Wednesday, December 30, 2020

WIP Wednesday - Quilter's Planner Sew Along

Although I've been sewing along all year with the Quilter's Planner 2020 Block of the Month Sampler Sew Along, I've only shared a few of my monthly blocks.

I have now pieced all the blocks into a quilt top.  I made the Fresh colourway with the following Kona colours:  Breakers, Sea Glass, Creamsicle, Wasabi, Nectarine, and Aruba.





Linking up with:

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter


Monday, December 28, 2020

Pattern Testing - Maddie

I enjoy pattern testing for designers -- it's my way of giving back to the quilting community.  The benefits of pattern testing:  an opportunity to use my fabric stash; a chance to try new patterns; and a hard deadline to keep me sewing on a regular basis.

This was the first time I made a quilt where all the fabric was cut with my Accuquilt Go and the 8 Qube.  The Maddie pattern was created by Bea @ Beaquilter.


There are only two blocks in this pattern, so you can do a lot of chain piecing to speed up sewing.


It was hard to get decent photos.  The photos above show the true colours of the prints.  I chose not to add the larger outer border.



There are three sizes in the pattern, and Bea provides both rotary cutting and Accuquilt die instructions.  You can get the Maddie pattern and other Beaquilter patterns here.


Saturday, December 26, 2020

2021 Monthly Color Challenge

Jen @ Patterns by Jen is hosting another monthly color challenge.  The inspiration for the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge comes from fruits and vegetables.




2021 Monthly Color Challenge Colors

January - Eggplant (Purple)

February - Lemon (Bright Yellow)

March - Yam (Red Orange)

April - Cherries (Red)

May - Potato (Brown)

June - Pumpkin (Orange)

July - Lime (Green)

August - Mushroom (Tan)

September - Pineapple (Soft Yellow)

October - Grapefruit (Pink)

November - Blueberries (Blue)

December - Green Olives (Olive Green)


Throughout the year, some bloggers will be sharing recipes.  Make sure to stop by Jen's blog to get details for the challenge; to get a list of the bloggers; and to sign up for e-mail notification when the blocks are released.



Thursday, December 24, 2020

TGIFF - Midwinter Quilt

Welcome to the final Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday for 2020.  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finish from this week.  The link up will stay open until midnight Sunday due to the holiday season.

If you would like to host TGIFF in 2021, the spreadsheet of dates has been updated.  You can sign up here.

Today's finish is courtesy of a tutorial from Ben Millett - Midwinter Mini Quilt.


I used the same Kona colours as in the tutorial:  Evergreen, Enchanted, Sage, White, Desert Green, and Ochre.


I wanted the design to speak for itself, so simple quilting -- big stitch hand quilting in matching perle cotton.


Merry Christmas.  I hope you are able to spend time with family and friends this holiday season.



You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
Here are some other links to share your finish:

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts
Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation
Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting 


Sunday, December 20, 2020

Ray Quilt Along

Have you been sewing along with Carolyn Friedlander for her Ray Quilt Along?  It's a free pattern on her blog.

I had some ombré fabrics in my stash, but I only had a quarter yard, so I cut my strips 4.5 inches.  My colour layout was limited by the few pieces I had.


I did big stitch hand quilting with Wonderfil perle cotton #8.


I was even bold enough to do a matched binding.  I pieced together bits of Kona cotton.

 
I can't wait to make another version of the Ray quilt.


This is quilt finish #1 of 20 quilt tops that I plan/want/hope (fingers crossed xxxxxxxxxxxxxx) to finish before the end of the year.  We'll see how that goes.  LOL


Friday, December 18, 2020

TGIFF - Mosaic Mystery Quilt

I'm slowly making my way through the pile of unfinished quilt tops.  I sewed along with Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs for her mystery QAL that finished earlier this year -- Mosaic Mystery Quilt.

I always have big ideas to do some custom quilting and then I can't decide what to do, so I put the quilt top aside.  Start a new project.  Repeat.  And thus began the pile of tops.


I did an all-over loop motif in white thread.  It gives the quilt such great texture.


Photos were taken before the snow arrived.  And arrived it did.  😢


I went through my stash of wide back fabrics and matched them to quilt tops.  But I miscalculated how much of the orange I had for two tops, so this one got a pieced back.


Cheryl's current mystery QAL is underway -- Morewood Mystery.  There's still to join in.  Cheryl always has great mystery designs -- you won't be disappointed.



This was one of my 2020 PHD projects.  PHD is hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail

I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Kathleen McMusing
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts
Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation
Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting 


Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Love & Kisses Blog Tour

It's my turn on the blog tour hosted by Sherry @ Powered by Quilting.  Love & Kisses is a signature fabric line designed by an in-house Island Batik designer, but for Sherry to design the catalog patterns.

I took my inspiration from a quilt I saw over at Wombat Quilts.


I divided up the fabrics in colour groups and used Island Batik grey solid to make the stars.  I did an all-over loop quilting motif with pink thread, with a few stars added here and there.


