Getting Back to Quilting

I can't believe that it had been since May since I last posted. The past few months have been crazy to say the least. While I have gotten a few tops done, I am no where near I thought I would be with projects this year. This summer was dedicated to hosting a baseball player that played for a new collegiate team in Fort Dodge over the summer. It was great experience and I had a lot of fun going to the majority of the games. I also ended up as the unofficial team photographer and was able to practice my photography skills. I even bought a new camera in the process!

I have been busy at work as well. There is simply not enough hours in the day to get everything done that I want to do. I was able to go to a quilt retreat a couple of weeks ago. I did manage to get three tops done that weekend. I cant wait to get them quilted. Oh yeah, my longarm is not playing nice again. When I get a chance, I am going to be shopping for a new one.

This year had been the year of buying sewing machines. I was able to get my hands on a featherweight. I am really excited about it. I also received a call from my aunt. She is going to give me my great grandmother's Franklin sewing machine. I am going to pick it up in a couple of weeks. I can't wait. She told me that she has never plugged it in and doesn't even know if it works. I am going to get it working regardless. I have also purchased some other random machines at thrift stores. It is kind of interesting to see all of the different brands. I plan on tinkering with them at some point. 

Hopefully in these last two months of the year I will be able to get back in the groove of quilting. For me, it's therapy. I need that time to create and play and get lost in the fabric! 

Happy Quilting!

Patriotic Big Wonky Stars Quilt Complete

Yesterday I was able to finish my Patriotic Big Wonky Stars Quilt, by Missouri Star Quilt Company. Once again, I had the top done for a while. My motivation for finishing it came from the fact that I wanted to use some of the leftover backing fabric for another Quilts of Valor project. I had get the backing and batting cut and ready for the long arm. Since it was all ready to go, I figured that I might as well get it done. 

While I like it the way it is, I should have added a border. I think with a border, it would have made it look even better. The next time I make one, I will add a border. It is a quick and easy project to do. 

Big Wonky Stars Quilt Tutorial

On a different note, I drove up to Humbolt to the variety store tonight. They have a great selection of quilt backing at decent price. Since I have so many projects piling up again, I wanted to get backing fabric for some of them I ended spending way too much money but I got everything I needed and then some!

I ended up buying 32 yards of quilt backing fabric. It should keep me busy for a while! 

Quilting on Memorial Day

Since today has been a wet and windy Memorial Day, I decided to stay indoors and quilt. I was able to finish another scrappy rag t shirt quilt that I will end up donating somewhere. I have one more that needs the rows sewn together. I am hoping to get that one done next week. I have no shortage of t shirt scraps. I have started the first of three t shirt quilts that I have been commissioned to make. Yay, more t-shirt scraps!

I know most sane people either throw the t shirt scraps away or use them as rags. I cant bring myself to do either if I can make a quilt out of them. I know someone will enjoy them! 

Scrappy Hourglass Quilt Complete

Have you ever been in a quilting slump? It seems like I have been all year even though I'm making progress on several quilts right now. I think started this quilt back in January. I worked on it at the quilt retreat in February and nearly had the top finished then. I set it aside several times since.

I made one just like it last year, except on that one, I used dark blue sashing. I am not usually a big fan of purple, but for this quilt, I really like it. Sometimes it's nice to branch out and use colors that you don't normally use!

I really hope that I can get a couple more projects done this long weekend. I also hope people take a moment and reflect on why we celebrate this holiday. It isn't all about barbeques and camping. 

Happy Quilting!

Flannel Baby Quilt Complete

Flannel baby quilt complete. It took me a total of two evenings to compete, one to sew the top together and one to quilt and bind it. The squares were given to me by a fellow quilter. The batting was leftover from other projects. The white flannel backing and binding was off of a bolt that I bought from JoAnn's during one of their Christmas specials. I am trying to use up the bolt since I've had it in my stash for a few years. Pretty much a free quilt!

Sorry about the cat butt. He wouldn't get out of the way!

Scrappy Rag T-Shirt Quilts Galore

I can tell already that this is going to be a long process. I have been working on cutting scrap t-shirt scraps for what it seems like forever. This is the second rag quilt I have finished this month and I think since it will be such a long process, I am going to make two a month and work on other projects in between. By doing it that way I won't get bored and lose interest doing the same thing over and over again. In a prior post I mentioned that these will be donated. I'm hoping these quilts will make someone happy. One good thing is the low cost of making them. I still expect to make at least twenty, if not more. So many quilts, so little time!

Scrappy Rag T-Shirt Quilt Complete

I know this quilt is nothing to look at, but I hope it will make someone happy. I hate throwing anything away, especially scraps. Recently, I discovered that I have at least seven totes of t-shirt scraps leftover from all of the t-shirt quilts I have made. This quilt is made of 8 1/2 inch squares. I am I used leftover batting scraps as well. I have an abundance of batting scraps taking over my life, or at least my fabric storage.

Of course, Mr. Weasley is right there to help sew together the rows. He was actually behaving for once and allowed me to get something done.

My stacks of 6 1/2 and 8 1/2 inch squares that I have been cutting up. These will be turned into more rag quilts. 

My stacks of 4 1/2 inch squares that I have been cutting up. I plan on putting scrap interfacing on the backs and make scrap quilts out of these. I hate to know how many I've cut up so far. It seems like the cutting never ends! 

I expect to make at least a couple dozen quilts out of all of these t-shirt scraps. My plan is to donate them to various organizations. My goal is to make one once a month. Once I get everything cut, it should go a little faster. The good thing about these quilts is they cost me next to nothing to make. The backs are made up of sheets I bought at Goodwill several years ago for $2.00 a sheet. Talk about a bargain!