Thursday, February 13, 2020

Four Finishes

 Three string quilts.
All are 40 x 60

These will be donated to Wrap-A-Smile, a partner of Rotaplast, and Quilts Beyond Borders.  Rotaplast International, Inc. is committed to helping children and families worldwide by eliminating the burden of cleft lip and/or palate, burn scarring, and other deformities.  Quilts Beyond Borders is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which reaches out to under-served children, mainly orphans, across the world to provide a handmade quilt and spread love and hope. 

The Sunshine Online Quilt Guild supports both of these projects if you care to join us and learn more about the various ways you can support these projects as well as others. 
 The first one is made of pink and brown strings. I used a paper foundation and made 10 inch finished blocks. 
 I used a pink center string, then added brown strings to each side, then added pink strings to each side and then finished off the block with brown strings.  I made this set of blocks back in December. They are nice mindless sewing for hectic times - no decisions about fabric, no pieces to cut. 
 Most of these strings came from quilt back trimmings.  I trimmed the blocks and removed the papers and assembled the top in January. 
 I quilted it on my DSM with three petaled flowers. I used a big polka dot for the backing. The pink binding strips came in a box of quilty goodness from a friend. 
 Quilt #2 is also a string quilt.  I think I started making these 10 inch finished blocks way back in 2017 as a Rainbow Scrap Challenge project. 
 I worked on these off and on since 2017. I didn't always have enough string scraps for an entire block in the color of the month so would just sew together what I did have and then wait until the following year to complete the rest of the block if I could. 
 I used a consistent 2 inch black polka dot print in each block. 

I quilted it on my DSM with swirls. I used the same fabric for backing and binding. 
 The third quilt is another string quilt made the same way and at the same time as the pink and brown one. 

 In this one I used black strings in the center and brights on each side. 
 This one was also quilted on my DSM with swirls. 
 It got a bright backing and a bright scrappy binding. 

Quilt #4 is an I Spy quilt that measures 40 x 60. This one is for my nephew and wife who are expecting a baby this month.  
 The quilt consists of little Happy Blocks with 2.5 inch centers and 1.5 inch sides. The blocks finish at four inches. 
 The quilt consists of 150 little blocks for lots of I Spy fun.  I have made these blocks off and on over the years when I felt like it and I've been throwing them into the 4.5 inch Parts Department bin. 

Back in December I blogged about that bin and how I hoped to empty it in 2020 by making quilts. When I sorted the parts in the bin I was really surprised there were more than enough little Happy Blocks to make a quilt.  This is quilt #2 from the bin and the first to be finished.  

 Again, it was quilted on my DSM. This time I just quilted it with vertical and horizontal lines evenly spaced on both sides of the seam lines. 
I spy some ABCs in the backing and binding.  This binding was sewn down by hand since it is a gift. I prefer to sew down binding by hand; however, the places I donate the quilts requests that the binding by sewn down by machine.  Getting this to the finish line was my OMG (One Monthly Goal).

One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts

Peacock Party at Wendy's Quilts and More

Finished or Not Finished Friday at Alycia Quilts



22 comments:

cityquilter grace said...

anybody would love anyone of them...

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

you sure get a lot of finishes! and they all look great

---"Love" said...

What pretty colorful quilts you have finished there! ---"Love"

Quilting Babcia said...

Love these scrappy finishes, and that they're destined for worthy causes.

Linda said...

FOUR finishes!!!!! Well they are all lovely. I always love string quilts and happy blocks so every one is a winner for me.

gayle said...

Wow! Amazing and happy and bright! You really do make the best use of scraps!

Louise said...

So many fun and engaging fabrics! I really like the two color strings in pink and brown, but the rainbow brights will always be my most favorite color combo :)

Cynthia@wabi-sabi-quilts said...

All of your finishes are fun and I love the I Spy quilt. Interesting that a place would require machine binding - when hand tacked binding is just as durable if done right. Love your term "parts department"! ;).

Janice Holton said...

I love that idea! Making "I Spy" blocks here and there and throwing them in a bin until you have enough for a quilt! It will feed my need for something quick and fun to make with no pressure. I cannot get over how many finishes you have all the time! And fun ones too!

Pamela Arbour said...

Love them all. They will certainly give a lot of comfort to someone. I know that I Spy quilt will give many years of enjoyment to the family. That will keep a toddler busy until they fall asleep.

Linda Swanekamp said...

Gorgeous color feasts! The children will treasure them and will be comforted. Super job.

SandyPA said...

Well done! I like the consistency of that black multi-polka dot strip in those color string blocks. These quilts are so bright and beautiful. They will make several kids very happy. Sandy at sewhigh.blogspot.com

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Ah mazing!!!! I just love watching how you make scraps come to life!

Jeanne said...

Happy I-Spy finish!! I don't care for the machine-sewn binding either :(

Jenny said...

Love your little I Spy blocks, and the descriptive name of your Parts Bin

mangozz said...

I love string quilts and yours are so very colorful! I am especially fond of the pink and brown quilt as that is one of my favorite color combinations. Since you obviously do so much sewing, how often do you clean and oil your machine and change your needle?

Quilter Kathy said...

Congratulations... each one is a treasure!
I love the variety of scrappy quilt you create... amazing!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Those are great finishes, Cathy! I really like the square string blocks, with a dark string somewhere in them. They make a nice design!

grammajudyb said...

Wow, what a great testament that “just do it” will eventually make a quilt or maybe even two! I’m a fan of string blocks and need to continue to add to the parts department bins! The Happy Blocks are super fun! Way to go Cathy!


Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

Oh, I love that center string quilt. I think I might have to make one of those!

You have such a giving heart to make so many happy quilts for others.

Marsha Cooper said...

I started fussy cutting for an I Spy quilt, but started is all the further I have gotten. I need to get those found and get busy on it again.

Patty said...

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