Santa Tree Skirt--post 3

Ready for basting 

Over the years that I've made this pattern, the useable width of the fabric has decreased. I found that I adding a 4 inch strip to the backing made it much easier to layer this project. I used long pins to pin the layers together. 

Stiched around the edge and pin basted

Then I hand basted the sticking area. I added this time consuming step because doing it will decrease my chances of stitching in a tuck. A tuck would mean having to rip and restitch an area. 

I trimmed the excess batting and backing. I carefully stitched around the edges leaving an edge open for turning. Hand basting was worth the effort because I had no tucks! 

It was a beast to turn inside out; but, I did it without as much angst as I had anticipated. 

I pressed the turned edges and topstitched them to hold the layers in place. Then I pinned basted the layers to ready the project for machine quilting.

I stitched in the ditch with monofilament thread. In the first stitching session, I completed the ditch stitching and more than half of quilting the six belts.

Belt and Santa suit quilting

In my second stitching session the following day, I finished the belts and stitched half of the Santa suits before my body cried, "ENOUGH!"

Detail of suit and boot quilting

In my third session, I finished the Santa suits and started on the boots and dark fabric on the arms. I finished two before my body needed to stop.

Continuous curves stitched in the green part of the arms

In my fourth session, I finished the boots and the arms. I used a curved ruler to stitch a continuous curve in the green section of the arms. 

Defining the eyes

I stitched the outline of the eyes to provide a little more definition. I added a straight stitch around the mustache.

Paisley motif quilted in the beards

Using a paisley free motion motif, I stitched five of the beards. My body was super tired after that session!

Loop motif quilted in the background

The following day, I stitched the last beard and started quilting the background. I used micro quilter thread by Superior to quilt the background. I used Aurifil 50 weight cotton threads to quilt the Santas. I needed two more sessions to finish the quilting. 

Thread used in the project

I added the label, sashing it with the last of a Christmas fabric I purchased early in my quilting journey. I finished the tree skirt! Finishing this project was goal number three on my June list. I used seven yards of fabric; but, I've purchased some more wide backing so my net stash numbers are not increasing as much as I had hoped! 

Label

Fabric Summary:

Fabric in this month: 12 yards  (I bought two three yard wide back bundles.)  

Fabric in year to date: 38 yards

Fabric used from stash this month:  7 yards 

Fabric used from stash year to date: 55 yards

Net loss/gain this month: 5 yards

Net loss/gain year to date: -17 yards 

Ring of Santa's finished

This is a gift for my niece whose wedding is in July. Previous posts: cutting it out; piecing the skirt. Linking to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday and Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts.

Grassy Creek clue 7 --post 5

Project bag

Happy Father's Day to all dad's. I had a good dad. Cancer took him Christmas Eve 2016. He was a farmer,/rancher and he loved to hunt and fish. He was diagnosed with cancer and given three to six months to live. He lived about two more years which shocked all of his doctors. The shocking part pleased my dad who said he had some items on his bucket list to do so "he" wasn't ready to go, yet! 

Will be making a bunch of centers

We chatted every day. It gave us the opportunity to say all that we wanted. Although, he never would tell me what he did during the Korean War. He didn't answer all of my questions; but, he did answer a lot of them. I do miss him, even this many years later. I do chuckle at something he would have enjoyed. 

I have done as he asked. He asked me to be the executive of his estate. I did as he asked even though I asked that he name one of my brothers. As a result, neither of my brothers speaks to me as they feel I wronged them by receiving a portion of my dad's estate. 

One block stitched

The other request my dad had was for me to call his wife like I had called him. I did until she asked that we call just once a week. There have been weeks that I've been out of town and weeks that she has been out of town; but, for the most part, we chat once a week. Mostly, we catch up with the activities of the week; but, sometimes, we share Dad stories which make us both laugh.

Now, back to quilting! Goal number six on my June list was to unearth my Grassy Creek project and make progress on it two times this month. The last time I posted about this project was January 10, 2021! Bonnie had revealed the finish a few days before my post. I wrote that I looked forward to finishing. Instead, other projects went under my needle. This project ended up in a big plastic bag.

Because I wanted to finish it, I put the bag on a chair in the studio where I would have to see it every day. Yet, it took me three and a half years to open the bag; review the contents and figure out what to do first. The first step was to cut some green squares and to make centers of the block. Cutting the squares was easy.

Some of the strings to be made into blocks

I laid out a center. I stitched it. I started another center and called it a day. The following day, I took my project to our in person sew day for Mystery Mavens. I made all but six centers needed! These went together easily. I spent a little time the day after our sew day to complete the remaining block centers. 

I thought that the next time we meet I would work on making the blocks. Because we are going to meet via Zoom, I decided that I would work on the string border instead. I will work on making the blocks at our next in person sew day because that part of the project is easier to transport.

Instead, I've now decided to work on my friend Rita's Rhododendron Trail quilt until it is a top. I'll share the reason behind my decision next month!

I did make one block because I was curious as to how the blocks went together. I also wanted to know what mine would look like! I like how nicely my scraps play together! 

The first few string blocks

I did cut a bunch of strings to start piecing the border blocks. I decided this would be a great project for times that I am stitching with my group virtually using the Zoom format. 

String piecing is messy especially when you get to cut the strings! Usually, my string piecing happens because the strings I've collected over time are overflowing my container! Cutting a bunch of strings from my fabrics was a start!

Perhaps by September, I'll be close to having a flimsy!

Linking to Cynthia at Oh Scrap!

President Block

Fabric scraps selected for the block

I make an effort to stitch the President's block when it is released to the members. I belong to a couple of guilds that ask members to make a block for the president. As a past president, I was moved by the blocks that I received.

This block requirements were blue for the sky, a purple tone on tone that read like a solid for the bird wings, a contrasting tone on tone fabric for the bird body and black for the legs and beak. Did I exactly follow the fabric directions? No. . .but, what I chose will work. It will be a great quilt!

Finished block

The block instructions were lengthy. I imagine a lot of people will be challenged with the legs. I did like that there wasn't a set place to put them so every block will be different. I never did quite figure out the directions regarding the beak. I liked the block. It did come out to be exactly the measurement that was requested. 

One member, Tomme F. made a paper pieced pattern. The paper pieced pattern is much easier to understand and the results will be more consistent. The paper pieced pattern is one that I might want to make more birds. . .someday! Goal number ten on my June list was to document making this block. 

Linking to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday, and Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts.

Baking More Sourdough with A Scrappy Chain Bliock --post 2

My last sourdough post was November 2024. While I've baked some waffles and pancakes since that post, I haven't made any other recipes from the "Artisan Sourdough Made Simple" by Emilie Raffa. The lack of baking was partly due to my knee recovery, partly due to not needing to eat those calories and partly because I wasn't motivated to bake! 

Rustic Pumpernickel

At the end of January, I pulled out my cookbook and settled on the Rustic Pumpernickel bread. My pantry didn't have fennel seeds. I used anise seeds instead. The bread was delicious. I really liked the flavor and aroma the anise seeds gave the bread. Eaten warm, the texture was  coarse; but, I liked the chewy crust. I remarked that it would be delicious toasted and topped with goat cheese.  I ate it the next day, toasted and topped with goat cheese, it was delicious! I would make this recipe again.

Overnight Danish Rye 

At the beginning of February, I made a couple recipes. First, I baked a loaf of Overmight Danish Rye bread. This recipe contains sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, slivered almonds and flax seeds. It is a dense loaf. A slice is filling and delicious with goat cheese. Pickled onions, smoked salmon and cream cheese would also be great toppings for this bread.

Soft Share and Tear Rolls

Then, for Super Bowl Sunday, I made Soft Share and Tear Rolls. I was surprised at how light and airy these rolls were. As per the recipe, I used the dough hook on my mixer to knead the dough. Of all of the recipes that I have made from this cookbook, this was the first one that didn't require the dough to raise overnight. These were delicious with a little butter. I will definitely be baking these again!

Easy Bread Basket Rolls

When two of the granddaughters came to spend a little time with us during Spring Vacation, I baked Easy Bread Basket Rolls. They were easy and they were also delicious! They were even delicious the following day. I paired these with homemade chicken noodle soup. I made a double batch so that the granddaughters could take home some for their dinner. I will make these rolls again!

Roasted Garlic Sourdough Knots with Parmesean

With Easter approaching, I decided it was time to try another roll recipe. This time I baked xx rolls. What makes these rolls different is the way the rolls are shaped. You stretch the dough into a rectangle and then tie it in a knot. Think of the first step in tying your shoe. When the rolls come out of the oven, they are drizzled with butter and rolled in parsley and Parmesan cheese. I didn't have Pecorino cheese on hand so substituted Parmesan. These were delicious!

Toasted Sunflower

In May, I baked a loaf of Toasted Sunflower. It contained semolina, rye, whole wheat and bread flour. I got us use a proofing basket that my mom gave me for Christmas. It was a pretty loaf. I forgot to take a photo before I cut it. It was good and so filling!