I was working with fat quarters, so a scrappy binding to finish it off.


It's going to be hard to give away this quilt.


 
Here is the list of all the bloggers participating in the blog tour.  Make sure you stop by to get some quilty inspiration.


*Giveaway*
Leave a comment for a chance to win my leftover 3.5-inch squares of Love & Kisses.  The giveaway will end at midnight Saturday, December 19, 2020.  If you are a no-reply commenter, I will have to re-draw for a winner.

Linking up with:

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter


Sunday, December 13, 2020

2020 Monthly Color Challenge - December

December brings the end of the 2020 Monthly Color Challenge hosted by Jen @ Patterns by Jen.  Head over to Jen's blog for details.

This month's colour is red.



Details for the December block can be found here.

If you like rainbow colours, you are going to love the final layout -- make sure you get your pattern.

If you missed out this year, Jen is hosting the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge.




Thursday, December 10, 2020

TGIFF - 2019 Summer Sampler

Welcome to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finish from this week.

If you would like to host TGIFF in 2021, the spreadsheet of dates has been updated.  You can sign up here.



Over the summer, I decided to stop at 17 blocks for the 2019 Summer Sampler.  I was also making blocks for the 2020 Summer Sampler and decided that these weekly patterns are not for me.


An all-over loop stipple for a quick finish.


I'm so glad I have this finished and off the to-do list.


This quilt doesn't have a final home yet.  I'm focused on getting quilt tops finished, but I need to figure out where they will go.



You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Here are some other links:

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts
Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation
Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting 


Wednesday, December 9, 2020

WIP Wednesday - 2020 Quilter's Planner Sampler Sew Along

I've been sewing along with the Quilter's Planner 2020 Block of the Month Sampler Sew Along, but I keep forgetting to share my progress.

I'm sewing the Fresh colourway with the following Kona colours:  Breakers, Sea Glass, Creamsicle, Wasabi, Nectarine, and Aruba.


September Block



October Block



November Block



December Block



Now to get the 12 blocks pieced and figure out a quilting plan.





Linking up with:

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter



Friday, December 4, 2020

TGIFF - Beothuk Star

The Beothuk Star Quilt Along started in April 2019.  Sandra @ Musings of a Menopausal Melon hosts a QAL every year, and it's always fun to sew along.

This quilt top has been waiting since June 2019 while I tried to figure out a quilting plan.  I have been enjoying some big stitch hand quilting with perle cotton, so I finally settled on that.  I used #EZ03 Silverware perle cotton by Wonderfil.  It blended so well, it was hard to photograph.


I am still amazed at how much I have been enjoying big stitch hand quilting.  So much so, I just ordered 18 balls Wonderfil perle cotton. 😊


I can't wait to see what Sandra has planned for the 2021 QAL.


This was one of my 2020 PHD projects.  PHD is hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail.  I think I have three more projects left to finish, but there's still four more weeks left in 2020.



I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Pretty Piney Quilts
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts
Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation
Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting 

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Friday, November 27, 2020

TGIFF - Gazebo Table Topper

The last pattern in the Journey 2 Nebula QAL hosted by Jaybird Quilts was Gazebo.

I shared in my progress post that I was going to attempt to use my ruler foot.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well my domestic Singer sewed.  Now there was a different story with the operator.....LOL
 

I decided to keep it simple -- using the ruler that came with my Westalee ruler foot.  Straight lines in the half hexagons.  It was a challenge making sure to move both the ruler and the fabric at the same time.


The curved side of the ruler was a huge challenge.  I'll stick to the straight lines for now.


I have another quilt top in mind that I'd like to do ruler work on, but I think I need another practice piece first.


 
I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Slice of Pi Quilts
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts
Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation
Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting 


Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along

Are you sewing along with the Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along hosted by Jeni @ In Color Order?  Although there is a free tutorial, I recommend that you purchase the pattern to get all eight sizes.

I pulled out my Alison Glass prints.


I used the expansion pattern to make this Snack size version.



I like to use ribbon for the ties rather than making fabric ties.

Jeni has posted a video tutorial in case you need some help sewing along.


Linking up with:

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter


Friday, November 20, 2020

TGIFF - Book Club QAL

Earlier this year, I participated in the Book Club QAL hosted by Patty @ Elm Street Quilts and Kristin @ Simple Handmade Everyday   As usual, I put the quilt top aside to be quilted later.  😀

The quilt top is all hand pieced, so I wanted to do big stitch hand quilting with perle cotton.


I used orange thread to quilt inside all the orange fabrics and blue inside the blue fabrics.  Unfortunately, the blue blended a bit too well.  I stitched straight lines in white thread in the sashing and borders.


Here's a closeup of the stitching.


I used Wonderfil #8 perle cotton for the quilting and to hand stitch the binding.


So glad to cross another UFO off the list.  

I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Storied Quilts
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts
Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation
Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting