I’m on a Roll - Secret Garden Quilt Finished

Yes, another UFO already ticked off the list for this year.  It is such a good feeling.

This is another fairly simple quilt that was started last year.  As you can see, it is still a bit breezy here, but not as bad as yesterday.

The history of it starts quite some years ago, when I bought a little pile of fat quarters at a market in a village near here.  They were from the range “Secret Garden” by Sandi Henderson.  They are a lovely quality and nice colours, but most were large scale designs, which may account for them being sold on.  Anyway, they have sat in my stash for too long, so it was time to get them used.  The sashing fabric was a destash from Brenda at the August retreat at Baradine in 2024 and seemed to pair well with the fat quarters.  The backing and binding are the from the same yardage that I used on the Five and Dime Quilt that was also a long time stash fabric.  So, this was a great stash buster.

I pieced the quilt top at Scrub Stitchin’ last year and since then it has just sat, waiting, in its tub.  This was another ideal quilt to work on while I get used to using Elly May, my long arm machine.  

I found a nice big design that suited it well.

For the life of me, I cannot get my phone to photograph the fabric colour correctly on the backing, but you can see the quilting design well here.

This shows it better.

Once again, I have to thank my patient quilt holder, seen here modelling his latest fashion accessory, as he informed me.

The quilt will be donated.

QUILT INFORMATION

Pattern - The pattern I used was another freebie. This one is called Courtyard Quilt and appears to be found on various sites.  I found my version here.

Measurements - 76” high x 55” wide

Quilting Design - Spiral and Paisley e2e

Batting - Cotton/Poly

Backing - Fabric from stash

Thread - Glide - Cool Mint

Binding - Backing leftovers

Five and Dime - My First Finished Quilt for the Year

I’m so happy to have completed my first quilt for 2026.  It is a very simple quilt entitled “Five and Dime”,  as it is designed for five inch squares and ten inch squares.  As you can see, it is a bit breezy here today.

This quilt started out from some gifted strips of fabric.  I wanted to use them rather than just add them to the stash.  I found this simple pattern and then searched for a contrast fabric.  

The pink is left over wideback.  I chose the green, from an op shop, for the outer border, but as you can see, I didn’t end up adding it, as the quilt was already a good size.

I cut everything out and kitted it up to take to Scrub Stitchin’ last year, where I got all the pieces joined into pair and laid them out on the design wall…….and it has been sitting in a tub until last week.

I pieced the top together last Saturday, while joining in on Chooky’s Zoom session. Yes, two weekends in a row.  Happy dance.

On Thursday I prepped the backing and batting in readiness for a quilting friend’s visit on Friday.

It turns out that one of my quilting group friends has the same long arm set up as me and hasn’t been game to use it.  Therefore, she came over for the morning to get a bit of a lesson from the “expert”.  I say that very tongue in cheek, as I’m just learning.  YouTube is my friend.  Anyway, we got the quilt loaded, chose a quilting design and got it started.  She now feels much more confident to have a go with hers and has a big list of YouTube channels to watch.

Elly May played nicely.  This shows the quilting pattern well, but the colour of the fabric looks nothing like this photo.

This photo shows the true colour.  I used leftover backing fabric for the binding, which I attached by machine.  The backing fabric is some that has been lurking in a tote for many years.  It has the date 2006 on the selvedge.  I bought a heap of fabric on clearance at Spotlight not long after I started quilting. I paid $60 and came home with well over 60 metres of fabric.  It has come in handy on many projects over the years, and yes, there is still plenty of it left.

The quilt will be donated.

Anyway, here are the details of the quilt, for my information:

QUILT INFORMATION    

Pattern - Five and Dime - a free pattern by SeasonedHomemaker.com

Measurements - 71” high x 55” wide

Quilting Design - Daisy Panto Leah Day e2e

Batting - Cotton/Polyester

Backing - Fabric from stash

Thread - Glide - Pink Rose

Binding - Backing leftovers

Yep, it was a bit breezy.  Thanks Mick for your patience.

Getting Ahead

This year I have once again joined Betty and her merry band of ladies to make some group charity quilts.  Last year we made blocks using a designated fabric.  

This year there is a change of theme and we have been requested to make a row of blocks in whatever style we like in just one colour.  We have been given six colours and are to make one colour, any that we wish, each month for the first six months of the year, completing all colours during that time.

I have elected to follow the Rainbow Scrap Challenge colours, where possible, so this month I opted to make blue blocks.  The strip is to be 56” wide by anywhere from. 6” to 10” in height.

Today I decided to make a start, using only those fabrics in my scrap tubs.  The first blocks I made were string blocks.  Now, I have been quilting for well over 20 years and surprisingly have never made a string block.  Years ago I popped an old phone book on my sewing room bookshelf for this purpose and finally used it today.  I just realised I didn’t take a photo of the completed block from the front.

Anyway, I then just played with what fabrics were in the box and made blocks with rough log cabin crumb piecing, a four patch variation, and random strips.  They will do the job.

Here they all are, joined into the strip, ready to get into the post next week.

The next job is to go and tidy up the big mess I made, as I have a friend coming over to play in my sewing room tomorrow.  Wish me luck.

My First Finish of the Year

I can’t believe it.  I have a finish and as an extra bonus it is a UFO that has been hanging around for a while.

This was started back in November 2023 when I bought a basket of 8 ply acrylic yarn oddments.  I decided to  make a donation rug using the Spiked Granny Square pattern.

I had a lovely time over the next few months, adding to the pile of blocks.

Then I added a cream border to them all.

Before joining them all together using crochet in April 2024…..but the squares wouldn’t sit flat.  My crochet was obviously too tight.  Blast!  Not happy……

And there it sat in a box until October 2024…when all the squares were separated and put back in the box.

That is where they have sat until this week.  Every time I see the box I feel guilty about not biting the bullet and getting them finished into the rug.

Ta da!  By doing a little each day for five days it is finished.  Not perfect, but finished and ready to send off for donation, when I get around to it.  When I finish something like this I do wonder why I leave it for so long.  I am the queen of procrastination.  Oh well, better late than never.

It is a nice, cheerful little rug and do hope someone will enjoy it when the time comes. 

I’m very happy to have it done and dusted and I can now remove the box from my sewing room and start another knitting or crochet project guilt free.  Yes, I am going to try to have just one project on the go at a time…..unlike my stitching projects.  We won’t talk about how many of them are in the “To be completed” pile.

Now to work on the next project on my wish list for this month.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge for January Done and Dusted

After plenty of fiddle faddling to get lots prepped, I now have my January RSC blocks completed.

First up, were the Black and White Potato Chip blocks.

I just made four this month, as there will also be a dark blue month and an aqua/teal month.  Most months will have five blocks.  Once the scraps are cut they are quick and easy.  There are several duplicates, but once they are distributed around the quilt it won’t matter.

Next was the Crumb Block. I need three of these each month, but already had two that I had prepared previously.

This was today’s block.

Together with the others.

Finally, the Solid Fabric Crosses blocks.

These were a joy to make.  I have never made a quilt from all solid fabrics before.  Other than putting together the nine patch around the centre square, there are no seams to nest and the pressing directions that come naturally all fall in the right direction, so they don’t get caught up in the feed dogs.  The blocks will have a white sashing with grey corner stones, creating little nine patches.  I just need two blocks each month and one width of fabric strip of each colour makes the two coordinating blocks.

I’m looking forward to working on all these projects during the year.  I still have to cut some more fabrics to complete the kits for the quilts, but that can be a job for next month.

I’ll be linking up with So Scrappy.