I lost the first two weeks of the new year with "THE VIRUS". I don't know who I got it from. It doesn't really matter. I survived and it was a relatively light case. So far Clyde hasn't succumbed so hopefully he's bypassed it.
This past week I have been much better and was even interested in getting back into the sewing room. Back in December I saw where American Patchwork & Quilting was doing their UFO Challenge. I didn't realize before but this is the 7th year! I selected 12 projects that are truly "unfinished" to add to my list (one for each month). Some are barely started. They randomly select a number each month and the project corresponding to that number is the one you work on that month.
My first project was probably the easiest one on my list. I had started three baby quilts from one layer cake made from Tula Pink's "Chipper" fabric in May 2018. I had finished one of them in February before the "stay at home" mandate was issued. The other two tops were already made, all I needed was to add the borders and get them quilted.
The first one is completed. The other two are now in the "to be quilted" stack.
When I sew, I use Leaders/Enders, which is a way to work on two quilts at the same time without wasting thread and/or sewing on a scrap piece of fabric to throw away when it's full. Once you try it, you won't be able to sew without a leader or ender. This is an "ask me how I know" moment.
Bonnie Hunter introduces a new
Leader/Ender project each July. When I was getting close to 100 or so blocks, I determined how I wanted to lay out my quilt. I'm not very proficient in EQ but I can "make it do" when I want to. (I should have put that on my list as one of my UFOs. Learn to navigate Electric Quilt!!) Anyway, I determined how many blocks I was going to need and kitted up the remaining pieces. Last night, I sewed my last one. I had already started putting together some of the blocks...
First 9-Patch
1/4th of the center of the top
For my new leader/ender project (you know I can't sew without one), I pulled out Talking' Turkey, also a Bonnie Hunter pattern. (From her book,
String Fling) I took a class from her in Birmingham in 2017!! I've made progress on making the pieces thru the years but am getting closer to being able to make it a top!! I have lots of flying geese to make and they make really good l/e's.
Speaking of Bonnie, I'm also working on her annual mystery quilt.
Grassy Creek. After being down a couple weeks, my girls were so excited when I sent them a picture of the blocks on my design wall. That meant I was feeling a whole lot better. (The mystery clues will be under this special tab until Feb 12, I think. After that it will be offered as a digital pattern.)
My design wall is in the hallway. We live in an old house with 12' ceilings and a central hall that leads to all the rooms. Not wide enough to get a straight on picture. But it works really well for me.
I'm making progress and I'll post more pictures in my next post. I think this is good for now.
