Recap of February and March Goals

Lupine and Laughter flimsy

My February goals were:

✔1. Make progress on Lupine and Laughter.

✔2. Make a few RSC blocks--the color is green. Angela suggests focusing on the darker green if there is a lot. I will use whatever green will stand out against the gray and black backgrounds. 

✔3. Work on the back for my challenge quilt.

✔4. Make progress quilting the 2022-2023 Temperature quilt.

✔5. Work on my sashiko project.

✔6. Make more 2025 Temperature quilt blocks. I need to purchase more fabric to have enough to finish the blocks. 

✔7. Bind Grassy Creek--I'll be picking it up from the longarmer on Monday.

✔8. Attend and enjoy a virtual retreat.

Whew! I did it! I incorporated some yardage that had been hanging out a long time in my stash into some backing. I even managed to use some scraps from previous backings into the backings that I used. I worked on seven projects and finished one. That finish was Grassy Creek which was a Bonnie Hunter mystery in 2020!

Fabric accounting: 

Green Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks

Current month:

Fabric in: 12 yards--I replenished the fabrics that I was getting low on for my 2025 Temperature quilt.

Fabric out: 22.5 yards

Net loss:10.25 yards

Year to date: 

Fabric in: 23 yards

Fabric out: 34.5 yards

Net loss: 11.5 yards--hurry for a loss!

Book of the month:

Piecing a back for the Kaffe challenge

My favorite listen this month was The Tree Collectors by Amy Stewart. Who knew there are people collecting trees living on a city lot or collecting wood or collecting seeds. Who knew that tree collections could be so varied. People have also determined how their collection will live on after their passing.

My March goals are:

1. Document making a pieced back for my back that decided to be a top which I named Scrappy Kaffe.

2. Make progress on the sashiko project.

3. Post about my sourdough baking.

4. Post an update on my knee.

5. Document receiving Happy Mail.

6. Visit Liberty of London.

7. Pre wash the backing fabric, iron it and get Lupine and Laughter to the longarmer.

8. Document making a pieced back for my Kaffe challenge quilt.

9. Document the Love Bug gift pillows.

Linking to Oh Scrap, Sew & Tell and To Do Tuesday, Finished or Not Friday, Patchwork and Quilts.

Sashiko progress at the end of February

Grassy Creek Is A Finish!--post 9

The swirly quilting pantograph 

After beginning Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek mystery in November 2020, this project is FINISHED! My friend Tomme quilted it using a swirly pattern and gray thread. The backing is a wide back. The quilt measurers 94 by 94 inches. 

I applied the binding, added the label and the hanging sleeve for the finish! This was goal number goal number seven on my February list. It was goal number 2c on my Annual list. I used a total of 22.25 yards of fabric from stash to get this project to the finish! String piecing uses a lot of fabric! 

Fabric Accounting:                  Current Month: Yardage in: 12 yards; Yardage out 22.25. Net loss for the month: 10.25 yards.             Year to Date: Yardage in 23 yards; Yardage out 34.5 yards; Net loss: 11.5 yards.  Hurray!

The scrap of red fabric that I so wanted to use for binding and which I knew was going to be close was too short. Yes, I lost at binding chicken! 

Almost but not enough binding

I was about eight inches short. I really wanted that red binding so I pieced the binding. I had a short two inch strip of the red fabric. I added a strip of the orange backing fabric to make the strip measure two and half inches.

The pieced binding is on the right

I added it to the end of my prepared binding, pressed it and stitched the binding to the quilt. From the front, you would not know that the strip was pieced. 

The view from the back

Viewing the back, the piecing is evident; but, because I used the backing fabric, it looks "planned!" At least, that is the story that I'm claiming!

The label

The label came from a bag of labels that was left on the free table long ago. I squeezed in the information that I wanted to add and it works! Finishing this project that I started in 2020 is AWESOME! 

