Monday, November 23, 2015

Retreat update--no finishes; but progress made!

What do you get when you combine 47 ladies and some fabric? Lots of fun and creativity, that's what!!



The one project I did not work on was the mystery quilt project through the guild. Maybe this week I will work on the second step.




I spent lots of time working on the hexagon blocks. I generally forget how long it takes to apply the sashings and borders! What is terrific about this progress is that with three blocks left to stitch in the mystery, the first nine are set! I like how the green and orange muted the dark and light backgrounds. I did have a cutting error in that I cut two extra 3 1/2" strips which won't leave me enough fabric to cut the outer borders. I haven't found any more of this batik so a new plan will emerge. I actually have an idea and have my fingers crossed that it will work!

While I was sashing, we had a mystery project. If you wanted to participate you brought three fat quarters (FQs)in a brown bag and then you had an exchange. Once you had the new three FQs, you made something out of them. 

I made two fold up totes with the FQs I received. Below are my samples:

                                                               
         


I received this table mat with the FQs I put in my brown bag. The back is what is unique about this project though. The gal backed the piece with a piece of her Swedish weaving! She even signed her work!
Isn't that extra special?






                                   








My next project was to work on the square in a square blocks to compliment the churn dash blocks I made months ago. With the two blocks, there is a lot going on; but, I think the two blocks work together and will live nicely together in a quilt. I also cut a few plain squares from some of the bigger print fabrics to throw into the mix. I want the viewer to wonder, what was she thinking? When they see that I've a few of these plain squares among the blocks. It is turning into an "I Spy" type quilt! 

I still have fabric left from the seven inch exchange squares. How many more square in a square blocks and churn dash blocks and plain squares I'll need remains a mystery for now.

The last project that I worked on was the string geese. I gave a demonstration on how to make them to the group. The demonstration was well received. I talked about Bonnie Hunter's scrap saving system and shared where they could find the directions to how she cuts her scraps as well as this geese tutorial.

In the past, I would have thrown away most of those scraps. For a time, I wasn't going to save that small stuff because I "couldn't" make anything out of it! Well, look at me now, cutting use able strips, squares and blocks out of the project's scraps. In the end only tossing pieces that are under an inch wide!

My goal was to sew the "wings" on all of the geese that were made. I didn't get that far. I did sew all the "wings" I had cut on the available geese. I did tear the paper from a number of geese; but, I still have more to go. Also, I still don't know how many geese I have! The plan was to count them so I knew how many more I needed to string piece. I'm saving that for another day! Isn't it good to be able to save tasks for another day??  

14 comments:

Luann Fischer said...

I've decided that using the phone book pages is a great alternative to heavily starching bias pieces. I found that the starching actually shrunk some of my batiks, just a smidge, but it was enough to throw off my finished piece.
Still searching for a box for the red hat!

Anonymous said...

Wow you've got so many projects on the go. The combination of sq in sq and churn dash blocks is really good and quite different. Must have been a long retreat!
Wendy

Anonymous said...

Hi Terry,
I love the hexie quilt and your colours are gorgeous
Anne

Monica said...

I just love Churn Dashes, I don't know why! Your quilt looks wonderful there, Terry -- great contrast and movement. Sounds like a very busy and fun retreat!

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

Luann, The phone book pages do work well and they are priced just right! :) That box will turn up! Thanks for visiting!--Terry

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

Wendy, I have so many projects in process. . .really too many; but, I can't seem to stop creating more! :) Retreat began at 2:30 Thursday afternoon and ended at 2PM on Sunday! --Terry

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

Anne, that hexie quilt has been lots of fun. It is a mystery. . .we don't know what we will be doing until we go to each meeting! Thank you for your kind comments. I think that orange says, "Let's play!"--Terry

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

Monica, Thanks for the positive note about the churn dashes. I like them too! The fabrics I had for the churn dash ranged from tea pots to foods to music so finding a pattern that would make all the fabrics play nice was a challenge!--Terry

Diane-crewe said...

looks as if you have been having a great time x

Nancy said...

You sure accomplished a lot at the retreat! I can't wait to see what you decide to do for the border on the hexi quilt. I always have a million projects going at a time, so I know how that goes!

Deborah said...

your churn dash quilt is wonderful. it was great to see all your projects. do you get ink residue from the phone book pages?

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

It WAS a fun time. Now, I'm waiting for the next time!!! The waiting is the hard part!!! --Terry

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

Nancy, I found more of the batik fabric so I don't have to come up with a "fix" after all! Lots of projects going at one time means a whole of variety. . .no chance of boredom!!! :)--Terry

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

Debbie, thank you for your wonderful comment about the churn dash quilt. I don't get ink from the phone book pages because the pages are old. . .several years at least!!! The "newer" pages will give you a little residue; but, I haven't noticed it more than on my hands.--Terry