October Fabric Usage

The good news this month is most of what I brought in had an intended use planned. And by that I'm referring to the 5 yards of Kona Espresso and Lupine that I planned to use to piece the Minimal Shapes quilt front. 

The bad news is, the Espresso was just too dark. So into the ole stash it went. To replace it, I purchased Kona Overcast, a lot of which went into the quilt front; more for the binding and then - oops! - I included a yard of Diamond Textiles Stripe in Harvest in my order just because I loved it so much.

At that point, I totally thought I was done with purchasing for the month, but wouldn't you know, I won a half-yard bundle of six fabrics from the Halloween Nights collection by Katie Larson Studio @katie.craftshell, courtesy of PBS Fabrics @pbsfabrics. It IS pretty cute. I'm still mulling over what to use it for, so it's been stashed for now.

So that was kind of a lot, once again, but at least I used a good portion of it right away. Love when that happens.

October Fabric Usage

Used up: 19.74 yards [16.39 projects + 3.35 recycled]
Brought in: 11.0 yards
Net: -8.74 yards

Patterns to Try | U-Pick Pumpkin

In the middle of days of quilting the Minimal Shapes quilt, I needed a breather. So when I saw Kate of Katie Mae Quilts @katiemaequilts post a round-up of pumpkin patterns, I decided I suddenly needed to make her U-Pick Pumpkin pattern. 

It's actually a pretty clever pattern, providing both a classic "plain pumpkin" and a variety of playful jack-o'-lantern faces. I had originally been drawn to a jack-o'-lantern, but in my excitement, I laid out squares for a plain pumpkin, and decided to just go with that.

The pattern makes a good-sized pumpkin - 18.5" unfinished. After using mostly scraps to make the pumpkin, I added a narrow border all around, creating a pillow cover that would fit a pillow I already had. Ideally, I would have added a wider border and gotten a puffier pillow form, but time was of the essence, and why not use what I already had?

I quilted the pumpkin front, made a simple envelope backing (love that big dot!), and finished it off with binding to match the background. Perfect for a quick Halloween-y finish!

Block Studies Collective | Crosswalk

After enjoying the last season of Tara Faughnan's @tarafaughnan Block Studies Collective, I was already planning on signing up for the current season three. It's a six-month membership in its third season (I didn't participate in the first), that begins with a palette and a block to focus on for the month. This month is Crosswalk, with the palette shown below. Actually, this is the Kona version of the palette; Tara's official palette is a mix of solid brands, and I'll order that a time or two, but this time I ordered on my own.

Truth is, you don't need much fabric for these studies, so I think next month I'll work from stash, but it is always extra fun working with one of Tara's palettes. That said, I didn't use quite all of it in this little (10" x 12") study.

As I'm writing this, hubby asked me what I made this piece for, and I told him about BSC, a monthly prompt and palette, and that what it basically boils down to is play. I made it just for fun, and in that spirit, I decided to go ahead and hand-quilt it. I used a batting sample that ended up being puffier than I like (no offense!), but as advertised, it was easy to quilt through. I used Wonderful Spagetti 12wt [SP35-Coral], which I've really come to like for hand-quilting.

So that was an enjoyable little interlude. I'd planned on trying more variations of the block, but other things are calling to me. So it's back to some machine-quilting on a much larger project. I've got hours yet to go.

Circle Needle Book

Just a few days ago, I posted about finishing the All-Seasons Wreath sampler from Dropcloth Samplers @dropcloth, and hinted at having a plan for making it into something. I had intended to wait a bit, but interest was peaked in the Dropcloth facebook group, so I decided why not? Let's see what I can do.

My inspiration was the Sashiko Stitched Needle Book tutorial by founder Lynn Woll over on Create Whimsy. I was familiar with the tutorial ever since receiving a needle book made with it in a guild swap back in 2023, and it came to mind as I was finishing the circular wreath sampler. So here's my version.