View of the front

Previous posts:

Preparing for the start--post 1

Clues 1 & 2--post 2

Clues 3 & $--post 3

Clues 5 & 6-- post 4

Clue 7-- post 5

Clue 7--post 6

More Strings-- post 7

Grassy Creek is a top!--post 8

Linking to Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilting.

A Little More Green for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge--post 3

 

Oops! 

I did piece a few more Rainbow Scrap Challenge green string blocks. Gertie, my inner squirrel, agreed that the horizontal orientation of the block was more interesting. Maybe next month, I'll get an idea of the layout in this orientation. 

As we were discussing the pros to that orientation, she pointed out that I had mis-stitched the constant strip on one of the rectangles. I thanked Gertie for pointing out the error and said I would leave it. She replied that she doubted I could do it. Sigh. . .she was correct. I ended up piecing another green rectangle with the constant fabric in the correct spot!

Eight completed diamonds

I thought the blue blocks were dynamic. When I stepped back from the design wall, I thought, WOW! These blocks are just as awesome as the blue blocks were! What do you think?

The remains

The best part of finishing the green diamonds was the amount of strings that were remaining. Not many! Chantal at The Corner of Scraps and Quilts is masterful at using scraps. I'm inspired at the containers after she has spent time piecing the contents. She inspires me every day.

Linking to Scrap Happy, Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.

Making A Back for the Small Group Challenge--post 4

Most of the leftover block parts and bits

Goal number one on my February list was to work the back to for my small group challenge flimsy. I finished the flimsy last month. My plan was to use the leftover bits, pieces and chunks to construct the back. First, I placed the leftover block parts and bits on the design wall.

Auditioning fabric placement of the Kaffe leftovers

Next, I placed the leftover chunks of the Kaffe fabric on the design wall. Gertie wanted to place the pieced sections vertically; but, they looked better in the horizontal orientation. Using the scraps, I pieced the parts together to begin making a row. 

Piecing sections into rows

Once I had made several rows, I checked the row width against the flimsy and learned it needed to be a few inches wider. Kept stitching until I made rows. I auditioned the rows in different configurations. When Gertie, my inner squirrel, approved, I stitched the rows together. I added the blue to unify the piece as well as make it a little longer.

60 x 72 inch back

I was amazed at how I many scraps I used! The scraps needed little trimming. I took a photo of the leftovers. In addition to the bits in the photo, I had about third of a yard left of the bright orange and 2/3 yard left of the dark orange fabric. I had about 3/4 yard left of the purple.(I'll use the purple as binding.)

The leftovers 

As I was cleaning up the space, I found the scraps I couldn't find earlier. I asked myself. Now what? I auditioned the remaining leftovers. I may be able to add 10 more inches in length and about eight inches in width. Gertie, my inner squirrel, squealed with delight. She thinks this back has become a top. She could be right!

Auditioning the remaining leftovers

I'll piece these bits into the project and see what it looks like. Working on the back was goal number five on my February list. Linking to Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

Virtual Retreat Review

WARNING:

Fabrics for a charity block

This is a text heavy post. Feel free to scroll and skim!

Last weekend, I. along with Rosanne, Riza and Alvera who are members of my small group, The Four Amigas, hosted a virtual retreat through the Portland Modern Quilt Guild. Thirty nine participants registered from eight states and three Canadian provinces.

Lots of stitching happened, as well as visiting and there was some learning too! We played games, awarded door prizes, stayed up late, got up early and were inspired by three great speakers. We even included a charity block activity. Being virtual was similar to an in person retreat.
We've received lots of positive feedback 

The first layout

from the attendees making our event a success!

I can't imagine putting on a virtual retreat without being part of a group! Rosanne was our chair. She interacted with the board as we needed.  Budget approval, invoice payments and publicity chair interaction was behind the scenes important work. Our guild publicity chair put together terrific posts for social media which drew people to sign up for the event.

A second layout option

Alvera worked out the schedule. Riza came up with a game that we could play virtually called Blank Slate. Riza modified it to have a quilting theme and only exact matches were awarded one point. People were on their honor to tally their scores. I found a link to play virtual Bingo. It was fun and easy. 

