Haven't posted in a while because I haven't finished much of late. (Teaching again online.) Here is my January Color block quilt. All from stash except the backing. Learned some lessons and spent way too much time picking out the spiral quilting because I had tucks on the back. February Color block top is finished but not layered or quilted. Yes, I will try the spiral quilting again but only on smaller quilts. Turning even this piece was a challenge for my shoulders and my machine. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/boy.gif

Beautiful finish WMUTeach, sorry for your frustration with the spiral design but it looks great from here. Can’t wait to Dee your February quilt.

Connie, I do hope you get your machine back soon....

WMUTeach: Awesome Color Block quilt. Your spiral quilting looks very nice. Sorry you had to pick out some. I may try that quilting pattern eventually on a smaller quilt also. Since I’m not subbing this year, I have had plenty of time to sew and work on other things around the house. Planning and teaching do use up lots of time.

jmoore: I hope I get my machine back quickly also. It was gone for 3 weeks and when I brought it home and started to sew on it, a high whine pitch and then a knocking sound came from it. I was almost in tears, Thankfully, I have a good back up machine.

WMUTeach...I can understand why you had to pick. Going in a spiral calls for sewing and turning constantly on the bias as you go round and round. Great to persevere on your lovely piece!

Looks fantastic, WMUTeach!

Rob

When I do spiral, it's FMQ so there's no turning.

I looked at the spiral in January and knew it wasn't for me. Too much handling the quilt sandwich.
I went to the new fabric store - I was a little disappointed. She is now handling mostly blenders - not feature fabrics. I did see an interesting piece. An ombre, but printed like small monochromatic braid. I'm not sure how I'd use it.
I did purchase fabric today, but it is in the washer and will be cut as soon as it's dry. Backing for a graduation quilt I made last week. Also bought batting. I probably could have found some in the extra sewing room, but I like thicker batting than I have here. The baby quilt on the machine now has doubled batting.
Because today was a necessary purchase that will be used immediately, I didn't use my birthday exemption.

I bought several yards of fabric this week...for a special project for my mother. I am designing an asymmetrical quilt with a stack of her Amish cross stitch projects and using colors typical of Amish quilts....needed solids to do this, which I don’t have the colors needed. Also, wanted to use the Amish black (if you’ve never used this...it is a beautifully saturated black)...so, not exactly falling off the wagon but probably bought more then I needed...

Teen, did you get the Amish Black from Keepsake Quilting? I’ve been looking for a good saturated black and haven’t yet found one that I’m happy with the quality of the fabric. Been wondering about the one KQ has.

Rob

Rob, have you looked at Northcutt Colorworks Black? It's the only one I like.

Haven't seen that one, Irishrose2. I'll take a look.
Thanks,
Rob

I don't know if it's still true, but back when I was still practically living on this board a few years ago, ;) the Michael Miller Jet Black was the one people liked the most, so that's what I bought.

If I remember correctly, it didn't shed much, if any, dye when I washed it and I like the feel of it - it feels like Moda solids, to me. I don't think I've ever used any of it. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/hug.gif

Thanks, thepolyparrot!

In my quest for black, I fell off the wagon. First, I bought 3 yards of the one suggested by Irish rose, then saw that there was a sale on WOW at the same place, so I bought a few yards of that too. Then I decided to see what the Amish Black at Keepsake Quilting was like, so I bought three yards of that one too. Um, I can’t remember exactly how much of the WOW I bought so I either ended up buying 9 yards of fabric, or maybe it was only 7.5 yards, but also the number 11.5 sticks in my head and the electronic receipts are on my desktop computer, not the tablet I'm using right now... I was completely out of WOW , so that one can be easily justified... and I’m not happy with the quality of the black fabric I'm using for my current Helen Godden project, so I can sort of justify purchasing some more black since I’m getting ready to start a doodle quilt of my own that I want to do on black...

Rob

For what it is worth, rryder, I use the Amish Black from Keepsake. Will be happy to hear your review of the other blacks you are trying.

When I purchase and store my black fabric, I keep it in zip-lock bags. Not all black fabrics are the same. Slightly different weight, color and texture. They may all be black, but they will not be the same and do not look the same in a quilt. The Amish Black comes in a zip-lock type bag and it lives there, even the scraps live in that bag. The bag also keeps the little fuzzy bunnies and threads from other fabric from collecting on my beautiful black.

Rob....This is my first purchase of Amish Black from Keepsake. I receive it on Friday so I’ll see then. Others have given good reviews so fingers crossed... please share your opinion, too, on the various blacks you purchase...

Great suggestion. I’ll do the same with mine when I receive it.

I may have fallen off the wagon. Is that where the bruises came from on my butt? I may be having a visit from Fed-Ex and maybe the post office too. Not sure if a cute guy in the brown uniform is stopping by. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png

😄 Falling off the wagon can do that! 😂

I didn't exactly "take the pledge" this year and it's a good thing I didn't or I'd be black and blue!

I have been doing my best to finish UFOs and work only from my stash, but I have NO resistance when I see either a bargain or a fabric line that causes me to drool. :)

Whittles will get me every time.

Hello everyone. I’ve been busy with life and not on the QB much lately. I see most of you are doing well keeping to stash 1st.

But Thepolyparrot, I’m with you. I’m using up my stash some, but I decided to buy a big box of fq’s for $1.65 a piece. It was a bargain, but I won’t be doing it again. I thinking of using 1/2 for small charity projects. The rest I’ll use for mysteries or QAL’s. I plan on going on a shop hop next week and I know I will buy some. Right now not in the mood to buy, but by shop hop time I could change my mind. I do need to find border fabric for a blue and wine batik top. I’m wanting to enlarge the top to a queen size. Right now it’s a double. I figure 2 borders will work. I also need more black and cream or wow. I will wait and see.

I just posted my March Colorblock quilt onto the pics page. It's all made from scraps, except for the backing which came from my stash yardage- yippee! These Debbie Brown quilts are quick, easy and really eat up the scraps. Anyway, take a look over in pics if you get a chance.

Thanks, Rob

That's exactly the kind of thing I couldn't pass up! :D

Have a great time! Hope you find the borders you need. :)

Rob, your monkeywrench looks wonderful. I love your placement of the greens, and what a beautiful quilting design.

Not a big reduction of my stash but lots of fun and quick. Three Bunny Bags for my three local grand bunnies. Used about half a yard of fabric from my stash. A little here and a little there. 🐇 🐇 🐇

Those are so cute! I bought that pattern as soon as it was posted, but I haven't made even ONE yet. Good job getting yours done before EASTER - you get a "Good Grandma" sticker! :)

Rob: Congratulations on your March Color Block finish! I love the quilting.

WMUTeach: Cute bunny bags.

I finished another top. It is March Hope by Pat Sloan and it’s free. All from my stash. 60” by 80” top. Will be finished by my church group.

The pieced blocks in the red frames are from the 365 Day sew along that I attempted quite a few years ago. I just couldn’t keep up with making them. At least, some are used now.

Pet, I skipped the purchased pattern and used a free one online, https://weallsew.com/drawstring-bunny-bags/ I did not add the faces, I used printed fabric and it face would not have shown up, but I did add the yo-you tails. Quick project.

Is this the 365 challenge with 3 and 6 inch blocks? I have about 3 months worth and then lost the mojo, too. What a great idea to use them, and now thanks for the inspiration to utilize these!

Just noticed my jelly rolls had babies. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/eek.png

Sew cute...will try these out for next year and send off to the far away Grands...maybe get my near by Grands to help sew this weekend! Thanks for sharing.

retiredteacher, that's a very cool quilt! You are so original in your work.

WMUTeach: Thanks for sharing.

oksewglad: I forgot about the 6” blocks! I can’t remember if I made any. 🤷‍♀️ If I did, they will be in the 6.5” bin. These are 3” finished ones. I couldn’t believe that I chose 2 identical blocks randomly and then put them in the same row. I just left them because it only mattered to me.

Julienm1: Thankfully I have never bought a jelly roll then because my 2.5” strips multiply fast enough without a whole jelly roll purchase. However, I’m hoping to use some of those strips in GEDesigns Strip Joint sew along pattern starting on Tuesday.

joe’smom: Thank you. ❤️ I have a great team of people that inspire me on this board with ideas.

retiredteach- great top. I love the way you incorporated the pieced blocks in with this pattern- so it sounds like you have a twofer here- use of stash and getting a UFO (the pieced blocks) off the pilehttps://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png

Thanks, Joesmom. I’m really enjoying making these monthly quilts from Debbie Brown. Using up lots of scraps and playing with different quilting ideas each month is Fun!!!

Rob

Rob: Thanks. I didn’t think about the fact I’m using UFO parts. 🙂. I’m enjoying the Debby Brown quilts too although I don’t finish them. I’m spoiled since I just hand off the tops to my church group.

I'm not seeing much progress here, but I must be making some. I needed a break from the 1" pieces used in the 9P's and 4P's for the OMGosh quilt, so I've been cutting 2" squares and HST's. I've started to dip into some chunks of fabric. I need 115 sets of 8 2" neutral squares. Have 25 sets of 8 to cut and then will work on more HST's. Have plenty of 1" pieces for the 9P's and 4P's! .And somewhere is a ziploc bag of sets of 4 light/neutral 2" squares to go with the 9P's. Not worrying about it...they will show up before I need them!

oksewglad: I enjoy seeing the quilts you make with those small squares. I was sorting through a container of squares and was wondering why I was keeping the 1.5” size. Even 2” aren’t a size I like anymore. 🤷‍♀️

Thanks Connie. The planned fabric for the 9P strippy quilt was too short...bummer, but as luck would have it I found a 3 yard piece of a jade green Documentaries piece from Benertex that I've had for years that will look great with the strips. Have it ironed and ready to cut...once I get this mess downstairs sorted through. I am making progress. Can't wait to cut the strips to finish this quilt and another flying geese strippy; that will mean 2 more flimsies to quilt and fabrics all from stash.

Ohmigosh, you're making an Oh My Gosh? My hat is off to you! https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/thumbup.png

I've had that quilt in EQ for a while - one in 30s repros and white and one in CW era repros and cream.

I'm going to cheat on the 1" four-patches and nine-patches by making strip sets, but there aren't many shortcuts after that, are there? https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/shock.png

I keep looking at my pattern and thinking, "What are you thinking???" But it's such a charming, old-fashioned beauty, how can I pass it up? :)

Best of luck to you!

Yes I've had it in EQ as well and decided to bite the bullet and get to it. My plan is to cut everything from my sized bins...yes I have plenty of 1" and 2" strips. The secret will be to get enough contrast in the 9P's and 4P's. I'm not calling it cheating...just using my head with the 1" strips! I make the 9p's and when I get down to less than 4 and 5 inch strips I pair light and dark to make the 4P's. Then I get tired of that and start cutting from the 2" strips for the HST's and squares using the easy angle ruler for the HST's pairing a dark and light strip to cut at the same time. For the Richmond block with the 4P on point I'm cutting 8 2" squares to cut in half diagonally for the setting triangles. Have 15 sets of 8 yet to cut for them; then will go back to the HST's. I've been sewing them as I have time on my off days at home. My quilt friends tell me I need therapy...how about yours?!!!!!https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png

Three of the gals from my quilting group are making the OMG quilt. It is lovely and honestly doesn't look like much while making all of those itty bitty squares. The final product is stunning. On gal finished and added some extra background to make the colored blocks float. Lovely. The other two are still in the block making process both about three quarters finished. So glad it is their project and not mine!. The last struggle seems to be how to quilt the little darling. The first finisher is a long arm quilter, but was not thrilled with her final choice. The other two are pondering quilting options. Will love to see your finish, oksewglad. Would love to share pictures, but they are not mine to share. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/wink.png

Oh, that's another helpful shortcut! https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/thumbup.png My only quilting friends are here on this board, so... :)

Yay, more crazy people than I thought! We're in good company! :) Guess I'd better start thinking about that, too. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/eek.png After all that work, the piecing needs to be the star, I would think.