Wednesday Workings, May 28, 2025

 

The black binding won out =^.^=.  With only 17 1/2" of WOF fabric and needing eight strips of binding to get around Krushed...there wasn't quite enough for my usual 2 1/4" strips.  So some math had me working with 2 1/8" strips instead.

Wasn't too much left of this, favorite of mine, black print fabric by Primitive Gatherings.  There is enough of the selvage markings to have me on the hunt on the internet for more!  On the left is what was left of the eighth strip and on the right, the little sliver, what was left of the 17 1/2" fabric.

All the units are sewn on the Double Delight project.  I want the cheddar print for an inner border and a darker pink on pink for the outer border.  Bonnie Hunter did not do a pieced border on this design.  I would rather not finish with the setting triangles.  I will be on the lookout at Rosie's for a cheddar that will work well.  If I can't find a darker pink on pink for the outer border, it may end up with the inner border of cheddar being the binding.

There is no selvage left on the, long time in my stash, cheddar.  I should be able to find a solid if nothing else.  This is the lightest shade of pink on pink I will settle on; anything lighter would distract from the setting triangles in my opinion.

I have pulled fabric for the Sunshine BOM due at June's meeting.  Marilyn did quite the work on putting the instructions together on this project.  She provided the background fabric.  My blue has seabirds; I like it a lot.

Now you know I am not being idle...Garnets and Lilies by Kim Diehl is on my cutting mat now.  I have the first neutral on my ironing board for a press before cutting and the first three of 12 red FQs cut.  This is a 2025 UFO.  Time to get back to my 2025 UFO List...nearly half the year has finished.  I have six more to finish with hopes of catching up on some of the previous years' UFOs (eight back to 2022).

About to start my exercise for today before I get into my sewing room to put together Double Delight!

Design Wall Monday, May 26, 2025

 

I am moving right along with Double Delight.  There are two more rows of Rolling Star blocks to go.

The brown/gold square in a square blocks need trimming, stitching, and trimming before they will be ready for the block construction.  I am on a roll!

Orange

Red

Black

I need help on a decision for Krushed binding.  Each photo has a different color that I have enough fabric to get around this quilt.  The black is the only one that gives me pause to be enough.  I will need to measure it for sure before I commit.  There is always an option for a solid black if this black isn't enough.  I thought to go with red, but the orange is closer to the block design.  Then black???  Give me your one, two, and three =^.^=

Sunday Stash Report, May 25, 2025

Kwiltnkats Kloset (Millie's Dresses) finished.  This project turned out so nice.  Kerry has some fun quilting designs specifically designed for Millie's Dresses that she is interested in trying.  I say go for it Kerry!  The variety of dresses couldn't have been possible without the swap exchange with Pam, Christy, Jean, and Lorna.  I do have some leftovers that will become a charity quilt for our guild.

The cross stitch project for my niece Tiffany stitched by my grandma Alice is completely finished.  I hope to get this keepsake in the mail to Virginia sometime this week.  It has some wonderful quilting stitched out on it; great work Kerry.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Double Delight is coming along nicely.  I am still working on Part 2, but there are enough units to have me anxious to move onto Part 6.  Part 6 is the layout of the top.  Part 7 is the Finale that adds borders.

Krushed flew in from Kerry arriving Saturday.  Today I trimmed it down and will be starting on the binding process in the coming days.

So that puts us up-to-date for now.  I can roll my stash count again this week with the finish of Kwiltnkats Kloset.  Have a fabulous week =^.^=

Used this week: 13.5 yards 
Used YTD: 124.75 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 58.5 yards
Net used in 2025: 66.25 yards

Wednesday Workings, May 21, 2025

I have continued working on Millie's Dresses.  I have all the pieces cut and need next to start putting it together.  I sort of got bored...yes...it does happen sometimes =^.^=

I diverted my attention back to Double Delight.  I really want to see this one finished.  These square in a square units have a lot of trimming involved.  This was one of Bonnie Hunter's earlier mysteries.  I think today's square in a square units have less trimming.  I don't mind the trimming, but there is a lot of waste.  I would still trim to get the right size.  Those who like a bit more to "fudge" may like this better.

In my evening project, Children's Zoo, the lion was finished and the seal started.  I think cutting of Garnets and Lilies might get started as my evening project.  The cutting many times is the longest part of a project.  Since I like smaller pieces...there are much more to cut!