We used Cynthia's (Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework)  Scrappy Chains block as our charity block. I wrote a tutorial for making the block and included information on how to mail it. 

A third layout option

Rosanne made a block a few days before the retreat. She texted me a photo and wrote that her block read purple. The original directions were to use solid or fabrics that read as a solid in one color way. Rosanne's block did not meet the fabric requirements. I let her know about the solid fabric. She said she didn't remember that part. I laughed. She was the one that wanted the solid fabrics!

Riza happened by Rosanne's and echoed the same sentiments about her fabric choices. Rosanne was excited to have used her scraps to make the blocks as now she had made more than one. Riza read the directions out loud and Rosanne immediately replied, "you know I can't follow directions and you know I don't read. This wasn't in Audible!" Rosanne listens to a lot of books! We laughed. 

Adding more blocks to the design

We laughed again when Rosanne discovered she put together her block using the photo of the back of the block rather than the front of her block. She was going to employ Jack and rip out the block

I said leave it. I stated that we would likely receive more blocks with that orientation and it wouldn't matter. We would have the strong pattern of the chain blocks which would carry the design.

Lupine and Laughter as a flimsy

In the end, seventeen people made blocks. We haven't received all of them. We did receive enough before and during the retreat to play with different layouts. The top will be sewn vertically; but, horizontally was the best way to display the blocks. That errant block stitching actually works well with the layout that we chose! Now, we are wishing we had more! We are all laughing!!

Rosanne has volunteered to sew the blocks together and quilt it. The finished quilt or quilts will be given to the charity group at PMQG. I love Riza's layout. Those blocks are super happy!

I also was the contact for the speakers that we hired.  Our speakers were, Sarah Goer (Rules and Options of Planned Improv Piecing), Karen Bolan (Collaboration Is Fun) and Sarah Ruiz (Inspiration to Quilt). Feedback from the participants was that they not only liked the speakers; but, were inspired by the topics.

Green string prewashing and processing

The retreat was open from 5pm Friday until Sunday at 1pm. Most hours of the retreat were hosted. Rosanne managed the Zoom session most of the time. Rosanne is a night owl. Alvera lives in an earlier time zone so she logged on 4am our time which was 7am her time. Riza and I filled in as needed. 

After paying the speakers, we used the remaining money as prize money. Our goal was not to spend money on postage or "things" so we could have more prize money to award. We also knew that a number of our participants didn't have access to a printer, so we wanted all the information able to be used digitally with printing as an option. 

Rosanne set up a number generator program and drew names for our drawings which were $25 electronic gift certificates that were from businesses that support PMQG. If the winner lived outside the business area, the winner chose their favorite area quilt shop.

Quilt waiting for more stitching time

In between, we had breakout rooms. One was for quiet. .. when the conversation became too much and you wanted to sew with a smaller less talkative group for a bit. This was requested during the planning stages; but it wasn't used. 

We had a social issues breakout room. We had a participant from Minneapolis and ten people went there to learn about the happenings in the city. That happened as the retreat opened and all members were back by the time the speaker was ready to present. No one else requested going to the room. 

Some progress is made

The third breakout room was for demonstrations and small group chatting. This room was used once for chatting and twice for demonstrations. One demonstration was two methods of applying a facing to a quiltIt and the other was how to achieve a quarter inch seam. The breakout rooms were available 24/7. To join a room, you needed to ask the host to assign you to the room. All participants were invited to join when a breakout room was requested.

It was a fun experience and I would do it again. I can't say I accomplished much. I did finish the flimsy of Lupine and Laughter. I did finish prewashing and prepping some strings for my RSC blocks. I even spent some time quilting my 2022-2023 Temperature quilt. 

Making progress on the quilting of the temperature quilt was goal number four and attending the retreat was goal number eight on my February list. Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.

