Sunday Stash Report - December 18th 2011

It's been several weeks since I had the chance or desire to work on anything.  Not one project, old or new, appealed to me all this time. Until yesterday! I wanted to work for a little bit on something that didn't require cutting into yardage, planning a color scheme, search a pattern, dig out UFO's or otherwise make any big effort or fuss.  I pulled a small container of strings and some paper for foundation, turned on my sewing machine.......

I made 36 blue string blocks for the Orca Bay mystery!
No fabric usage to count as these are scraps from older projects but it was fun!

Stash Report - Sunday November 13th, 2011

Fabric added since last report:  0 yards
Fabric added YTD: 52 3/4 yards
Fabric used since last report:  1/2 yard
Fabric used YTD:  91 3/4 yards
Net used for 2011:  39 yards

Jeez, only a measly 1/2 yard used in almost a month! At least I'm consistent with my feast or famine quilting habits. It all went down hill after trying to FMQ this quilt , the swirl pattern I tried, started too small and compact and by the time I emptied the first bobbin, it was big and erratic.  I balled it up in frustration and left it on a corner.  I plan on ripping it all out and start again, I just can't find the gumption to do it.

It look me a week or two to use my machine again, I made several blocks with some  old 1.25" half-square triangles

These little bits yielded 23 -  5 1/2" Dutchman puzzle blocks which I plan to turn into pincushions for Christmas gifts like this:

This is where I used that 1/2 yard of fabric, I made a prototype pincushion and tread catcher.

I think I will only make the pincushion and not the thread catchers, I would get bored before I finish even half of them. I'm also digging into the stash to find fabrics for two upcoming mysteries, Orca Bay Mystery from Quiltville and QTMysteryQuilts yahoo group.  My motivation is slowly coming back.

Sunday Stash Report October 16th 2011

Fabric added this week:  0 yards
Fabric added YTD:  52 3/4 yards
Fabric used this week:  10 yards
Fabric used YTD:  91 1/4 yards
Net used for 2011:  38 1/2 yards

Eleanor Burns book Irish Chain in a Day says it takes 8 3/4 yards to make a double Irish chain top for a double bed, so that's what I'm counting as  used to make this pink and white top

Then there was a yard of the border pink on my top I shared with my friend Pat, she is also using it in as a border on her latest quilt top.  The last yardage was used to bind my latest UFO (September) finish, I had prepared a scrappy binding when I finished the top a long time ago, but I feel it was too busy

Since I FMQ'ed it with a golden thread, I stayed with the theme and cut into a piece of a gold/tan, I like it!

I think it worked much better than the scrappy binding. I also decided to machine finish the binding for the sake of time since this is only my fourth UFO finish of the year, I'm behind 6, YIKES!.
 Here is another shot from a different section

Today, I'm concentrating  in finding a suitable backing for the double Irish chain top or at least a few pieces I can sew together.  Maybe finishing another UFO? 

No Stash Report

I haven't done a stash report in several weeks, the reason? My daughter and granddaughter are living with us again. I gave up my 10' x 12' sewing room to them.  I now have a 60" wide corner in the living room as my sewing area

Instead of working on projects, I'm working on reducing the quilting supplies but most importantly, I'm working on adjusting to all the changes and challenges of having more people living with me.
The only sewing done around here has been done during the Saturday Quilting group, I've been piecing a double irish chain in pink and white, I just haven't taken pictures or thought about how much fabric has been used, maybe it will be back to normal in the next week or so.
I have been keeping up with other stash reports and I'm looking forward to reading today's, I'm heading over to Judy's  Patchworktimes blog as soon as I hit the publish button!.

Sunday Stash Report - September 4th 2011

No fabric bought or used this week, my stash remains the same as last week.  I didn't finish my August UFO either, I find that I don't have the right shade of green thread and can't make up my mind of what other thread to use or if a trip to the store is needed.  While I wait and since we didn't have a Saturday Quilting class and I stayed home, I pulled the 1/2 square triangle patches made while piecing this quilt back in January and February (NYE mystery)

At first I wanted to make a tote bag and made two of these panels, they are 19 1/2" square. Now,I think, too big for a tote but big enough for a couple of pillows, they would be perfect to use with the quilt (whenever it's finished)

I still had many patches and made this other panel (on the left).  This one is about 24" x 19" and I think if I add a couple of borders, it would be ideal for a bag to carry my cutting mat to class or a wall hanging.

I still had a few patches and made four broken dishes blocks that finished at 5" and four flying geese blocks also finishing at 5".  I added some sashing and borders to the broken dishes patches but I don't like it.  Wrong color and proportions

I still don't know what I want to do with the flying geese

I had lots of fun with these little  1 3/4" pieces, I have lots more from other projects and I want to play with them too.  I'm all alone in the house today, Yeah! Another day of fun in the sewing room!.

Sunday Stash Report - August 28th 2011

Fabric added this week:  0 yards
Fabric added YTD:  52 3/4 yards
Fabric used this week:  1 1/2 yards - Backing for 2nd violet baby quilt
Fabric used YTD:  81 1/4 yards
Net used for 2011:  28 1/2 yards

I have another finish!  Too bad it isn't a UFO from my list. Still a good thing, at this point, finishes are a very good thing.  This is the second violet baby quilt from a few months ago

I wanted to practice something other than meandering and gave paisley a go, it didn't go too well as this close-up shows

I have some other little tops I can use for practicing some more..... maybe.
There has been a little progress on my little sister's quilt binding, I have one and a half sides done, but decided to take a couple of more pictures

The August UFO challenge is now pin basted and ready to be quilted, I think I may be able to get it done on time.  I'll get started on it after I check out some other stash reports at Patchworktimes.com

Sunday Stash Report - August 21st 2011

Fabric added this week:  0 yards
Fabric added YTD:  52 3/4 yards
Fabric used this week:  5 1/2 yards
Fabric used YTD:  79 3/4 yards
Net used for 2011:  27  yards

I have a 95% finish on an UFO.  This is my little sister's quilt on originally on position 11, she spent 2 weeks visiting with me and ask for her quilt to be finished. I used 5 1/2 yards of fabric pieces for the backing and a couple of additional strips for the binding as it was a little short, I guess I measured wrong before.

My  sister was hoping she would take it home and helped me layer and pin baste it. I quilted it with random loops and hearts with black thread and a scrappy red binding.

 Unfortunately she couldn't take it home, but I will finish it and will count for this month's UFO challenge. I have to make a label, hand sew the binding down, wash it and take pictures. Hopefully today!.

Fabric Fix

Fabric added this week:  6 1/2 yards
Fabric added YTD:  52 3/4 yards
Fabric used this week:  0 yards
Fabric used YTD:  74 1/4 yards
Net used for 2011:  21 1/4 yards

It all started with my Birthday last weekend; gift cards, big sales and visiting family who require lots of attention while at home and many recreational and shopping outings.

26 fat quarters made up for no been able to get in the sewing room.  This coming week doesn't look any better since it's hubby's birthday (celebrations and outings) and my gift cards still have some cash on them (more shopping).  It's ok, I'll sacrifice!

Sunday Stash Report - August 7th 2011

Fabric added this week:  0 yards
Fabric added YTD:  46 1/2 yards
Fabric used this week:  1/4 yard
Fabric  used YTD:  74 1/4 yards
Net used for 2011:  27 3/4

This week the sewing room was not visited as often as I wanted, but I did work on the RRCB string blocks

I thought I had made the required 60 blocks but I'm short three and ruined one by cutting it wrong. Since I'm gonna have to get the neutrals strings out of hiding and there are still a lot of them, I decided I would make additional blocks and as many as I can but this time with a constant print in the middle.  This is the print I'm using

The piece is 2 1/4 yards long, 1/4 yard was cut into strips for test blocks.  I think I want mostly warm neutrals with minimal color so I'm waiting to cut more scraps, maybe yardage before getting started. I may also get started on this month's UFO #7,

It needs to be layered, quilted and bound, it's small enough. I can probably get it done this week. I think I can!

Sunday Stash Report July 31st 2011

Fabric added last two weeks:  0 yards
Fabric added YTD:  46 1/2 yards
Fabric used last two weeks:  10 1/4 yards
Fabric used YTD:  74 yards
Net used for 2011:  27 1/2 yards

Babysitting duty was light this last couple of weeks and I spent a lot of time in my sewing room.  It was a shaky start, it took me most of the day (Sunday before last) to find my Tri & Recs Tools rulers for the star points on  Mary's Churn Dash & Stars pattern.  Once I found the rulers, it was easy going.

Even the back and binding were done

It's all ready to be sandwiched at the next opportunity.....(code for "I don't feel like it right now")
It was both satisfying and a big relief to be done with this top, I'm now feeling a little spent and  not in a great hurry to start a new project but I do want to sew.  hummm, I think I want to pick up the Roll Cotton Boll mystery where I left off, the paper needs to come off of the string blocks and then it's some re-cutting and sewing.  Simple enough. 

Another Finish!

