String time is just around the corner!

 A little pun to start off with! 

One of my two big scrap gifts

included a big tote with a lot of 

strings. Combined with some on 

hand, I've had some great string time

lately! Catching up on my RSC colors

kept me busy for a while but now 

I have a goodly collection of string stars. 

The question is, do I make 2 quilts using 

one star of each color, use multiple colors in

each quilt or make many quilts with each

using one color of star?  Decisions, decisions!

So far I have two yellow, two teal , two red

and two green stars. 

 Each quilt would need nine

24" star blocks, a 2"border and  a 6" border to 

finish at a good 88" , a nice queen size quilt. 

It is really fun to make the string stars and 

use up some scraps, so I will keep making 

string stars and hopefully end up with 

two flimsies!

 The big strings is still waiting for the more needle time. 

The threads are chosen, bobbins are wound so later today 

I can finish up the stitching. 

The little matching "Strings" needs to

done up too!  I am pulling out some strips to get started.

 I will keep the strips long and skinny. 

Making them shorter would

be a coin quilt so the baby string quilt will

about 40" x 40" and use 10" strips. 

It will give a good effect of the strings

but still have four rows for variety and 

allow color gradation!!

Sewing on !  

A squirrel ran across the table after my 

last binding session and I had to sort out the binding pile. 

I used to call it a library but that would imply

organization!  It was more like a binding heap!

I use 2 1/2" binding so I culled out anything smaller and 

of it went to a string pile.

 The shorter but lovely ones

were bundled for scrap binding and the remainder 

tied up to store.  I discarded any I didn't love to 

the " scraps for crafts and sewing" pile to donate. 

The only "nut" is this box of commercial bindings. 

Assorted sizes, lengths and colors.

I rarely use them , so.. I will search for 

someone making ditty bags for our local seniors and 

they can be used for drawstrings !  Yay a viable solution.

Off to pull strings and Sew On!

Linking up to: 

Design Wall Monday 

Oh Scrap

RSC 2022

Monday Makers

OMG Almost finished April

Whoo hoo!

A great holiday and almost one quilt done!

This great big strings is all quilted!

It still needs binding and a small back

repair but I will count it!

 Now to get the 

matching baby quilt in the works and

April will be a glowing success!

Linking up to:

OMG

Round 'em up!

 We are taking a brief hiatus

so I want to get my projects 

organized a bit. Nothing feels better than 

coming back to sewing room with projects 

ready to go!!

First up my rainbow scrap projects. 

All the big star blocks are on track . 

Then I have the hourglass top . It is 

ready for the next round of blocks 

but I am unsure about the quantity of 

pink this month's  RSC will add to this quilt. 

Here is a little secret a friend and I discovered last week.

The center of my hourglass quilt is a bit smaller 

than the original design!  I left out 2 blocks!

It will be find tho, just slightly more square.  

Some lovely star surrounded blocks in 

pink are waiting in the wings so they can 

be worked on soon.

 Pink crumbs could be 

done up with the leftover bits and the larger

ones can be made into some 5  x 5 blocks 

to join their fellows on the wall. 

There are also 4 coin strips waiting for a 

fifth to be sewn up to complete a top similar 

to this one. 

 I think a deep pinky/purple would be perfect!

Good progress is being made on my next triangle

color quilt pair.  The green , red, blue and yellow

blocks halves are done so now I can work on the pinks.

If I keep tallying up my outstanding projects I may 

miss my trip and keep sewing thru the summer! 

I just wanted to share a lovely thrift shop find. 

This beautiful hand stitched table cloth 

is perfect for our family antique table!

Sometimes I get lucky!

Stay safe and sew on !

Linking up with :

Finished or Not Friday

Off the Wall Friday 

Oh Scrap

RSC 2022

Stash and Minutes to Stitch the Premier

 Well, I am going to 

use these wonderful tracking 

plans to keep me on my monthly and weekly

goals!  I always miss the dates so

these tracking actions should keep 

me on, well, track!

First up , my sewing time.

Jan  23/31

Feb 19/28

Mar 27/31

Apr 3/30

80% success so far!

2022 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:           6 m

Used year to date:     55 m

Added last week:            0.0 m

Added year to date:      57 m

Net added in 2022      2 m

So....

My counting technique so far: 

Fabric in is only purchased fabric.

Yes , I did go to an estate sale in January! 

Quilts completed and gifted or collected 

(by me when I keep them),

 will count in the total out.

 Top/flimsies will not count 

 as they are really UFOs.

Fabric out is counted by quilt size:

Queen-11m, Twin-6m, Baby-3m. 

This yardage might be generous but 

scrap quilting does use up a lot in seams. 

As for tracking scraps in and out?

Not real sure about that. 

They seem to come in by bags and 

tubs.  I think I will just be happy to use them and 

rejoice when I can use them in quilts. Their 

yardage will be included in the fabric out with no

further mention.

I will certainly welcome any ideas. 

Till next time, I will keep trying to use up

this!

Stay safe and sew on !

Linking up with:

15 minutes to stitch

Sunday Stash Report

            

Omg April (March)

 Argh , once again I missed the finish party!

Too much retirement thinking here, not many deadlines!

I did finish up my goal last month 

A great finish for me,  you 

can read about here A Colorful Couple. 

The rental dog approved but did not assist!

April will see another family pair complete,

 (positive thinking) and as this design 

is a favorite, it is very doable!

It will be a Big Strings pair for a

family due to enlarge at the end of April!

I'd better get sewing on the baby top!

Wish me luck !

Linking up with:

OMG

Weave some dreams

 

Can a UFO be called a squirrel?

This little block is called the Hatchet block but

I have always called it Weave, since the strings

seem  to weave in and out of each other. 

It was one of my go to blocks as a beginning, 

timid quilter.  I would do it at retreats as it 

was nice to do while visiting. I must add

that there is nothing more encouraging than

when others quilters want to use a 

design you've chosen. 

It seems even as a beginner I didn't stick 

with instructions. I started by  making a 

template and cutting the center of the block 

out of a set of foundation pieced strings. 

Soon, I left the foundation piecing and made 

scrap string sets and cut the template shape. 

When my retreat-mates asked for the pattern, 

I gave them one of the newsprint foundations

and they could make their blocks! 

One even used it as a guild friendship block! 

My project box still has enough to 

start another top!

I first found this in Relax and Quilt , a Leisure

arts publication. Such a favorite book, I had 

the covers laminated and got it coil bound at

an office supply store! 

This top was caught up in the last crazy layering 

day and when the need came up, it was ready to quilt! 

On that snowy Tuesday, I was able to layer two

queen sized quilts, one crib sized and the 

twin sized weave quilt. I even managed to

puzzle together 2 crib sized batts!

I think I have used up my super powers!

 

One lovely blogger mentioned how 

difficult it is at times to stitch 

right in the ditch. I stitched 

beside the ditch by resetting my needle position. 

I got out my ditch foot, reset the needle position and 

got most of the quilting done in one afternoon. 

I left the corner swoop to do on the center squares until the end. 

The most rewarding part of this quilt and 

the most stressful was cutting the wavy border edge. 

The first time I made this quilt, 

my inner fortitude failed me and I left the border complete. 

This time, I used the template to mark

and stitch the wave and secure the edges of

piano key border. Then I cut, ta da!

I think it is pretty adorable!

Of course these curvy edges will

need some bias binding so that is up next .

Two big triangles later and 

this lovely pile of burgundy speckled binding appeared!

Applying the binding was not too bad even with 

the bias and the curves.  I used lots of clips.

It looks pretty good!! 

The white squares were a quick quilt.

I used a lock stitch and the cutting feature

so I made sure to snip each little eyelash 

thread on the back as I went. 

The binding looks great and the curves are so interesting. 

 It is a very rewarding feeling to complete a project isn't it!

Now this little top is ready to be gifted. 

This quilt finished up at 56"  x  72". 

The delicate blue print on the back is charming too!

Stay safe and sew on !

Linking up to: 

Finished or Not Friday

TGIFF

Off the Wall Friday

RSC 2022

Friday Foto Fun

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday

Monday Making

Midweek Makers

To Do Tuesday

Wait Loss Wednesday

Needle and Thread Thursday