Crossroads Quilt Ta Da

Here she is, in all her glory.  This quilt really makes me happy.

When I left off last time, I was at the stage of choosing a backing fabric from my stash.  I was thinking that it would possibly be the ideal quilt to use my thrifted vintage 1970s orange floral sheet that I have had for ages.  I actually have a pair of these.  It ended up being perfect, as there is quite a bit of orange in the blocks.

When I looked closer at it, the sheet was way off square and there were also some printing flaws, where the fabric had obviously been creased.  After a bit of a think, I remembered that the best way to square up fabric is to tear it across the width.  It worked a treat and really emphasised how twisted it was.  Fortunately, even with the printing flaws, there was still plenty of fabric for the backing.

Next to choose a pantograph.  "Flower Power", which is a freebie from Urban Elementz was ideal.

Two days before Christmas I had fun quilting it, and everything went smoothly.

Now for the binding.  I was a bit undecided what to use.  My first choice was a grey criss crossy fabric that would be very neutral.  Mick didn't like that one, as he reckoned it needed something to act as a stop to the blocks.

Second choice was the red of the centres, but I didn't like that, too dark, especially how it would look at the back.

Finally, I thought to use the orange backing fabric.  That worked so much better and also used some of the left overs of the sheet.

I was starting to doubt if I would manage to finish it before Christmas, but everything seemed to be under control, so on Christmas Eve afternoon I sat down in front of the tele and hand stitched down the binding while watching two cheesy Christmas movies.  A rather pleasant way to spend some time.

I love it.  This would be the perfect picnic quilt, or to take in the caravan, or to snuggle under, or just stroke.

Here are some close ups of some of the blocks.

Aren’t they fun.

Ta Da!  Check out the quilt holder's bare feet.  LOL

And the back.

I don't know why, but this quilt has made me happy from start to finish and has gone together so easily.  "The Crossroads Quilt" by Treehouse Textiles is the official name, but I think I will call mine the "Happy Hippy Quilt".

Another Finish

With this finish I have achieved all I had wished for prior to Christmas.  Happy Dance.  And, it’s not even at the eleventh hour.

Back at the end of September I pieced a donation quilt using some “Cars” fabric I found in an op shop.   Well, finally I got around to quilting it.  

This time I used a new pantograph call Bauhaus Baby.  I was a bit nervous as to how it would turn out, as there are definite straight lines and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to follow it exactly.  It would be more organic than using a computer driven machine.

The first row looked a bit how’s your uncle, being on the plain border, but as I progressed and it created the all over texture I thought it looked okay.

I really like this quilt and hope that some little boy will too.  It fits into the “minimum effort for maximum effect” category, as the design is so simple.

Here is the backing showing a bit more of the texture.

I had decided to give myself a bit of a break until Christmas, but I just may have started a new project, one that I originally planned to complete between Christmas and New Year, but decided to get a bit of a head start.  I might be a bit excited about it.

Something From Nothing

Isn’t it cute.

It all started with this little frame.  When we were packing up the white elephant stall at the church fete, about three weeks ago, it was there, unsold…..unloved…..in pieces…..in the rubbish box, so I brought it home.  It even looks like it has a little face.  The opening is two and a half inches square.  I thought it would be cute with a teensy weensy patchwork block or cross stitch…..and put it aside.

Fast forward to yesterday, when I found this freebie pattern.  I had a quick count of the stitches and if I used 18 count Aida it would fit in the frame.

I thought it would be the perfect project to take to my patchwork group this morning, so I went into my stash of Aida and linen and found the perfect sized scrap of Aida.  OK, I would have bought it…..about 30 years ago, so not technically free, but near enough.  Then to get some threads.  I didn’t want to go down the orange and black Halloween colours. 

Now to backtrack.  Early last year a friend gifted me a nearly completed cross stitch bookmark kit that had been gifted to her in a destash.  I finished the bookmark and there were loads of threads left over.  So many threads for a small bookmark.  Let’s use some of them.

All set to go.

I made a good start this morning and then this afternoon I sat on the back verandah and finished off the stitching.  It looked rather too green until I added the little checkerboard border.

