I have been working on putting the cross quilt into strips, I have one more row to sew together and then I will sew the strips together. It's coming together. The interesting thing is I started this as just a trial and error to find easier and quicker way to do some of the piecing for this pattern with so many pieces. After I had put so much effort into that first block I just had to make a whole quilt out of it. It has over 1800 pieces in the quilt and I have been working on it six months. I am hoping the next two will go faster with some of the piecing methods I have discovered.
I put together a couple of more blocks for my mother-in-law's quilt. I thought if I could just do a block every once in a while it would take no time to complete it.

I don't sew for other people since going back to work full-time, well at least I try my best not to. It's too stressful and I never know from one day to the next if I will even have time to sew that day. Back in January the new music minister at our church ask me to make costumes for the Easter play. I told him if he got them to me by the beginning of February I could help him, I thought given my schedule with enough time I could work them in. I never heard from him and I forgot about it. Two week into March and I got an email asking me about the costumes. Now, changing from 7 down to 3. Costumes are a bit more complicated than quilt pieces, especially costumes that have to have the patterns re-drafted because they don't make them for the size they need. I told them I couldn't do 3 in 2 weeks. Then they ask me to do one and I said I would do that one. Now they are asking for two. Sigh...it took me 7 hours so far this week to re-draft the pattern for this one person and cut out the parts. I will not get it done in two weeks. It will be more like up to the last minute. I feel so much stress over this whole situation. People do not have any idea what sewing garments involve. I could really use some prayer right now for this whole situation. There is more than I care to write about the whole thing, just prayer I can do the right thing and not stress myself out over it so much that I make myself sick.
Sew Long for Now

Happy National Quilting Day

Head over the AQS and get a free pattern to celebrate

http://nqaquilts.org/natqday/

I finally got the blogger BOM for February done. I like to stay on top of things. Lately, that has been a bit of a struggle. So many things to do and so little time!
I have been knitting three rows a day since January to finish up this afghan. Now my daughter, who started one at the same time, wants me to finish her's. She is so busy with college classes, her part-time job, and outside activities I said I would.

This was the week for my Color Me Happy BOM club meeting. I was able to make the block that afternoon when I got home. I am loving the fabric she has been selecting for these.

I have also been working on the hand quilting on the green quilt. Maybe I will finish it by May. I still have not put together the cross quilt blocks and I have more blocks to do for my mil's quilt. I did pick up some white for the next cross quilt. So, here's to being productive this coming week.

Sew Long for Now

I finished these seven blocks and put them together, they are the next row in the "Memory Lane" quilt I am doing. It is a row-by-row quilt. We meet once a month at a local quilt shop to pick up the fabric and go over the design. I have two rows done. This is really nice way to do a quilt. It gives you a feeling of accomplishment because you see your quilt coming together.

I also have all 36 blocks of the blue cross quilt made, next step is to put it together! I was hoping to have that done, maybe now that I have this row done I will accomplish it.

Of course I have been working on hand quilting the green quilt, but that's all the sewing related activities I accomplished last week. I always hope to accomplish so much more than my time actually allows.

Sew Long for Now

Here is a picture of how to sew the seam for the intersections to meet better that I tried to explain last week. Hope the picture explains better than my words.
I began working on my mother-in-law's quilt.

I am using Warm Memories from Moda.

Each block will be different, but all from the same line.

I also am finally putting together the last 16 blocks of the cross quilt.

Today is the last day of February...they even gave me an exta day this year, but alas I did not make a clothing item. I did a lot of hand quilting, made many blocks, bought some fabric for quilts, and even some knitting. I will try again next month for the 2 denim skirts I need.

On my sewing table I have 12 more of the cross quilt blocks to put together. There are 9 more blocks to piece for my mother-in-law's quilt. The blogger BOM for February. Also, 8 blocks from my holiday club meeting I went to yesterday and material for another cross quilt. In my head I have more ideas than one person deserves. I have been inspired lately, must be the thought of spring in the air.

Sew Long for Now

Another week has flown by. We had company over the weekend and then a snow storm. It was like the perfect type of snow, here one day gone the next. I have been working alot on the hand quilting I am doing on a quilt I made years ago. I hope to finish it up soon. I also have been putting together parts of the last 16 blocks to the cross quilt. I was trying to think how to describe this quilt...it's a scrappy blue quilt. I have used different blues from my stash, except for the 1/4 yard I bought about a month ago. I did learn something new recently that came in real handy. I saw on a sewing show (sorry don't remember which one) if you are piecing to put the seam going the opposite way you are sewing on top and then your joints will match better. It worked well, so well that the 256 seams I did this week all met without a lot of sweating on my part. I will try to take pictures when I do more to show what I mean. It's these little tricks that make life so much easier.

Sew Long for Now

My second block in the Color Me Happy BOM. I need to square up those sides. I finished squaring up the 128 half square triangles. I also cut the 16 center pieces for the rest of the blocks for the blue cross quilt. I have a quilt that is more than 5 years old that I have been hand quilting on and off and I pulled it out and am trying to work on it.

On my work table is material to cut out the rest of the pieces for the remainder of blocks on the blue cross quilt, the material to start my mil's quilt, and the material for another cross quilt. My daughter ask if I would get her cross quilt done by August, at the rate the first one is taking me I will be lucky to get it done by Christmas!

I didn't get as much done the last week as I wanted, we celebrated our daughter's 17th birthday and Valentine's Day with several outings. This weekend my sister-in-law is coming so we can celebrate her birthday. February is a birthday intense month around here. Hopefully, though I will fit in some sewing time each day.

Sew Long for Now

I have another 128 half square triangles to make. When you make that many they take a bit of time. I only have an hour or so most days to work on sewing, so I am still working on those. I am almost done. I still have my mil's quilt to start and the second cross quilt. I also haven't looked for an article of clothing pattern to make this month. Hmmm...I need to make several more skirts. If all else fails I may buy a couple of yards of denim and make me some new denim skirts. I made the two I have several years ago and I have about wore them out.

Sew Long for Now

I finished my skirt and before January was out. It was a real simple skirt so not really a big deal. I need to look through my patterns now at the beginning of the month and find a shirt pattern and start to work on it early this month.
I was very productive this last week. I finished the new bloggers block of the month block, up to date on that one.

I also finished the eight blocks for the Holiday club and put the strip together. It was so long I took two pictures to show the whole strip.

Exciting news the grandbaby is going to be a granddaughter. Pink. Oh, the ideas, the sewing.

I still have my mother-in-law's quilt to start, my 16 more blocks for the cross quilt to do, a new piece to make for my wardrobe (which is in sad sad shape), and another cross quilt to start. I need to get working before the 13th when I have another BOM club meeting.
Sew Long for Now

I finished the 20 blocks of the crosses. It's the only sewing I got accomplished in the last week, but I should be thankful I got that done. It's been so busy with work and outside activities. I could say I did more if you count going to my second block of the month club and buying fabric as sewing. (The block of the month is actually a row of the month and I have 8 blocks to do for it..oh my) I bought a really cute charm pack to use to make my mother-in-law a quilt for Christmas next year. I figure if I start now I might actually get it done. I also had a gift certificate I received for helping do our ASG program this month and I redeemed that for some material to use in finishing this cross quilt and for the next one. On the work table: two pairs of pants to hem for some one, 8 blocks for the newest quilt, 1 blogger BOM, 16 more blocks for the blue cross quilt, charms to begin a quilt for my mil, material to start another cross quilt, and wool plus lining to make me a new skirt. No pressure here...hahaha.

Sew Long For Now!

I signed up to take two block of the month classes at a local quilt shop and the first one that has met so far is the "Color Me Happy" class and I came home and did the first block, isn't it pretty in the batiks.
The middle section of my cross quilt.

The top and bottom sections of my cross quilt. It is coming together. Maybe by next week I will have all the cross squares put together.

I am taking another block of the month class this coming week, I am so excited! I want to make a skirt by the end of Jan. with some pretty patterned wool someone gave me. I just need to pick up some lining material.

