruler from Jodi Barrows.

Here is the link to my tutorial for using this ruler.

When I'm making lots of four-patches that are the same, I like to layer the two pieced strips, then cut. Like this:

The place the ruler so the center line matches up with the seam and cut:

A good trick to remember when piecing is to have the seam facing away from you and on the top layer. That way, the seam is forced to "nestle" and will be perfectly aligned.

 

To make the block lie flat, make a "mini" four-patch on the seam side of the block.. like this:

1. After stitching the both two-patches together into a four-patch, look at the seam you just stitched.
2. Where the two seams intersect, there are three or four stitches to the end of the seam perpendicular to the one you just sewed. Pick out those stitches to the seam line that crosses them.
3. Now place the four-patch on the ironing board seam-side up and "wiggle" the center with your finger. It will open up and you can press it flat on the wrong side.  

Extra credit if your nail polish matches your fabric!

From the desk of your

Happy Spring! A Quilt Block a Day Tutorial

It's Spring! Not that you'd know it in Colorado -- low of 14F and 22F currently, with snow on the ground.

But, as Shelley wrote, "if Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"

With the advent of Spring comes a new "Quilt Block a Day." Did you keep up with making 90 nine-patch blocks during Winter? I hope so, because you need them to make the Spring BaD!

We're going to convert our nine-patch blocks to Farmer's Daughter blocks. Yes, I'm a farmer's daughter. I grew up on a dairy farm. Maybe that's why I wake up at 4 am every day?

Here is the completed Farmer's Daughter block:

To make it, start with the nine-patch block, tutorial here.

I'm making my Farmer's Daughter quilt using scrappy reds and background tone-on-tone prints. Of course, you can make your's using other colors, or three colors. Or really, really scrappy, with each element a different fabric!

To make the block, first you'll need eight half-square triangles. For a 90-block quilt, that's 720 HSTs. Don't panic, we'll only need eight each day. Cut a stack of HSTs and use them as your Leaders and Enders while sewing other things.

1. Place a 2½" strip of colored fabric right sides together with a 2½" strip of background fabric.

2. Use the EZ-Angle ruler to cut HSTs across the two strips. Then sew on the diagonal seam and press toward the dark fabric. 

3. Lay out the eight HSTs, eight background squares, and the nine-patch block to form the Farmer's Daughter block:

4. Sew two HSTs and one background square together to form the short side of the FD block:

5. Press toward the center background square.   This segment will be sewn to the side of the nine-patch block where the background square seam is pressed toward the dark squares:

6. Although I rarely use pins, in this case, pins will ensure your vertical seams match. Stitch with the HSTs on top, so you can stitch right across the "X" of the seam on the HST:

7. Press toward the nine-patch block:

8. Next, sew three background squares alternating with two HSTs to form the long side of the block.

9. Press each seam toward the outside background square. "nestle" the seams and stitch:

10. Press this seam toward the nine-patch:

 11.  A final pressing, and there's your Farmer's Daughter block!
 

 One down, 89 to go!


From the desk of your

March 1 UFO Parade

Will Spring ever arrive? We've had wind, wind and more wind this winter. Sir Ernest Shackleton reported that his men on the Endeavor suffered from amenomania, "wind madness." I think many of us in Colorado are experiencing the same thing.

Lucky for quilters, we have fabric to distract us. Considering how many "finishes" were sent in this month, many of you have been "quilting up a storm!"

Before I show them to you, here is the UFO number to work on this month:

#4

If you didn't get started on the 12 in 2014 UFO Challenge in January, not to worry. Jump in anytime! Go here to see how it works.

My #4 UFO is from Strip Club years back. It requires applique, which is probably why it isn't finished! The pattern is from 4 & 6 Designs and is named "Autumn's Arrival."

I have the background pieced, so many I will get it finished this month!

I have to confess I didn't finish my February UFO, so it goes back in the bin for another try next year!

Nancy finished two UFO this month. I have to share what she says about it, because it made me laugh:

The first was supposed to be a throw.  But I can't seem to follow a pattern so I made it bigger.  I had seen the fabric last September and really liked, I have always wanted to do a red, white and black quilt.  At that time I was strong and resisted buying it.  I was at the same shop in November and bought the fabric.  I started sewing sometime in October and got all the blocks made.  Then was not really happy about the size.  So I had to find more fabric.  I was able to got back to the same store and they had got all the fabric from their other stores so they had enough for me to make the quilt a little larger.

