February 2022 plans

 My plans for February include:

1. A second multi cooker cover for my friend Chris.

2. 2015 Prairie Schooler Santa

3. Feathers SAL. The top is scheduled to completed by 25 February and I can have it quilted by then too. I need to order some binding fabric - I'm thinking of using the Alison Glass feather print.

4. My retreat project for February was to be the Casserole Quilt by Elizabeth Hartman. The plan was to cut it out in January ready for retreat, but as you know I couldn't resist and the project is making good progress. I am sure I can finish piecing the top at retreat and quilt it with a digital pantograph.

5. I will continue stitching one branch per month on The Tree by Barbara Ana for Nitka Moscow.

6. I have received a UFO from Youtuber, Bumblestitches, so it would be nice to make some progress on that project. This project is Christmas wishes by Little Dove Designs and Nicola has stitched three out of six blocks. This is going to be my Wednesday morning project.

7. Clover and Violet Stitch Club pattern for February which is a needle book.

8. Hoody test stitch. I have just received an order of the softest grey Jersey for this.

9. My UFO challenge project which is 2011 Prairie Schooler sampler.

Friday finish - prairie schooler santa

 

This is nineteenth of 38 published Prairie Schooler Santas that I have stitched. I have now stitched half of the patterns. I know that the 2022 pattern will soon be released at the Spring Market so I'd better stitch up another soon so I can still say that I'm 50% complete. The next Santa which is prepped and ready to start is 2015 which will be finished in February.

I think 2022 will be the year to start fully finishing these so that they can be hung on a tree this year.

WIP Wednesday - pass the UFO

 

I love watching crafty YouTube videos and one I always watch is Nicola of Bumble Stitches. I met Nicola at scrapbooking retreats over a decade ago. Nichola has been making plans for her cross stitch projects for 2022 and Christmas Wishes by Little Dove Designs didn't make the cut, so Nicola offered it up for adoption on her YouTube video. 

I felt at the time that I entered the draw to adopt the project that it was destined to be mine and lo and behold last week, the random number generator picked me as the winner. I originally thought I would stitch one block a month, but I have changed it to my Wednesday morning project at quilt group. I can leave it in the car and it will be ready to stitch at quilt group or anywhere else where there might be a wait.

I am fully aware that I have enough of my own  WIPs to finish but this is already half finished.

Monday make - feathers SAL week 3

 

We are on week 3 of the SAL and this week we have to stitch 5 x A and 3 x B units. I stitched the units on Saturday morning. I even tidied up after myself because I had made a big mess.

This week is also a catch up week so I need to cut my sashing strips before next week. I have all of my units on my design wall and have stitched some of the units together into columns when I have been working on my casserole quilt.

Now I need to focus on starting a hoodie which is a test stitch and the toile for my January UFO challenge.

Friday finish - Christmas tree

My plan for stitching the Christmas Tree by Barbara Ana available from Nitka Moscow is to stitch one section per month. I am starting at the top and working down as I miscounted at the bottom and I have to unpick the tree and a few houses that I've stitched. 

I have completed the top left branch so that is complete for January. Decisions. Do I continue down the left hand side or complete the top row? The right hand side is looking like an easier finish for February.

 

Go Big baby Bear

Now that issue 44 of Make Modern is out (see my last blog post for full details), I can share with you my project. It seemed such a good idea to photograph the quilt at the beach but it was a windy day when Lizzie and I headed to Plemont. I tried a few shots on a granite ruin but it was too windy. Down on the beach in a sheltered spot, Lizzie got very wet feet, despite my warning!!

I wanted to show off the island as well as the quit. The quilt is made with a range called Love Lily by April Rosenthal which I was kindly sent by Moda. They are very obliging if you send your requirements and sent more than I requested. I don't like to be too greedy, but it's great to have enough to allow for any mistakes. I love the sprinkle background and any leftovers have been used in several projects.

The quilt includes all my favourite things - a rainbow, half square triangles, quarter log cabin blocks and flying geese.

The quilt has already been gifted to a friend for her newest great grandson. It's a lovely size too - 40" which means you can use a regular 44" wide fabric for the backing

Make Modern - issue 44

 

I'm so excited to have another project in Make Modern. If you aren't a subscriber you can use my affiliate link to subscribe here. Read on to find out what's in this issue.

