December finishes

This year went to fast. I did not see Christmas coming. I did buy a tree, my daughter decorated it on her own. And Christmas was there .... and went so quickly that I decided to have a Christmas diner the end of January. And now is the last day of the year and am much better prepared. We made oliebollen this afternoon (Dutch beignets we typically make the last day of the year and eat nothing else). The bird is cooking in the oven, the gravadlax is ready and the guests are coming around 7 PM.

Wishing everyone a "bon bout d'an" and an excellent 2023!!

1) Slow stitching

The fourth block of my TP Sunrise quilt is finished. Am getting better at EPP and still enjoying the slow pace of making blocks.This block looks a bit Christmassy so was a perfect December task

2) Penguin quilt

The head units of the Penguin quilt are done. I was quite frustrated with the little blocks - after some pressing they looked much better. And hey, in real life Penguins are not very symmetrical in any case.

3) Ross Blanket

The weaving in of ends not yet done - three blocks to go - so these should be done in January. 

Linking up with Patty's OMG December party over at Elm Street Quilts

December aims and November finishes

December is here, the Christmas tree is bought, ideas were running around .... and 7 days in to the month not sure where to start and what to finish. In October and November I managed to finish a third block of my TP Sunrise EPP quilt

 

as well as my mini quilt as part of the tqs-white elephants quilt swap, based on my railfence quilt I made in 2020 ...

So for December at least .....

1) Slow stitching

I cut the triangles for block 4 - 6 of my TP Sunrise quilt and at least one block will be done by the end of this month. I keep them in a little playmobil suitcase that is no longer used by my kids ...

2) Penguin quilt

Last year I bought the pattern for Elisabeth Hartman's penguin quilt. I cut the fabric - all little pieces and all ... and then never got around finishing the quilt as was sidetracked by other new projects .... Last month started sewing and managed to get the eye and beak sections done ... not that much progress. So the aim is to work on this quilt and at least get the head sections done ..... 

 3) Ross Blanket

In 2017 I started the Ross blanket and somewhere in 2019 finished all block ... and they all ended up in a project bag just waiting. In 2021 I started weaving in ends ... of a few blocks. A few weeks ago decided that if I would not finish this blanket I might as well throw all out ... which would be a real pity of all the work ... so now almost done with weaving in ends ... 5 left out of 40 ... so with a bit of effort and optimizing in-between-time and watching soccer championship .... these blocks might end up being ready for assembly in 2023 .....

Linking up with Patty's one monthly goal for December over at Elm Street Quilts

Feathers quilt and other finishes

This month made quite some progress. Maybe because the evenings are colder so less likely to spend hours outside. Also we had quite some rain - quilting and rain are best friends.

1) Feathers quilt

Earlier this year I participated in the Feather sew along organized by Alison Glass. Her team had set up a community board and we had online sessions. I really enjoyed the process and we actually got to meet Alison who participated in the different sessions, explaining the pattern, and cutting, paper piecing, .... this was the first time I actually met the designer of fabric I was using.

The top was done within the SAL and I earned the finisher's pin and a label. 

Before quilting the layers I wanted to be sure that what I was going to do would work and gave this process quit some time. I knew I wanted to have lines in the grey areas, other than that ......????

In October, decided to give this a go. I used grey thread - charcoal for the top and light grey for the backside. And indeed this was the effect I was looking for. 

Next step - what to do with the coloured areas ..... definitely not grey as that would stand out too much in the coloured areas. While my brain was processing what to do, I worked on my hand piecing project.

Light-bulb moment - what if I used variegated thread in the colours of the fabric. Perfect solution, the thread use (Mettler silk finish) is perfect and blends in well. Plus it gives some colour to the grey areas without disturbing the pattern.

2) Slow stitching

Block 2 of the Tula Pink Sunrise quilt is done. I learned a lot from doing the first block - which was my first attempt ever at EPP. The assembly of the block went much easier. For block 1 I had stitched all triangles together before attaching to the center block. For block 2 I worked in groups of triangles. The center carton stayed in place which will help stabilize the block while I work my way through the next 14 blocks plus plus plus ..... For block 3 I aim to learn to make smaller stitches. 

I do like the hand stitching. Let's see how many years this project will take .....

3) Sock knitting

My socks are done, waiting for Christmas to wear, or maybe just waiting for cold weather.

                                        

Next pair of socks maybe try a new pattern ......always a perfect on the go project.

Linking to Patty's OMG October over at Elm Street quilts

October goals

 October projects on my list are

1) Slow stitching

I prepared the triangles for block 2 of the Tula Sunrise quilt and aim to hand sew it this month.

2) Sock knitting

Continue working on sparkle sock number 2 ...... The last few days my focus was on this second sock, finished the heel, turned the heel .....  I have a few inches of knitting left so should be able to wear them at Christmas.

3) Feathers quilt

My feathers top was finished in February. This beauty has to adorn my sofa fast. Last night I ironed the top as well as the backing. Aim is to baste, quilt and bind this month.

 

Linking up with OMG October over at Elm Street Quilts
 

September finishes

At the beginning of each month I make a little list of what I want to work on, or I continue last month's list as some of my projects are more long-term than planned.

1) Slow stitching

I finished block one this month, and prepared the triangles for block 2

2) Sock knitting

Continue working on sock number 2 ...... have made progress, and the month is not finished yet ...

  

3) tqs_animal swap

I finished the cushion cover and the two extras of my tqs_animalswap2022. Unfortunately my secret partner has not yet sent hers so I cannot send mine. Don't want to post pictures so need to be patient and wait until she has send hers off.

4) Any project of my pile of UFOs

I finished the top of my quilt rise above. This was not expected, but lots of rain does that. Once I got going on the last 12 blocks, I really felt like finishing. 

Linking up with Patty's September OMG over at Elm Street Quilts

Rise above quilt top

The past two weeks decided to finish the last 12 blocks of the quilt. The pattern is set up as a 10-month programme and I had two months left from the block making. I started cutting and sewing and some more cutting and sewing ..... this weekend we had a lot of rain, so instead of going for a walk ended up finishing the assembly of all 64 blocks. I cut all blocks to the same size, a bit more work, and so worth the effort as the blocks nicely fit together. 

In summer I took a picture with the last 12 blocks missing and this is when I realized how huge this top is. The measures are in inches, clearly I did not pay attention when I bought the pattern ... I just really liked it.

All-in-all I managed to get the 10 months done in 5 months, well 4 cause in August did not make any blocks (1+2 in May, 3-5 in June, 6+7 in July, 8+9 in September - the last 12 blocks and assembly).

I really like the end result, if only this quilt would be a bit smaller. So now am contemplating to finish this quilt and make a friend the lucky recipient of this piece of love. And re-make the quilt using either same or different colours downsizing the total. I figured if I reduce by 2/3 this would be feasible. I might have to change from inches to cm as that might be easier to calculate; an example is 3 7/8 inches is one of the measures used a lot in this quilt and in cm 2/3 would be 6.56 cm. Although after doing a search online, 2/3 of 3 7/8 is 2.58 inches and with a precise ruler - cutting would be possible. 

I took a picture while my kids held the quilt hanging from our balcony. The star pops out well.

September projects

The kids are back to school, I am still teleworking for at least 50% and decided that I should try to be more efficient with my free time. Or at least try to be a bit more creative. 

1) Slow stitching

Block one should be finished this month, and the triangles for block 2 prepared

2) Sock knitting

Continue working on sock number 2 ...... it has been a while since last time I actually knitted

 

3) tqs_animal swap

Am participating in the tqs_animalswap2022 and need to send next week my package should be ready to ship. So no pictures of this until the end of the month

4) Any project of my pile of UFOs

Make progress on any of my waiting quilt tops, not sure which one .... either feathers quilt or the sewcialites, or ........

Linking up with Elm Street quilts - OMG September organized by Patty.

August progress slow stitching

This month I surprised myself. We went on holidays and after reading how many crafters bring a slow stitching project along, I decided do deep-dive and start the Sunrise quilt. The advantage is definitely that such a small project hardly takes up any space in my bag. And I don't have to count stitches or rows. 

As I have no clue how to assemble the blocks, other than start stitching together, I decided to sew the triangles in batches for the first block. 

Thereafter started sewing these batches to the dodecagon - we had to look up how one would call a polygon with 12 sides. Simple: dodeca is twelve in Greek - so dodecagon it is.

The aim is to finish one block per month .... otherwise this quilt will take two years. Most likely this will take me at least two years in any case ... 

Linking up with Patty's OMG for August over at Elm Street quilts.

Slow stitching in August

In October 2019 I was in NY and of course had to go on a hunt for quilt shops. I visited one, held the Tula Pink Sunrise quilt kit in my hands and in the end did not buy it as thought I would never ever have the patience for hand quilting.

