Virtual Quilting Weekend--Dec 16-12/26/23
 

My sincere apologies! I put the December VQW on my calendar for next weekend instead of this one. So I am getting it started late. Thanks to those who reminded me :) Since I am starting it late, I thought I would extend it through Christmas in case anyone is working on last minutes gifts for this year or getting an early start for next year! And I will do an extra one for New Years Eve/New Years Day.

Now I'm off to my sewing room to clean it. It looks like a hurricane hit it. And again, I'm so sorry for the late start.

I have a few projects to wrap up and husband is gone for a few hours. But first I have to attend to the wine we have going. That should only take 40 minutes or less, then its on to sewing the baby gift, and some coasters. Thanks Heather

Thanks for the December VQW. I'm working on Bonnie Hunter's winter mystery and maybe a leader-ender project will slip in too.

Well, my sewing room is in much better shape now. I cut fabric to make several children's pillowcases and cut out some Christmas ornaments to stitch together. All in all-a good day.

Hope your quilting is going well, I will check back in tomorrow afternoon.

I have a comfort quilt that I want to work on the machine quilting. Only squished in an hour earlier, but my good friend who is doing chemo and radiation through the week, asked me to play crib. I was happy to drop everything and enjoy her company. Hope to spend some time stitching in the next few days, and wowzers…. This thread is for ten days! We should get some stitches in and reported, thanks!

Merry Christmas to me! I am *finally* quilting MY quilt - replacing a well loved, now tattered wedding gift from my aunt (a *master* quilter). Just some simple spirals. Its a scrappy - fast quilt and my longarm does not have any robotics so....I just want to get it done.

Sending Love to everyone. Merry Christmas!! Happy Hanukkah!! and a spiritual Solstice to all who celebrate the season.

God evening everyone. I’m in again.

Today I quilted a baby top for a friend. The I sewed the center blocks together for my niece. I’m debating if I want my borders colors to be gray, black, red or white, black, and red. This was the twin quilt I planned that turned into a king quilt she requested. It’s looking okay. I just will be happy when it’s completed. I also planned 4 more twin tops I said I would make for my grand niece kids. Oh well I will work on one of these starting tomorrow. I have several ideas, so just need to find fabric for my patterns and start cutting.

Been working on the winter mystery clues, clue 2 is finished and I've been working on clue 3 today.

I've got borders to figure out and add to my One Block Wonder made with panels. I didn't use the panel on the front as I didn't really like the panel all that much. I'll use the 7th panel as part of the back. Spent all day yesterday with some of our Native American friends pacing wreaths as part of the Wreaths Across America Project, then had lunch and conversation. Today the weather is supposed to be bad so will have all day to sew!

Since I was a hunting widow yesterday, I got a lot accomplished. I started the day with a quick organization of my workroom. Not actual cleaning or anything! I have almost half of the blocks made for my pixel seahorse. Each block is 100 squares-1.25" with 1/4" SA. I find the pieces I need, then make rows into blocks. I'm happy with one block per day, but yesterday, almost 6!
I chose the Michael Miller Fairy Frost collection. Love it!! I have definitely developed a system for pressing seams for this type of construction!!
Oh, and the white squares are the Glow in the Dark fabric from the collection-just experimenting!

Count me in! I've got one more gift to make and then I can get back to regular quilting projects. My Around the World quilt has three more borders to be ditched-- It's slow going as each border is made up of 9 log cabin blocks and the four corners are also log cabin blocks. I can do 2 or 3 blocks in a sitting before my hands start to act up, so probably won't be gettin the ditching finished during this VQW- but one can hope. I really want to get to the decorative quilting on this one as I'm trying something new design-wise.

Rob

Aashley333, you have such an interesting project on the go, and a whole lot of patience, wow!

I have been paper piecing up a storm and now have all my (triangle) blocks pieced. I think my daughter will love the colors on this! Next up is sewing the blocks into rows.

Hmmm ... looking at the image I see that I have several pairs of the blocks in the wrong (swapped) positions. The detail oriented folks can have fun trying to spot them, if it amuses them. ;)

I am working on Bonnie's mystery. Due to medical issues, I got sidetracked for a while. I have clue 1 all done, Clue 2 is cut, working on Clue 3 to get it cut. May also do the clutting for Clue 4 before sitting down to do all the stitching or I may skip Clue 4 for now. But yikes another clue on Friday!

Platyhiker, love your colours and design!

Another person taking a computer break from the Bonnie Hunter Mystery project. Thanks to Heather and greetings to all, and a special goodness! to Aashley!!

My contractor is done with this go-round of projects. I should probably be unpacking things but I've got sewing to do :) I've been having a terrible time keeping my concentration but last night set up a small stereo and am able to work for much longer with music to keep my company. Need to get caught up with the mystery because my MIL is not doing well and we will probably be taking a trip to visit with her over Christmas. She fell and hurt herself just before Thanksgiving and had to spend a couple of days in the hospital and then in a recovery center, but it is clear after observation that her mental state means she is not going to be able to live alone any longer. So sad.

