Infinity!

A new quilting project called Infinity has begun. I've been wanting to make this wallhanging for years and have decided to dedicate the rest of December to this project.

The pattern is found in  Twist and Turn Bargello Quilts by Eileen Wright.

I don't like most Bargello quilts but this book has several that I do like. My preference is that they be symmetrical.

(I know I cropped this picture to remove part of the green. Looks like Blogger is playing with my mind again this week. At least the pictures are here and not lost in cyberspace!)

Infinity looks like an interesting pattern. 

It looks even better when the page is turned the correct direction. Blogger!

The fabrics have been purchased. Sorry the photo is dark.

And they've been washed to remove excess dyes.

The black isn't shown hanging on the rack. That happened after these fabrics were removed, pressed and refolded.

The fabrics have been cut into strips. 

After this picture was taken, I did rearrange some of the fabrics and I even remembered to change the label numbers.

The important thing is label, label, label! 

The black fabrics have also been cut and labeled.

And there there is also a black strip set sewn. I didn't take a picture, just imagine a bunch of black strips sewn together.

I copied the instructions from the book since it won't lay flat. I also like to do this so I can check off each step as it is completed so I can keep track of where I am. And it keeps my book clean and tidy in case I ever want to make another wallhanging from this pattern.

Now the strips sets are sewn and are ready to be cut for sewing.

This is my cutting zone, two mats and three strip sets.

Here is what I've sewn so far. I'm making progress. This is not a difficult quilt to make and I'm having fun!


Linking to Let's Bee Social,  Needle & Thread Thursday, Finished Or Not Friday, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, TGIFF!, Show Off Saturday

More Quilting

After 8 weeks of quilting, the first applique row is completed.

Another stencil in the applique corners.

Quilting between the applique rows.

Half stencil and left border triangles.

I'm asked often about marking the quilt. Here is a link to that post.

Linking to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Oh Scrap, Show & Tell Monday With Bambi, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away, Moving It Forward, HQAL, Esther's Wednesday WOW!

Starlight Express Finish

Starlight Express is finished. The stars started out as a jellyroll gifted to me by Nanette. The stars were pieced using the Starlight Express pattern from Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam & Nicky Lintott. The rest of the design came from my imagination.

I pulled fabrics from my stash that were similar to the original fabrics. I did buy the border fabric. Yoder Department Store in Shipshewana still had this original fabric from the line. I also finished up four background fabrics that needed to be used. I didn't intend to make a king sized quilt but that's what happened. The flimsy measures 99" by 111".

I wrote a post in November about piecing the stars and another post when I added the first checkerboard border.

This is a donation to the school auction the Pennsylvania grandchildren attend. It will be hand quilted by someone  else.

Linking to Let's Bee Social,  Needle & Thread Thursday, Finished Or Not Friday, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Finish It Up Friday, Show Off Saturday, Oh Scrap!

Quilting Progress

I'm excited to show you what I've accomplished with my hand quilting on the Pastor's Attic this week. 

Quilting between applique rows 1 and 2 happened this week. For the first time you can see the designs in the center corners of the blocks. I couldn't reach to the top of the designs but I think you'll get the idea.

You can see how I'm quilting into the above applique block. The top applique hasn't been quilted.

The edge of the corner quilting shows.

I enlarged the picture so you can see the quilting easier.

 The design will be finished after I roll next week. 

The fabric looks more yellow in some of the photos. The cream is the true color.

I enjoyed appliqueing this red design. It took awhile but it was fun.

The next corner section. I stitched on the edge of the seam allowance making sure I quilted the least amount of bulk.

This block was also fun to applique. At the Davis Mercantile in Shipshewana, they have a quilt on display with all the blocks this design. Maybe someday.

I've never used this stencil before. I was able to reach to the top so this design is finished.

For fun I fussy cut the centers of these flowers. 

This is the right edge of the quilt. This is half a stencil on the edge. This is the same design as the second picture at the top.

I got the idea to have quilting designs in the corners years ago when I saw an antique quilt quilted this way. Of course I don't remember which quilt it was anymore, maybe Benjamin Biggs?

When I appliqued these blocks, I did not cut out the fabric behind the flowers and leaves. That would have made less bulk for quilting but the antique appliqued quilts weren't sewn that way. This way when my applique is old, worn and wears off, the original fabric will be underneath to make repairs easier.

Several of you have commented on how I'll be glad when this quilt is finished. I haven't thought that far ahead! I'll be glad to have the first row of applique completed next Sunday. There are four more rows of applique after this row is completed.

Hand quilting is not a fast activity. If you want speed, have your quilt machine stitched!

Linking to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Oh Scrap, Show & Tell Monday With Bambi, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, BOM's Away, Moving It Forward, Esther's Wednesday WOW!

20th Anniversary Quilt Retreat!

I attended the Jane Stickle quilt retreat the weekend before Thanksgiving. This retreat was a celebration of 20 years of continuous retreats. The very first retreat was held in November 1998. I didn't start attending the retreats until November 2007 and haven't missed since.

We had two show & tells this retreat. On Thursday evening we had a special Dear Jane show & tell. Anything item that was made with Jane blocks  or special challenges from the last 20 years were eligible to be shown and there was a lot to show. Also . . . there were 9 new Dear Jane quilt finishes. 

Last summer, a large online group of retreat attendees started piecing Jane, completing two blocks a week. They will be piecing awhile but their quilts are in progress. The Dear Jane quilt is still alive and happening in our group.

Rosemary always does such a wonderful job of taking pictures at show & tell. I'm going to link to her blog and let you watch from the smile box she made. Rosemary's smilebox, November 2018 retreat. Have your coffee ready to sip while you watch, there are 400 pictures!

Of course I showed my Dear Jane which I hand quilted and finished in 2016. 

What else did I do at the retreat besides party?

I pieced a Boston Commons for me. She'll hang in the closet for awhile until I decide how I want her quilted.

The yellow fabric was left from my Nearly Insane quilt. It is nearly impossible to get a good picture, it always show lighter than it really is.  I took a close up of a corner and the yellow does look better, at least I thought it did, maybe it doesn't. Oh well.

I took one picture of the flimsy with the light on and the second one the overhead light is off and the blinds pulled shut. It didn't seem to help at all.

My Boston Commons is an old pattern, designed back in the 80's and this is the only pattern I've ever used for this design. I don't know if this method is used in other Boston Commons patterns or not.

First you piece the center and add the first border. 

Then you piece the corner sections then attach them which looks rather weird.

Finally you piece the top, bottom and side sections and attach them. After that it's the outside border and it's a flimsy ready to be quilted.

The pattern suggests you use the same fabric as the inside border for the outside. I don't really like light borders for bed quilts that are going to be used. I love deep dark blue so that is what I used. 

My quilt is king sized 98" by 120" and is the first flimsy to be crossed off this list for this winter's quilting season.

I also worked on Starlight Express. The center section is pieced. Currently I'm piecing 9-patch blocks to make a border around the center. Hopefully this will be a completed flimsy next week.

Linking to Sew Fresh Quilts, Needle & Thread Thursday, Finished Or Not Friday, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, TGIFF!, Show Off Saturday

Still Quilting

It's time for an update on how the hand quilting is going on the Pastor's Attic quilt. Another row has been finished! Here is a view of the whole row before I rolled.

Pictures of the different applique blocks.

And a view of the left side border quilting. The right side looks just like this so I didn't show both sides.

For those who aren't familiar with this pattern, this is The Pastor's Attic Quilt by Marsha D. Radtke, an Baltimore Album Quilt.

Linking to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Show & Tell Monday With Bambi, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, Moving It Forward, Esther's Wednesday WOW!

UFQ's Completed!

Last spring I wrote a post titled My List of Current UFQ's. 

I am very, very thrilled and pleased to say I've completed all 13 (the original list of ten and then the three I added) quilts that were listed on the spring post!! Whoo!! Happy Dance!! The idea was to progress them into the flimsy stage but several of them have been quilted and are completely finished. Here is an update on each of the 13 projects.

1. Nearly Insane - Completely Finished! I hand quilted this quilt. Here is a link to the Nearly Insane pattern if you are interested.

2. Pastor's Attic Quilt - The applique borders have been completed and the flimsy is finished! This quilt is in the hand quilting frame now and will be completed sometime in 2019.

3. Bricks & Stepping Stones - comforter top for the school auction my Pennsylvania grandchildren attend. Finished! - a Bonnie Hunter pattern

The children at school will knot this comforter.

This was a quick and simple pattern. I have plenty of rectangles left. I see more Bricks & Stepping Stones in my future. 

4. King sized Boston Commons quilt for the school auction the Pennsylvania grandchildren attend. Finished! Someone in Pennsylvania will hand quilt this quilt.

I really like how this turned out but now I want to make one for me but in blues and yellows, maybe in 2019? 

5. Sweet Surrender - is a flimsy. Now waiting it's turn to be hand quilted.

6. Star Dance - Top is finished and also waiting to be hand quilted someday.

7. Baskets & 9-Patches - Completely Finished! Long arm quilted by Three Sisters Fabric, New Paris, Indiana.

A close up photo. I didn't use the original basket pattern that was used in the pattern.







8. Fat Quarter Challenge - Completely Finished! This was a

challenge with the Maple Leaf Quilt guild. Long arm quilted by Lori Null.

9. Wilfred & Cloves - Completely Finished!!

Long arm quilted by Lori Null, medallion was hand quilted by me. Completely finished! 

10. Scrappy 9 Patch, formerly known as No Name 4-1/2" 

finished 9 patch blocks -  The 9 patches are pieced. 

This is a project I started on my own without a pattern. I think she turned out very nice. The flimsy was gifted to a friend who'll add border fabric of her choice and then quilt it for one of her children.

11. Sisters Choice - Finished! This is a Bonnie Hunter

pattern. I pieced the 9-patches years ago  and then started the actual blocks back in 2016. 

12. Re-purposed 4 Patches - formerly known as Kitty Corner - I changed my mind and decided not to make  the Kitty Korner pattern. 

I used the 4 patches I had pieced for Kitty Korner and just made my own design.

13. Bonnie Hunter's Scrappy Trips pattern or maybe her Bargello pattern. As You can see, I decided to go with the Bargello pattern.

I really like how this quilt turned out and will be making more charity quilts with this pattern.


Don't worry about me, just because I finished all these projects I'm not going to just sit around and do nothing, I've already started another quilt because that's what quilters do. We enjoy the finish for the day and then onto the next one.

Linking to Let's Bee Social,  Needle & Thread Thursday, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, TGIFF!, Show Off Saturday