Dakota's Memorial Quilt

I am making this quilt for my team teacher in memory of her dog and good friend, Dakota.  I was unable to get the photos other than to ask her so it might not be  a surprise but that's okay.  That's not the important part.

It took me so long to get the photos then get them printed on transfer paper then get them ironed on that I have spent several months thinking of a design.  When it came down to it I realized it needed to be simple with the focus on the pictures not the design.  

I worked with fabrics I had saved for a dog quilt for College R way back when she was in grade school.  No, I don't hang onto things for very long!!  I do not want to buy any new fabric so I am determined to make it work.  

So far I love it and I don't think it has a "make do" look at all. 

Good Start to Grand Illusion

I have stood on the sidelines for the previous mysteries since life just didn't let me play along.  This year I am going to play too! I was working and working on cleaning my work space and getting things in order.  I think subconsciously I felt guilty starting something new if I did not even have a clean work surface.  Work area is ready to go and I got lots of fabric and stuff out unexpectedly (you can see how that happened right here)  so I felt like I earned a new project.

Since I was cleaning I did not pull fabrics ahead of time so when the clue came out I was busy choosing colors right away.  I had read the introduction enough times that I knew what to look for.  I was very thankful that I had quite a few 2.5" strips to get started with.  When those were used up I moved on to cutting from the larger stash.

80 HST set aside

Started cutting, sewed a bit, make a sample and moved along.  I wasn't sure about the constant yellow, but ended up having enough to have a constant yellow for this part at least.  Good enough.  I also decided that I am not going to agonize over my color choices.  I am going to work with what I have and that is good enough.

Sewing the last seams

It is unusual to have this much free time to work on sewing, so I was able to complete Part 1 in two days.  Not sure what will happen next week.  But that's okay too.  I will do what I can.

Ready to iron

Looking good!

Done until next Friday

Probably won't fit in this box for long!

Head over to Quiltville   to see how the others are doing.

Stash Report 113014

Operation Christmas Child Kits

I was happy to see that one of the suggested items to include in the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes this year was fabric squares and sewing kits. 

I've been working my way through my messy room and through my mother's stash.  It is time to get more organized.   As I sorted and ironed and folded I picked out some that coordinated pretty well and cut as many squares as I could.  Most were 5" or 6". 

One set was 4" because it was easier to cut out the squares from a poorly made panel (acquired a long time ago in a yard sale scrap bag purchase) than unsew the tiny stitches. The time savings more than made up for the little bit of waste fabric.  The larger scraps were still with the panel so I ended up with a good amount of squares even though they were smaller.  It was super pretty and I briefly considered sewing it up myself for a guild quilt for hospice, but then common sense took over and the little voice said "no more new projects!"

For each kit I included a larger piece that could be used for backing, 3 spools of thread, scissors, pins and needles.  It seems like it made a huge dent in the odd accumulation of stuff I have, but I really can't even tell. 

So even though I didn't sew anything I do have a good amount of fabric out. Wish I had thought to take pictures.  It was the most orderly thing I have done in a while. 

I put together 11 kits for a whopping  27.41 yards out +  33 spools of thread + 11 pairs of my mother's scissors and assorted accessories.  Surely I should be able to find a flat surface to work on now!

Fabric Used This Week: 27.41 yards for Operation Christmas Child kits  
Total Used 2014: 91.74 yards

Fabric In This Week: 0 yards 

Total Bought/Received in 2014: 16.08 yards
Net Used 2014: 75.66 yards

I had really hoped to use 100 yards this year and I'm pretty sure I will get there.  I have a few things in the works that if finished should put me over the top.

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

Trip Around the World is a flimsy!!

It is not exactly what I planned.  There was not enough of the narrow border fabric for Plan A so I went with Plan B.  Plan B was to finish and move on. Always a good decision.

I am very pleased with the quilt.  I would like to say I would make another but I have too many ideas brewing in my head to go back and repeat something.  

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

Stash Report 110914

Happy to have a Stash Report today.  I think life is slowly going to the new normal.  Swim season is over so there are no more 5:30am practices. Dad is out of Rehab and in Assisted Living so I have my afternoons/evenings back as well.  So now just work to worry about.  I have more energy and my family is happy to have real dinners again.

Approximately 68" x 76"

This was a surprise finish. Did the cutting and unsewing over in Rehab.  Did the sewing in little bits of found time to help me keep my sanity. I always wanted to make a Trip Around  the World quilt and now I have.  Sewing the strips into tubes and then slicing them and unsewing at alternating squares made it really easy.  You can see my slow progress here and here.

Used up quite a bit of fabric which was the goal.  

Fabric Used This Week: 5.86 yards for center and borders  + 1.5 yards for backing for guild quilt

Total Used 2014: 64.33 yards
Fabric In This Week: 0 yards 

Total Bought/Received in 2014: 16.08 yards
Net Used 2014: 48.25 yards

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

All the Way Around the World

Can't believe it!  I got it done.

approximately 60" x 62" at this stage

Well, the center part at least.  You can see my slow start here.  My idea for adjusting the rows so that I didn't get doubles where the 4 sections come together as in the original pattern worked.  I just used the 2 extra strips to balance out the side that ended up unsymmetrical and voila!  I am very pleased.  It was way easier than I ever imagined.  I finally made a Trip Around the World quilt. 

Working on borders now.  I have an idea so that it will end up more rectangular than square.  I am a "make it up as I go" kind of girl so we will see what really happens.  No matter what stash will get used and that is good.

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

Halfway Around the World

Life is just getting in the way of sewing.  Can't help it so I'm trying to work with it instead of getting upset.  So while sitting with my dad in rehab I took misc strips to cut to a uniform 2.5" or 2".  Before I knew it I had enough for Jo's  Trip for Two  . Then in little bits of found time, which might have saved my sanity, I got them sewn together.

Then, again sitting with my dad, I carefully unsewed at the right spots so when they were opened up they made the staggered strips needed for Trip Around the World. In a few more bits of time I got 1/4 of it sewn back together.

The far side is sewn together.  The near side is just strips.  With no free time, I am not going to waste a moment cleaning up the table!

Since this was going so slowly I had a lot of time to think on it.  I decided to adjust my strips and not make the repeat square where the four large parts meet up like in the original.  With just a little bit of thinking - basically just leaving out one strip on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th part it will come back together as just a Trip Around the World.

There was not enough of one of the blues.  It is pretty noticeable here, but I think when it is finished on opposing sides diagonally it will not stand out so much and if it does, it will just further remind me of all that was going on when I made it!!

I'm only halfway around the world, so we will see if my plan really works out.  I have always wanted to make this quilt, so I am glad to finally get it going.

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