Catching up

This top got put together awhile ago. I haven't blogged in the last few months because I have been too tired from work to spend time on the computer when I'm not working. Of course, I do spend time on the iPad. So I'm trying blogging from the iPad. We'll see how that works. Haven't posted much on Instagram so I'm not terribly hopeful.

Besides finishing the above top, I've been working on the 1718 coverlet blocks, Stars in a Time Warp blocks, and started something new.

I'm not following that closely the 1718 coverlet QAL block order. Once I've figured out the piecing I'm doing all the blocks that are pieced that way instead of the one specified. But the design wall is filling up, so I'm not feeling too far behind.

 

I'm stumped on the last fabric for Stars in a Time Warp: a pillar print. Can't seem to find anything in my stash. Otherwise I'm caught up making two of each block, alternating white and the focus fabric.

Here's the new project. Too busy? Should I use a plainer fabric like I have on the upper left or stick with what's going on in the rest of the layout?

1718 Coverlet QAL and other projects

Multiple projects going on here. The border strips for the Grand Illusion Mystery are pieced. So close to finishing, but, ugh, long seams. I'm putting them off. I have several Time Warp stars cut out. Five types of madder and indigo, which I'm piecing in between my 1718 Coverlet blocks.

Seems like a lot of applique in this quilt, which is not really my thing, but I'm determined to stay focused. I'm piecing the blocks as much as possible and appliqueing as little as possible, which is still a lot for me. . 

I'm enjoying it though. Especially when the days are sunny and staying light longer.

Oh, my stars!

32.5 x 32.5 inches

A non-quilting friend visited recently and art directed my houses top. After trying different options, we both concluded that the top was finished the way it was; there was nothing more to add except a purple binding. ... Once it's quilted, of course.

A dozen stars so far.

Double pink was this week's featured fabric.

I've been making two versions of Barbara Brackman's Stars in a Time Warp each week. One with the focus fabric for the star and the other with the fabric as the background. I decided to use Kona Snow as the other fabric in each block. Not sure how many stars there will be in the end (I can always buy more Snow if needed.) or how I'll put them together. For now, I'm happy to search my stash for the appropriate fabric and make two blocks every week.

Fresh Cut and a selection of Grunge from Basic Grey.

Saw this post Friday night and decided to jump in. My copy of the book won't arrive for a few days, but that did not stop me from buying some fabric yesterday for the quilt. I've never been tempted by Dear Jane or the Farmer's Wife quilts, but the 1718 Coverlet spoke to me. A handful of blocks every month for 11 months seems doable. We shall see.

I cleaned my sewing room the other day. Found a couple tops without backings or prepped binding so while I'm waiting for my book to arrive, I hope to get that done and to finish putting the border section on the Grand Illusion mystery quilt. I have to "unsew" a few parts that were attached in the wrong order so I'd better get to it.

Plugging away

I'm slowly getting the blocks together on the mystery quilt. Only eight more to go before I can start on the borders.

Slow going on the hand quilting for this one too.

I've spent quite a bit of time this week rummaging through the stash. I put away some fabrics that I can't find now. They must be somewhere in the sewing room, but I haven't found them yet. Why is it that whenever you put something away in a special place you can never remember where that place is? At least I found some Prussian blue (or what I think is Prussian blue) for Barbara Brackman's "Stars in a Time Warp" QuiltAlong.

Sewing without knowing

For the last couple of weeks I've been madly cutting, sewing and pressing to complete the units for Bonnie Hunter's Grand Illusion mystery quilt before the final reveal. Almost made it.

Not sure why I decided to do this. I have enough ideas and UFOs to fill all my days and nights should I live a few lifetimes. Maybe it's the sewing without knowing what the end result will be that has a certain appeal. Sort of mindless. Well, as mindless as keeping the pieces in the right order can be. Or it could just be procrastination; I have two backings to make that I've been putting off for awhile.

I'm constructing my blocks with the sashing on two sides. Then I'll sew the blocks together in smaller sections so I have only one really long seam to contend with across the quilt at the end. Forget where I learned that trick, but I love not having to sew as many long seams as you would when sewing rows together.