What We’re Working On

 We had lots of projects on the go yesterday at our Prayers and Squares gathering. Janet finished the quilting on this Iris quilt, pattern found here. We took the pieces that were cut off the edge of the quilt and pieced them into the back, avoiding a lot of the waste that comes from piecing a quilt on the diagonal and then cutting it to square the edges. It still needs a binding. Marg has been working on a sampler done in greens for the last few weeks. She has all the blocks done. After this picture was taken she layered all the blocks and got them all quilted. She is doing quilt as you go on this one. By the end of the day she was starting to join the blocks together and add the quilting to the sashing. Barbara is working on a charm quilt. She has all the squares sewn together and is working on some nine patches that will go around the outside edges. Barbara also finished this quilt a while ago, but I don’t think I ever got a picture of it. It will be going to a recipient this coming week. Susan finished the fishing themed quilt. We will hopefully get it layered next week. We have been working on a challenge for our members. We gave out a piece of fabric, the blue print found in common in the blocks, and challenged each of our members who wanted to participate, to choose a block from the Quilters Cache website beginning with the first letter of their name and make a block using the focus fabric and other fabrics of their choice. The block could be any size they want. We have 3 finished so far. I am working on some basket blocks on Thursdays, but somehow I always forget to take pictures of what I’m working on there. And finally, here at home I’ve started to dive into a box packed full of 1 1/2 inch strips to make the beginnings of a Log Cabin Courthouse Steps quilt.

There is a long way to go on this one. I think it will need perhaps 42 blocks to get it to a lap size. I’m planning on working on 10 at a time.

I’ll link up to finished, or not, friday

Slow Sunday Stitching

 This coming week should see the last stitches taken in Connections. The last seam is halfway finished. Unfortunately, I don’t have a backing fabric for it. That means a shopping trip coming up, such a shame to need to go shopping..... not. It’s going to be a bit of a challenge to quilt and finish. I don’t want to trim the edges, which means keeping the papers in the edges and doing a turned edge finish. It also means trying to avoid the papers while doing the machine quilting. But I’m sure it will work out. So hopefully this time next week will be a celebration that this one is a finished flimsy.

I’ll link up to Kathy’s Slow Sunday Stitching

What We’re Working On

 We had a productive day yesterday at Prayers and Squares. And some of us had productive days at home as well. Beverly has been working on a Nine Patch and Hour Glass quilt recently. The Nine Patches were in a donation box that was given to us, and she decided to turn them into a quilt. They were a bit wonky in size, so needed trimming to 8 1/2 inches before they could be used. It was her first time doing Hour Glass quarter square triangles, and she did a fabulous job with them. Somehow she ended up with leftover hour glass units, so she cut them in half and turned them into a border. They were still some blue/burgundy triangles left, so those are going into the backing.

Susan and I have been working together on a fish themed quilt. She got more borders sewn on yesterday.. I need to finish another row of snail’s trails blocks before we can finish this one. Here at home I finished the quilting on another animal panel that will go into our fund raising pile. The binding will be the same fabric as the dark grey triangles.

Today’s job is to use up some peaches to make peach jam. After that, I’ll be working on finishing the snail’s trails blocks so we can finish the fish themed quilt next Thursday. I’ll link up to finished, or not, Friday

Slow Sunday Stitching

 So close, so very close to having Connections finished. I’m now in the process of sewing the connecting row and putting the two halves of the quilt together. It is going to be a nice lap quilt size for the winter. We had such a hot and dry end of July and beginning of August that it is hard to think about winter. But the last week has cooled way down to the point that it fells like fall is here already. I’m carefully watching the weather predictions and keeping an eye out for frost warnings. I don’t want to lose what is left of my tomato harvest.

I’ll link up to Kathy’s Slow Sunday Stitching

What We’re Working On

 I did a much better job of taking pictures of our various projects we worked on at Prayers and Squares yesterday, so I’ve lots to share. Pat started working on a Disappearing Nine Patch last week. They are all in blue plaids with light grey in between and a red and blue plaid for the centre constant. We started with 6 inch squares, so it is sewing up fast.We have a request for a gentleman in these colours. Susan has been working on a fishing themed quilt, also a request so we are trying hard to get it done.It has a few more borders to go onto it yet.  Elizabeth has been working on a heart themed quilt, using quilt as you go techniques. It is almost done. Pat did this lovely autumn themed quilt in her spare time at home. We layered it yesterday for quilting. Sharon has been working on the pink and blue 3 yard quilt beauty. It needs one more border and then it will be ready for layering. Here at home I’m continuing to slowly make these flying geese pinwheel blocks. There are now 5 done and a sixth in progress. The slowly is because it is also harvest from the garden and canning season. Every year our local grocery store has these 25 pound boxes of Roma tomatoes for $8.99, a really good deal. This is my 3rd box, in addition to all the tomatoes from the garden. It wasn’t a good year for the garden, too wet at the beginning of the summer and then 3 weeks of hot and dry. Hence the 3 boxes from the grocery store. I’ve done lots of pasta sauce and now I’m doing plain jars of tomatoes that can be turned into other things.

I’ll link up to Finished, or not, Friday

What We Are Working On

 It was another slow day for pictures at Prayers and Squares yesterday. I spent most of the afternoon cutting for a new project we are starting. It’s a Disappearing nine patch for a gentleman who requested blues and greys. We have a substantial stash of plaids at the moment, so the blues and the centre red came from those. The greys will be cut from light grey fat quarters and leftovers from other projects. Here’s an Electric Quilt estimate of the eventual quilt. We’re starting with 6 inch squares of fabric, so it will go together fairly quickly. Beverly has been working with some nine patches that were donated to us. They were oddly and inconsistently sized, so she trimmed them to a consistent 8 1/2 inches and then made a bunch of hour glass blocks to go in between them. It was her first time making hour glass blocks. She did a fabulous job. And then here at home I’ve been slowly working on some more of the flying geese blocks. Harvesting from the garden and doing preserves has gotten in the way of sewing lately. Today is tomato sauce day. It is cooking down now, so I’ve got a few hours to do some sewing. 

I’ll link up to Finished, or not, Friday.

Slow Sunday Stitching

 I have increased my numbers of 2 inch squares by digging into some unused fabric scraps. I am getting so close to having Connections finished. I’ll probably need a few more 2 inch squares before it is done but from here on I’m going to cut them as I need them. I have 3 out of 8 units done that I need for this last row. After that it is just a matter of joining the 2 halves of the quilt together. I won’t put a time frame onto it. But soon..... maybe...... I’m hoping it will be done by the time I need a lap quilt for the winter.

Anyhow..... I’ll link up to Kathy’s Slow Sunday Stitching.