Another June Update!

 I recorded a new episode today for my YouTube channel @EverydaySewist.  It takes a week or so to get it edited and published.  I don't do that part.  I do the fun part-sharing my quilting projects!  So, you can find me there as well.   Since today/tomorrow is the Solstice I shared my Solstice Sampler in the upcoming video.  I really like that quilt.  You'll have to wait and see.

I've made progress on several projects.  My goal is to whittle down my WIP's so that I'm only working on a couple at a time instead of a dozen.  Seems my brain can't handle working on so many different things any more.  So, as I typically do, I have a project to bind-Yay!- Succulent Garden has been quilted!  Here's a sneak peak of the quilt after quilting.  The design is called Chevron Tumbler.  It's straight lines which I thought would be interesting and unexpected given my other thought was to quilt feathers.  I love feathers but I wanted something different here.  Hand stitching the binding will be my hand project for a little bit until it's done.  Succulent Garden is pattern by Heather Givans at Crimson Tate.  I love so many versions of this quilt I'm glad I finally have one under my belt.   I would happily make another and another....

I finished the top for Witches Feet and I think it's so fun; it makes me smile!  Ideally I'll make a couple more tops and then quilt them all at the same time.  I have a couple of people I'd love to gift one to if I get several of them done.  They are fun and easy to sew so, maybe, it will happen.  The backside of my longarm makes a good table to lay things out!  Here's the completed top.  

I've made a bunch more Box Kite blocks.  These are from a block pattern in Quiltmaker magazine in 2014.   I think I forgot to share a picture of those last time.  I made the original batch of blocks back in 2015.  It has sat for a LONG time!  They are worth finishing! I had been thinking of starting Bonnie Hunter's leader/ender challenge from last July (running through end of June this year) when I realized I had started other projects of hers so why not finish one of those.  YES! Let's do it!  I kitted up a few blocks and I was on my way.  I want to make 120 blocks (6" finished) for a nice lap size throw in bright cheery colors.  This will be my primary project for a while.  When I get it done it will finish off a long time UFO.  So much better than starting something else!  However, I did make a couple more house blocks and star blocks for Neighborhood Nights.  Those are fun!! (See last post).

I finished my first batch of 12 log cabin blocks at my Sew Day this month.  I decided I want to make it a 20 block quilt instead of 12.  It will be put aside until one of these other projects are done.  Here is what 12 blocks look like.  Even though I wanted random placement of light and dark some of them ended up being a bit more traditional.  I really like the hint of a diagonal so the next few blocks I will be more deliberate in placing colors half light half dark.  The random ones will add interest.  I don't want the colors perfectly placed but "perfectly imperfect" as Jane said!😊   

I have not made any more string blocks or Hollow 9 patch blocks lately. I did make another 2 columns of Offset so now I'm up to 27 columns that finish at 2".  Maybe I'll make it twin size,,,another couple of columns would do it. And, it would allow me to move on to something else.  

So, that's what I've been up to lately.  Got a ton of stuff yet to do today so I'll close here.  

Happy sewing,

Stephanie

A June Finish!

Yes!  I finally finished my Disappearing Hour Glass!  I started it January 22, 2026 and finished the binding yesterday June 12, 2026.  Funny story, I was doing longarm quilting for a friend of mine who passed away last year.  Two of us are finishing all her WIP's for her family to have her quilts.  After quilting hers, it was so gorgeous I knew I needed to make one just like it.  I didn't know the name of the pattern so I drew diagrams and tried to figure it out.  It seemed too difficult.  Then I asked the friend who brought me the top if she knew the name of it.  She figured it out and then I found out how easy it really was!   Two layer cake squares, make an hourglass, cut it up, rearrange and sew back together!  Wow!  (I followed the  pattern and tutorial by Missouri Star Quilt Co.).  Now I have one of my own.  It's 88" x 100" with borders.  I posted a tutorial of my own on how to make the blocks on my YouTube Channel @everydaysewist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD0ovHq2CjU. 

The backing is a Kaffe print called Fronds in black and white.  I finished it with an extra wide binding cut from 3.5" strips.  I haven't made a wide binding in a long time and I love it!  Best of all this quilt will remind me of my friend as I use it.  She was and is still an inspiration.  Cancer sucks.  

