Back Panel for Tell It to the Stars

It has been a month since I shared my Tell It to the Stars quilt top. Last week I started working on the back for this quilt. I didn't have quite enough of the fabric I'm planning to use for the back, but I  had some leftover/extra parts from making the front of the quilt. There were two of the alternate blocks, plus I made four more of those (see them in yesterday's post.) I also had the setting and corner triangles that didn't make the cut for the front of the quilt.

Setting and corner triangles

All of those alternate blocks and setting triangles have been joined together into a long, narrow panel which will run down the center of the quilt back. The photo shows that panel before the final seam was stitched. I knew there was no way I could get a photo of the entire piece all together--it measures about 17.5" x 103".

I need to add a little of the backing fabric at both ends of this panel to make it a bit longer. After that, all that's left is to attach lengths of backing fabric along each side of the panel--then my quilt will have a finished back (hopefully by the end of the week!)

I'm linking up to Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, and Moving It Forward at Em's Scrapbag. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

15 Minutes and Stash Report Sunday 10/28/18

It didn't seem like I used much fabric this week, but when I went to total up my numbers for the stash report, it came to 1.5 yards used. I consider that a pretty good week! That includes 3/4 yard for the sashing on the Spinning Boxes quilt, shown in yesterday's post, and another 3/4 yard to make four chain blocks for a pieced panel to insert into the backing of the Tell It to the Stars quilt. No new fabric was added this week.

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                    1.50 yards

Used year to date:                68.0 yards
Added last week:                    0.0 yards

Added year to date:             34.75 yards
Net used year to date:       33.25 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us keep track of how many days each week we are able to spend at least 15 minutes quilting, and my total for last week was 6 out of 7. For the first time in several months, my number of quilting days for the week was not a perfect 7 for 7. The last time that happened was in June when we spent a week visiting family in Wisconsin. This time around was another vacation week, but I spent the entire week at home. You might think that would mean more quilting time, but there were too many other things that really needed to get done instead.  

15 Minute Challenge:  
10/21 - 10/27        6 of 7 days
2018 Total      293 of 300 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate, and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. 

Julie in GA

Spinning Boxes Progress

The blocks and sashing for my Spinning Boxes quilt have all been joined together. There are three sections, and I am considering doing some kind of quilt-as-you-go method for finishing this quilt. I'm undecided if I will cut the batting and backing along those diagonal splits or leave them whole. Also unsure about how or when to add the border. If anyone has any suggestions, they would be greatly appreciated.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

15 Minutes and Stash Report Sunday 10/21/18

I had a couple of days off from work at the end of the week, which you might think would mean more time spent in the sewing room. Instead, I was so absorbed by other projects around the house that I didn't do any sewing until late in the day. I did spend at least a little time quilting each night, keeping up my excellent record towards Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces.

15 Minute Challenge:  
10/14 - 10/20        7 of 7 days
2018 Total      287 of 293 days

My quilting time for the week used a total of 1.375 yards. 7/8 yard of that was used on the half block setting triangles for the Spinning Boxes quilt that I shared in yesterday's post. The other 1/2 yard went into six more Dutchman's Puzzle/Flying Dutchman block variations. These are a group of blocks that I started making last fall when my musician husband was playing in the orchestra for a production of the opera "The Flying Dutchman." I suppose I should figure out a plan for these blocks one day soon!

Flying Dutchman variations, 8" blocks

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                  1.375 yards

Used year to date:                66.5 yards

Added last week:                    0.0 yards
Added year to date:             34.75 yards
Net used year to date:       31.75 yards

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate, and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. 

Julie in GA

Sashing the Spinning Boxes

Earlier in the week I shared some photos of fabrics being auditioned as possible sashing for the Spinning Boxes blocks that I have been making as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. A choice was made, and I have started joining the blocks into rows with the sashing. The blocks in the upper left corner have all been stitched together, plus the next row is ready to get the long sashing strips added. There is another row in process at the sewing machine, then the lower right corner will finish it off. 

The border strips along the left and top are just hanging out on the design wall to look at the scale. Right now they seem awfully wide to me, but we'll see how they look when the center of the quilt is complete. It's easy enough to trim them down if necessary.

