Friday, August 29, 2014

Scrap Bag Flimsy

I got this to the flimsy stage.  The background story on this quilt can be found here.

I really, really like this layout.

I would like to use the pink for a border but not sure I have enough.  That challenge will have to wait for a time with no distractions since I need to concentrate to get it right the first time.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts  and Confessions of a Fabric Addict  to show off finishes.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Scrap Box Quilt

Stash Report 082414

I am working on a project that started with 1 orphan block, some pieces and some scraps.  When my MIL let us into a box of scraps that had been given to her I found this.

I really liked it and as we dug around we found more bits and pieces that obviously went with it.  So I brought it home since I really needed another project!  The good thing is that it didn't take much space in the luggage.

It has been waiting and waiting.  I ironed up the scraps a while back so then they were positioned temptingly.  I resisted and stuck to what had to be done.  Finally, last weekend we watched 3 movies.  I never watch TV and rarely rarely watch a movie, so this was a big deal.  (We had 3 free Red Box movies and it was the last weekend before school started.)  I had to have something to work on while we watched, so I got out the pieces, pulled more fabric from the stash and that kept me busy.   Over the 3 movies I got all the pieces cut and organized.  The background green was the limiting factor.  I was able to barely get 20 blocks, which was my goal.  There was no more of the reddish pink from the original scraps, so I went with another pink altogether and it turned out fine.

Got them ironed and squared up and started playing with layouts.  The obvious was this, except I didn't like the incomplete row and there was no way to make 4 more blocks.














                                 Tried this next and I LOVE it.
The background green is much softer in real life.
I would like to add a border of the pink, but I am not sure there is enough for even a very narrow border. We'll see once I get the blocks sewn together.
Blocks are squared and there are no glaring color mis-placements - yet!

I would definitely make this design again, but do it using strips rather than blocks.  It would go faster with fewer seams for the same look.

My Stash Report rules say that I can report fabric as used once I get an entire step of the process done.  Little bits of progress keep me more motivated over the long run.  So here's my report.  I only counted what I added from my stash, which was not much after I got it calculated.  But fabric out is fabric out!!


Fabric Used This Week: .25 yards 
Total Used 201453.68 yards
Fabric In This Week: 0 yards 
Total Bought/Received in 2014: 16.08 yards
Net Used 2014: 37.60 yards

Head on over to Patchwork Times to see how others are doing with their stash.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Rail Fence Finish

I haven't sewn in over a month probably. I might be going into withdrawal!!  Every summer I want to catch up on the girls' photo albums - I'm only 20 years behind!  This was the summer that I was at least able to make progress.  But that meant re-purposing the sewing room. I have been thinking of it as working in paper instead of fabric. Combining colors, cutting carefully, making sure it is all lined up correctly!

But I just had to get in a sewing fix. This was super fast. The strips were already cut thanks to the quilt guild.  There was a lecture on working with strips and bags made up to take home and try.  Little S thought she would make this one but there has just been too much going on.
Orange Windmills and Blue Windmills
I had already sewed the strips together randomly. So in a rare alone moment yesterday I cut them in squares, laid them out and webbed them together. All together including sewing the strips maybe 2 hours. What's my excuse for not getting more done more often?

There was extra of the orange strips so I used that for a simple border. After it was sewn on I found 12 blocks that had been left behind when I laid it out.  What to do?  It was destined for hospice and was on the small side so I went ahead and un-sewed one border and added the extra blocks. That brought it up to the recommended size.

College Girl R was home for a week. A very nice surprise!! When we took her back to school I missed the guild meeting to turn the rail fence top in, but at least it is finished.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts  and Confessions of a Fabric Addict  to show off finishes.  I have missed being part of the Friday Finishes for the past weeks.  Glad to be back.