Hopscotch quilt

 

I decided to name this one "Hopscotch" because the alternating rectangles and squares made me think of a hopscotch board.  Plus, the bunnies on the fabric already had me in the mindset of hopping.  I considered naming it "Paska"after the Eastern European Easter bread, because the pattern name is "Brioche and Baguettes" and the fabric was Easter themed, but decided against it.  It seemed a little too obscure and confusing for the general public that wouldn't know the pattern name.

I finished this quilt yesterday, June 5, 2025, but I started it on June 24, 2020, so this is my fourth completed UFO of the year, which completes that goal category. Yay!  This is another quilt that will be tucked away for my imagined craft show booth.

I quilted it on my long-arm in an all-over swirl-meander motif.  The thread is Isacord Chiffon, (color #2170) and the batting is Happy Cloud 50/50 Bamboo blend.  The binding was attached to the front by machine and turned to the back by hand.  The quilt finished at 57 x 75 inches.


Running total of goals accomplished:

    Finish UFOs = 4 of 4 (completed)
    Use pre-cuts = 2 of 3
    Do window paintings = 0 of 2
    Do non-window painting = 1 of 1 (completed)
    Sew sets of coasters = 5 of 5 (completed)
    Sew small bags = 0 of 2
    Sew tote bags= 1 of 2

Banner Day Flannel Rag Quilt

 

 

I don't plan on giving this quilt an official name or label, because I donate these to the Child Advocacy Center.  I started this quilt on May 24th and finished it yesterday. (They really don't take very long to make, but we took a mini-vacation during that time, too.)  It is made from a bundle of fat quarters of Banner Day fabric from Robert Kaufman Fabrics that I purchased from The Fat Quarter Shop in January of 2020, so that counts as one of my unused pre-cuts.  The bundle included 12 fat quarters, which was exactly what I needed for this style of rag quilt.  

These fat quarters were a little short lengthwise and a little long in height, so I ended up cutting the panels at 20 x 18.5 inches.  I sewed the individual fabric and batting sandwiches together on my sewing machine, and then quilted each one on my long-arm.  I used light grey Sewology thread from Hobby Lobby for the quilting, and I quilted them all in an all-over swirl motif.  After sewing the quilted panels together on my sewing machine, clipping the seams and edges, and washing it, the quilt finished at 33.5 x 46.5 inches, not including the outer fringe.

Running total of goals accomplished:

    Finish UFOs = 3 of 4
    Use pre-cuts = 2 of 3
    Do window paintings = 0 of 2
    Do non-window painting = 1 of 1 (completed)
    Sew sets of coasters = 5 of 5 (completed)
    Sew small bags = 0 of 2
    Sew tote bags= 1 of 2

Watermelon Tourmaline quilt

 

I finished the binding on this quilt on Sunday, and I got the label attached yesterday.  I named it Watermelon Tourmaline, because it was designed to look somewhat like the gemstone by the same name.  I started this quilt back in 2016, but never got around to quilting it or having it quilted. I couldn't decide how I wanted it quilted.  I still struggled with the "right" design and thread color up until the point when I put it into the frame.  I'm not sure what I was so worried about, really.  Perfectionism was just getting the best of me.

I quilted it with my long-arm quilter in an all-over meander pattern. I used Quilter's Dream Select cotton batting, and the thread is Isacord Rose (#2530).  The binding is attached to the front by machine and turned to the back by hand. The quilt finished at approximately 42 inches by 52 inches. This is my third finished UFO for this year.

Running total of goals accomplished: 

1. Finish UFOs = 3 of 4
   
2. Use pre-cuts = 1 of 3
   
3. Do window paintings = 0 of 2
   
4. Do non-window painting = 1 of 1 (completed)
   
5. Sew sets of coasters = 5 of 5 (completed)
   
6. Sew small bags = 0 of 2
   
7. Sew tote bags= 1 of 2

 

All Star

 

This quilt is a baby shower gift for my daughter-in-law's sister.  I actually finished it over a week ago, but I forgot to post about it.  I still need to attach the label, but other than that, it's done.  Which is a good thing, since the baby shower is this Saturday.

I decided to name it "All Star" because the pattern is obviously a star, and it is quilted with a stars and loops motif.  I used an off-white thread from Hobby Lobby to do the quilting.  The binding was attached by machine and hand turned to the back.

