Decidedly Underwhelmed

Using these little 1" finished blocks as leaders/enders, I thought I was creating a quilt that would glow with autumn color.  With that in mind, you can see why I'm underwhelmed!  What happened to the glow?!

This top measures 46" x 58" (which clearly shows that my quarter-inch seams are not).  At this point I need to decide whether or not to add a border.  I was thinking it would be a good baby-to-toddler quilt, but with a border will it be too large?  Does it need a border?

I was at Hobby Lobby earlier this week to buy perle cotton and saw that all of their fabric yardage is 40% off.  That's a great deal considering that most if their fabric is in the $6.00 to $8.00 range and of reasonably good quality.

I saw some double gauze there and am considering it for the back of this quilt.  I read posts from two other quilters who sang its praises.  Jeni of In Color Order made a quilt using only double gauze and Jolene of Blue Elephant Stitches backed a quilt with double gauze.  It's as soft as flannel and more supple.  And while Minky is great, it's not a natural fiber.  This gauze is 100% cotton.  If I had a baby right now, I would want to wrap her in a quilt backed with double gauze.

What do you think?  Would you put a border on this quilt or leave it?

Have you ever sewn with double gauze or used it on the back of a quilt?  If so, were you happy with the experience and the gauze?  Did you hand quilt it or machine quilt it?

I'm linking this post to Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts.  Thanks for hosting, Alycia.

Thanks!
--Nancy.

Progress but Nothing Finished

I've made progress on several different quilting projects this week but have no finishes.  Here's what I've been up to.

Never underestimate the amount of time it takes to cut 143 3½" blocks!

I cut a few on Thursday so I wouldn't be starting something on a Friday.  Today I imagined spending half an hour or so to have them done.  Well, maybe if I'd had a die cutter, but with a rotary cutter it took longer.  Maybe four times longer--or at least it seemed that way.  At first I thought, "What was I thinking choosing a setting with alternate blocks?!"  By the time I finished I was thinking, "Gosh, I'm glad I have a rotary cutter instead of having to cut these with scissors and a cardboard template."  Above is just a small section.

I thought maybe I could sew them as 9-patch blocks, alternating 9-patch and plain squares on the corners, without a layout, just as I picked them up from the pile.

Then I realized that if three greens or browns or oranges were clustered together, I might not be happy.  So I'll choose where I want them to go, then either sew 9-patches or sew them together in rows.

Scrappy Ohio Stars have also seen some progress. 

I don't think I will need them but since the pieces were already cut I decided to finish them.  I really don't like making blocks and then cutting them to size but it seemed prudent for these small blocks this time.

I cut and stitched three more blocks for the Blue and Lights (plus browns) sampler.

And here they are with all the other blocks.  The new ones are the bottom three on the left column. These may make sense only if you know I chose blocks that had either a square or an on-point square in the center surrounded by a square in the opposite orientation.

And about my One Monthly Goal of finishing the hand quilting on Everyday Patchwork.  My rotary cutter needed a new blade.  Not a problem, I have a pack or two on hand.  Have you ever noticed that the new blades seem to have oil or grease on them?  I didn't want that on the fabric I was cutting so I scrunched up a tissue and pulled it across the blade.  I've done it before, no problem, but this time I somehow let my hand move back into the blade.  It's not a big or a deep cut but it's enough of a cut that my index finger is now sporting two band-aids, one on top of the other, because it was bleeding so much.  I'm not sure I'll be able to hand quilt with those band-aids on.  I may need to edit my OMG for April.

My older daughter and her husband and their five children were here last week for a few days.  Gosh, it was busy but oh so fun to have them here.  And I forgot to take photos!

I've been terrible lately about making notes of quilts I've started and progress on the ones I started earlier.  I just realized how much I rely on this blog (and digital photos with dates) to keep track of when I started a quilt and the progress  I made.  Of course, I love posting and reading your comments, too!  In fact, I think that's the best part of blogging.

I"m linking this post to
  > Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts
  > Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework (on Sunday)
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Thanks for visiting and reading and, if you do, for leaving a comment.
--Nancy.

Dreaming of Possibilities in 2025

I might see these in my dreams but I'm not promising myself progress on any or all of them.  Since what these need is so clear cut (except for Bramble Blooms), it makes sense I should be able to do something to move them forward to become finish tops or quilts.  But then there is life....

These are quilts I might possibly work on/play with in 2025, in no particular order.

Blue (+ brown) and lights blocks

My idea with these blocks was centers with a square set straight or on point surrounded by a square set the other way, etc.  But no stars.  I chose blues and lights but when Lizzy of Gone to the Beach sent an antique brown block, I decided to incorporate several more brown blocks.  The blocks will finish at 12" and I intend to use fabric in the pink/coral range for sashing and border.  Four across will make a quilt about 65-67 inches wide.  The challenge will be the length.  Five blocks down will finish between 81-83 inches.  Add one more block to the length and it will finish at about 93 inches which is perhaps a little too long.  I intend to make square-in-square cornerstones. The patterns for all of these blocks came from Judy Hopkins's book, 501 Rotary-Cut Quilt Blocks.from where I learned that the same pattern may have different names depending on the color arrangement.  Anyway, I need to make either three or seven more blocks.

Bramble Blooms

Dear, dear Bramble Blooms.  What a failure I made of my first effort.  I unstitched all but the center and a narrow border I'd added.  My fabrics are still in stacks and I hope to get back to this soon.

rose fabric squares

I've cut about half the number of squares I need for the quilt.  My intention was a one-patch but other ideas keep popping into my head.  What about a few subtle stars?  What about applique?  What about a border around each block?  What about . . . ?  I have a length of toile with children in old-fashioned clothing, playing old-fashioned games, also with beautiful bouquets of roses which might work for the back. 

Everyday Patchwork

The quilting is in progress.  I just need to make progress--stitch and get it done.

scrappy stars in mostly the red range

I'm using these 6" stars as leader/enders, except when I'm not.  Cutting takes time....  Still debating layout and size.  Rows with sashing?  Alternate plain squares?  On point or straight set?

little 9-patch in autumn colors

This is also a leader/ender and, again, cutting takes time.  I have plenty of scraps to cut.  Layout and size yet to be determined.

100 Day Stitch Book
I don't have a photo for this because I haven't decided whether to participate or not. Ann Wood Homemade hosts the 100 Day Stitch Book sew-along in which we cut fabric pages, stitch on them for 15 minutes every day for a week (or five days), then move to the next page.  Most of the finished books are not just stitches but have layers of fabric stitched in place. The appealing things about this are the aspect of play and that turned fabric edges are not necessary.

Will I have time? (It begins on Friday, January 17 and ends in April.)  Will I have the energy or the focus or the concentration?  I certainly have plenty of fabric for this.

I was looking online about vertigo and someone asked why he or she was so tired.  The responder said the brain is working harder than usual to try to keep the person balanced.  I translate that as, I wouldn't be so tired if I stayed in bed all day.  However, that would absolutely not be good for me or my muscles, and I think both the doctor and physical therapist would agree.  But it's sure tempting some days....

Another possible time limitation will be trying to sort and clear out some of the things in our home.  Changes will be coming but I'm not sure when.  We have too much stuff!

Yesterday it snowed.  It was cold and beautiful.

Today, well, this afternoon, it's much colder even though we have clear skies and sun.  I sometimes think how bored I would be if every day were the same, always summer or always winter.  I love living in a temperate climate.  How about you?  Do you love the climate where you live?


Wishing you a good day!
--Nancy.

Scrappy Stars, Scrappy Nine-Patch Blocks

It feels like I haven't accomplished much these past few weeks (or months).  I'm slow, slow, slow.

I'm making scrappy stars (a la Taryn of Repro Quilt Lover).  I intended them as leaders/enders but find myself cutting, piecing, and stitching them even without sewing anything else.  This one is my favorite so far.

They will finish at 6".  I love that the triangles in the stars can be made from either 1½" strips or from some already cut triangles.  And I love the scrappiness of them.

I'm making ones with warm colors now, reds, oranges, yellows and variations of those colors, and setting aside the cool colors for later.  (Unless I change my mind and decide to combine them.)  I have eleven red stars so far.

I've also been making scrappy nine-patch blocks, also a la Taryn.  She's currently hosting a sew-along based on an antique quilt.  Mine are scrappier than the ones in the quilt.  I chose to use autumn tones for these.  I hope they all play well together.  I'm making 3" blocks.

Adding these 20 blocks to the ones I have gives me a total of 98.  I need 204, if I alternate them with a solid/print fabric.  I haven't chosen a fabric yet, or even a color.  I also haven't decided whether to do a straight or on-point set. No problem.  I have as many to make as I've already made.  It will be a while before I start sewing completed blocks together.

Much of my time these days seems to be devoted to doctors' and medical appointments:  primary care physician, orthopedic surgeon (first knee replacement coming at the end of June), spine specialist (with upcoming physical therapy), dentist, gynecologist, mammogram, bone density scan, podiatrist, dermatologist.  My body is falling apart during this 3/4 century year! 

Our weather has been variable.  This week we had two grey and rainy days, so dark during the day that I needed to turn on the lights to see.  Temperatures have been in the mid-70s part of the week, so it's been mostly great weather.  I have to say I love those grey and rainy days, as long as there aren't too many in a row!  I'm wondering what weather the summer will bring.

I hope you're doing well!

I'm linking this post to Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts.  Thanks for hosting, Alycia.

--Nancy.