May 2026- Memorial Day Weekend, Project Update

 I'm excited about a couple of new starts and my progress on a couple of other projects.  I had very little sewing time in April/early May with my Mom here so I'm making up for it now.  My Mom has gone back to live with my brother for a while.  I'll sew as much as I can until she comes back here.  I've found that even though she is easy to care for it definitely changes my routine and takes a lot of time.  I'm sure a lot of you are nodding your head.  Here's my update from the beginning of the month and some of the things I'll be working on in June.  

1. I finished binding Lupine & Laughter.  It looks just like the last photo I took in my previous post and it's my display quilt on my upcoming YouTube video.  I LOVE IT!  I added two extra borders to Bonnie's layout so it finishes at 96 x 96 and contains 2381 pieces.  

2.  I've made more string blocks.  I'm up to 20, enough for a twin size quilt measuring 64 x 80 without borders.  I might stop there temporarily, make the twin quilt, and then come back to making more later.  They are 16" finished.  I don't have a current picture of them all on the design wall but they are making a nice size pile in the pizza box.  

3.  My Disappearing Hour Glass quilt top is done.   I ordered fabric for the backing because I didn't want a pieced backing for this one.  I thought about several options but none of them appealed to me.  There were 2 bolts that had enough for a backing but the rest of them would mean extra piecing.  I wanted something more dramatic for this top.  It's a long story.  

4.  Succulent Garden has been waiting it's turn to get back on the design wall....

5.  Making Bowl Covers, also not yet.  Maybe this weekend?? Now that's a great goal! 

6.  Now for NEW STARTS!  I started 3 new projects, two of them are for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge which I'm linking to.  I realized I wanted to have another couple of ways to cut and use my scraps.  I've been inspired by all the quilters posting their projects so if it was you I have copied THANK YOU!  Please tell me in the comments if it was you because I lost track of who/where I saw it.  

First, I started making Nine Patches in color order.  The squares are cut 2.5".  The nine patches always have a white square in the center.  I'm not sure if I will use them all in one quilt or if I might get enough of one color range to make a quilt in just blues/greens as my friend did.  Here are my 28 blocks.  So far, I've made at least one in almost all the colors.  There is one orange block in there but I started with January's color of blue, then moved on to green and red and pink.  Then I had to make a couple of purple and yellow also.   If they all go in one quilt set straight I'll need 99 blocks for a throw size. 

 Here is the quilt a friend of mine made which I quilted for her:  This is a possible layout with 30 blocks.  And, look at that gorgeous border!  I'm not sure I will get to making the border as she did but I love it.  It really makes the quilt pop doesn't it: 

I also started making 16" Double Star blocks.  I'm really excited about these blocks because they are so scrappy.  I love the variety of background and prints.  Since my orange scrap bag also has yellow in it I ended up making one of each.  These were a test to see if I liked making them and I do.  However, since I was aiming for so much variety I ended up having quite a few leftover pieces.  I might need to make 2 at a time to use up all the pieces I cut.  I'm also thinking of using the extras in an ocean waves block.

And just last night I started a log cabin project.  I wanted to make a test block to check my measurements and write them down so I used old fabrics from my 2.5" strip drawer.  It turns out I really like it!  I made the first one with a green center then changed my mind, took out the green and replaced it with solid brown (Northcott Colorworks in Chocolate).  I thought my brown phase was over but I am excited to have a place for these older fabrics and I think it will look cozy come fall.  Here is my  inspiration quilt, circa 2004, a Thimbleberries pattern.  I've wanted to duplicate this one for a long time. 

I like the larger center which I cut at 3.5" with all the strips cut at 2.5" width.  Lengths are:  3.5", 5.5", 7.5", 9.5", 11.5", 13.5", 15.5", 17.5" and last one at 19.5".  Cut one each of 3.5 and 19.5, two each of the rest.  

Here's what my design wall looks like now: 

And that's what I've been working on the past few weeks!  I think June will be a fun month in the sewing room. 

If you want to see more about my projects I have a YouTube channel @everydaysewist.  I'm just starting to put a couple of tutorials out which I'm very excited about in addition to monthly episodes about my projects.  Everyday Sewist on YouTube

Linking up with:

Angela at Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Happy sewing!

Stephanie

I'm toying with the idea of restarting my blog.  It has been dormant for several years however, I am newly retired and it might be a way to document this new phase.  I closed my shop and my longarm business earlier this month (February 2022) and I will head over to the studio later today to turn in my keys.  That makes it really official doesn't it.  I have spent the past three weeks moving everything from the studio back into our home.  The basement is/has been my space for many years so I set it up pretty much the way it was before.  Hubby set the table/longarm up for me the other day! He's a keeper! (No, he isn't for hire. 🤣)

 

To start this new phase off right I took inventory of some works-in-progress and projects-in-waiting and have an initial list of 69 projects worthy of inclusion 😉 at this time.  

I finished the first project on the list last week!  I had to make sure the machine made the move and was set up properly so I popped this cute quilt on it to test things out.  I made a backing up quickly from Tula Pink's Daydreamer line.  It's her Sundaze print in Guava by Free Spirit Fabrics.  The quilt pattern is Cascade by Villa Rosa Designs made with a charm pack from Moda ( I don't have the name of it).  The sunny yellow background fabric is Jot Dot in color 44 by Blank Quilting Co.  The quilting design is Frisky Feathers sized at 6" and stitched out on my Handiquilter Fusion with Pro-Stitcher.  I think it's really cute and will make a nice donation quilt with a finished size of 40 x 54". 

I often get queries about how the machine does all the work and how I must be able to walk away and do whatever I want while it's stitching.  Not true!  I always stay in the same room.  If you want to understand the process more I highly recommend taking a class to rent time on a machine.  Many shops offer this service and it will give you insight on the skill required to be a longarmer.  You might even find out you enjoy it too and want to finish your own quilts!  

One of things I'm working on while the machine hums along is sorting and pressing my scraps.  They take up way too much space the way I currently store them which is in these rolling carts with drawers.  I think they will take up much less space and will be easier to use if I press them and store them flat.  I had been contemplating throwing all of them out but instead I'll try this first.  Step One:  Sort and press them flat.  Step Two:  Cut them into strips and basic sizes with my Accuquilt cutter.  (It's one of the reasons I bought it!).  I have thrown out a pile of the smallest pieces- anything less than 1.5" is going in the trash.  Also, I've given myself permission to throw out small pieces I never want to use in my quilts or don't like.  The first drawer went from full to less than a quarter full.  On to the next one...I need to use a timer for this task, 30 mins at a time (or a row or two of watching the longarm) is enough.  

The second quilt came off of the longarm today and I'll post a picture of it next time.  So that's one last week and one this week.  I'm thinking, maybe, could I get one project off the list each week??? At that rate I have 68 weeks to go to get them all done.  Would that be possible??? I can't imagine having them all done in just 15 months.  All I know now is that I'm two for two.  

The sun is shining and it's time to go for a walk.  Until next time, 

Happy Sewing,

Stephanie