Sue

With limited sewing time this week, I focused on finishing our quilt group project. We meet weekly, in person or via FaceTime, & each sew the same quilt in our own color palettes. One member loves samplers, so we often do a sampler quilt where we are sewing 2 or 3 different blocks each week. We worked together on the sashings between the four-patched blocks, then started on the larger double sashing between the blocks. This week we met in person for lunch & a gift exchange, so last week at our final 2024 meeting we decided to finish our rows on our own. That became my only sewing this week & since it’s my least favorite part of quilting, I’m really glad it’s over & maybe I can get in some peaceful soul-filling sewing tucked in between Christmas activities.

This is Two-Step from Lissa Alexander’s book “Scrap School” & I got it all webbed & sewn into a flimsy this week. It’s been busy so that’s been all the sewing that’s happened, but it’s an RSC finish for this year, so I’m happy.

After many starts & stops, I have a finish! Finished the hand-sewn binding this week on Bonnie Hunter’s Cherry Crunch. Mine is smaller than hers, so I have orphan string blocks that need to be made into a donation baby quilt. I love that red piano keys border & all the fun LV prints. It’s totally scrappy, for sure, & all from the stash. Now I’m sewing binding on her Indigo Sky Mystery quilt in the evenings.

I got the binding sewed on this quilt just in time for the Festival of Trees in Salt Lake City this week. It’s part of our auction grouping for my brother-in-law, an Air Force pilot killed in the line of duty in 1995. This is the 25th year we’ve had something for auction at the Festival. It used to be a large tree, but as my mother-in-law aged, it got too hard. Since 2016, I make a quilt & Paul’s widow & daughter pick the theme & get books & toys to go with the quilt. This year we had 11 bids & it went for $750, so we were pleased. All the money raised goes for charity care at Primary Children’s Medical Center.

The big project this week was the gifts for Monday’s quilt group luncheon. I had to pivot after the broken hand as it became obvious I wouldn’t get the wool ornaments done, so I fell back on an old standard that I could actually make in my present condition, which is these Amy Smart tree ornaments. She has a free tutorial. They are quick & easy, plus cute. Win!

Squee! I finally started a bucket list quilt this week. It’s a hand-applique orange peel that I’ve wanted to do forever. I decided 2024 was the year & watched tutorials, decided on my method, & bought some background fabric to match another blue I already owned. I prepped the first blocks to start sewing the weekend I fell & broke my hand. But I took them to quilt group on Monday & was able to sew the first three while I was there & this is going to be my weekly project as we chat while doing handwork. The petals are all going to be low-volumes I have on hand. I’m loving these! In case you’re wondering, my technique is a combo of Amy Smart & Jill Finley.

I’m just slowly fussing around with these Ocean Waves blocks as another L&E project. I’ve finished four, but the first was my test block & I don’t know where I put it in my studio. (eye roll) I’m sure I’ll find it, but it will go in that empty spot to complete the bigger pattern. This is an attempt to use up all the little cut off triangles I’ve been saving for forever.

I sewed together RSC2024 project #5 of 8, which is the Lori Holt wonky FPP hearts. I used most of two layer cakes to make a lap-size quilt & am super happy with the rainbow goodness. Also that I got to use my hoarded Tula Pink Fairy Dust background. It’s so awesome! With everything that’s happened in 2024, I’m pretty impressed that I’ve gotten this much done on my RSC projects this year. I may even get them all finished next month!

I had fun doing Bonnie Hunter’s winter mystery last year, although it’s quilted & still needs binding, but hey, I sewed it up by the spring! Then life happened. Anyway, I’m in for another year, so I got Part 1 all cut out, which is a challenge with the healing hand. Cutting is hard for my broken left hand to hold templates.

Then I got them all sewed up, a third of them trimmed, & strips sewn for Pt. 2. So it’s coming along but sub-cutting is next & I have to take the cutting slowly. And there is some Christmas gift sewing in my future.

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving if you celebrate it in the US, & have a great wintery sewing week!