Platyhiker What is the pattern name? Love the colors.

I was able to do the binding on both leg holes and make the bag and pockets for the shopping cart cover. Today I need to do very large button holes for where the straps come thru (need to set up a different machine) and encase the outer edge for the elastic and bind the pockets and bag before attaching. Then I will get back to the coasters. Or I might work on some QAYG for a room divider that ended up too narrow after washing, so I took it apart to add more.

Happy sewing! (DH is taking over the kitchen today so I'm banished to the sewing room :) :))

I finished! I finished the quilting on 98 x 98 bed quilt for us. Pulled it off the longarm...just needs trimming and binding..

Brought out the next project and draped it over the bars to let the folds relax out

The pattern is called Hexadaisy and is a very reasonable $4.50 on Etsy. It's a digital download. It's a paper pieced pattern, and the pieces shown in the pdf are for the 24" finished size, and there are tables with the info on the resize factor to use to get other sizes. There is a coloring sheet included, to make it easy to play with different color layout options. (I copied the image into Paint which made it super easy to color in.)

For anyone making this pattern, I highly recommend the patterns instruction to make a copy of the coloring sheet and then cut it up into all the component triangles. With the rainbow option (12 different colors), every block is different but some are very similar, and it would be very easy to get lost. Looking at the triangles for the what I was working on (I liked doing about 3 at a time), I could easily check my work - e.g. I"ve got the light blue and dark blue over here in that order, so the next strip is the *light* green, not the dark green".

Wow—there is such a variety of projects. After church I was in the kitchen today. Tomorrow I’m supposed to quilt at local shop with a friend. But we’ll see what the weather is doing in the morning. The roads might be a little slippery in which case we’ll cancel. But hopefully it will be ok. Keep up the good work!

Aashley, what an awesome project. Patience and organization....Platyhiker amazing paper piece project. Love the layout.

Totally missed this weekend, but.... I finished lots of things not quilt related because I wasn't distracted by my projects in the sewing room. ;) Today is add a binding day. Whoo-Hoo! The quilt is for a Christmas gift, but not gifting until New Year's Eve, so I have a little bit of extra time. After that one is off the "To Do List" my quilting time will be limited until after Christmas when I begin to organize my UFOs and unfinished projects for 2024. January in my neck of the snowing and cold woods is terrific time to manage and finish those projects that got left behind.

This weekend was productive for so many of you. Wow! What nice projects. Platyhiker's Hexiday is magnificent, pillow cases, finished bed quilts and even a temporary quilting space with music and of course BH Winter Mystery. Go, goodness did you see that sea horse. Amazing! Happy Quilting all and to all many blessings during this Christmas season.

I am humbled by the creative minds and talent on this board. I did manage to get the borders figured and attached to my One Block Wonder top. For the time being it is on the design wall while I figure how to quilt it. With all the business it needs to be something simple. I thought about stitching in the ditch diagonally but hate the thought of all that entails. I try to avoid stitch in the ditch as i can never seem to stay in the ditch. Maybe wine would help? LOL While those thoughts are percolating, I am making star blocks for another project. The weather today is more wind and rain, making it the perfect day to be sewing. I hope everyone making gifts for Christmas are able to complete them all without staying up until 4 am. Have a wonderful and safe holiday everyone.

Good morning! Thanks to all! I love the hexiday! I made a mosaic table similar to that idea. I think I have a pic.
I pinned pieces last night while watching the Cowboys lose. Boo-Hoo. I hope to make progress on the tail today. I take the attitude of one block at a time so that the pattern's vastness doesn't overwhelm. I like intricate and time consuming, and experimenting with fabric and designs.
I was almost finished with my temperature quilt when I ran out of background fabric. I started the seahorse while waiting for more fabric to arrive, but now I must keep my head on the symbols for the seahorse pattern.

Lena1952 -- if you have it available on your sewing machine, sounds like your grid quilting idea might be perfect for the serpentine stitch, that is sort of a multistitch zig zag. Basically you point the direction and your machine will do the work for you. The wavy line is more forgiving to both staying where you want and if your piecing has a few irregularities. Close is good enough! I press open and another thing I like about it is both sides of the seam allowance are stitched down.

Some people are able to do the little waves themself, but I lack the regularity for small repeats. Doesn't mean you can do larger repeats, even over several inches, just make sure it looks deliberate :)

I'm quilting a quilt for my grand-nephew. It's a "soccer" quilt. They live across the country, so I don't see them often. I knew he was in to Soccer, so bought this kit. (Thanks, Iceblossom.) I should finish the quilting today. Hopefully, I'll make progress on the binding, too. This one turned out to be more work than the one I made for his sister (3 yard quilt). Both are Christmas presents.


