Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Past Time!

It's way past time to post a new entry for my blog! It doesn't seem like I have done much sewing but I guess I've done more than I realize.

The last several weeks this is the project I've been working on. It's actually a UFO from the fall of 2012. I got the top made and started doing some stitch in the ditch when I realized that I needed to go across each row of squares not in the ditch. So I pulled out my stitches (not too many, fortunately), set it aside and got busy with other things. This is made on the fusible grid interfacing and had the shape drawn on it by the class instructor. We placed all our fabrics on the grid and used a small iron to secure them before we began to sew. We folded between each column of squares (I think they started out at 2") and sewed a 1/4" seam. After sewing them all one direction, we had to clip at each intersection and sew the other way. It was quite a new technique for me but I did enjoy it.



I've had it on my "to do" list since the fall but had an incentive to get it done before the middle of the month. A local church is going to have a quilt show where they drape quilts over the pews for display. I was asked by a friend from that church I if would loan a quilt or two and I thought this would be really different from any other quilt. It did not take much to finish it but now I am looking for the embellishments that I bought for it and just recently put "in a safe place" (I'll send it without if I can't find them in time).
If you look close, you can see things that I consider important, either in Texas: state symbols, professional sports teams or for my family: colleges, occupations, recreation.
I hope you enjoy it - I know I can't wait to put it on the wall after the show. 
Next week I'll give the link to the show in case anyone from around Houston is reading and would like to go.


This is the Block of the Month I'm doing for 2015. I joined Pat Sloan's Vacation Time for this year's project. (There is a link on the right to the supply list and patterns.)  So far I have made 4 blocks - one each month this year, and yes, I have done them during the month they were meant to be done. Somehow, though, I have not shared them before today so here they are!



First is January's block "Down by the Boardwalk"




Next is "Toes in the Sand" which we did in February.





March's block is called "Surf's Up".
 And for April we have "The Penny Arcade".





Here are all the blocks together. 

I'm using a FQ bundle that I had bought for a quilt for my father-in-law. I was debating what to use and decided this would be a good pattern for his quilt. I added in a few more fabrics and the yardage needed for background and borders. 

It's a nice soft but manly palette and I like the way it looks so far. I will be adding in a few extra blocks so that it will fit a twin bed. I plans to have it finished for him for Christmas.



Have a great day!
Dee