Glitter Quilt Progress Week 2

Glitter Quilt Progress Week 2

Sixteen blocks last week became 36 in a short while, then 18 more, and 20+ cut out, and ready to sew this weekend! See, I told you this was going to be a quilt to hold my attention!

I keep finding little short cuts that make this go faster, and I'm glad because I'm altering the quilt dimensions to suit my needs. I'll be making it slightly narrower, and a row longer. I thought that would reduce the number of blocks, but actually it adds 10 more.  I need to keep after it so I get it done on time, and don't burn out. Making the same block repeatedly isn't my strong suit so it needs to get done fast!

I'll have more pictures next week, but it's darn hard squeezing life in during daylight hours. We need that good light for pictures, don't we? Hope you are finding the holiday peaceful enough to have a good quilting project of your own. 

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

Glitter Progress and an Organizational Work Plan

Glitter Quilt Progress and Plan

Ooooh, I like this quilt, and so far so good! This is a fun project to get me actively into my scrap bins, and I love how it allows me to mix those fabrics in novel ways. Our scraps are an amalgamation of everything we've created whether modern, vintage, or traditional, and mine reflect that diverse work. These blocks do too. We can get stuck with thinking a certain fabric can only go with other fabrics in the same line, or ones we've used them with before. It's hard to shake off what goes together. It's like when you wear an outfit. Those jeans go with that shirt and these shoes. This is shaking it all up for me.

Some of the vintage feeling fabrics are truly old, and others are remakes. Some are old shirts. A few were definitely the last bits of favorite prints that I even pieced the very end parts together to get one last square. I'm loving the using-it-up mentality in this work!

Glitter Blocks Machine Sewn

Glitter Blocks Machine Sewn

For months I've looked for a good project that would hold my interest, and I think I've found one. It's Glitter by Jen Kingwell, with the pattern found in Quilt Lovely. Years ago I loaned out my copy, and it disappeared unfortunately. I had already made several projects from the book and convinced myself I didn't need it, but this quilt was still nagging me to make it. I had the templates purchased, and though it's a straightforward pattern, I repurchased the book. I really enjoy looking at Kingwell's fabric pairings in the photos, and it feeds me ideas.

Measuring Oversized Blocks Accurately

"You Can Never Have Too Much Purple"

You are either a purple lover or you're not. I can tell you I have one purple shirt in my closet so I fall in the "maybe not" category. I don't dislike it, but I'm not drawn to it. Never the less, I was given most of these blocks in a bag of charity fabrics, and I thought it would be a quick finish. It actually wasn't too bad, and I learned a few things along the way. Let me share one on how to accurately measure oversized blocks.

Fall Table Topper Flimsy

Fall Table Topper Flimsy Finish

It feels like a Friday, and definitely like fall. My sewing goal is complete, though, admittedly, it's a carry-over from weeks before. I have another underway already. A simple Christmas door hanging for my mom will brighten the hallway. I'll show you soon. 

The weeks of dreading the garden tear out are over since we had our first freeze projected for Sunday night last. I spent the day making hard decisions on what went where. This is my first winter with a greenhouse, and figuring out what will work. The last fall vegetables are in the house, mainly tomatoes and peppers, and the winter hardy things are going strong. Lettuces, kale, and many herbs will be good for another month or so, and some will be brought into the greenhouse yet to winter over there. It's no wonder I feel relief. 

Pumpkin Season

Pumpkin Season

This pattern was purchased some time in the past, and I've wanted to make it, but could never find the time. (I have a lot of patterns in that category!) It's called Pumpkin Season by The Pattern Basket. My mom lives in a small apartment now, and I wanted something quilty to hang on her door for the season. That was a good reason to carve out the time this weekend, and it's entirely ready to hang in just a couple days or so.

I do want to make one comment in defense of the wavy edge look in the photo. The tiny gingham check is causing that visual wave more than anything, though it's curved up over my counter to hold it for the photo. It lays flat when it's on the table, but I may still give it a steam from the backside to make sure it lays very flat before hanging it. Lesson noted and learned using a check fabric for binding. 

Easy Drunkard's Path Block Method

An Easy Method to an Accurate Drunkard's Path Block

1 Drunkard's Path Block

Let's start by setting the record straight. The single block above is called Drunkard's Path. Several of these blocks can be assembled into a larger block then called by another name, or to be more confusing, Drunkard's Path.

From left to right starting at the top:

Row 1: Dots, Drunkard's Path, Drunkard's Path Variation, Drunkard's Pinwheel

Row 2: Baseball, Steeplechase, Millwheel, Peace Dove

Row 3: Cleopatra's Puzzle, Around the World, Dove, Over the Bridge

Row 4: Indiana Puzzle, Falling Timbers, Fool's Puzzle, Around the World (not an error, but a second with the same name)

Also, the Turtle, requiring additional piecing...

...and my favorite, I Wish You Well.

I've done curved piecing in the past, and it's doable in larger pieces. These individual pieces would finish at 2.5", and I just couldn't do it. I had to come up with a method that worked for me, was accurate, and didn't involve inset piecing. 

Fall Coffee Table Quilt

Fall Quilt for 2023

There is such a smell of fall in the air already! It makes me want to pause, and feel the last days of a warm sun. It says rest to me. That the time for pushing hard is over soon, and I can get back to quilting. I'll be caught up. I hope so.

Every year I reach the same point when houses are displaying fall decorations, there's a mum in every pot, and I'm still trying to keep my chin above water from summer. I feel perpetually behind. So this year I started planning a fall project in July! I worked on EQ8, and planned a specific piece to cover our coffee table. I sewed in the foggy early hours, and often in the dark of the night. It's not done, but the hard parts are sorted. Want a peek at some fun blocks?

Diversion Into a Wool Embroidery Sampler

Diversion Into a Sue Spargo Sampler 

I am lucky enough to live within driving distance of Sue Spargo's Ohio store. I whole-heartedly recommend visiting if you are ever in the northeastern Ohio area. It's as much a museum of her wool art as it is an enticing store. There are rooms full of threads, fabrics, and projects. It does not disappoint.

Star Upon Stars #5

Star Upon Stars #5

Hands down, the best part of making this quilt has been the surprise of what each star will look like! I've become a bit of a kid in wanting to see it as soon as the first star point has been sewn, too. The magic folding mirror is amazing! How did I ever live without it? You can see the original fabric pull for this block in my post, First Side Setting Block for Star Upon Stars.

I love the heavy, dark ring of blue and brown. The 2 green-blue diamonds show nicely against the background too.