Two Tops Completed

Yesterday, I completed the HST quilt top.  I still have quite a few triangles left but I'm happy with how the top turned out.  I cut all the squares to 5 1/2" unfinished.  I may have to piece the back, as I continue to use up the stash I have.  The top measures 40" x 40".

Friendship Stars

This afternoon, I finished the 2nd Cat panel top with piano keys border.  I still have strips and pieces left over, so I hope to use those in some "I Spy" quilt tops that our group has been making the last couple of weeks. 

The Cat (measures 40.5" x 42.5")

Last Friday, March 13th, a couple of the ladies from our sewing group ventured out to RJ's place and sorted fabric.  While there, we cut some 60" fleece for the backs of the State Blocks quilt tops.  I chose bright yellow for the top with lots of state blocks and a bright lime green for the US road map of food.  So, instead of creating just one quilt, we made two quilts.  

Design Wall Monday

It's a beautiful sunny, warm day, here in Tennessee.  Amazingly, I am actually posting my Design Wall picture on Monday.  I found a stack of triangles amongst all the other stacks of "stuff" in my sewing room.  Since I have piles of fabric, papers, patterns, magazines, bags of donated fabric, half finished projects, pounds of scraps, and over 500 pictures of quilts (my secret sister gave me the pictures), I now feel somewhat overwhelmed.

It didn't help that last Friday, I ventured over to R.J.'s workshop and she sent each lady home with a nice huge bag of fabric to be used in quilts for those in need.  Then on Saturday, I went to our guild's Silent Auction and came home with more fabric.  Yikes!!     My Sewing Room can only hold so much......

So, last week, I began sewing the triangles together and cutting them down to 5 1/2" squares.  I haven't decided on a pattern for sewing them together and I still need to finish sewing all of the triangles that I found.  There are quite a few more to go.  Here's a picture of what I have so far...

Triangle Scraps

I did finish the Tumbler quilt for my cousin and she received it on Saturday.  Here's what it looks like.

Tumbler Quilt

Close-up of fabrics used

 Stop by Judy's Blog at:  Patchwork Times.com  to check out the designs of other quilters.



 

Design Wall for Monday's Post

As always, I'm running behind on my DWM post for 03/09/2015.  I've been working on a special quilt for my friend, who needs a "Hug".  Cannot show it, until I know she has received it.  Just needs a label and hopefully, it will be sent out tomorrow.

Yesterday, at our sewing group, we began working on scrappy quilts.  I spent my time cutting foundation blocks for the group who were sewing, along with fabric centers.  This morning, I tried sewing a few blocks.  I enjoyed the design but when I cut them down to the 8 1/2" size, I realized the strips were too narrow.  The outer strips need to be wider.  Live and Learn!

As I was sorting through bags and bags of fabric, I discovered a huge stack of left over triangles, probably from several years ago.  I decided to sew them together, since there are 4 dark triangles for each fabric and there are more lighter fabrics to mix and match.  Hopefully, I can find some interesting pattern, using what I have.

Found Triangles

Foundation Blocks & HST units

Check out what others have accomplished this week at Patchwork Times.com 

"Missed" Design Wall Monday

Well, here it is Thursday and I missed "Design Wall Monday".  Too many other things needed attention!
Yesterday, I worked on the Cat Panel Top-RJ from our Sewing Group found a fabulous cat fabric for the back, so I sandwiched it and machine quilted with the walking foot.  Nothing fancy, just in the ditch.  The binding is a little busy black & white floral but it was all done by machine.

Cat Panel Quilt with backing shown at left

On Tuesday, another couple of bags of donated fabric arrived, so we all picked out our favorites.  I always go for the panels and the text fabrics.  This morning, I pieced the back for the States Top.  The back looks better than the front.  This quilt should be fun for a boy and both sides will be fun to examine with many learning opportunities. 

Back of the States Quilt

Today's goal was to complete the States backing and then machine quilt it.  We shall see....
It is almost 2:30 p.m. and I haven't had my lunch.  Today, we woke up to snow.  At least it looks like snow,
but I think it is more an accumulation of sleet but then I never grew up around snow.  If we ever went to the snow, we had to leave by 5:30 a.m. and drive about 3-4 hours to arrive in the mountains.   I tried making a little snow ball but it just fell apart in my hand.  The dog was delighted with the "white stuff" and had a great time running around in it.

State Blocks top complete

Just finished the State Blocks top after adding a couple of borders.  I didn't have enough bright blue star fabric to complete the borders, so I added 2 sections of yellow that matches the cornerstones.  I also used one 10" square, cut into 4 pieces to complete the 4 corners.  The top measures 47" x 57.5".  Now, I just need to piece a back.

State Blocks Top complete  47" x 57.5"

Design Wall Monday

Today, I went to my Sewing Group.  I did some cutting and trimming up of some blocks.  Since we missed last Tuesday due to ice, we spent most of our time checking out what everyone did with their extra time indoors.  Quite a few Quilts of Valor tops were brought in, along with several other quilt tops.

Star Flower QOV top complete

QOV Top made by sewing group member

QOV Top made by Denni

QOV Top made by Sewing Group member

 
Here is the State quilt top with sashing and cornerstones.  Now it just needs a border.  Will need to try out a few different border fabrics to see which one looks best.  

State Quilt needs a border

Border Choices

The light brown looks like brown paper, so I'm leaning towards a narrow white border and then the turquoise with stars.  The width of the 2nd border will be based on the amount of fabric I have and all I have is hanging on the design wall.  Hopefully, a boy or girl will find some learning value in the states shown along with names of towns and cities.

Join Judy at  Patchwork Times.com  to see what others are creating this week.

Quilt of Valor Top sewing completed

Just finished sewing the QOV "Star Flower" top.  It still needs to be trimmed.  The best part is that all the set-in seams are done.  Wow!  What a project.

Quilt of Valor Top