Front

Back

I was thrilled and amazed that Pam presented me so quickly with the bag project she was working for me.  I purchased all the fabric and notions at Between Stitches the weekend during the Sunshine Retreat.  She had it finished the following Friday.  I am so excited and thankful to have this bag for both sewing and my carryon for flights.  It is a good size at 13"H x 16"L x 8"W (measurements not exact).  It is a By Annie pattern.  I think this pattern is called Take A Stand.  Pam would have to chime in if you have an interest in this exact pattern.  Thanks again Pam for making this for me.

I am also working on my Grandma Alice's Stitchery for Tiffany project.  I have one side yet to bind down and the sleeve.  There will be a label on this quilt describing that my Grandma's work is recognized.  Kerry tells me Krushed is on her quilting machine now.  She hopes to have it in the mail before Saturday.  Excitement awaits on another project to bind!  Finally, I have a new Bonnie Hunter pattern to start pulling fabric for; charcoal/gray/gold.  The pattern is called Moonflower.  Just wait till you see this one!

Have a great Wednesday.

Design Wall Monday, May 19, 2025

Millie's Dresses is coming closer to a top.  There are several borders to add.  Three are more of the background.  One is in the instructions to match a dress, but I think I will choose a solid from one in the background fabric.  Not sure quite yet which one that will be.  There is also a pieced border that I am working on now.

Along with this project I am preparing the sleeve and binding for Grandma Alice's stitchery that will go to Tiffany.  I am anxious to get back to Double Delight, but first Millie's Dresses is front and center on my Design Wall =^.^=

 

Sunday Stash Report, May 18, 2025

My Cats in Pajamas is done.  I love how it turned out.  Now to cut 10" squares with my AccuQuilt and sew them together for a back.  I have already started auditioning fabrics for binding.  That striped pajama cat was difficult, but thanks to helpful suggestions the cat turned out very well.  I have not yet decided on a name if you have any suggestions...please let me know.

You might remember this one from Wednesday Workings post.  Flowers and Chocolates finished too.  I have a one piece back ready for it and the binding is already prepared.

I got this beautiful quilt back from Kerry on Saturday.  General consensus has the sashing fabric to be used for the binding.  This is Grandma Alice's work that I finished for Tiffany.  Isn't the quilting awesome? 

I get to change my stash count today with the finish of two projects.  One a 2025 UFO!  Excellent =^.^=

Used this week: 14.25 yards 
Used YTD: 111.25 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 58.5 yards
Net used in 2025: 52.75 yards

 

Wednesday Workings, May 14, 2025

 

Flowers and Chocolates was the last project I worked on at the retreat.  I have it finished today.  A one piece backing has been selected and the binding is prepared.  No name decided upon right now.  This pattern/kit comes from Fat Quarter Shop's 2025 Cupid Box.

The stripe pajama cat has had a makeover.  Jennifer suggested the green eyes and Lorna suggested the stripes on the body go horizontal.  Corrected both problems from the first try.  There is a 2" finished sashing that goes throughout with a 3" finished border.  I will be working on this tomorrow.  Looking towards a finish.  Thinking to use my lighter grays for a back; cutting them into 10" squares.  Now time to think of a name for this project.

I did get out the Millie's Dresses project.  I am auditioning the dresses/collar/belts with my background.  Seems that I have a lot of purple combinations.  I have changed some of the exchanges around a bit as well.  I plan to sew on this project at Rosie's on Friday.  Photos for sure on Sunday's Blog Post.  =^.^=

Design Wall Monday, May 12, 2025

I don't have much time today for sewing.  I had aqua fit class at 9am, sorting out from the retreat, pulling together what will be going with me for Sunshine monthly tomorrow, and meeting up with Kerry while she is in town.  It has been a busy time since last Thursday and will be through the week.

I took apart the stripe kitty and hope to find the time Tuesday morning to put him back together.

Here are the 11 arranged right now with the stripe cat to go on the bottom left.  Spacers (top rows one and three, bottom rows two and four) will be placed with 2" finished sashing between the blocks and rows.  It completes with 3" finished border.  The entire project will measure 72" square.  I am so happy to have found the gray dot in the sale room at Rosie's and purchased it before Robyn and Lynn!

Tomorrow is Challenge Reveal at Sunshine.  I am looking forward to everyone's interpretation of the Idiom they choose to sew out and the project they created.  We have some very talented quilters in our group.  My post on Wednesday will show my project.  I think it might be obvious the Idiom I choose...I'll let you guess!

Happy Monday everyone =^.^=

Sunday Stash Report, May 11, 2025

 

Wish I could be with mom today, but we did get to talk on the phone.  I also shared the call with the retreaters who know her.  It was a very nice bit of love passed on.  I'll be catching up with mom a little later.  This last day of the retreat is a bit chaotic...last minute sewing and packing up to head home.

