unfinished diamond string quilt

In the same box with my lost cheddar jubilee was another ufo from 2016, diamond string. I'm sure it was abandoned long ago because I am recreating a picture and don't have a pattern. Every decision is a head scratcher. I made string blocks and cut them in half. I have some ideas for the borders that I want to try.

I am not officially adding this to the 5 quilts project yet, but I did pin it to the design board so that I will look at it and be inspired and not forget it. It is early to the list because there were just 2 quilts in the box and I could say I had emptied another box haha

ribbon border

I am linking:

wednesday wait loss

midweek makers 

My quilt infatuation

oh scrap

scrappy cabin finish

I started this scrappy log cabin quilt in 2020 with a bag of leftover scraps. I made it string style and used nearly all the scraps. I was able to make 41 blocks and a small donation/ baby quilt. In April, I chose to quilt it as part of my 5 quilts projects to finish older UFOS. I found this tutorial on line.

54 x62 = 10 yards

I just happened to have a large enough piece of this vintage fabric for the backing - way cool.

I am linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different   

please consider signing up to host the weekly party here 

creations

PHD

oh scrap sunday

wednesday wait loss

midweek makers 

My quilt infatuation

strings blocks for kismet

This year for the rainbow scrap challenge, I added fish school blocks in the monthly color. I collected enough for the quiltville pattern kismet in August

I needed to make string blocks for kismet, but, I thought I would retire the blocks to the ufo closet. But, I couldn't forget it, and, with the neutral month in October, I made all the string blocks for crazie mazie.  And, then, while the string mess was out on the table, I started on kismet string blocks, too. I made 80+ of the 124 I need. I am so close.... I need to clean up the area..... I want to finish first.

I added the stray color of strings to the few I had already made. Now, I have all the blocks I need in the color version.

I am linking to:

rsc23 super saturday
oh scrap
wednesday wait loss

crazie

The color of the month for the rainbow scrap challenge is neutrals. I thought it would be a good time to dig out my neutral strings, and, continue working on these blocks for quiltville pattern craizie maizie. I have more than enough strings of color, but, not many neutral. I started these string blocks a couple of years ago. I grab a bag of strings and make a few until the neutrals are gone. Then, I put them away for awhile.  This month, I am intentionally finding larger strips in neutral to make more.

bag of 200

Last week's mini churndash blocks - 3 1/2 inch

7 plus 1

I am linking to:

rsc23 super saturday
oh scrap
wednesday wait loss

fair and square to the finish

 I have decided that my October one monthly goal will be fair and square, a bonnie hunter pattern. It was part of the 5 quilt projects, but, was relegated to the closet, when, I had a few customer quilts that I needed to do. I need to find a back, wait for the longarm to be empty, quilt, and bind it. I look forward to seeing this one finished.

I had this quilt on the maybe someday list until 2017, when I decided to really make it. I started the string piecing off and on until I finished the blocks in 2019.  Next, I spent some time making little 4 patches

The quilt became part of the 5 quilts project in 2022

I am linking:

design wall monday 

oh scrap

sew and tell

monday musings

wednesday wait loss

My quilt infatuation

one monthly goal

crazie mazie

I haven't started a new quilt. I am just cleaning up the odd scraps near my sewing machine. The fact that the little string blocks are the right size for quiltville's newer pattern crazie mazie is purely a coincidence. Sometimes, a girl, just has to make string blocks. The mess, and the need for no thinking sewing combine, and, string blocks are born.

These are quick, cute little 5 inch blocks that use the smallest bits. I have finished a couple of big quilts lately and I am giving myself a reward.

And any pieces that are too much work for the blocks are sewn into a crumb strip

or thrown away ( the horror) 

I feel so contented when I make string blocks and, I am surprised how fast the stack grows. Oh, and I am surprised how big a mess I happily make.

I  am linking to:

midweek makers 

 

wednesday wait loss

My quilt infatuation

Oh scrap

strings for Kismet

I spent a few evenings at the treadle making string units. I was trying to make ahead, the units for the fish school blocks, I have been making for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. I cut fish school blocks for the leader/ ender challenge 2021 and made  quite a few, but, didn't keep up for the year. So, this year I cut for RSC. And, about that time, Bonnie Hunter shared her pattern kismet of her finished fish school. I decided, I wasn't far enough along, that I couldn't switch to kismet for finishing my project. I still need many more blocks. I plan to work on that part next year for rsc 2023 ( can you believe we are nearly there?)

These blocks are trimmed to 3 1/2 inches. And, I am ready to go. I don't like stringing that small. I used a 7 inch square foundation instead, and, cut it in quarters after I de papered and pressed.

Next year, I will have to make the HSTS each month with the color of the month. Hopefully, by the end of 2023, I can assemble

I am linking to:

rsc21 super saturday
oh scrap

hole and candy

I have all the blocks I need to make this rainbow project into a top. I have really enjoyed making this. I liked using my smallest pieces to make the string rectangles into something useful. By using the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. the colors are bright and happy. I have moved them to a box of their own and plan to take them with me to open sews for assembly.

