The Curtain Quilt

This was the first quilt I finished when I had job security and made the decision to start "quilting by check" to get tops finished.  It is a personal favorite.  The top was finished back in February 2017.  It got quilted in 2020 I think, then bound in 2021, and is now finally getting documented.

I love the quilting design!

When we emptied and closed my parents' house years ago I kept all the curtains my mother had made.  Some were so old and worn that they disintegrated in the wash.  But I held on dearly to what survived.

I should have taken a before picture.  The curtains in the "pink" room were cream on the top 2/3s and horizontal 2.5" stripes of various fabrics on the lower 1/3.  They were lined, which may be why they survived the south Florida sun in somewhat better condition than others.

After much thought, I decided to cut the striped sections into as many uniform sections as I could and form a sort of Chinese Coin type arrangement stacking repeating sections of curtain.

By joining pieces of the cream fabric I was able to use it as the sashing between the coin sections.  I was not aiming for perfection, but for holding on tight to a memory.  So all the fade marks and stitching lines that didn't come out in the wash are still there.  

The back took another year, since I couldn't decide and then I couldn't face the math.  For the back I used 2 small plaid panels that were all that survived the wash from another set of curtains.  Combined with a blue print and a solid pink it works.  Both the blue and pink were oddly shaped pieces, but with a lot of math and creativity it worked out.  I did end up having to add part of a sheet from the "pink" room to bring it up to big enough.  The backing was finally finished in 2019. 

This will always be a favorite for me.  It hangs on a ladder in the living room where I can see it all the time.

Friday Finish 061518

My sister asked me a long time ago to make a baby girl quilt for a friend of hers.  I had been wanting to make a Chinese Coin quilt and this was the perfect opportunity.

The machine I usually use that has a wider throat and a simple frame is not working properly.  The thread keeps breaking, so I needed to finish this on my regular domestic machine.

The last time I tried to free motion quilt on it, the results were way less than perfect.  I studied up in preparation for this current task and I think I am doing better.  Woo Hoo.  Now maybe I can take that experience and finish up a few other quilts.

Slow & Steady

I know it would have been easier to use the walking foot, but I had already finished a complete pass with the other machine and I didn't want to pick out 8" of meandering.

Pinks & Grays

Finished just in time.  Whew.

Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict to show off finishes.

Go check out my June Giveaway of fun vacation fabric.

Stash Rerpot 032518

Fabric In:  College E was home the week before last and we were out thrifting looking for a dress for a gala dinner.  Thank goodness she likes to thrift, since that makes dress shopping possible.  She found a dress with the price tag still on it! and while we were waiting to check out I spied rolls of fabric in a small bin.  Hmmm.

Deceptive little bundles - minimum 1 yard each!!

$1 each so it was worth a try.  Plus it was blacks and a neutral which are always useful.  I had never seen fabric at this particular store, so I was interested. I got the solid bright pink at our next stop.  It got used up the next week so that was good.  4.61 yards for $3.50

Good neutrals even if precut

Turns out the blacks and white were cut into squares and rectangles, but 12" squares and lengths so that is still very usable fabric.


Fabric Out:

My class made these super cute bunny treat bags.  They did the initial sewing and turning the ears and I finished up the casing. 1 yard + 7 yards assorted ribbon

Bunny Bags at School

I have another commissioned quilt - Chinese coins in pinks and grays.  I used all the pinks I had in my pre-cut drawers regardless of width.  I like the randomness of that.  I also cut a few strips from my pink yardage.  The pinks are all over the spectrum from very, very light to dark dusty rose, but I think it works.  The bright pink sashing ties it all together and the gray calms it down.  The client provided the gray so I can't count that as out, but the coins and the bright pink are from the stash.  2.39 yards

Ready for a good ironing.

Fabric Purchased this week: 4.61 yards
Fabric Purchased YTD: 25.86 yards

Fabric Acquired this week: 0 yards

Fabric Acquired YTD: 10 yards

Fabric Used this week:  3.39 yards for Bunny Bags & Chinese Coins
Fabric Used YTD: 29.04 yards

Total: 6.82 yards stashed

I'm still not getting out of the hole, but it isn't that deep.  I have a few projects on the horizon that will help me out.  Plus this week is our Spring Break and that will keep me home sewing I hope.

I am still keeping up with Kate over at Life in Pieces trying to get 15 minutes of stitching or sewing related work done every day.  I am doing much better now that I am not bringing work home.

Days stitched since last report: 13/14
Days stitched this month:  19/24
Days stitched this year: 74/83
Success Rate: 89%


Linking up to QuiltPaintCreate and Life in Pieces to keep accountable.