30's Pinwheels--First Finish of 2025!

One of my top quilting goals for 2025 is to finish more quilts. Like many other quilters, I am much better at starting quilt projects than finishing. To tell the truth, I don't really enjoy doing the machine quilting, and I certainly can't afford to have everything I make long-armed. That has resulted in a closet full of unquilted quilt tops, and this year is the time to do something about it.

One theory I've read about ways to reduce your number of UFOs is to start with the ones that need the least work to be completed. This little quilt was an easy choice from that perspective. The top had been finished back in May, 2016, and it was quilted later that same year. I even went ahead and made the binding back then too, but for some reason, it never got bound, until now. This is 30's Pinwheels Baby Quilt #2.

30's Pinwheels Baby Quilt #2

39" square

Here's a closer look at some of the fabrics in the current finish. I wish I had more of that diagonal plaid, but it's quite old. Actually, most of my stash of 30's fabrics is at least 20 years old, with the majority of fabrics purchased between 2000 and 2005.

For a bit of style contrast, I used a fun tie-dye swirl print flannel for the backing. That's another fabric I would use again and again if I had more.

This little quilt is a companion to another baby quilt that was finished early in 2016. At the time I made enough pinwheel blocks for both quilts, one of which got finished right away and given to a new great niece (now 8 years old!) I couldn't find any photos of that first quilt finished, but here are all the blocks for it on my design wall. The plaid in the large pinwheels is the same design as the border fabric in the new quilt, but the colors are different (more pastel, pink instead of red.) 

30's Pinwheels baby quilt #1, 2016

When I was checking my box of 30's fabrics to see what I had left of the border/sashing/setting fabrics, I made an amazing find--two Ziploc bags with still more 30's pinwheel blocks. According to a note in with the blocks, there are close to 150 of them! I looked back at past blog posts and discovered that I made them as leaders and enders at various times between 2018 and 2020. What a treasure trove to discover! I am envisioning several more pinwheel baby quilts to come.

Stacks of pinwheel blocks

Linking up with:

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework

Happy quilting!

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 32, 2020

I had big plans to make some purple and pink Square Dance blocks last week, but it hasn't happened yet. Instead, my main project was cleaning up and starting to go through some of the piles around my sewing machine. There was one stack of already-cut pieces that just needed to be stitched up right away.

Our color for the month at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is purple, so these lovely 30's lavenders fit right in with that. The colors came out a little dull in the photo. I have over 100 more pinwheel blocks made from 30's fabrics, just waiting to become a cheerful quilt or two. I am especially fond of these fabrics for baby quilts.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. I hope you are all staying well and getting lots of quilting done!

Julie in GA 

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday: Week 5, 2019

Just as suspected last week, I have started far too many new projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge over the past month. There's no way I can keep up with all of these. Let me show you what I'm talking about (regular RSC readers will have seen some of the following photos already.) All measurements listed are finished block sizes.

#1 & #2. String blocks (6") and crumb blocks (4")

#3. Rolling 9-Patch (5")

#4. 30's Pinwheels (4")

#5. Framed Crumb Star (12")

#6. Orange Peel (3")

#7. Stair Steps (6")

#8. Tiny Tuesday/RSC Sampler 2019 (4.5")

Here is a shot of most of these blocks together on the design wall. The missing blocks are the 30's Pinwheels and the Rolling 9-Patches, which I have already decided not to continue with as 2019 RSC projects.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks, January, 2019

Oh no! EIGHT PROJECTS?! How in the world did that happen? Here I thought I wasn't doing much quilting in January. Just shows how wrong you can be. I certainly won't be able to keep up with all of these for the rest of the year. The current plan is to keep going on the following:

1. Orange Peels

2. Tiny Tuesday sampler 

3. Stair Steps

4. Framed Crumb Star

5. Crumb blocks (tentative) 

Doing the Orange Peels provides my needed applique project for the train ride to work. I enjoy following along on the RSC sampler projects, and I can't wait to play with different layouts of those Stair Steps blocks. The Framed Crumb Star means I need to make at least one crumb block each month. Who knows how many more might happen. There, I guess I've settled on my RSC plan for 2019!

Don't worry about the projects that didn't make the cut; they will be delayed until another time. The red 30's Pinwheels will join the other finished pinwheel blocks in my box of 30's projects, and there may be other colors joining them occasionally but not every month. The Rolling 9Patch blocks may become a little wall-hanging or table topper, perhaps with some more red blocks added because I have extra 9-patches already made. The string blocks will join some others from the past and wait for the right time to be used.

It's time for me to make this week's Tiny Tuesday block, then start pulling out the yellow scraps for February. What are you making with your scraps?

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Stitching and DeStashing: Week 3, 2019

It's a miracle--I have a three-day weekend! Day one was mostly lazy, recovery time from the recent crazy weeks at work. Today I have a little more energy, but am still moving slowly. I hope to get in some quilting time this evening and tomorrow.

I feel fortunate to have managed to find time for quilting on 6 of the past 7 days. There was even some machine piecing during that time, not just handwork like the previous week. It's time for me to get back to a regular quilting routine and make some serious progress on my quilt projects.

15 Minute Challenge:  

1/13 - 1/19          6 of 7 days

2019 Total        17 of 19 days

There was no new fabric added to the stash last week, and 3/4 yard was used on my pinwheels leader/ender blocks. I added 9 red and 21 green blocks to the other blocks in the collection. I already have pieces cut for additional pinwheels in blues and lavenders.

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                          .75 yards

Used year to date:                     2.00 yards
Added last week:                         0.0 yards

Added year to date:                     0.0 yards
Net used year to date:           2.00 yards

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

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Revisiting my Red Scraps

It seems like forever since I didn't have to work on a Saturday (the last time was Christmas weekend, which also feels like an eternity ago.) We didn't find out until 11:30 last night that there was no work call today, but it felt so good to sleep in this morning, then spend some time checking out this week's posts to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Now I am finally ready to add my own post to the group.

It has been a slow start to the RSC for me this year. I am still trying to figure out my plans for RSC projects. I've been making sample blocks of a couple of ideas, plus stitching up some basic blocks from assorted scraps. My first batch of blocks are some crumb blocks which measure 4.5" unfinished. There were originally two more blocks, but they have already been repurposed. 

Crumb blocks

One of the repurposed crumb blocks became the center of a sawtooth star. The star was then surrounded by a frame made from 2.5" squares. The finished size of this block is 12". I'm thinking about making another one from 2" squares and doing two rows of framing--maybe for next week?

Framed Crumb Star

Some other red stitching over the past several weeks has been HST's from my 30's fabrics made into 4" pinwheels. I have been stitching these as leaders and enders in between other piecing. 

30's Pinwheels

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Stash Report and 15 Minute Challenge 7/1/18

Even though I returned to work last week after two weeks of vacation, I still had a productive week of quilting. I finished a baby quilt in time for the shower on Friday (see it in THIS POST) and completed my Scraptastic Star blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

Yesterday while attempting to tidy up a bit in the sewing room, I discovered a stack of pinwheel blocks made from 30's reproduction fabrics. These had been my leader/ender blocks in the recent past, but all the blocks that were cut out have been stitched and trimmed. These blocks finish at 4". I will probably turn them into a baby quilt, but need to make some more green and blue blocks to balance out all the warm colors. 

For the stash report,  3/8 yard was used for the baby quilt binding, 1/2 yard for the Scraptastic Stars, and 1 yard for the pinwheel blocks. No new fabric was added to the stash.

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                  1.875 yards

Used year to date:             41.375 yards

Added last week:                    0.0 yards
Added year to date:              23.0 yards
Net used year to date:      18.375 yards

My fabric stash goals for the year were to use at least 100 yards and to use more fabric than I add. Despite some recent purchases, I have kept my additions well below the amount used. I will need to increase my usage each month in order to reach the 100 yards used goal--maybe by making a back or two for the quilt tops that are hanging around. The goals are still well within reach!

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. Returning to work after two weeks off limited my time for quilting, but I was able to get some time every single day, especially since I am back to stitching hexies on my morning commute most days.

15 Minute Challenge:  
6/24 - 6/30              7 of 7 days
2018 Total         175 of 181 days

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

Julie in GA

Orange Blocks for September

When I was pulling out all of  the orange blocks I've made for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this month, I made the happy discovery that my Scrappy Trips blocks are the same size as the Ribbon Stars that have been joined into groups of four. They make a good-looking combination!

The rest of my orange blocks are made from my collection of 30's fabrics. The pinwheels and nine-patch blocks don't fit together quite as neatly as the other blocks, but it's a pretty group of pastel blocks.

I'm anxious to find out what our RSC color will be for October. I just checked Angela's page for the 2017 RSC, and it shows that we will be using pink for October. That leaves darks (brown, black) for November, and December is assembly/finishing time. Now is also a good time to start thinking about a new RSC project or two for 2018!

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

Stash Report Sunday 9/17/17

It seems like I should have more usage to report for last week after several days off from work. The majority of my time was spent putting together the sections of my Ring Cycles quilt. I am waiting to report the fabric used on that when I get the quilt top together. I did make good progress on a couple of Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects, using over two yards, mostly on orange blocks. You can see my orange Ribbon Star blocks in YESTERDAY'S POST. Here is a batch of pinwheels made from my collection of 30's reproductions. 

I came very close to ordering some sale fabrics from Hancock's this week, but stayed strong and deleted the sale emails. No fabric added for the week!

2017 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:              2.125 yards

Used year to date:         65.375 yards

Added last week:                 0.0 yards
Added year to date:            8.25 yards

Net used year to date:  57.125 yards

I am continuing to join Kate at Life in Pieces in tracking how many days each week I manage to get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. I am back on track with finding some time to quilt every single day.

15 Minute Challenge:  
9/10 - 9/16                7 of 7 days
2017 Total          252 of 259 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate, and add your own report so we can keep the linky going. 

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 5/2/16

The collection of pinwheel blocks from my 30's fabrics is in the process of becoming a second baby quilt. There are still plenty of pinwheels left--I wonder how many quilts I can make with them!

Here are the pinwheels that will be used in this quilt. Next they will get sashing and cornerstones.

I am sharing with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times, and  Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt.

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 4/18/16

I have been making lots of pinwheel blocks from my collection of 30's fabrics. I think I probably have almost enough blocks for two baby quilts. The first photo shows the layout I was originally planning to use. Now I can really see how bad the lighting is in these photos--so sorry!

While making the last few of the yellow blocks, I had the idea of joining the small pinwheels into groups of four, then alternating them with the larger pinwheels. Here is what that layout would look like.

Now I don't know which way to go because I like both designs. I would love to make two quilts, but unfortunately I don't have any more of the plaid to make more large pinwheel blocks. I might have to see if I have another multi-color print that I could use for large pinwheels in a second quilt.

I am sharing with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times and Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt.

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 4/17/16

After three weeks of working crazy, long hours, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. I was thrilled to be able to enjoy a three-day weekend off, which has been largely filled with quilting time. I spent so much time cutting, stitching and pressing yesterday that I ended up rather stiff and sore by evening. I will have to be more careful about pacing myself today!

My last stash report was two weeks ago. All of my usage has been pinwheel blocks from 30's fabrics for a baby quilt. I have figured out my setting for them, and I probably have enough pinwheels to make more than one baby quilt. The photo shows a small selection of blocks. I hope to make the last few blocks today and start joining them together. Watch for my design wall post tomorrow to see the layout possibilities.

STASH TOTALS: 
Used this week:            2.625 yards     

Used year to date:          23.0 yards

Stashed this week:           0.0 yards

Stashed year to date:    19.25 yards 

 Net year to date:   3.75 yards used

I am joining Kate at Life in Pieces in tracking the number of days each week that I spend at least 15 minutes quilting. The more days  I quilt, the more quilts I can get done and the more fabric used. I've had very few large chunks of time available, but I still manage to get in at least 15 minutes most days.

15 Minute Challenge:  

April 3 - 16                12 of 14 days

April total                  14 of 16 days

Year to date             101 of 107 days


350 Block Challenge at Prairie Moon Quilts: 

Block total for April:      86 

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.  I am also linking up with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework.

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 4/11/16

I only have time for a very quick blog post. It has been two weeks since my last design wall post, mostly because there has been very little to show. Crazy long hours at work have left me with limited time and energy for quilting. However, I have made a little progress on my 30's pinwheel blocks. I finished some of the blue and green pinwheels, plus a few more of the larger plaid blocks. I still need to cut the pink and yellow fabrics.

The large blocks in the photo above finish at 8", and the smaller pinwheels are 4". This is not the way they will be arranged in the finished quilt.

I am sharing with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, Scraptastic Tuesday at Mrs. Sew and Sow, and Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework.

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 4/3/16

Long hours at work over the past week have seriously limited my quilting time. Next week is likely to be much the same. I did manage to use 5/8 yard of fabric making the first batch of blocks for a baby quilt. Spring has gotten me in the mood for pastels, and I have enjoyed using some of my 30's collection for this project.

For many months I'd been hoping to find a good price on Minick & Simpson's "Polka Dots and Paisleys" line, and I finally got one that I liked. The Fat Quarter Shop had Jolly Bars (5" x 10" cuts) on sale for 50% off, so I grabbed two sets plus a coordinating panel. I feel another Quilt of Valor coming!

STASH TOTALS: 
Used this week:              .625 yards     

Used year to date:       20.375 yards

Stashed this week:           3.5 yards

Stashed year to date:    19.25 yards 

 Net year to date:   1.125 yards used

I am joining Kate at Life in Pieces in tracking the number of days each week that I spend at least 15 minutes quilting. The more days  I quilt, the more quilts I can get done and the more fabric used. 

15 Minute Challenge:  

March 27 - April 2          7 of 7 days

March total                29 of 31 days

Year to date              89 of 93 days


350 Block Challenge at Prairie Moon Quilts: 

This week's block total:    20
Block total for March:      160 

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.  

Julie in GA