WIP ... And a finish.

As usual I've been working on things that are NOT on my FAL list.

In fact, it's worse than that, I've been cutting fabric for a Plus quilt. I've cut enough for 45 crosses so far but I'm enjoying the process of cut, measure, cut, so much that I'm definitely going to cut more. I think I like the orderly process and the straight forward nature of this pattern ( I'm a lab technician). The creative part is the fabric selection and the layout but the underlying structure of the pattern is quite regimented, I'm enjoying that immensely. A contributing factor could also be that I'm using part of my lunchtime at work to cut out. So it feels slightly naughty and it like bonus time I'm getting back.

 

I've tried a quick layout but it's not working for me yet. I think it needs more blue, which I'll definitely add. There's no yellow in there either but I don't think I'm going to change that. Any suggestions ? Both colours are lacking in my stash, that won't change as I'm on a self-imposed fabric diet at the moment ( 3 months and counting).

I'm also pleased that I've managed to cut out the offending centre of this cushion (what was I thinking, how many seams!)?

 

It now lies flat and is waiting for a little bit of batting before it becomes a cushion.

 

I do have a single solitary finish to report. This little cutie is designed to be a car quilt for a friends baby due in May. It has two firsts for me, backing with Minky/fleece and round corners.

 

 

I was a a bit intimidated working with Minky for the first time but starting small made it much easier. I spray basted AND tacked, which worked fine. I love the drape it gives the quilt, it's so snuggly and soft.

 

 

I'm undecided wether to wash it or not. I like to wash before I give, as it takes me so long to make anything I'm sure the quilt could do with freshening up and I like to make sure nothing comes undone in the wash. I just don't know what it will do to the texture. I need to stop procrastinating and get it in the machine.

I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else is working on, linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced

Tracy x

 

I'm not afraid of Minky any more

 

I'm finally feeling the love again for this little baby quilt.

And tonight I had a little flurry of activity, in between cleaning the oven door and washing the filter from the oven hood (gross!), I spray basted and tacked the top to some Minky.

This is my first time using Minky, and after researching (researching = tea + google) what others have said about working with it I got a bit freaked and couldn't decide what I was going to do. Then for some reason today I decided a little spritz of spray baste and a few microtacks was the way to go.

I'm pleased to say it worked fine. I just used my walking foot and a long stitch length (2.6 on my Janome) and did some safe straight line stitching either side of the seams.

I'm quite pleased with the result, the quilt feels quite soft and snuggly with a nice drape. I'm going to give rounded corners a go when binding this, so I need to rifle through my stash to see what will work with a busy front and a plain back.

I'm also making progress on this mini....sorry, rubbish late night photo. Although I had to do some surgery on it as I ended up with sixteen points meeting in the middle. Or more accurately not meeting and most definitely not lying flat.

In the interests of full disclosure, I seemed to have purchased the 'suburbs' pattern by Cluck Cluck Sew. Somehow I've cut a couple of blocks and sewn one up, I'm loving it already.

I did manage a finish, my rainbow circle is now on the wall in our spare room, Yay me!

I'll be heading on over to Lee at Freshly Pieced to see everyone's WIP's.

Happy stitching

Tracy x

 

A hive of inactivity.

That seems to be me at the moment, busy doing not very much.

I've got too many things a need to do and too many things I want to do. The result seems to be that I feel guilty if I do any fun sewing, so I don't do much of that.

And I have no motivation to get on with the things I should be getting on with. (All those chores that you have to do before you put your house up for sale, the ones that I've not felt the need to do in the last ten years, so why would I want to do them now?) so I'm not doing those either.

Result - paralysis, inertia, ennui, procrastination, distraction, dissembling. I'm busy doing all of those!

I have moved forward at a snails pace on some things;

My Rainbow circle is now bound and has a hanging sleeve, I'm just stitching down the binding. It should be wall-worthy in a week or so at my current pace.

I've also finished the piecing on this little top.

I planned it to be used as a car seat quilt for a new baby, just big enough to tuck around the car seat without having too much overhang. Most baby blankets are cot sized and that seems just a bit too big for carrying around with little one in those first few weeks.

I want to try and back it with Minky/fleece but I stalled when I couldn't find my spray baste. It's somewhere in the room that needs to be decorated. So instead of cleaning up and finding it, I've been out and bought another one.

I'm also playing with half-square triangles

Instead of actually getting on with the decorating/tidying/plug fixing/endless cleaning that I should be doing, I've realised a much better use of my time would be to sort thru my scraps and either organise or use them.

It's obvious really, because then they will be something usefull and decorative, like a cushion, that will enhance our home AND they won't be in a cupboard any more, so that counts as tidying. Win/win right?

So that's what I'm busy not doing - what about you?

Linking up with Lee's WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

http://freshlypieced.blogspot.com/

 

Fourth quarter wish list.

Well, the fact that I finished anything from my first list counts as a big win in my book. The FAL gave me the motivation/inspiration I needed to sew those lingering WIPs, so it's no surprise that I'm joining up again.

WIPs seem to multiply on their own, I really didn't realise I had so many - or is it just Quilters Denial?

If I don't have too many projects on the go it's perfectly reasonable to buy fabric and start another one, isn't it!

So, before my next delivery arrives (Aurifil thread from a new-to-me online stockist) I'd better get on with my list....

1. Making a return appearance from quarter three, this log cabin cutie.

I have been trying to FMQ this one with some YLI thread in the most perfect colour, but the thread keeps breaking. Not sure why, hence the need for more thread purchasing.

Can you see how the thread is shredding? What am I doing wrong?? Needle selection, tension?? Arghhh!!

2. This Rainbow Circle, which is my attempt at the Colour-Wheel quilt from this lovely book.

This has been a WIP for nearly two years.

I knew how I wanted to quilt the background quite early on in the piecing. But then I stalled with the coloured section, I tried radiating straight lines, but that really didn't do it for me. So after unpicking , a lot, it has been folded in the cupboard, hence the creases. I'm now thinking along the lines of 'S' shaped radiating lines, we'll see.

3. Christmas Quilt, from a Gail Pan BOM.

This has been in progress for about four or five years.

I like to have a little hand embroidery on the go, and this free project seemed perfect.

I really only think about this project around October time and mostly have been sewing in lunch breaks at work. By mid-December I realise I'm not going to finish in time for Christmas, so away it hides for another year. NOT this year. It will be finished!!

4. A little Christmas table runner, a relatively new project, less than a year 'in progress'.

This was supposed to be my leader-and-Enders project. Which is fine if I have a normal foot on and pale coloured thread. It seems that this foot/thread combo was lacking and not much progress was made. I really would like to see this completed and on my sideboard for Xmas. I think the fabric is a Kate Spain 'Flurry' charm pack.

5. Scrappy stars.

An ongoing, 'use up every tiny scrap' project. I'm hoping this would make a lovely wall hanging. But I think it might be worth making up a cushion (pillow) first, to see if I like it and what kind of layout design works for me.

I'm going to stop there, at least one project didn't make it from q3 to q4. But I think this is plenty to keep me busy, a tad ambitious maybe, but certainly achievable. Especially if I spend less time procrastinating/blog reading/ fabric browsing/ going to work.

So, that's my list, what's yours??

Linking up with the Finish-A-long hosted by Leanne at She Can Quilt

http://www.shecanquilt.blogspot.com/

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.shecanquilt.blogspot.com" title="she can quilt"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKjUIKHLFawA57Rj-p_UYSpXmAh-vygpipyQVfZ2BhqAGvI3p_7ZbUJzWJ1RYUvJgn2AlqazcGkYbKnWW8wihXOJCX-RTynMjZlho5j1L65XG-WEhjOvhgcgPgJkWHudXyTP6qcHYoXqQ/s170/DSC_0273+4.jpg" alt="she can quilt" style="border:none;" height=125 width=125 /></a></div>

and Lee at Freshly Pieced.