I have given myself a new Challenge called Make It Happen Monday.  I have a list of smallish projects I want to make but I never seem to make the time or take the time to make them because I'm always working on big projects.  Well, on Mondays I'm going to allot a half hour or so to get started or make one of those smaller projects.  This week I did really well!  Not only did I make one of the Bowl Covers I wanted to do but I worked on 3 other projects as well throughout the week.  Here are 4 of the bowl covers.  They keep the dust out of your bowls when you aren't using them or keep curious pets from sticking their nose in.  I think they will be used a lot during the summer picnic/outdoor eating season.  They are reversible so all the edges are finished and pretty!  (Tutorial by Nikki @pincutsew).  Each one takes about half hour. 

I purchased this pattern recently called Neighborhood Nights.  I made a sample block to try it out.  I really like it!  Once I get another project or two done maybe I'll let myself work on this one.  

>I have so many things I want to work on.  I've made a few more Box Kite blocks.  I'm up to 65/120.  When I restarted on June 5 I had 49 made.  I'm making at least one a day as my Block a Day.   

>I made progress on Witches' Feet during my monthly Sew Day.

>And I finished the first twelve blocks of the log cabin quilt.  Now I want to make it a bit larger so I will make 20 blocks total.  Back to the cutting mat!  I wasn't trying or wanting to make normal log cabin blocks but now that I have arranged in furrows I kinda like it this way so the remaining blocks will be a bit more traditional color placement.  I like that it won't be perfect.  

>I also have the top completed for Succulent Garden.  Hopefully I will get it on the longarm this week. (Fingers crossed.)

I had a really good week and made a lot of progress on my projects!  Our challenge this month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is to work with (or not forget about using) pastels.  I think some more will work their way into the log cabin blocks.  

Happy Sewing, 

Stephanie

June Projects- I think I may have a problem

 Does anyone else spend (waste) time looking for a project they put away, nearby, so they can pull it out again really easily, and then not be able to find it?  Argh, time after time... Solution?  I hear some people only work on one project at at time.  I have never been that person.  Maybe I need to edge closer to being the person who works on only one or two at a time, so I don't have to put them away to never find them again.... 

This month I am working on:  

1.  Binding!!  I'm almost finished making the Disappearing Hour Glass. It looks fantastic.  I made an extra wide binding for this one and I really love it.  I usually cut binding at 2 1/4" but this time I cut it 3 1/2". I love the look of it for this project.  

2.  Succulent Garden, pattern by Crimson Tate.  

This is a kit I've had since last summer waiting to work on it.  I started it on retreat in April.  One of my goals for this year is to make some of the kits I've collected.  This is the first kit for this year and now I'm assembling it!  In fact, it's almost a top!  Just one more column to go and I'll be choosing a backing for it.  I love it so much!  I have enough blocks leftover to make a smaller nap size too. It has been a fast easy one to sew.  I definitely want to make other versions of it.  The store always has the coolest kits for them.  It's a half yard friendly pattern. 

3.  Box Kite, a block pattern by Bonnie Hunter in Quiltmaker May/June 2014. 

Instead of starting the current leader/ender project I dug out this project!  I put it aside back in 2015 after making 49 blocks. 🤷🏻‍♀️  My notes tell me I had planned on making a queen size quilt but now I think it would be just fine and dandy as a throw/lap/nap size which means I only need 99 blocks, or, if I'm feeling spunky I could make it a little bigger, set 10 x 12 for 120 blocks.  These are 6" finished blocks.  I've pulled fabrics for a bunch more blocks, maybe not all of them, but most.  I wonder if I could all the blocks made by the end of the month or, before she releases the next Leader/Ender Challenge block?   I am going to finish these before I start a new project of hers (or anyone else's).  I better get busy because I have a new BOM kit arriving soon.  😳🙈😂

4.  Log Cabin blocks.  19" finished.  2.5" strips.  

They look funny don't they?  They aren't done yet.  My plan is to make 12 blocks for a napper size quilt.  I have five more strips to add to these.  I started this one last month.  I need to get the next round of strips cut to length.  It will take an evening to get the next 2 strips sewn on to each block.  I think I can get that much done.  

5. 6. & 7.  String Blocks, 9 Patches and Double Star blocks.  I'm working intermittently on these as well.  I've added a couple of each to the piles except I haven't made a Double Star block for this month's color yet.  The nine patches and double star are for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I will keep in mind to add pastels to the blocks as this month's color.  I can also add some to the Log Cabins and the Box Kites.  

See what I mean?  Too many projects going at one time.  I'm lucky I could find all of these to share pictures of them.  I'm going to whittle down this list to no more than three projects at a time.  I'll have a progress report at the end of the month to see how far I've gotten.  Wish me luck!  

Happy Sewing, 

Stephanie