Piecing Strings

The string bag

Goal number nine of my June list was to begin piecing the strings from my two gallon zip lock bag containing strings in the sizes of 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 4 1/2 and 6 1/2 strings. A quart size zip lock bag contains each size of string. Cynthia at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework, Chantal at At The Corner Of Scrap and Quilts and Angela at Scrap Happy inspire me to use scraps the scraps that I've "harvested" after completing a project..

Contents of the 2 1/2 inch zip lock bag

The bag is almost at capacity so it was time to begin making "fabric" out of the strips. The largest amount of "precuts" was the 2 1/2 inch zip lock bag. I cut newspaper strips that were 2 1/2 inches wide and began piecing the strips to the foundation.

Piecing away

Our oldest granddaughter came for a visit. She wanted to string piece. She has experience string piecing. I gave her my seat! She created  fabric strips for about half an hour. I noted that since she had a machine, she could sew these at home. Which she replied that she didn't have fabric to sew! What she really meant was that she didn't have a project! I asked if she wanted to work on these at home because we could make a project bag for her. She said yes! So that was how I lightened the amount of 2 1/2 inch strings out of the bag!

K's string progress

In the week since, she texted me a photo of her progress after her first sew session. She was excited that she was able to remember how to use her machine! She was excited to be using her packet of paper strips and strings! She knows that next time we see one another, she can take home more strings. I do have ideas to run by her should she desire to turn her strips into blocks. Do I dare hope that she will become a quilter? My fingers are crossed!

Celebrating commencement 

Speaking of the granddaughter, she was one of ten students in her eighth grade class to speak at her commencement. We proudly watched her speak. Last week, we took her out for a birthday lunch. She choose the restaurant. It was a great day. We decided since she is 14, she is old enough to know when she "needs"  a coffee, a pastry, a lunch or a time away. All she has to do is call or text and set a date. She seemed excited about that option. Let's see if she takes advantage. I know she has another restaurant in mind!

Three and half inch strips trimmed and ready for paper removal

Back to the strings! The next fullest bag was the 3 1/2 inch strings. I found that I wasn't using the two inch by 3 1/2 inch scraps that I saved early in my scrap saving journey so I had added these to the bag. I had at least five quart size bags that were partially full of scraps by color! I pieced the 3 1/2 inch strings on a piece of newsprint that was about 18 inch long. I sewed a lot of strings!

Bag at the end of piecing

I created about 240 inches of 3 1/2 inch string fabric! I still had strings left; but, the variety wasn't great so I'll wait until I have more strings in that size! I did like seeing one bag with lots of room at the end of the piecing session!   

6 1/2  inch strings

I tacked the 6 1/2 inch string bag next. I actually had two of these zip lock bags. I cut more foundations from news print and began.

Piecing the 6 1/2 inch strings

So many bits! Yet, and this I found hard to believe, wasn't enough! There was plenty regarding amount; but, there wasn't enough variety. So after piecing five strips, I located one of my friend Martha's scrap bags. 

A scrap bag of Martha's collected in August 2018

This bag was almost 15 inches high and weighed five pounds and eight ounces! It is full of rectangles, squares, strips, triangles and bits! That five pounds converts to about 16 yards of fabric!

View of the inside of the bag

I have no idea how many projects are in that bag; but, I did begin to pull the strips from the bag. After I had pieced eight strips of 6 1/2 inch strings, both Gertie and I were ready to give this project a rest! 

Pieced 6 1/2 inch string units

The string bag looks as full as it did when I started. The completed strips are in the bag so that is the reason why there isn't a change in the amount of strings in the bag! 

String bag at the end of piecing

Gertie and I do have ideas of how to use the strings; but, we need lots more inches of pieced strips.We will return to this project later in the month or next month. In the meantime, I've some Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks to make and quilting to do!

Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.

Good Fortune Finished

Quilting pattern--Growing Things

Goal number two on my June list was to finish Good Fortune. This was the Bonnie Hunter mystery in 2018. It was the first of her mystery sew alongs that I actually started.

 I had watched Bonnie's mystery for at least three years prior before I decided I could try! When I didn't get it to the finish, I knew that while I liked doing the mystery, I needed a village closer to me to support me to the finish. I saw many Facebook posts about groups doing the mystery together. They seemed to have a blast!

Label

In the fall of 2019, I started a small group to have fun and to get our Bonnie projects to the finish! We are called the Mystery Mavens. There are about twenty active members. We work on Bonnie's mystery. Sometimes it is the current one and sometimes it isn't. Bonnie's patterns have a lot of pieces! Sometimes, we work on one of her patterns and sometimes, we work on a different project all together. It is a personal choice each one makes.

With their support, I have now finished all the mystery quilts I've started. Good Fortune 2018, Frolic 2019, Grassy Creek 2020, Rhododendron Trail 2021, Chilhowie 2022, Indigo Way 2023, Old Town 2024 and Lupine and Laughter 2025. Additionally, I finished Unity 2020. You can see those finishes on this page.

Pieced back

Quilting texture on the front

I've a couple weeks to decide which Bonnie Hunter project I will move toward the finish next. I have blocks started for three leader/enders:Triple Treat, Four Patch Fun and Jewel Box Stars. I also have started three projects: string geese, complimentary block exchange and Smith Mountain Morning. I plan to work on one of those projects when our Mastery Mavens meets until it is finished or until the next mystery begins.

Good Fortune returned from the longarmer at the end of May. I chose a swirl pattern with a flower shape. The pattern was called Growing Things. I like the texture it provided. I chose a tan thread. 

The label came from the guild free table. That dark green background, even using a Lightbox, was difficult to see where I wanted to write! 

The binding was a piece of solid fabric that I had in my stash as I didn't have enough of one of the leftover red fabrics to cut a binding.

I thought that I would use a piece of orange fabric for the sleeve; but, a scrap that remained from the backing was large enough so I used it instead. It blends with the backing so you don't know that it is there! I do like the interest that piecing the back created. It could be a two sided quilt.

Finished Front

I used 21 yards of fabric for this project. That brings my total of stash used for the month at 21 yards. It brings my net stash used for the year at 83.25 yards! 

This is my seventh finish for the year. Gertie and I already pieced together the leftover batting chunks and sorted the remaining fabric scraps into my scrap saving system. 

Linking to: To Do Tuesday; Finished Or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

And Evem More Sourdough--post 6 AND Scrap Processing

Rum Raisin Bread Pudding

I'm continuing to cook my way through "Artisan Sourdough Made Simple" by Emilie Raffa. Goal number six on my June list was to post more results of the recipes I've baked. an In February, I baked Rum Raisin Bread Pudding. It was tasty and it was good recipe to use day old sourdough bread. The recipe calls for two tablespoons of caramel sauce to drizzle on the top. It is a sweet dish; but, it wasn't an excellent dish.

 

The loaf after baking

The next bread that I baked was the Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Sourdough loaf. Before baking, the recipe called for slivered almonds to top the loaf. Another time, I would ensure more of the chips are enclosed in the dough. Should you ask, I anticipate baking this recipe many times!

Delicious

Before cutting into the loaf, the recipe called for a dusting of powdered sugar. The sweetness of the bread came from the chocolate and peanut butter chips.

Decadent Chocolate Chip Loaf

The next loaf that I baked was the Chocolate Chip loaf. It was delicious on its own. The chocolate chips stayed gooey for a couple of days. The bread was light and moist. The sourdough flavor is prevalent. Yet, the combination of chocolate and sourdough is pleasing! It is a rich loaf and one slice was more than enough. The white top is due to dusting with flour prior to baking the loaf. I shared this loaf with one of my small groups and it was a hit! I must remember to snap a photo of a slice before all the slices were eaten!

Cinnamon Swirl Raisin

In April, I baked Cinnamon Swirl Raisin loaf. It took a long time raise and I probably should have given it another hour to raise before I baked it as I didn't get much pan spring. 

The first slices

For this loaf, I baked it at a lower temperature. The loaf didn't over brown on either the top or the bottom. It was light and delicious. The raisins and walnuts were a good addition.

Seeded Pumpkin Cranberry bread

Seeded Pumpkin Cranberry Bread was the next recipe I baked. It has three quarters of a cup of pumpkin in the batter which turned the dough a light orange color. The cranberries are soaked in a mixture of orange juice, vanilla and sugar. The mixture is added to the dough after the dough has rested.

The first slice

Before baking, I pressed some pumpkin seeds to the top of the loaf. The seeds add a professional looking garnish. It was tasty bread and such a unique color!

Almost No Knead Fougasse

Almost No Knead Fougasse was the next recipe I made. I chose to top it with herbs before baking. Next time, I'll also add the parmesan cheese before baking. 

First slices

This bread was best eaten warm. I liked the taste of adding the herbs to the loaf. I should have waited until just before I baked the loaf before I cut in the design to the bread as the bread rose and muted my design This would be a great recipe to bake when we have guests.

There are still more recipes to be made so I will be writing a few more posts to be written once I've done the baking. 

Now on to the stitching!

Scrap pile to be processed

Goal number 10 on my June list was to process the leftover bits from Good Fortune, Dash and Beyond the Surface. I had already processed the leftovers from making the quilts. These bits are the trimmings from the binding, backing and batting of those projects. 

Scraps ready to be added to the scrap saving system.

I put away a few strings before I remembered I wanted to snap a photo of the useable scraps I was able to process from that stack of leftovers. Also not pictured are some five inch squares and five inch strips. Additionally, I made a sleeve for Dash out of the green scrap. As I put the strips into my scrap saving system, I found that my strip containers were full too. I need to figure out another scrap project! 

These scraps become my precuts. The sizes of my precuts are 1 1/2, 2 and 2/12 inch strips or squares. These are the sizes I use most often. I smile when a pattern calls for fabric cut in those measurements! I store by size and by color in quart zip lock bags.

I also pieced a the leftover batting bits together. I often quilt densely so I'm not concerned that there will br a lot of joins in the batting. Trimmings and small bits go in a two gallon plastic bag. If I make a toy or a pillow, I'll use those bits for stuffing.

Batting bits combined. Top bag is full of the trimmings.

Stitching the batting scraps together as I process the other scraps ensures that I complete the task. I used to put the batting scraps into a tub until I couldn't close the lid. Piecing the batting scraps at that point was tedious! Having a pieced batting ready to use, helps me to move a project through the basting stage.

Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.

May Recap and June Goals

Goal number 5: Making progress on the guild challenge

My May goals were: 

✔1. Document my rug braiding experience.

✔2. Make the orange string blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

✔3. Finish my 2022 through 2023 Temperature quilt.

✔4. Begin quilting my small group Kaffe challenge.

✔5. Make progress on my guild challenge project.

✔6. Decide what to do for the current book club book.

✔7. Determine the next step for Good Fortune.

✔8. Make the President's block for CCQ.

✔9. Quilt Beyond the Surface.

Finish Good Fortune--it's back from the longarmer

Wahoo! I met all my goals for another month! Gertie, my inner squirrel, never tires of doing the happy dance about the studio! She solemnly agrees that progress should always be celebrated! I'm especially happy to have finished my 2022-2023 Temperature Quilt! 

Finishing that project also meant that I met goal two on my annual list which was to finish at least five of the 21 works in progress that I listed. I plan to finish more before the year ends. 

Fabric Accounting:

Current Month:

Fabric in: 0 yards

Fabric out: 20.5 yards

Finish my group challenge quilt

Net loss for the month: 20.5 yards 

Year to Date:

Fabric in: 24 3/4 yards

Fabric out: 87 yards

Net loss: 62.25 yards 

Best Book of the Month: Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. The journey of a young boy searching for his father at the beginning of the depression. He ends up finding a different sort of family.

My June goals are:

1. Make progress on my guild challenge project--I'm considering adding words and/or graphics. . .

2. Finish Good Fortune. It is back from the longarmer. It needs to be bound, labeled and a hanging sleeve attached.

3. Determine the quilting for "Read," the project for the book, "The Last Bookshop in London."

Segments of strings bag

4. Determine the quilting and the backing as well as layer and glue baste the sashiko project.

5. Finish my small group challenge project.

6. Publish a post of my sourdough bread recipe tries.

7. Make string blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This month the color is pastel. 

8. Make progress on my rug braiding project.

9. Begin string piecing bits from the bags that over time I've gathered 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 4 1/2 and 6 1/2 inch segments. The bag is over full. The time has come! 

10. Process the leftovers of the backings and battings from Good Fortune, Dash and Beyond the Surface.

11. Determine which Bonnie Hunter project, I'll work on next. Will it be a leader/ender or a started project?

I've a lot of quilting to do again this month! Gertie and I are determined to make good progress on projects that have been hanging about in the studio space!

Linking to Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

Read--post 1

First pencil sketch; hands too low; poor fingers

Goal number six on my May list was to figure out what to do for the current book club book which is "The Last Bookshop in London" by Madeline Martin. With each project I make, I try to challenge myself in some way. For the last several projects, I've used scraps and blocks from the "parts department."

Second sketch: hands okay; too much like a newspaper

As I read this book, I had several thoughts about projects I could make. Those projects would take more time than I had to spend on the project. I thought some more. 

When I was in London earlier this year, I was re-listening to the book. In the story, the main character takes a position working in a London Bookshop just before WWII began. When the bombs fell on London, she would read to those that were using the tube as a place to shelter. Reading in the tube became a way for her to connect further to her community. 

It's been a while since I played with line.  I pondered that I could make a line drawing of hands reading a book. I could call the project "Read." I could use some of my grandmother's narrow bias tape to define the line. I looked at people holding a book, holding a paper, holding a newspaper. I asked my husband to hold a book. I reviewed examples on Pinterest. I drew a sketch. 

