In 2024 I made one quilt .. only .... and love this one a lot.
The quilt pattern is from Alison Glass "Alternative", the fabric is also from one of her lines completed with Kona solids.
For February not much plans were made as I had planned a holiday to the US to see some friends and to go to QuiltCon2024.
I did manage to finish the binding on my Rise Above quilt. The pattern is from Charisma Horton and the indications are quite clear.
The top was finished in 2022 or 2023 .... and realized that this quilt was soooo large ... I had not paid attention to the final size .....
I bought the batting and ordered extra wide backing and prepared the three layers for quilting on my machine. As I was to start I realized that there was no way I could quilt such a large quilt .... a 10 minute discussion with my self followed ... to decide that this top was going to the long arm quilter. I removed all the basting pins, separated the three layers and sent all off to the Netherlands to Stitched in colors.
The quilt just needs a label and will be gifted to my eldest who turns 18 this month. He claimed it as a birthday gift
When the winter village quilt pattern came out - I absolutely wanted to make it .... one day. Hence only bought the pattern as still had lots of other projects waiting to be finalized. Meanwhile I bought fabric, lots of different blues from Andover. And still I did not get started ........
Then in November (2023) I decided to give it a go and in December finished the top. After internal debate and some pictures decided to add the branches and birds to give the top some depth. This weekend finished that as well, assembled the back and ironed the binding. I really enjoy working with this fabric, so soft and the colours are really nice.
My January OMG is to sandwich and quilt the top as well as do the binding.
Linking up with Anne-Marie over at Stories from the sewing room. It feels good to be participating again after a few months of absence.
I love penguins. They are so cute. Years ago I bought a magazine with lots of creative projects, one was a embroidery cushion with penguins .... never got around getting the supplies.
In 2021 I discovered this penguin quilt pattern and I just had to make it. I bought the fabrics, selected some of my stash .. bought some more, changed idea .... and started cutting in October 2021. And then nothing for one year. All the pieces in a plastic box, just waiting. Last year October decided to finish and now so many months later ... finally ... the quilt is done.
I quilted diagonal lines on my sewing machine.
Linking up with Patty's OMG for March at Elm Street Quilts
My creative spells have been a bit on the low side lately and progress on outstanding projects has been limited. I did finish the handbag I started in January. In February I did start my monthly EPP TP Sunrise block - and did not finish it. And no progress at all on my Penguin quilt other than basting.
My March goals are therefore:
1) finish my Penguin quilt - quilting and binding - the penguins are soo cute
2) finish my Feb TP Sunrise block
3) start my March TP Sunrise block - ideally finishing as well
Linking up with Patty's OMG for March
I love a good challenge and on my list of new things to try was making a handbag. Where to start .... I had bought some supplies, just could not get started. There is a French quilt shop that sells quilting fabrics and patterns and other cute things (link). The owner started a sew-a-long and I decided to participate. The bag in question is the switchback from "Made by Annie". A good thing the original pattern in English was part of the package - if I had to rely on the French version I would have never gotten to the end.
The end result is this great colorful bag made from Kaffe Fassett fabric that I will be using a lot. On to the next.
Why make lists and then forget to look at them. I guess that is what happened this month as I deviated from the list I had set at the beginning of the month. Well not fully off-track.
1) Penguin quilt
The top is done and looks sooo cute. Am happy that I plotted on and got it done. I bought a nice bamboo velvety backing so won't need to use batting. Today the heating system was not working so in stead of pinning the two layers together, I tried to see what the problem was and was too cold to work on the floor.
2) Slow stitching
Another block finished of the TP Sunrise quilt. They are lovely colours and the fabric is so nice to work with. Five down, 11 to go. I need to find a way to store the safely so the fabric and stitches do not damage while waiting to become one top.
3) Switchback
My aim this year was to make a handbag. A french quilt store is organizing a-sew-along of the switchback by Annie. A good thing the kit comes with the original pattern - I would have been totally lost otherwise; in English the pattern is challenging enough. Although I should say that as I follow the instructions step-by-step, reading the pattern gets easier. I am a bit behind with the sew-a-long and working my way through week 3 while just before the weekend week 4 was launched. Of course this threw off my other projects on my January list ..... Fabric is Kaffe Fasset - a delight. Actually the fabric was the main reason I decided to participate - a nice way to "meet" new fabrics.
Linking up with Patty at Elm Street quilts' January OMG
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.
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
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.
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
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.
A new year and a long list of projects.
