What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

 The rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy color for August is aqua. I remembered country roads that is ready to be quilted and decided that will be my goal for one monthly goal at elm street quilts. I have some charity quilts to quilt first, then I will give it a turn on the longarm. 

country roads

I have 168 blocks

 I found crocus blooming and rhubarb is peeking it's head out of the ground

I added a 2 1/2 inch border to my country roads quilt. I finished the top at the last retreat. It was part of the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy for the last two years. I made the blocks in each month's color.

I needed a 97 x97 back, so, it was time to use a wide backing that I bought during a backing sale at joann fabrics. I chose more yellow for the binding and this quilt now lives in the ...

 I went to a two day "sleep in your own bed" retreat this weekend. It has been awhile that I have had a chance to just keep after a chosen project. I had this snoopy quilt that just needed a few blocks and assembly. I think this will be a great quilt for a new Grandson coming in May. I need to find a back and give it a good press. 

snoopy wiggle time

While I am working on my focus projects, I do a little piecing as leader/enders. It helps break the monotony of millions of hsts, and adding loooong rows to tops I am trying to finish. I am bouncing between rainbow scrap challenge quilts, grassy creek mystery quilt, and country roads top. country roads isn't moving along as quickly as I had hoped. The mystery quilt takes time. I really like the piecing, so, I don't mind.

It has been a cold dreary week here, and we haven't been out and about. We need to get moving ...

I've made good progress on the country roads quilt I am making. Right now, it is the right size for the top of the bed. I think 2-5 more rows might be enough for a queen size bed.

 I have been anxious to lay out my country roads blocks and choose a setting. I have no idea how many blocks I will need, now that, I have decided on an on point layout for the blocks.  My first choice was the fabric for the alternate blocks. And, then, the setting triangles fabric. I am just using some favorite colors that I already have in the stash. I am using the companion ruler to cut the setting triangles, although, I know I have an actual setting triangle ruler somewhere very safe.

the first corner goes so fast

I laid ...

I am using recycled shirt fabric to make these anvil blocks. I tend to sew the hsts for 3 blocks at a time as a quick sit at the machine. I trim and press them in the evening while watching tv. It is easy sewing the pieces together the next day. I am using a hunk of muslin that I want to leave the stash. Although, there is something lovely about muslin. It is just a simple fabric, but, it behaves so well. It is much like the second or middle child.

One of my quilts for the rainbow scrap challenge was the scraptastic star. I started it in march of 2019

It seems like I have been waiting for most of the year for the color yellow to finish the last block for scraptastic star. I had all the other colors done for awhile. that makes 12 blocks

With the end of the colors for the rainbow scrap challenge for the year, I am catching up "other" colors for my country road blocks. I have really enjoyed making these this year. Pleasure versus difficulty is the perfect ratio. I have the cutting measurements memorized, so, anytime I have a scrap pass through the cutting mat, I can just cut a few.

Yellow is the color of the month for the rainbow scrap challenge. Yellow is my favorite color, but, it doesn't look as lovely in my patterns as some of the other colors. hmmmm

country roads

tiny houses

I've been working to finish a couple of ufos. I finished Aunt Mary's double irish chain yesterday.

I ran into a snafu with the patriotic ufo. I discovered that I had 3 sashing strips for the inner border attached, but, not the fourth. It was nowhere to be found. I made the decision to unattach one of the borders, and ...

I am not sure why the first quilt I work on each month for the rainbow scrap challenge, is country roads. I guess because it is so easy to get started. I grab a few red 1 1/2 inch strips, stack them, cut them, and presto they are done. Nothing like instant gratification. There is a link at the bottom for the pattern.

I am sure I will be working on these next year.                         

I have enough blue scraps that I could probably use it every month, and, not see the bottom of the barrel. So, I don't mind that we are doing blue again this year for the rainbow scrap challenge. I made these country roads blocks with whatever my hand picked from the 1 1/2 inch bin as long as it was blue.

The rainbow scrap challenge for June is pink. I have a dresden plate in pink that I have included this month, along with the projects I try to do each month in the rainbow color.
I made one block for shine using 2 1/2 inch strips.

We have had a wonderful week of summer weather, sunshine, and not too hot. The garden has been happy, and so has hubby who really likes to be outside. He is still off work for ...

I dug and found these little bits of green for wonky tiny stars, but didn't get them made. I don't even remember what distracted me.

I try to sew something everyday that is not on a list. Although, the same things get chosen, so, in a way, there is "that" list. I have projects that I really want to see progress, even if slowly. But, I have some "other" projects without any plan for the finish. Blossom time ( Bonnie Hunter) is one of them. I cut a few scraps and then sew them. Then, I cut a few more and sew them. In this weird time, aimless has it's appeal.

I think it is Saturday again and time for the rainbow scrap challenge. The color for April is light / bright blue. I started with 1 1/2 inch scraps and made a few country roads blocks. I like to make these blocks. The cutting is super easy, and the sewing is quick. I might like to try these in a different size. I have 2 inch and 2 1/2 inch strips in the scrap pile. hmm

I think these blocks are cute and fun. There is a link at the bottom of the post for the pattern. The rainbow scrap challenge color for the month of March is teal. I really like having a new color each month to help me weed out the useable scraps, and make something useful. These use 1 1/2 inch strips and squares.

I am using a new ironing philosophy to see if I like the end results better. I have more twisted seams than I would like at the final stages of a quilt top. I am going to wait until I piece the top to really iron my blocks. I want to see if waiting until the end helps me nest the seams better when joining blocks. So the pictures of blocks will look a little wonky when I share. Who knows, maybe all I will learn is that I have only postponed the inevitable.

I was surprised how quickly I ...