What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Finally!

It is now at the quilter. More updates (and promised tutorial) soon.

I have very few UFOs. In fact, I have one. In 2021 I cut and trimmed over 1500 HST, with the intention of making another Halfway Quilt.

Then, I put it away. For two years. But, it is time.

I finished the first block today with a resolution of not starting anything new until the top is complete. I have two leader-ender projects that can run at the same time and several tops in the quilting-and-binding phase. This will do me some good. Hopefully a finish (finished top at least) before June?

The title makes it easy to work out what I have been busy making. Socks of course.

But not the average, run of the mill sort.

These are Norwegian Rainbow socks.

These are knitted in a mix of 8 ply yarns. A friend travelled through many countries a few years back, especially Norway and Finland. She was kind enough to bring me back a kit with the wool to knit the socks.

But, there was a problem. A big one. The pattern was written in Norwegian and I am afraid that is not something my high school taught! I tried ...

Starting a new baby quilt. This one for the son-of-the-granddaughter-of-my-husband’s-mother’s-best-friend. Of course.

I had a few small pieces, each 9″ x 18″, of Star Wars fabric. What to do?

Cut them smaller…

That burst of New Year Energy is now a top.

I mostly made it just to see what it would look like. And to get rid of some of the overflow of small pieces of background fabric that were piling up. It is 72″ square.

Quilting time!

How many pieces does it take to make a block?

Well, it depends on the block.

In this case, 53. Each.

More details coming soon.

Christmas never really feels like it is far away and maybe I will get a few projects done early. These are projects that have been on the go since last year, so maybe they will be in time for Christmas 2023.

Last year I started the Sue Spargo BOM, Tinsel. Because of delays with mail delivery around the world, I didn’t receive my first block until March. Loved them right from the start. This is what I have managed to do, so far.

That is five of the nine blocks finished except for removing some of the markings from ...

Can you guess what these turned in to?

Come back in February and find out!

It isn’t taking as long as I thought to get a lot done on the new project: THIS ONE.

It is now called the Confetti Quilt, and there are 100 of 144 blocks assembled. And most of the pieces are cut (out of that abundant scrap box) for the rest of the blocks.

Possibly the blocks will be complete by early February. Such a nice way to start the year.

My end of the year cleaning almost always results in a new year project.

My bin of “little bits of background fabric” was overflowing. Fortunately, there are patterns for that.

Like THIS ONE. I am making 6″ blocks using only 4 HSTs each, rather than the 12″ she shows. But the rest of the measurements are the same.

So, I am busy sewing bits and pieces and creating blocks. There is a long ways to go. I am currently planning for a 72″ square quilt and that will take 144 blocks. Maybe I’ll do more, but that is the ...

Sometimes it takes 110 blocks and 1980 pieces, but the top is complete.

Blocks were sorted and counted.

And laid out.

Still preliminary, but assembly started. Finally.

Like everyone, I am a little shocked at how quickly the months are disappearing. Here it is October and I still feel like I am playing catch up. However, I do feel like I am getting back on track with some of my stitching.

I have completed the embroidery from a design by Kasia Jocquot and have turned it into a zipper pouch.

It has been a lovely project and I am tempted to do more of them.

There are no other finishes but I have been distracted by a few other projects.

These are blocks using the hidden wells ...

Finally! It takes a while to make 110 blocks of any type.

And, when they have 18 pieces each…Well, it adds up fast.

Hopefully assembly soon.

It has been a long time since I was able to share a finish.

But, three are in the quilting process and should be true finishes in the next two weeks. It looks to be moving in that general direction, at least.

I have two quilts in process at the moment, both requiring more than 100 blocks.

Only 15 to go for this one.

And about 30 for this one.

I am counting down and looking forward to the assembly process. I really want to see what they will look like and it has been a long time coming …

It has been a busy summer. Our oldest is building a house in a wilderness spot and photos don't do it justice... so we travel a couple hours one way to see it. I'm almost jealous but more excited for them. We also took a trip to South Carolina to visit our daughter, hubby and all. It was wonderful. Our youngest lives in our city and we spent most of a day with him and his fiancee looking at a show home and eating. Besides those things, the usual visits with friends, our church activities, and now I ...

I don’t have a lot of UFOs. In fact, I have two.

This is one of them. I started it more than a year ago–designing blocks and playing with color.

Then…it went in the box. And under the table.

Why? I am not sure. I dug it out and am ready to go. I think part of the reason is that there are 8 different block styles and each has separate cutting directions. So, I am going to try working on one block type at a time, making as many as I think I will need of ...

 What's been accomplished this month.....a lot of quilt-top-making in an improvisational patchwork style:

Oh What Fun making this improv patchwork with some Marcia Derse fabric pieces.  This one finished at 42" x 60".

and just from a few scraps....6" blocks surrounded by 1" strips, Oh! My! finished at 46" x 54".  Already sold and shipped.

This is my current leader-ender project.

The rectangles start at 2″ x 3-1/2″. I have 63 of a planned 110 blocks complete.

And quite a few more pieces cut and ready to go.

Hopefully it will be a top before the winter holidays.