For January my list of projects to tackle include
1) Cushion cover Frida Kahlo
My youngest had a handknit cushion on his bed. And Glacon our cat was often on the cushion, one of his favourite spots. We had our evening ritual where Glacon would be on the bed, my youngest reading a book. And when I arrived she would turn around on the cushion, walk back and forth between me, my son and the cushion, purring and purring and purring. Every evening same ritual. If I would give a kiss to S. she would join the hugging party. Last year she fell very ill with a severe lung infection and she died. Her last weeks were spent on the cushion carrying her around to make sure she felt loved and taken care off. When she passed the rainbow bridge I washed the cushion, but we just could not deal with seeing the cushion. I had a second one, but that also was too much.
So I threw all out and bought a ready made panel of Frida Kahlo and some backing. S. will have a new cushion adorning his bed. A good thing he likes Frida.
2) Hand knitted socks
I love hand knitted socks - and with all the teleworking I wear them every day. Last year I bought three balls of my favourite WYS sock yarn and started a new sock. This month I want to finish both socks.
3) Penguin party
I started cutting fabric for my Penguin quilt. I finally decided on the background fabric. My aim for this month is to finish cutting all the fabric. The fabric is a mix from the market in the Netherlands and some online fabric bought in the UK. The pattern is by Elizabeth Hartman.
Linking up for my 6th year with Patty's January OMG at Elm Street Quilts
Working with colours helps me deal with my crazy work life and hectic family life. With three kids (young adolescents now) some things are easier such as cleaning up the kitchen after diner .... some things don't change at all .. the driving them around to the different sports/music classes each evening at least one kid has something ..... and some things are more work ... the increase in grocery shopping and the food they eat. Am not complaining as I enjoy the hecticness and craziness as this fits with my personality. I do need time off in between to center myself. In the past I could go for a swim, but the last few years with Covid this has become difficult. Also because the pool is closer to my work and with the teleworking just too far away.
Quilting and knitting have helped me to center myself and as I have finished quite some quilts over the last two years my skills have improved.
This year I discovered making cushion covers, I participated in a few swaps and they were around cushion covers, again stretching my skills as you make something for someone else. I loved all the ones I made and will make a few more in the new year.
My finishes of December are:
Candy Hexa quilt
In October and November I participated in the honeycomb stars sew along. For December I wanted to finish the quilt. Once I had finished the top, I sent it to the LAQ.
Jen Kingwell cushion cover
As part of the winter swap I made two cushion covers in November. One turned out really nice once batted and quilted and one I loved from the beginning. I started a third one, to make up for the disastrous first one, just did not have time to finish in time. After a "vote" on my IG page with pictures of the two finalized projects, the winter grey/white was choosen most so off that gift went.
The unfinished winter/grey was originally going to be a mini quilt, however as I kept it for myself, I made a cushion cover, which is adorning my sofa right now.
Linking up with Patty's OMG for December at Elm Street Quilts.
December is going to be a crazy month. Starting with St Nicolas celebrations in the Netherlands. And then the rush to get Christmas cards out, think of gifts that I can make that of course never happen ...... least this year as I will maybe need to empty out my sewing room (also my office space now because of teleworking) as we need to extend the heating system. This implies drilling through a one meter thick wall ... generating kilos of dust.
So not much creativity is expected this month.
Linking with Patty's OMG at Elm Street Quilts, turns out I started participating in 2017, the year the OMGs started.
This month I finished some projects and I worked on two other projects. My OMG for November was to finish the two cushion covers I had planned to make as part of a Winter swap. The designs are from Jen Kingwell. She just published a new book that I absolute want ..... however I never used her book I bought a few years ago. So that was a no-go. What better way to use her book for some cushion covers. And now I am addicted and want to make more.
1) Red modern Christmas cushion cover
For this cushion cover I followed the book's instructions and a variety of Christmas red and green fabrics. The end result is this colorful modern holiday cushion cover. Well the way I finished the back allows to also use as a small tabletopper.
linking up with Patty's OMG for November at Elm Street Quilts
Autumn is here with a lot of rain, perfect crafting weather. School started a month ago and am still running around getting things done, or at least that is how it feels. All three kids started their after school activities and once a week I plan go get some exercise done. I found this great cardio class followed by a one-hour stretching class. Exactly what my muscles need after sitting so much behind my back.
I found the pattern, disappearing four patch block, online a few weeks ago from the designer/quilter Material Girl Quilts.
The new mum loves soft pink, so over summer at different occasions I bought fabric, not sure yet what pattern to make, knowing that the design will show up when I am ready. Which of course happened.
I decided to make the quilt a bit bigger - I do have loads of pink fabric now and a baby quilt does not use up a lot of fabric.
My October OMG is to finish the babyquilt so that i can gift this as soon as possible. Thank you Patty at Elm Street Quilts for organizing
The weather this week is so good and am enjoying the nice temperatures - not too hot and not too cold in the evenings either so we can still eat outside.
Over lunch spent some 15 minutes cutting branches and was contemplating if I should go back to my blog after two months. Either going back or not all ???? Not going back lost!. Part of the blogging pleasure is boosting myself to finish projects, and to get more ideas for which I have absolutely no time. Only to be sidetracked for more projects calling to me.
Some finishes are in order and these are mostly my July goals.
1) Color Jolt QAL quilt top
I made some progress and FMQ-ed straight lines across and in the length. Next step decide how to quilt the blocks. Am thinking diagonal lines across, maybe in pink. If I would go for white the thread would stand out to much on the red fabric. Red thread would stand out too much on the white sashing. Or maybe I zig-zag across the rows, or in each block.
2) Knitted socks
Both socks are knit and still waiting for the final step. They will be useful this winter, even if I am completely not happy with the result so far.
3) Swap
I love swaps, just don't always have enough time to participate. Making something for someone else is so nice, even if you don't know who the other person is. The challenge is definitely part of this. I have made several things this year - things I would otherwise not have tried. Am now working on an autumn inspired cushion cover. As this is a surprise for my secret partner (or actually I am the secret partner) no pictures until the project is send . Autumn colours for sure.
Linking up with Patty at Elm Street Quilts for the September OMG. Hopefully this month I will finish a few projects.
July is here and so is summer. My list of projects to be finished is slowly getting shorter .... and my list of new projects and ideas is getting longer and longer.
My July projects are:
1) Color Jolt qal quilt top
The quilt top was made end of 2020 and basted earlier this year ... and then no more progress. The basted top was waiting and staring at me asking to be finished.
2) Knitted socks
Both socks are knit and waiting for the final step of closing the toes.
3) Destination quilt along
I so not need a new project .... this one is just to difficult to resist. Last year I participated and had so much fun, so the theme of this year .... different surprise destinations each time. Between each block there is a time span of two weeks ... so this should be feasible
Slice of Pi Quilts, one of the blogs I follow, is one of the organizers/designers
4) Sewcialites qal
36 blocks sewn over a period of 36 weeks. Final assembly to be done this month.
Linking up with Patty's July OMG at Elm Street Quilts
Goal setting is one of my favourite things, and goal setting for my creative projects works. Choosing one or two projects works to get through my list of unfinished or not yet started projects ....
For this month
1) Finish the flying geese top
Last year i participated in a sew a long to make a quilt from flying geese. I finished the top and now time to finish. I had sent it to a long arm quilter as the fabric is so beautiful and soft I did not want to mess this up
2) Finish the harmony top
I participate in a sew a long, difference is that this one is hand sewing. I choose to make the wall-hanging format. I might end up making all four blocks over summer as these I can easy take along with me
Linking up with Patty over at Elm Street Quilts for the OMG of May.
The end of April is here and it rains. We had some very nice days in April and we went for a walk past Sunday. I bought my self a simple watch to track my steps as am not walking enough. There are still days that i don't walk enough, but now I can see how much I did manage to do. With the kids at home I spent quite a few days in the office (special permission as still in pandemic mode) and these are the worst. I am locked up in my little office and definitely don't get a lot of steps done. I do get a lot of work done.
We tried a new path close to our house, the kids had already walked there with the school; however for me was a first and I seriously enjoyed this walk.
I never get tired of views on the lake
On the creative side there were burst of activity, some days none at all and other days progress. In the end, I managed my goals. Accomplishments are good - especially at the end of the month.
My very very pink skull is finished. Last night I added the binding - and took a picture, Clearly more pictures need to be added (and taken) to show this beauty. I am trying to improve my quilting and looked at many different sites, bought a book, joined an on-line course and still have a lot to learn. I also know that I love quilting with my walking foot and work in (more or less) straight lines. I decided to only outline the pink areas as they are busy enough. To add value to the pink and that the skull stands out more I filled up the negative space. In the grey are I followed the lines of the skull, adding lines and lines, stopping to see what else was needed. The black area is in horizontal and vertical lines. Daylight pictures to follow.
I also made progress on the Harmony quilt. I so enjoy hand sewing, a different mind set and pace for sure. A separate post was written on my progress.
Linking with Patty at Elm Street Quilts' April's One Monthly Goal