 

In April 2020 with the lock down of the pandemic and being at home, I decided to buy the quilt online. The kit took over three months to arrive; first it was in quarantine in the US ... no flights ..... Then finally after many weeks the package left the US ... only to arrive in Japan .... mmm wrong direction .... 

Somewhere in between lock downs the kit arrived and I just did not get around starting. 

In all fairness, I had never did English paper piecing before, that is why initially I did not buy the kit. 

This summer, with the heat wave and inside a lot, I ended up watching many videos on how to do EPP. August is here and I decided to start. I have cut a bunch of triangles and prepared them. I have some nice thread so ready to go.

 

The aim this month is to sew several sets of two triangles, even if only enough for one sun. After all, this is a first.

Linking up with Patty over at Elm Street Quilts for August's OMG.

June finishes

 Court yard quilt

Once I finished the top of Courtyard quilt designed by Every day stitches, I had to decide for the backing. I was not sure what to do and ended up buying some green fabrics. From left overs I made flower petals and stitched these in a circle and some more floating away.

 The two layers were sent to the Netherlands for long arm quilting (Stitched in Color). I really like the quality of the work done by Rachel. Usually I sent her the tops and she provides suggestions. Choosing is always a challenge – and part of the fun.

Then this week I added the binding and gifted the quilt.

 

A friend of mine said how I was always making quilts and I was most likely building a collection. Actually not that much yet as I end up making quilts that I give away. And each time I give some love with the quilt.

Sock knitting

I started the second sock and knitted an inch. Progress … but not enough as I have more wool waiting to be turned in to socks

Rise above quilt

In June I built the blocks of months 3, 4 and 5. I had cut the fabric over a weekend and then all I had to do was make some blocks each week. I started cutting month 6 so that will be my July objective.

June goals

 A new month and new aims.

Work less

Be happy

Be creative

 

1) Courtyard quilt

I finished the top of the courtyard quilt in May

and managed to send it all off to my favourite long-arm quilter (Stitched in Color) in the Netherlands. 

The package is now waiting for me to be picked up at the post office. My aim is to finish the binding, not forget the label and gift at the end of the month.

2) Socks

I started on sock 2 and am sure there will be some rainy days this month that i can get some knitting done. 

3) Rise above quilt

Last  year I bought the pattern Rise above from Charisma Horton. The fabrics - all solids - I got separately at the fabric market. The pattern is set up as a "block of the month" program - doing in my own rhythm though.

In May I made the blocks of month 1 and 2. In June I aim to make month 3, I started cutting already.

Linking up with Patty's June OMG over at Elm Street Quilts

April finishes

The first two weeks of April lots of happened in my creative corner ...and the second week ... lots of other non-crea happiness.

1) courtyard quilt

Early April the fabric for the inner blocks was cut and the blocks were made. The fabric is easy to work with, although I have yet to try starching my fabric before cutting ... well one day .... maybe  ..... The fabric for the outer blocks are cut, however not yet sewn together. Maybe tomorrow ... the weather forecast was rain ... and now is one big sunny day ... so sewing all outer blocks is so not happening .... 

2) secret colour swap

The mini quilt and extras are finalized and sent off. Not yet received so cannot take any risk in showing the colour pictures ... B&W for now only.

The mini quilt is based on the one main colour and lots of improv. I loved the process and will try this for sure again. The overal idea was to make a log cabin blog in any way.

3) socks

One sock is finished (apart from closing the toes) and the second sock started. These will be ready before Christmas.

Linking with OMG April at Elm Street Quilts

April goals

 There are days I am productive and other days just not at all. And then there are all these projects waiting to be finished, started ..... and so many more ideas swirling through my mind.

April will need to help me get rid of some.And what better way than goal setting to advance.

1) secret colour swap

This year participating again in the secret colour swap and this month need to finish the mini quilt and some extras. The mini top is done, needs quilting and binding. I also made a start with one extra ... pictures in B&W as the colours need to stay a surprise

 

2) Court yard quilt

As part of my restrictions of not buying anything new - I completely messed up - and bought the pattern, rulers and fabric of the court yard quilt. This quilt will be a gift. I started cutting and need to get at least the inner blocks done. 

 

3) Socks

I started knitting a new pair of socks this winter and one sock is almost done. Definitely need to finish this sock. 