Little Ladies

 

I finished the binding on this quilt about a week ago, but I just got the label on it Saturday night.  I named it Little Ladies because of the cute little girls on the fabric.  I started this quilt back in 2015, and I was planning to finish it then and donate it to the blanket drive that my church was doing at that time.  But my sewing room flooded while I was working on it, so I didn't have the opportunity to finish it for that purpose.  Ultimately it got stashed away and became one of my many UFOs.  Fast forward 10 years, and my 7 year old granddaughter decided that it was "adorable," so I've decided to give it to her as part of her birthday present when she turns 8 in a couple of months.

I quilted it with my long-arm quilter in a hearts and swirls all-over pattern.  The top thread is a denim blue color (Isacord Ash Blue #3853) and bottom thread is a cream color (Isacord Twine #1760).  The binding is attached to the front by machine and turned to the back by hand.  This is my second finished UFO for this year.

Running total of goals accomplished: 

1. Finish UFOs = 2 of 4
   
2. Use pre-cuts = 1 of 3
   
3. Do window paintings = 0 of 2
   
4. Do non-window painting = 0 of 1
   
5. Sew sets of coasters = 5 of 5 (completed)
   
6. Sew small bags = 0 of 2
   
7. Sew tote bags= 0 of 2

Charmed

 

This is my most recent finished product.  I decided to name it "Charmed" because the pattern was called Layers of Charm.  Charmed seemed appropriate.  It is made from a layer cake of Healing Hearts fabric and some red yardage for the diamonds and binding.

I quilted it on my long-arm machine using Aurifil thread in Bright Pink (#2425).  I outline quilted the diamond blocks and quilted flower motifs inside them.  I also created "ghost" diamond blocks with outline quilting and flower motifs.  Then I quilted a long feather across each row, curving it around the diamond and "ghost diamond" blocks. 

Here are some close-ups of the quilting.

 

I decided to attach the binding completely by machine.  It's not my favorite way to bind, but I wanted to get it finished in time for February Valentine's decorating.  Plus I had bought thread that exactly matched the red fabric in the diamonds and binding, and I didn't want it to go to waste.

This is my first finished UFO for the year. I started it in 2017.

Casssiopeia

 

This will certainly be the last quilt that I finish this year and it's my 9th finished UFO of the year.  I decided to name it Cassiopeia because I wanted a star related name.  Cassiopeia is actually a constellation, not a single star, but since there are actually two stars in the quilt, an inner and outer star, I thought it worked.  Plus, when I was a little girl, there was a character on a show I liked named Cassiopeia, and I've retained a fondness for the name.

I quilted it on my longarm with a hand-guided all-over flower, leaf, and loops design. The thread is Isacord Spring Frost, and the batting is Quilter's Dream Cotton.  The binding is attached by machine to the front of the quilt and hand stitched to the back.  The label was stitched using my embroidery machine, and hand stitched to the back of the quilt.

Checkerboard and Diamonds

 

I don't actually have a name for it yet, but I call the pattern checkerboard and diamonds.  I machine quilted it on my long arm quilter, using Isacord thread in Chiffon color.  It is actually custom quilted, unlike the others I've done so far.  The border is done in a continuous feather.  The diamonds each have a flower motif.  The checkerboard center was quilted using the Elvira quilting ruler by Angela Walters.  The white space around the diamonds have a feather motif (I guess that's what you'd call it).  And the border and outside of the checkerboard are outlined using a straight-edge quilting ruler.  I finished the binding on it today, which was done totally on the sewing machine.

It was my first time using quilting rulers on the long arm machine.  I've used them a little on my domestic machine.  It takes a bit to get used to, but I feel like I was getting the hang of it by the time I was done.  It is far from perfect, but I'm happy with how it looks.  I don't know what I'll end up doing with it.  There is no plan for it at the moment.

This is my 8th finished UFO for the year.  It actually leapfrogged over a quilt that I'm in the process of hand binding.

Update: I decided to name it "Let's Play."  I even made a label for it using free-motion embroidery done on my domestic (not embroidery) sewing machine.  It turned out okay.

Over the Rainbow

 

 

I finished the binding on this little quilt while we were traveling home from Washington state last week.  I went round and round on a name for it.  I finally settled on "Over the Rainbow," because I like to name quilts after songs and that song mentions both rainbow and star, so it seemed appropriate.

It is machine quilted on my new Moxie XL long-arm quilter.  I used rainbow variegated Isocord thread on the top and black cotton thread from Hobby Lobby on the back.  I quilted it in an all-over meander pattern.  I'm still working on getting the tension just right, but I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

I decided to make the label for this quilt with my embroidery machine, which currently lives in our condo in Washington.  I haven't used it much, but making quilt labels was the main reason I bought the stupid thing, so I figured I'd give a try.  It turned out okay.

 

This quilt makes the 7th UFO that I've finished this year.

