{Post 1,577} String Trees

As I was working on some of my Christmas 2018 blocks, I had an idea.  I think it was a good one! The trees are cut from a piece that starts 7" wide. I had some big chunks left over from last year's Christmas quilt. I experimented with using up the chunks as strings...I like it!! I am going to do the same with the large red innermost blocks when I run out of the ones I have already cut. I think it adds a lot of interest to the quilt, and it's more who I am. What do you think?

I got the idea from the block in the above picture that is the second row down. The second Puss in the Corner block has a pieced red center. The piece I had left over from cutting other blocks was a-l-m-o-s-t big enough. I added just a tiny corner to "stretch" it. That's when it hit me--I could do the same with the greens I had left for trees. 

Pressing onward!

{Post 1,576} 2018 Parker Christmas Quilt Started

I have seen this pattern floating around magazines and Pinterest for many years. I finally ordered one, and here is what I've got after a couple days of chopping up and piecing shirt scraps.

The blocks are 8-1/2" square. I opted to go completely scrappy, as you can see. The tree in the fourth row down is pieced from scraps as well. I figured, why not?

Here is the original pattern. I am only changing the fabric selection. I don't know what I will do for the outermost border yet. Stay tuned! Hopefully, I won't be quilting this one the week of Christmas like I did the one for 2017! I won't be putting that one yellow star on there.

I am firmly blaming Julie and Bonnie for my shirt addiction. Not only do I have the following picture to "debone", but I bought 8 more shirts today, all large, long-sleeved. I needed the colors in the new shirts, in my defense! That's my story, and I'm sticking with it.

{Post 1,575} Not Progress After All

Well, I was just bragging on my speedy piecing skills. It's kinda like a long trip when you realize you're making great time, but you're completely lost. My quilt is composed of A and B blocks. A's have dark squares on the corner. B's have light squares. Instead of making 7 more B squares, I made 7 more A's. So now I have:

1.  A quilt that will be twice as large, that needs 14 more B blocks.

2.  A baby quilt that still needs 7 more B blocks.

3.  Another long-term scrap project, because I need another project like I need another hole in my head (to quote my grandmother).

4. A headache-free head, since this easy piecing has helped my headache of 3 days go away!!

Stay tuned to see which is correct. This was not a test. Just a fun piecing morning. This gives me the opportunity to add in some more brightly-colored squares as well. Win/win.

{Post 1,574} So Manly!

Last night I started a baby quilt for an acquaintance where I bank. She is expecting a boy at the end of February. I have been seeing this quilt on my Pinterest board, and finally pulled out the rotary cutter and got busy. Center squares are denim (goodbye, favorite jumper--we've had a long and glorious history, but it is time for you to move on...) that finish at 6" square. Outer squares are 2" finished. There are two blocks, the dark and light are opposite on each. Hence, the first 8 are finished and one extra just to see how it works. Just 7 blocks to go before I can set them together for the quilt center. Won't this be a charming baby boy quilt? All rugged and denim-y? The 2" squares are men's shirt fabrics. The blocks finish at 10" square.

{Post 1,573} Hand Quilting Under Way

A long time ago in a far-away place, I had happy Tuesday nights at QT...quilting time. I met with 3-4 other ladies every Tuesday night to work on a hand sewing project. Those days were welcome and happy. This was starting back in '92, as in 1992. Seems like a million years ago. 

As I thought back to them, I decided to start QT at my house. But I am calling mine Sit 'N Sew. Tuesday nights from 7-9 at my house. No food is served. Everyone brings their own beverage if they want. Last night was the first meeting. I worked on hand quilting my Valentine quilt. I have worked on it a lot today, and I am nearly finished with the top panel.

I machine quilted meanders in the floral strips with dark red thread. The area is so busy that it won't show much anyway. I machine basted with the same thread (to save time) as I did the rest of the quilting. 

I am outlining all the applique with hand quilting in cream, and also doing a cross-hatch pattern with straight lines 1-1/2" apart. Today has been comfort activities...making comfort food (home made chicken and dumplings in my Instant Pot) and hand quilting. It started snowing last night about 1 AM and did not stop until about an hour ago at 4 PM. Actually, it is still coming down, but much more slowly. So it has been a stay in kinda day.

Here is a picture of the front and back. I picked a fabric I just want to use up for the back. This is a wall hanging, so no one will be the wiser. 

{Post 1,572} Mock-up of Valentine Wall Hanging

Here are my 3 appliqued panels and 4 floral strips for my Valentine wall hanging. Now sewn together yet. I am babysitting 2 little girls while their parents move into their new-to-them house. Very limited sewing time.

{Post 1,571} Valentine Quilt Begun

This is the first of 3 similar panels for a Valentine wall hanging for our foyer. I have had this in mind for years and years. Now I realize I won't have long to hang it this year if I finish it before 2/14 at all. That is what has kept me from making one in years past. I am going to press on (literally) and try to get this finished for this year.

The panel is 8-1/2" tall and 42" wide. I am trying to compress it some to make it finish at 36" wide.

The middle applique panel is reversed from this one, and the third is the same.

They are separated by simply pieced chunky strips. I am considering doing it all the same fabric instead. The jury is out on that decision at this point. I'll focus on the applique panels, and I'll see how the quilting vibes flow from there.