Fabric added this week:  0 yards
Fabric added YTD:  46 1/2 yards
Fabric used this week:  0 yards
Fabric used YTD:  53 3/4 yards
Net used for 2011:  7 1/4 yards

My numbers this week are the same as last week.  It's ok, I'm happy with my latest finish, the Jelly Roll Race top.

It was also bound with the faux pipping from tlc stitches, I had made enough for the two green & purple quilts.  The FMQ'ng did get better as I went along,

Not to bad looking on the back either

I also pulled some Christmas fabric from the stash and made several bundles, I just can't decide with fabric grouping to start with or which pattern.  I thought maybe a double irish chain with these

Or Mary's Churn dash stars with these other fabrics

This group of fabrics is my least favorite, I can't even think of a pattern for them

I also grouped these darker fabrics, which are pretty nice but I can't picture them together in any particular quilt design

I'll make up my mind soon, after finishing those two quilts, I'm eager to get started with some fresh piecing.  Although, while stash diving, I got to tidy up the sewing room a bit and found some UFO's that should be worked on, the last UFO I worked on  from Judy's UFO challenge was March....That makes me 4 months behind. Maybe I can squeeze one more finish this month?  I hope so!  Finishing a project feels just as good as starting a new one.

Sunday Stash Report - July 10th 2011

Fabric added this week:  0 yards
Fabric added YTD:  46 1/2 yards
Fabric used this week:  0 yards
Fabric used YTD:  53 3/4 yards
Net used for 2011:  7 1/4 yards

I miss my sewing room! It's been either busy or TOO HOT since last week to be in there (no AC and fans are not enough). I  now understand the Christmas in July fad, it makes sense to fantasize about the cool (some places cold) weather in December. 
On Sunday, I quilted a few rows on the Jelly roll race quilt with leaves.  They look somewhat decent on the front

Bu the back shows the true nature of my FMQ skills

After my wonky swirls from the last quilt, this is my second attempt at a discernible pattern.  I'm thinking I tried so hard to not cross or connect lines while meandering on my previous quilts that now I'm struggling to do the opposite.  Good thing there is plenty of rows on this quilt, that should give me enough practice.

I hope to get a few more rows quilted today if not all and then plan on pulling some fabric for a new project, a Christmas in July project???  Very possible!   I've never made a holiday themed quilt, this is a as good time as any to correct that.  Better finish my coffee and get started, I have snowflakes, Santa, reindeer, snow capped ginger houses and other winter-y characters to dig out!

Sunday Stash Report - July 3rd 2011

Fabric added this week:  0 yards
Fabric added YTD:  46 1/2 yards
Fabric used this week:  9 yards for 2 backings, 2 yards binding
Fabric used YTD:  53 3/4 yards
Net used for 2011:  7 1/4 yards

I'm so excited about my usage numbers, I found one of the lost notebooks and figured out I had not counted all the fabric I used (aka cut) for both the Courthouse Step quilt and the Jelly roll race. This week I'm adjusting for one of the backings and binding , and reporting actual usage as I prepared the backing for the Jelly roll top and a mock pipping/binding for both quilts. I'm back on the black, sweet!.

Speaking of mock pipping, I tried  this tutorial at TLC stitches  and love the results. It's very nice and neat, specially because it allows for decent looking machine sewn binding, but the time saved by not hand sewing is taken by the extra steps.  Not enough sewing time in my life and  I don't particularly care for the extra work.   Overall, I'm happy that I tried it. 

With that said, Courthouse steps is done, washed and ready to go home with the little peanut!.

.  Yesterday while in my Saturday Quilting Group class, I layered and pin basted the Jelly roll race top and it's now in the sewing room waiting for me to start the quilting. The idea is to try a different pattern on each strip but I'm getting cold feet now.  I definitely do not want to stitch in the ditch but it's a lot of rows and I want it done this weekend if possible. 
Of course, I'm going to give myself a couple of hours this morning to browse other stash reports at Judy's Patchworktimes.com , then get started with finishing my quilt.  I know I'll find lots of inspiration and good company!

PS. I've been trying to find a reply to comment button but I guess it doesn't exist since I couldn't find one.  I finally took the time to really explore blogger and found where I was supposed to fill in my email address and reply from there.... I've only been blogging for a few years now, jeeezzzeee!  I have more work to do before I get in the sewing room this morning!

