Certifiable

Certifiable is the name of this pin cushion from the book, Pin Pals. I'm planning on making a Swoon quilt and thought this pin cushion would be a great way to prepare. It measures about 6" by 6". Everything is so small! I love how it came out but it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be!

I thought I would just try to make the middle star. It didn't seem too bad so I cut out the rest of the pieces. There's a total of 64 pieces for this pin cushion. I cut them out and sewed a few pieces together.

This is what I had left to put together. I just went row by row and then put the rows together.

This is the block before being trimmed and the borders added. Phew! I still have to quilt the top and backing to a piece of batting. Then, I just have to sew it together and fill. I'm having a cup of coffee right now. I think the pin cushion wore me out!!

Pin Cushions

I got this book for Christmas from my son. I think these pin cushions are just adorable! I'm trying to decide which one I should make first. I think this would be a nice quick project.

When I've made pin cushions in the past, I used fiber fill to fill them. I bought these ground nut shells awhile ago. I had read that they work great for filling pin cushions. It looks like I'm all set to pick a cute pin cushion to make!

Long Time Gone v. Carolina Chain

I can only seem to quilt for short periods of time lately. I'm waiting for some more free time but it just hasn't happened. This is the next block in Long Time Gone. I cut all the pieces in 2 separate sessions. I sewed together the flying geese and the square in a square. I just need the time to sew the whole thing together! Maybe this weekend? We'll see!

These are the next 2 blocks for Carolina Chain. I seem to be using my own little recycling system. I cut pieces for this quilt from whatever project I'm working on. When I have enough pieces, I make another block. It's not a fast system but it works. 

Long Time Gone

I took the first step in making Long Time Gone quilt by Jen Kingwell. I bought the pattern awhile ago but had to finish up a few things before I could start.

I drew a diagonal line across a small feature fabric square. I sewed on the line and flipped!

I made 2 of the squares with the added triangle and sewed them to a square of the feature fabric. That's how you get the bow tie!

After making the bow tie block, they're positioned to make a circle of bow ties. There's the final block!

This is the quilt I'll be making. I love these quilts. There's so much interest in them. I plan on making mine scrappy. I have a scrap bag that I'm hoping to pull most of my fabrics from. We'll see how small it gets. I just hope it doesn't get bigger!!

Happy New Year 2019!

We just got home from my mother's house where we had our annual Chinese food dinner. I'm settled down on the couch to sew down binding and watch The Twilight Zone or maybe The Three Stooges. It's just another annual ritual for us!

Have a wonderful New Year's Eve! See you next year!!

Ornaments and Binding

We got these 2 ornaments for Christmas from my daughter. Aren't they cute!? She had them made for us from pictures she had taken. Lily and Molly will always be on our Christmas tree from now on! I hope you had all had a nice holiday. It was a lot of work and we had such a great time. My mother spent the day with us. We ate way too much but had a lot of fun too.

In between wrapping gifts, I did manage to sew the binding on this quilt. I would try and sew down the binding when I got to sit down during the holiday but I didn't get very far! I'll get it done soon now that the holidays are winding down.

This is just a closeup of the binding. Almost done!!

Thread Catcher

I should be wrapping gifts, baking or cleaning but I ended up making a thread catcher instead! I found the pattern online awhile ago and found it in my sewing room. I thought it would be a fun quick project. I didn't have time for anything too involved!

I sewed each half of the body to the bottom.

I added batting and made a grid as my quilting pattern.  I just used my regular sewing machine. I was keeping things nice and easy!

I sewed up the sides and boxed the corners. I added a narrow contrasting fabric strip to the top.

I prepared my lining. These are all leftover Kaffe Fassett fabrics. I love them!

I sewed everything right sides together. I left an opening in the lining and this is what I pulled out! Voila! My new thread catcher!

Back to preparing for the holiday. I think I have a love/hate relationship with the holidays.