Showing posts with label #DashAlong. Show all posts

Chaos in the Workspace

I've been pretty busy this past week, and my sewing room is showing it.  There is stuff piled everywhere.

 I quilted my Dash Along churn dash quilt over the weekend.  I made the top during a quilt along in 2018.  I originally was planning to custom quilt it, but didn't have the time or the plan figured, and I was itching to stitch out this new pantograph I got.  I wanted the scale to be very tiny, so it took eight million years (or so it felt like) to stitch it out.  In reality, the actual stitching time was around nine hours, plus the time to set it up, line up rows, change out bobbins, etc.  It took two days of work to complete the quilting, and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.  I just need to find the time to make and attach the binding.  The churn dash blocks are 12".
While Dash Along was being stitched, I was planning out my borders for the Frolic quilt.  I use planning in the loosest sense.  It was more of a "let's sew this together and sew this here and see what happens" kind of thing.  I think it's working out well, but I have a few other things to complete before I can get back to it.
The central part of the quilt top, trimmed and stay-stitched.
Joining the HST into flying geese units.
I made the inner border wider than was suggested.
Strips of flying geese border units.
Meanwhile, I am contemplating my color choices on For the Love of Geese.  I had a layout planned and then inadvertently switched some of the pieces while sewing.  I'm debating whether I can live with it or need to redo some.  I think the answer is that I need to redo some.  No one else would probably notice, but I think it would drive me crazy over time.  It's shown on the design wall, along with the lone part of the Bonnie Hunter Unity quilt I sewed.
I am also working on a client's quilt.  The quilting is nearly done, then I will make and attach the binding for her.  Her work takes precedence over mine, so this is what I will be working on for a few days before getting back to my stuff.
Here are a few other views of my sewing room this morning.
So that's where I'm at.  What's new with you?

 PS--My Blogger homepage or dashboard has a new look.  I'm not a fan.  While it is more visually appealing, the functionality and ease of locating things is seriously lacking.  Boo.  Bad choice, Google.

 Linking with For the love of geese and My Quilt Infatuation and Alycia Quilts.
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Churn Dash #dashalong Quilt & Sewing Room

This is the final week of the #dashalong quilt along on Instagram hosted by @kairleoaks and @heritagethreads.  I worked on my layout over the weekend and decided I needed to switch out two of my blocks that were too light.  I made two new ones in denim blue and that seemed to work out okay.

One thing I didn't consider before I started sewing was which direction to press the seams.  That made assembly a bit difficult.  Anyway, I sewed my blocks together and felt like the top needed a little something.  I added 4" wide borders (cut at 4.5").  I'm pretty pleased with the top.  What I like best is that I used fabrics I already had.  I did add in a few lighter blue fabrics since I was lacking there.  Only adding a few fat quarters for a quilt this size--I'll call that a win for using the stash.  


I really didn't want to spend money for backing because this is a large top--80" x 92".  I had a seven yard piece of fabric that I got on a super sale from Crimson Tate last summer.  While the blue isn't a perfect match, it is good enough.  I really have tried to embrace the "good enough" mindset on this top, along with several others this year.  I tend to get hung up in perfectionist mode and then I don't finish anything.  Anyway, I also wanted to use the two blocks I didn't use on the front.  I made two additional blocks and pieced together a "good enough" backing.  I haven't pressed it yet (clearly).

I'm pondering how to quilt it.  Here are some of the books I am using as reference.  I often turn to these for inspiration for custom (not allover pattern) inspiration.  What are your favorite quilting reference books?  Or where do you look online for quilting inspiration?
I'm also still trying to finish my EPP block that the Fat Quarter Shop did in 2015.  I just need to finish stitching it down to the background.  I am finding it really difficult.
I have the sewing room cabinet layout mostly hammered out.  I'm not entirely sure of it, but this weekend the construction begins.  My biggest problem is that I'd really like my sewing machine to be inset so that the tabletop is level with the sewing machine surface and I can't really envision how it will look.  My other issue is what to use for a countertop.  I'm leaning toward Formica for cost, but I want all finished edges and no corner seam.  We may be making custom Formica countertops (wouldn't be the first time, but it's not very fun and is really smelly with the glue).

I found these two articles to be really interesting this week:
1.  Quilt Market analysis
2.  article on blogging by Allison Harris

 Pile of quilts I'm contemplating selling.
I will be working on my guild swap project, quilting the #dashalong quilt, and helping on cabinets over the next week.  What will you be working on?
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Lots of Little Progresses

I don't feel like I've accomplished much since last week, but looking over my pictures, we've made a good deal of progress.

 First, the bathroom in the basement.  We were really hoping to have everything done by the end of last weekend, but the counter fitting took significantly longer than expected.  And we took several trips in to Menards and Lowes.  And we took our daughter practice driving on base and she sort of got pulled over by the Navy Police.  Mostly it was coincidence and he didn't use lights and we were in a parking lot and there wasn't any issue.  We got a fun story out of it.  

 Anyway, the bathroom walls are done and look great.  The toilet is back in, cleaned, and functional!  I may be most excited by this part.  The counter took a lot of lifting on and off because the drywallers built the corner out too much and it is out of square.  So my husband had to trim the quartz on one end to make it fit nicely.  I think we lifted that thing off and on four or five times and hauled it outside and back in a couple times.  But it's on.  

The next logical step would be to hook up the faucet, but I really wanted to see the light fixture on the wall.  So the light works and the plumbing hook ups and outlets are currently in progress.  I have cabinet knobs on order since the store only had three of the four I needed.  The only thing I still have left to buy is a mirror.  We debated getting a framed mirror since that is what is in style, but I have one upstairs and I hate it.  It collects all sorts of grime and dust.  I will purchase a big, beveled edge mirror because that is what I like.  Trends be darned.

In the sewing arena, I have now received all my Polaroid blocks.
Here are some I sewed for myself.
These are all the extra ones I have left.  I'm still open to side trades.
Here are all the diamond blocks that I am procrastinating on.  I was surprised by how yellow the fabric reads as a whole, although I'm happy to see it doesn't look quite as yellow in the photo.  Oh, and look--there are all those Queen Bee blocks that have been hanging around for a few years. The blocks that are left on that require appliqué or hand sewing.  Could that be why it's still unfinished???


I sewed up this quilt top from a kit I bought a few years ago.  There was supposed to be enough fabric  for the backing too, but they neglected to take into account that the fabric is directional. Duh.  So I am going to have to piece a backing somehow.  I bought a little extra fabric because I didn't like the flying geese main triangle fabric that came in the kit.  When I bought the extra fabric, it was a three fat quarter bundle, so I will probably try to make the extra fat quarters make up the difference on the backing.  Still, it is really annoying that they didn't give enough fabric to do it properly.
I went fabric shopping because I needed a few things.  (More below.) I was really happy to find some yardage so that I could make a backing for this quilt.  It's a great big one.  Not sure when I'll get to quilting it, but at least now I'm a step closer.
Finally, I joined another quilt along.  I didn't really need another project, as anyone who has visited my works in progress tab up above can attest to.  However, I'd been looking at just how much fabric I have and I was feeling pretty guilty over my excess.  I also was noticing how some of it goes together.  And I had seen mention of #DashAlong on Instagram and the quilt is one of my very favorite blocks, the Churn Dash.  While the pattern calls for a layer cake, I realized I had almost enough in my stash to do the entire thing.  I purchased four extra fabrics to balance out the colors.  There are so many different manufacturers in this--Riley Blake, Moda, Windham, Timeless Treasures, Cotton + Steel, Dear Stella, Kaufman, a few unknown (no selvage).  I hope it turns out well!  I'm terrible at envisioning a finished product.  It's not too late for you to join in too.  Just search for #DashAlong for the free pattern and details.
I'll be trimming HST for the rest of the week.  What are you working on?


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