WIP: Fair Isle Reindeers

I'm so close! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I finished my reindeer row last week. Woo! :)

When I first cut my fabric (almost a year ago) I did it according to the pattern and then I had a little *facepalm* moment. With all the math I did just to figure out yardage for two colors, I should have included cutting for non-pixelated reindeer. Oh well, I pushed it out of my mind until after I finished the zig zag rows. Then I sat and stared at all the little 1.5" cut pieces and I made the choice to re-cut the blocks using larger pieces. Let's just say I'm very happy I had extra fabric! I barely made it but I was able to squeeze out what I needed with very careful cutting. And you know what? I'm so happy I did it.

When it came time to piece it all together, I did it a little at a time over the course of several days. First the snowflakes, then the heads, then the bodies, then putting the blocks together and finally putting it into the row. It came together very quickly with those larger pieces.

I'm in the middle of sewing all the sashing onto the rows and then it will be done!! :) I can't wait to share it with you.

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WIP: Fair Isle Zig Zag

Wow, I really AM on a roll! :)

I started the zig zag row on Sunday, sewing together all the long pieces and then sub-cutting them. But I lost a bit of steam so I put off sewing all the pieces together until yesterday, when I made myself sit down and finish.

All that's left is the reindeer row and then putting the top together. I'm making it my goal to get the top completed before I start on my Farmer's Wife 1930s quilt. So I only have a couple weeks to get it all done.

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WIP: Fair Isle Checkerboard

I feel like I'm on a roll here. I've been so unmotivated the last few months. I think when you have a tedious project hanging over your head it squashes your motivation. At last that's the way it seems with me. But the last week or two I've had the desire to sit and sew or cut fabric. It's a nice change. I hope I don't lose it. :)

On Wednesday I sat down and completed the checkerboard row. Definitely one of the easier rows. And this ruler made it even easier. Seriously, where has this been all this time?? Find yourself a 50% off coupon and buy one for yourself at Joann's. Best. Investment. Ever.

I bought the quarter cut one simply because I thought it would be the most useful to me. But they had two other rulers that did 1/2" increments, if that's more for you.

I also think I figured out why I was having issues on the poinsettias and fir trees. When I ironed my fabric for the checkerboard I lightly starched the grey (quilter's linen) and that seems to have done the trick. I noticed that it has a bit of stretch and I think that is why I ended up having to recut pieces. So moving forward I will be starching the quilter's linen, the cream doesn't seem to need it as it's already pretty stiff.

Next up is the zig zag and then after that the reindeers.

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Scrappy Postage Stamp

If you look over to the right you will notice that I added a bucket list of all the quilts I want to make someday. I add to it whenever I see something I like. Well, one of the quilts is a postage stamp and last week I started on it. I'm going to be using my 1.5" scraps to make it.

I love scrappy quilts. They just make my heart sing. One of the best things about a scrappy quilt is seeing all the fabrics you've used in past projects. I've found scraps in my scrap box from almost every quilt and gift I've ever made. Makes me smile. :)

I've been cutting a little here and there for about a week now. In addition to the squares already in my scrap box, I now have a pretty little pile. Not all are quilt shop quality, but I don't love them any less. See that dark blue square above? It's part of the Navy uniform I cut up for my very first quilt. It's my favorite.

I organized my scraps about 2-ish years ago using tips from Lori of Bee in my Bonnet and Bonnie of Quiltville. On the shelf above my sewing desk I have my scrap bins. Not all of them are full, I haven't seriously cut into my fabric stash since, but I do try to trim up any scrap that comes from a current work in progress.

I even got a few four patches done! Not too many but it's a start. :) I'm storing my cut squares in this little aqua bucket that I found in the Target dollar section. And my four patches are in a (thoroughly) cleaned out Bag Balm tin.

I'm even thinking of joining a postage stamp swap, to help build up my collection. Click the button below to get more information if you want to join too.

This postage stamp quilt will be my "bonus quilt" as Lori calls it, made using her leaders and enders method. I have no idea how big it will end up but for now I'm planning on just making 12 or 16 patch blocks and then going from there. It may take a while but I'm determined to have a good size quilt of all my tiny scraps to snuggle under.

All tucked away next to the photo of the sailor I fell in love with

WIP: New table runner

I've been seeing this quote around Pinterest and Instagram for the past few months. We live in a small house and this quote rings so true for us. We love our little house. :) I designed this panel to fit 4 on a fat quarter and I had it printed at Spoonflower. Yesterday the quote panel arrived and I immediately cut into it and pieced it all together, making up the pattern as I went.

I'm about halfway done with this table runner. I was able to get a mini charm pack of Farmhouse by Fig Tree Co. to use around the quote. Now I'm just waiting on the fabric yardage to get into stores so I can finish it up. I plan on adding fabric to both sides to make it longer so it will fit my table.

With 3 more panels I'm thinking of other things to make. You will see more projects with this in the future. :)

One finished and another started

I finished my 'Blessed' embroidery project last Saturday.

And I started my new project Sunday. :)

I plan on having the 'Blessed' embroidery framed and hung up. My new project comes from Clementine Pattern Co., it is part of their 4 seasons series. This one is summer. I plan on doing all 4 seasons and then hanging them up when done. I love all their designs, after I get done with the seasons I hope to do a few more.

WIP: Fair Isle Fir Trees

I got my burst of motivation last night and finished up the Fair Isle blocks. Just like with the poinsettias, I had to cut a few pieces from scrap because the originals ended up being 1/4" too small. I don't know if it's my fabric choices, piecing or cutting that's causing this issue but I'm glad that I have quite a bit of scraps! :)

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Feed Company BOM: Final Four

I finished up the final four blocks over the weekend. Lots of down time :)

[click any photo to enlarge]

I asked if I could put my wedding year instead of our town, and they said yes! I'm so thrilled with the result. I just ordered the coordinating quilt label, you can find it here. I hope to have the quilt top finished by summer. I can't wait to see it all together.

WIP: Fair Isle and Mom's quilt

A few works in progress shots of the two quilts I'm working on at the moment.

Fair Isle fir trees

Mom's Snowblossoms

I have my moments where there's absolutely no motivation (actually, there's been a lot of that lately...) but I really want to get both of these quilt tops done by summer. So here's hoping motivation will come back to me, and soon! :)

Feed Company BOM progress

I thought I'd post my progress on my Feed Company block of the month quilt. If you're doing the BOM too you'll notice I haven't done as much embroidery as the original examples and a few of the blocks I changed up the colors and stitches. I decided to only do the outlines and a few of the design elements, to save on time. I'm liking the minimalist look on these blocks. I haven't gotten to the two April blocks yet and the final two blocks will be arriving in a few weeks. I hope to start cutting into my fabric soon as I am trying to get as many quilts as possible done (at least the quilt top finished) before the fall.

[Click on any picture to get a close up]

WIP: Fair Isle Poinsettias

I got my poinsettias done! I had to re-cut the middle strip for one of the blocks since it was 1/4" off but other than that we're good. My piecing is getting better and I'm feeling pretty good about the math I did for this quilt in two colors. I already sewed them into their rows. Next step: fir trees!

Linked up!

Fair Isle Quilt Along: Cutting

I finally finished cutting for my Fair Isle quilt! I broke it up over 3 days so it wouldn't be so bad. Now that the cutting is finished I'm looking forward to piecing.

When I first saw this pattern I fell in love but I thought it would look even better in just two colors. My little vision was reinforced when I saw this fabric:

source: Winter Essentials II by Studio E Fabrics

But that meant sitting down and doing some math, which is not my strong point. I was a little worried but I decided to give it a shot. Well, I'm happy to say my math worked out!

I'm excited to see it come together. Stay tuned! :)

My fabrics:
Quilter's Linen in Silver by Robert Kaufman
Raphael Snow in Pearl by STOF Fabrics

Works in Progress

 The charity quilt for my sister is almost done. The silent auction fell through so this is now a Christmas present. Just need to put it all together.

 I started this in 2012. Every year at Thanksgiving everyone writes what they are thankful for and then I embroider over their words. I've been behind since the start but I'm hoping to get it finished (or at least very close to it) by this Thanksgiving. This is a forever project as I hope to continue it every year.

I'm making another Snow Blossoms quilt, this time for my mom. It's been promised ages ago but I'm just now starting it. I don't think it will be ready in time for Christmas (this one will have photos too) but hopefully soon after. I don't think she will mind. :)

I bought this pattern the day it was released and I can't wait to get started. I already have my background fabric, Robert Kaufman's Quilter's Linen in Silver (buy it now while it's still on sale!). Just looking for a good price on the other fabric and then I can start cutting. I want to have this one done by at least spring. ;)

My little sewing corner is a complete disaster and it's not evidence of me sewing either. ;) But I definitely will have to give it a good tidy up before I start sewing again.

Work in Progress: Charity Quilt

So this is the charity quilt I've been working on. It doesn't look like much but all the blocks are done and now I'm just sewing them into rows.

This quilt is for my sister who is a singer. She was invited to sing in Austria and is planning on fundraising. I offered to sew up a quilt for her silent auction. I wanted something quick and simple using a precut.

I chose the Double Sliced Layer Cake pattern and I'm using a layer cake of Sweet Serenade by Basic Grey for Moda.

This pattern is super easy and quick. If I had uninterrupted free time I'm sure it would be done within a day or two but since I don't...well, it's taking a lot longer. :) I hope to have the top done soon and then I plan on quilting it myself.

{WIP} Final Pinwheels

I finished up the final 4 pinwheels last night for my pinwheel sampler.

Block 7

Block 8

I saw another pinwheel sampler that put block #7 in the four corners and I liked how it looked. But instead of making 4 of the same block I switched up the pinwheels for block #8. The borders are the same size as block 7 except the outer-most white border. I ended up making the pinwheels too small so I made the white outer border 0.5" bigger to compensate. Other than that it turned out great!

Now all that is left is to sash it and pick out the backing, then it's off to the quilters! :)

{WIP} Pinwheel Sampler

I've been wanting to do this quilt for awhile now and I finally got the motivation to start it last month. I'm so very, very late to jump on this quilt along but I've always loved pinwheels. It just took while to find the right fabric. :)

I chose to use blues, greens and oranges. Last year, my local quilt shop was running a special on fat quarters. So I bought 10 fat quarters from a variety of lines in blues and greens, with one orange. Last month I pulled them all out again and decided that two didn't make the cut. I also wanted to add in some navy and more orange.

So off to Joann's I went and bought quarter yards from the DS Quilts collection and a few others from their premium collections.

The original Pinwheel Sampler is all about half square triangles, but looking at a few of the blocks I decided to give flying geese a try. I've never done them before but I knew that I didn't want seams to cut off the prints.

I used flying geese in blocks 3, 4, and 6. And I used this method found {here} so there would be no waste.

My seams don't always line up and there's been a few times where I had to unpick seams, but I'm having fun learning new techniques. This quilt has definitely stretched my cutting and piecing skills. I'm always so happy when a pinwheel lines up perfectly the first try.

I still have a few more blocks to complete (4 to be exact) before I can start sashing it. I've been busy mending jeans and sewing up some clothing for my niece, so I'm hoping to get back into the saddle soon. My goal is to have it completely done (quilted and bound) before summer.

To keep up with my progress click here
For the pattern instructions click here (scroll down to find the list of all the blocks)