I'm happy with the sashing/border fabric that I was able to pull from my stash for this quilt. I especially like the sparkle that the white spots add to the overall look.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Sashing Auditions

Since early this year, I have been making Spinning Boxes blocks as one of my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. The block is my own design, and you can find a tutorial for it HERE. I've made enough blocks for a throw quilt, and now is the time to figure out my setting.

All along I've felt that the blocks will look best set diagonally, and a few weeks ago I tried out a few fabrics for setting triangles. None of those fabrics seemed like the right choice, so I made partial blocks to use as the setting triangles. That leaves me with bias edges all around the quilt. To keep the stretchiness under control, I've decided to add sashing and a border for stability. Over the weekend I auditioned some fabrics from my stash.

Round one was light/medium grey prints. I like grey as a neutral with bright or rainbow blocks, but these greys didn't seem to add any life to the quilt blocks.

For the second round, I pulled out a darker grey strip, plus a few different black prints. I definitely prefer the way the black prints make the bright colors in the blocks pop. Anyone else have an opinion? 

I'm linking up to Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, and Moving It Forward at Em's Scrapbag. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

15 Minutes and Stash Report Sunday 10/14/18

Three-plus days with houseguests meant lots of fun, but not much time for quilting. We even went to a terrific quilt show together--the A Stitch in Time quilt show, held by the Quilters Guild of the Southern Crescent and the Common Threads Quilt Guild. So many wonderful quilts! This was my favorite, although there were many other excellent choices. My photo doesn't do justice to the beautiful, bright colors.

"Twist and Shout" by Teri Biglands
65" x 75", hand pieced and hand quilted

I can't imagine tackling that design! I think hand piecing it would be the only way to go with all those curves. I wonder how long it took her?

The change to my stash is very small this week--3/8 yard used for my Squared Away blocks, which you can see in yesterday's post. No additions--it's a good thing there weren't any vendors at the quilt show!

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                    .375 yards

Used year to date:             65.125 yards

Added last week:                    0.0 yards
Added year to date:             34.75 yards
Net used year to date:       30.375 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. I did manage to get a little quilting time every day, mostly by hand-stitching hexagons while we watched TV in the evenings.

15 Minute Challenge:  
10/7 - 10/13          7 of 7 days
2018 Total      280 of 286 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate, and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. 

Julie in GA

Squared Away in Dark Greens

All year at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, many of us have been joining in on the Squared Away sampler designed by Mari and Angela. The block for October is called Dewey Dream, and it is the last block we will be making for the year. Here are my October blocks, including one with the colors reversed. I also made two blocks from the 2017 Fat Quarter Shop Patchwork Quilt Along. All of the blocks finish at 7.5".

It has been such fun following along on the Squared Away sampler. Huge thanks to Mari and Angela for the wonderful quilt-along. I can't wait to put all of my blocks up on the design wall too see how they look together!

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

15 Minutes and Stash Report Sunday 10/7/18

There's not much change to my stash usage number this week. After finishing two quilt tops last week, I had a hard time figuring out what to work on next and mostly concentrated on doing a little bit of cleaning up (which my sewing room desperately needs!) I did use 3/8 yard to make three Spinning Boxes blocks which were shared in yesterday's post.

There was fabric added to the stash for the first time in two months. I am getting close to finishing making the blocks for a couple of Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects, and picked up a couple of options to use for sashing on my blocks--2.5 yards added.

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                   .375 yards

Used year to date:              64.75 yards

Added last week:                    2.5 yards
Added year to date:             34.75 yards
Net used year to date:       30.0 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. I'm still keeping up with quilting every day!

15 Minute Challenge:  
9/30 - 10/6           7 of 7 days
2018 Total      273 of 279 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate, and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. 

Julie in GA

Spinning the Greens

It's Rainbow Scrap Challenge day again, and this month our color assignment is dark and sage greens. We used light greens, lime and yellow greens back in March. Like most months, my first blocks to be completed for the month are the Spinning Boxes blocks. Here are the three new blocks that were made this week along with two lighter green blocks from the spring.

I'm still planning to set these blocks on point, but haven't spent any more time auditioning possible setting and/or sashing fabrics. Thanks to everyone for their comments and opinions on the options I showed in last month's post. Stay tuned for future plans and ideas!

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA