What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

I only had a few minutes and I pulled out the snail trails blocks to add anther round. minus 1 -  where did that triangle go? silly triangle

I thought I was fully loaded on my parts for the snails trail block. I needed some recreational sewing, so I started another round of blocks. I went until I ran out of 1 1/2 inch squares for the center. And, then, I ran out. hmmmm.

I made it this far and discovered another unsorted set of  pieces. I wish I would quilt hiding things from myself. sigh...But, this is a start and so much fun. I like when I play with recycled shirts.

My favorite clematis is about to burst into color. We have had this for ...

I cut a few more pieces for my snails trail and wanted to add them to the blocks I had started last week. I do like making these. this batch looks blue. I just grab a handful of shirt pieces and cut, and, can't wait to add them, so, they are whatever combo I had on hand.

I finished as many blocks as I could with the big pieces that were already cut. I was too lazy to cut more, so I started blocks over again with the smaller pieces.

What I don't understand is how pieces go rogue on a 'block on board' accuquilt die. I use a whole piece of fabric for each block - up to 4. and I end ...

I just needed a little light sewing. It's easy to pick up some of my "growing" projects and just sew. I don't have to look for anything or read the instructions or scratch my head. And my pile "grows". I sure like sewing with shirt material. It feels so nice.

anvil block

more easy breezy blocks

I need goals and plans, but, sometimes I just need some meditation sewing. I enjoy picking up 2 pieces of fabric and sending them through the machine.

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oh scrap sunday

 I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Ours was quiet. I did some fabric shopping on line for black friday. But, I sure don't like the shopping in stores on black Friday.

The border is underwhelming, but, it is a finished top. I used all the leftover strips that I had from the 2 1/2 inch checkerboard. This quilt used almost a whole bag of 2 1/2 inch recycled shirt strips. .checkered past  is a free pattern at quilted twins.

I have neglected my sewing projects lately, and I wondered if it was because I need to do a little more recreational sewing. It has to be fun or who wants to do it. Setting goals is still a great idea until it seems like work. SO, I grabbed a bit of my work in progress sewing and made a few snails trail blocks using recycled shirts. I used all the pieces I had cut. It felt good to just sew.

still making easy breezy blocks in 1 1/2 in

Last week I sewed 3 out of 4 rows together for checkered past. I was at the guild's open sew and had time to concentrate on joining the rows with sashings.

At Friday quilt group, I sewed all 4 rows together for a finish of the top. I have decided to add borders. The pattern calls for another set of blocks around the quilt, but, I don't think I want it that large.

Linda

Judy

 checkered past is a free pattern from quilted twins. I really like her blog and her free patterns. The patterns look intricate but are really quick and easy compared to others. I have many recycled shirt parts in my stash and I like to have at least one in progress. I started putting 4 patches together at an open sew. I used 2 1/2 inch strips from the yokes.

I have been working on finishing some old ufos to the 'to be quilted' stage. I am ready to stop making borders for a little while. It was time for some soothing sewing and making a little progress on the shirt anvil blocks. I really like these. Using shirt fabric is one of my favorite ways to make quilts. The cotton just feels so nice.

forever easy breezy blocks

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midweek makers  

wednesday wait loss

needle and thread Thursdays ...

It was time to pull this quilt out and take a look at what it would take to finish it. The paper said it was assembled and just needed borders. There has been no mention of it on the blog, so I checked other paperwork and I started it in 2012. 

 Part of my stress reliever project for retreat was just sewing 4 patches out of shirts. I started with 2 1/2 inch strips in dark and light and sewed  a bunch whenever I needed to destress in between sea swept.

I have one pattern that uses these as frames around a center block. I needed 32 for the sides and a larger set for the top and bottom.  I did get the 32 sewn. I have a few ...

Before I started sewing my own garments, I was never a fan of button-up shirts on me. I've always been busty and in order for there to be no gaping at the bust, I always needed to size up and then the fit was all wrong at the shoulders. Of course, sewing my own clothes means I could remedy that and make myself a few nice shirts. 

For my second attempt at a shirt, I chose to use the Itch-to-Stitch Bonn shirt pattern.

Pattern Details:

The Bonn hasn't yet been updated in Itch-to-Stitch's full size range - it ...

 Do you know what stinging nettle is? It is a mean little weed that has spines all over it's stems and leaves, and, if you touch them, it injects a little bit of acid into your skin for a day's worth of burning and itching. Sometimes rubbing a maple leaf over it will neutralize the effect. When we bought our property 30 years ago, we had a forest of stinging nettles and burdock to clean out. We have worked very hard to eliminate most of them. So this year, I have watched youtube videos about gardening and herbs ...

These blocks are addictive. While I was planning my new sea swept quilt, I made sample blocks in shirt fabric. Good thing I did, I made mistakes. But, now, I want to keep making snails trails in shirt fabrics too. I will need to cut more. If you can start one quilt why not start two.

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Yesterday, I blogged about a new block I was trying, and I am so glad I did. Thank you for the help. Good thing, I tried a sample. Now to figure out, how to do it.

When I spent time cutting a box of shirts, I cut 7 1/2 inch squares for a quilted twins free pattern called radio waves. I had a handful of shirt strips that I thought I might as well sew them together. I enjoyed making these, as I used 1 1/2 inch strips and mostly muslin by strip piecing, and, then sub cutting ...

 I am not sure where my mojo went, but, I think I know that I suffered from 'finish it 'obsession. And, I have plenty to obsess about finishing in quilting. But, if that is all I do, obsess, check lists, and worry about how much I am not doing, then, the fun is gone.

Sometimes, I just get tired of the mess. And I want to scoop it all into a large trash bag.

This time of year, I love the outdoors, but, I spend too much time "finish it" sewing. I need to remember to take time to enjoy ...

Sew day was Saturday with the guild. I had a new project I was anxious to start, and, I wanted to get the borders on this scrappy shirt quilt. I had started the string/crumb borders on Friday. When I laid the quilt out to measure, and cut the borders, I didn't like them at all. Which was a great reason to switch to my exciting new project. That was just what I needed to think about the borders for a bit, and, realize I just needed to keep going. Often, I don't like something at one stage ...

I have been cutting recycled shirts again. I have a few quilts I am cutting, as I go through the shirts. After, those are cut, I am cutting the leftovers into useable sizes. The pile to the right on top is for a brick quilt. I need 70 some and I have 40 some. next going left, any stripes, I am cutting a 4 inch strip for a one block wonder... for someday. next left is 3 1/2 squares. a piece missing from another project,  all the way left is a size big enough to cut for ohio stars ...

Sometimes, I forget to show the slow progress of some on going projects. I have sew days that don't seem to make any dents in the quilt making process. But, I know they do. And that has to be enough.

I am still hunting for old projects as I am trying to reorganize and label boxes, it consumes me. I have been very creative at storage, I must say.

Maple syrup is done. Hubby has it all put away for another year. It was my first year to trek around the trees and help with the buckets of sap ...