Linking up with Patty at Elm Street Quilts for OMG April

March finishes

 The last few days we have had a bit of rain which is always good - good for our garden and good for my creativity. In spring we all like to be outside more, go for walks and take in the sun.

This month I finished a few projects.

1) Baby Angled quilt

Learning how to cut and sew triangles was one of my aims in 2019 and I started the Angled course. Got sidetracked pretty quickly - not only creatively, also professionally. End 2021 I made a candy hexagon quilt and had some blocks left over. I also had quite some triangles from cutting all these hexagons. This was the "push" I needed to finish my triangle baby quilt. Other reasons of course were that the baby was born in December and that I wanted to end all this pink sewing. Did I mention that I was sidetracked a few times? That I made another quilt top in between earlier this year ....

 

The quilt is done and I like the result, well not fully. The batting I used was this synthetic batting - the only thing I can find where I live - taxes have gone out of control when ordering from the UK or the US. I started sewing diagonal lines and for one or the other reason - my quilt size shrank. If I pulled it straight - and released again - other areas where I quilted horizontal lines this did not happen.

Anyways, the quilt is sweet enough to be gifted and am hoping that washing will reduce this weird shriveling.

 

Linking up with Patty at the March OMG over at Elm Street Quilts.

 

2) Tote bag

As part of the tqs fabric swap I received the cutest fabric with vans. I made a tote bag from the fabric, using the two colour schemes on the outside. I have enough fabric to make a second tote bag, or am thinking to try my hands at a backpack for summer.

 

OMG March Triangle baby quilt

 

 

Three years ago, I purchased the "Angled" Course from Stitched in colors. This was a monthly subscription and I joined the party late … and never finished the first course. I did learn a lot, and one of my goals this year is to work my way through the book. Starting with finishing the first lesson on Equilateral Triangles and the first quilt.

 

I already made quite some rows of triangles. I used my 24” ruler that has the lines for 60 degrees angles. I still have some triangles cut from the first series of cutting that need to be sewn together.  

Although I think that I am not going to use the larger triangles.

Plus I have a small box with triangles from the hexagon quilt I made last year. Plenty of triangles to finish the baby quilt for a baby girl born last December.

This is a great way of using up scraps.

Linking up with Patti's OMG for March over at Elm Street Quilts

Feathers SAL February finish

My feathers top is finished. And she is a beauty. The pattern is by Alison Glass and Nydia Kenhle. And the fabric is from Alison Glass bought as a kit and a selection from different Sun Prints, Ellipse and Cross Stitch.

 

Those colours - so vibrant - if shipping and taxes had not become so expensive I could just buy kilos of the Alison Glass fabric. Why was I so slow in discovering this fabric line?

The pattern calls for paper piecing - and I do like the precision of the final product. The high waste factor is a minus .... and so is removing all the paper. Maybe some more folding of the quilt and the different paper pieces might make it easier to remove. I managed to keep up with the schedule of the sew-a-long and finish in time

Or maybe I should have Sindbad roll a bit more all over the quilt to soften the paper ...

Linking up with Patti's OMG for February over at Elm Street Quilts

OMG February Feathers SAL

 Last year on IG a sew a long was announced and after going back and forth - I decided to participate. The pattern and fabric is from Alison Glass "Feathers". I bought AG fabrics on line in the UK and oh my it is so nice. The fabric, the colours .......

I have made a few blocks so far and my goal is to have the top finished by the end of the month.

Linking up with Patty's OMG for February over at Elm Street Quilts

January OMG finish - Frida Kahlo cushion cover

Frida Kahlo cushion cover

I am a huge Frida Kahlo fan. And when I saw the panel that can be used to make a bag or cushion cover I bought it. Not sure if this would be for a cushion or something else ...... Making a bag is on my list of projects tot tackle this year. However my youngest needed a new cushion with a nice cover as we had thrown the one he had away.

 

Last year I found this great sugar skulls fabric on line and bought a meter. A good thing I did, as now the fabric was used to make a border around the panel and for the backing.

 

My youngest is happy with the end result.

Pinguin quilt

I finished cutting all the fabric for my pinguin quilt. No sewing done yet as got side-tracked and decided to participate in a sew along. Which is perfectly fine as this was one of my objectives.

That was quite some cutting and it all fits in a small box .... neatly labeled waiting to become a quilt top.

Sock knitting

Not much knitting done this month, I did make progress on the first sock. Am using the WYS yarn, one of my all-time favorite sock yarn.

Linking up with Patty at Elm Street Quilts and the January OMG.