Class sample

The old "unfinisher" me would have stuffed these pieces into a box.  I am determined not to continue down that path.  This pattern went together very quickly.  It is a little tricky on which way to cut the half squares.  Just remember the secondary colors  go the opposite of the primary colors.

When you are adding the sashing strips to the half squares, press them in half to find the middle.  Align the middles then pin together.  When you square these up, it is the small triangle that get trimmed down.

Sew the 4 quarters together.  Since everything is squared up, they should line up well.

Add the last 3 sashing strips.

Now for borders.  Decisions, decisions.....  Which outer border do you like?

Design wall (floor) Monday

I decided to move forward with my tree skirt.  I don't have the pattern any longer, but I am quite certain I don't have my colors in the correct spot.  This seemed like the best option with the pieces I had. 

I have also been working on a container of stocking pieces from about 10 years ago.  These were already partially done, so I am completing them.  I like the colors still, but I have a much better understanding of scrappy now.  

I have 9 stockings in the stack. 

I am still organizing and packing for the upcoming retreat.  I am so excited!!

Check with July L to see what everyone else is showing off this week.

Any ideas?

I don't think I have the layout quite right.

I pulled out this UFO to see I I could figure the pattern out.  I know it was in a magazine, but I don't have any idea which one.  I am sure I had a plan, but I don't remember.  Looking for any ideas on the layout.

Therapy

It truly was therapy shopping at the  fat quarter sale.  On the way there I decided I didn't really need anything so I was going to limit myself to 20.  Well I found 20 in the first bin.  So I just threw caution to the wind

I guess fabric is therapy for more than just me.

Transitioning to October Goals

I completely missed the month of September.  I did not set any goals and I rarely turned on the sewing machine.  As football, soccer, baseball and the play finish up for my kids this month I will ease back into my sewing.

I am gathering up some of my UFOs to finish at the October retreat in Shipshe sponsored by Ruth.  It is a great retreat.

I need to be careful that I don't bring ANY UFOs from a previous retreat there!  How embarrassing would that be to admit that another year has gone by and the project still isn't finished.

These are the things I am planning on taking to the Retreat

1. Bright/Black Log Cabin
2. Bright 4 patch quilt that I was working on here
3. This scrappy 4 patch quilt that has been hanging around for a lot of years.
4. My stockings that I started 15 years ago for my family
5. The last block to my swoon quilt
6. A new project (NewFO)

Since I will be piecing mostly this month, I doubt that I will have any finishes.  

Retreating

I was asked if I quit blogging.  Well, I haven't, but I haven't been doing any sewing.  It was great to have some sewing time with friends this weekend. I worked on several things, but none of them were from the UFO parade.

I finished my braided runner flimsy that I used to demonstrate at class.  I think it looks very Irish (ND) if you ask me.

I put together this tree skirt for a wedding gift next month.  I am pleased that I was able to use the blue snowman scraps, and I had the border fabrics in my resource center.

I pieced this pillow top from scraps that my good friend Dottie gifted me.  

I made 2 more swoon blocks in an attempt to make my quilt not so pink,

I worked a little bit on this jelly roll pattern that I plan to do a little demonstration on.

I guess I didn't take a photo of the other quilt top I put together, so I will save that for another blog post.

I have never posted from my phone before.  I hope it goes well

School Begins

All my kids were up nice an early today.  They were eager to go back to school.  I don't know how long this will last, but I am going to enjoy it while I can.

I have already started working hard on my August goals.  I ran into a few problems.  Do you see anything unusual about this design?

 I guess I still haven't learned that symmetrical designs such as a log cabin need an even number of rows and columns.  I triple counted the blocks.  I had 56 blocks - yep, I planned to do a 7 X 8 block setting.  I had my little tantrum, then I got busy and cut out 8 more blocks.  The good news is I had plenty of scraps just waiting to be made into the 8 additional blocks.  They are almost completed then I will be ready to start my first August goal.   I love how the different shades of black play with each other.

 I started working on my second goal for August at the sew day last Sunday.  I have the quilt sew into 16 block sections.  This is my go to pattern for leftover bits of jelly roll strips.  This type of design needs an ODD number of rows and columns.  I like to start and end the rows the same (either horizontal or vertical).

I laid out my sections of blocks to see how they looked.  I like how the quilt looks, but I think perhaps I should make it a little larger to fit a twin bed.  As it it, it will be a large lap quilt.