I started by using #8 Wonderfil perle cotton Ball Pit (EZM1055) to fill in the center of the sampler with a couched grid. Then I cut the sampler into a circle, with about a half-inch allowance all around. It was already backed with a piece of Essex linen, but I added a layer of Hobbs Tuscany Unbleached 100% cotton batting by spray-basting it on.

For a lining, I used Kaleidoscope in strawberry by Alison Glass. Then I layered it all together, right-sides together, and stitched around the perimeter, turned it right-sides out, and hand-stitched the opening closed.

Next, I added two layers of wool felt on the inside, hand-stitching it down the center. 

I also stitched around the perimeter with perle cotton, leaving the knots showing on the interior.

The last little detail was a closure! I had in mind that I'd add a snap at the end, but then I just didn't think the snaps I had would be sturdy enough, so instead, I chose to use a leather lacing for a wrapped closure. I machine-stitched it on the back inside with tiny stitches, then just wrap it around the needle book and tuck the end in. 

The needle book measures 8" in diameter, and ya know? Though stitching the sampler maybe wasn't my favorite of the bunch, I'm certainly happy with the finish.

All-Seasons Wreath

Honestly, I'd been stitching on this Dropcloth Sampler @dropcloth sampler on and off for months. And you know how I always say, "This was fun to stitch?" Yeah, this one not so much. I don't know why! I began with those little blue flowers, did a few, and then let it sit. And I did that several times over the months of stitching. Nothing against this one; I guess that's just the way it is sometimes.

The details seemed finer than usual, so I used Aurifil 12wt double-thickness, instead of perle cotton. I do very much enjoy stitching with that. So that wasn't the problem.

I finally just forced myself to finish it (watching the AL West division championship games didn't hurt!) and I'm so glad I did. The original intent for this wreath by Rebecca Ringquist of Dropcloth, was to use two hoops to make a frame for another embroidery project in the center. I may do that, or I may not. I have another idea that would involve a bit more stitching on it, so we'll see. Another day.

Return to Calendar Cascade

Whew. I finally got caught up with the Seattle MQG BOM, Calendar Cascade, and made my rows for August, September, and October. If you remember from my earlier post about this project, each month's assignment doesn't exactly match up with the actual month of the year when it's released. But count how many shapes are in a specific row and that will tell you what month it represents - one for January, two for February, etc. So my assignments for the last few months were:

• August - make row for June
• September - make row for September
• October - make row for March

Then in November, we'll have just one more row to make for November.

It helped to cut out everything I needed for all three of the rows I wanted to piece, and then start piecing them. August's assignment was pretty straight-forward, made of QSTs, and a couple each of flying geese and rectangles (see top photo). September was a little more demanding - circles!! Once I was reminded of the technique with the Inset Circle Tutorial (see the August 2024 BOM directions or blog post) by Louise @imfeelincrafty, I was able to move right through all nine of them (see above). Then for October's appliqué assignment, I used a similar freezer-paper and glue stick method to do turned-edge appliqué hand-stitched with Aurifil 80wt thread. (see below)

Also left over from last summer's work on my rows due to running out of fabric, I still needed to add borders along the top and bottom edges of the block for December, so I did that too (see above). But boy it feels good to be caught up on that project. Now back to piecing a big ole quilt back for Minimal Shapes.

#2025QuiltingQ3CheckIn

Well, time flew by once again, and it's time to report in for the #2025QuiltingQ3CheckIn with Yvonne of @quiltingjetgirl. I did look back to my original 2025 Quilting Planning Party post, and I'm pretty much on track for the year. I did add back a quilt project to today's listing, as I'd intentionally postponed it until fall/winter of this year. Otherwise, I'm pretty much taking things as they come, which is working well enough. So here's what I've accomplished (or not) during this last quarter.

Quilts

• Effervescence - After participating in the Effervescence Sew Along with Yvonne @quiltingjetgirl I finished a big bold, beautiful quilt. I'm super pleased with it.

• Ode to Joy - A Bee Sewcial finish that took most of my focus for weeks on end, but I'm thrilled with how it turned out.

• The 2025 Seattle MQG BOM, Calendar Cascade, is still in the works, but I'm working on getting caught up.
• Sweet Sixteen - an impromptu project when I joined the Summer Scrap Bash hosted by Brittany @loandbeholdstitchery. It was made completely from stash.

• Bright Side Boo - another pretty impromptu project, but perfect for the season.

• The Plus Progression - this one, made totally from scraps, is still in the works. I've begun work on a pieced back, but it's been set aside to work on other projects. Hope to get back to it soon-ish!

• Luminaries II - Begun last December (a variation on this one), this was a project I intentionally set aside until holiday-time of this year. So I'm hoping to get it back out in November and hopefully finish it up to use in December.

Sewing

• Of course I had plenty of Beesewcial blocks to make. First up was a prompt of You Me We for Jen @jen.broemel, where we made 12" blocks then cut them into quarters.

• Then it was Fantastical Flowers in September for Karen @capitolaquilter. She said if we wanted, we could make a pollinator for our second block, so I made a hummingbird.

• Then for October, it was Inside/Outside for Felicity @felicityquilts. This was a really unique prompt, complete with raw edges showing and stitching with neon or dark threads.

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Handwork

• I'm still stitching samplers from the Dropcloth @dropcloth Floral Stitches II series:

• The Dropcloth Summer ABC Bloom Stitchalong was a sampler that got turned into a needle roll, which was very fun

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• A Year of Doodles - A sampler from Stitch Doodle Design @stitchdoodledesign, I'm still stitching on this each month too.

Community

• Still regularly blogging and publishing monthly issues of The Scrap Basket. 
• Continuing participation with my local Seattle MQG. A bonus was being able to attend "I Heard It On the Radio" PNQFAM Artist Reception.
• Went to see the work of a guild friend at the Art Gallery at Lynnwood City Hall exhibit.
• Just joined Season 3 of Block Studies Collective with Tara Faughnan @tarafaughnan. I'm looking forward to playing with this month's prompt soon.
• And, I appreciated a feature with Kim of Leland Ave Studios - Meet Me In My Studio.

So it was a pretty busy quarter, I'd say! Here's to more of the same going forward.

Linking up with Quilting JETgirl's #2025QuiltingQ3CheckIn.

Back to Minimal Shapes

OK! This last week it was finally time to face a project that's been stashed away for a while. It's my Minimal Shapes quilt for Bee Sewcial @beesewcial that I initially set a prompt for back in July 2024. I pulled out the blocks (16 total), and cut them all into circles and half-circles using the amazing Clammy by Latifah Saafir Studios. I started placing them on the design wall with a bit of an idea in mind, thought the layout wasn't final quite yet.

I had ordered up two solids to fill in around the shapes - Kona Lupine and Espresso. Unfortunately, as I was adding pieces to the design wall, the Espresso seemed way too overwhelming.

So I changed plans, and luckily had enough Kona Overcast on hand, and I liked that much better.

The top is now complete, measuring 76" square, thanks to a 4" Overcast border I added all around. I did that, even though borders aren't usually my thing. But I wanted the gray rectangles at the edges to look like they were attached to the border, and the gray rectangles around the center of the quilt to look kind of like holes. So for better or worse, that's where it stands now. And it'll stay there while I make a quilt backing, hopefully from the scraps and leftover solids from my original pull. I have a machine-quilting plan, and thread picked out. And I even have an idea for some hand-quilting after that. Time will tell!

Floral Stitches Year II - Big Daisy

The minute I saw this flower in the Dropcloth Sampler @dropcloth Floral Stitches series, I was excited to stitch it up!

I chose some really bold Wonderfil perle cotton threads for the main flower, and I questioned my choice the entire time I was stitching. That said, I kinda love it.

It felt like I used a smaller variety of stitches than usual, but not too bad. I see couching, French knots, seed stitches, and lots of chain stitch. Whatever, it was another fun one.