I'm also working on a quilt for me. I love the colors. (I'm not sure how big I will make it.) I have made about 1/2 the blocks.I'll go back to it after the Soccer quilt is done.

bkay

WMUTeach--good luck organizing your UFOS and unfinished projects for 2024. I hope to do the same before the end of the year. Maybe that will be my goal for NYE/New Years!

I did some hand embroidery while at the shop with my friend today. We only stayed a few hours. Forecast was calling for snow squalls and whiteouts so we left early. I wasn't home five minutes before a squall hit. She said she was driving through them (she was west and I headed east). But we had a good time while we were there! I'm catching up on some computer stuff before watching the Holiday Baking Championship finale. I'm home Wed-Sat so hope to get lots done later in the week.

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't have that stitch on my older Pfaff but I have another I'll check that one but don't remember seeing it on that machine either. I totally agree, it would be the perfect stitch to use and have often wish I had that stitch. I love this machine and am not willing to purchase another machine just to get it though. LOL Like you, I don't have the consistency to attempt the stitch on my own. Mine would look as if a drunken monkey had suddenly tried to quilt.(No disrespect to drunk monkeys) I'll check out some of the other stitches and see if there are any that will work.

Lena, the serpentine stitch that I use is the darning stitch on my machine. I've created a quick guide sampler of different stitch lengths and widths. I do also use it for darning!!
I made several blocks for the seahorse tail. 8 block left! Then, I'll definitely need to square them. (I actually learned about squaring blocks from this forum. It never occurred to me to cut on a block to make it even!)

I am having my Christmas get togethers this week so I am free to do whatever I want on December 24 and 25. Will be attending our church services of course.

Karamarie--glad you're able to join us this weekend! I worked in sewing room this afternoon. Assembled a baby quilt top, pieced together a backing for it and made the binding. And got one of five Christmas gifts done. I need at least a couple of them by Saturday. Should be able to get them done if I don't procrastinate any more.

See you all tomorrow!

Thanks, I'll check that out on my machine. I can't wait to see your completed seahorse quilt. It looks stunning already!

I've just about finished with my grand-nephew's soccer quilt. I got it squared up, made the binding. got it started and I just need to join the ends and and sew it down. I need more practice at machine binding, but I'm so sick of this quilt, I'm going to do it anyway.

Does anyone else get "sick of a quilt" before it's finished?

bkay

My cousin stopped by yesterday afternoon just as I started working in sewing room. Oh, she needed alterations on a top and a jacket! Simple, but time-consuming. We did visit as I worked! She will look fabulous at the family Christmas Eve gathering. Still don't know what I am wearing!
Gotta share:
She wanted to shorten sleeve that was complicated at the end with layered ruffles. She started suggesting (after I said that I don't do alterations) that we rip the arm seam at the shoulder and re-insert the sleeve. Oh, heck no.

bkay--yes I've gotten tired of quilts many times when working on them. And it makes it difficult to continue working on them. Sometimes I force myself to finish, sometimes I walk away from it and work on something else for a bit before coming back to it. Good luck finishing it!

aashley333--re-inserting the sleeve sounds like so much fun :)

How many of you will be finishing presents this weekend? I have a small present I'm finishing today as I'm quilting with friends tomorrow and it's a gift for then :) Once that present is done I may step back and assess what projects are WIPs and set them out to finish. I do have some charity quilts kitted and ready to take to work on tomorrow.

Anyone shopping to replenish stash? Making a list of goals/projects to do for 2024? Organizing your sewing room? Relaxing after getting everything ready?

Finished the present for tomorrow and have my projects ready to quilt with friends tomorrow. Will check back in tomorrow when I return :)

I received my order from Batiks Plus More, and it was amazingly organized! My next pixel quilt is going to be all batiks. I purchase the actual DMC threads for the colors in the cross stitch project, then, try to match them to fabrics on a computer screen. When the order arrives, I must then match the fabrics that I ordered to the threads. The shop owner saved me lots of guessing by labeling each piece with name of fabric and yardage!
Aaaaand, I finished my seahorse blocks last night and will start squaring and assembling today!-I'm gonna need a border, so any thoughts?

Wow Aashley333 those fabrics look luscious!
I took some time to make a drawstring bag for GD for preschool, and a placemat for an elderly friend of my sister.

Thimblebug6000-that bag is adorable!

aaahley333– how sweet for them to organize your order for you 🙂

Had a wonderful time quilting with friends at the shop today. Got the blocks pieced for two quilts. So hopefully next week I’ll get those two quilt tops assembled. Tonight I’m winding floss onto bobbins—not my favorite task!

I finely see a light, most likely a Christmas tree, at the end of this beautiful holiday celebration tunnel. I have a very casual drop-in Christmas gathering later today and dinner out with my son and DIL on Wednesday. So tomorrow, I will cut binding and add it to a finished quilt. Must do, must do, must do. It is a gift for a friend that will be presented on New Year's Eve. Let's see what I can finish by the end of the day tomorrow, December 26.