WiP Wednesday -Some Boy Quilts

So I have been trying to sort, pack and purge the past week or so, but I have still sneaked in a bit of sewing!

I posted my most current completed quilt blocks a few days ago (here), but I forgot one so I'm giving her a little recognition today :) 

 This is block #8 in the Virtual Quilting Bee Sampler Quilt.

The other WiP's I have been working on is this quilt for my new nephew, who was born 2 weeks ago...5 weeks early!  But I was planning to give the quilt when I went to visit for his Blessing the end of September anyway, so no rush on this one:

I have the rows pieced...kindof. Turns out, I ended up sewing 5 of the 11 rows wrong, so I've got a little unpicking in my future before I get this one finished.



This brown and blue star quilt was a random project that I wasn't expecting to start, but I finished the top last night.

This one does have a story behind it.  Some of the fabric in this was salvaged from one of the two matching bedding sets my twins had when they were babies.  When my third son was born, I obviously didn't need two sets anymore, so I decided to make a matching quilt with the fabric from one of the sets for my third son, since neither of my twins wanted to give up the blankets that actually came with the set.

I cut what I had into charm squares, bought some backing fabric, put it in a bag....and totally forgot about it.
Well, now my son is nearly three and won't be in a crib after we move, so what to do with the bedding and the partial matching quilt squares to go with it?  Why, give it to one of my two nephews that have been born within the past 3 months, of course!

To make this super easy for me, I am not quilting it.  This will be a tied, comforter-type quilt instead.  I dug around in my scraps and found enough fabric to make it work without having to get anything else for it (except the high loft batting and yarn).

For an impromptu quilt that has been put together from what I had on hand, it's turning out pretty cute, I think.  In fact, it is cuter than the blanket that actually came with the set!

That is it for this week.  I am packing up my fabric for the move as I type this.  I have two words: Fabric.  Hoarder.

WiP Wednesday - Catching Up

I have had my sister visiting for the past week or so, and while it has been busy having five kids ages 4 and under rampaging through the house, we have amazingly managed to get some sewing done!

We are both doing the Virtual Quilting Bee over at Diary of a Quilter and decided to use the time we are together to get caught up.  I finished blocks 5,6 &7 over the weekend and have one left to be all caught up.

Block #5

Block # 6

Block #7

Nothing new besides the blocks, but I will have more next week, since I have been working on a birthday gift for the sister of one of my twins friends.  We are going to her birthday on Saturday.  I am making her a doll blanket, diaper, and bib set like the ones I posted about HERE.

WiP's 

Finishes:

none

New WiPs (or WiPs pulled off the back burner!) -

*Doll Blanket, Bib and diaper set

Worked on: 

Blocks

 Not worked on:

Upcycyled Tees - 1 of 3 sewn

Denim Rag Quilt - not worked on

New Nephew baby quilt

Sister's Christmas present

2013 BOM's & Bees - 3 more done!

Sister's 10 BOM blocks - Junes block to complete

Virtual Quilting Bee blocks - 7 finished, 1 to go to be caught up

Applique Quilt -  2 done, March fused but not appliqued, April - June blocks not started

Linking up @ Freshly Pieced

WiP Wednesday - I'm on a Roll

I feel like I am on a roll with finishes lately!  I guess that is one good thing about having my husband out of town for a bit - lonely nights lend themselves to lots of sewing (AND lots of mini-series watching - so far I've watched The Forsyte Saga and both the British North and South and the American North and South!)

This past week I finished not only my nephew's quilt, but my son's Toy Story Rag Quilt, as well!  Nice to get those both crossed off the list.

Liam's Jungle quilt.  This is the only photo I have of it so far.  I took a bunch, but for some reason they all turned out blurry.  So this one will have to do until I can take some more.

And here is my son's Toy Story Rag Quilt.  I am actually writing up a tutorial for this one, since baby boy rag quilt searches seem to bring A LOT of people to my blog.  I will post it later this week.

