Monday Making

I've started the quilting marathon on the commission pieces.  I decided to start with the largest and probably the most difficult.  It is a simple pattern, but it waves more than a flag.  The patchwork is all hand pieced, but the setting blocks and border were done by machine.  I really think this part was done by another quilter, not the maker of the blocks as there wasn't the same level of 'care' in the work.  OR was the maker using her first machine and not use to it?

With a lot of patting, pinning, and a simple cross hatch - the center was easy to get quilting.  Now the headache.  *I love the cheddar print* 

The wave!  This is what happens when you attach a long strip of fabric without measuring and slap it on.  And there was piecing that was on a slant - hills and valleys!  Three sides where like this, but this is workable. 

It was the 4th side that was like a curtain ruffle.  Normally I would remove these kinds of borders and re-do them, but this is vintage and delicate fabric.  I was afraid it would get damaged in removal so all the tricks have been applied.

I discovered while prepping those borders that there were pencil marks, there was a plan to cut this down to half the width - or possibly scallop.  No scallops on this with such a wave - I'm not crazy.  I stitched to the marks, cut off the extra and that is wide enough to use for the binding so all of the original quilt will be in the quilt.

I think I will quilt the HST next and then I need a day to play with some blocks of my own.  Then back to business.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Marching On

It looks like March is starting with the Lion - cold, windy, and we are expecting back to back snow storms.  Gives plenty of reason to stay indoors and stitch the days away.

The commission work will come first as I go into quilting marathon  mode.  Then I will have a lot of binding to hand stitch down - a quilt in the lap for those cold nights sounds good. 

Because of priorities, I chose something small to complete for the OMG with Elm Street Quilts (linky party).  I found an old project the other day while digging around for something for my SIL.

Tucked away was this Bondo Bag that needs a good pressing, top stitching and handles added.  I have no idea how long ago I made this, it's been a while since I made bags.  I turned that portion of the Home Shop over to my SIL who is a way better bag maker than I am.

It's a long month, so hopefully I can catch up on the Harry Potter QAL as blocks will be saved.

The Temecula Quilt Co 'One Block' QAL will be easy to catch up on as those sail thru the machine and I may be just needing that after all the quilting.  Even the RSC19 are small easy blocks that chain and I won't beat myself up if those have to get caught up into next month.

I will be hosting over at   SARAH'S on March 21st for H2H - luckily I did that project before the commission came in.  I just need to send my draft on over to her.

I am enjoying getting back to my cross stitch and I pulled this magazine.  I will just pull the top floral in the basket to set into a mini.  It will be a good break when needed from the marathon.

The Victoria's Children with Barbara Brackman may get saved to complete next month as well.  We shall see how this month goes.  AND if March goes out like a Lamb, I will plan a get away - Cabin Fever!!

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon 

February OMG

I am using the OMG challenge to complete those P.I.G.S. and I thank Patty @ Elm Street Quilts in hosting and incouraging.  Be sure to visit all the link-ups as there is some super inspiration.

 

My February OMG was to turn these pretty blocks from the Moda Sampler QAL (2017?) into a flimsy.

I'm happy to say that I finished my goal.  I used what is left of the FQ bundle (Patrick Lose - 'Katherine Ann' line @ RJR fabrics) to make a scrappy binding.  I opted not to add another border because the piece of Charley Harper "Bird Architects" is just big enough for a backing at this size.

linking up to Elm Street Quilts

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Scrappy Wednesday

Aren't these blocks just wonderful?  This is one of the commissions I have.  I am thrilled to work on this project for these folks.  Blocks and quilt tops that were made by the husband's great grandmother and everything is hand stitched to perfection.  Going thru these items we dated fabrics from 1890's to 1930's.  There were some old newspaper clippings in the boxes which had some dates, so that helped as well.  Patterns clipped from newspapers, old templates in their dated box, and a few notes.  Just a fabulous tribute to this woman's passion over many years.

As with the time and simple templates mixed with non-marked seam lines, each block is a tad different size.  BUT her points were so perfect!  I offered to try cleaning the blocks and quilt tops, but the owners opted to leave them as is - keeping great grand in their hearts.  I am sashing each block and then trimming to a set size - the best way to work these.  Since this will all be in muslin (tea dyed aged muslin for this one), those seams will disappear with a lattice quilting over them - the baskets will float and not show those size differences.

I taped off my square ruler to help with the sizing cutting.  I have 3/4's of this one assembled and will finish up today.  The couple chose to have muslin for the backs of all of these and my favorite Pellon extra select light for batting - it best replicates the thin flannel like batting used at the time period (I have quilter's flannel, but they didn't like it).  Probably great grandmother would hand quilt or tie these, but I shared my files on period quilts with quilting suggestions and they chose something for each which I will do on my home machine to ease the stress on these lovelies. 

I can't wait to share the others - each is a treasure and I actually cried when the last one was pulled from the box   - it will knock your socks off.

I'm hoping our winds are gone as three days and the loss of part of one roof - enough!  Father Winter had guite the temper tantrum and I hope Mother Nature puts him in time out with some nicer weather for us.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon