Progress

Our Bedroom Quilts (take 2)

Recent Progress: Top 1 is finished, Top 2 is finished
Yet to do: Make 1 back, baste, quilt, bind,
I have a lead on the second back, so these might be at the dreaded baste point. I have no idea when I'll have a chance to work on something so massive though.

Scrappy X Plus Blocks / Quilt

Recent Progress: -- re ironed after finding it!
Yet to Do: MAKE A BACK! (how did that fall off the list? did I have a plan I've forgotten? I should have been more organized but I had no idea how scattered I would be now) baste, quilt, bind, wash
Actually, I think I found some fabric for the back of this one -- although as I'm thinking on where this one might be headed, I might decide to go with something cozier like fleece after all this time. I had thought this one was a keeper for me, but at the moment, it is on the short list for one of the many babies who will be entering the world this fall/winter... so I might want to warm it up a little bit.

Half-Square Triangle Quilts (Saturated/Black and Muted/Brown)

Recent Progress: Ha, this has looked exactly the same for over 2 years.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the brown one at this point, but there's a 50% chance the black and bold will end up as one of this year's Welcome Baby quilts.
Yet to do: Cut solids (half done), piece tops, make backs, baste, quilt, bind, wash


Embraceable Quilt

Recent Progress:
Yet to Do: bind, wash, give away

Black and White and Panda All Over Quilt (for Baby) -- DONE! 

Recent Progress: basted
Yet to Do: final photos / write up / add to list as finish (#30?)

Panda-monium Mini -- DONE! 

Recent Progress:
Yet to Do:

Selfish Sewing: Raspberry Kisses Blocks

Recent Progress: began cutting
Yet to Do: um... let's talk about that later...

Quilted Sleeping Bag

Recent Progress: Finished Exterior and interior panels
Yet to Do: baste

CQG Joy of Quilting Starburst 2016 Quilt

Recent Progress: finished 1 starburst block
Yet To Do: complete top, make back, baste, quilt, bind
I really want to add another border to this one before I call the top finished, but I don't think I have the time to play around any longer. I made no progress on it at the last meeting because I couldn't decide and I just couldn't bring myself to start in on the next set of blocks if I wasn't certain. I think that no progress might just mean it is time to call this top completed and move on. The back is probably going to be conversation hearts on black, though it'll need a little work to make the yardage fit, so it might get a scrappy little surprise too. Hmm... I have a lot of red or pink options that could work if the black + conversation hearts doesn't, so it's just a matter of sitting down and doing something.

Modern Baby Quilt

Recent Progress: completed top (I think), ordered backing fabric
Yet to Do: all the hard work
This is the one that got my attention at the last meeting (which realistically is the only time I accomplish things anymore). I think I'm going to bind it in one of the coordinating yellow prints (though not the boldest one, simply because I couldn't get it). I don't remember now which fabric I ordered for the backing... so it'll be fun to be surprised when the package gets here! I was hoping for the darkest purple, but I don't think that's what I wound up going with. I think it might be one of the multi color prints. Well, I'll be almost as surprised as you will be once it's here. I think this one should come together really quickly. Quilting wise, I'm thinking simple straight lines (probably echoing the ditch, at least in the center patchwork) with minimal work in a multi color thread in the outer borders. I won't do much, so I don't need to go bold (though I do have that as an option), but I'm not sure I want to go too safe (grey/dark grey/black) either.

Waiting to Start:

• Possibly: Modern Neutral Baby Quilt
• Possibly: Arrows/Chevron/Fish Baby Quilt for Baby (identifying letter coming later)
• 
  

Tiny Updates

I'm still here, but there's very little to share -- unless you want updates on diapers and laundry and litter boxes. No? Me either.

But -- things are happening. Not a lot and not quickly, but they are.

I'm working on a quilt in my local group time -- it's kind of a free form barely medallion style quilt. It started with my favorite starburst style block, and I'm building out from there.

 At the end of the first month.

At the end of last meeting. You can't really tell, but the strange multi colored border is dogs in sweaters. I think it needs at least one more border. Maybe red with white dots? Maybe another set of HSTs or something else more time consuming?

I obviously hit the wall on making decisions for that quilt, so I started on something else before the meeting was up and it was time to quit for two weeks.

This is a little farther along now, but I haven't taken a new photo yet.

