Years End

This year is almost to a close!  Whew!  where did it go:  quilting, gardening, reading and cooking, all may favorite things to do, have filled my days and nights. I accomplished one goal, I taught myself to knit Wahoo! I formed a group of friends who meet twice a month to knit and chat! Four new friends who have become special and supportive to me.

This year has been filled with joy, fear, sadness and health but the key to all was my faith.  My Faith has encouraged me daily and strengthened me as I approach 2016.

In 2016, my goals are to be a consistent knitter (one where the stiches are equal), become a better free motion quilter, and most of all make a 100% effort to make a contact with people I don't see on regular basis.

Here's a photo of a scrap quilt I want to have completed one year from today (12/27/16).  I'll keep my progress posted.

I love this quilt and I DO have scraps of fabric.  It's basically two blocks and the movement excites me.   I found the quilt on Pinterest but No pattern, oh that is special.  So I'll begin with the two blocks that make the pattern.   I'll need to play with the sizes  oh my, scary!

Happy New Year Friends!!

Pink Penguin Bags

I found this bag tutorial on The Pink Penguin Blog.  Such great directions complete with photos.  Superior  tutorial!  The pattern indicated lunch bags, but I think they are versatile bags.  Choosing the juvenile fabric was a challenge.

I made the three bags for my Great Granddaughters.  Each of the girls have individual likes and desires.  I chose one fabric with cats, one with dogs and one with Nemo.   I filled them with items I thought that would amuse them.  

I love these three and their joy for life.

Molly's Hat

Great Granddaughter Molly is wearing her new hat and scarf that was one of my first knitting efforts!  She looks so cute and was excited for the first frost so she could wear the hat and scarf. 

My knitting is progressing!  I am really enjoying sitting with a ball of yarn and needles and knitting away.  I love using the circular needles (which were used to make this hat and scarf. ) Not bad for a beginner.  The yarn I used for this project is Chaisma. It's so soft and cuddly.  I really think that I have developed a strong liking for varigated yarn. Solids are good but varigated make my heart sing.

Pumpkin Table Topper

Never enough pumpkins at my house! Used Lori Holt's design and copied Melissa Corry's idea from her blog, Happy Quilting.  Melissa used the strawberry block but knew that I'd prefer the pumpkin!

I love the results!  But I have to admit, when I cut the orange squares, I cut them at 2" squares the pattern stated 1.5" squares!  Oh my, so then I had to refigure all the other pieces.  I guess I needed a challenge. I could have cut all of the piece down but just couldn't see cutting 120 pieces down to 1.5".  Much easier to cut the other pieces to match my mistake.   It makes me happy and later you'll see what's on the back.  You'll be so surprised.

It's Pumpkin Time

I love Lori Holt's book Farm Girl Vintage!  I received this book as a birthday gift!  This book has loads of patterns and the best part is that the blocks are available in two sizes:  6" or 12" blocks. The directions are so clear and precise. Love that!  Here's the pumpkin mug rug I made using the 6" Pumpkin block.

I added the small border, as Lori suggested.  Her suggestion was for a pot holder. But I love mug rugs!  This is a perfect size for a cup of tea and a cookie!  Maybe instead of tea I'll have a Pumpkin Spice Latte, now wouldn't that be grand.

Lori just posted on her blog a project using the blocks in the book to make zipper bags! So, I'm off the to sewing machine for another project to enjoy!

Erynn's Quilt

This is Great Granddaughter Erynn and her quilt. The Bon Bon Bebe is the name of the pattern. I have saved the paper doll fabric (center blocks)  like forever!  I just couldn't cut this fabric to begin a quilt.  But Erynn is be our third Great Granddaughter so she gets this fabric.  Learned my lesson,  I wish I'd purchased more of the fabric because I had to add fabric strips to the sides to complete the back. The most difficult part of this quilt was choosing the sashing and flying geese fabrics.  I must have emptied the cabinet twice to find the fabric. The black and white checked blocks are so attractive and add to the design. The binding is black and white polka dots!

Here's Erynn

                                                     

                                   






                             Here's her quilt

The quilting was done on my domestic machine and was all my idea.  I was pleased with the results.  My favorite part is the row of hearts on the final border!  

Prayer Shawl

Just finished my first "big" knitting project.  The Prayer Shawl is for my sister Becky.  Becky has a heart condition and suffers some days with pain and needs strong  medication to find relief.  Each day I knitted on the shawl, I prayed for her.  Hopefully she can wrap the shawl around her and know that I have been and continue to pray for her.  There are mistakes, a lot of oops, knit when should have purled, but I told her that they are big hugs from me.

I loved doing this project, especially working with variegated yarn.  I may begin another for someone who needs prayers and assurance of God's love and healing, but first I need to finish the baby blanket I began for my niece.  Photos soon!

Chevron Tumbler Baby Quilt

I love the tutorial videos by Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company.  Jenny posted and taught the Chevron Tumbler Quilt on Youtube.  I loved the Chevron layout and decided to use the AccuQuilt GO to cut the tumblers.  This Accuquilt GO machine makes accurate corners so easily done!

I used the donated strips from Kaufman Fabrics, to my quilt group, to make strips and then the Accuquilt Go to cut the tumblers.  I'm thrifty, okay cheap, so I turned the fabric on the die to get different sets of tumblers.  This quilt will be donated to a home for unwed mothers in my community.  This colorful thirties style fabric looks so much like a baby who needs a cuddle.  Praying this quilt will comfort and care for a special infant.

Disappearing Hour Glass

Decided I needed to dig into the fabric I received from families at my retirement.  Looking at all the fabric brings such joy to know people knew my style and what I liked.  I watched Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company on Youtube and loved the Disappearing Hour Glass.  

Was determined to use the Fat Quarter Pack and only add a background fabric!  I did it and was so pleased with myself!  (Excuse the feet, hands and head top)  Decided that this would make a great Prayers and Square Quilt, so it will be mailed to Debbie who lives inTexas and has breast cancer.  I hope the prayers and colors bring Debbie some comfort and joy!

Learning to Knit

Divided Boxes Knit Stitch

I was determined to learn to knit.  Watched Youtube videos and was successful!  First I cast on, ripped it out, cast on again until I could do it quickly and then moved to knit stitch, did that over and over again. and then moved to purl stitch which I did, ripped and repeated.  Poor yarn really got a work out!  But my scarf is coming along.  It's too narrow for an adult ( my opinion) so I will pass it on to my granddaughter to wear to school this winter in Boston.

So far I've completed a dish cloth (my knitting friends tell me that's what I need to knit to practice). But I suppose if you make dish clothes you need to do dishes- really?

My goal is to make Prayer Shawls in addition to the Prayer Quilts I make.  Not too sure about sweaters?

Baby Quilt For Mason

Such fun to make a quilt for baby boy Mason!  Mason is the son of a former student, in fact a former 1st Grade student, Keelie.  After graduation, Keelie taught on my staff in Middle School.  It was wonderful to see Keelie mature, become an educator and now a mom.  Mason is a lucky little boy!

This is the first time I've free motion machine quilting the hearts on the white border.  Worked out so well, I will uses these hearts again.   Saw the hearts demonstrated on Youtube. The back of the quilt is a wonderful baby pattern.  Love that it looks so much like a baby, the animals and the blue patterned fabric are perfect.

Zippered Box Pouch

Couldn't resist making these Easy Zippered Box Pouches by Melanie Ham

after viewing a video on Youtube!  Easy pattern and not much fabric. After reading the directions,  the zippers were the only item I needed to purchase, so I dug in my sewing cabinet to find if I had the zipper to fit the pattern.  Wahoo! I did have two zippers  that matched the fabric!  Plan to give these bags to a friend's two little girls for the "Treasures"!

I know they will remember that I collect owls, so I hope they know that I made them especially for them.

Versatile Wave Interchangeable Purse Pattern

  Just loved the pattern for the Versatile Wave Interchangeable Purse Pattern, by Susan Rooney, that I found at my favorite quilt store.  So here the deal.  You make one basic purse and then the outside pockets are changeable (reversible) for a whole new bag!  Load of pockets, which are a must in my book.   The directions are easy to follow complete with illustrations.  I even made button holes!  Amazing!  Quilters Don't Do Buttons or Buttonholes!

Won't it be a kick to have a Halloween, Fall, Thanksgiving and Christmas purse!  Oh my I could get carried away, but then there are the button holes!

Spring Bricks and Stepping Stones

I used Bonnie Hunter's pattern, Bricks and Stepping Stones from Quiltville Quilts & Snips, to complete this quilt that will be for sale at the Tulip Tea and Quilt Sale on March 28th.  Finished a week before the event, not usually my time line.  I love the applique corners, the black and white dotted binding fabric and the drag queen feathers on the border.  Reminds me of Mary Engelbreit style, she's one of my very favorites!

Lady Edith Downton Abbey Quilt

Lady Edith, Downton Abbey, quilt used Andover Fabric 10" squares and Jenny Doan's Missouri Star Quilt Company Tea Cup Quilt pattern.  Easy quilt to construct and completed on time to sell at the Tulip Tea and Quilt Sale on March 28th.  Thought the pattern name fit the occasion! The colors are soft and true to the era of Downton Abbey PBS series.

The backing fabric has the Abbey , pattern of the printing is in rows, so I added the extra 10" squares down the middle in order that the print would not be going horizontal.   The free motion quilting is done with tear drop flower, which fit Lady Edith.  Great quilt to garb a cup of your favorite tea, sit in your favorite chair and enjoy watch Downton Abbey OR a rerun waiting for Jan 2016 for the next new season!

Newly Completed Quilts

These quilts will be donated to the Tulip Quilt Sale on March 28 at St John's Lutheran.  The sale will benefit Friendship Quilters.  The funds raised will be used to purchase materials to make Prayer Quilts and charity quilts for my community. I'm pleased with the results, and love the photos that were taken by my friend Kathy Wayland.

Courthouse Stars Quilted

Today was photo day of my Courthouse Stars quilt.  Special thanks to my friend, Kathy Wayland, for taking some awesome quilt photos.  She really has a talent for photography.  We met at Pitcher Park to take the photos.  The two of us had such a grand time arranging quilts that will be in my church friendship group fund raiser in March.  Trees, bushes, benches and fences were our backgrounds. Watch for others photos of my quilts.

Prayer Quilt Completed

Finished this Prayer Quilt for a breast cancer patient.  I used a "tube quilt" on a video by Jenny Doan from Missouri Star on Youtube.  It's a quick quilt and uses two 2.5 in strips and one solid strip the size of the two strips sewn together, in this case a 4.5" strip.  It's an easy quilt that has lots of variations to assemble the blocks. Quick, Fun and Done!

I quilted the hour glass squares using an Youtube video by Pam Clarke!  I just have to buy the stencils she uses!  The two stencils "design with lines"  can be adapted to many blocks.   Pam Clark's book Quilting Inside the Lines would be a great book to have.   Lines and eight lines are the two stencils she demonstrated.

Prayer Quilt

I'm stuck!  I've got the white blocks on a small prayer quilt completed.  But don't have an idea what to do with the hour glass blocks!  I've reached out to Quilt Club of America and to my quilt group for suggestions.  Hopefully, someone will enlighten me.   Oh My!