From a WIP to a UFO to a WISP back to a UFO and now it's a FINISH !!!

 It started in November 2011 with a bunch of old embroidery transfers I accumulated over the years. 

And now it all has ended in a crazy quilt 55x62. I call it Crazy Basket Case. About 95% of it has been hand stitched. I added the red border (without the trim and rickrack which was stitched on by hand) by machine and I added the binding by machine but stitched it down by hand. 

I stitched a block a month as part of the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012

Each block included a basket and seam embellishments - all washable since this will be put to use in the winters at our house which is only heated by wood. 

Evidently a quilt by most definitions contains a top, batting and backing stitched together, not tied.  By that definition this is a quilt.   After my top was finished I sort of free motion quilted it to the backing using red perle #8.   See that running stitch up on the white spot? That's what I did all through the quilt but most of the time it is not as visible because I ran it on top of or under some stitches on the blocks. 

 I splurged on the trim in the border and just love, love, love how it looks. 

I crocheted a little basket for each of the four corners. 

I haven't washed it yet. I'm anxious to see how it will hold up. I bought some color catchers to throw in the washer with it since most of the threads and fabrics are red and I don't want to take a chance on them running.  I'm hoping after a wash it will have that crinkly effect I love on quilts. 

The backing is red with baskets.  The red perle #8 I used to do the hand stitched "free motion" quilting blends in perfectly.   I bound it like a sane quilt - the binding is scrappy - different red fabrics. 

Now I just need to add a label and get up the courage to wash it.

It feels so good to be finally finished. 

Linking to: 

Can I get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. 

Finish it Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts

Link a Finish Friday at Richard and Tanya Quilts

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!

Crazy Basket Case Update

I only have 2 seams left to embellish on my CQJP 2012 Project - Crazy Basket Case.!!!!! 

In case you've missed any of my previous posts - this is a lap quilt sized crazy quilt full of red and white embellishments and some embroidered baskets. I'm still not sure if I'm going to add any type of border. But I sure hope next week at this time I'll have added the batting and backing and started quilting on it (or started tying it- haven't made final decision on that yet either).  What follows are a few of the seams I finished today. 

 I thought the above looked kind of like little baskets.

This quilt certainly has been slowly stitched so I'm off to link up to Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy's Quilts where all slow stitchers meet for a little inspiration.

Crazy Basket Case WIP

I'm still working on my lap quilt - Crazy Basket Case. It was my CQJP 2012 project.  Actually, it still is my CQJP 2012 project. In between other projects I've been slowly working on stitching the seams where the blocks join.

 I've mainly done feather stitching (which I often mistakenly think of as stem stitch because when I stitch it it reminds me of flower stems).

I'm wondering about a border and haven't decided yet if I want one and if I do want one do I want to use one fabric for the border or use all my red scraps or...    I have some red fabric with little baskets on it to use for the backing and probably have enough to use for borders. I guess I will decide when I get to that point.

I also need to decide on how to finish the quilt. I was going to tie. But most of the quilt shows around here don't accept tied quilts. If I get brave enough to ever enter a show I want to make sure it will be accepted and fit category requirements.  Believe me, they will!

1. All quilts must be quilted by hand, machine, or both. Quilting is defined as a running stitch that passes through top, batting, and backing. Tied quilts are not eligible.
2. All quilts must fit the size requirements and definitions of the selected category. 

Since this is a Work in Progress please visit Pintangle where I've left a link to my WIP and where you will find all kinds of eye candy, stitch tutorials, eye candy, information, reviews, classes, eye candy, inspiration...Go!

"Crazy Basket Case" Update

I don't have the borders on yet but all the Crazy Basket Case blocks are sewn together. 

 This was the last block I finished- a basket of toys.

Now I'm going over all the joining seams with feather stitches...

...lots and lots of feather stitches. 

At this point it is 49 x 56. I have to figure out how to put it all together - backing, batting and top. I was going to discretely tie it but see a lot of quilt shows won't allow tied quilts. Mind you, I probably won't enter it in any quilt shows but, what if...? 

I'll figure something out. 

Crazy Basket Case - Still a WIP

 I've finished 3 more blocks for my Crazy Basket Case Lap Quilt.

 I still have 2 more blocks to finish in order to complete a total of 20 blocks.