On my own I've been working on this oddblock (leftover blocks and fabric from a project the quilt group did for me) leftover thing:

It's grown -- slowly -- into something larger, and hopefully large enough for what I want to do:

Please ignore the nursery decorations hanging in the way... that ribbon jellyfish is the best thing in the world right now, and I don't dare move it. I have the fabric for the backing of this oddblock project, but I haven't taken the time to work on it yet. I think I'm dragging my feet because I don't want to baste -- and I can no longer claim I'm putting it off for being pregnant (like I did all last year on many projects).

Quilt group is this week, so I'm hoping to make some serious progress again. Or at least, some progress. If not, at least I'm going to have some fun!

2016 Goals

2016 Goals

1. Go visit Baby C and her family (I've got to stop calling her a baby, her parents keep talking about sending her to school next fall!) -- Ideally in early spring, but dependent upon so many factors falling in place
2. Bigger car. I hate to trade in our car, but traveling longer than overnight with Baby requires a lot more luggage than we have room for right now. 
3. Read 5 non-fiction books
4. Donate or dispose of 50 things from within the house (outgrown baby items don't count)
5. Renaissance Festival trip (with an almost 1 year old? is this too big a dream?)
6. Put an extra $50 towards savings most/all months
7. Have the piano tuned 
8. Clear off the piano so it's usable nearly every day 
9. Get a clothes line
10. Try a new restaurant or cuisine at least twice 
11. Attend a live performance (play, musical, orchestra, concert, etc.) 
12. Attend 1 baby shower
13. Attend 1-2 birthday parties 
14. Baby proof the nursery as needed 
• cover 2 outlets, 
• deal with mini blinds/cords, 
• ensure mice and all reminders of are really, 100% gone,
• something safer with the doors?
• attach bookcases to walls,
• fix the squeaky heat register flap!! 
• check for any other needs...
15. Convince the baby to start using the nursery (at least for naps) -- probably a spring / summer project 
16. Trip to NE to see all the family (minimum of 3 days -- but what if we need 4 for travel!?)
17. Sweep daily, mop at least twice a week
18. Install cabinet locks in kitchen 
19. Install cabinet locks in bathroom as needed
20. 
    

Things to Make in 2016

1. Make the Ditto quilt (I own the pattern and the tool, just haven't used it yet) 
2. 2014 cross stitch portrait -- In Progress 
3. 2015 cross stitch portrait? (I think at this point I need to focus on every 5th year and let the annual process go)
4. 2 or more Welcome Baby Packages 
1. Make a quilt or two (use from stash if possible?)
2. 2 hooded towels
3. 4 bibs
4. 
   
5. Complete in progress quilts: - In progress! 
1. Solids 
2. Stripey Persimmon Quilt (need binding)  
3. Scrappy X+ quilt - Top done, back needed
4. 2 quilts for our bed -- ugh, I made progress early in the year, but haven't come up with a back for the second one, and the idea of basting just exhausts me. 

First goal of 2016? To get a goal list written and posted before January is over!

Uhm... missed it by a couple days... Sounds about right for my life right now.

Plotting the Course

I know I have many works in progress that need finishing, but I am hearing the siren song of a new quilt... and beginning to plot out how to make it.

It's a new year, and that means new chances for new babies to join my circle. Some of those babies will get quilts I've already made, but at least one of the hoped for arrivals (for whom I am jumping the gun) is going to get something not yet made.

As expected, it started with a quilt top (found via Pinterest). As I learned at Linda's Quiltmania, this quilt is from, and featured on the cover of, Beyond Neutral by John Q Adams.

The shapes of blocks -- my husband calls them arrows, I think they look almost like fish -- are appealing to me, as is the scattered pattern. Another thing that draws me to this quilt is the more unusual solid choices used by the makers, bold blues instead of a traditional white or the often seen black or gray.

I don't have access to that book through my local library, and can't justify buying it right now, so I'm going to use the pictures as inspiration and figure out something similar based on the size of quilt I want, and the size of precut fabrics I'm working with. This might end up being more work in the long run -- quilt math hasn't been kind to me in the past -- but I have time to do sketches and calculations. And these are much more easily put away when my limited time is up...

From a layer cake of Hugaboo fabric I picked up specifically for this hopeful-baby, I started pulling choices, beginning with the yellows, grays, and aquas.

I could add in a couple of the dark red prints:

Or, depending how long this top takes, I could add some reds and pinks:

I think the best course of option is to plan on the yellow/gray/aqua. My mock ups didn't include a light vs dark aqua option, and that might make enough difference I won't find I need the red. That said, to keep my options open, I think I had better pick a background fabric that plays nicely with at least that darkest red, and maybe make a couple blocks with it so I can see in person whether it's needed or not.

Decisions, decisions....

The hard part was always going to be choosing a background fabric. Not knowing whether I'll be including red/pink or not makes it even harder!

I need a solid (ish) for the background. I know part of what attracted me to the inspiration quilts -- but I'm not sure I can go that unusual, especially with the colors I've chosen to work with!

I whipped up a quick mock up (in part to play around with layout of the arrows) and wound up playing a little with background options.

I am -- of course -- drawn to the darker gray. (Not a surprise as I've used it as a neutral a lot recently) But is that a little too safe and boring? The deep teal (middle above) has some appeal, but finding the right tone could be a massive challenge. I don't care for the third option at all. I had hoped a dark blue / navy would work, but I have yet to be won over even a little by my testing.

I tried a second batch. All worse (I think). The darker blue seemed miles darker when I tried it, but here it hardly looks different. The green is completely wrong, and the black? Is it just me or does this take on a Pac-Man ish color scheme? Not what I'm looking for -- although so far everyone I've shown the options to thinks that is a great thing.


Taking out the red:

the black does look a little less video game inspired (I think?) but I'm still not really sold. Without the red, the dark blue seems too blue heavy.

I could go really unusual:

I don't know if I can bring myself to work with something this intense, but it looks like it could work...

Ugh.

I can see a trip to the fabric store is in my future. I think I'm leaning towards the deep teal color, but if nothing seems perfect, I might just go with the gray so I can get started. Decisions, decisions!

Starburst Top Variations

For those who are still on the fence about what to do with your starburst block, here are some ideas:

Multiple blocks:

Multiple blocks with a border:

 or two:

Multiple blocks with other blocks:

Variety of Sizes:

Single blocks:

I'm not sure I have the time and math skills to really do this, but I'm thinking of trying a medallion style finish to my single block. 

Something like this: 

I'll know in the next day or two whether this is something I can really pull off or if I'm taking too big a leap. I always admire medallion style quilts, but I'm not confident enough in my quilt math skills to feel certain that it's something I can diy. But there's no time like the present to find out!

Part 3: Mini Quilt : Panda-monium

In theory, we are taking turns going 'to bed' with the baby so we both get nights off. In practice, this doesn't work quite as well it should. Still, it has worked a few times -- each of which gives me about 2 hours to work uninterrupted.

I used one of these sessions to finish up the Panda-monium mini quilt.

Sadly, the weather has been completely uncooperative for getting natural lighting pictures of it, so this afternoon I snatched a quick shot while the baby was sleeping.

The most obvious quilting is the exterior echo I did in the background, but I also did some tracing around the white part of the body, the eyes, nose, and on the inside and outside of the bamboo. It's easier to see in person, but I think it looks pretty good. I really like the way the bamboo 'pops' in person.

The scrap I chose for the backing doesn't do much to show off that extra quilting either. I should have chosen something with a smaller pattern, but I was in the get-it-done mindset.

Straight-cut binding to finish it -- and the perfect color and pattern I think.

As with my previous pattern based mini (Hazel Hedgehog) there's certainly a little room for improvement in my precision work... but I love this panda. Not just for sentimental reasons either.

I still need to find a good way to safely display these in the nursery. Everything I've tried seems unsafe for grabby little hands. I'm beginning to think I should hang them from the ceiling or on the closet door or something to keep them farther away -- unless I come up with a really child friendly option. Maybe snaps or Velcro to a bigger 'board' that can be safely wall mounted? Hmmm...

Starburst Block Variations

My local quilting group is working on a new project beginning with a half-square triangle style Starburst block (also sometimes known as a Blueberry Pie -- though as far as I can tell that has some parallelogram / rectangle blocks instead of being all HST).

I'm sure I'm only scratching the tip of the iceberg, but I thought I'd share a few different ways of assembling the block -- beginning with familiar 'starburst' styles and moving into wilder variations.

Whew! That was a lot of fun.

Now, what if we start putting some of those together into tops?

I love the different additional shapes you can create by putting multiple blocks together!

I've also worked up a few layout options for finishing the whole top, but I think this is enough scrolling for one day. I'll pop those up in another post.