Friday, December 13, 2019

Four New Tops

 I procrastinate when it comes to sewing together rows or columns of quilt blocks so I usually have piles of quilts that just need to have that final step completed before I have a top. I just find that part of the process boring.  I decided I needed to make up for some lost sewing time and the best way to do that was to get those piles of rows and columns sewn into some tops so I could actually see some progress and feel productive. 


 Sixteen Patch Star
60 x 84

This will be a donation or gift quilt when finished. 
 This was a Rainbow Scrap Challenge project to use 3.5 inch scraps. 
 This put a big dent in my 3.5 inch scraps so I don't think I'll have a Rainbow Scrap Challenge project next year that will use that size of scrap.   And that's a good thing! 

 The next one was inspired by Fragments of Cloth at Sentimental Stitches. 
 I used scraps and some pre-cuts I had won quite some time ago to make this top. 
 Kansas Troubles
60 x 84


 
 I used red, white and blue scraps and a few shirts to make the blocks. 
My December OMG (One Monthly Goal) was to get this to flimsy stage. 


 Beauteous

Although the pattern says it finishes at 72 x 72 that is quite impossible when the blocks finish at 10 inches. 

 Making this quilt was quite the exercise for me.  To being with I rarely pull all fabrics for a quilt before I begin. To make this quilt it was necessary to find enough of each fabric A-S from my stash that was similar to the A-S fabric collection in the pattern because I did not have confidence I could just wing it as I went.   Keeping track of fabrics was a big task for me and I'm not all that sure I like the fabrics I ended up using. 
 Then there are three different blocks A, B, C and then within those three categories there are five different combinations of fabrics to use in the blocks and then some duplicates of blocks are to be made.   Although the blocks were not difficult to make I did not really enjoy keeping track of everything. 
I'm not sure it was worth keeping track of blocks and fabrics. I'm thinking it would be more fun to just make scrappy blocks and forget all the record keeping of fabric combos in the different blocks. Might have to give that a try. 



26 comments:

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

Im with you I hate sewing the rows and columns together! Love all the scappy quilts. I was just looking at the fragments quilt pattern at Sentimental Stitches last week. But I told myself no new starts it's all about smaller projects and finishes in 2020

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

well you have been busy! yes sewing the long rows together is boring - but they turn out so well in the end! love all the scraps!

gayle said...

Look at you again with all the fabulous tops!
I agree that Beauteous would be fun in a more scraphappy format. (And when I went to save the pattern, my computer was all "Shall I just put this with the other two copies of this pattern then?" Argh!) (Apparently I really really want to make this quilt...)

Julierose said...

Lovely quilts all!;)) They are so colorful and beautiful hanging out on your line on what looks like a freshening windy day!!
I am in love with the Fragments of Cloth pattern--right up my alley--I really don't need another pattern (ya think?) but am leaning toward getting this one...hugs and congrats on getting them sewn together--funny how we can drag our feet (me, too) at the last stages of quilt making isn't it?
Hugs, Julierose

grammajudyb said...

Well, I’m impressed! You got four tops together! I can’t even get one done! Sigh!!,

Rochelle aka Bella Quilts said...

Fantastic to see all those tops. Each is a unique beauty on its own. All so different...except for the theme of scrappiness! Congratulations on accomplishing this.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

I love your first pic of all that scrappy quilt colour on the line... in the snow! A great selection of quilts, and I too am very keen to give Pat Bravo's quilt a go!

Sue SA said...

Three fantastic finishes, but really love the Kansas troubles quilt.

Ann said...

Sewing long columns bores me, too. I finally started choosing the short direction to sew those final seams. It helps a bit. I need a shoemaker's elf to come do it for me at night. Like that will happen.
Congratulations on finishing so many tops. This is a good time to have several ready to quilt. Even more because of the snow on the ground.

mangozz said...

I love Fragments of Cloth! It looks like Civil War fabrics, at least from a distance. There's a lot of little pieces in there!

Pamela Arbour said...

Fantastic, outstanding! ! ! !

Vic in NH said...

Your Fragments of Cloth top is very inspiring, good job!

cityquilter grace said...

they are all simply stunning and colorful esp against snow....very nice!

Wendy @ Wendysquiltsandmore said...

Wow! You have been very busy. They all look lovely, especially with the snow on the ground. Thank you for linking up to the Peacock Party.

Kathy S. said...

I especially LOVE the one inspired by Fragments of Cloth at Sentimental Stitches. Beautiful work on all!

Vicki in MN said...

They are all lovely but your Framents of cloth one is what drew me in today:) Happy Holidays.

Quiltdivajulie said...

Oh, Cathy -- I have fabrics pulled to make the Fragments of Cloth but haven't even started cutting them out and here you are DONE! And that Beauteous design is one I've had in reserve for a while now. Need to pull it out and evaluate whether or not to add it to my growing list of want-to-make projects. YOU are amazing!!

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

Wow four new tops in the same post! I could show you a 2" seam I sewed that didn't even make a block! These are all so beautiful! I like Fragments of Cloth the best, but with each photo I saw, I said to myself "I want to make that!". Then I remembered my 2" seam! I can't make four tops in one day!

audrey said...

So many great looking quilts! I absolutely love what you do with scraps. Like you, it's difficult for me to make the quilts where fabric has to be matched and kept track of for various places in the quilt. Dampens the fun just a bit. I'm sure you could make this quilt using a light, dark, medium placement of fabrics and it would turn out with a wonderfully Cathy charm!:)

Louise said...

I'm with you on keeping track of which fabrics go where. Very tedious. But I like sewing rows and columns because that is a big step toward a finish. All these tops are great! Tough to choose a fave although I'm always drawn to the brightest colors :)

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Those are so great!! I really like the rainbow one... and the red white and blue... and the -... ok I like them all!!

Nann said...

Another outstanding and eclectic array! (I take it your back is feeling better this week.)

Lisa J. said...

So many beautiful projects. Well done.

Isis said...

Love your Kansas trouble quilt. Agree also that the Beauteous would be lovely in a scrappy format and easier to pull together. Two more quilts to add to my list of projects. Congratulations on your finishes

Karen in Breezy Point said...

So many great scrappy tops! My favorite is the Kansas Troubles--love the plaids and stripes!

Patty said...

Pretty! Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and congrats on your finish!