Hey Everyone, welcome back to my monthly UFO round up.
March was a good month here in my studio and I was able to complete 5 UFO’s, make the blocks for another project and complete a top from cutting to sandwiching. I am very pleased with my progress on my massive list this month.
I was calculating how long it would take me to finish my UFO’s if I were to do 2 a week – just the UFO’s would take me 26 weeks and the quilts that need to be started and finished would take another 5 weeks with 2 a week but realistically I would probably only get one a week done so 10 weeks. Not so sure I should have done these calculations but oh well I did and I can’t let them get me down but rather be motivated to try and complete as many as I can this year.
The basket quilt I had quilted back in January at the long armer finally had the binding and hanging sleeves added. I didn’t have enough of the backing fabric to make the sleeves out of and used one of the fabrics from the quilt top which looked horrible so I ended up ripping those off and using a Christmas fabric that blended into the background. I figure nobody will notice , but now you all know and will notice. I am very pleased with the end result of this piece. Sorry no photograph yet as it is 96 inches square and we need to set it up outside to take the picture. Still too much snow and muck to do that.
One basket in the quilt
I love the quilting in this quilt and here is a close up of it. This view is on the back as it is easier to see the design.
Dragonflies, lily pads and swirls
The original Woven Stars quilt which I sandwiched back at the end of January finally made it to the sewing machine to be quilted. This is a great pattern to work with a monochromatic colour scheme. I went with very simple echo quilting and an 8 pointed star after reverse sewing the heavier quilting I did in one section and didn’t like. Reverse sewing quilting stitches is no fun, thank goodness it wasn’t free motion. I really love the fabrics in this one.
Woven Stars
A close up of the quilting in Woven Stars.
Echo quilting and an eight pointed star
My little Snail’s Trail quilt was finished as well. This block is found in my Ebb & Flow pattern.
Snail’s Trail quilt
The African plank quilt I completed on the last weekend of March and am very pleased with it. I am still considering adding some bead work to it but that can be done down the road when I find the perfect beads. More about it in an upcoming post after Michael has photographed it properly.
I made another 5 Aztec Jewel blocks for my split-comlimentary quilt. They have been put together with sashing and cornerstones. I want to put it on point so now to design the corners of the quilt. I guess this one is still a WIP but I have made progress on it.
9 Aztec Jewel blocks with sashing
A pattern I designed for Northcott back in 2013 I finally received the fabrics for and made the top. It is sandwiched and ready to be quilted. The piece is called Be Mine and there is a pattern available in the store for purchase.
All ready for quilting
My biggest win for the month though was to quilt and bind a 73 year old quilt top that belongs to my friend’s mother. I have had this quilt far too long and finally just took the plunge and quilted it. Her grandmother hand pieced the top for her when she was 14 but it had never been quilted. Well, now it is.
A 73 year old quilt
A close up of the block and quilting.
Close up of the quilt
A very good month if I do say so myself. I certainly hope this month goes as well but I have CreativFestival April 25 & 26 at the International Centre in Mississauga so not quite sure I’ll get as many done since I have 2 presentations to prepare for it.
How did you do with your UFO’s last month? I would love to hear about your accomplishments. Accomplishments do not have to be finished pieces either but rather just work on one to advance to the finished stage.
Keep up the great work.
Happy Quilting!
Jen,
Wow, you did an amazing job! Do you have a long arm machine or do you quilt on your sewing machine? Your stars and the dragonfly quilting is so perfect, how did you do it? I free motion quilt on my sewing machine but I can never get it to match so perfectly.
Linda, I usually do do my own quilting on my own machine and I am lucky enough to have one with a 12 inch throat which makes it much easier. The one with the dragonfly design I took to my local long armer and she did a wonderful job. I have made the decision to have the larger ones done on a long arm and also try not to make so many big ones.
Awesome work I love the old quilt. I love fabric, period, but the old fabrics hold much sway over my heart. Can’t wait to see what you do next.
March was long and busy! I finished a sampler block top from quilt club in time for the Accuquilt workshop. Still need to quilt it, but now it’s out of the cupboard and onto the long arm pile. 2 quilts finished on the long arm, one workshop taught and one attended. One set of kits cut and delivered. And I went home for a few days over spring break. All in all, a good month for progress!
Excellent. You were very productive last month as well. Keep up the great work. I am taking a class in May, can’t wait as it has been a while since I took a class.
Hey Jen, I was just looking for a quilt, not a vintage but a homemade one. I didn’t want a store bought one. If you sell homemade ones that is what I would like to have. Thanks so much.
Bea
I finished my Downton Abbey quilt and made a tote bag with the scraps. I snuck an all new project in and made a twin sized modern style quilt top having been inspired by a recent Quilty magazine cover. I cut up a goodsized pile of scraps into usable pieces ala leaders and enders. I’m planning to work on two twin sized UFOs this month. I am enjoying the feeling of finishing and freeing up my quilting space!
Congratulations Jane on your accomplishments last month. Well done.
Hi Jen! Can’t wait to see the basket quilt photo. Your piecing is amazing. I’m working on an Amish medallion quilt that features baskets too, but the points don’t come together quite as neatly as yours do:) Still, seeing the pattern take shape is so rewarding. Best wishes for April!
Carol, you will have to wait a bit for the basket quilt photo as it is snowing here again this morning. Not sure when it will be dry enough out there to hang the quilt on the stand and photograph it. The colours would be stunning though against the drab backdrop that we have right now. Your quilt sounds interesting – I look forward to seeing a pic of it when it is done. Best wishes to you as well for April.
Hi Jen
I love your African Plank quilt. In March I made a baby quilt “Fun & Done” method and worked on a quilt of my own design. Unfortunately neither were on my U.F.O. list. I was quite sick this past month so that slowed me down quite a bit. I also made curtains for my living room.
Debbie, sorry to hear that you were sick most of the month, I can relate as I was that way in Feb. No fun at all. At least you were able to get a bit done. Thanks I love my African quilt too and have decided it will just hang in my house for me to enjoy. I will give the auction a donation instead of my quilt.
You’re a wise woman. I think you may have regretted giving away or selling your work of art. The nice thing about it is that if someone loves it and is willing to pay for the artistic value of it, you could always create them one of their own.
My, you have been busy! A+ for effort. I have always sworn I will never do baskets but I love yours – so colourful and cheerful. The quilting on your woven stars is great, I have 8″throat space and don’t see how I could turn the block at each point but I may try. I think your original African plank is at the bottom of your quilt cut into pieces? but I am not sure! Totally awesome, of course you must keep it. The Aztec jewels are very striking, I think I missed that post so am always pleased to see the links which must be an extra effort for Michael. This month I learned never to make the border before you finish the centre, I had to cut the border up and make a central panel for the back! I’ve made the binding and marked the scallops for my first attempt at binding scallops on my sister’s quilt, there are a lot of good tutorials for this I just have to bite the bullet! I think May will be a good finishing month for me!
Thanks Juliet. I am happy that I have kept the African plank quilt and have a place to hang it in my house. No credit for Michael adding the links, I do it. I will keep the lesson you learned in mind for future projects, LOL. Good luck with the scallops – really very easy and the bias binding just sits so nicely on the curved edged.
Jen, Wow! you really finished quite a few quilts in March! Congratulations!! The antique quilt is so pretty!! Just love it! I only recognize one of your finishes as compared to the list you sent. Did you complete your Ebb& Flow and are any shown here on your submitted list? I love the African Plank Quilt – so unique! have been wanting to make a basket quilt – on my someday list. Love the bold colors used! Sorry for taking so long to get back with you. Business has been absolutely crazy to wild for me. I have never experienced this since being in business. I want to feature your antique quilt on my blog – is this okay with you?