Thursday was the first day of the retreat.  We set up our stations and began our first project.  Mine was Part 3 of Double Delight.  This part was 130 9-patch that finish at 3".  I had these cut and partially sewn when I started in on them.  I also had Part 1 and Part 2 cut, but didn't work on them.

Friday was day two and Cats in Pajamas was front and center...actually the RIGHT facing cats.  All the cats were cut beforehand, but let me tell you lots of pieces.  The first cat took some flipping the instruction pages.  Cat two wasn't quite as challenging.  By cat three no instructions were required.  There are 12 cats, six facing RIGHT and six facing LEFT.  Gina helped me decide which color cat/pajama combo should face which direction.  Marti and Debra - did you finish your cats during the QAL?  I will be working on the stripe cat; can't see the eyes and the red accent is too close to a red stripe making it appear larger than the other cat's accents.  Jennifer requested green eyes!

Saturday had me making the LEFT facing cats.  Each cat finished drew excitement from the retreaters (which I loved to hear).  Marilyn assigned a home location for a few of the cats.  Not sure how she made these revelations, but the red one (top row left) hails from Washington and the one just below from New York.  Can't remember the others.  Several wanted a tuxedo cat, but all the units were already cut.  Perhaps Marti or Debra will make a tuxedo or white cat.

The afternoon on Saturday had me making the service project, a mastectomy pillow/bag.  I knew this fabric would work well for this project.  I cut a second kit that will be sewn at a later date.  Let me know if you want the pattern.  Carol won the 14 In My Garden blocks, several won spools of thread as Bingo prizes, Doreen and Karen won Left Right Center, not sure who won the trivia game, and each of us won a door prize.

If you know how much I love a Halloween quilt; you will know how much I loved my door prize.  I am already moving my Halloween quilts on my walls every other day the Halloween week; it may need to be every day very soon.  Five of us participated in the Millie's Dresses project dress/collar/belt swap.  We did the swap (thanks Pam for coordinating) on Saturday too.  I'll share photos a bit later, but I got some fancy dresses!  Pam and Christy got a great start on putting their dresses together.

Sunday was our last day to get in some sewing.  I started in on Flowers and Chocolates project.  This didn't get to far before it was time to pack up for home.

Most of us participate in a small gift exchange.  Here is what came home with me.  Mom made my trinket to pass out, a small prayer block with a cross enclosed.  Everyone liked the idea and the poem that came along with it explaining the idea behind the prayer block.

I didn't find any projects at the two quilt shops in the area, but did purchase everything to make a bag that an expert will be sewing for me!  Hope your Mother's Day was special.  Another annual retreat is complete and I am already looking forward to next year's.

Used this week: 0 yards 
Used YTD: 97 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 58.5 yards
Net used in 2025: 38.5 yards

Wednesday Workings, May 7, 2025

This was the first part to get done, Part 3.  130 pink and white 9-patch blocks.  The block finishes at 3 1/2 inches each square 1 1/2 inches.  I need more of the pink-white-pink units since it goes on the top and bottom.  The total units being 260.  

At this point I have about half as much as needed or around 150.  So I'll be cutting more and using up more of my pre-cut 1 1/2 inch neutrals.  With all the Bonnie Hunter quilts I've been making lately...my pre-cut neutrals are showing a bottom to their tote :).  The light-pink-light are all done, 130 of them.  Kosmo wanted so bad to be in the photos taken this morning.

I finished cutting all the pieces for Part 1.  Started off with the indigo blue 2 5/8 inch squares and then lots and lots of HST.  The finished unit being a square within a square.  This will be 120 Unit 1-As.  Thought I would never finish the 360 neutrals.  I used the Easy Angle tool with 2 1/2 inch strips.  Of course using my AccuQuilt cutter.  Kosmo still trying to get in the action.

I finally had to give in to this cutie!  

I haven't made much headway with Part 2.  This one will take just as many units as Part 1 only changing the fabrics to the one cheddar fabric for the square within a square; along with the one brown fabric as the frames.

This morning I used the AccuQuilt 2 1/2 inch die to cut more brown strips.  I need 480 HSTs for Part 2.  Two strips yielded only 51.  So I cut another four strips to work on with the Easy Angle ruler for Unit 1-B.  This project just might have to be added to my "take to retreat projects".

I am packing up the SUV with projects, sewing notions and tools, sewing table and chair, wagon, game antes and in my garden BOM, oh and clothes and cosmetics.  I will be leaving home for Temecula before noon.  It is going to be a great weekend =^.^=