I was one block short of having all the blocks I need for the candy quilt. I felt I needed a chocolate in there someplace.

This block has been fun to make as well. The string centers are 4 1/2 inches and the borders are 2 1/2 inches. I have boxed them for assembly as a portable project.

I still have mine

I am linking to:

rsc21 super saturday
oh scrap
put your foot down

wednesday wait loss

hole in my scraps

I am barely finishing these hole in the barn blocks for the month of August and the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy.

I think I have nearly all of them that I need for the quilt.

I have a few zipper blocks ready to go. I just don't have many orange scraps. I like orange in quilts, but it isn't an often used color.

still canning from the garden

I am linking to:

rsc21 super saturday
oh scrap
put your foot down

wednesday wait loss

I am linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different     here  and here

creations

peacock party

from bolt to beauty

put your foot down

oh scrap sunday

patchwork and quilts

candy

 I have orange cream candy ready for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. They look yummy. I think I am nearly done with these blocks. I still need a bit of licorice and chocolate. I have certainly enjoyed making these this year, and I had PLENTY of strings I needed to use. I am looking for a string project for next year or maybe 100.

This tiny little squash plant taking over the garden was a volunteer from outside the garden, and we weren't sure what the frankensquash would be. It looks to be a regular zucchini. We lost most of our zucchini to vine borers so it was a welcome visitor.

He jumped the fence

I am linking to:

rsc21 super saturday
oh scrap
put your foot down

wednesday wait loss

waffle retirement

 I have the orange waffle stamp blocks finished for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy, in orange. I have added over 100 blocks this year. But, I am retiring this project to the ufo closet to wait it's turn for assembly. 

and pink

We grew sweet corn this year. And it worked. All our lives we have been near seed corn, and as a courtesy didn't grow it. So, this is new to us. We wondered with our critter problem this year, if we would even find our ears of corn gone one morning. We have a knee high fence, but the animals laugh at that. We ate corn, and loved every minute. ta da I bet that next year we will be on a critter vacation guide. I am sure the word will get out and every deer in the state will visit to see and eat. haha

I am linking to:

rsc21 super saturday
oh scrap
put your foot down

wednesday wait loss

last purple rsc saturday

This is the last Saturday for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. I spent the week finishing what I needed in purple for my rainbow projects. And, I am ready for the new color.

I had a few blue waffle stamp blocks

purple zipper

hunters star

star and crown

And it is sweet corn yummy season here. Our favorite farmer has his stand open and we are loving his corn. We grew a bit but it isn't ready. But it is time to sit out with a bee bee gun and protect it from the critters haha

I am linking to:

rsc21 super saturday
oh scrap
put your foot down

wednesday wait loss

sweet tooth

Every color of candy is my favorite after I make them. All the purple sweet tooth blocks are finished for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. I am thinking that I have too many rainbow scrap projects. I am struggling at the end of the month to get them all done. But, I really like them all. Maybe next year I will exercise a little more sense.

This is one of the planters by our back door. I planted the yarrow and the little pansy. The rest of what is growing are volunteers from last year. I didn't know petunias would volunteer. What a lovely surprise.

I am linking to:

rsc21 super saturday
oh scrap
put your foot down

wednesday wait loss

blue candy blocks

I did get the blue candy blocks finished this week for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. This time, I had many more choices of scraps to build these blocks. I have more blue and red scraps than any other color. I was able to go to my Friday group and I did make some progress. It was good to sew again. I think I am ready to tackle blue this month.

I have been canning butter as ghee. While I was at goodwill, trying to dig up some pint canning jars, I started talking to another women and she was telling me she had 100 pounds of butter canned. I felt inadequate. My goal was 12 pounds.

The garden is mostly planted.

I am linking to:

rsc21 super saturday
oh scrap
put your foot down

wednesday wait loss

I am linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different     here  and here

creations

peacock party

from bolt to beauty

put your foot down

oh scrap sunday

patchwork and quilts

fair and square blocks

I knew I was going to need more projects to take for our Friday and open sews coming up in April. I decided to dig out Fair and square and see what was next for moving this project along. This has been a puzzle from the beginning

I sewed the string triangles into twosies. I joined the twosies to make blocks.

I added black frames to the blocks.

I thought I was ready to start piecing rows, but the string blocks didn't fit. Back to the instructions -

I needed to trim.

Now, I am ready to make rows.

I  am linking to:

midweek makers  

wednesday wait loss

oh scrap sunday

string blocks

I grabbed a bucket of strings and crumbs and started sewing pieces together for my hole in the barn quilt. I feel like I am going to run out of the strips before I am done with all the colors for the rainbow scrap challenge. I only need the rectangles to be 2 1/2 inch wide. It is a great opportunity to use the small pieces.

I am aiming for rectangles that are 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches. 

I enjoyed my Mother's day with church and family for dinner. But, it certainly wore me out for today.

I am linking:

Monday Making

design wall monday 

oh scrap

to do tuesday