Making A Lather

Monday, November 16, 2020

quilt retreat

One of our guild members is a site manager for Indiana Wesleyan University at Kokomo. She hosts a "stay in your own bed" retreat a couple times a year to benefit IWU scholarship fund. We have a huge room, our own table, a huge cutting table, ironing boards, snacks, and fun companionship. We can even leave our machines overnight. We couldn't have more than 25 in our retreat due to covid, but, with the uptick in cases, we only had 14.

Shelley made a memorial tie quilt for a relative

many quilts were basted with the large tables available

lots of chain piecing and beautiful fabrics

Wanda was making a scrappy string quilt

just four patches

Something new for the retreat, was embroidery machines making fancy things. Two of the ladies actually hauled their huge and heavy machines into the workroom. It was amazing to see what they were making. But, I didn't like the constant noise. Santa has 12 little panels that are sewn together. Each panel takes 2 hours. My goodness.

And, it was funny that while she was making Santa, she was hand embroidering a little piece.

I put borders on this top at the retreat. I made the blocks and the center at our retreat in January.

my traffic jam quilt is a top

I am linking:

Saturday, November 14, 2020

zigging

I had one last row to do for the row by row quilt. I dug out turquoise scraps and cut 3 1/2 inch hsts. I made the row, and, started joining rows.

I pieced the top, cut the back, and prepared the binding. It is waiting a turn on the longarm.

All ready to quilt

I am looking to finish webbing the Irish chain quilt at retreat today. I worked on it yesterday, and started webbing the top. I am a little worried that I am too nosy to be working on something that needs a little more attention at retreat. There are those quilters that put their nose to the machine, and never look up until they are done. I am not one of them.

I cut and cut and cut

I was asked more than once, yesterday, how many rainbow quilts did I plan to make? I have plenty of scraps, that I am not sure the question is answerable. I think I will just say... a million. I think it is the best way to make a quilt. While I worked on big goals this year, I was "secretly" sewing blocks by color of the rainbow scrap challenge. And, then, presto, I will have a few new quilts ready to finish. And, I really like the bloggers and inspiration I find every Saturday. Lots of wins.

My rainbow projects for 2020 with links:

Irish chain
Shine
row by row
scraptastic star
country road
and now
postage stamp psp20

I am linking to:

rsc20 super saturday
oh scrap
UFO busting

Friday, November 13, 2020

project box

I opened another project box thinking it would be an easy decision. This quilt kit was a Joann fabrics block of the month called peaceful paisley from 2013. It was not an easy decision. All the Joann kits come with precut pieces and instructions. I like that, sometimes, as an easy piecing project when other projects become stressful. I found a complete set, and the setting kit, and the precut binding in the box. But, I also found several other block kits.

What I think I did, was use coupons to buy the original set, and, then, I bought odd blocks when they were clearanced. There was not a complete set, so, I just bought any 12 to make another quilt someday. I have 6 sewn together, but, one was missing the pieces for the brown border. I had a couple of fat quarters that I can cut to make the missing borders.

I am a spreader

I took this project box to Friday quilt group so that I could spread it out, and, see what I had. I decided to trade some of the hand applique blocks for pieced ones in the original kit. I plan to finish it and, then, decide about the rest. I am not sure I want to invest the time for an additional donation quilt. I did piece one more block at our meeting. I will take it today, and, play around some more, and, see if I can make a more concrete decision.

Linda brought her beautiful quilt to show us.

Linda's quilt

I'm linking to:

TGIFF

TG IFF different here and here

Whoop Whoop

creations

phd 20
peacock party
oh scrap
from bolt to beauty
UFO busting

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

country roads blocks

With the end of the colors for the rainbow scrap challenge for the year, I am catching up "other" colors for my country road blocks. I have really enjoyed making these this year. Pleasure versus difficulty is the perfect ratio. I have the cutting measurements memorized, so, anytime I have a scrap pass through the cutting mat, I can just cut a few.

With a little more research, I discovered other blocks in the sampler quilt, and, will probably make one of those blocks next year for the challenge. country roads is a free pattern. I have 110 so far, and, I just found a little batch that I missed. They finish at 5 inches so 10 x 12 would measure 50 x 60. That isn't a bad size, but, maybe, I would want it bigger. 12 x 14 would be 60 x 70 which is better. Or, maybe, 2 baby size donations - all kinds of possibilities. I am still sewing these, so, it isn't time to decide just yet.

I am linking to:

midweek makers

boms away
Oh scrap

I am linking to:

creative compulsions

needle and thread Thursdays

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

to do: rug border 1

I went to a drive through baby shower Saturday. Isn't that a hoot. This sweet lady and her husband have tried for 10 years to have a baby, and thanks to the pandemic ( not really) , they are having a baby girl in December I am so happy for them. We waited 5 long years for our first little treasure and, then, our second. I hated everyone's encouraging words of "just relax" but, in the end...... I wish I had.

I have had a long time rug hooking ufo project. It seems most of the year, without my guild meetings, I have been a slacker in my rug hooking. It was a big rug, but, still....

the center is complete now

I finished the center of my rug here. Now, it is time to get back into the finishing mood, and, work on this cute rug in time for the snow to fly.

I am ready for the rug border on my snowman rug. My quilting has certainly influenced my rug. I want a noticeable "binding" on the outside. I needed to cut the strips, and, join them on the bias. - just like quilting. Unlike quilting, I had to sew the "binding" to the linen before I hook the border. It is impossible to get the sewing machine to sew it close enough, after the hooking is complete. This way, I can hook right to the very edge of the wool fabric.

I also decided to make the final border shorter and just a simple plain border, instead of the pattern's swirls and stars. I just want to move this along and have the focus be the cute snowmen.

I am linking to:

to do tuesday

chameleon color linky _

oh scrap

Monday, November 9, 2020

wedding ring blocks

It was a difficult week last week, and, I escaped as often as possible to the sewing machine. I worked on piecing the 16 hsts that are in these blocks. I would sew during the day and then, trim and iron in the evening watching tv. My hubby bought the " leave me alone I am watching hallmark Christmas movies" socks for me last year for Christmas. I am practically living in them. haha.

These are part of a scrap bag I had last year about this time. looking back at the blog post, I see why I am having a problem with some of the sets I cut. I was aiming for 12 hsts when I need 16. These are called wedding ring blocks or cross and crown.

I have a new Grandson, but he was born prematurely ( due in January) and was 3 1/2 pounds and can't breath on his own... yet. They are doing wonderful things with preemies and we are very hopeful.

I am linking: