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.

 

And the Quilting Continued. . .Temperature Quilt 2022-2023

View of the light thread quilting on the back

The quilting pattern done in 33 rows

Goal number six on my April list was to make progress quilting the 2021-2022 Temperature Quilt. I started quilting it last October on Joie, my 790 Bernina. Projects needing quilting are piling up. I needed to push myself to make progress . . .like completing the internal quilting so I could quilt the borders! This was the project that I spent time on when I returned from my London trip.

View of the black thread quilting on the back

It helped to quilt it during some Zoom sew sessions. People talking helped keep my mind off of how  challenging the quilting of this project had become. I also listened to audio books from the library. I had 33 total rows to quilt. It took me about four hours to quilt each row. Pushing and pulling the mass to get the orientation of the stitch lines the direction I had wanted took a toll on my shoulders and upper back. I spent a lot of time stretching so that I could quilt the next row!

View of a completed section on the front

Eventually, I had the rows quilted. Of course, I didn't quilt the rows before I had a tension issue and had to remove and restitch a section! Next was to quilt the border. I needed to think about how to ensure the clams end up somewhat close on each side so that when I got to the top border, there would be a continuous row of them. Gertie had some thoughts and I had some thoughts. . .although my thoughts didn't involve a purchase!

Quilting one side border

Gertie wanted me to buy a laser self leveling light. While I think the tool is cool; I thought a ruler and chalk pencil would work just as well. Using the simple tools would save me at least $139. Yes, there are cheaper laser light models; but, Gertie tends to favor products with bells and whistles! After about five rows, I abandoned the ruler and chalk. The more I tried chalk the lines, the more the rows seemed to skew.

Checking the line up---hit and miss

In the end, I decided to stitch the sides as if I only had one side. I left a space at the top of one row so that I could adjust the row to merge it into the top border. I did a little adjusting; but, it isn't in your face evident. I was happy with the result. 

Checking the fit

The clam shell design almost fit. Adjusting the height of this row wasn't a big deal. 

Merging the clam shell quilting 

It didn't take long to finish quilting the top border. I love the end result.

The top of the clam shell border

Next month, I will bind, label and add a sleeve to this project to finish it! I'm excited to have completed the quilting which I started last October! While that is six months. . .there were many weeks that I only looked at the project and didn't work on it!

Finished quilting

Just as a reminder, this project is two years of weather. The dark line down the center represents the end of the first year. Linking to Sew & Tell and I Quilted This.

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.

2025 Temperature Quilt Piecing Progress--post four

Progress at the end of October 

Generally, I've been posting progress on this project each month as part of my recap of the month and goal setting for the following month. The last post I wrote about this project was in July!

My goal each month has been to piece as many houses as I can. Nineteen blocks comprise a row. If I piece at least two rows each month then I am "gaining" on catching up!

The first photo represents where I ended up in October. I had pieced and put into rows the days through August 4! This will be last "floor" photo because the next row will make the piece too large for the floor. It is destined to be a bed quilt so photographing it on the bed does make sense!

Progress at the end of November

I spent a lot of time this month piecing the center of Grassy Creek and selecting/prepping fabrics for Bonnie Hunter's mystery and leader/ender. My granddaughter's garment also took a chunk of time. I ALWAYS underestimate the time it is going to take me to make progress on a project. 

Previously, I would estimate how far I would get on a project. Many times I fell short of the goal. I LOVE being able to check a box off of my monthly goal list. Thanks to my friend Linda D who pointed me and my squirrel, Gertie, to the "make progress" goal rather than be so specific! Making that change saw me completing more items on my list. Some months I went further on a project than I had envisioned. Some months, I didn't make much progress. The point was, though, I made some progress. 

This month, I made some progress on this project. I have pieced a little over a row. The rows represent the days through August 22nd. While I'd love to have made more progress, I'm happy that I made progress! Moving this project forward was goal number three on my November list.

Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew and Tell and To Do Tuesday.

Quilting the 2022 through 2023 Temperature Quilt

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving for Americans. I hope no one will be alone on the holiday. While I'm not in the turkey camp, that is what my son-in-law is cooking. My husband and I feel blessed to be going to their house. I've been asked to bring sourdough rolls and a pie. The caveat was cook's choice. I'm trying a new roll recipe along with a tried a true one. We have a lot of gooseberries in the freezer so I'll be making a pie with those. Our one bush produced many quarts this year! 

Back of quilt

Last month, I began quilting the 2022 through 2023 Temperature Quilt. My plan was to quilt it with an all over design of clam shells. 

Clam shells in the border

While I liked the clamshells in the border, I did not like them on the boxes. . . .sigh. . . Gertie, my inner squirrel. tried to tell me to stop after one row into the top. but, I didn't listen!nI stitched another 15 rows before I decided Gertie was right. 

Updated quilting pattern in spacer boxes

It took me many sessions over three days to rip the 15 rows that I stitched with the clamshell motif. I ripped a few rows at a time and then stitched the updated pattern. Quilting this project is going to take a long time. I planned to quilt on this project every day that I was in the studio. My Mavens quilt buddy Linda D tells me that over time a little bit of progress adds up! It turns out, I didn't even come close to that goal. Instead, I'm finding that I need to make quilting a priority of the day and then move to another project!

Same quilting pattern on the days of the year

Making progress on the quilting on this project was goal number ten on my November list. I currently have quilted 10 rows of blocks. There are 34 rows of blocks so I'm closing in on having a third of the rows quilted. Linking to Patchwork and Quilting.

Temperature Blocks 2025; Progressing--post three

Staging area

It's been more than a minute since I worked on these blocks. . .actually, my last post was in March! I made progress in June. Goal number two on my July list was to sew some blocks. This year with my monthly goal setting, I've tried to set achievable goals. My friend, Linda D., talks a lot about making "progress." I adopted her line. So instead of writing, I'm making a certain amount of blocks or getting to a certain point in a project, I write: make some, or make progress!

This change in focus has helped me be more successful and enjoy the process a bit more. When I worked on previous temperature quilts, I did try to stay current. I may have started slowly and I may have had a few months where I was behind. Eventually, I caught up.

Some house centers 

I'm planning that this year will be no different! Although, I MUST devote some time to this project. Last Friday, I pulled it out. Of course, I had to reacquaint myself with my process; but, I did move forward. 

I start with having the size of strips I need to make the block in a temperature range. I don't cut these strips until I need that particular temperature. Then I take the two
bundles as one is the low temperature range and the other is the high temperature range, to my sewing area.

I paper piece the center section of one block while I add the roof and background to another. In this way, I can chain piece blocks. When I finish a block, I add it to the row. 

The beginning of the third row

As I use a strip, I cut more so that my little "packets" are ready for use.I am using a painless foundation paper piecing technique which means I anchor the first piece of fabric to a paper foundation and then I fold the paper away as I stitch the seams. Using this technique means I don't have paper to remove when I'm finished with the block. Best yet, it means I can reuse the pattern! I found a similar You Tube video here.

In a sewing session, I fully pieced seven blocks and four centers. I have sewn enough blocks to piece together a couple rows. I had thought that I would insert a solid fabric between the rows; but, because the rows are so long, I would have to piece those too. I decided to take my time and match the intersections.

The first two rows sewn together

Moving forward, my plan is to spend some time one day a week on this project. Last month, I began with January 20 and ended with March 29. While I am still behind, I'm not as behind as I once was! I will need to devote more time to the project; but, I will figure that out along the way. 

July progress

I did use all of my background fabric for rainy and sunny days. I placed an order to replenish those fabrics along with a few others that are runny low. I purchase online from The Quilter's Trunk which is located in Liberty, Kentucky. They are a family owned and run business. My order arrived last week. 

I missed a couple Fridays to make progress on this project while I was waiting for the background fabric and then I needed to prewash it. I did stitch almost another row this row. I'm back at it now and more progress will be made!

Fabric Summary:

Fabric in this month: 20 3/4 yards   

Fabric in year to date: 58 3/4 yards

Fabric used from stash this month: 0 yards 

Fabric used from stash year to date: 83 yards

Net loss/gain this month: 20 3/4 yards

Net loss/gain year to date: -24.25 yards 

Linking to Oh Scrap

2021 Temperature Quilt--It's A FINISH!

Break out the confetti and add a drum roll. . .this project is FINISHED! I added a lot of free motion fillers in this project. To recap, after stitching in the ditch, I added circles and small stippling to the sections at the top and bottom of the days.

Free motion circles or large pebbles

Small stipple

I carried that same motif into the border for the legend.

More pebbles and small stippling

I quilted a squiggly shape around the circles. The hand running stitch designates precipitation.

A squiggly around the circles

I quilted a swirl in the "empty" days.

Swirls

I quilted a simple continuous curve in the sashing squares and quilted straight lines in the center of the black sashing.

Continuos curve

In the border, I used a similar thread to stitch a few straight lines in each of the fabrics.

Straight lines in the border

I used 25 different threads to complete this project. Some were from my grandmother's stash, some from my mom's stash, a lot came from my stash and I HAD to purchase a few!

25 different threads

I did make an effort to block it. I wasn't entirely successful.

Blocking in progress

I hand wrote a label.

Handwritten label

I added the binding.

Binding added

I made and attached a sleeve. I had to piece it because there wasn't enough of the backing fabric. I tried a new to me way to attach the sleeve. After I pinned it, I machine basted it in place. Gosh, it was so nice to stitch as I didn't get pricked by a pin once!

Pieced sleeve with basting thread instead of pins

Below is what I actually had left of the backing fabric! Talk about using it all!!

Scraps leftover from the backing

The fish fabric that is th majority of the backing is extra special because my friend, Laura R. gave it to me. Someone had gifted it to her. It was NOT her style. She was a pastel and sweet print kind of gal. Cancer took her life last summer. She would be smiling that I used this fabric! I did need to piece it as it wasn't quite enough!

Bright fish print fabric for the majority of the backing

Finished front

Ta dah. . .FINISHED!!!!!

I used 14.75 yards of fabric to complete this quilt. I've finally used more fabric than I purchased this year! 

Fabric Summary:

Fabric in this month: 0 yards    

Fabric in year to date: 14 yards

Fabric used from stash this month:14.75 yards

Fabric used from stash year to date: 20.75 yards

Net loss/gain this month: -14.75 yards

Net loss/gain year to date: -6.75 yards

This is part a of my second annual goal and goal number seven on my April list. I finally have a FINISH to link to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday!

Basting Love Makes A Family--post 3

Filler stitch on the right completed. Shape on the left begun.

Goal number three on my March list was to baste and begin quilting Love Makes A Family. I spent my free time last week quilting my 2021 Temperature Quilt. While I'm getting closer to a finish, I've hours left to quilt! I plan to be working on it this weekend. I'll be making the wonky shape around the appliquéd centers in the photo on the left. Friday, I finished quilting all the blank squares with the filler on the right.

Taping the backing to the table

I view at my monthly goal list almost every day. This month, I am not making the progress that I had hoped. I decided that I could at least meet half of goal number three which was to baste and begin quilting the top "Love Makes A Family" that I pieced in February. I pulled the supplies and taped the backing to my table. Usually, I would use some clamps but this backing is smaller than my table so tape it was.

Batting in place

The batting of choice for this project is a leftover piece of wool batting that I pieced together. I layered it on top of the backing and lightly smoothed it in place. I wish that wool batting wasn't so expensive as it is a favorite of mine! I like the puff it gives when quilted. I also like how it drapes around a body.

Ready for quilting

I smoothed the top on the batting and pinned. Once pinned, I trimmed the excess batting and backing. When I finish quilting the temperature quilt, I'll begin quilting this project. . .although, it might not be this month. This is okay, I'm making progress and that is what counts!

Linking to Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts and Cynthia at Oh Scrap.