{Post 1,100} Christmas Runner

Gifts.  They are a thorn in my side.  I always feel like the gifts I give are inadequate.  But I'm doing my best and putting a lot of heart into them!  

I made two of these Little ZZ runners as gifts.  One for my girl, Elisabeth (that I never posted a picture of finished), and one for someone else.  The someone else hasn't seen hers yet.  It turned out so nicely that I decided to make one for a surprise for a woman at my church.  I admire her very much.  In fact, when I grow up, I want to be as selfless, kind, and loving as she.  I am going to surprise her with this tomorrow.  It is finished and measures 17-1/2" x 23-1/2".

Little ZZ #3:

Scrappy red binding, too.  Three different fabrics that I had bits of in my binding drawer.  I like it!!

{Post 1,092} Little ZZ Center Finished

The center of the Little ZZ (I think that stands for Zig Zag) is finished.  I am so done in.  Whatever this is that has me by the throat (literally) is wearing me out.  It's like a cold that has all settled in my throat.  Makes me cough a lot, and I'm short of breath nearly all the time.  Heaven forbid I have to WALK!!

This did, indeed turn out the projected size of 17-1/2" x 23".

As usual, I sew first and think of a recipient later.  I had several different people in mind.  Now I know who it will be, but they don't know it's them, so I'll keep the recipient a surprise for now.

~Joan

{Post 1,091} Runner Rearranged and Partially Sewn

Here is the progress picture on my runner.  I did it.  I rearranged some of the blocks.  I noticed in the sample picture that there are 3-5 blocks of one color in a row, so I f-o-r-c-e-d myself to do it.  

The top left corner is sewn together, and I have 3 more rows pieced to add later (just lying quietly on the design wall).  Off for an errand and might sew more later.

{Post 1,090} New Runner Started

My sweet 14-year-old got her top braces off yesterday.  We left our house at 7:30 and didn't get home until 4:15.  I have been under the weather (yes, that's me coughing and hacking), so I was completely exhausted after all that running around.

We went to Hobby Lobby for a couple specific things.  I always peruse the quilt magazines while I'm there.  I saw this little runner (17" x 23") and decided to give it a go.  

It is a FREE pattern from Fons and Porter.  I love free patterns.  I cut out a bunch of strips this morning, sewed them together, subcut some units, and some triangles.

Here is the quilt laid out on my design wall.  It is in perfectly OCD rows of green and red zigzags.  I tried to mix them up as I laid them out, but I.  could.  not.  

I sewed a bunch of strips up and ended up with about twice as many red units as green.  One of the things that appealed to me about the original quilt's picture is that the colors are all red and green, but they are mixed up.  Can *I* do THAT??  I'm gonna try before I call it a finished design layout.  I want to be less perfectionist, but old habits die hard.  Stay tuned.

~Joan