A Back for Sweet Tooth--post five

Auditioning for the binding

Goal number five on my July list was to figure out the back and binding for the Sweet Tooth mystery. I started with figuring out the binding. I laid out scraps and when I got to the chocolate scrap, Gertie said that is the one. I agreed! Gertie is my inner squirrel. I will need to purchase it.

Binding choice

Then I spent a lot of time stitching more of my small bits together. I like to work with the small stuff first. The small bits make good strings and can provide good visual interest. It also gives me time to think about what to do with the bigger chunks!

All the parts

Gertie was right about these small bits becoming their own quilt. I did make the "Sweet Additions" blocks that Bill and Weeks added to our mystery each week. I didn't make the blocks until after I had finished my top. I used the small scraps to make the blocks. When I finished making blocks, I made at least five blocks of each addition. It was fu to play a little more with transparency. I made the process more challenging because I limited myself to working with the small scraps!

The scraps after piecing the small bits

When I had finished with the block and bit piecing, I took a photo of the remaining scraps. It is amazing how little was left! Then I tackled cutting the chunks into useable segments. In this mystery, we cut small segments. If you cut strips and then sub cut into segments, you would run out of fabric. 

More bits!

Trimming the chunks created a whole bunch more small bits! Goodness!!! Gertie was happy. I will use them in the new project. . . Gertie is on board with this plan!

First section

I started piecing the vertical chunks first. I didn't layout the pieces. Instead, I randomly selected two pieces to stitch together. I did cut the fabrics to the same length so it was easier to keep the pieces straight. I wanted to place the "recipe" section next. 

Adding the "recipe"

I sewed even larger chunks together. I created a horizontal grouping of fabrics.

Horizontal section added

I thought that I needed about 14 more inches, so I went back to the remaining scraps and started piecing. My little bits pile continued to grow as my larger chunk pile diminished.

Then I discovered that I needed a couple more inches. Back to the scraps I went. It wasn't much to piece that last section!

More vertical strips and one more horizontal strip

I laid the top on the backing and discovered that I made the top too wide. No worries. I cut the excess off with the rotary cutter. I added the excess back to the scrap pile!

Oops, the backing is too large

It took me hours to cut and sew this back. But, it was a great way to use a lot of the leftover fabrics from the mystery. It could be a two sided quilt!

Most of the remaining scraps

I do have more little bits, some pieces and a couple chunks for leftovers. Maybe those cut off fabrics will find their way on the next back. I'm happy that the top and backing are ready to go to the longarmer. Perhaps, I can get it dropped off next week!

Ready for the longarmer

Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew and Tell.

Piecing the Back for Stitch By Stitch--post 3

Blocks from the parts department

I was considering what fabric to use as a back when Gertie, my inner squirrel, chimed in with, "How about using some blocks from the parts department?" I knew just what blocks were on her mind. I pulled them out and thought, these will work AND in a bag I have more of those fabrics.

Fabrics in the bag

Gertie flicked her tail approving of the direction of the conversation. I found the little bag. Yes, it is yet another SHIB (Squirrels Hiding in Bags)! Unfortunately, there wasn't enough of the fabrics for the back. These fabrics weren't prewashed. I took time to prewash them. The wood print had the year 2003 on the selvage so it has been "bagged" a long time! I bought it for another project that is still unfinished; but that is a SHIB for another day!

The fill in fabrics

To the stash I went. I located two other pieces of fabric. I used the foreground fabric to add my border around "Stitch by Stitch." I'm planning another quilted facing for this project. The fabric in the background will fill in so that the back is the size it needs to be which is about 64 x 44 inches.

This orientation of blocks

I played with different orientations of the blocks until one orientation was Gertie approved. I tried different placements of the background fabric. We, Gertie and I, decided to see how large the piece could become using only the scraps in the bag. The size is 45 x 27 inches. Gertie thinks it would make a great book club quilt for "Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books" by Kristen MIller.  I agree. . .Oh Dear! 

Progress after stitching the pieces in the bag

I ran the idea by my granddaughters that live near me. Miss K suggested that the theme should be "Don't judge a book by its cover." Gertie liked that thought. She thinks there should be some ghost quilting and the title should be, "Beyond the Surface."

It was back to the stash to select another back fabric!!! I had a piece of green that I needed to piece to get it wide enough for Stitch By Stitch. I used most of the remaining chunk of the brown fabric that I pieced the around the edge of the top. Using both selvages, the backing is wide enough for the top.

Pieced back for Stitch By Stitch

I layered and pin basted the project. I'm using 80/20 batting scraps for the batting. I finished the ditch quilting on the Fourth of July. I used a monopoly thread for the ditch quilting.

Pin basting in process

Using thread that matched the fabric, I quilted a lot of straight lines to emphasize the arrow. A detail of the point is shown in the photo.

Quilted lines to emphasize the arrow

I'm using a green thread in the bobbin that blends with the print on the backing. I do plan to use a thread that blends in all the other areas of this project because I want the quilting to reflect texture instead of shouting look at me! 

This was goal number seven on my July list. I may continue working on this project until I finish it. . .and then again. . .maybe not!

Linking to: Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

Piecing the Backing for Sweet Tooth--A Start--post four

Goal number five on my July list was to figure out the backing and binding for Sweet Tooth. I've looked at the bag of scraps which is not called SHIB (Squirrels Hiding in Bags) because was there one, two or more projects in there!

The small scraps

First, I took out the bag containing the small scraps. The larger bag which I didn't photograph, contains all the chunks. I separated the scraps into colors and then into sizes. I had a lot of 3/4 inch, 1/1/4 inch scraps. Granted, many people would call that size waste and throw it away. I am not one of those people! Instead, I began sewing the bits into sections of about 20 inches. 

The sorted piles

Choosing 20 inches was arbitrary. Since I have no clue how I will insert these strings, I can sew them together or cut them apart later! I randomly stitched the bits together trying not to sew the same fabric to each other was my only "rule."

Strings ready for pressing

After a small amount of time, I had a number of strings ready to press. I will be pressing the seam open to eliminate bulk. Whether these strings are part of the back or its own project is a mystery. I'll put the pressed strings on the design wall while I stitch the next group of scraps.

The next group of scraps

I'm thinking I want to piece the additional blocks that Bill and Weeks each week released as a way to play more with transparency. I'll see what sizes the block parts need to be and check the scraps to see what fits. I can use the chunks if I need more fabric. Some of the fabric sizes could come from the next group of scraps.  

Gertie in her "How about that?" mode

Gertie, my inner squirrel, has been quiet regarding my stitching. Although, she has been enjoying  viewing all the fabric prints. I haven't seen her "How about that?" mode or her "Why not?" mode. I do miss that tail swishing that precedes the "Why not?" mode!

I haven't met the goal I gave myself; but, I would say that I'm making progress toward it!

Linking to Oh Scrap and Melva Loves Scraps.

Grassy Creek clue 7--post 6

Available strings

Goal number four on my July list was to work on Grassy Creek at least twice. Sunday, I spent the day piecing more string blocks. By the end of the day, I had pieced and trimmed a dozen more blocks. Most of the available strings became blocks!

String blocks

I did cut and mark more more foundation papers so that the next time I work on this project, I will be closer to stitching. The following day, I cut a whole bunch more strings from the gray fabrics I had gathered for this project!

More strings cut and ready for more blocks

Because Monday was our in person Mavens sew day, I loaded my supplies to stitch more blocks for this project. Last month at Mavens, I stitched the center of the blocks together. At Mavens, I stitched seven blocks.

Blocks sewn so far

I pressed the blocks yesterday and discovered that I had mis-sewn a pair. Jack and I had a date. I corrected the error. Stuff like that happens while giggling and visiting with my in person friends; but, I don't mind the date with Jack. Times with friends is precious. At any rate, I have eight finished blocks!

I might work on this project one more day this month. If I don't, I still feel good that I've moved the project forward a little bit! At the rate I'm going, I might have the blocks finished by October!

Linking to Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

Purple Rainbow Scrap Challenge Blocks 2025 Complete

Making purple blocks

Goal number one on my July list was to make the blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This month, Angela chose the color purple.  When I pulled out the squares, I learned I was one set short. I made another set of four squares and constructed the blocks. I almost made a grave error as I almost forgot to stitch the squares along the selvage edge as I had only glued them! Whew, I avoided a journey that would not have been fun!!

Purple selvages in blocks

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

ReCap of June and July Goals 2025

Pre-washed all of these scraps

First a shout out to Melva at Melva Loves Scraps. On Monday, Melva featured my post Stitch By Stitch. I've followed Melva for years because she loves "making" with scraps. When she notified me that she was featuring my post. . .well, I was shocked, awed, humbled and honored all at once! So again, thank you, Melva, your acknowledgment made my year!

My 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; longarmer quilted and I added the binding, sleeve and label in June!

f. Butterfly number four 

Scraps bagged and ready for stitching

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: 28 yards 

Fabric used from stash year to date: 83 yards

Net loss/gain this month: 26 yards

Net loss/gain year to date: -45 yards  

I'm glad that this year I'm tracking how much fabric I have used year to date. The number is growing! I will need to purchase fabric for my current Temperature quilt. I am pleased with how I have changed my shopping habits to purchase when I need rather than because it was a good buy or because it caught my eye. 

Paper piecing house blocks for the
2025 Temperature quilt

Best read of the month: "Represent! Embroidery" by Bianca Springer. If you wanted to embroider curly, braided or stylized hair, check out this book. Best Audio of the month: The Music of Bees by Ellen Garvin. How a bee keeper hobbyist comes into her own with the help of two young men who carry their own issues was such a good story. I plan to look for other books by this author.

My June goals were:

✔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. It's now a top!

✔5. Make the Rainbow Scrap challenge blocks--orange is the color for June.

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

✔7. Sew some 2025 Temperature quilt blocks.

Beginning of a row

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

✒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.

Two rows sewn together

✔12. Make one of Cynthia's Many Hands block of the current block drive. I made two blocks!

✔13. Continue with knee rehabilitation. The acupuncture sessions have helped. Two weeks ago, he cupped a couple sections of my knee. The purpose was to break the adhesions (scar tissue) that has built up

More rows sewn together

which restricts movement. I still have pain and swelling; but, I believe both are a little less. 

I am gaining a little on the range of motion as well. Walking is still not comfortable; but, I am increasing my pace a bit. I've cooked more meals in the last couple weeks than I have in many months. My husband is enjoying the switch. Honestly, it hurt to stand and prepare a main dish. The pain several hours after wasn't any picnic either! I continue to be hopeful that I will continue to improve.

All in all, I had a GREAT month!

My July goals are:

1. Make the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks. This month the color is purple!

2. Make some 2025 Temperature quilt blocks each Friday of the month when possible.

3. Continue with the knee rehabilitation. Last May, I was able to schedule two PT appointments this month. I hope the visits help! My fingers are crossed.

4. Work on Grassy Creek at least twice.

5. Figure out the back and binding for Sweet Tooth.

6. Begin quilting Grow.

7. Piece the back to Stitch by Stitch. Layer and pin baste it. Begin quilting it. 

8. Spend 15 minutes before each sewing session processing scraps--prewashing, cutting, etc.. and/or organizing drawers.

Linking to Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.