To Do Tuesday - Two Days Late!

 I missed  the last two weeks of checking-in with Carol over at "Quilt Schmilt" for "To Do Tuesday".  Now due to technology problems,  I'm two days late to review how August finished up and to set up the agenda for September!

The past couple of weeks were as productive as the weeks that started the month but as always when they were done, there was still more to do!  

I also had a slight interruption as I decided at the last minute to sign up for this year's Free Motion Quilting Summit hosted by Mary Davis of Mary Go Round Quilts.  I had enjoyed last year's summit and picked up quite a few new stitch pattern ideas so joined in while the early registration discount was still in effect.  I'm glad I opted for the "All Access Pass" as I still have some videos from Day 2 and all the ones from Day 3 still to watch.  

So the things I was able to accomplish since my last To Do Tuesday report were as follows:

1.  Add the borders to the QOV top by adding "filler" to the strips sent in the kit.  That got done although it took way more days, time and thinking than planned!  

Then last week there was more to do here as I seemed to have messed up that lower right corner of the borders as you see in the picture.  I don't know why but that was the only border section like that and it was pretty wavy so had to be be opened up, trimmed and re-done.  I also pieced together the binding strips that were provided in the kit which was an easy enough task.  

I contacted the guild's charity quilt coordinator for instructions on where to send it and checking the tracking, see that it arrived in North Carolina on Tuesday.  Next it will be passed on to the guild's longarmer for quilting.  

After it's quilted, my MIL will probably put the binding on it unless they can wait until we go down to visit her in early October for me to add it myself.  The guild's QOV presentation event is in November.

2.  Continue the "Alaska" BOM block making.  

Did well on that too!  As before, I continued to sew up the blocks as I worked on the QOV top.  The good news is that I got them all done for the second month of this self-directed BOM!  

I also sewed up the four scrappy blocks I also cut out.  

So looks like I made the month-end deadline ahead of time for a change!  

3.  Focused on getting the QOV done and on the "Alaska" blocks, I'm not sure if the "Gathering A Garden" backing will get a push this week.  

Well contrary to expectations, once the QOV top was off the design wall, I did finally make  the backing for the "Gathering Garden" top that had been completed in July . 

I basically mimicked the front layout using strips to create the pieced backing.  The light strip will also serve as my label area.  I also already have a simple quilting plan for it.  However, I don't know if it'll move any further forward since I now have two deadline projects I need to work on.

4.  I have now gone back to working on my "New York Skyline" cross stitch project. 

Definite progress on that:  I now have two pages of the pattern completed on this one!   

I still have three more pages to go and figure each will take at least a month.  This means I should get this done by the end of November and then hopefully can display it before the end of the year.  

Speaking of which, I also did some more shopping at my local "At Home" store that is closing and was lucky enough to find the perfect size frame for this!

A $10 score that I'm hoping to mount the finished piece onto the board in the frame.  What I'm not sure at this point is whether I can do that and still have it under the glass or will have to remove it.

So moving forward for the start of September:

1.  I now need to get September's "Alaska BOM" blocks cut and ready for leader/ender sewing.

2.  I will resume stitching on my "New York Skyline" cross stitch project.  However, once again I won't be "monogamous stitching" this month because I have something new I've decided to add to the cross stitch rotation.... 

3.  Continuing work on a new holiday cross stitch project.

The Fat Quarter Shop had done a Quilt and Stitch Along for "Christmas In July" called "Up On the Rooftop".  While I downloaded the free patterns, I hadn't planned to do either since I already have two Christmas quilts that need quilting and had finished last year's "Letters To Santa" cross stitch for CIJ this year.  

However, thinking now about how things will be displayed, I realized that another piece that could go along with "Letters" would help fill the space where I want to hang it.  I also plan to incorporate the "Patchwork Bow" I had made for Melva's "CIJ Blog Hop" into the display as well.