The hands were too low and the fingers weren't visual enough. I couldn't draw the right perspective with the arms. The book curve was okay, I wasn't successful making the drawing one line as I had picked up my pencil and redrawn or back tracked in some areas.

I tried a second time. This time, I did achieve a single line. The hand and fingers were much more believable; but, the book now looked like a newspaper.

Third sketch: more book like

For the third try, I erased a few lines and added a curve. A few lines overlap; but, the design is doable. I enlarged my sketch on my home printer. I used a black Sharpie marker to darken the lines. I chose a medium gray solid fabric from my stash for the background and a blue grey bias tape. The price on this package was 85 cents.

Auditioning a few strings to represent stairs

As I reviewed the layout, I thought that I needed to add some interest to the top and bottom of the piece. I auditioned a few grey string blocks and decided to place those across the top and bottom of the piece. The strings could represent the stairs where the people sat. 

Bias tape

While I was piecing the orange blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, I pieced the remaining three string blocks I needed for the borders. I added the blocks to the background. Using a light box and pencil, I transferred the pattern to the background. Using Elmer's School Glue, I glued the bias tape to the background. 

Offray ribbon

The plan to use bias tape while a good plan, didn't work. The tape wasn't narrow enough as I lost the definition of the little finger. Gertie, my inner squirrel, and I thought some more. We could couch a ribbon, yarn or maybe stitch heavy lines of thread or maybe a combination of thread and couching? We decided to try gluing black offray ribbon to the lines. That idea worked.

Read and auditioning the lower string border

As I stepped back to view the hands reading the book, Gertie and I both exclaimed it needs the word, "Read!" I like the add as does Gertie! We then auditioned the string border for the bottom of the quilt. Neither of us liked it. I tried auditioning only the lower border. I tried auditioning string blocks around the entire perimeter. I didn't like that either. So in the end, we both decided the upper string border was enough. The strings can either represent the steps the people sat on in the tube or the rubble that they found when they emerged from the tube.

Ready for a backing and layering

I selected a backing and a sleeve fabric from the stash. These fabrics have been around a long time. They were "gifted" to me. They must have been waiting for this project!  

The backing and sleeve fabric

I layered and glue basted it. Because this is a wall hanging, I used Warm and Natural batting. The letter R looked lonely so I added a bit of ribbon. I'll attach the ribbon as I quilt. 

Ready for quilting

Now to determine the quilting! Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.

Temperature Quilt 2022-2023 Is Finished!

Thread used

Goal number three on my May list and goal number 2a on my annual list was to finish the 2022-2023 Temperature quilt.  The general goal of number two on my annual list was to finish five projects. Last year, I had a goal of finishing six; but, finished five. Gertie, my inner squirrel, convinced me to list 21 projects to have variety in choices of projects! I have many more than that; but, I'm not COUNTING! This finish makes five so I have met that goal! I intend to surpass it!

Label

Let's return to the subject of this finish: Last month, I finally finished quilting it on my 790 Bernina. Earlier in the month, I stitched the binding on via the machine and added the label. Towards the end of the month, I attached a sleeve. It was a long time in coming, but, it is FINISHED!

Hand stitching the sleeve

Honestly, I have no idea of the number of hours I've spent stitching this project. The blocks are English Paper Pieced (EPP). I hand appliquéd the top to the border. I custom quilted the project. I estimated 1200 hours; but, likely this number was an under estimate!

Close up of quilting

For the high and low temperatures, I used hand dyed fabric purchased from Vicki Welch before she closed her business. I loved her fabrics and miss not having access to them. Although, it is still possible to stay up to date with her activities because she blogs at Colorways by Vicki Welch. I used commercial print fabrics to record rainfall, no precipitation and snowfall.

Pieced back made mostly from batik fat quarters and batik leftovers

Eventually, my U.K. granddaughter will be gifted this quilt. She was born in March of 2022. I EPP many blocks while I watched her grow during her first three months while I visited! English temperatures and Pacific Northwest temperatures are similar. 

I used cotton and polyester thread to quilt this project. The back is pieced with the leftover dark batik fabric I used to make the spacer sections. I pulled other chunks and fat quarters that complimented the leftover batik. I estimate that I used 18 yards of fabric. It measures 60 by 82 inches.

Finished front

This brings the total fabric used this month to 20.5 yards. I have a net loss for the year of 62.5 yards! (I'm over halfway to my goal of having a net loss of 100 yards!) Linking to Finished or Not Friday, Patchwork and Quilts, Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday and I Quilted This.