Scraps that Keep on Giving

The color is still orange for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I've already made a donation quilt top (probably for Wrap-a-Smile when finished) with most of my orange scraps.  I did have a few more orange scraps so thought I'd try 3.5 inch "spoolin' around" leaders and enders. I've found leaders and enders of this type really don't work for me but I will continue with the small spools as a project by themselves.   I can't wait to see what the color will be for April now that I've more or less sorted my scraps.  January was pink and I finished a donation top for Wrap-a-Smile.


February's color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge was purple. I didn't think I had many purple scraps so didn't participate much in February. Instead I sorted all my scraps into color groups. Then I did find I had more purple than I thought. I pieced about 26-  6.5 inch crumb blocks.

And now I'm turning the 6.5 inch crumb blocks into 10.5 inch (10 inch finished) Puss in the Corner blocks.   It has been my intention to turn all my scraps into donation quilts so when I read about the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge  I decided this quilt would go toward one of the sponsored charities - Quilty Hugs for Happy Chemo. I think it will finish at 50x60.

I'm linking up to Rainbow Scrap Challenge to show off my orange spools If you want to join the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge see sidebar for button.   They are also accepting quilts for Quilts Without Borders.

UFO Is Now a FO

63x79

Quilt made from swap of red, white and one other color blocks. 

Freemotion quilted with gray thread flowers in each block. Sashing has straight line quilting. 

Happy Bird backing and polka dot binding. 

 Black thread used in the bobbin. 

Another UFO is finished and I'm as happy as those birds! 

Since it's a finish and it's Friday I'm linking up at Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it Up Friday

And, Can I get a Whoop, Whoop? (Another linky party at Confessions of a Fabric Addict). 



Edited March 30: This was my goal for March (see goal post)  for A Lovely Year of Finishes so I'm linking up to the linky party of finishes.   See sidebar for link if you'd like to set a goal and join A Lovely Year of Finishes in April.

Does Size Matter? I'm Fine with 1.5 Inches! In Fact, I'm Having Fun!

A few times a year I participate in a 3 inch 9 patch swap. These are some of the ones I'll be swapping in April.

Since last year I've been making them into 5 inch Sister's Choice blocks with blue points and wow background.  I now have 112 blocks and hope to someday make a queen-sized quilt. 

On another list there was a postage stamp swap. Yes, I swapped 25 sets of 50 1.5 inch squares! I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with them but my 4 year old grandson helped me sort them into color groups and then I sewed them together into 7x7 blocks.  I put all the little novelty/I Spy type fabrics into a block of their own for a tiny I Spy doll quilt.  The rest of these might go toward a rainbow type postage stamp quilt.

Then there are blocks of black, white and gray and a couple of red blocks...so maybe these will go toward a black, white and red quilt or the red will go into the rainbow quilt and I'll have a separate black/white quilt.

Most ladies who swapped  must prefer blue or brown since I was able to make 4 blocks of each color. 

 I'm definitely going to make a separate brown/cream quilt. I like these squares the most.

And now I've cut up a lot of my small  (and old) pieces of fabric into 1.5 inch strips for a spools strip swap with ladies on yet another list.

To see what others have on their Design Walls, Floors, etc...visit Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times!

Happy, not Angry Birds, Are on the Back

This is my UFO I wanted to finish by the end of March. The blocks were exchanged in a "Black, White and One Other Color Swap" last year. I had to make more blocks to finish at the size I wanted. 

I finally got around to finishing up the quilting today.  I used gray thread on the top and black thread in the bobbin. Every once in a while I can see some black blobs on top like in this flower. I'm not sure why that happens - I only see it on a few flowers.

Happy Birds (not those Angry Birds) are on the back - black, white and all sorts of other colors. And now it's time to relax on the couch and work on hand stitching the binding because it's Slow Stitching Sunday! Visit Kathy's Quilts to see what others are doing on this slow stitching St. Patrick's Day.   I'm mostly Irish so I should be wearing something green, eating something green and drinking something instead of sewing. Maybe I'll have a glass of homemade wine while I stitch and listen to some Irish music instead.  Oh, and I just noticed I am wearing a green shirt.

I'm also checking in mid-month at A Lovely Year of Finishes since this was the March project to finish.

Crumb Snatchers Snatch Some Crumbs

I gave my 8 year old granddaughters a pile of scraps to play with today and they had fun stitching them together on their mini Janomes. 

Orange Scrap Challenge

The challenge is to use orange scraps this month.  I finished 4 more crumb stars and have about reached the end of my orange scraps. I'm actually surprised I had so much orange.

Twelve -12 inch stars is enough for a donation quilt for a child.  I've got the top finished but don't know when I'll get it quilted.  It will go to Wrap-A-Smile or Wrap-Them-in-Love.  I've challenged myself to see how many donation quilts I can get from scraps.


To see how others are using their orange scraps this month visit Rainbow Scrap Challenge at SoScrappy. 

Slouchy

I finished a slouchy beanie from some yarn in my stash. Mine is supposed to look like the white one on the cover. I had to really fiddle with the pattern to get it even close to the head size it was supposed to be. It called for a K crochet hook and after trying a J and then and I - I settled for the I hook and then followed the directions for the smaller head size.

My 8 year old granddaughters (who both have BIG HEADS) volunteered to be models.

Both girls want me to make them one.  We'll see.  I do have some pink yarn. Hope I don't have as many problems with the children's patterns as I did with this one. 

Next crochet project will be socks. I bought yarn and pattern for them over a year ago but been too afraid to give them a try. 

Linking to: 

Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts

Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

And Then There Were Eight...

...crumby orange stars.  If I had any kind of design wall I would show last week's stars as well as this week's stars all in one picture.  (Here's where I wish upon a star).  These are 12 inch stars and will go into a donation quilt for Wrap-A-Smile.  I think I have enough orange scraps for 4 more stars. (Surprise, surprise - I haven't been an orange admirer since the 70s when orange/peach/apricot painted walls were in vogue). Orange is this month's color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Join us if you have some orange scraps. There's a linky party so you can show off what gorgeous orangeness you whip up.

Crazy Things

Crazy Basket Case Update 

My CQJP 2012 Project - A Lap Quilt

I've finally completed the embroidery on all the joining seams. I've also added a six inch border all around in red. Since this is a lap quilt I've now got it pinned to batting and backing.  I then stitched on some trim all around with a running stitch in red perle #8.

A long time ago I found some red basket print fabric to use for the backing.

 I had a difficult time deciding which was the right and wrong side of the trim. I stitched the trim on through all 3 layers - top, batting, backing.  I need to anchor the top of the trim somehow. I will probably put a french knot in white just through the trim and border fabrics only so it doesn't show on the back.

 I was trying to decide if I should add rick rack over the little ridge on the trim. I'm still not sure but probably will.

 I was trying to decide how to quilt it. (Most quilt shows won't take tied quilts so just in case I get brave some day I decided I wouldn't tie or tack it and would use batting.) I experimented a little bit with just doing a running stitch in some of the blank spaces here and there in red perle #8. It doesn't show on the back much at all which is what I wanted. I'm going to rip what I've done here out and start over because...

This has been a long WIP so I'm linking up at Pintangle's WIP Wednesday - a blog full inspiration, eye candy, tutorials and other crazy things.

This is my March block for my CQJP 2013 Project. It's for another lap quilt called Crazy Cravings.  (Looks like there's a stray thread down in the lower right. Somehow I always have stray threads in most of my photos).  The colors will be mostly blue, pink, cream and browns.

And here's my progress on Crazy Cravings for the first quarter of 2013. I've been working on my block for April but I'll leave that for another post. I'm hungry for some dessert and coffee now!

Orange

Knock, Knock!

Who's there?

Orange.

Orange who?

Orange you glad there's a RSC 2013 so you are challenged to use up your orange scraps? 

Black, White and One Other Color

My goal for March for A Lovely Year of Finishes  is to get the UFO hanging out in the snow finished. The top consists of 12 inch blocks swapped last year (or was it the year before?). Everyone had to swap a block of choice that used black, white and one other color of choice.  They didn't look like they went together at all when I received them back but after I added the sashing I actually love it.  In order to have enough for the size quilt I wanted I made 8 of the blocks - 12 were swapped.   I really like sampler quilts.

To learn more about A Lovely Year of Finishes click on button on my sidebar. Participation really does help accomplish goals.

UFO Is Now FO !

 I participated in a blue double 4 patch swap many, many years ago.  Finally, they are now a quilt - 72x80.
I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with it....maybe put it in the comfort quilt pile for giving someone in a time of need. Or, I could give it as a wedding gift since I just heard my niece will be getting married sometime this year. Or, I could put it in the Christmas gift pile.  I'm just glad it's finished.

 I used a variegated blue thread for quilting.  First I did straight lines on the diagonal through the 2 inch patches.  Then I freemotion quilted some eight petaled flowers through the 4 inch patches.

  I used a soft sheet on the back - blue, of course. I admit it came from the thrift store and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it although the quilt police may have a warrant out for my arrest. You can see the free motion flower quilting better on the back.

It's cold outside...which makes for good quilt weather inside!

Linking up to:
Finish it Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts
FMQ Friday at The Free Motion Quilting Project
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

For some great inspiration give them all a visit.