Emma--that was well worth the wait. It looks great!! So what pencil should I *not* use??

Carrie: You know about ass u me? Well, thought as long as I tested it before I used it I would be safe. Just picked up a pencil and tested. When it washed out in the test, thought I was good to go. Not really, maybe the real lesson is use tools made for the purpose.

Beautiful on both sides!

It's beautiful Emma! Sorry for all of the "learning" but I can so relate on a smaller scale. Your quilting looks fantastic so well worth the effort.

Here is my last UFO Finish for November. I had fun taking a stack of HSTs from a Keepsake Quilting charm pack and turning it into something "new". I'd been wanting to try a chevron layout all year and I really love how it turned out. Too bad I only have enough for a Project Linus sized quilt (49" x 49") but I look forward to trying it again. My daughter wants one in her colors too.

Asimplelife: Such a pretty quilt. Always have like blue and green together, Would really like to try that pattern. Did you use half-square triangles or did you actually cut the large triangles?

They are HSTs trimmed down to 4.5" (I started with 5" charms). I thought the fabrics were so pretty I wanted to keep them together instead of scattering them.

Emma, your quilt is beautiful. One of the first quilts I ever made was an irish chain so I have a special feeling for that pattern. And I really like your 'bricks' side as well. I've not done anything quite like that but I like it.... I think it would be such a nice alternative to going out to buy a large piece of fabric for a backing. Thanks for this idea.

Asimplelife, your chevrons are awesome. I had to look at it quite a while to figure out a way to make those strips that wouldn't be bunches of Y-seams. I can see why your daughter wants one like it.

Great finishes, everyone..... December is getting close.... one more month of this year's UFOs to finish. I'm thinking I won't get another one finished this year. There's too much to do on any ones I have. But, maybe. We'll see.

Jean: I am starting another UFO but I am in the same boat as you. I doubt very much I will finish it this year. This one holds a special position because it is the 7th of 14 UFOs I started the year with. Half way there! Tempted to whip up some table runners as small gifts.

I was thinking..... Christmas table runner..... great minds think alike, they say.

That is a beautiful Irish Chain Emma. You made it and that is what counts. At least to us it looks fabulous and we can't see any pencil marks so you are good. Congrats!

Speaking of pencil marks...what marking pencil/pen do you all use when marking on white fabric?? I will need something for the next quilt I finish...

UFO Finish #70 since 10/01/2012 is Bouncing Balls. I used a free Project Linus pattern called "Play Ball" at Quiltmaker.com although I changed the borders to make mine a little bigger with a scrappy outer border. I have another one in the piecing stage - the blocks are paper pieced. Started this one in 2007, got it to flimsy stage and finally now it is done!

I have a phobia about marking quilts - but have been using a red Frixion pen (that I test on each fabric first) and love it. I've done 3-4 quilts with no problems. I mark lightly and they iron right off.

I will be doing cross-hatch quilting white on white. I don't have any extra fabric for testing as I am quilting it for someone else. It is an old muslin...maybe a sheet?? So am kind of hesitant to mark on it and not have it come off.

Asimplelife: Love your ball quilt. I could so see doing that for a baby boy quilt. The colors, the boarder and even the binding go together to make a perfect quilt.

asimplelife--Another bright, cheerful quilt. I really like the piano key border on this one.

I do my testing on the seam allowances on the backside of my UFOs - FYI. But I understand taking extra care with unknown materials from someone else. With the Frixion I mark, quilt and iron within the same day - don't know if it's necessary but like I said I have a bit of a phobia with marking quilts!

Christmas Row Robin
 

I love that quilt asimplelife! Great job! This is a Row Robin we did back in 2010..might have been 2009! I love how it all came together..even better then I imagined! Such talented quilters we have on the QB. This quilt is going to Illinois to my mom...Her birthday is Dec 19th and she will be 87 years old.

Row Robin Close ups
 

This quilt is so much more beautiful then the picture shows! There are applique blocks, embroidered blocks, paper pieced...a little of everything! Here's a couple of close ups that I just had to share!

Lovely Christmas spirit quilt, missgiglewings.

missgiglewings--great finish...one more "check" for the year. :)

missgigglewings - Your quilt is a beauty! I'm sure your Mom will be thrilled.

Primary D9P hit the Finish Line today... it's what I call a "technique" UFO. I wanted to try making double 9 patches so I pulled out some 5" charms from a swap, made about 4 blocks and moved onto the next shiny idea! LOL It will go in the pile for my next Project Linus drop off.

asimplelife cold + snow= quilts done!!! Another winner.

asimplelife--another bright quilt! I've made many D9P quilts...one is sandwiched and ready to quilt.

Beautiful D9P!

Well I *finally* finished the crazy quilt I was hired to do...I've had it since February and didn't start until November. He said it didn't matter when it got finished, so I finished other quilts and then my shoulder started hurting. I don't have a finished picture, but here is the before...I took off the old borders (water damage and moth holes), added a new one, then tied it and put the binding on. I am going to try to get a picture when I deliver it and have a couple tall people to hold it up (it finished 84"x84").

Today I also got the binding on a baby quilt...it is flannel on the front and minky on the back. My sister is due with her 3rd baby in March. (~30"x30")

I will pay for it tonight (shoulder still hurts), but wanted to have both done before the end of the year.

Way to go carriem - I hope your shoulder doesn't get too sore!

My quilting has been interrupted a bit by this little missy who my husband rescued from our freezing cold weather last Friday night when he went to pick up a friend for a basketball game. She had been hanging around his home trying to get inside.

It seems she was abandoned as no one is looking for her, our vet pronounced her in good health yesterday and we have named her Elsa ("Born Free" anyone?). She is such a cuddly sweet natured kitty... my heart just breaks thinking of her shivering and hungry. She is keeping the quilt I'm binding in place nicely as you can see!

What a sweet Elsa! Yes ♫ Born free as free as the wind blows ♫

WTG Carrie. Take care of the shoulder, okay?

Carrie: That crazy quilt is lovely, well worth saving. Would love to be able to look at it close up. Never seen one quite like it. Congrats on the double finish!
AaaaaHHHHH...... such a cutie. Can't imagine a kitten outside in a Minnesota winter. Looks like she has settled right in and is greatful for the food and warmth.

asimplelife--very cute kitten :)

Emma--here is one close up I took (again before I tied it). It is a beautiful quilt...too bad they don't know who made it. Just a female family member (aunt or grandma maybe).

Carrie: Marvelous quilt. Yet another item on my bucket list. Would love to make use of some of the trims and "fancy' fabrics that I have been collecting. Each swatch would be a opportunity to be creative. From a distance some of the stitching actually looks like piping. Thanks for posting the closeup. Sigh.... so many great quilts, so little time.

Ahhh.... my son would love Elsa. He's such a cat person. We have a monster dog that doesn't like cats. So, no kitties for me right now.

A simple life, your ball quilt is adorable. I need to get a boy baby quilt done but just can't get started because I can't decide on a pattern for him.... but I love this one that you've finished. And the DP9 is so cute.... and I bet it didn't take long to finish.

Missgigglewings, what a wonderful quilt to give to your mom.... lovely. That would be perfect for my SIL.... she says she doesn't want to make a quilt because she would get bored making lots of blocks that look alike. Yours has a few of this and a few of that... really nice.

Carriem.... the crazy quilt is really sweet..... love crazy quilts, and the baby quilt is so colorful. More finished, Yeah!!

The end of the year is getting closer..... don't know how many more will get finished. Will there be a 2014 UFO group? I think I'm going to need it again next year. I just have so much to do right now that I'm not going to get another one done in 2013.

Hopping on the train... Been off QB for close to a year! But something about cold weather brings out the Quilter... But I want to get a bunch of UFOs finished before starting something new. (I'm also trying to bust my stash at the same time...) This one is OLD. OLD. OLD. It's a pattern from my very first quilting book --- Singer's Quilted Projects & Garments c1995. Dear me. That's how old this project is. The book was new when I got it. Made my first quilt out of that book (not counting the two I made when I was a teenager). I made a few blocks, then probably got bored and put it away. FOR ALMOST TWENTY YEARS. Well, she's done now, and going off to Project Linus....

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jillaine--I am sure that quilt will be appreciated. I like the quilting matching the heart blocks.

Here is the crazy quilt held up and a few close-ups. (the green wall is *not* in my house...it is the gym wall where my kids have archery practice...this quilt is one of the coaches).

Jillaine: Such a pretty quilt. Going to make someone feel very cared for.

Carrie: Before you put the red boarder on the turquoise was the color that jumped out but now it is the red. That's one of the reasons I like boarders so much, they define the dominate color in the quilt.

Oh Jillaine.... I love your quilt. And I agree with Carrie.... love the quilting in the border.... hearts that match are awesome.

And your larger picture of your crazy quilt sure puts everything in prospective.... really nice.

Emma I totally agree. Oftentimes the border or in some cases the binding pulls the whole quilt together.
jillaine glad to see you are on this train. And yes we can't derail. We must continue into the future!

Love the Christmas quilt Missgigglewings. I have those embroidery designs and just adore them. They looks so vintage. Congrats.

Asimplife, wow, you are getting there girl!!!!! So proud of you on the work you have finished this year. i will be on another quest next year to get my UFOs and WIPs finished up. That will consume all my time there. We will all need to be sure we get a thread started for it again. If anything I will hostess it if need be. I am keeping an eye on it.
Carriem, that crazy quilt is gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Need I say more, the rest have for sure.
Jillaine, so miss you girl. Glad to see you are able to get back to doing some quilting after your sabatical. You have been busy. Wonderful finish.
I have no ufos to report at moment. I have the binding on one to finish up and then that one will be finished from a year ago. I have been doing class samples and fresh projects for Christmas for kid's gifts that none of my ufos have been touched. Will have to get busy in January. I have my list started. Do you all have your list ready for next year?

Well time for confession. I was really good this year, completing 6 of my 14 UFO's, starting no new quilts. Well along comes Bonnie Hunter's new mystery quilt with its beautiful bright colors and every one already in my stash. For the rest of the year I am seriously off task but plan on finishing those 8 UFO's in 2014.

Hi Jillaine! Your quilting looks wonderful.

I have a 2 UFO in 1 finish this week. I used a top made of rail fence blocks from a swap as backing and it worked out great. This quilt was professionally quilted and I finished sewing down the binding yesterday. Another oldie but goodie - I started this one back in 2003 and the swap top was from 2007. Christmas Fantasy and Christmas Rail Fence. I'm down to 28 UFOs on my list!

I should add that I got too cold to finish taking pictures outside... neither picture turned out great - just too gloomy out!