Merry & Bright

 

 

This wall hanging is made up of blocks from the Vintage Christmas book by Lori Holt. Back in 2019, the BOM group that I was a member of did the full quilt from the book.  I decided that I didn't want another full-sized Christmas quilt, so I just did a wall hanging.  I've since remodeled my living room, and don't really have a good place to display seasonal wall quilts anymore, but that's okay, too.  I'll find something to do with it now that it is finished.

It is free motion machine quilted (by me!) with a loops and holly motif in white King Tut thread.  I'm still getting the hang of using my new long arm machine, and the little holly berries are far from perfectly round, but I like how it turned out.  The quilt finished 36 inches square. 

This is the sixth of my UFOs that I wanted to finish this year, so I've met my target!

Across the Finish Line

 

 

After possibly 20 years, this quilt is finally finished.  I really don't remember when I started it, but the copyright printed in the selvage of the fabric was 2002.  I know I started it when we lived in the house before this one, which we moved into in the fall of 2008.  It's been a long journey, but I finally got it across the finish line (Ha! Ha!).  The name was my husband's suggestion, and I thought it was a good one.  I gave the completed quilt to my son last night.  He said that he's really not into NASCAR, but that he didn't mind having another blanket.  Maybe at some point I'll make him a quilt that represents something he actually likes.  And maybe it won't take 20 year to make.

Anyway, the quilting was mostly about practice and trying out motifs.  The outer border is a large meander.  The inner border and sashing is done with cursive Ls.  Reading left to right and top to bottom, the block motifs are still water, circles/cobblestones, swirls, leaves, stars and loops, and flames.  The cobblestones show up too much, mostly because the thread was too light a color for that much quilting on that fabric.

Since this was the first actual quilt that I quilted on a long-arm machine, it was a learning experience.  I was just using thread that came with the machine and learning to quilt in a new way.  If I were doing it over, I'd use a medium gray thread instead of the white and gray variegated threaded that it's mostly quilted in.  I ran out of thread before it was finished and I bought some light gray thread that matched what I was already using the best that I could.  

Also, if I were buying the fabric for this quilt today, I probably wouldn't have bought black and white checkerboard fabric for the binding.  I think I would have done it in red.  I decided to cut the binding on the bias, because I thought it would look better.  I think that was a good idea.  I did the binding completely by machine, but I sewed the label on by hand.  The label also has the bias checkerboard around the outside.  I really wouldn't want to bind a whole quilt by hand with that fabric.  Mostly because in many places you are sewing black to black, which is very difficult to see.

A Jazz Quilt

 

 

My free-form scrap quilt is finished!  I continued to use scrap fabric to make the sashing pieces that join the blocks and rows together.  I used leftover pieces of binding strips to make the binding.  I did the binding completely by machine this time.  I attached the binding to the front, turned it to the back, and then stitched in the ditch from the front, to secure the binding on the back. It measures 50 inches by 62.5 inches.

 

Here is a look at the back of the quilt.  Ideally I would have spread out the darker blocks and not put same fabrics side-by-side, but this quilt wasn't about ideals.  It was, in fact, an attempt to get away from ideals, so I made no effort at all to arrange the blocks in any particular order.

It is very busy, colorful, and loud.  It is nothing like what I usually make when I am quilting, but I really enjoy it.  I like looking at the quilting that I did on it.  It was a learning experience and a liberating experience.  It's good to get away from the idea of perfection and the fear and anxiety that goes along with it.  I'll probably end up donating it somewhere, but for now I'm just enjoying that it's finished.

I guess you could say that I'm already working on another one, because I'm still sewing together scraps, but not as a full-time project. Instead of using a single piece of scrap fabric to sew over when I'm taking something off the machine, I just sew two scraps together.  I'm just putting them aside for now, but ultimately they'll probably end up in something.

O Holy Night

 

 

This little wall hanging is the latest of my UFOs.  The quilt top was finished so long ago that I don't actually have a record of when I made it.  I know that it is over 16 years old.  It may be closer to 20 years old.  I designed it and made the quilt top, but couldn't figure out how I wanted to quilt it.  This was back when I was still hand quilting everything and some spots where multiple seams come together are very thick.  I put it aside and never came back to it.  I decided to go ahead and tackle it now, because it was the smallest of the UFOs.

My husband suggested the swirl quilting pattern.  I remembered that I had a swirl quilting template for free-motion quilting, so I used it.  There are a few places where the quilting foot didn't want to go over the thick spots, so the pattern isn't completely fluid, but overall I think it turned out pretty well.  I used the same gold colored thread that I used on the patriotic lap quilt.  The binding is attached by machine and hand turned.  The little quilt finished at about 19 inches x 25 inches.

