Back on Track

The last three weeks flew by in a blur with not much sewing.  I had done so well on the yellow flower garden and already had the red flower garden under the needle and ready to go.  Didn't happen, didn't happen, and still didn't happen.  

Some of it was a bad case of the blahs. Then there was the day trip with my sisters to visit our brother and his family.  Then my birthday evening.  Then another day trip to see Grown Up E and Little S.  Then parent conferences.  All of that really got me off of my regular routine of school, lesson planning, and some sewing.  So here it is three weeks later and I may be back on track!

red flower back quilt front

The good news is that the red flower garden baby quilt done at last.  

red backing 

The church outreach needs another girl quilt, but my husband just took the last one that I had to give to friends in Spain.  So the pressure is on to get one ready by next Saturday.  

I had this somewhat started a while back, so I figured it was the closest to the finish line and just plowed forward. The groovy pink fabric was a $1 bag of precut strips from our trip to Recraft in Greenville, SC.  I didn't have enough of a single pink, so I just kept adding shades as I went.  The determining factor for size was the groovy pink.  I wanted to use it all up and I came pretty close.

Perfect? No.  Cute? Yes!  Having an urgent deadline will get this one moving along and keep me back on track for sewing. 

15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days/last 3 weeks = 9/21

15 minute days/Oct = 4/4

15 minute days/2025 = 243/298

Success Rate = 82%

 

I can now count out the red backing and binding.  

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 1.92 yards red backing & binding

Used year to date: 93.57 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards 

Acquired year to date: 40.33 yards

Net used in 2025: 53.27 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

What I'm Working On

How did I do on the list for AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 6?

• join baby bricks into a top NOPE
• prepare a backing for the scrappy baby bricks NADA
• cut more blocks for twin baby girl quilts for church DONE
• determine layout for blocks for twin baby girl quilts DONE
• join baby girl blocks DONE
• decide on borders for baby girl quilts DONE
• prepare backings for baby girl quilts DONE
• start thinking about what project will be next NO 
• clean sewing room NO - JUST ADDED TO THE MESS!

  

  red backing ready for its flower garden top

My B Project became the A Project! I made great progress and got both baby girl flower garden quilts all the way ready to be quilted.

red-backed flower garden ready for quilting

TO DO LIST FOR SEPTEMBER 7 - 13:

• quilt the yellow backed flower garden
• bind the yellow backed flower garden
• quilt the red backed flower garden
• bind the red backed flower garden
• join baby bricks into a top 
• prepare a backing for the scrappy baby bricks
• start thinking about what project will be next after the baby bricks
• clean sewing room

  

  Maybe I'll get back to the baby bricks next week.

Baby Flower Gardens for the Twin Girls

My week did not go how I imagined since I sewed what I had thought was my secondary project instead of the primary project.  My idea for the twin baby girls was to use the remnants of a flowered charm park.  There were enough duplicates to have a good start on a plan.  

Matching stacks of 5" blocks + a few extras.

I would use those as a starting point and then add from the stash.  I was on a roll, so I just kept rolling.  I ended up getting the remaining squares cut, tested layouts, 

I used a B&W filter for the first time!!

even added flowered borders.  I had some ideas for backings and got those ready as well. 

The red-based backing from part of a tablecloth

Since I was doing so well, I just kept going and got them both pin basted! 

Ready for quilting.

Considering there were two days I just didn't feel up to sewing, I got a lot done!  Well ahead of schedule for the baby girl quilts. I've got myself set up well to quilt in spurts after school this week.  We'll see how that goes.

 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days/last week = 5/7

15 minute days/August = 1/1

15 minute days/Sept = 4/6

15 minute days/2025 = 229/270

Success Rate = 85%

 

I got the tops done so will count that fabric as out this week.  I'll wait to count the backings out until they are quilted.  

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 3.7 yards

Used year to date: 89.73 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards 

Acquired year to date: 40.33 yards

Net used in 2025: 49.43 more yards used

Linking up to: 

Donna @ quiltpaintcreate

Frederique @ quilting patch

Stash Report

Finished the baby quilt and even though the client gave me some fabric as a starting point most of the fabric used was from my stash.

I love the color combination!

The binding was the same fabric as the flower which I think framed it up nicely since a border didn't seem to be the way to go.

As much as I didn't like the finished quilting, I do like the detail on the back.

I love the gray polka dot on the back.  I had just gotten that at the thrift store the week before and it was perfect for this project.  Unfortunately there was not quite enough, but it combined well with the client's moon fabric to make a pieced backing.




Fabric Purchased This Week: 0 yards
Fabric Purchased YTD: 46.67 yards

Fabric Acquired This Week:   0
Fabric Acquired YTD: 18.98 yards

Fabric Used This Week: 3.81 yds

Fabric Used YTD: 48.48 yards

Fabric Stashed in 2017: 17.18 yards stashed

Hey!  When I look at the numbers it appears as though I have basically used about what I have bought and stashed what I have acquired free. Not bad when I think of it like that.


Staying accountable with quiltpaintcreate.

Flower Baby Quilt is Done!!

Woo Hoo!  I was hoping, but I really wasn't sure if I could do it.  My work schedule is different this year and Little S's school schedule is also different.  So I have 10-15 minutes after I put her on the bus before I have to leave for work.  I have been trying very hard to make those minutes count.

testing sashings

It didn't take too long to get the strips sewn together.  Then Little S was gone ALL DAY with a friend! I sewed and sewed.  I got the top all together without agonizing too much over my color choices.  I just went with what looked good and moved forward.

bright flower

The machine I usually use for quilting has been behaving very poorly with free motion, so I decided to check it out using the walking foot.  I had never used this machine with its walking foot before.  I usually borrow my sister's machine since I used to have an identical machine and bought a walking foot for it.  (The machine is now with my MIL in Guatemala, but I hung onto the walking foot since that was not something she would use.)

colors are great

Yes, the finicky machine worked with its walking foot, but the stitch length varied greatly which I wasn't expecting since my other walking foot/machine combo is very consistent - slow and steady and consistent.  I also had had a hard time getting the layers pinned together well and I felt like that affected the finished product as well.

love the windy day photos

Got it done the next day, but I was not very pleased.  I was able to try some new things that I wondered about after quilting Middle E's college quilt.  Yes, they were better done this way, but not with this particular machine.

details show up great on the back

Good News - The machine works, so I think it is the free motion foot that is the problem not the machine.  Much easier fix.

Lesson learned - Keep borrowing my sister's machine when using a walking foot. 

Client Satisfaction - 100% so really I have to call it a success overall.

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

Design Wall Monday

My sister needs a baby girl quilt for a friend who is due in the fall.  She brought me the leftovers from a quilt I made for her a while back.  I added some other fabrics and colors.  This was the perfect opportunity to try an idea I had seen a while back and so far I am liking it.

It's taking shape.

I feel like I am getting better at randomizing colors.  This was a good test.  This was almost the final layout of colors.

Now to figure the larger sashing pieces and the flower petals.

Linking up to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.