And while I still have a few unfinished projects that I would like to finish, I felt like I was safe to start a new one, especially since the recipient will more than likely be born next month!  This is the stack I pulled out for a quilt for ANOTHER new nephew!  Yes, we like to make boys in this family :)

I will probably get started on this one tonight.

Another WiP (or really, a UFO since I got frustrated and gave up on it last December) that I will finish this week is my sister's Christmas gift.  

I know that sounds terrible, that I never gave my sister her Christmas present, but she was moving at the time and would just have to pack it up anyway, and I knew she was coming out to visit this summer, so we just agreed that I would give it to her when she came for the summer.  Well, she will be here on Monday, so it is time to pull this stack out and tackle it!

WiP's - 2 finishes - 

Toy Story Rag Quilt

Liam's Jungle baby quilt

Worked on: 

none

 Not worked on:

Upcycyled Tees - 1 of 3 sewn

Denim Rag Quilt - not worked on

Binding found old blanket

New WiPs (or WiPs pulled off the back burner!) -

New Nephew baby quilt

Sister's Christmas present

2013 BOM's & Bees - no progress this week

Sister's 10 BOM blocks - Caught up!!

Virtual Quilting Bee blocks - 4 finished, 3 behind

Applique Quilt -  2 done, March fused but not appliqued, April - June blocks not started

Linking up @ Freshly Pieced

WiP Wednesday - More Finishes

I have been on a roll the past two weeks trying to finish up my WiPs.

I did have 2 finishes this week - my improv log cabin pillow top that I made a few weeks back, and some plain pillow covers I've been meaning (for a LONG time) to make to revamp my living room couch.

The blue and green paisley/floral pillow behind the improv block pillow is one of the other pillow covers I made. 

My other WiPs worked on this week are:

I got MOST of the binding on my nephews quilt.  But when I had it all sewn on and ready to join the ends, I decided I didn't like how the fabrics were joining on that side (it is a scrappy binding and there was too much orange on the side where the ends were joining), so I have been doing a little unpicking and cutting and adding until I have it fixed a bit.  I will have that done by tonight.

I am just about done with snipping the rag edges on my son's Toy Story rag quilt.  I think I have one row of blocks and the outer edge to do and then I will be done.  Because it is hard on my hands, I only clip a few rows each night, hence the reason it has taken its time being completely finished!

And I had mentioned last week that I found a decade-old, unfinished baby blanket in a box in the garage and decided to throw a binding on it and get it finished and usable   

So while I was at Walmart one day, I stopped in their fabric section (since I had no plans to drive out to any other fabric stores for awhile) and found this pink floral in a tone pretty darn close to the pink in the quilt. 

 This is one of those "Get-It-Done" projects for me, so I was not picky about finding the "perfect" fabric.  And I think it cost me all of $1.28!  Not bad for a free blanket that has been long neglected!  I am just going to machine bind it, so this shouldn't take me much time to finish off once I sit down to do it.

I also finished up another block for the Virtual Quilting Bee at Diary of a Quilter.  This one is called "Going Dutch".

WiP's - 

2 finishes - Improv pillow and 2 plain pillow covers

Worked on: 

*Toy Story Blanket - All sewn, just need to finish clipping the seams.

*Baby Boy quilt - binding MOSTLY applied

*Discovered old baby blanket - binding made

 Not worked on:

Upcycyled Tees - 1 of 3 sewn

Denim Rag Quilt - not worked on

New WiPs (or WiPs pulled off the back burner!) -

None this week

2013 BOM's & Bees -

*Sister's 10 BOM blocks - Caught up!!

Virtual Quilting Bee blocks - 1 finished, 2 behind

Applique Quilt -  March fused but not appliqued, April & May blocks not started

Linking up over @ Freshly Pieced

WiP Wednesday

Even though there is no WiP Wednesday this week at Freshly Pieced, I still felt like doing a Work-In-Progress post, even if it is just for myself!

This past week I got a lot done.  First, I finished my Love Baby Quilt just in time to enter it into the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  (You can view that post HERE.)