She also finished this batik beauty. Excellent use of complimentary colors, Nancy! Visit Nancy's blog here to read the rest of the story.

Irene reports this is a favorite pattern for baby or lap quilts, as it is "quilt as you go." Great idea, Irene! She made this quilt just for herself, and each fabric has a special meaning:

Besides the reading theme [Irene is a retired librarian] I included our beloved St. Louis Cardinals and a tribute to the Beatles - I know exactly where I was when they performed on the Ed Sullivan show 50 years ago! There is also a pattern that has a quilt shop and a book shop pictured.

Sandi finished this adorable baby quilt for her new grand-nephew. As you already may know, Sandi names all her quilts with words beginning in "k." She says, "This one is Kwetzalcoatl.  Zackary (born Thanksgiving Day 2013) may not ever be able to say the name of his quilt, but his Mom Leah my niece will.  Quetzalcoatl is the name of a Mexican Dragon by the way." The pattern is Osais by Sally Frey, and Sandi used mostly scraps for it. Go here to read Sally blog post about Zackary's quilt.

Kerry submits a quilt by one of my favorite teachers, Linda Ballard. Kerry started Harmony Square at Road to Califonia and blogs about it here. Very appropriate for March, Kerry!

Sooli conceived and made this incredible 3-D rainbow quilt. I just love it! She says it looks just  like she imagined it in her head -- don't you love it when things come together that way? Visit Sue's Quilty Bits and Bobs here to read the back story.

One of our newest "finishers," Katie, is going great guns! This adorable baby quilt could have made with fabrics from my own scrap bins:

I have to show you a closeup of the quilting Katie did for her newest grandchild -- who should be with us by now!

And look at the labels she found! She says she may go back and add the labels to quilts she made for her other grandchildren also!

Carol Anne may win the prize for "oldest UFO" this month. She doesn't say exactly when she started this one, but it's from a Debbie Mumm book. I know it's been around for a long time, because I have a UFO just like it!

Donna is another newbie who is tearing through the UFOs! Three this month!

First is "Sunset Over Water." Isn't this a stunner, and what a great way to use up scraps! I hope Donna will comment with the name and issue of the magazine where she saw this, because I want to make one, too.

Donna's two-year-old grandson is a big fan of the Disney movie, "Cars." She made this cutie for him -- destined to be a "dragger," I bet. The ultimate compliment for a quilter!

This is "Streaks of Wnter," based on Bonnie Hunter's free pattern "Streaks of Lightning." It's flannel, so it will be very useful for the cold winter Donna (and many of us in the US!) is enduring.

Diane finished this "oh please let Spring come" quilt. It's a Disappearing 4 Patch using two charm packs. I love that shade of green, Diane. And congratulations on the new baby!

Jackie from Manchester, England reports she recently discovered 52 Quilts and was inspired by the 12 in 2014 Challenge to finish two quilts for her local Project Linus. 

Be sure to click on this first photo to see the cute motifs in her "I Spy" tumbler:

And isn't her pastel Whirligig sweet?

Thanks for playing, Jackie!

Oooh, here's a last-minute entry from Donna (that makes four this month!). I love pink! Donna adds that she stitches 5" in from the edge on these tied fleece throws to add stability in case one of the ties comes undone. Clever idea, Donna!

Hey, ChristyLeigh, remember in this challenge YOU decide what is "finished." I generally consider a completely pieced top "finished" because they are sent out to be quilted. Here is ChristyLeigh's March finish:

I might have to beg a favor from Gill. Look at these darling iPad cases she made:

The DH is having fun buying black and silver Union Jack "extras" for his new Mini Cooper. Which he has named "Black jack," by the way.

That's not all Gill made this month:

I was very pleased when you chose number 6 - it was iPad cases: one for me and one I started last October for my Mum's birthday (in November) and never finished in time! Plus they were smallish projects which was perfect for a short month. I also had to make a Gimli and a Frodo outfit or each of my two son's for their school World Book Day dressing up next week!

Betsy sent in this gorgeous Fall quilt. She says "each 9 patch takes anywhere from 20-40 minutes between cutting, sewing, trimming, pressing...   So it has truly been a labor of love.  I started it about 3 or 4 years ago, and it is a pattern from around 2000-ish."

SO worth it, Betsy!

Squeee! I just moments ago found out that there is space for me in my Guild's weekend retreat -- and I have to leave in one hour! So I'll draw for the March UFO Parade giveaway winner Sunday evening. Come back to see who won!

From the desk of your