Big Hug

 

I finally finished this quilt that has been a finished quilt top since April of 2019.  I think that makes it my 3rd finished quilt from my UFO collection.  I decided to machine quilt it in a cross-hatch of diagonal lines using a pale pink thread.  The binding is attached by machine to the front and then hand-stitched to the back.  The quilt finished at 49 inches square.  I feel pretty good about how it turned out.

I decided to name it "Big Hug" because the outstretched arms on the doll make her look like she's asking to be hugged.  Or maybe she is offering a hug to the person who ends up with the quilt.  Either way, I like the name. 

My plan for this quilt is to try to sell it.  There is a small craft show near here in the fall and I plan to look into getting a booth there.  If I can't get a booth, or if it just doesn't sell there, then I plan to offer it for sale in my Etsy shop.

Patriotic Lap Quilt

 

I finished the binding on this quilt last night.  This is one of the UFOs that I've been trying to finish this year.  I finished the quilt top back in 2016.  I decided to free-motion quilt this one myself.  It is quilted in a star and swirl motif in a light gold colored thread.  It is far from perfect - the stitch length is all over the place, the tension is a little off in places on the back, and there are a few pucker in the backing fabric - but overall not too bad for a beginner free-motion quilter.  I enjoyed doing it.  The binding is hand turned.  It still needs a name and a label.

I would really like to donate this one to be used as a wheelchair lap quilt.  My first thought was a VA hospital, but I'm not sure where the nearest one is or if they take donations.  Another option is to check with one of the nursing homes here in town.  Chances are good that there is a veteran there who uses a wheelchair.  I'll have to check around and see.

Four Corners

One of my oldest friends is going to be a grandmother for the first time, and this quilt is for her soon-to-be-born granddaughter.  I finished the binding about 10 days ago, but I just got the label on it today.  I'm thinking that I might pre-wash it before I give it to them.  All the wrinkles from the folds bother me a bit and pre-washing baby items seems like a good idea, so that new parents have one less thing to worry about.

This quilt is made from a quilt top that I made back in 2020.  It is one of the UFOs that I wanted to get finished this year. The finished quilt is 40 inches square.  I machine quilted it echoing the seam lines around all the concentric squares.  It is a pattern that I designed myself and have used for a little quilt for one of my grandsons, too.

January Wind

 

Today I finished the little quilt for the back of my living room chair.  It measures 24 inches square and is free motion quilted in snowflakes and swirls.  I drew the snowflakes on with a Frixion marker and then free-handed the swirls in-between.  I took it really slow doing the snowflakes, but got a little fast on the swirls.  For me, it seems easier to make smooth swirls when I move a little faster, but I ended up with some kinda big stitches in places.  I'm still learning free-motion, but I'm really happy with how it turned out.  Below is a close-up of one of the larger snowflakes.

This little project gives me the idea that if I can draw a motif, then I can probably quilt it.  That's an exciting idea.  The larger the project, the harder it will be quilt, I know that. But taking it slow and steady really works well.  I'm looking forward to trying some new and slightly larger things.

Shadow box Bee quilt

 My first finished quilt of the year!  I'm hoping to be a little more productive this year than I have been in the past couple of years.  Ultimately I decided to quilt this one just on one diagonal.  The  quilting was done with a yellow thread that matched the yellow fabric in the top and I didn't want it to cross the gray fabric, so I quilted in the ditch following the diagonal lines in the piecing.  Also it took less effort - less marking and less quilting.  As I mentioned in the previous post, I'm not super thrilled with how this one turned out, so I just wanted it finished.  I actually enjoy the back of the quilt more than the front.  I like the little bee fabric on the back best of all the fabric in the quilt.

I haven't labeled this one, and I probably won't.  When I donate quilts I often don't label them and I'm feeling like this one will end up donated somewhere.  I'm not sure where yet, but that is where my head is at on this one at the moment.

Update: I did not label this one, and I donated it to the Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center on April 24, 2024.

Christmas Chair Quilt

 

I realized that I didn't have a little quilt to put on the back of the chair in my living room, so I decided to make one.  I designed the star myself and used fabric that I already had on hand to make it.  It came together pretty quickly and I'm happy with how it turned out.  It is machine quilted, in the ditch (mostly), and hand bound.

Wesley's Wilderness

 

Even though he arrived well over a month ago, his quilt just got finished.  We won't be seeing him and getting the quilt to him until the end of May/beginning of June anyway, though. I'm glad to have it finished.

The quilt is machine quilted in a crosshatch pattern, following the angles created by the peaks in the mountain blocks, and hand bound.