Ta da!  Isn’t it cute.  I’m really happy with how it turned out.  And all from little bits and pieces of nothing much. The little frame hasn’t languished in a cupboard and some other scraps were used.   Now to find somewhere to display it.

My Goals for August

I know that I won’t have a lot of stitching time during August, so will keep my goals relatively simple.

ONE MONTHLY GOAL

Now that I have completed the centre block of my Blue Quilt, I want to keep up the momentum, while keeping my goal achievable.  

I’ve been playing around with fabrics for the borders, keeping in mind that I only want to use fabrics from my stash.  

I think that this will do.

My plan is to add the first border and then appliqué the hearts in the corners.  Then I will glue baste the hexy flowers to the second border.  That is the sum total of my goal.  However, I do wish to make good progress on appliquéing down the hexies, but that is a bonus, and just maybe, prep another border.  We’ll see.

RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

The colour this month is yellow, so I will make my black and white blocks and the split nine patch blocks.  That won’t take too long.

15 MINUTES A DAY

Although I know there will be limited stitching time, I do hope that I can maintain my 15 minutes each day.  To that end, I need something that I can pick up, do a little, and then put away.  Any progress is good progress, as far as I am concerned.  As I previously said, 30 days at 15 minutes a day is seven and a half hours of stitching.

KNITTING OR CROCHET

I have nothing on the go at the moment…….but so many possibilities.  I need to make a decision, and then make a start.

LAUNDRY BASKET MYSTERY QUILT

This will have a little holiday during August.  I hope to get back to it in the next couple of months.

HAND WORK

I have my  new Sashiko project, as well as the hexies to be stitched down for the Blue Quilt.  I may find something else as well.

WORK ON A DONATION PROJECT

This is also having a little break and I will get back to it before too long.

USE MONIQUE

You guessed it, not happening in August.

LEADER AND ENDER

Ditto….

Now to the non stitching goals.

READ A BOOK

TRY A NEW RECIPE

HAVE A FUN DAY OUT

GO AWAY IN THE CARAVAN

KEEP MY BLOG POSTS UP TO DATE

I hope I can manage these goals.  They should be achievable.  

I am really looking forward to this month and what we will be getting up to.

I’m linking up with Elm Street Quilts.  Pop over to see what the others hope to achieve.

Scrub Stitchin’ - Part 3 - Saturday

Saturday dawned with clouds, but sunny.  The pavilions looked lovely in the morning light.

The camp is such a peaceful place, with lots of bird life.  The blue eared honey eaters are always present.  Unfortunately, this year there was one that took to swooping everyone, which was a bit annoying. It must have had a nest somewhere.

Those of us that join in with Zoom stitching sessions got up at the crack of dawn to partake in a short session with some of the international stitchers. It was a nice way to let them join in with Scrub Stitchin’.

Like Friday, we were all very industrious, with plenty to show for our efforts.

Some lovely versions of our project were complete, but not mine, I didn’t even make a start.

Jo made a placemat with the tiny twister blocks made from the scraps from her big twister quilt.  So fiddly, but very effective.

Brenda completed her twister table runner.

Chooky completed her twister top, ready to send off to the quilter.

And after much unpicking, as I had blocks and then a row around the wrong way I completed my twister quilt top.  Chooky’s and mine are from the same fabric range, I just omitted the white blocks.

Saturday night is always our special themed dinner.  This year the theme was RED.

Our caterers each year are Ronnie and Janine, who are now just as much one of the girls as all the ones stitching.  Here, Ronnie is looking the part for the Red dinner.

The table decorations were very red, as were the attendees.

Lynda even coordinated her wine.

After dinner it was show and tell, but that is a separate story.

We were leaving for home early on Sunday morning, so I packed away my sewing on Saturday night.  In the end, I managed to complete two quilt tops, one swoon block and my RSC blocks as shown before…..and

A pile of half square triangles as leaders and Enders to make a baby quilt - now ready to trim down to size….and

Some black and white HST as leaders and Enders, ready to press open and trim to size.

I also stitched some jelly roll strips together as the start of another baby quilt.  Rather a productive few days.

Before we headed home on Sunday morning the group photo was taken.  Jenny, Gail and Lynda had already headed home.

It was such a wonderful weekend, with a great bunch of ladies. Now we just have to wait for twelve months to do it all again.  I can’t wait.