Second, I finished sewing together my son's Toy Story Rag Quilt.  I just have to finish clipping the seams and it will be finished.  He already loves it and tries to steal it from me while I have it out to work on.

Thirdly, I sewed up some adorable tiny totes to fill with candy for my twins teacher appreciation gifts (which I will show in another post once I figure out how to iron them and have them filled and ready to go!)  These were so fast, so easy and so adorable, I can definitely see myself making a lot more of these as favors or gifts in the future.

Fourth, I have cut and pieced a couple of bindings - one for my nephews quilt, and one for a random, unfinished baby blanket from years ago that I found in a box last week.  Now that I have my Love quilt out of the way, I am going to focus on finishing my nephew's.  My sister will be here with him and my niece in about 2.5 weeks.

And Fifth, I finished the May Blocks for the Sister's Ten Modern BOM.  Now I just need to catch up on my Virtual Quilting Bee blocks (three behind).  And my Applique Blocks (also three behind).  Sigh.

WiP's - 

1 finish - Love Baby Quilt!

(also started and finished Teacher mini Totes this week)

Worked on: 

*Toy Story Blanket - All sewn, just need to finish clipping the seams.

*Baby Boy quilt - binding cut and pieced

 Not worked on:

Improv Log Cabin Pillow - Not worked on

 Upcycyled Tees - 1 of 3 sewn

Denim Rag Quilt - not worked on

New Projects:

*Old Baby Blanket that needs binding - binding cut and pieced

2013 BOM's & Bees -

*Sister's 10 BOM blocks - Caught up!!

Virtual Quilting Bee blocks - 3 behind

Applique Quilt -  March fused but not appliqued, April & May blocks not started

WiP Wednesday - 2 Down and How Many to Go??

The only thing I have to show for this week are my two finished April blocks for the Sister's Ten Modern BOM.  

Yes, the April blocks. Which means I still have my May blocks to complete.  And I am not caught up on my Virtual Bee blocks, being 2 behind. Or my applique quilt blocks, now being 3 behind on that one.

In terms of statistics, that means I have 2 down and 7 to go to be caught up with all my BOM's.

Anyway, I did two different versions of this block on purpose to see which one I liked better.  I made a monochrome version, and one with contrast.  Personally, I like the purple monochrome version the best.  My husband on the other hand, who rarely offers an opinion on my quilting, liked the aqua one the best.  Go figure.

Other than that, I have about half of my Love baby quilt basted.  In my defense, we decided to go to D.C. for Mother's Day weekend, so I lost all my prime sewing time to that much more exciting adventure :)

WiP's - no finishes (Again!)

Worked on: 

*Love baby quilt - Binding half sewn on the back

*Toy Story Blanket - All the squares sandwiched and x's sewn

 Not worked on:

Baby Boy quilt - just waiting to be bound!

Improv Log Cabin Pillow - Not worked on

 Upcycyled Tees - 1 of 3 sewn

Denim Rag Quilt - not worked on

2013 BOM's & Bees -

*Sister's 10 BOM blocks - April blocks finished, May not completed

Virtual Quilting Bee blocks - 2nd April block to complete, 1st May block to complete

Applique Quilt -  March fused but not appliqued, April block - picked up, but not worked on, May block not picked up

Linking up @ Freshly Pieced

WiP Wednesday - SOOO Close, yet so far away

I did a lot this week.  A LOT.  At least it feels that way.  But yet, I still have nothing to show for it!  Bummer.

 

I finished the quilting on both my nephew's baby quilt, as well as my Love baby quilt. 

 

I am THRILLED about the Love baby quilt!  I started this back in October, but my sewing machine was giving me fits as I tried to quilt it.  (You can read more about my battle HERE.)  So I gave up and put it away until after the holidays.  I pulled it out again a few months ago and was able to quilt about half of it before my machine started protesting yet again.  I decided to give it another try over the weekend after finishing my nephew's quilt, and was finally able to finish the quilting!  HUGE sigh of relief.