What pushed this to the forefront was that the "called for" fabric was the same used for "Letters" and I had enough of it left over to make up the new one.  Once I saw the finished design, I liked that it seemed like a relatively quick and easy stitch.  I also liked the look of the Classic Colorworks "fancy floss" it was stitched up in.  I like hand dyed flosses but since they are more expensive than DMC I need good reasons to stash them.  Needless to say, this seemed like a good enough reason, LOL! 

Once the threads arrived, I got started on it during the last few days of August and did a little more on Labor Day.  

4. Make a quilt to raffle at the community garden Art Show.  

At our monthly meeting two Saturday's ago, the President of our community garden announced that they'd like to try to hold another of the garden's Art Shows and want me to participate.  A date hasn't been formally set yet but I've thought about my display theme which will be "Fall Quilts".  

Everyone would like me to sell quilts but it's too short notice to think about making something for that.  However, I can make another "9 Fat Quarter Disappearing Nine Patch" to raffle off like last time.  It just so happens that I already had a fall themed FQ bundle that I purchased on a Shop Hop back in 2023.  This design is quick to make and hopefully to quilt with tips from the Summit so I could be ready for when a show date is announced.  

5.  Start work on the Children's Tumbler quilt for the North Carolina guild's donation efforts.  

I had picked up the set of pre-cut tumbers shown above from the Charity Coordinator back in February.  While down there I also got the backing (on the top right).  I had also purchased a light fabric to make more Tumblers and another for a coordinating border fabric.  Unfortunately, I decided to use those in another project so then had to purchase the replacements shown.  

I have the same Accuquilt die that was used for the pre-cuts so plan to cut more out of the light fabric and work out a pleasing arrangement in EQ8 while I work up the raffle quilt on the design wall.  I want to get this one made up and quilted so I can take it down with me in October completed and ready for donation.   I feel like it's a doable project but it means I have to plan it out in order to be sure to stay on track.

So with a list slightly longer than in the past few weeks, I'll stop here so I can amble back over to Carol's Quilt Schmilt and check out the plans everyone else has more promptly posted for "To Do Tuesday" for the coming week!

To Do Tuesday: August Is Moving Right Along.....

It's time for another "To Do Tuesday" check-in with everyone gathering at Carol's "Quilt Schmilt" to share their project progress!

Last week had some twists and turns to what I thought were simple project plans.  On last week's list were the following:

1.  Finish the QOV top.

I thought I was ready to get right to work on putting the top together after finding a batik in another project's stash to fill in the empty spots for blue fabrics for my layout. 

However my MIL called and I sent pictures of the layout with the new fabric and she agreed with me that while the batik worked okay it wasn't great.  She also told me that the August deadline was loose: as long as it was in by the end of the month I was fine so still had some time to get it done.  

She looked through her stash and offered to send me something else that might work.  However she was going away for the weekend so wouldn't be able to mail the fabric out until this week.  I resigned myself to a big delay in working on it.  However, I soon realized I actually had the perfect replacement sitting under my nose all along!  Ironically,  I had shown it in the top of the kit picture whenever I blogged about it.

Turns out that print was the one to keep the project moving!  When I had picked up the kit in February, the guild's charity quilt rules were that if you made a top, you had to also supply a backing for it to be submitted to the guild's longarmer for quilting and who would supply the batting.  I had found a great wide-back print while down there so purchased it (and some extra for my own stash) with the intention of using it to send back with the finished top for the backing.  

Well the problem with being a long distance member is that I am not there to hear updates at the meetings.  My MIL had let me know that they've changed the charity quilt rules:  Now you make the top and send it along with $20 and the longarmer will handle the backing, batting and the quilting!   So I had separated the backing fabric from the kit stash and basically forgot about it.  Fortunately I saw it as I went looking for something and realized it was the perfect fabric to add to the layout!

So the good news is that the center of the top is now pieced together!

There is more work to be done on it but I'll cover that in the "To Do" list for this coming week.   

2.  The "Alaska" blocks will take second position and be the leader/ender project for the QOV top.  

More good news, in the course of sewing the center of the QOV top together I managed to get two "Alaska" blocks done:

So now I have six more blocks to sew.   Since I'm doing these in "Block of the Month" fashion, I have the rest of the month to work on the remaining blocks.   

3.  "Fully finishing" a Cross stitch project:  My local At Home store is closing so I went in to try to find a frame for a recent finish.  Fortunately I found one!  So I'd like to work on this and get it hung up. 

More good news:  this is now "fully finished"!

I discussed the finishing details here.

4.  I spoke last week about having finished a top for an old project and wanted to look into what I have for finishing it (backing and binding).  

"Gathering A Garden Is A Snap"

I've narrowed down the stash of fabrics related to this to what you see here.  

Some or all of the fabrics on the right will be used to make up the backing while the fabrics on the left are binding choices.  

Alot of the time spent sorting was reminding myself that I wanted to make another "9 Fat Quarter Disappearing Nine Patch" quilt like the one I donated for a raffle back in 2023.  Many of the fabrics for that one came from this same stash of fabrics.  So any full FQ cuts were put aside for that future project.  

Coming up for this week:

1.  Add the borders to the QOV top.  Turns out this is presenting a new challenge!  The border fabric was sent in the kit but it is only three strips!  So now I am figuring out ways to add "filler" to the strips I have to make all the borders.

2.  Continue the "Alaska" BOM block making.  I also cut four scrappy blocks that I want to get sewn up too.  As before, I have the rest of the month to work on these so how ever many get done is progress.

3.  Right now since I'm focused on getting the QOV done and on the "Alaska" blocks, I'm not sure if the "Gathering A Garden" backing will get a push this week.  However, if I get inspired, I have no problem doing so!

4.  Having finished "Craft Supply Lies", I have now gone back to working on my "New York Skyline" cross stitch project which is my "monogamous stitch" for the rest of the month.

So still keeping a short list and feeling very focused for the coming week!  You can check out (or join in!) what everyone else is gearing up to work on this week by hopping over to Carol's "Quilt Schmilt" for another installment of "To Do Tuesday"!  

To Do Tuesday: August Is Off To A Good Start!

 The temperatures have cooled greatly and I've been on a roll setting up things to work on!  So I am going to continue to check in with Carol's "To Do Tuesday" at her blog "Quilt Schmilt".  It seems to be my good luck charm lately!

Checking in with the things on last week's list:

1.  After speaking to my MIL and finding out about the August deadline to turn in the top for the QOV donation kit that I took,  my plan last week was to get it made up stat!  

NOT DONE!

While it's a pretty easy design and I had hoped to get it made up by the end of last week, I hit a snag.  The kit was pre-cut but when I laid out the fabrics provided, I found that there were way fewer blue rectangles than anything else.  As a result it took me awhile to go through my general stash and other project kits to see if I had something I could add to it.  The only blue fabric I had that I liked with the others was this one:

This is a batik that was in with my "Catch" Alaskan Sampler project that I haven't worked on since 2017.  However, I had this fabric slated to go into a block in that project.  The good news was that reading through the block instructions now, I saw that I had more than enough fabric to fulfill both desires!  And of course, picking up the project again, I couldn't resist making the block up just to get it out of the way and move that project a little further forward:

It's the block pictured on the lower right on the book cover.

Well, I made up the pieced portion of it anyway -- there is a Polar Bear applique that also has to be added to it.  I haven't done the appliques for any of the blocks I've made for this project because I still need to decide if I will do those in cotton or in wool.  

I had embarked on this project back when my DH and I were big fans of the TV show "Deadliest Catch" about Alaskan Crab fleet fishermen.  We haven't watch the show in years but when I looked it up, turns out a new season of it just premiered last Friday!  So I've set the episode (and the season) to record.  Maybe this was a sign from the Quilt Muses to return to this project, LOL!  We'll see if I'll pick this up again.  

And now that I've cut and laid out the blue pieces for the QOV top, I'll continue work on that this week. 

Although the layout might still need a little tweaking.

2.  I had made a Fat Quarter Gypsy - Sew Organized Design "Stacking Pop-up" bucket to use in our tent when we went camping for the Fourth of July weekend.  It's the second one of these types of bucket that I have made and last week the plan was to make a third for my Featherweight's travel kit.  

That DID get done and both were reported on here!

3.  My last task for last week was to cut out the next set of "Alaska" blocks for this month's DIY BOM progress.  

That too is done!

As noted previously I am making the red, cream, blue and pink version of Edyta Sitar's popular design.  I'll be making the same basic style Kaleidoscope blocks as I did last month but the blocks needed this time will be colored differently.

This time too, I have to piece a "left" and "right" version.

I am also continuing to make the scrappy Kaleidoscope blocks too so cut scraps and parts for a few more of those as well.

I didn't note before that the scrappy blocks are cut with the Small Kaleidoscope ruler that I had to purchase in order to make pieced triangles for the larger BOM blocks.  I'll need to use both rulers to make next month's "Alaska" blocks!  

The good news is that with everything cut out, I should be able to stay on track with this even if I only have as little as fifteen minutes to work on them on any given day.  

So this week's (still) short "To Do" list is to: 

1.  Finish the QOV top.

2.  The "Alaska" blocks will take second position and be the leader/ender project for the QOV top.  They don't need to be completely finished this week since I have the whole month to work on them.  

3.  Cross stitch is coming back into the project queue:  My local At Home store is closing so I went in to try to find a frame for one of my recent finishes.  Fortunately I found one!

So I'd like to work on "fully finishing" this one and get it hung up. 

4.  I spoke last week about having finished a top for an old project:

"Gathering A Garden Is A Snap"

I want to look into what I have for finishing this in terms of backing and binding choices.  I've also already thought about how I want to quilt it (simple straight-line cross hatch) so I might even try to get it layered if I can also get my cutting table cleared off!

So that's it for me this week!  Now to head back over to Carol's "Quilt Schmilt" and see what everyone else is up to for this week's "To Do Tuesday"!

To Do Tuesday: End of the Month Plans

As July draws to a close, my design wall is full and yet there's still a few more things to try to get done as this month ends!  So with that I'll join in with the others over at Carol's Quilt Schmilt for some "To Do Tuesday" planning for the rest of the week!

Alaska and Other Kaleidoscope Block Designs - Month 1

I'm posting an update on yet another project undertaken this month!  Despite a lot of focus on "Christmas in July" cross stitching and then participating in a Blog Hop, I also managed to squeeze in a little time to finally get this long desired project underway!  

My original plan was to focus on starting work on the Red, White & Blue version of Edyta Sitar's "Alaska" design during "Red, White & June".  However since I didn't get that done,  I've decided that now I will do this project as another of my self-styled "Block of the Months".  I will note this hasn't gone all that great in the past but you know the old saying:  "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again"!  

I'm pleased to say the blocks (on the upper right) for the first month are all done!  I am using Marti Michell's Kaleido-rulers to cut the pieces for the blocks.  As I've pulled out all the information I had gathered for this project, I am also now taking a look at other Kaleidoscope designs.  

In her book "Kaleidoscope ABCs", Marti explores many different designs for Kaleidoscope blocks.  

Since the blocks I made this month are the simple ones with just plain triangles, I picked another design using the same type of block to try making.  Those are the small scrappy Kaleidoscope blocks under the "Alaska" blocks.  I'm doing them as inspired by this design in Marti's book:

I've said it before and I'll say it again:  I am ALWAYS looking for blocks or designs that will use up scraps!  I had decided to make these 5 inch finished as the strips needed for cutting the triangles is 3 inches and I already have a lot of scraps of that size in my Scrap Users box.

