Finish-A-Long Second Quarter Finishes

The Finish-A-Long sponsored by Rhonda from Quilter in the Gap has once again been a great motivator. First quarter, I had an awesome 3/3 finish rate. Not quite so high this quarter, but I did finish projects that I really was anxious to finish, so I'm feeling pretty good.

So I had 4 projects on my list this round. First up was Hopscotch. I had half the blocks made, and an appointment with my long-arm quilter. 

I was able to complete the blocks, get this to my quilter and back, and finish this fun quilt up just in time for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival. The pattern is by Camille Roskelley, and I confess I'm as pleased as can be by this new-to-me palette and my first triangle quilt.

Next up was a pile of left-over hst from my Swoon and Sparkle quilts, which I wanted to use to make something for the Festival of Half Square Triangles. 

I was thinking of something with lots of negative space, but once I took the hst to my design wall, I swirled off in an unexpected direction, and came up with Spiraled.

I'm probably as proud of this project as any of late, pleased that I was able to come up with my own interesting design, loving the contrasting palest of gray borders (Pearl by Northcott Colorworks), and succeeding (not without frustration!) some angled matched binding. This mini was downright fun.

Also on my FAL list was pulling my Solstice Star blocks out and finishing them into a quilt.

I really had no plan for them, but in the end went out on a limb, adding lots of solids, and created The Stars of Summer. (Click on the title to see more photo-shoot pictures; go here for a tutorial on the matched binding.)

Last on my list, and I knew it would be a stretch . . . was taking my 4x5 blocks and making a quilt out of them. At the time, I had 12 blocks, and was in the process of receiving blocks from the third round of the 4x5 modern Quilt Bee.

So I got my last 6 . . .

and made 2 more to bring my number of blocks to 20 . . .

I am making great progress on this project, but it's definitely not a quilt yet. Remember this debate? Well, I've made a decision and am currently framing all of these colorful, modern blocks.

So my finish stats are 3/4 for round 2. Not bad, but I need to keep sewing!

I'll be linking my finished projects up to the Finish-A-Long Second Quarter Linky Party!

W.i.P. Wednesday

It's hard to believe it's W.i.P Wednesday already! It's been a crazy busy week, but I've managed to crank out some little projects and finish a quilt for the festival. So all's good on the sewing front.

Completed projects (click links for full posts)
Zakka Style Sew-Along project #7: Rain Cloud Mug Rug. This was a whole lot of fun in a small package.

Sewing Machine Cover and Lined Drawstring Bag for daughter dear's birthday - in her colors, of course.

Hopscotch - finished in the nick of time for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival! (620 entries last time I checked. Now THAT'S a festival!)

FAITH Circle Pouch - can't show it yet, but it should be with my partner soon!

Modern Blocks Bee May block and Ohio Star blocks for FAITH circle's May quilt

Ongoing projects
Japanese x and + blocks Round 2 - I'm cutting it kind of close, but I have five blocks cut out for the swap and one made up to keep. Sorry I didn't get to this sooner, but oh well.

Upcoming projects
* Let's Get Acquainted project
* more Zakka - unfortunately probably not getting to project #8 this week
* Always Bee Learning June blocks - Tokoyo subway NEW
* Quilt using my 4x5 blocks from rounds 1, 2, & 3
* Tutorial for pieced binding
* QWERTY variation
* Solstice Stars quilt
* a quilt to coordinate with my Christmas tree skirt - On a Whim ??
* scrappy Metrolink
* Plus quilt for my sister-in-law - waiting to see her palette

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.

Bloggers' Quilt Festival :: Hopscotch

Nothing like a last-minute finish for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival! I've planned for a while now to enter my Hopscotch quilt, and the festival was well under way as I put the last stitch in her binding. But {whew!} here she is!

I made Hopscotch as a gift for a friend, and admittedly, the palette is not a natural for me. Using Camille Roskelley's pattern, I knew in addition to a variety of colored prints, I'd need a neutral and a contrast fabric for the triangle points. The white was an obvious choice as the neutral, but I wavered a bit (bright lime or teal?) before settling on Kona medium gray. I wasn't piecing long before I was confident of my choice.

As far as triangle quilts go, this was a first for me. Veering off the pattern a bit, I chose not to use templates, but cut my own "jelly roll" strips, and then used just rulers - including a 60-degree triangle - to cut the pieces to size. This method worked fine for me, and I got the hang of the piecing fairly quickly. Pressing seams open is really important with this block, and not trimming the 'ears', as they really help in matching things up.

Piecing the blocks together, Hopscotch really started coming to life. I got the top done on a rare sunny day and loved the stained glass effect I was able to catch.

Oh, and it was also windy . . .

The backing I chose was Domestic Bliss by Liz Scott for Moda, which I liked as it really highlighted the gray  used in the blocks (and soon to be binding), but also repeated the 'diamond' motif.

Due to the unique design of this quilt, I decided to have my long-arm quilter, Darlene Girton of Girton Creations use her gift and she suggested this triangle-in-a-triangle design. 

Oh, was it a great choice.

And Hopscotch got finished just in the nick of time - a new palette, a new block shape, lessons learned, and good quilty fun.

Linking up with the Bloggers' Quilt Festival, Fabric Tuesday, and Summer Sewing Contest.


This project was on my original post for 2nd quarter, so I am linking up with Quilter in The Gap's 2nd Quarter Finish-A-Long linky party!

Hopscotch Quilting

I got a text today that Hopscotch was going on the long-arm quilting frame!

A little while later, some proof of the action in progress!

Hope to be binding this one before week's end! Pretty exciting stuff!

W.i.P. Wednesday

There's no newly completed projects to show for W.i.P. Wednesday today, but I'm content enough with my w.i.p.s that I don't really care. That actually feels kind of good.

Ongoing projects

Hopscotch - The top is pieced and has been delivered to my long-arm quilter. Pretty exciting stuff. 

Hollywood Boulevard table runner - In progress and coming right along! The pattern is by Atkinson Designs, and you may remember I made another runner using this pattern before Christmas. I've got one block done and two nearly. Already thinking ahead to quilting considerations.

Zakka Style Sew-Along project #4: Sewing Kit - Almost done. Once again, very fun.

MM Text Fabric Swap - This swap is unusual in that we're swapping 5"x10" pieces of text fabric. I got mine cut and mailed off.

Source: etsy.com via Debbie on Pinterest (photo: quiltsandwich at etsy)

Upcoming projects
* Quilt using my 4x5 blocks from rounds 1, 2, & 3
* Tutorial for pieced binding
* FAITH Circle Pouch Swap
* more Zakka
* DS Quilts Doll Quilt Swap project
* Solstice Stars quilt
* a quilt to coordinate with my Christmas tree skirt - On a Whim ??
* scrappy Metrolink

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday . . .

So Long, Farewell

I'm glad to say that the Hopscotch top is done.

 I love the palette.

Rather than deal with templates, I borrowed my friend's 60-degree ruler, and just measured and cut.

I think this is the first time I pieced triangle blocks, but they weren't hard.

I'm pretty pleased how it looks all stitched up.

And isn't there just something about a quilt top blowing in the breeze on a sunny day?

But now it's time to pack this baby up and check in with my long-armer. A simple pieced backing is made from Domestic Bliss by Moda; the binding, Kona Medium Gray to match the triangle points.

Come back soon, Hopscotch!

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday.

Monday

It's always an eye-opener to wake up to see your project in a feature, as I did this morning over on LRstitched. Check out some more fun pouches here, as well as over at 33stitches, where Julia Bravo, the pattern designer shares some of her originals.

If you happen to be Zakka Along-ing, Ayumi of Pink Penguin is the designer of week 3's project, and posted some very helpful hints here.

I got side-tracked from Hopscotch this weekend, but at least the blocks are all done!

And I had hoped to have my hst quilt ready to post today, but it still needs its binding hand-stitched. So soon . . . but here's another progress pic while you wait.

Oh, and thanks for helping me with week 45's list yesterday - I really appreciated your chiming in, and enjoyed your comments!

To the Finish Part Deux

It's time to make a 2nd quarter list for Rhonda's Finish-A-Long over at Quilter in the Gap. It's all about projects that are lounging around waiting to be finished. I have a few. So I'm re-upping in the Finish-A-Long and will be working at completing the following projects:

Hopscotch - I have 38 of 77 blocks made, and an appointment with my long-arm quilter. 

Terrain hst - These are left over from my Swoon quilt {here! swoon . . .} and I'd like to use them to make something to enter in the Festival of Half Square Triangles. Maybe something with lots of negative space. I've got some ideas.

Solstice Stars - You may remember these from the Solstice Star Series early in the year. I'd like to make them into a quilt - either by making and adding more stars, or maybe not.

And lastly, I'm going to go out on a limb here and put a fourth project on my list - using the blocks I've collected in the 4x5 modern Quilt Bee. (See the blocks I've already gotten here and here. I should have all the blocks from the current round before long.)

*Revised 4/8/12 to show pics of the actual blocks, per the FAL rules here . . .

   

Soooo, there are four good goals to finish in the next few months . . .

W.i.P. Wednesday

It's been a good start to this fresh month of sewing. W.i.P. Wednesday finds me with newish projects and plenty more on the docket.

Ongoing projects

First and foremost is Hopscotch - I have 26/77 blocks pieced and am loving how this is coming along.

Windows Improv table runner - Still not sure if I like it or not. The request was for something modern and geometric in navy, royal blue, maroon, and gray. So the elements are there. I'm just not sure if they work together. Below shows one third - the top is now done and I've begun quilting long organic straight lines. I'll finish it up before I totally give up on it. Stay tuned.

Zakka Style Sew-Along - Can't guarantee I'll do every project, but do plan to try #1, the Zig Zag Tote. I purchased the interfacing needed and pulled some fabric from my stash - my one and only yard of creamy linen, my precious Lou Lou Thi for the zigs and zags, and at this point, some DS blue for the lining.

Festival of Half Square Triangles - I dug into the scrap bin and found 100 or so hst from a previous project. That'll be a good start! So far just pressing and trimming.

Upcoming projects  
* scrappy Metrolink
* April Modern Blocks Bee block - a Potager block
* April do.Good Stitches FAITH Circle - a zig-zag strip
* FAITH Circle Pouch Swap 
* more Zakka
* a quilt to coordinate with my Christmas tree skirt - On a Whim ??
* DS Quilts Doll Quilt Swap project - should be getting my partner soon
* Little Quilt - Sew, Vote, Swap Group Round 4 project - I've decided there's not room for this . . .

* tutorial for pieced binding
* a zip pouch w/o zipper tabs - want to know this way too

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday . . .