UFO Report for 2011

So, I have four quilts done that weren't before, that's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. I also made a very involved wall hanging for our pastor, from nothing to done in 2 1/2 months. I made 3 quilts of valor from start to finish, and tops, tops, tops, 7 new tops,4 finished , not a good ratio. I also made 3 cord baskets, a professional tote and upholstered a couch. Below is what happened with the UFOs I listed for Judy Laquidara's UFO challenge. Some are going back on the list for next year.





1. Disappearing 9-patch swap quilt-done quilted and will be gifted this season. (one down)

2. One block wonder--this one still needs to be sandwiched and quilted. Didn't even touch it. It was sometime after June, I don't remember when, and that's when I fell off the wagon!

3.Brights round robin quilt--also waiting to be sandwiched and quilted. Also didn't touch it, though I know where it is!

4. Done, done done. I still have this in the closet, it may be gifted before the end of the year, too. Just don't know who to.

5. Not done, not touched. It needs to be pressed and all the threads trimmed from the back. I made this and used it as a duvet cover. Washed it once and decided it would fall apart if I used it again. I love it, and just need to do some manicuring on it, then sandwich and quilt.

6.Done, finished, gifted. I know when I give things away, they should be without strings, but I didn't even get a thank you for this. Ah well, I love it and enjoyed making it.

7. Another one I didn't touch. It only needed some kind of border, then to be sandwiched and quilted. It's just wall hanging size, so not too difficult.

8.Not touched. It was another that was towards the end of the year (well after June at least). It's wall hanging size and I need to decide what to do with it. I think it needs some kind of applique, but not too much. I think this will go on the list for next year. I could get pretty creative.

9. I was about done, and ready to finish it...just the borders to be done. I showed it to the recipient, and she asked if I could make it about 8 inches wider on each side so she could use it as a bed cover. That stumped me, so I've been avoiding it. I decided I will finish it as is, and she can buy something to put under it, but I just can't figure out how to make it wider without going insane.

10. I finished this and hated it (because of the pain in the butt it was to finish it), but I use it almost every day now when sitting at my computer. It's about the perfect size for putting over my lap to keep my legs warm, and because of all the seams it is warm!

11.I did end up getting the borders on this one, but now it needs to be sandwiched and quilted. I like it!

12. I didn't touch this one either. Probably going on the list for next year.

Totally Tubular Quilt

Here us the quilt I am working on...

from this book...

...with these fabrics.

Unfortunately I worked about 4 hours yesterday and pinned every intersection...wrong. See the strip set in the center. The line of black and white squares go from upper left to lower right? That is the correct direction. See the strip set in the lower left...those go from upper right to lower left...that's the wrong direction. I only sewed one set correctly, and the rest, all wrong. So I have to un-sew every seam that I pinned so very carefully. I think this one is being put away for a while. I even took out one seam yesterday, and sewed it back, and that was wrong too. I'm only supposed to have 6 strips per set, and that one I have 8 strips. Guess I wasn't too focused.

Well, back to the old drawing board!

A Mystery/Puzzle for me

Look what I unearthed (well actually un-boxed). Got 4 more boxes from under the house. This was one of them. There was some other fabric in the box, but this is the mystery. I have the book, I have my directions, but there are cryptic notes, and diagrams that don't match the book. I have to go back in time--way back, to try to figure out what the heck I was thinking!

I wonder if it will ever get done? I think I was going to make a king size quilt, but I don't know if I want this on my bed. My room is now in blues and greens--I don't think this would go too well. Maybe I need to bring it into the bedroom in the light and see what it looks like. It might be like a field of flowers--who knows.

Quilt for an Hour--more sewing.

I have been sewing a bit on the Quilt for an Hour from Judy Laquidara. It's not the current one, but from the Spring. I put it in a 12/12 drawer and all the pieces stayed together. That made starting again much easier. I think I only have 6 more blocks to sew together (well, and those that are above the sewing machine). By the way, if you're wondering, the wide blue tape on my sewing machine holds the bed of the sewing machine on. I have a machine with a bed that allows easy sewing of armholes, etc. so this extra one goes on. Unfortunately, in the past 2o years the little plastic bits have broken off, so I hold it together with tape. I suppose I could go t a Bernina store and see if they could fix it--what a thought.

I think I will be able to finish it sometime this week (well the top anyway)

More tops to finish

I decided that I would post pictures of the tops I am going to finish, before I start another quilt. I don't have them all here, but it is a beginning.

This first one is a la Ricky Tims. I took two hand dyed pieces of fabric and cut them apart, then "converged" them. I really, really like this one, but I have no idea what I should do to quilt it. It was so simple to do (just a little attention to detail and this is what I got--wow!

This one is also a convergence quilt, but of the more popular variety. It is only about 24 inches square--again, I have no idea how to quilt it, but I will work on something that will add to the quilt. This top was finished in 2002, I think, and the one above while I was in Germany, so I think 2005.

This one was just finished in May--but it was a retirement present and the retiree has left. It is a signature quilt and will be fourth in line after I finish the 3 quilts for my great-nieces.

Here is one I started in a class--I don't know if I'll ever finish it. The class was with Jackie Robinson and through my quilt guild--hmmmm, 5 years or so ago. I still have the fabrics I collected for it, but I think I may have lost interest. I'll have to look back at the directions to see if I think it still holds my interest enough.

This last one started out as just the blocks--love the colors, love the stack n' whack technique. Then I saw the venetian tiles setting on Bethany Reynolds website and AFTER I had already pieced the blocks, I tried to figure out how to make the tiles. It looks OK, but will need a lot of smoothing. The bias edges have stretched some--I want this one to have some special quilting too.

And just for fun, a detail of the tiles top.

I'll post more when I get pictures of them.

Mary

Top Finished

I got the slash a stash quilt top finished. I think it might need borders still. I have extra fabric from the blocks I made, so I will do something with it--maybe a piano keys border. Whatever it is, it will be something relatively simple. I like the way the blocks came out, the center squares almost look like they are transparent and the colors have changed.

Things to finish

I started another quilt for another great niece. I had some of the fabric cut for the "County Roads" pattern that I had decided to make, but I want to do something different. I have the blocks that will be cut into quadrants made. Now I have to stack and shuffle them and resew them.

These are all fabrics that I bought last year--the half yard boxes of yellow and green. I will cut each of these into four pieces and shuffle them around and resew them. After I get this top done I will start quilting the baby quilts, and then start working on UFOs.

I have quite a few to finish--
blue Irish chain duvet cover--still needs the border too
round robin from 2002 or 2003
jewel box--I think this one needs at least part of a border
venetian tiles wall hanging
convergence quilts (2)
4-patch posies baby quilt--need to get this one done early--the baby is only 1 year old so I still have time
oriental lap quilt--a wedding present--they've been married about 5 years now

That's all I can remember without going into the boxes and pulling everything out. I'll add to it when I have time to actually look and pile.

Mary