What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

A lot has happened in the sewing room.

The green background for the challenge piece went back in the drawer. I decided I couldn’t finish the design the way I planned it before the deadline.

I revised the design to something I could finish, using hexagons as blocks. I made two blocks and realized I made octagons when they didn’t fit together .

I took time out to think about another redesign. In the end I put the whole project in a box and started over. I will finish it one day, probably using something close to the original ...

Another month gone?? It definitely feels like late fall/early winter. It’s hard to believe we’re rolling into the holiday season already. A week ago we were outside in shirt sleeves.

I finished one project in October, my sister’s scarf.

I started The Short List many years ago to create goals to work toward and a way to focus. I change things up as my goals and interests change.

Project 1 (stitching): Gather & Give Thanks, pattern by Diane Arthurs of Imaginating. I’m making better progress now that I’m not crocheting too.

Project 2 (Original): I ...

It’s been five weeks since our last check-in, have you been sewing during Autumn Jubilee? There were certainly a lot of projects to use up some stash.

Several projects in Autumn Jubilee reduced my stash. Using the lovely fall fabrics was delightful. First, 1-1/2 yards out for the Autumn Jubilee apron.

Counting out 1/4-yard for the Jar Wraps, including the Sewing Is My Jam one.

The Harvest Festival Quilt counts 2-1/2 yards out for top, backing and binding.

The Turkey Talk placemats count out 2 yards for tops, backing and four bindings.

Two basket liners at ...

The cradle quilt drive has been amazing. Before we began Autumn Jubilee, I did two updates with photos of the 73 quilts that were received in September. The month of October has been nothing short of miraculous! This will be a very long and picture heavy post, as there are more than 100 more quilts to acknowledge. Unfortunately, some were received without any means to let the giver know, so I hope you will see your shipment here, and know that each and every one is appreciated. Some came with such sweet notes, and I want to share a few ...

No change in the numbers.

I am heavy into working on the next challenge piece, which I think of as “Dot”. A creative space is a messy space.

I had hoped to be a little further along by now. Maybe this week I’ll gain some ground.

It’s not looking good to hit positive numbers this year. For all the time these challenge quilts take, they don’t use much fabric.

Fabric In: 29.3 yards

Fabric out: 8.875 yards

Net Fabric In: 20.425 yards

How did you do this week?

No change in the numbers.

I finished my sister’s scarf, which doesn’t help the fabric numbers but has me working on one less project.

I also reworked the challenge design, keeping the basic idea but changing the format. The background fabric didn’t survive the change. It will find its way into another project.

Fabric In: 29.3 yards

Fabric out: 8.875 yards

Net Fabric In: 20.425 yards

How did you do this week?

Here’s what’s on the go in the sewing room this week.

The top half of Remember Me is basted, and I am auditioning quilting designs.

I pressed fabric for the background of the challenge piece.

I’m pulling together the bits and bobs I think I want to add. I may need a larger background to fit everything. Time will tell.

I may also need to step away from Remember Me while I work on the challenge. I find it easier to figure out one project at a time. I can do two at once, but I lose ...

No change in the numbers, although projects continue to move forward.

I basted Remember Me yesterday. No idea how I’ll quilt it.

I also pulled fabrics for the challenge background.

I’m not sold yet, but it’s a place to start.

Fabric In: 29.3 yards

Fabric out: 8.875 yards

Net Fabric In: 20.425 yards

How did you do this week?

Lots of projects got attention this week.

I sewed a few more Traffic Jam blocks. The quilt will have either 20 or 24 blocks total, depending on how wide I make the sashing.

I also pressed the backing and top for Remember Me, with a goal of basting it this week.

Then I sketched a rough plan for the next challenge quilt. Sometimes the final quilt looks like the sketch,and sometimes it doesn’t. I’ll audition background fabrics and go from there. I’ve got it in my head that painting the background fabric could work better. That ...

Although the days are getting shorter, it doesn’t feel like Fall – yet. I’m looking forward to more time in the sewing room as I spend less time outside.

I finished two things in September, Still Life and my great nephew’s afghan. It’s a long list even with the finishes.

I started The Short List many years ago to create goals to work toward and a way to focus. I change things up as my goals and interests change.

Project 1 (stitching): Gather & Give Thanks, pattern by Diane Arthurs of Imaginating.

Project 2 (Original): I’m on ...

 Hallo Ihr Lieben,

die Miniquilts stehen für den Monat 6 zur Abstimmung bei FB un Insta bereit.

Sie sind wieder wunderschön und ich bin froh, dass ich die Wahl nicht treffen muß.

Ganz lieben Dank an alle Teilnehmerinnen.

Alles Liebe Grit

Updating early because of Autumn Jubilee, today we check in with our Stashbuster totals for September. Much of what I worked on this month will not be completed until October, so fabric out was a challenge. But the fabric ‘in’ was a delight!

You’ll see a lot of these fabrics next month! Aren’t they scrumptious? This is the Harvest Festival line from Benartex Fabrics. They are such high quality, with a soft hand and a lovely array of fall colors and prints. My inspiration from these fabrics ran wild, and we’ll have several projects featuring this line ...

My September OMG was to finish the challenge quilt, which I called Still Life. The photo doesn’t do justice to the background fabric.

Except for the veins in the leaves, I either dyed or painted all the fabrics. I learned the free form piecing technique at a class I took at Guild several years ago. The quilt is the size of a cutting mat.

The inspiration for the next challenge is hanging on my design wall, where I can listen to what it has to say.

Visit Stories From the Sewing Room for all the other OMG finishes.

I finished the challenge quilt, now named Still Life, for some fabric out. It’s always a relief to get those quilts finished on time.

I won’t get the next challenge until the 26^th, which leaves time to do something else. With lots going on between now and then, a handful of small projects makes the most sense.

I pulled fabric to make pillowcases. A lot of bedding made its way into the rag bin this year, and we need replacements.

My sister’s quilt needs a label.

I would also like to frame Words of Joy Tree ...

No change in the numbers.

I’m stitching facing on the challenge piece, which means a finish soon.

I mentioned last week I’m using a Robison-Anton rayon for the quilting, a thread I’d not tried before. It stitched fine, no tangles or breaks. It doesn’t have the sheen of some of the other rayons, but more of a flat finish. There is a bit of a twist to the thread that reminds me of a buttonhole twist. The line also contains many solid and variegated colors.

It’s a thread I’ll keep in mind if I ...

Happy Mail this week brought more Cradle Quilts for the drive. I am just blown away by the generosity of readers who not only make the quilts, but pay to ship them to me. One day there were five packages to pick up! How fun is this! And I know there are more on the way.

Thank you so much to Angie P who sent 12 cradle quilts, many with little boy prints of basketball players.

And to Kathie L who sent 4 in fabulous bright colors.

Thank you to Niki B, whose hearts and rainbow designs are sure ...

August was a calmer month, but we attended a lot of weekend events that took advantage of the last of summer. I finished two projects, my sister’s quilt and Words of Joy Tree.

That created spots for new things on the list.

I started The Short List many years ago to create goals to work toward and a way to focus. I change things up as my goals and interests change.

Project 1 (stitching): Gather & Give Thanks, pattern by Diane Arthurs of Imaginating. I started it last night.

Project 2 (UFO): I’m quilting the next challenge, due this ...

No fabric in this week.

I used 1/4 yard of fabric for a quilt binding.

Once that quilt was finished I returned to working on the challenge quilt. The top is together and I’m totally underwhelmed. I have big hopes that the quilting and some embellishment will liven it up.

I had questions last week about the brand of thread I bought. It’s a Robison-Anton rayon in the color Sky Blue. I’m not sure on the weight, but it looks thinner than Sulky. I plan to use it on this quilt, but that could change. Quilting ...

Here we are, the beginning of September, just a few check-ins left to get that Stashbusters number higher in the ‘out’ category. For me, this month was a bounty of finds that were just irresistible.

First, I needed some tone on tone fabrics for background, and the sale at Foust Textiles, a North Carolina textile wholesale place, came at just the right time. I was also asked to get some wide backs for our Quilts of Valor chapter, so I had two reasons to go. I invited a few friends to ride along, or split the spoils with me. I ...

A lot of life happened here in July, but I managed to finish two projects. One wasn’t on the list and I forgot to post it. The other was Wallflower (the challenge quilt).

The list isn’t changing much for August.

I started The Short List many years ago to create goals to work toward and a way to focus. I change things up as my goals and interests change.

Project 1 (stitching): Words of Joy Tree, pattern by Ursula Michael. I’m stitching this on red 14 count aida with DMC white, all from stash.

Project 2 (UFO ...