Stories from the Sewing Room

It's time for another progress update. 

Linking with Ms. P Designs PHD program

August was fairly productive, all things considered. I completed the final selvedge knit rug from the "new starts" column. Here are all three I made this year. The last one is in the middle of the picture. One of these days I'll bury in those loose ends.

I completed the 16 secret items, finishing off the last one on the 31st. I had five done at the end of July, which means I did 11 in August! I was worried I was going to run out of one of the materials and ordered what I thought the item was. It wasn't, but for the cost, it wasn't worth the hassle of doing a return. Luckily I had enough of the original supply to finish all 16. No picture until end of December.

I started something new, the Ghostie Girls table runner. I cut enough to make two. I haven't cut the borders yet. I figured I'd cut the correct measurements for my pieces at the end. 

Over on the UFO side, I completed one project--item 17, solid colored bed quilt. This one is for my daughter's bed at my house. This project was not without a hiccup or two. My target size was 90" x 103". That allowed 3% extra in each dimension for shrinkage after washing. After quilting and binding, it ended up 87.5" x 102". I didn't expect it to shrink that much side-to-side during quilting. I'm hoping it's not too narrow, but too late now!  I bound it using the darker backing color because I thought I had matching all-purpose thread whereas I knew I didn't have the lighter color. I didn't have a match for the dark either. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I also accidentally ripped the binding during the final stitching and had to rip out and repair part of it. I don't love the darker binding on the front, but it is okay. I didn't feel like ripping the whole thing off to switch to the lighter fabric and she was indifferent to the color. Once she's home for a visit again (hopefully this weekend) we will get it onto her bed.

Ripped binding.

Best I could do to get a whole-quilt picture at the moment.

I made progress on Unity. Parts one and two are completely sewn. That leaves parts three through seven to go. I don't love some of the blocks, so I was poking around the internet for inspiration. I really like Kate's round four changes and I will probably do something similar. I also like her changes to parts six/seven and may consider changing my blocks as well. I've also seen some versions that are square that I think I prefer. Normally I'm totally team oblong for quilts, but the square ones are speaking to me for this design. We'll see in probably four or five more years. 😅 I'm a bit sad that my favorite cherry print barely shows so far. 

Remember those quilt blocks I was gifted from my cousin? She asked her older sister, who told her she thought their grandmother (my great aunt) made them before she lost her thumb and two fingers in a workplace accident. I think that was back in the 1940s? Anyway, now we know.

I've slowly been working on quilting, but my health has been a hindrance. This virus really hit me. I hate to think what it would be like without shots. While I feel much better overall, I still can't smell anything and can barely taste anything. I also tire very easily, so I've been taking a lot of breaks. I'd hoped to have completed a few more quilts this week, but here we are.

The first quilt belongs to Shireen. I quilted it with Loops and Swirls.

Next is Carole's t-shirt quilted, quilted with Diagonal Plaid Bias. I need to bind this one.

I have managed to keep up with my walking every day, although some of the days I was moving so slowly I felt like I was barely moving. One night I saw this sunset. I sent it to my son and he told me it made him think of Folgers coffee. Wasn't expecting that.