Despite that fact, I've started assembling the rows 1-3. And, wouldn't you know it...there were some odd sized blocks in row 2 because of the bigger basket embroidery transfers I used and so I miscalculated the sizes of the other blocks needed for that row.  So, now I need to make a little 4 inch CQ strip for filler. I'm going to feather stitch along the seams where the blocks join. Then, I haven't quite figured out if I'm going to tie or hand quilt it. Decisions, decisions...

And, I've got 2.5 blocks already completed for my CQJP 2013 lap quilt.  I figure I need 20 blocks again so I'm going to try to make 2 per month. I'll show that project Jan 1. Today I'm linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.  where everyone shows off what they are working on.

Crazy Basket Case Update

Every month I've made a block for my Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012 (CQJP 2012) challenge which is a lap quilt called "Crazy Basket Case" which uses a lot of vintage transfers of baskets, is mostly done in reds and white, and hopefully I have finished each seam with a different treatment.

For December I have two blocks finished and ready to submit. But then I have several more blocks to finish in order to complete enough for my lap quilt.

 CQJP 2012 December block 1

 CQJP 2012 December block 2.

 And here are all my finished blocks so far laid out with the rest of the remaining  baskets embroidered and ready for cq blocks to fill in some blank spots. That means I have 5 blocks to complete before I can start assembly of my lap quilt. (Actually, I've got the top block that is unfinished in this photo almost finished but have stopped working on it in order to finish up Christmas gifts. I will add a scrappy red border and I'm not sure how I will quilt it but I'm mulling over a few ideas. I think I'll remove that large crochet flower with button center that sticks out like a sore thumb in the middle of the quilt and replace it with a few smaller crocheted flowers.

And here's a weird photo that makes it look like I have a design wall instead of a design floor. I took the photo from the other end of the one above this one and rotated it. So, here's my quilt from a different perspective.   Finished size will be about 56 x 66.  And this won't be a gift for anyone else but will be all mine. I rarely keep anything for myself but I don't think anyone else I know would even appreciate all the work that went into this so I'm not sharing.


Now I've signed on for CQJP 2013 and I will be making another lap quilt. In fact...I've already started on it because I'm so excited about it.

I'm linking up to Sharon Boggon's Pintangle blog for Work in Progress Wednesday. If you want to learn to crazy quilt that's definitely a blog you have to visit.

CQJP November Block - Crazy Basket Case

 This is my November block for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project.  I have 7 blocks to go for a lap quilt.

 Oh, my blurry photos!...my hands seem to shake a little when I hold the camera... I added a basket charm with french knot flowers, some gathered gingham ribbon flowers, some leaves, some chain stitch...

 ...some feather stitches and lazy daisy stitches, some feather stitches and french knots...

 ...some feather stitches and pistil stitches, some polka dot ribbon and herringbone stitches.

And here are all my blocks so far pinned together. I put muslin in the blank spots. So...I just need to make some blocks to replace the muslin and need to make 5 blocks for another row down the side.  Then I'll piece some red and white crumbs for a little border.  

I've used primarily red and white, added one or two baskets to each block and tried to make each seam different. Oh, and I've made it all washable - its a lap quilt called Crazy Basket Case.  Crazy, huh?

And, it's time to register for CQJP 2013 now. And...I'll be making another lap quilt.  Can't wait to start.

Crazy Basket Case Update - October CQJP 2012

 I've finished my block for October for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012.  

Normally my blocks are 12 inch squares; however, the vintage transfer I used for the basket this month which probably was intended for a pillowcase ended up larger than 12 inches so I made a double block this month. 

 I'm making a lap quilt I'm calling Crazy Basket Case.  So, the quilt is full of baskets, washable embellishments and mostly done in reds and whites.

A lot of the stitching doesn't show up very well but I've tried to make each seam different throughout the blocks instead of relying on my old standbys that I am comfortable with. I don't like how the button on the crocheted flower sits on top so will look for a smaller red button that just fits into the hole in the center.

And, I will be adding my block to this pinned together Crazy Basket Case quilt.  I've already figured out how I'm going to back, quilt and bind this and how fun it will be to sit under on a cold winter day in this house heated only by wood.

I already have an idea for what I'll be working on for my lap quilt next year for CQJP. Well, actually I have several ideas...I just need to pick one.