Few things are as universal and timeless as needle and thread, but these days it’s not critical to know how to sew or quilt because we can buy warmth for our families in a store (debatable, I’m sure!). However, for quilters it’s an essential part of our being – and we all know that handmade warmth, with love sewn in, is better! Another wonderful side effect of being a quilter is the automatic camaraderie that comes when you meet another quilter, regardless of where they’re from. The world is now more connected than ever - it doesn’t matter where you live, you can access an infinite amount of information about quilting and chat with quilters all over the world. For us, the digital world has enabled us to work remotely long before working from home and Zoom calls were the norm. The Make Modern team is spread across all corners of Australia, and our contributors come from all over the world. Our subscribers live in over 70 different countries! Take a close look at our pages and you might notice a little change from this issue onwards as we embrace the globalisation of our contributors.

In this issue we MEET three makers – Carole Lyles Shaw from USA, Donna Ward from New Zealand and Cait Lisle from England; we MAKE that stunning curvy cover quilt from Germany, a Bear Paw quilt from Jersey (that would be me!!), the cutest little bird pouch from Russia, as well as quilts from India, Ireland, and the USA!; and we MOTIVATE readers to dive into their fabric stashes to create a rainbow and learn about colour theory with a brand new six-part series on Colour Theory! Happy quilting, wherever you are in the world!

Included Patterns:

• Bitter Lemon Quilt by Anke B. Calzada (@pasacana_designs)
• Go Big Baby Bear Quilt by Sue Bone (@justsewsue)
• King’s Belt Quilt by Daisi Toegel (@daisitoegel)
• Bird Pouch by Marushka Volkova (@marushka.volkova)
• Synergy Quilt by Preeti Harris (@sewpreetiquilts)
• The Amethyst Hour Quilt by Sindhu Aragam (@creativeclutterroom)
• Cleveland Ricky Quilt by Rita Geyermann
• Windy Day Quilt by Sarah Schneider (@sarahs.softies)
• Spring Weather Table Runner by Cait Lisle (@caitlisledesigns)
• Octagon Dreams Quilt by Cassie Howard (@seecassiemake)

Featured Articles:

• Tips + Techniques by Alyce Blyth (@blossomheartquilts): Flying Geese – Solo or Squad?
• DIY Design by Tara Glastonbury (@stitchandyarn): Designed to Last
• Cloth Confidential by Wendy Wild (@thenextstitch): Revival Arrivals
• Quilt Like a Rock Star by HollyAnne Knight (@stringandstory): Quilting Plans for Samplers and other Traditional Quilts
• Colour Theory: Colour Wheel by Alyce Blyth (@blossomheartquilts)
• The Magic to Avoiding Neck Pain by Rose Parr (@healthyquilting)

Smash That Stash: Stringing it Along (@janekellyquilts

• Meet the Maker: Carole Lyles Shaw (@carole_lylesshaw)
• Meet the Maker: Donna Ward (@donnawardnz)
• Meet the Maker: Cait Lisle (@caitlisledesigns)

January 2022 plans

  

Having already shared my plans for 2022, I realise that I haven't shared what I want to achieve in January. I have already finished the 2009 Prairie Schooler Santa. In no particular order:

1. The number three was pulled for the UFO challenge which is the blue corduroy purchased in York. I have chosen and traced a pattern but need to make a toile to make sure it fits.

2. Finish multi cooker cover for my friend's Xmas present 

3. Christmas Mystery SAL by Barbara Ana which is progressing slowly.

4. Quilt the group penguin quilt for which I just need the wadding which I'll collect on Wednesday.

5. Pattern test which I need a package from Aberdeen to complete and as it won't take too long, I will start next week.

6. Cut out Casserole quilt by Elizabeth Hartman ready for our February retreat and I can then use the Alison Glass fabrics for the feather quilt.

7. Alison Glass Feather SAL - stitch those blocks scheduled for January. The first blocks took a morning to stitch.

8. One row of Christmas Tree cross stitch by Barbara Ana.

A bit of a daunting list, but there are a couple of easy finishes. I have scheduled to cut the casserole quilt for 30 minutes a day so that should be complete by the end of the month but 160 1.5" squares is challenging.

Work in progress Wednesday - feathers

 

This week sees the start of the Feathers SAL with Alison Glass. When I met Alison in Nantes in October, she mentioned that this SAL was planned and I knew immediately that I would join in. I signed up and spotted that I had yards of Kona bone so decided to work from stash, However I did buy a half yard bundle at Pour l'Amour du Fil and I also purchased a fat quarter bundle of Luminance to use for the Casserole quilt by Elizabeth Hartman.

This week sewing of units C/D and K/L started off the sewalong (SAL). These are the biggest pieces which can't be sewn from scraps. At the same time I started a pink section N as it has almost 20 pieces and I know how my enthusiasm wanes towards the end of a SAL. Also it's a good block to start using up scraps.

I also sorted through my box of Alison Glass scraps so they're ready to grab next weekend for the next four sections. I can also continue stitching section N if I am doing any other foundation piecing projects.

For now the foundation papers, partly sewn blocks and instructions are being kept in the Pattern Trace envelope and I've added the yardage of Kona bone to the box of scraps.

Monday Make - 2009 prairie schooler santa

 

On Saturday I didn’t feel like doing very much at all, so I just sat in the lounge and worked on this cross stitch piece. It is now put away with all the other Santas and I have prepped 1987 ready to stitch in February.

Friday Finish - customer quilts

 

Whilst my mojo appears to still be lacking, I am pleased to have got rid of my winter cold and have now finished both customer quilts that were waiting my attention. Both were beautifully pieced and prepped for quilting so we’re a straight forward task. The blue and white quilt however was BIG so whilst it was straight forward, it just took time.

The UFO gods were not kind to me as the first number drawn for 2022 is a garment and I have another garment that I haven't even started to test the pattern as I don't have all of the elements yet. However once started I am sure they won't take more than a day or two to complete. First I should start tracing the designs onto the Swedish Tracing paper from Pattern Trace.

Work in Progress Wednesday 2022 plans

 As well as my 2022 UFO challenge list, I have a few other projects in progress or ready to start. In no particular order:

1. Free block Friday. Two blocks to be made and then set together. Perhaps this would be a good project for the retreat I'm going to in June. Fingers crossed.

2. Alison Glass Feather SAL which started on 1 January.

3. Hoodie test. I am late getting this done as I stupidly send the cuffing to Lizzie's address in Aberdeen by mistake.

4. Casserole Quilt by Elizabeth Hartman. I have the pattern and fabrics and want to get it cut out ready for our February retreat.

5.  Fractured Skull by Helen Creasey.

6. TQS BOM 2012. Still my oldest WIP and waiting to be quilted

7. Cookie Exchange - stitching complete and needs to be mounted

8. Karlee Porter class - the printed quilt top hasn't even been loaded yet.

9. Barbara Ana Christmas Mystery SAL

10. Christmas Tree by Barbara Ana. A big piece which I need to unpick the lowet branch and work on one section a month

11. Rainbow cushion - class sample for the end of January.

It looks like each month  I will need to complete one of the above, one UFO challenge piece and one Prairie Schooler Santa. I think I need to get started very soon. 

Here's my list of UFOs for the JMQG 2022 UFO challenge. I'm hoping for an easy number for January to kick start my mojo!!

1. Improv fishes started in an online class with Nicholas Ball

2. Jarrah sweater by Megan Neilsen

3. Blue corduroy purchased in York in 2021.

4. Navy linen purchased from Higgs & Higgs at FoQ 2021

5. 2006 Prairie Schooler Santa with the vintage treadle sewing machine.

6. The light by Barbara Ana - a free pattern

7. Spellville by Barbara Ana which is about 70% complete.

8. Ugly sweater blocks to be made into a tub. I now have four blocks made, so this would be my preferred January project.

9. Another Prairie Schooler Santa, which I have selected at random, once again, there is no order to my getting these stitched.

10. Spool block from one of the Quietplay BOMs which will probably be made into a project bag. I hope I have some of the black grunge background left in stash.

11. ATW BOM to finish the blocks and put together.

12. The very first Prairie Schooler Santa

These are all very achievable. I'll share my other plans for 2022 including quilts waiting to be quilted on Wednesday.