The Nightmare Before Christmas baby quilt is finished - not my choice of fabric, but I aim to please, so what is, is. I purchased the two feature fabrics, but everything else was from my stash. The back was pieced when no stores were open, so I really was on my own. Apparently I like this pattern for baby quilts. I think this is the 4th one. The back picture isn't loading. I'll post the front and try again.
Attachment 625577

Try again on the back.Attachment 625578

Conchalea: I was watching Pat Sloan tonight and when I typed that I was looking forward to the lessons on using a walking foot but was finishing some other things before trying the free motion, Pat replied there are chapters in her book on using the walking foot. Lol! I don't have a Kindle but I may be able to get it for my iPad.

Cattitude: Who knew a mask could curb our spending? I have not been out much but I totally understand about the mask being warm.

Irishrose2: Very nice front and back.

IrishRose2, sometimes we have the opportunity to work with something that is very taste specific and sometimes not our particular taste -- but that shows that you are a quilter! Good going.

I got my "they didn't really need to be fussy cut squares but I did" for my medallion project and then just haven't done a single thing in about 3 days. Think it's time to get myself back into the sewing room! Need to put the sub-units together and then I still have a kazillion of those little pieces to get done.

Cattitude, the requirements that have been put in place for our farmer's market here just breaks my heart and I will not be going. Masks I expected, 6 foot spacing I expected but some of the other things not so much. Basically we are to consider this as "essential" shopping with no/minimal interactions, we are asked to come alone/not households, have a list, there is a "right" way through the vendors with one way in and one way out and we point behind our masks at what we want and the sellers place it into bags for us. It is not the experience I want.

Some of these vendors, the farmer's market is their livelihood. They have soft berry farms or whatever and crops rot when the market doesn't open on time, like when it was postponed last week (whether from social unrest or not, covid was the excuse). They don't necessarily have contracts with processors to freeze or otherwise use their crops, nor do those processors necessarily have the license to open or the staff or capacity or other issues. If left to my despair, those families would not get the income from my purchases, so my husband has a list of things to look for and hopefully help our farming neighbors while getting us food from people we know and have trusted for 10-20 years some of them.

I've been using the phrase "not the reality I want" a lot lately. Deep down, that is something I do find very appealing about quilting is mostly it is within my control and I create the realty from my scraps...

I went down a rabbit hole with this top. It started out to be Bonnie Hunter’s String X but to a different scale. The scale had to change because I was determined to use up my rather large selection of 5” squares. Yup, I sliced up a bunch of my gaudiest 5” squares to sew them back together in these long strips....over 700” of strips including the leftovers that went into the stars. Then I decided to add the black sashing to punch it up again. Then I completely changed the layout to incorporate the basket weave effect. And added the stars because I thought the hourglass blocks in BH’s quilt wouldn’t suit what I was doing. Plus I could use up more scraps that way. The blue background was used because I had three blenders in blue that I thought were similar enough to use.



Originally my plan was to use the blue I had the most of for the setting and corner triangles. Once I had the blocks and strips sewn together I really liked it and decided the blue wasn’t good enough and so the top sat while I waited for quilt shops to reopen. On the weekend I picked up what I though would be a good blue but despite bringing samples of the other blues it is brighter than I hoped. And the setting triangles are so large I didn’t like the look at all and so I ripped them out and made more stars.



Still not thrilled with the setting and corner triangles but at least they will be the least noticeable part of the quilt when it is on a bed. 4 scrappies down, 2 to go (plus a couple batiks when I get to that pile).

IrishRose- Cute baby quilt.

Nice scrappy, Cattitude!

All these stash busters have got me wanting to make something with my scraps, but I've promised myself no new starts this month until I finish at least one of the UFOs that I pulled off the pile and can report it to the UFO challenge.... Then I am going to pull out my cut up scraps and play with layouts.

Rob

Irishrose....that turned out great regardless of it not being to your taste.

Great stash buster Cattitude!

I have made all I care to with the scraps from the garden quilt so balance went into stash. They are all great blenders so I know I'll be using them. However, I used the balance of a bolt (6 yards) for the backing that matched the perfectly so feel better. That bolt of fabric was a brainiac purchase so I'm glad it is gone now.

Cattitude: Congratulations on finishing that nice scrappy.

Rob: I should be making myself finish one of my UFO’s but other projects are calling out to me. I probably have a few projects that will go into UFO land soon.

Teen: Good for you to use up that bolt.

Catitude- love that top! Scrappy but controlled. You are a master!

Interesting setting Catitude.https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/thumbup.png

Oh I fell.....bought 4 yards of the All Iowa Shop Hop fabric. the Iowa toile just seduced me! I couldn't help myself...now what to do with it!
https://store.brooklynfabric.com/win...nt=Catch%20All

Started straightening this space and decided I'm ready for something new. Found a pattern (Turning 30, again) in the mess that I've never done and went to my stash. There's enough stash there for 2 quilts. After doing 1 I'll decide if another is in me.

Cattitude, love that!

I've been rather quiet and unsettled over the last couple of weeks with the general unrest. When you see videos of the Seattle protestors, that's about 10 blocks from my son's apartment on the road I usually use.

But I'm about to plunge back into fabric again. My Tuesday group is going to get together this coming Tuesday (weather permitting) in the lawn of our hostess for a social meeting, more of a show and tell sort of thing than our usual work party. It will be the first time we've been together since the restrictions were put in place, so that was back in February? It blurs...

And I may buy some fabric today. I just might! I am susceptible to retail therapy right now and the chain Tuesday Morning is going out of business. My husband wants to go clear out the brand of coffee syrup he likes and I will be looking at their precut fabrics, there was a nice layer cake of Moda before the shut down and since there was a shut down... it still might be there. Or who knows? Probably pick up a pair of Fiskars or other scissors too. But I'm not in a scissors moratorium (yet).

oksewglad: Great fabric. Too bad it doesn’t say Minnesota and the farm girl that’s still in me from my youth would buy it. 👍

petthefabric: I look forward to seeing your quilt from the Turning 30 pattern.

Iceblossom: How scary for you to have your son and his family so close to the protestors. Have fun with your Tuesday group. The days do certainly blur. Hopefully, you were able to get some retail therapy today. I don’t know if there still is a Tuesday Morning store in a nearby city. They seem to come and go in my area.

I did go to the Tuesday Morning, sales are currently mostly 10% off but enough of the store was going that it is pretty clear things weren't going to last for much more of a markdown, people were there with full carts. We grabbed another six or so bottles of coffee syrup, and I did indeed get a layer cake, Flower Topia by Michael Miller for about $16.50 (with the sales price) and a roll of blue jellyroll strips for another $16 or so because it's not like I don't have 1000s of yards of blue anyway, but these are in a set! Kept picking up and putting down some batiks, left without them having some mild regret but then again, I have a box of batiks and a friend with a roomful. Didn't find any scissors that I liked, but got a dog toy (squirrel!) for Harley that he is quite excited about. That dog loves a squeaky toy!

To be honest this one doesn’t really qualify as much of a stash buster.....just 1m for the border and .75m for the binding. It’s more of a UFO started about 18 months ago with an ugly jelly roll DH bought me for Christmas.....but I’m not on the UFO thread https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png

The pattern is MSQC North Star but I used a different layout. I wish I had enough neutral to sash the 9 ‘stars’ but alas that was not the case.

Not to my taste but finally a top that DH will be happy to have in the travel trailer.....he doesn’t much care for my scrappies!

I love that quilt, Cattitude! The colors are gorgeous. Interesting pattern and layout. Well done!

Rob

Thanks, Connie...so you clearly understand why I fell!

Catitude..and that's why you don't judge a book by it's cover...maybe not your favorite color, but it is a lovely quilt!

My sister came up for a couple days of helping Me to get some work around home done and on the rainy day we spent it in the sewing room. We purged, sorted, folded, found a home for everything- my room is Wonderful! The shelves are organized - she finished the last 2 shelves today after we cleaned the garage and she let me know there is * some* room on my shelves- and I’m low on greens & browns. 🤗
I actually took 9, NIne, holy cow- Nine big black garbage bags of scraps, mixed blend fabrics, knits, that had been given to me,- a Lot of stuff I would never use, out- donated to a group who makes quilts for shelters, homeless people-
I can not even imagine how much fabric was in those bags- I know a few of them weighed a good 30+ pounds. So, I probably gave away over 200 pounds of fabric.
It’s clean, organized, encouraging. I still have a stack of quilts to get quilted, a stack that needs some work and I think 5 projects in bags I may ( or not) get to & finish up.. in the 13 years we have been in this house it has been so cluttered in there- it is so nice to finally feel like it’s not an embarrassment to have someone stop by.
my sister quilts too- and the first day she did wind up with a box of fabric to take home- probably 10-15 yards. She went from calling me a hoarder- that it’s good I do this moratorium- I don’t need to be buying anything— to today saying- there is room, you can buy some fabric again. ;)
I don’t think so though- not this year- I still have plenty to finish up
and maybe things will be different next year and maybe we will be able to take a vacation- then I won’t feel guilty visiting new shops in places we travel to and spending a bit- or maybe there will be a show for us to visit.,.
I look forward to working in there again.
i do have one corner to clean up yet, but it’s a small area and won’t take me long. I know what’s there, I just need to put things where they belong.

This is a beauty of a quilt. So crisp and perfect. I wish I had that skill. I admire it and strive for it but just don't seem to produce that level of perfection. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png

Cattitude: Your quilt turned out nicely.

WMUTeach: You do a great job with your quilts!

Ckcowl....that's so cool that your sister is close enough to come help you. Awesome results...

Cattitude....stunning quilt! Love the soft colorway...I am looking up that pattern...

This is an interesting thread I found just today. Since I am relatively new to quilting I do not have a big stash. From reading what others have posted I was afraid of letting such a monster take over my life. I have a few kits for small projects, a baby quilt with fabric I do not know how to sew and a second set of fabrics for a duplicate mystery quilt. Otherwise I only have left over fabric from my learning projects. Then along came the virus and I sewed several hundred masks using most of the left over fabric and fabric that was supposed to be used for special gifts and Christmas gifts for my family. I even used Halloween fabric that once draped an exhibit in my classroom. I did order some fabric online for microwave bowl cozies and was so disappointed in the feel of the fabric I do not think I will order online again. The purchase resulted in a yard of stiff red fabric in my "stash".

Since my fabric seems to be out of control, I decided to attempt to organize it. Ended up cutting down what seemed like tons of pieces into usable sizes. Now I have lots of 2.5", charms, and jelly rolls. Not in the to mood to start quilting UFO's so making baby quilts. Friend will be GGM for first time in Nov so she gets the first quilt and yes will quilt this one when it's done.

Now I don't miss fabric shopping since I feel like I have lots of kinda new fabric to play with...lol

Welcome, Pbraun, & a good way to 'refresh' your stash, Julienm1.

Welcome, pbraun! I'm sorry you had a disappointing on-line experience. I haven't had a problem with fabric quality when ordering on-line, but the fabric does sometimes look different than expected, because of monitor variations or inaccurate color in the photos. I really miss the days of having a LQS nearby and knowing for certain what I'm buying. When buying on-line for a particular purpose, I usually buy a couple of options in case the website representation is off. Most of my stash consists of on-line extras or misses.

ckcowl, it was so inspiring reading about your sewing room clean-up!

Cattitude, your choice of patterns is always inspired, and your quilts are so beautiful! No one would believe this one was made from an 'ugly' jelly roll.

Newbie and fabricholic
 

Hi everyone, I started 2020 with masses of fabric. 4 huge totes stuffed to overflowing and misc odds and ends. Then Covid-19 hit and I made masks - over 2000 masks and 500 scrub caps. Made a huge dent in my stockpile. Past few weeks I have been making mug rugs for friends and last night I started making needlebooks. Next project is to improve my free hand quilting skills.

pbraun and Amecoy: Welcome! We like seeing pictures of how you use your fabric.

I'm working on borders for my Pat Sloan May Challenge. I hopefully have my final choices now. The stop border is done but I will be adding 3 more borders to get it to the size my church quilting group likes. If only I wouldn't get so sidetracked with cleaning, starting a new project, etc. Lol!

Welcome new posters. While I have been making masks (and binding for masks... so much binding), I don't want to count them and I don't keep them around. I've been feeling that I haven't been very prolific in my quilting this year (and that's true) but maybe I should give myself some mask making/stash using credit.

How much stash each of us carries is a personal decision. Some people can keep everything quilting related including notions and fabric in a drawer, and some of us have drawers full of thread or templates or whatever. There is no reason we need to have any excess fabric, yet somehow most of us do! Me, I just love textiles of all sorts (my personal dress style is "hippy dippy weather chickie") and my chosen artistic expression is not only quilting but became scrap quilting and for my small house, my stash got out of control.

It took a diagnosis and acceptance of a deteriorating vision condition about 10 years ago for me to realize that no, I wasn't ever going to use all that fabric. Combined with that deep down really, I want more space in my small house and I can achieve some of that by getting rid of stuff. The first purges were pretty easy, first I got rid of anything "non quilting", craft items too. Then I went through my fabric and got rid of everything I didn't love/want. Another easy round. It's getting harder! What I have left I feel for me is reasonable, even if a huge amount for someone else. Now the task is to use it.

I have one friend who feels she has an adequate amount of fabric in one of those stands of stacked plastic drawers, most of which came from her mother in law and dates back to the 80s or so. I have another friend who has a small bedroom basically full of larger (3 yards - full bolt) pieces of batiks, and another one with the smaller pieces and "the rest of the fabric" (anything not batik). I know people with entire rooms or storage units full of well kept fabric and I've seen some pretty sketchy hoards in my time too... I have gone from what was once a full room stacked and packed to what I believe will fit in the closet -- if I can get the non-quilting stuff out of there.

Welcome, pbraun and Amecoy! This is a fun thread and a supportive bunch of people.

Rob

IceB- your words carry weight and are worthwhile to consider.

So I kind of lost my.mind for a little while and did some retail therapy at Bluprint. Some clearances at $4 yard and mystery FQ bundle. Felt good. Did it again when Bluprint had a coupon and had just announced going out of business. Good bargains, but not as good a feeling. (cue Mr. Rogers).

Hopefully I have learned my lesson. Ive decided my Mystery FQs will be good for practice blocks and color practice combos.

Welcome new fabric bashers! As I've shared in the past, I don't keep a lot of stash as many who have been quilting longer than I have. I joined this thread group to help contain the momentum. Lol! And, it has helped immensely.

I started this year with many kitted projects and made a goal to tackle those as often as possible. Got sidetracked a bit to work on a stack of patterns I've collected. Wherever the inspiration took me is where I went. This week, I grabbed the first kitted project on the stack.... Hootsville Row, by Sassafras Designs

Teen....I love, love, love it! Great work, great colours!

Binding - yes I can make it in my sleep now. So glad I can get elastic again. Masks have been a challenge but still fun

So, I’m continuing to Purge and organize. When my sister ( attacked) my shelves she just folded everything and put it into stacks- some sorted by color but all sizes/ types. I have an Accuquilt Go and decided to start again on the shelves ( sometimes it’s just therapeutic) for me to iron and fold my fabrics. Each stack I take out I separate into new stacks- More than a yard, full yards, half yards and fat quarters. Anything that doesn’t go in one of those stacks is getting cut up with my Accuquilt. 2 1/2” strips, 1 1/2”, & 1” strips, 5” , 3” & 2 1/2” squares, 2 1/2” x 4” bricks and I have a few appliqué shapes I’ve cut some of.
I’m still organizing by color. But also solids all go together, batiks, fairy frosts, panels, theme / novelties and baby’s.
I'm finding things I totally forgot about from quilts I made my granddaughters when they were little- the youngest is 19 now- it’s nice to be cutting up all the odds & ends into sizes I have use for.
I also sent out 3 yards of fabric to someone and added an extra few fq’s and sent my son 3 yards of black and a kit, so another about 12 yards of fabric gone.

I haven’t bought any fabric this year that I can recall. Maybe two yards of flannel backing for my grandson’s baby quilt, but that may have been before January. He was born in March.

Honestly, I haven’t been tempted, either. I have given away almost all my scraps . Just tired of them. I’m getting such a bang out of decluttering my house. I started weighing the stuff leaving my house (via donating, selling, recycling or dumping . I’m up to 752 as of today. I’ve temporarily lost my sewing mojo but it will return eventually.

Welcome to QB and to this Thread. Sad that your first experience was dissapointing. A few new fabrics are less stiff after washing in hot water to remove the chemicals on them. Some onlilne stores are better than others. There's several threads about shopping online. I prefer to touch my purchases (hence my Board name-petthefabric). More variety is available onlilne and for some, stores are miles away. One reason I bought online was for a red/white 2 1/2 inch WOF exchange. I wanted fabric no one else would have found. Success-I found a sale fabric that was very unique and got compliments after the exchange.
The lqs just reopened. Inventory is low. Now (vs younger years), usually looking/petting satisfy my fabric fix. I have so much stash that matches are available.

CK & zozee, good work on reducing stash! Teen, I love the owl quilt. Am I right in assuming it's pieced or appliqued?

Making 6 baby quilts and using my stash. We are antaicipating a move so alot of my fabric that I probably WOULD use is in a box but the box never got marked as fabric. Ah crap. Hopefully can still make this work. Trying so hard not to buy fabric even tho JoAnns is open and I have coupons!!! lol

Thank you! The background is pieced, the owls and moon are turned edge applique.

Teen- that is sew cute!

Rob