It Feels Good to be Back

Fabric Added since my last post:  38 yards

Fabric added YTD:  46 1/2 yards

Fabric used since my last post:  10 yards (guess-estimate)

Fabic used YTD:  42 3/4 yards

Net used for 2011:  -3 3/4 yards

April 10th, that's the last time I had a Sunday Stash Report, didn't realize it's been so long.  I lost my entire hard drive to a Trojan virus a few weeks ago, (I had already been making without my camera) and  with it the motivation to post and as a side effect, lost track of time.  The quilting was sporadic for a little bit and my sewing room was neglected.  Of course, since I wasn't sewing, I had to shop for fabric. Hence the 38 yards.  I left off at trying to finish my (March I believe) UFO challenge and only got as far as pinning the layers together and cross hatched quilted on the chains

Then, I was taken our of my stupor by my Saturday Quilting group. a Jelly roll race project was scheduled in and I became excited about sewing again.  I selected purple and green for my project and started cutting fabric, I did write down the yardage used as I was going along, then lost my notepad. It must be buried under the new fabric LOL.  If I find it soon I'll adjust the fabric used on my next report. 

I loved the fabric combo so much that I kept cutting strips and turned the strips into these blocks then a finished top.

It's Courthouse square pattern from Another Can of Worms book by Debbie Caffrey.  It was fun and simple to make.  The little peanut loved and claimed it for herself, she kept saying:  "my blanket, my blanket".  So I dropped all other projects and intentions and free motion quilted it with wonky (very un-intentional) swirls.

Here's a corner

The plan for today is to attach the binding and finish this baby so that the little peanut can start using it right away.  It feels good to be back.!

Sunday Stash Report - April 10th 2011

Fabric added this week:  0 yards
Fabric added YTD:  8 1/2 yards
Fabric used this week: 3 1/2 yards
Fabric used YTD:  32 3/4 yards
Net used for 2011:  24 1/4 yards

I'm so prod of myself, I finished the two Easter table runners from last year.  It took a few  strips for the border, backing and binding for a total of 2 yards used.

February's UFO challenge was also finished to where I'm left with hand sewing two sides of binding,  don't remember if I counted the backing yet, but it turned out too short and had to add a couple of 10" strips plus the binding for an additional 1 1/2 yards used.

Honestly? I'm just guesstimating how much fabric I used, it was written down on a now lost piece of paper, but  I'm finding that it's more exciting and satisfying to have finished a project than to have the exact measurements of how much fabric I used, the fabric is gone from the shelves! That feels great!

There is still some playing with the pastel nine patches

It could possibly be a finish top by next weekend, I'll certainly will try! 

Sunday Stash Report - April 3rd 2011

Fabric added this week:  0 yards
Fabric added YTD:  8 1/2 yards
Fabric used this week:   1 1/4 yards
Fabric used YTD:  29 1/4 yards
Net Used for 2011:  20 3/4 yards

I had so much fun working with all pastel colors last week and wanted to keep playing with them.  I've worked on scrappy nine patch blocks every now and then, accumulating them for a future baby quilt.  I pulled them out of their baggie and started planning and playing

The patches are so cute and happy! 5 Fat quarters of 5 different prints were cut into 5" squares, I hope to have enough blocks to make a 45" x 65" quilt.  I'm also setting up my machine to start quilting patchworktimes.com UFO challenge #10 (it was layered and pin basted yesterday), it's February's UFO but I'm determined to finish it by next weekend.
To warm up for the UFO's quilting, I'll be quilting these runners from last year

I know, a little ambitious, but these colors put me in a good and positive mood, plus I need the practice.  April promises to be a fun month!.   

Sunday Stash Report - March 27th 2011

Fabric added this week:  5 1/2 yards
Fabric added YTD:  8 1/2 yards
Fabric used this week 3 3/4 yards
Fabric used YTD: 28 yards
Net used for 2011:  19 1/2 yards

On Tuesday, I realized I had forgotten  another niece was having a Baby Shower this Saturday(yesterday) Typical me, I waited to the last minute. Soooo I whipped up a baby quilt in record time! Started it Wednesday afternoon, a Trip Around the World top made in an couple of hours.  Left it alone on Thursday and Friday (I had overnight babysitting duty for the little peanut) and back to layer, quilt, bind and label on Saturday morning.

Learned a lot from this little project.  I wanted to make a quilt without using a neutral color such as white, tan or cream.  It kind of worked but I didn't think about that pink being repeated on the border and how it blends with the top.

Don't use a stripe fabric unless you have time to rip out patches with the lines going on a different direction.

 The label should have been made with a solid thread, the variegated thread worked great for the diagonal quilting, not so much for the label. 

Final lesson, machine binding should not be attempted when in a rush and having three people looking over your shoulder while tapping their foot and switching from pointedly looking at their watch and at you with dart shooting out of their eyes. I loved every minute of it!, I mean, the quilting not my sisters being mean to me. 
My well earned reward was 4 1/2 yards of white on white, (LOL) and one yard of a purple print.  I do need them for my next project!