 

 

Yesterday I made and applied the binding to the front.  So now, between both baby quilts, I see a good weeks worth of nights in front of me, hand binding while watching TV.  Hand binding is probably my favorite part of the whole quilting process, so I am actually pretty happy about it! 

 

***

 

I also worked a bit on my son's Toy Story blanket, sandwiching the squares and getting halfway through chain sewing the "X's" through them.

 

 

 I am SUPER behind on my BOM blocks, but hope to get back on those now that my two baby quilts are almost done. 

 

***

 

I did get in practicing some free motion quilting. First try with this design, so don't look too close!

WiP's - no finishes (Again!)

Worked on: 

*Baby Boy quilt - Quilting finished!  waiting to be bound.

 

*Love baby quilt - Quilting finished and binding sewn onto the front.

 

Toy Story Blanket - squares sandwiched and "X's" half sewn. 

 

Improv Log Cabin Pillow -  fabric purchased.

 

Not worked on:

 Upcycyled Tees - 1 of 3 sewn

 

Denim Rag Quilt - not worked on

2013 BOM's & Bees -

Sister's 10 BOM blocks - April & May blocks not completed

Virtual Quilting Bee blocks - 1 April blocks to complete, 1st May block to complete

Applique Quilt -  March fused but not appliqued, April block - picked up, but not worked on, May block not picked up

Linking up @

WiP Wednesday - Slow Going

The only thing I have worked on this week is my new nephew's quilt.

 

 

 

I've got the entire center quilted, now I just have to finish quilting the borders and bind it.

 

My nephew was actually born this past Saturday, so I'm a little late finishing this one up. But my sister will be bringing he and my 2-year-old niece for a nice long visit the first of June, so I am just going to wait to give it to her then. 

 

I can't wait to get my hands on my nephew and snuggle on his sweet newborn-ness!

 

My husband has been working nights this month, and it has thrown us ALL off schedule.  Because of that, I haven't been sewing much.  The only other thing I have had time/energy to work on are some pillowcases that I am embroidering for our children at Church.  I am in the presidency of the Primary (the children's organization), and these pillowcases are what we are giving them as a birthday gift this year.  "I am a Child of God" is the Primary theme for this year.

 

 

WiP's - no finishes (But so, so close!)

Worked on: 

*Baby Boy quilt - half quilted

 

 

Not worked on:

Toy Story Blanket - squares cut

 Improv Log Cabin Pillow - no progress
 

 Upcycyled Tees - 1 of 3 sewn

 Love baby quilt - not worked on

 Denim Rag Quilt - not worked on

 

2013 BOM's & Bees -

Sister's 10 BOM blocks - April block not completed

Virtual Quilting Bee blocks - 1 of 2 April blocks complete

Applique Quilt -  March fused but not appliqued, April block - picked up, but not worked on

 

 

 

WiP Wednesday - Piles and Piles of Squares

So again, no actual finishes on my WiP's, but I did get some stuff done.

 

I finished my April block for the Virtual Quilting Bee.

 

 

And just for fun, I thought I would share both of my sister's blocks so far, since neither of them blog.  These photos were the ones they each texted me:

 

 



my sister Diana's block

My sister Jenna's blocks

 

We are having a lot of fun doing this Bee together, even being thousands of miles apart!

 

 

As for my other projects, I was able to get the backing fabric and batting for my nephew's quilt. Even better?  I got it for 50% off, thanks to a coupon on my JoAnn's app, and the sheer luck of the Denyse Schmidt fabrics not being on sale this week (hence being able to use the coupon on it).   

I am hoping to have that done by this weekend, considering he will be born next weekend! Yikes. Better get on that one...

Also, I did manage to get one of the three shirts sewn that I had cut out from my husband's cast-offs. 

It turned out a lot better than I thought!  I still have to finish the seams (as you can see on the inner neck seam), and I think I want to embellish it, so I don't consider this finished just yet.

And then I decided on a whim to start a new project.  Two years ago I made my twins some simple tied Toy Story blankets.  Well, they have since outgrown Toy Story, but my youngest son is now totally into Woody and Buzz.  So I spent an evening cutting the leftover flannel to make my 2-year-old a Toy Story blanket.
 

 

 

I decided while I was in the flannel-cutting groove, I would get out my stack of flannel that I bought two years ago for my (still in progress) denim rag picnic quilt and get those cut into squares, too.  So  I ended up spending the past three nights cutting approximately 375 flannel squares of various sizes, and I'm not quite done.

My carpal tunnel is paying me back for it now.

WiP's - no finishes
 

*New - Toy Story Blanket - squares cut

 Improv Log Cabin Pillow - no progress
 

 Upcycyled Tees - 1 of 3 sewn

Baby Boy quilt - backing and batting purchased

 Love baby quilt - not worked on

 

Bonus - flannel cut for Denim Rag

2013 BOM's & Bees -

 

Sister's 10 BOM blocks - April block not completed

 Virtual Quilting Bee blocks - April Block COMPLETE

 Applique Quilt -  March fused but not appliqued, April block - haven't picked it up yet

Linking with Lee @

 

WiP Wednesday - Something New

Not much work happened on my WiP's this past week.  Unless you count buying new fabric for some of them (which I totally count!)  But really, I am pretty much caught up on my BOM's and waiting for April's blocks to come out so I can get to work again.

In the meantime, I did start a new WiP that should be fairly easy to finish.  I pulled out my scrap boxes made this Improv Log Cabin block to cover a sad old pillow on my living room couch.

 

 

Even though I have been quilting for a few years now, this is my first improv block, and my first venture into any kind of "wonky" piecing. My natural personality likes things ordered and precise, but I really liked the process of making this block.  I liked picking my fabrics as I went and seeing what emerged from the process.  I definitely see more improv work in my future.

 

The pillow I am covering is elongated in shape so I need to add some sides to this square in order for it to fit.  I was hoping to use the fabric that was already on the pillow for that, and to use as the backing, but after placing this block next to it, it is obvious that it is just too dull and lackluster.  So I will have to go out and get some fabric before I can finish this up. 

The only other thing I worked on this week is also a new(ish) project.  I am trying my hand at upcycling my husband's cast-off t-shirts into shirts for my three boys.  I have been using Dana's tutorials over at MADE.  So far I just have a few pieces cut out, so not much to show right now. 

I had those on hold for a few days as well, because I had to get thread for my new serger. (I have mentioned before that I live in the middle of nowhere, so I can't just run to the fabric store whenever I need a spool of thread or a little interfacing.  I have to wait until I find the time to make the trip or will be in the area.  Sigh.) 

But back to the topic at hand... yes, I am FINALLY breaking out my new serger...the Christmas gift from my parents that is still sitting in it's box because I have been afraid of opening it!  I am determined to at least get it out of it's box and read the instructions this week, if nothing else :)

So, here is the tally:

WiP's -

*NEW* Improv Log Cabin Pillow - Block made

*NEW* Upcycyled Tees

Baby Boy quilt - not worked on

 

Love baby quilt - not worked on

2013 BOM's & Bees -

 

Sister's 10 BOM blocks - current

 

Virtual Quilting Bee blocks - current

 

Applique Quilt March block - fused but not appliqued

Linking to Lee @
  

WiP Wednesday - Blocks and a Baby Quilt

I finished the last of my March blocks this past week, and while these two blocks look like they should belong in the same quilt, they are actually for two different QAL's!

The one below (called Origami Star) is the second block in the Virtual Quilting Bee hosted by Amy at Diary of a Quilter. (You can see my first block HERE.) 

 

This one has been especially fun because I am doing it with two of my sisters - one in Tennessee, and one in Utah.  We have been texting photos and Facetiming each other all week as we have been finishing up our blocks.  It's the closest thing to actually sitting in the same room sewing together!

 

 

This one is the March block for the Sister's Ten BOM hosted by AnneMarie over at Gen X Quilters.

 

I'm finishing this one a little late in the month mainly because I wasn't thrilled with the design, and just didn't know how I wanted to do it. I spent a lot of time pulling fabrics an trying out different combos until I came up with this, and, as usually happens, in the end I loved it!