Toasted Sesame Semolina

Also in May, I baked a loaf of Toasted Sesame Semolina, This time, I remembered to snap a photo before I cut into it! It was delicious! The sesame scent while it was baking was divine!

Make Ahead Stuffed Spinach and Artichoke Dip Bread

For Mother's Day, I baked the Make Ahead Stuffed Spinach and Artichoke Dip Bread. It was a little time consuming with steps to prepare the filling. It was good! Although, I could go with less cream cheese next time! We tried it warm and again at room temperature. We liked room temperature better. I didn't snap a photo of it whole as I forgot! It was a pretty braid and would be a good conversation starter at a potluck!

Layout of the block pieces

Now the second part of this post. . .after all, this is a quilting blog! Cynthia over at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework posted her next block drive pattern which is a scrappy chain. I have patriotic fabrics and figured why not make a sample block because maybe later I can make another Quilt of Valor.

Two blocks stitched 

These strips all came from my scraps. Stitching one block went so quickly that I decided to stitch a second block; but in a blue color way. The scrappy chain blocks went together like a dream. I had no issue with getting it to the 12. 5 inch measurement when I finished the block.

Some tips that I have learned over the years. . .cut with the ruler line on the edge of the fabric not the line straddling the fabric edge ; sew with a thin thread. . .Aurifil for example. Pay attention to the 1/4 inch seam mark. I do a test before I start the block. I check my seams after each press. Yes, it is time consuming; but at the end I know that I will have the correct sized block.

I will be making more of these blocks. I look forward to seeing the variety of layouts that Cynthia, her crew and her readers will use. Making a block was goal number 12 on my June list.  Linking to Cynthia at Oh Scrap and Carol at To Do Tuesday!

Orange Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2025 Blocks Complete--post 4

This month, I completed making the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) blocks even earlier than last month! I like this trend! Angela at So Scrappy chose orange a the color for this month. I pulled out my selvage squares and started piecing the blocks. In no time at all, I was finished. I hope I can be as proactive next month too!

Orange Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks

Making these blocks was goal number five on my June list. Linking up to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday; Angela at So Scrappy and Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts.

ReCap of May and June Goals

Contents of a SHIB

My two annual goals are:

✒1. Have a net loss of 100 yards of fabric from my stash.

2. Finish six UFOs

✔ a. Temperature 2021--pin basted and ditched quilted started in January;  progress made in February. Almost finished the quilting in March. Completed the project in April. Hooray!!!! 

b. Temperature 2022-2023

c. Martha's House blocks--purchased backing in May

✒ d. Positively Grows--pin basted in February

e. Maze top--purchased backing in May

f. Butterfly number four 

Progress made quilting the Santa tree skirt

Fabric Summary:

Fabric in this month: 12 yards  (I bought two three yard wide back bundles.)  

Fabric in year to date: 26 yards

Fabric used from stash this month:27.25 yards 

Fabric used from stash year to date: 48 yards

Net loss/gain this month: -15.25 yards 

Net loss/gain year to date: -12 yards  

Books:

Best read of the month: "Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books"/Kristen Miller. When the covers are switched in a little neighborhood library, the books read instead seem to have been just the right one for each reader. Best listen of the month: "When Breath Becomes Air"/Paul Kalanithi. A neurosurgeon is diagnosed with cancer. He writes of his experience as he moves between doctor role and patient role. His words made me ponder about my own experiences. 

My May goals were:

✔1. Sew two

Quilting the background on the tree skirt

swimsuits--IF my machine comes back from repair.

✔2. Document the little bird pouch.

✔3. Document the finish of Old Town.

✔4. Share the story of "As Noted".

✔5. Finish "Love Makes a Family."

✔6. Make the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.

✔7. Make progress on Sweet Tooth.

✔8. Sew some 2025 Temperature quilt blocks. I hadn't worked on this project since January 30th! It took me a bit to reacquaint myself with what I was doing. I made progress!

✔9. Make progress quilting the Santa Tree Skirt. I've completed quilting the Santas and have moved on to quilting the background.

✔10. Continue with the knee rehabilitation. The new acupuncturist is great at lowering
the swelling in my left knee which sure reduces the pain in that knee; BUT, within about four days the swelling is back just as much as before. Sigh.  . .I wasn't able to get a PT appointment before the first week in July. I'm still doing the exercises from my previous PT sessions.

Making February temperature blocks

✒11. Spend 15 minutes before each sewing session tidying. I did this more than I did not. Some days, I spent longer! After so many days, my room is still in disarray; but, I can tell that I am making progress and that is what counts! Gertie, my inner squirrel, convinced me to open a gallon bag of waste triangles a friend gifted me earlier earlier in the year. As part of my tidying process, I've been sorting the bits. Definitely, this is a SHIB (Squirrel Hiding In Bag) project. My friend, Nancy, doesn't prewash so I will be pre-washing all those bits before stitching pieces together. Only Gertie knows where this project is headed!

Letters for Stitch by Stitch project pieced

✔12. Try to work on the words for the current book club quilt (Stitch by Stitch). I've stitched all the letters and the project is marinating on the design wall.

I made progress on all my projects this month. I even had a couple finishes!

My June goals are:

1. Share my sourdough baking as it's been awhile!

2. Document Sweet Tooth as a top.

3. Finish quilting the Santa Tree skirt.

4. Make progress on Stitch by Stitch.

5. Make the Rainbow Scrap challenge blocks.

6. Unearth Grassy Creek and figure out how to make progress on it two times per month.

7. Sew some 2025 Temperature quilt blocks.

8. Get the Maze top paired with a back and batting. Get the bundle to the longarmer.

Turn these fabrics into a President's block

9. Spend 15 minutes before each sewing session tidying. 

10. Make the Mt. Hood Quilt Guild President's block.

11. Prewash the bits of the latest SHIB project.

12. Make one of Cynthia's Many Hands block of the current block drive.

13. Continue with knee rehabilitation. 

Linking to Cynthia and Oh Scrap and Gayle at To Do Tuesday!

Swimsuits. . .This Time For Me!

Almost but not quite enough

It's been almost two years since I last made a swimsuit for myself. Thanks to my friend, Marla, who gifted me her sister's stash of swimwear fabric, I have more than enough fabric for suits the rest of my life! I started with pulling the fabric I had set aside the last time that I made suits.

The first piece was a couple inches short of being useable for me; however, it will work well for a granddaughter! The other piece, I thought that I could get two suits out of the fabric. . .well, one was it. That is okay too! 

Enough fabric

I was one suit short. I went to the box of swimwear and select another fabric. I like to make two suits at the same time. It doesn't take a whole bunch more time to sew two suits in tandem as it does to sew one suit at a time! Isn't that crazy?

Yellow suit fabric

There is a lot of the yellow fabric. I would not have chosen this fabric for myself. Free, however, is such a good price that I'm willing to feel like a bumble bee for several years! LOL! 

The lines on this fabric isn't printed straight. Meaning the vertical lines won't line up when you create two layers. I will stitch this suit. If it looks weird on, I won't keep the rest of the fabric. Wearing it, the vertical lines are okay. I matched the lines at the side seams.

Sewing a suit isn't as difficult as many people would think. I have written a tutorial on how to make a suit. 

Finished suits

I used 3 1/2 yards of stash for this project. I fully line my suits because it takes longer for the pool chemicals to make the backside transparent in the backside when lined! 

Fabric Summary:

Fabric in this month: 12 yards  (I bought two three yard wide back bundles.)  

Fabric in year to date: 26 yards

Fabric used from stash this month:27.25 yards 

Fabric used from stash year to date: 48 yards

Net loss/gain this month: -15.25 yards 

Net loss/gain year to date: -12 yards 

While I'm a long way from my annual goal of a net of loss of 100 yards used from my stash, I am pleased to have used 48 yards from my stash this year. My purchases have been one piece for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge background and backs for projects. While my fabric purchases aren't closer to zero yardage, at least I'm using what I purchase fairly soon after I buy it!

Sewing two suits was goal number one on my May list. My Bernina, Joie, is back from getting a new circuit board. So far, she seems to be happy and is performing well! I'm happy to have her home again!

I'm linking to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday and Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilting.

Love Makes A Family. . .FINISHED!-post 4

Blocking the piece

Goal number five on my May list was to finish Love Makes a Family. Since my previous post, I finished quilting the straight lines in the background. I buried all of the threads. . .UGH! Watching a TV program and listening to a guild meeting while I worked made the task tolerable. 

Next, I made an effort to block the piece. I trimmed the excess backing and batting. I stitched the bias tape to the edge of the project as it is a good way to finish the edge. 

The bias tape came from my grandma's stash. Fifteen cents was a great price! I still have many packages of bias tape from her stash. I have no idea why she "needed" so many packages. She did make placemats and aprons. She finished the edges and or trimmed those projects with bias tape.

What looks like a border in the first photo is actually my facing. It's been a long time since I used this technique. I thought that I had come up with on my own; however, I happened across a well known international quilter who had posted about the technique much earlier than me! Like minds were thinking alike!

Bias tape--15 cents is a great price

I pressed the facing to the backing. It looked so nice! 

I'm glad I posted about the process because I couldn't remember how I had accomplished mitering the corners. It isn't difficult; but, when I get to the step to trim the excess fabric, I get sweaty palms!

One corner

I wrote the label and made an error. I crossed it out and continued. . .I'm okay with the "adjustment." The pertinent information is documented.

Label

The hanging sleeve came from my scrap bin. It could have been a bit wider; but, it will work! I also decided to split it. In other words, make two pieces so if there was a gallery hanging, I could hang it with their hanging system. Also, a wooden dowel could be held in place on s wall with a thumb tack. 

Hanging sleeve

I used monofilament, cotton and polyester threads to quilt this project. I like taking a photo of the thread on the project to document the array I used!

Thread used in quilting

If you missed a previous posts, check out the following links: Post 1; Post 2; Post 3.

Fabric Summary:

Fabric in this month: 12 yards  (I bought two three yard wide back bundles.)  

Fabric in year to date: 26 yards

Fabric used from stash this month:23.75 yards 

Fabric used from stash year to date: 44.5 yards

Net loss/gain this month: -11.75 yards 

Net loss/gain year to date: -18.50 yards 

View of the back

Linking to Cynthia at Oh Scrap!

View of the front

Little Bird--A Gertie Diversion

Most of the supplies used for the project

The Thread House Academy hosted a Taster's Weekend the first weekend in April. There were three classes taught by three different teachers. Gertie, my inner squirrel, was so excited about the classes. . .ALL of them! 

Layers together ready for handwork

She convinced me to watch the three class videos. I chose to do the mini chicken pouch that Jo Avery taught. Gertie wanted me to do all of them; but, I held out at playing with just one. . . .for now!

At three inches, this project is tiny! I thought it might be fun to put USB sticks or a needle pack in the pouch. Jo put a chocolate egg in her sample which was a good idea since the class was taught near Easter.

I gathered my materials and cut my fabrics. I used the wrong side of the metallic fabric in the photo for the decorative bands on the head. The black fabric is the underside of the wings. The small scrap that I used for the top side of wings was all that I had! 

Colonial knots, running stitches 

View from the lining side

I used the red print for the bird body and the brown fabric for the head. I don't have felt that Jo suggested for the beak. Instead, I used two layers of yellow cotton fabric from my string scrap bag. I used a scrap piece of cotton batting.

The only difference between the chicken and the bird was the shape of the wings. After stitching the wings, I embellished them a running stitch, I stitched the body to the head. I added the wings and beak. 

I layered the right side of the lining to the right side of the body/head with the batting on top of both. I did trim the batting so that it was barely caught in the stitching. I then stitched a quarter of an inch around the perimeter leaving a three inch opening for turning along one edge.

View of the seam. . .you can't see it!

I trimmed the bulk from the corners and clipped the inside corner. I turned the fabric so that the batting was between the two layers. I pushed out the corners and pressed the project. What a funny looking piece it was!

It was time to begin the hand work. I stitched colonial knots on the decorative bands and running stitches in a contrasting thread on the head and body. Next, I began to assemble the pouch. I did leave a hole to be able to thread a cord into the project. I turned up one end and hand stitched the lining edges together. What I learned from this step, was that when I moved the seam to form the triangle bottom, the edges covered my stitching on the lining. I did stitch the edges of the body with a matching thread to act as a reinforcement.

Side view 

After moving the seam so that it was in the middle of the project, I stitched the end closed, again stitching on the lining. When I opened the seam, the body edges closed
over the lining! 

Next, I stitched the edges of the head together and stitched the beak together. I also left a hole for threading the cord. I added the eyes. . .which are buttons from my grandmother's button box. Smaller ones would have been better; but, I used what I had. I added the decoration on the cord which could have been a bead; but, I used a toggle button that must have been on a coat at some point. It too came from my grandma's button box. 

Other side view with the toggle button

Threading the cord through the holes was a challenge. I used a thread loop to do the job. I added a knot to the bottom and I had a finish! The cord is a way to access the pouch inside as well as close it after you have accessed it. The project  was a lot of work. I don't know that I would make a second one!

This was goal number two on my May list. Linking to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday.