Design Wall Monday, February 4, 2013


Here we are the first Monday of February...before you know it we'll be through another year.  My goodness time doesn't slow down.  I have been working on my #13 UFO (the project for extra credit).  It is from the Mystery Workshop I took at Road to California Quilt Show last weekend.  The project is called Expect the Unexpected by Karen Sievert.  I have been trimming and making more blocks, but just breaking the surface with what will be needed for the project.  I'm using my Bloc-Loc ruler to square up the HSTs.


This is the project that has most of my attention.  Something new I am trying to use up some scraps.  The first row is the hardest, but I think I have gotten the hang of it.  You stop after six to eight rows and turn the loom to do the next set of six to eight rows.  Then flip it back and do another six to eight rows continuing the process until the weave meets in the middle.  Apparently there is a tendency for an hour glass shape to come about in the middle if you only worked from one end to the other.  The warp strips (running up and down) are 1 1/4" wide.  The weaving strips (running side to side) are 2 1/2" wide.  I've used anything brown and green for my first rug.  It goes pretty fast and uses 17 yards of fabrics.


On my Design Wall are three projects.  The middle project is my Mom's.  The first three rows are sewn into blocks.  She's working on the last row now.  The projects on the sides are mine.  A bear block exchange on the left that only needs settings to pull the blocks together and on the right are the first two blocks of the second workshop I took at Road to California Quilt Show, Seven Sisters Simplified.  Lots going on!

For more inspiration see other quilters works through the links at Patchwork Times.  Enjoy your first week of February!

Sunday Stash Report, February 3, 2013

San Francisco Line Up!
Dungeness Crab
Ghiradelli Chocolate

Ravens Line Up!
Blue Crab
Lady Baltimore Cake
I'm not sure what you'll be doing later today, but I'll be watching FOOTBALL!  Being that I'm a transplant to California from Maryland rooting for a team will be a tough decision for me.  DH will be rooting for San Francisco and Mom will be rooting for Baltimore.  There have been all kinds of things written in the papers about the big sporting event.  One I thought was interesting was on what foods to serve.  There was an entire line up of San Francisco foods that included Dungeness crab and Ghiradelli chocolates and a great beer from the area.  The list of San Francisco foods was tough to beat.  Baltimore came in with Blue crabs and Lady Baltimore cake and a beer that just isn't too my liking.  What threw me to San Francisco line up was the beer!  I do enjoy a good IPA!  Who will you root for?



I didn't purchase any fabric this week.  My Mom and I have been sorting and cutting to size a bunch of scraps.  The main purpose for this is to find strips in greens and browns to make a rug.  I purchased a rug size loom at Road to California Quilt Show last weekend.  It is said that 17 yards of fabrics will be required to make a rug that fits this loom.  17 yards will certainly help me use my stash!  I've got the warping on the loom now and just finished preparing the weaving strips.  This being the first rug to make I really don't know if that ball of 2 1/2" strips will be enough.  I guessed on the 1 1/4" warping strips and fell short by about a third of what I needed to fill the loom.  I have plenty to build another ball...

I've not done much quilting this week other than the Travel Case.  I'll be gathering fabric today to start my February UFO.  See how others use up their fabrics at Patchwork Times.  Hope your team is a winner today!


Used this week:  0 yards
Used YTD:  46 yards
Purchased this week:  0 yards
Purchased YTD:  5.25 yards
Net Fabric Used in 2013:  40.75





Saturday, February 2, 2013

Well today is Ground Hog's Day.  Was there a shadow?  I've not heard yet...  There's been no shadows in my sewing room I'm happy to say.  Mom and I took the Travel Case workshop at Bits and Pieces on Thursday.  We are happy with our Travel Cases.  Plan to change up the batting with any that we make in the future.  What we used was a bit thicker than what we really needed.
My Travel Case


Mom's Travel Case
I got my January UFO #5 in on time.  Aunt Marti pulled #4 to work on in February.  Here's what you'll be seeing me work on during the month.  It is a small one finishing 13 1/2" square.  I'll be calling my project Kadette.  If you want pattern information check out my list of 2013 UFOs in my Pages at the right.

Next up a completion!  Kovers is finished.  Kerry's Quilting did a terrific job on the quilting.  I'm so happy with how this mystery project turned out.  The quilt finishes at 71" square.







Have a terrific day today.  Find time to do what you enjoy most.  I'll be sewing with my Mom!