split nine finish

My quiltville leader /ender challenge 2013 - split nine patch is finished. All the blocks were made by the end of that year. It has been a ufo since then. As part of my 5 quilt project, I restarted  it in February of 2024. It was my March one monthly goal, and the top was finished by the end of March. It has waited patiently for the quilting and binding in the to be quilted closet. I loved this setting on quiltville's blog site and I did my best to copy it. The block itself is simple and makes a great scrap buster. I would do it again if I live long enough. 

83 x 96 = 26 yards

I have the first 6 leader/ ender challenge quilts done. I didn't do the 2017 challenge so next in line to finish is jewel box stars from 2018.

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split 9 top finish

At this point, I decided that since I have many more blocks left over, I would add them all a round the outside. Which took the better part of an open sew. It is better and quicker to do that while making the rows in the first place.

I was left with a few sections to sew at the end of the day. I was worried I would not make my one monthly goal to have the top finished by the end of March.

I did finish it in the nick of time. This quilt has been a challenge. But I love it. When I started the 2013 quiltville leader/ ender challenge, I was just using scraps to make blocks with no idea what it would become. I suppose that is why it took so long to finish it. By the way, if you see a mistake, tell me, but very gently haha

83 x 96

I am not adding a border to this and will piece a back, prepare binding, and add it to the to be quilted closet.

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split 9 again

I started this older ufo as part of the quiltville leader/ ender challenge. I figured out how I wanted to proceed with assembly here. Now, I am starting work on the bottom half of my split nine quilt. I am getting better at following the graph so it looks like I have it right the first time.

The top half is all sewn together.

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half of a split 9

I fixed my mistakes with my split nine patch quilt, and the top half of blocks are all right, and mostly sewn together before I ran out of time. I didn't mind having to quit, since I know these pieces were set and going to be ok when I return to it.

Preparations are underway for our 2024 garden. One of the first plants we need to start indoors are sweet potatoes. We used our own sweet potatoes from last year to grow slips for this year's garden. This is the first year we have tried the whole potato in soil and it has done well. Maybe, too well. It looks like we will be ready too soon to plant outdoors. But, planning in the Spring is the best part.

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split 9 goal

I have decided to make my split 9 patch quilt my one monthly goal for March.  I hope to have a top completed for my one monthly goal. This is an older ufo that I added to my 5 quilts project for February. All the blocks were finished and trimmed as leader and enders in 2013. I have 256 of them. I started this as part of the quiltville leader/ ender challenge. I figured out how I wanted to proceed with assembly here.

Looking at this picture, as I am blogging, I see it isn't right somewhere in the middle. I guess it is a good thing I didn't get it all sewn together. I will have to lay it out and do some head scratching,.... again.

A problem -the chart I am using is a 12 x 12 block and I made blocks for a 16 x 16. I will deal with that later. Maybe I will have 112 leftover blocks for the start of a second quilt.

I really like the challenge of getting the pattern right, and I am sure I will love the quilt. The split 9 patch block is a great stash buster. It seems I am always having leftover hsts- add a few 2 1/2 inch squares and a block is born.

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one monthly goal

split nine patch start

 This is an older ufo that I added to my 5 quilts project for February. All the blocks were finished and trimmed as leader and enders in 2013. I have 256 of them. I started this as part of the quiltville leader/ ender challenge. I started working on this with a color picture of Bonnie's finished quilt. I tried to 'see' the way the triangles should be turned. I only confused myself. and put it back in the box. I did some digging and found a grayed chart I thought would help. I enlarged it for old eyes, and marked the paper as I went along. I decided to divide the top into chunks instead of long rows. I hope it helps me see any missteps, before it gets too far. 

This is how far I was able to get during an open sew.

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spoolin around finish

My spoolin around quilt is finished. spoolin around was the second quiltville leader/ ender challenge in 2013.  I opened the UFO box in August to find all the blocks in groups of four. I discovered that some of the blocks were not pieced right, so, I redid the majority of blocks. I had the center pieced by the end of September. I had the top ready to quilt the end of October. This is my 25th ufo finish this year and part of my 5 quilts project. I added it to the list when the new leader/ ender challenge was announced. I did the same thing last year and finished dotty bow ties

91 x 100 = 25 yards

Finding a good time to take pictures in the fall is a challenge. There is either no sunshine or windy. We drug it all over our place looking for the right spot. Even, had the little weed stickies on the back LOL

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spool top finish

 hooray - I added the borders to my spoolin around top. It is ready to join the longarm cue. I have a customer quilt to do first. I made the spool blocks along with the quiltville leader/ ender challenge 2012-2013. It became part of the 5 quilt project in August when I opened the ufo project box. Many of the blocks of 4 spools were turned wrong, and, I spent time remaking many of them. I was ready for borders late September.

the free 2012 leader/ ender pattern is here

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spool border

I have been working on a big, spool quilt. The center top is finally finished. I found the 4 patches in the ufo box when I opened it, along with spools and instructions. It was the quiltville leader/ender challenge from 2012. That I am making instead of doing this year's leader/ender. 

I made the individual pieces for the border.

And then, had the opportunity to make the long row border pieces. I am getting closer.

Hopefully, I will have a top by the end of the week

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spoolin around

 I lost my domain name for the blog,  and everything has to be changed on my blog. ugh   It's probably a good thing. I have had it since 2013 and every year, the price increases. I am now: makingalather.blogspot.com

I have the spool center done for my 5 quilt project - Spoolin around by Bonnie Hunter. Making 3 inch finished spools was the 2012 leader ender challenge at Quiltville.  Later, she made the quilt and added it to her book more adventures with leaders and enders. It's time for borders.

 I decided when she announced this year's challenge, I would finish an old challenge ufo quilt, instead. I did this last year, too. I finished dotty bow ties from 2011 in January 2023. I realized, that I have started them all, but, have few finishes. imagine that    But.... I like this year's challenge...

pesky lil spools

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spoolin around progress

All of the spool blocks are restitched, and, I am ready to officially begin the assembly of the quilt. This is an exciting part of quilting. Making an on point quilt one row at a time, is very satisfying....until the center haha. There is seam matching every three inches.

I opened the spoolin around leader/ ender ufo from 2013 this year for the 5 quilts project

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little bits

I am just making bits and bobbles while I work on my spools quilt.

9 patch on point - top
monkey wrench - bottom

lil beauty baskets - top
4 patches for strip tease - bottom

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more spoolin around

2 weeks ago, I opened the spoolin around leader/ ender ufo from 2013. I discovered that some of the blocks were not pieced right.

first, I took the halves apart, so, I could just switch the direction of the spools, but, then, I realized, that the individual spools needed work too. I took them all apart down to individual spools again. I made these 10 years ago, and, my skills were not as good as they are now. I knew I could do better, and, I did.

Now, that they are blocks, again, I can begin to make rows.

I can't believe it is the end of August.. and summer. This week, hubby and I will celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary. Our tomatoes are busy. This year we have dehydrated them to see if we like it that way. It takes up less room. 

I had two quilt finishes this month. One of them was my one monthly goal  at elm street quilts. It will be time to report for PHD at quilting gail.

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yellow scraps

I cut and sewed a little bit of yellow this week for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. I made 9 patches for diffusion which is done in fall colors. I might add a few brown later this year, and, then, count, and recalculate what I need.

diffusion - quilted twins

I made the pieces, I will need for my older ufos- garlic knots and box kite. The blocks are done, but, the borders and sashings are small pieces that I have cut along the way this year, with the color of the month. It's hard to believe it is august already. And time to finish or continue with plans.

qsts for box kite

sashings for garlic knots

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spoolin around

spoolin around was the second quiltville leader/ ender challenge in 2013. I was excited when I opened the ufo box, to see I had all the spool blocks (648) in blocks of 4, ready to assemble. But, oh wait, many of them were put together wrong. It matters if the blocks are all arranged the same LOL. I can't move on with this project unless, I take them all apart. I am having fun revisiting all these scraps from a few years ago. I did put together a few of the short rows with the correct blocks. I think I am going to follow the colors in the pattern for setting triangles and borders. 

the spools are 3 1/2 inches

fun scraps from 2013

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hollow nine and fish school

Yellow is officially my favorite color. I find it a difficult color to like in fabric. Pops of it are fun in any scrappy quilt, but, finding a consistent dependable yellow seems difficult. I will keep trying. I made hollow nine blocks and fish school blocks for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy.

hollow nine

I did a final count for fish school blocks, and, I have enough blocks for the pattern kismet from quiltville. I had made the string blocks earlier. But, I forgot at the time, that, I had made them for the pattern. I used a larger size block for the fish, so, I need to make a larger size string block, too. In any case, this is a ufo that will be retired to the ufo closet for a vacation. There will be a farewell with balloons and streamers.

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fish school blocks

I started the red month of the rainbow scrap challenge, by cutting and making fish school blocks. I have over 200 for the Bonnie Hunter quilt called kismet. I really like making them. Making these, I find interesting 2 1/2 inch squares that are alone and unwanted in my 2 1/2 inch square box. poor babies. I have a place yo use them.

I found pieces in red for monkey wrench blocks.

I am just getting started with red. There should be plenty of scraps for fun this month,

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dotty bow ties finish

 Dotty bow ties is done. My first finish for the year is the first quiltville leader/ ender challenge from 2011 - 2012. This year, when the new leader/ender was announced, I decided, rather than start a new project/quilt, I would go back, and actually finish the ones I have already started. I have started each new challenge over the years, but have finished two.

72 x 72

12 yards of fabric 

I used as leftover dotty fabric for the binding 

I used 2 larger pieces of pink for the back. I free motioned circles on the longarm.

If I continue finishing the leader/ ender UFOs, spools would be next from 2012- 2013. I know I have many many spools made and ready. If I remember right, I may have swapped with others on that block. I would have to wait for an opening on the 5 quilt list.

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dotty bow ties almost top

 I only have 2 more rows of dotty bow ties to add to the quilt. I am almost there. hooray

It is time to prepare for next year's phd progress projects. I had to chuckle when quilting Gail said if you have at least 12 UFOs, make a list. It guarantees my participation for many more years. How many? I fear, longer than I will live at this point. Is any one honest about the number of UFOs? I tell my friends one number, and my lists say another, and then, there is the husband number.... oh well, just keep sewing.

I had a fun year last year focusing on the UFO finishes. I hope to do that again in 2023

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dotty progress

I did a little Christmas sewing, and, I have three rows together of dotty bow ties. I have a few more sashings made for adding more rows.

It was a cold, quiet holiday. I had most of the food bought early, so that was not a problem. We spent the- too cold to do anything (-10) - time watching Christmas movies. It was fun. We didn't get to see our family. bummer. It was too dangerous for this old couple to be out and about. We are now at a balmy16 degrees with a slight dusting of snow and a few drifts from the wind which was relentless. 

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