RSC--The Color Is Green--post 2

Green scrap assortment

I had a small bag of green strings. I picked up more green strings at my Mavens sew day at the beginning of the month. I prewashed the pieces to ensure that they don't leave behind any surprises for me at the end of the project. I'm glad I picked up more scraps. The plastic bag contained a lot of the same fabric and some strings that were "filed" incorrectly. There were teal scraps in the green bag! 

Starting the piecing

My friend, Wendy, is moving. She gifted me some black and gray chunks of fabric to add to the strings. She is moving about half an hour from me which is only a ten minute longer drive than I have now. I miss her already!

First block

This might be a project that I carry into next year or maybe I'll have enough --whether that is enough blocks or experiencing the journey--by the end the year. Time will tell. My thought is to make seven blocks which is 28 rectangles.

Three green blocks in a vertical orientation

In one sewing session I pieced three blocks and had a fourth mostly pieced. 

Three green blocks in a horizontal orientation 

Hm m m . . .What if I flipped the blocks? Would the horizontal orientation be more interesting to the eye? Gertie, my inner squirrel, and I plan to play with layouts.

Regarding the strings, I attempt to use the fabric strips as they will fill the space. I keep the small bits visible so I can incorporate those into the next rectangles. Using as I go, helps me not end up with a pile of small bits.  String piecing is messy; yet, I enjoy the magic that happens when sewing the rectangles together. This project is especially messy because I have gray and black strings in the mix along with the color of the month strips.

What my sewing area looks like

Tomorrow, I'll finish piecing blocks. Making blocks was goal number two on my February list. Linking to Finished or Not Friday, Patchwork and Quilts and Scrap Happy.

Lupine and Laughter Is A Flimsy--post 4

Beginning to piece the outer border

Monday, I spent at our in person Mavens sew day. I worked on piecing the flying geese border. I was impressed after sewing 12 sections together, the measurement was right on the mark. I hoped I could have the same result three more times AND add six more sections!

Stitching row together

Wednesday, I realized (with Gertie, my inner squirrel's "nudge") that if I wanted to work on piecing the back of my improv challenge project this month, I needed to sew these blocks together.  The blocks were on my design wall and I need the design wall to layout the leftovers I have in mind for the back of the challenge.

Center complete

By the end of the Wednesday sew session, I had the blocks mostly sewn into rows. I even had sewn a few rows together. By the end of the sew session on Thursday, I had sewn all the rows together. Friday, I added the skinny inner border. I stitched more of the geese together and I constructed the corner blocks. 

View of a corner

I stitched the blocks together into the border and laid them next to the top. It seemed like the border was going to go on without any easing. . .could that actually be possible? I stitched the border to the top like I was sewing sashing to a block! Now I have a top and I'm closer to a finish. My next step is to prewash the wide backing fabric and get the project to the long armer!

Overall view

Making progress on this progress was goal number one on my February list. I am pleased with my flimsy. I bought no fabric for this flimsy. I'm pleased my scraps with a little help from my friends for the pink worked! Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.

2025 Temperature Quilt--An Oops to Fix--post 5

Oops the windows are in the wrong spot

Goal number six on my February list was to make more 2025 Temperature blocks. I was showing a photo of my top to my Monday Mavens when one in the group mentioned that I had a "wonky" house. Gosh, I'm glad Tomme caught that error so I could fix it before I had added more rows!

Last of the yellow background sewn and more house bodies

Fixing the oops was the focus of my day yesterday. I've also sewn all the yellow background for sunny days so I need to wait for my order to arrive before I make more sunny day blocks. If possible, I will make more house bodies. February is an extra busy month for me so likely this is all the progress on this project that I make. I am okay with that fact. Progress has been made and I've not abandoned the project! For me, this is a WIN!

Same view as before except the house next to the tree is in proper order

While I had planned to spend more time on this project, Gertie, my inner squirrel had other ideas. She mentioned that IF I wanted to work on piecing the back for my improv challenge quilt, I needed the design wall. Right now, my Lupine and Laughter blocks are on it. I see her point. 

Lupine and Laughter blocks ready to sew into rows

Today, my focus will be sewing the blocks together for Lupine and Laughter. Linking to Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.