What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

 It's been a while since I've shared my progress on my version of Crimson Tweed. This is what it looked like when I finished with my hand sewing group last Thursday.

Right now I am working on the pomegranate block (left side in the upper middle). If you look closely you can see my needle and thread where I parked it in the block.

Here are a couple of close-up shots.

I still have quite a bit left to do, but I am making noticeable progress every week!

 I am slowly making progress getting this one quilted.

I started with the snowflake block. After that I moved to the right and did the block above the tree. Then the tree block. Now I am working on the triangles block right below the tree. I got to sit and work on this for two days last week and made good progress those two days. I still have a long way to go but I am happy with how it is turning out so far.

 Last weekend I had a small SIYOB Retreat at my shop. SIYOB stands for Sleep In Your Own Bed. I got to work on my Crimson Tweed the whole time, except when I was helping customers.

I started quilting the center snowflake block. When the retreat started I had less than a 1/4 of that block quilted. Now I have about 1/4 left to go. See below for a detail shot of this section.

Seed stitching is slow going but I really like the effect. This is going to take a while, which is why I decided that ...

 I finally decided that I am finished with the embroidery on my Crimson Tweed. Here is the final layout, before quilting.

Would you believe that I didn't have ANY of the thread colors that I needed to seed quilt this with!? I was a bit shocked, but I gravitate toward the brighter colors and I need neutrals for this.

The tin shown in the photo above contains the 5 colors of thread, size 8 Eleganza solid colors, that I will use for the seed stitch quilting. This style of quilting takes quite a while to do, but I'm ...

Firstly - thank you for all the answers to the question I posed last week.  How do you follow blogs in 2022?  I haven't had time to digest all the answers yet, but I will.  

This week I've been busy finishing up this piece so I can take it to Coastal Quilters tomorrow.  

It's something that I started when I came back from Dunedin all inspired by the local's use of woollen fabrics.  The maroons in the centre are from a small bundle of Sue Spargo woollen fabrics, and the borders on the side are flannel that ...

 The Spargoettes Group (Sue Spargo design fans) meet several times a month at my shop. Janet D. has been working on this bunny during her recent visits.

The pattern is not a Sue Spargo pattern. I can't remember who designed the pattern, but Janet only used the pattern as an inspiration and for the main applique elements. She is doing a lot of hand embroidery on this in the style of Sue Spargo. She thinks she is almost done now.

Barb R. has started Squash Squad, a Sue Spargo pattern. She has all 9 blocks appliqued but has only ...

 I might be done with the embroidery and ready to baste it together for quilting.

But I'm not sure yet. I just hung this up on my design wall and I will think about it for a few days. If I get a great idea for more embroidery I could do in the border then I will do it. If nothing occurs to me within a week or so I will just baste it together with backing and batting and start quilting.

 Both of my Sue Spargo pin cushions are now actual, useable pin cushions!

Top: Canna Blossom Pin Cushion Kit or Canna Blossom Pattern

Bottom: Circle Play Pin Cushion Kit or Circle Play Pattern

Both of these were kits. They came with all of the required fabrics, even the fabric for the crushed walnut shell inner "pillows" and a piece of wool for the back. I opted to put the wool pieces for the backs into my stash and use a cotton fabric instead for the backs.

Of course, I have these kits and patterns in my shop, Alamosa Quilt Company ...

 I'm making progress on my Canna Blossom pin cushion. I have finished the hand embroidery.

I just need to turn it into a pin cushion. My Circle Play pin cushion is also waiting to become an actual pin cushion. Hopefully I will get some time to get both of these finished up soon.

If you want to see what it looked like before the embroidery click the following link: Canna Blossom before embroidery.

 I am still slowly making progress on my Crimson Tweed quilt.

 A few days off with no where to go and nothing specific scheduled to do has been wonderful! I am making good progress on the borders of Crimson Tweed.

Everything in the top and right side borders is sewn down now. I still need to add some stems to the berry sprays in the right side border. I got inpatient and sewed a couple berries on one of the berry sprays along the top border. I cut a bunch of circles from all four different red wools in my kit. I plan to mix them up. I have been thinking ...

 With my shop closed this week and inventory done I have a little bit of time for myself. I am working on Crimson Tweed - making progress at finishing the borders.

The long green vine is just basted on for now. I want to be able to tuck the ends of the holly leaves and stems underneath it so I will applique the vine down last. The holly leaves are sewn down now. The two narrow stems are just set in place for the moment. These will be the next things I sew down. They will be stems with small red ...

 I have had this little pin cushion cut out for months! I finally decided to pull it out and get her done.

I have everything appliqued down now and have started on the embroidery. Hopefully I will be able to use it as a pin cushion soon!

 I am making progress again on my Crimson Tweed project.

It's the last weekend in January, and Facebook reminded me that it's three years since I attended a Green Diamonds course with Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably.  I really enjoyed that day at Wellington Girls College, even though it was very hot!!

Kaffe commenting on my plan

I like to challenge myself when I go to courses, so I chose green and red as my colour palette.  You know I love green, but I don't often use red.  

Last year I admitted that I was never going to make Green Diamonds. I'd cut ...

The day before yesterday I came up with this wild looking circle as one of the circles I’m doing, loosely following Sue Spargo’s Toned-Down Circle Sampler 90-day project that she is doing on Instagram. Often I’ve been using a stitch or two that she’s using for that day as a prompt and then seeing what… Continue reading Working Through Creative Blocks

A number of people expressed interest in seeing the pieces I use to illustrate a particular stitch I’m demonstrating during my YouTube videos. As I’m showing how to do a stitch, the camera is focused on my stitching, and doesn’t pull back enough to see more than a few inches of the piece I’m working… Continue reading Inspiration is Everywhere

I know today’s Thursday because I post a new blog Tuesdays and Thursdays, and also because I have my glasses on and my iWatch conveniently tells me that it’s Thu April 23rd. I also now know that it’s cloudy outside, and at this moment 42℉. Of course, one is putting a great deal of faith… Continue reading I’ve Lost All Track of Time & Other Thoughts During This Pandemic

I haven't stepped foot out of our house since Saturday, but I have had hundreds of interactions with people from all over the world, which is both amazing and delightful. Community. During a period when we cannot actually be with our friends and extended family, connecting over common interests is all the more desirable.