Initially, I thought I could then have the option of teaming the blocks with my other overflowing box of scraps:  Charm Squares (5" cut) which would give me more design options.   Unfortunately I had to check myself when I remembered that a five inch finished block means unfinished it's 5-1/2" so actually won't work with the Charm Squares after all.  

No matter, I'd still love the quilt of just the scrappy blocks.  Since I also have a big box of scraps sitting in my space that I need to process,  now I know to also try cutting some 5-1/2" squares that I can try teaming with these blocks.  So this will be another ongoing scrap project.       

A Long Overdue Flimsie Is Now Also Done

While piecing the "Alaska" blocks (as well as the project I made for the Blog Hop),  I was also able to finally put together the top for my "Gathering A Garden" quilt project that has been laid out on my design wall since May --- that's it on the left in the picture at the start of the post.  I used piecing the rows of blocks together for that top as a "leader/ender" for the Kaleidoscope blocks and the Blog Hop project piecing.  I am glad to finally move forward on this project.  I had worked up this design all the way back in 2010 and now can finally get around to completing it.

Plans for the rest of the week:

1.  Recently I spoke to my MIL and found out that the QOV kit to make for donation that I took when I joined the guild back in February is due back to the guild in August!  Uh oh!  

This is another project I had thought I'd work on during "Red, White & June" but didn't so now it's crunch time!  Fortunately it looks to be pretty easy so I'm hoping I can get it made up over the next two or three days so I can get it in the mail ASAP! 

2.  Before we went camping over the July 4th weekend,  I made up another of the Fat Quarter Gypsy - Sew Organized Design "Stacking Pop-up" buckets to use in our tent as a small garbage bag holder.  It's the second one of these types of bucket that I have made, the first one was for my Juki machine's travel kit.  

I have another set of fabrics to make one for my Featherweight's travel kit.  They are pretty easy to make so I think I'll try to get that done this week too. 

3.  Lastly, I need to cut out the next set of "Alaska" blocks as I really want to try to stay on track with this project.

That's it for me!  Once again trying to see if a short list means I can actually get what I plan done!  If you want to see what is populating other crafters "To Do" lists this week, head on over to Carol's Quilt Schmilt for the "To Do Tuesday" linkup and check out all of the fun things that will be going on in crafting spaces this week! 

To Do Tuesday: Plans for July

Another new month already?  Guess that means it's time to join everyone and check in with this week's "To Do Tuesday" over at Carol's Quilt Schmilt!

A Recap of Unfinished Things from June 

During June I had hoped to "fully finish" "United We Stand" which is a cross stitch piece and put together the parts for a quilted pillow cover made in fabrics from the MODA "Seeds of Glory" line. 

Neither got done as I spent most of the month focused on my cross stitching.  I had wanted to try making that edge finish on the little cross stitch pillow first and if successful then try it on the larger pillow cover.  

However,  after I trimmed the cross stitch in preparation to finish it,  I lost a piece of piping trim that was already prepared and which was leftover from a project from years ago.  I had hoped I'd eventually find it but still haven't so now will have to make more.  I'd still love to get both of these finished but admit I haven't made any definite plans to do so this month.   

I also had planned to finally layer and quilt a top I call "Modern Bohemia" for Rebecca's Sugar Sand Quilt Co. "Misson UFO" challenge.  

Well only two things for that got done:  I decided on the quilting plan and I reviewed the backing fabric I had purchased for it.  The good news is that the quilt is a lap quilt but the backing fabric had been purchased during a sale on 3 yard Wide-back packs at Keepsake Quilting.  I found in my notes that I had actually planned to split the backing between this project and another that also needs to be quilted so I got that done too.  

The last of the unfnished June plans were to finally start (or even finish?) blocks for a Red, White and Blue version of Edyta Sitar's Laundry Basket Quilts "Alaska" design.  The plan was to leader/ender the making of those blocks with putting the blocks together to complete the top for a wallhanging.  I had finished up the blocks for the wallhanging back in May and it has been sitting on my design wall ever since.  

The top 12" block is the smallest size I could make pieced triangle units with the Large Kaleido-Ruler.

I only got as far as making up the test blocks for the project.  I am making the Kaleidoscope blocks for the design using Marti Michell's "Small" and "Large" Kaleido-Rulers.  I've owned the Large one for years but soon realized I needed the Small one to be able to cut the parts for the pieced triangles for the size block I planned to make this in.  

That ruler didn't arrive until the second week of the month and I cut the pieces for the test blocks in the third and then didn't get around to stitching them up until the last week.  So this is a good time to start in on the plans for the month and for this week!

The Start of Christmas In July!  

For this month,  the primary focus will be on holiday projects for "Christmas in July".  I don't dare start any new ones but I can't promise that won't happen --- you know, squirrels and all of that, LOL!!!  So for "CIJ" I need to:

• "Fully finish" my little "Christmas Log Holder"  cross stitch piece 

• Finish stitching my "Letters To Santa" cross stitch piece

• Quilt the two Christmas tops finished last year:  "Letters To Santa" and "Christmas Trip Around the World".  In both cases the top, backing and binding are already prepared.   

I should note here that since I also have the same done (well, not the binding) for "Bohemia",  I'm thinking that maybe I can also plan to quilt it along with them. 

• Continue and hopefully finish the top for the "Scrap Squares" quilt started during last year's "CIJ".  It was inspired by Pat Sloan's quilts in this design and incorporates panels from MODA's "Cheer & Merriment" line.

• Oh wait, there is a possible new start laying around:  I had kitted up a project during my "7 Days of  New Year's" quilt-a-thon.  The pattern was in the December 2024 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting magazine.  I saw that it could utilize some of the stash I already had out from the "CIJ" projects and the dwindling stash of red fabrics still around from my Red & White Holiday Quilts adventure from 2022-23.  I was able to order the same feature print used in the published design and additional green coordinates for the block piecing from the same fabric line. I also found a suitable tone-on-tone background print to fill out the stash needed for that project. 

I can't promise I will get this started but I can't promise I won't, LOL!!

What's Up For This Week 

1. Since I have quilts I need to layer and baste for quilting, a big priority for this week will be to start clearing off my cutting table so that can actually happen!!   
2.  I also need to clear my design wall so I can put the "Scrap Squares" project up and finish the layout of the squares.  That will require that the top laid out on it now becomes a leader/ender for something.
3. I want to start making the blocks for "Alaska".  However, since this is not the priority project for the month (in fact not for the next few months as I had already planned out what I want to do during those as well),  I've decided to do this project as another self-styled Block of the Month (BOM).  It should be noted that "Bohemia" had been one of the projects I had tried to do this way in 2020, all the others of which are still UFOs.  If I can keep up on "Alaska",  maybe I can eventually put the others back into rotation and finally zero them out as well! 
4. Most notably for this weekend, we will be headed out on another camping trip for the Fourth of July weekend.  As has been my habit whenever we go camping,  I'll be taking a hand work project with me for the long drive there and back and for some "around the campfire" stitching.  For our last few trips, I have been taking and trying to finish my "Open Your Heart" project which is camping themed.  I actually got half of a page of it done during and after our last trip for the Memorial Day holiday so am looking forward to finishing that page on this trip.

Other Plans For the Month

1. As noted earlier, I have a wallhanging top that needs to be put together.  I will leader/ender it with either the "CIJ" projects and/or the "Alaska" blocks so I can clear it off the design wall to make space for laying out the "Scrap Squares" project. 
2. If time and projects permit this month, I will also try to continue the two cross stitch projects left over from "May-nia" and "Red, White and June":  "NY Skyline" and "Right To Vote".