 

This one is called "School Girl's Puzzle".

 

 

 

I also finished the top of the quilt for my nephew, due late next month. 

 

 

 

To be totally caught up for March, I have to finish my applique block for the month. I have it all fused to the square, but haven't started appliqueing yet.

 

And my Love baby quilt is still only partially quilted. I started having problems with my machine again about 2/3rds of the way through. I am going to take my machine in soon...but until I do, I'm afraid the quilt will have to wait.

 

WiP's -

Sister's 10 March block - done

 

Virtual Quilting Bee block - done

 

Applique Quilt March block - fused but not appliqued

 

Baby Boy quilt - top done

 

Love baby quilt - not worked on 

 

Linking up @

WiP Wednesday

This week, I may have gotten a lot more cutting done than actual sewing. 

 

The only sewing I did was finishing my Susannah blocks from the Sisters 10 Modern BOM:

 

 I cut the 16.5 inch background squares for my applique quilt, and bought the matching thread kit after much contemplation of how I wanted to do the appliqueing (either with matching thread, monofilament, or a neutral.)

 

 

I have also placed the applique pieces for the first (January's) block.

 

 

 

I also cut some of the fabric for a baby quilt for my new nephew due in April. My sister picked out the fabric while we were in Utah a few weeks ago.

It's an old Northcott baby collection (maybe 2010 or 2011?) called Baby Safari that was in the sale section, mixed with a little of the current "Bungle Jungle" by Moda, and this lovely yellow Denyse Schmidt pattern that I love!

 

 

 

 I'm still waiting for my sister to send me a couple extra cuts that I had her pick up after I got it all home and had a chance to look at it and decide how I wanted to put it together, so this won't be fully cut out and ready to go until after I get that package of fabric in the mail.

So that is what I have done this week.  I really want to try and focus on these three quilts for a bot before adding anything new into the mix.  We will see how I do.


Current WiP's worked on:

Spring Bouquet BOM applique quilt

Baby boy quilt

Sister's 10 BOM

Current WiP's not worked on:

Love Baby quilt


Linking with Lee @







WiP Wednesday - Short and Sweet

I had a finish this week, not a quilt, but still a little sewing project.  A Neck/Shoulder Rice Bag for one of my BFF's (and Piper's Mom!)

 

 

I also cut and just started sewing up my February blocks for the Sisters Ten Modern BOM.

 

 

 

 

And that's it.  That is all I've gotten done this week.  Granted, I'm kindof impressed with myself, considering how busy things have been, an how hard it was to transition 3 boys (and myself!) back to East Coast time and schedule after we got back from Utah a week ago.

 

On my agenda this week is to finish my Sisters 10 blocks, and quilt and finish my Amy Butler baby quilt.  That has GOT to get finished an home to its intended owner!

 

Everything else is off the table to be re-evaluated after I get my quilt finished.

 

Linking to Wip Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced

WiP Wednesday #2 - BOMS Away

So I started two Blocks of the Month this month, one online, The Sister's Ten Modern BOM over at Gen X quilters, and one at my local quilt shop.

This week, I finished my blocks for the Sisters Ten BOM.  It's called Grandmother's Frame.

For the quilt I am using mainly Cuzco by Kate Spain, as well as a little Vintage Modern, a few other various Kate Spain prints and a few random fabrics I dug around in my stash for.

Honestly, I'm totally loving my little peacock :)

This quilt seems especially appropriate to be making right now...I am thinking about giving it to my mother, and as I was making this "Grandmother's Frame" block, my own grandmother passed away.  I know I will think of her now every time I look at this quilt.

I picked up the other block for this month on Saturday at my LQS.  It is an applique BOM, and I am waiting to start it until we get back from our trip west for my grandmother's funeral.  My husband is going to build me a light box to use in order to see the applique placement, and obviously won't be able to work on it until we get back.

The progress on my other WiPs were minimal - I did finish unpicking my quilt, and had plans to quilt it this week, but with my grandmother's passing, a lot of things have gotten pushed off until I get back from her funeral.

I also haven't finished my other twins hat, but have it cut out and the eyes appliqued on.  I am taking it with me and will finish it at my mom's house.  They are expecting snow while we are there and I know my boys are going to be thrilled - both to wear their new hats and (more importantly) to play in the snow!  (We don't get a lot of snow out here in No. Virginia, so it's a treat for them.)

So, a short WiP list today.  I have every intention of re-evaluating my WiP's and deciding what I want to make a priority this year.  But that is gonna have to be a February resolution.


 

#1 WiP 2013 - The One With A Lot of UN-Sewing

It's been awhile since I've Work-in-Progress Wednesday.

 

Here are the things I've been working on:


Monster Hats
for my twins.

Here in Virginia, it is rarely cold enough to wear a heavy coat, so my boys usually just wear the fleece liners, which don't have a hood. So I'm making them these hats to match their jackets for when they go out to play at school. I've got one done, one to go.

 

Block of the Month

I decided to do a Block of the Month this year and chose the Sisters Ten Modern BOM over at Gen X Quilters.  I've chosen my fabric and cut it out.  Hopefully I will be able to make them up tonight while my boys are in bed and my husband is at Scouts.

Unpicking a Quilt

I finished this quilt top back in October and thought it would be a quick easy finish and I would have it done in plenty of time to ship to my cousin before her baby was born in early December.  Wow, was I wrong!

 

 

I decided to do regular stipple quilting because I was going to use my stitch regulator foot, which I'm really still not totally familiar with.  I thought I would stick to quilting that I can do well without having to focus too much on, so that I could focus more on getting the feel for the stitch regulator.

 

I should have had this little quilt quilted and done within just a few hours, but I ended up fighting with my machine for 3 days before giving up!

 

My thread kept breaking inexplicably every 3-6 inches.  The back of this poor quilt was just a mess of starting knots.  It was awful. 

 

I had tried everything I knew.  Changed the tension, changed the needle, went slower, went faster, changed threads, changed bobbins, you name it, I did it.  Nothing worked!

 

So, after 3 days I gave up, folded the quilt, and shoved it in my closet. 

 

I took my machine in the week before Thanksgiving, but was told it would take up to a month of more to repair.  NO WAY.  So I took it home and just decided I would only be able to sew things with a straight stitch (because for some reason, the thread only broke when I tried anything free-motion), but that was better than nothing.

 

So I was able to make all my Christmas gifts, since none of them required quilting.  But then I pulled out my embroidery module, because we decided to embroider pillowcases for our Primary children this year and I needed to get some done for the January birthdays.  First thing that happened when I tried embroidering - my thread broke!  Arg!

 

That is when I realized that as long as I didn't put the thread through the last hook on the thread guide, it was fine. 

 

So that meant I could finish my quilt!  However, it was at least a third of the way quilted with a meandering stitch.  That is A LOT of unpicking.  But, I just couldn't give it as a gift with all those knots and obvious starts and stops in the back.  So, a few days ago, I finally sat down and began unpicking.  

 

Two nights of unpicking so far, and probably one more night and it will be done.  Then it will be a race to get it quilted and bound so I can get it to it's new owner as quickly as possible...a darling little girl who is already over a month old!

 

And I also signed up to do a BOM at my LQS - an Applique quilt by Edyta Sitar called Spring Bouquet.

 

 

I am really excited about this.  I think it is beautiful, AND it will give me experience and practice doing applique, as well as working with batiks, which I have never done before. 

 

I've never thought batiks were my style, but I have to admit, I think they are just lovely in this quilt.

 

I was supposed to go pick up my first kit this morning and attend the instructions class, but my son woke up vomiting this morning, so we are all sequestered to the house.  I'm pretty sure I know what I am doing, however, so it shouldn't be too hard to figure out on my own. 

 

Oh!  And another fun thing...I finally got my Christmas present from my parents this past week...a serger!!  I am so excited to get it out and try it out.  I'm sure I will be posting about it when I do. 

 

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