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.

 

Sashiko--A Flimsy!--post one

Progress in January

I posted about picking up an abandoned project in a January post. It was a sashiko project that I began in a Sylvia Pippen class I'm not sure why I stopped working on it other than Sycvia's stitches were so even and beautiful. My stitches are not even and beautiful!

February progress

By the end of February, I had made more progress. I had wanted to add the applique in time to share at my March book club meeting; but, I didn't get the project to that point!

Finished flimsy

I was close so the first part of March I managed to finish the sashiko and added the appliqué. My stitches were uneven to the end; but, I like the piece. I'm not sure how I will quilt it. I did enjoy the handwork and I look forward to having a finished project!

Getting it to the flimsy stage was goal number two on my March list. Linking to Oh Scrap, Slow Sunday Stitching and Sew &Tell.

Here's they why I had time to finish the handwork. . .I was visiting my daughter and granddaughter in London for three weeks. I attended lots of activities including my granddaughter's fourth birthday party! I returned on Friday and am working on getting over the jet lag.

Fabric In and a Sashiko Project

Fabric purchase

The first weekend in January, one of the quilting shops had a 20% off sale as well as a 50% off sale off one cut of fabric. Wide backing fabric, which I could use soon, was included in the sale. Buying a back for Lupine and Laughter came to my mind. I went. 

Sylvia Pippen's book

I did buy a wide back for a QOV that I'm planning to stitch later in the year. There was a wide back fabric I liked even better; but, there was only two yards remaining. I threw caution to the wind and bought it. My fingers are crossed that I will be able to use it as backing for my 2023 RSC. There may be minimal piecing involved to make it large enough. I decided I was okay with a little piecing!

Sitching Lupine and Laughter has exhausted my white neutrals. I bought a half hard of two fabrics. I also purchased a mini cone of piecing thread. I'm starting the year with adding 11 yards of fabric to my stash. My goal is to have a net loss of 100 yards of fabric from my stash. This week, I'm working on a finish which should counter my purchase!   

In other news, our book club is reading and discussing the book, "The Stories Clothes Tell/Voices of Working Class Japan" by Tasuichi Horikiri. Horikiri documented clothing that he collected from the working class of Japan. Most of the clothing in the book includes a short story about the owner and or how Horikiri collected it. it is an interesting read.

Sashiko progress 

While reading the book, I thought about using some denim scraps I saved long ago for a braided rug. I thought about pairing a piece of the scrap with some decorative stitching. Several pieces could work into a book project.

Then I remembered I had a project started in a class. At least ten years ago, I experienced Sylvia Pippen, a Washington state quilt artist, teach a sashiko class. I remember doing the prep work and stitching a small portion of the design in class. At the end of class, I packed up the materials into a zip lock plastic bag and didn't open the bag again until late last month.

Since I try to use what I have when I make a book club book, this project was the ONE! In addition to reviewing the instruction in her book, I needed to watch her YouTube video about how to complete the stitches. I hope that the design, when I finish will be pleasing to the eye. It is challenging to take "even" stitches. I'm far from perfect; but, I'm enjoying the process.

This is a small project about 14 by 14 inches. Small is good since I have several large projects currently at various stages in the pipeline! Making progress on the sashiko project was goal number seven on my January list.

Linking to Finished or not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

Granddaughter Sleepover with Guest Writer Miss K

Peach/blueberry crisp oven ready

Hi, this is Miss K, and I had the pleasure of a sleepover with my Papa and Gran. I'm writing the post today while my Gran recovers from knee surgery.

Contents of the bag of solid scraps

For lunch Papa made us BLTA (Bacon Lettuce Tomato Avocado) sandwiches with chips. It was the perfect lunch! I baked a yummy Peach and Blueberry Crisp recipe. The recipe turned out to be super easy to make. It was delicious! If you have any peaches and blueberries, I would suggest this.

Marking the pieces

Gran taught me how to make curvelets, picking through all the colorful scraps, and finding pieces that were the right size. They were so easy and fun to make using templates and extra scraps! We used a thin needle and small stitches. We don't know how they will be used; but, they are fun to make. . .well, the small stitches are hard! I like the gluing part though! I showed my sister how to make them too.

Cutting the pieces

After we watched a show, we had an appetizer of tater tots and an entree of Gran's famous chicken noodle soup made by Papa! It was amazing and very filling! We next had our crisp with ice cream and all I can say is it was great.

Teaching Miss J where to place the glue

Go Beavers! We turned on the Beaver football game. Miss J and I went to bed just after the second half. That morning we woke up and had pancakes, bacon, and orange juice. Our mama came around ten to pick us up. I had an amazing time!

The first three curvelts before trimming and pressing

Goal number four on Gran's October list was to share the information about a new handwork project. Gran wanted to link to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday, Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts and to Cynthia at Oh Scrap.