"Skyline" will probably get priority there since it is the easier of the two to work on and when finished is destined for a decorating spot I've long wanted to fill.  

So that's more than enough to keep me busy this month as well as a few things identified specifically for this week.  Let's see how I do!  Go see what others have planned for the week ahead by heading over to Carol's at "Quilt Schmilt" to see what's popping up in quilt studios around the world!

To Do Tuesday -- A Day Late!

I'm linking up again with Carol's Quilt Schmilt followers for the weekly "To Do Tuesday" check-in report.  

Today, I'm looking at what's on deck for the coming week to continue working on patrotic projects for "Red, White & June" as well as a project pulled out for a UFO challenge.

Finishing Red, White and Blue Cross Stitch and Quilt Projects 

Last week I managed to FFO "Patriotic Parade" which I discussed in Sunday's "Slow Sunday Stitching" post.

This week I want to finish "United We Stand" which is another patriotic themed cross stitch project.  It is to be finished as a simple pillow.  The pattern designer Primrose Cottage finished theirs with a pom-pom trim.  I don't have any of that but there is a decorative edge finish I've long wanted to try and will do so on this little project as a first stab at it.  

I had seen this technique in a back issue of Quilter's Newsletter (March 2004 issue) and have long wanted an opportunity to try it on a quilt.  Certainly trying a sample of it on this little pillow that will finish at three inches square would be easier, LOL!   The kit I had purchased for the "Parade" project may play a part in that:  since I framed "Parade" rather than finish it as a pillow,  I think I'll use the backing fabric that came in the kit and cut it into the bias strips I'd need to try this decorative edge finish.

This week I also want to try finishing up my "Seeds of Glory" pillow cover.  

Some time ago when I finished a cover for the same pillow form I will use here, I had stitched a small flange of fabric between the front, back and center band around the pillow.  

The post about that finish is here.

When I was considering how to finish this new pillow cover,  I had originally planned to try adding  traditional corded piping around the edges.  

You can watch Susan Cleveland demo this tool here.

However, once I decided that I'd try the "Piped Shell Edging" for the little  "United" cross stitch pillow,  if successful I'll try it again on this larger quilted pillow.  If I can do that then I'll be confident that if I ever want to do this on the edge of a quilt,  I'll definitely be able to do it.  I even have a quilt in mind that I could try it on in the future!       

"Alaska" Start Delayed!

The big project I had hoped to start last week was Edyta Sitar's "Alaska" in a Red, White and Blue colorway.   I was going to run a test of making the blocks for it but unfortunately I ran into quite a few snags!  My plan is to make the blocks using the Marti Michell Kaleidoscope ruler I have.  

A review of her Kaleidoscope book provided the good news that I can use the ruler I have to make the blocks but only some of them.  I have her "Large" ruler but the blocks that are made up of multiple smaller triangles would need triangle units smaller than my ruler can make unless I make larger blocks for the quilt overall.  

That in turn led to the question: how big do I want this quilt to be and for what use?  I just fell in love with the design and coloring and was so focused on aquiring the fabric that I never really questioned the size of the quilt as patterned.  It is patterned at 71-1/2" square but now I'm not sure if I want a quilt that size.  Even so, the blocks I'd need to make for that size or for a smaller quilt will still require the "Small" version of this  ruler.  Fortunately,  I was able to find a few places that still have it and have ordered one which gives me a little more time to settle the quilt size issue.  Of course, there is also the option of making an even larger queen-size quilt.  But for that I'd still have to settle the block size issue and then check my stash to confirm I have enough fabric to do that. 

Speaking of the stash:  another complication that arose was when I pulled out the storage box with the stash for this and was confronted with another issue:

In the box I had the receipts showing what I had purchased for the project.  I noted how much of the background fabric I had ordered which seemed like way more than I needed for the original design.  However,  I have far less than what's invoiced!  Did I decide to use the rest for another project ?!?  If so, for the life of me I don't remember doing so or if I did what project I might have moved it to.  Sigh!  I've only found one source for that print but do not want to commit to ordering more until I've decided on the quilt size and block issue since I might already have enough.  Then again, background fabric is always useful so I could just bite the bullet and get more anyway.  Decisons, decisions! 

I did manage to cut some scraps to make up blocks to test working with the ruler.  These are the block pieces needed for the two styles of blocks used in the design.  

The smaller block is the size I'd use for the original pattern.  The larger block is the other style of block I need to make for the project but this is the smallest size I can make of it with the ruler I have.  I am also going to try it by making the large diamonds in that block the two ways you can do them:  either pieced of two small triangles or cut as one large diamond.  So when I sew these up this week that will give me an idea of how the assembly of the blocks work.  

So it looks like this week will be the testing phase and maybe next week -- once I've made the final decision on the quilt size -- I can actually get to work on the actual blocks for the project! 

UFO:  Quilting Decided Now To Layer

The other project on my list for this week is my "Modern Bohemia UFO" for the "Mission: UFO" challenge on the Sugar and Sand Quilt Company website.  

Last week I looked at it for a couple of days and came up with what I think is a simple yet custom quilting plan.  The top has blocks that are 12, 9, 6 and 3 inches.  In many cases the same size blocks are grouped together.  

So after layering, the plan is to stabilize stitch the whole top by outlining the block sections.  This means all of the twelve inch blocks will be individually outlined but all of the three inch blocks are together in sections of three to five blocks.  Most of the six inch blocks are paired although a few are either individual or in sets of three or four that are adjacent to each other.  The nine inch blocks for the most part are individual but there are a few that are paired.  

For stitching over the blocks, all of the blocks smaller than twelve inches will be quilted with various straight line patterns.  I want to do cross-hatching across the three inch blocks and either horizontal or vertical matchstick quilting over the nine inch blocks depending on what is going on around them.  I have straight line rulers for those so the good news is that I can do that stitching free-motion as opposed to using a walking foot which would require turning the quilt to complete those sections.   

For the six inch blocks, I had purchased a "Cube" template on Etsy a while back that will do a "concentric lines in a square" stitch pattern and is perfectly sized for those blocks.  I also want to "connect" the stitch pattern between adjacent blocks.

For the twelve inch blocks I envisioned doing something that contrasts the other stitching,  preferably a cuved pattern.  I thought about a number of options including doing Adria Good's  "Big Flower" motif that I did on my "Heartland" 3 Yard Quilt last year.   However I decided to stick with a cleaner line pattern so opted for a simple "Spiral Starburst" that I saw in Natalia Bonner's "Next Steps In Machine Quilting" book.     

I also have this great backing print for this project and even better, it's 108" wide so I won't have to do any piecing of it!

"Unstoppable" by Whistler Studio for Windham Fabric

I had purchased this back in 2021 when I originally thought I would try to finish this.  I got it during a Keepsake Quilting "Black Friday" sale of their 108" “wide back” three yard packs.  Of course this quilt only being lap sized means it doesn't need all the fabric this backing pack provided.  Fortunately in 2023,  I realized that I also needed backing for my much larger "Scrap Happy" project so all of the rest of it will go to help fill out the backing for that project!     

The hardest part to do now that I've got my quilting plan will be to layer this.  Actually no, the hardest part will be cleaning off my cutting table in order to have the space to layer this, LOL!!   

There's Also Still Alot of Cross Stitch Going On

Lastly, I will continue working on all the cross stitch projects I have in progress at the moment.

Home of the Free, Right to Vote, Craft Supply Lies and NY Skyline

A lot to do but surprisingly, with a clear plan it seems doable.  But then it always does seem that way until it isn't!  

Have you checked out what others have planned over at Carol's Quilt Schmilt link up?  Who knows, maybe your next project is there waiting to inspire you!