Getting Organized

I have been diligently folding fabric.

Here are the reds through greens.  There is wiggle room for any foundlings.  I have large pieces for backings stacked on top.  Those a future folding endeavor.

Then there are the blues through the grays.  Stacked on top are my creams and whites intended for backgrounds.

Then we have the inevitable Dammit pile.  As on dammit I already folded that color.  Thank goodness for wiggle room.  There’s more beyond what’s shown.

I have also been making bindings as I encounter small caches of fabric that were intended for that very thing.  My goal was one a week and I’ve exceeded that.  I have mynext few sets ready to be processed.  I have liberated so many project totes that I may get rid of some of them but that will be after I finish my quest.  

My quest is to not have fabric in every part of the house.  I have three designated spots.  Stash room, sewing room and my longarm space.  It’s improving with each passing day.

What’s happening in your sewing world?

Where Did May Go?

I’m still here.  Getting things finished to the top stage.  I even have a few cut kits that were someone else’s UFO, a new start and some organizing!

This is called Now and Later.  Purchased kit from an estate sale.  It’s a freebie that was tucked in with a magazine subscription.  There were enough pieces to make one big quilt.  I opted to make two.  The smaller one ghastly a whir border.  The larger No border but if a recipient is identified and I need it larger I can easily add that.  This one was more color planned where the other was random.  I did try to break up color and/or print.  What’s your preference?

While going through things I ran across these blocks that I had made from some kits I had won for being a quilt angel at the Dallas Quilt Show.  I only received 11 of the 12 but was able to figure out the pattern.  After making one block I realized I’d have lots of extra fabric and managed to cut out the extra block as well only having to piece one piece.  I put the blocks up on the board and remembered a green I thought might work.  Brought both together and was happy with the result.

Here is my tiny treasure.  This little top is made up of 1.5” HSTs.  I love the broken dishes block and was inspired by Pam Avara’s quilts and borrowed her chaining idea.  I love the secondary pattern.  32”square.I have to figure out a matching binding as I foolishly cut all my yardage into 1.5” strips.

A new start!  I got to a point where I find he’d the work I brought with me so worked on this at the end of the day.  It came together quickly and is intended as a 60th birthday gift.  A freebie called Tumble.  I think it’s from the Fat Quarter Shop.

If you look at my previous post you’ll see Bright Hopes blocks set with gray.  I inherited those blocks.  The ones below I made myself.  I was going to make two jelly rolls worth but stopped after one.  I knew I needed a different setting so started playing with a 4 patch layout.  I chose to sash them and then set with this blue.  I wanted to bind the quilt in the blue but was left with lots of shorter pieces.  I think I had 3 WOF strips.  While pondering my options I dug through a bag of fabric a friend had gifted me.  Guess what was in there!??  The blue fabric!

This is my Bonnie Hunter Garden Party.  I was fortunate to take the class from her as a NYE mystery.  I just had to add borders.

So where have I been?  Sewing obviously.  In addition I have been decluttering.  I’m a little over halfway through getting rid of 2023 things.  I’ve shifted focus to changing my quilt house into a quilt studio and stash repository.  My first focus was going through the room I sew in and moving out piles of fabric that are not on my current target lists.  I got the majority out but it quickly became obvious I needed to work on my repository.  I’ve gotten rid of a few things.  I tell people I am bailing the Titanic with a teaspoon.  The amount I’m getting rid of is not making the difference.

I did have a friend come over and we folded part of one shelf.it let me see how things would look.  Last week I started grabbing fabric and ruler folding.  I had it stacked on my bed and my recliner in my room.  I grabbed the stacks from the shelf that was previously folded and sorted that into my color plan.  When I got just a little past this point I changed my approach.  Starting yesterday I went through my other racks, bins and piles and started pulling out reds, pinks, oranges, yellows greens and blues.  I’m going to concentrate on folding the first four and keep checking for more.  I’m contemplating leaving one empty stack/spot for wiggle room on each of my two racks.

I would love to hear any organizing tips you may have for me.  I am pulling out the sleeve and what was I thinking as I go.  What’s happening in your sewing room?

I’m Here!

There has been a lot going on.  I’ve been sewing but also decluttering.  The bug has really hit me to get rid of stuff.  I joined a challenge to get rid of 2023 things in 2023.  You would not think checking off a box on a piece of paper would be so motivating but it has really captured my attention.  

I’ve been trying to keep a balance in everything by not being all or nothing.  I had to pull out the timer to keep me moving along.  I’m going through papers from my parents house that are of the memories variety.  I’ve made some decent headway but also find I have to stop after a time so that I don’t get overwhelmed.

At the beginning of the year I made 4 lists of the quilting variety.  Two are lists of flimsies that need quilting.  I have not made good progress here.  I have quilted one and started loading the next.  I need to find motivation in this area.  I made two other lists.  One is new things I’d like to start.  One started there and brought to flimsy.  The list I’ve really made progress on are the list of UFOs that are in pieces.  So far I’ve gotten 7 to the flimsy stage.  Here is some eye candy.

You saw Linda’s Irish Chain in black, red and white.  

Pfeffernusse.  I added borders.

Double 9 Patch.  This required a lot of sewing.

Bug Rail Fence.  I was going to make two but decided I want a different pattern for the remaining fabric.

Double Irish Chain.  I added borders.

The following two were gifted blocks.  I set them on point.

Split Decision.  I assemble the top and added borders.

This one is sort of a UFO sort of a new start.  I had lots of leftovers from my commission quilts.  I turned it into this Chiclets quilt.

I only have 4 left from my list.  I’m working on adding borders to one%. The other is very intense piecing of 1.5” HSTs.  The final project will be around 35”.  Here is a sneak peek.

I know if I root around I will find other in progress items.  I did pull one out last night.

Hope all is well in your world!

Happy New Year 2023

The commissioned quilts arrived in time for Christmas.  I’m awaiting pictures with their recipients.

I started quilting on my quilt.  I have a plan and sort of quilted myself into a corner of sorts.  I started with rulers and they’re a little too restrictive for the space.  I’ll do the rest free hand but am having a bit of a pouting session first.

In the meantime I’ve been piecing.  First I made Pokémon pillowcases for my son.  They were a cute print I found at Hobby Lobby.

Then I made a kitchen set for my daughter consisting of four owl cozies and three hot pads custom sized to her pans.  They are made of a cute gnome fabric also found at Hobby Lobby.  I added decorative stitches to the smallest hot pad.  On the last side it got hung up and it kept stitching on itself.  That was a mess to pick out.  I just removed the bad and redid that spot.  The others got simple straight stitching!

Right before the New Year a friend of mine gave me 24 blocks from a swap we had participated in.  Each person chose their own fabrics and pattern.  Each person was to make two blocks then pass the box to the next person until the box was returned tothe owner.  The book of patterns they chose had terrible instructions.  Peoples sewing abilities were sub par.  The boxes did not get passed correctly.  I never got my friends box and didn’t make any of the 24 blocks.  When she got her blocks back they ranged in size from 11.75” to 14”.  She was so disappointed.  I took the wrong ones apart for her and did some fixes.  She just couldn’t get past the fiasco and gifted the blocks and leftover fabric to me.  I told her I would finish the quilt and she resisted my offer.  A few weeks ago I went to work and fixed one last block.  Then I made 11 more.  This was after a back and forth trying to determine the size she wanted with her still resisting.  I took the completed center, shown below, to her to audition on her bed and audition borders.  Saturday the decision was made and I got the first border on.  Will get the second one on this week.

While working on the above and waiting for decisions I pulled out my scrappy red plaid double Ninepatch and continued piecing.  I need 150 of the small 9 patches which will make up 30 double ninepatch blocks.  The blocks will be set on point.   .I had a little cutting to do to have what I need for the small 9 patches.  I also have more sub cutting to do.  I hope to have it to top stage by the weekend.

I’m participating in a 2023 in 2023 decluttering challenge.  I have 150 items marked of so far.  On average I will need to have 168.5 items per month.  So far it’s been very motivating to check off the boxes.

How’s your 2023 going so far?

Swooze 

What’s Next and UFO Challenge

The quilts are boxed up and winging their way north.  It’s in the hands of UPS now.  They said Saturday delivery so we shall see.  I’ve really gotten to know my machine in quilting nine quilts in a row.  Now that I warmed up I decided to join a UFO challenge on the stashbuster io group.

The entry fee to join is $1 and 2 FQs.  If you’re selected queen based on a rolling list then you have one week to complete a quilt or pay a FQ penalty.  You also have to complete one UFO per quarter.   I think most people can not be crowned by simply finishing oneUFO each quarter.  The number of participants also determines how often your name will bubble up to the top.

Another unofficial challenge they do is the random UFO challenge.  You list your UFOs at the beginning of the year.  At the first of each month they draw a low number and a high number.  The low number is 1-12 and the high number is 13-?  Where the highest number was the number of UFOs the leader of the challenge has.  Last year it was 80.  She had a lot of finishes so will be interesting to see what high number she uses.

For lists of UFOs I made three lists of 12.  This way there will be 3 items randomly drawn to inspire me to finish that month.  One list is of tops that I have a recipient in mind for, the second list is of tops that I wanted to complete but it turned out I had 20 tops with someone in mind.  These two categories just need quilting and binding.  The third list is of piecing UFOs.  I was able to quickly list 9 and that was without really looking.  There is a cutting party going on to hurry and make more UFOs so they can be counted in 2023.  I’m going to cut to grow my list.

So I’m warmed up and ready to go.  I started loading one of my UFOs with  an intended recipient.  The top needs a good pressing and I have to cut the batt.   I’ve chosen my thread.  I sketched my quilting plan and need to load a bobbin.  My goal is for a 1/6 completion because I will be seeing the recipient then.

  I’ll be using that lime green!  More to come!

Quilting Progress #9

I’ve completed the quilting on the last one!  I met with my friend and handed it o er.  While she applied the bindings I sewed the labels on.  She too the last two home with her to do quality control.  I’m picking her up in the am. and we’ll ship the box off and grab a bite to eat.

I have been asked if I would do this again.  Yes!  My fear of “messing up” has really subsided.  Doubt really whispered in my ear but here I am!  9 completed quilts in time for Christmas!

Quilting Progress #8

I just pulled this one off and am loading the LAST one!

I spent around 6hours making and handwriting labels.  6 are applied.  My friend is binding #6 and I’m taking her the other two tomorrow.  I had set a goal to get them in the mail tomorrow but Tuesday is looking like the day.  I feel like I have time.