Life here is a whirlwind of activity as usual with all the families outside activities. I am trying to stick with my plan of sewing a little each day. It has made a huge difference in getting the cross quilt done.

Sew Long for Now

I am working hard on the cross quilt. I finished 80 of these point segments this week.
I went on to complete 80 of the corner units. Now I just need to press them out. After pressing all the units I will piece the 20 cross squares. I am so excited. I have tried to work on the quilt at least 1 hr everyday. Unfortunately, last night I wasn't able to. I hope to get in some pressing or sewing today before our group meeting tonight. Tomorrow night is our ASG monthly meeting so I will probably have no time after I get off work and get ready to go there.
I hate to miss 3 days in a row when I have been doing so well.

I love Youtube. I hate altering men's suit jackets and I seem to do more than I care to. My husband wanted me to shorten the length of the sleeves on his tuxedo jacket and I had put it off for a month because I just dreaded it. Finally, on Monday I had to do it because he needed it that night. I decided to look on youtube for any video that might help me review what to do and give me some great way of doing it painfree. I found this great video series of a lady doing a tuxedo jacket. She really gave me the confidence to tackle it. It still had to be done all by hand and it still took the whole afternoon, but the results were wonderful. The nice thing about this series was that she broke down each step into bite size pieces and it really looked easy this way.
Sew Long for Now

Last week we went to the annual Vintage Ball. I had been asking my daughter what she will wear for months and she never would give me an answer. 4 days before the ball she came to me with a dress I had previously made for her wanting me to alter it. I spent the next day, all day, trying to alter it and it just looked worse and worse. That evening I sat down with her and my dh and discussed what to do. We went through my stash and came up with some pieces big enough to make a long dress. Of course I had to alter the pattern and I tried to make it as simple as possible. The result was ok, but I told her next year we HAD to start a lot earlier.

I have completed the 4th block in the blogger block a month project.

I have made it a plan for the New Year to work on my sewing a little bit every day. I have been working hard on my cross quilt. I have divided the big 20 blocks up into segments. Of course I finished the biggest segment last fall. Now I am working on the segments with the points of the cross in it. I pieced two rows, the first has 5 parts and the second also has 5 parts. Now I am sewing those two rows together. Hopefully, I will finish that this afternoon. There are 80 of these segments. Next I will make the corner segments the each have 8 parts and there are 80 of those. When I finish that I will be able to attach these segments to the main block and get those finished. Then there are 16 other blocks to put together.
I have also been working on piecing the flannel blocks together in rows, and when I finish I will sew the rows together to make a top.
I have also signed up with a friend to do two block a month clubs at a local quilt shop.
I want to make 2012 a year of sewing!
Sew Long for Now!

Piles and piles of pieces for my quilt with all the cross blocks!
Piles and piles of flannel for another quilt idea!

The first three blocks of a blog block a month quilt.

Busy, busy dreadfully busy...

Sew Long for Now!

Here is how to make 8 1/2 square triangles at one time. First, you cut out a square of each fabric you want to use. I wanted 2.5 inch 1/2 squares so I cut 6.5 inch squares. Next, you draw a diagonal line from corner to corner so there is a big X on the fabric. Then you mark sewing lines 1/4 inch on each side of the center diagonal line and sew them.

After you sew them line up a ruler to cut 1st through the middle of the X vertically.
Then cut horizontally (note I turned my square to make it easier for me to cut).


Last you cut between the two sewn lines of each of the four segments and...

Then you have 8 triangles ready to press open.

After you press them open then you square them up.

I was actually surprised by how little waste I had using this method and how much faster it made the job of alot of 1/2 square triangles. I completed 160 in just a couple of days. Since I don't get but a few minutes of sewing at a time I thought this was a great accomplishment! I was also surprised by how many 1/2 square triangles I use. Last night I was trying to complete the blog bom and it called for eight 1/2 square triangles. The next block calls for 12! It will be a breeze with this method!

Sew Long for Now!

The wedding quilt is finished, label and all! I started this quilt last February/March after seeing a picture of a quilt using a pattern like this on a Fons and Porter publication. A couple of months into it, when I finally found the actual pattern to the quilt, I saw it was for a lap quilt and I wanted a bed quilt. So being me I just ad libed. I knew the bride's color for the wedding was red and so I made half square triangles in reds and went to town putting something together similar to the look of the quilt I had seen. I just kept adding rows until it was the size I wanted.
So next week I will send it with a box of other items to my son and his wife.

I am working on another quilt with lots of 1/2 square triangles and Fons and Porter has saved me again! I was watching my dvr recording of their weekend show on my local PBS station and they showed how to make 8 half square triangles at one time! Since I am trying to make 160 right now this will be a great time saver. I will take pictures and share the process soon!

Sew Long for Now!

20 parts done. So I have completed 9 pieces of 20 blocks and have what 1260 more pieces to go for these 20 blocks. The I have 16 more blocks...432 more pieces. My family wants 3 of these quilts! I love my family, I love my family!

I have almost finished the border of the wedding quilt and then I just have to put a label on it. I hope to get it in the mail by the end of the month!

Sew Long for Now!

I had an emergency thread run last night.  Was in the middle of sewing and ran out of the right color red thread.  So off to JoAnn's I went.  I had a 50% coupon and I had been wanting to make something with hexagons and had seen these really neat re-usable hexagon and thought I would have to order them online.  Low and behold I found them in our local store.  I have so many different projects going, but I think I will add another!

Sew Long for Now!

I have actually been able to work on the machine quilting a bit more and I am so excited to get the wedding quilting done and send it off before cold weather settles in.  It really hurts my neck and back to hunch over and quilt it though.  I am using my normal sewing machine and doing free motion quilting.  I last about 1 hour.  I have been itching to start something new.  I have so many sewing projects in my head.  I have had the Memories quilt pattern laying here for a while and decided to pull out some material and try it out.  Each block has 74 pieces.  After working on the quilt last night I cut out 3 pieces and put them together to see what what it looked like.  71 more pieces and I will see the finished block!  I only want to make 3 or 4 of these quilts!  Have I lost my mind?  Usually!

Sew Long for Now! 

It has been a bit since I updated what has been happening with sewing here...not too much.  I am machine quilting the wedding quilt, it is taking awhile because life has went haywire.  The children, school, and their extra curricular activities have come on us with a flurry.  My daughter and I did do a display for ASG at one of the local library branches to celebrate National Sewing Month.  I tried to take pictures, but the reflection in glass of the display case made them impossible to see.  I hope that as we settle into a routine I can get some sewing time back in my schedule!

Sew Long for Now!

TaDa! Here is part of my finished project with the Ugly Fabric challenge!

The Salvation Army dolls came in and I thought how nice it would be to complete two tasks at once. I made all three doll's pants out of my "ugly fabric." I also had a pretty big piece left so I made a table runner with it.

I had this teal fabric and I thought they matched nicely. It had a sort of fall look to me with the crows on it. My daughter told me it looked more like Halloween and it wasn't crows it was ravens. She promptly began reciting Poe to me. Really? I think they are crows, ravens would be much more menacing.

Sew Long for Now!

A teaser on the ugly fabric contest!

Sew Long for Now

Our local ASG is having an ugly fabric challenge. I received this piece as my fabric. It's really not ugly! So I am working on projects to take to our next meeting with this fabric! I got an ample piece and so far I have 3 items cut out so far!

Sew Long for Now!

It's been so busy here. I have done a bit of sewing. I made 5 of the biscornus (that was all the linen I got from the workshop!)


I have finished the two bridesmaid dresses, good thing since the wedding is in two days!
(update: since when I was trying to write this the wedding is over and all went well!)



I even found matching ties for the best man and groomsman, the couple even decided to give the pastor a matching tie to wear during the ceremony!


I finished the quilt top for their wedding present and showed it to them, unfortunately it will not be quilted before they fly back to my son's duty station. Hopefully, I will get it to them by Christmas!



Sew Long for Now!