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This was a kit from Pastry Shop Quilts located in Texas. I had done a few other kits from this shop. The name of this is Stairway to the Stars. It is a log cabin block which is one of my favorite quilt blocks to sew. The kit came with the pattern, a jelly roll and extra fabric to make the blocks. I had to separate the dark blues. Wasn't easy because of the hues of the blue fabric so I had help from a quilt shop owner in this area. Separating the light colored fabric was easy. The kit made 25 blocks, 12" square, sewn 5 across and then into 5 rows. I finished this in two days from start to having a completed quilt top. I chain pieced the blocks. I had it long arm quilted. I just need to trim the edges, sew on the binding and hem. Blue and white or delft blues, royal blue are some of my favorite colors to work with.
I saw this quilt pattern when Donna Jordan of Jordan Fabrics did a tutorial of it. I liked it, thought it would be easy and quick to do up and so I ordered the pattern and the same jelly roll she used in making her quilt. She used cream colored fabric for her sashing. The jelly roll fabric is autumn themed (one of my favorite times of the year, yellow is my favorite color) and I chose a soft yellow fabric for the sashing. From cutting the pieces to end of sewing was a weekend project for me. It went fast as I chained piece the strips and the rows. Was a happy camper when I went to measure the completed top and it matched the pattern. The pattern is called Chain Links. I had the top long arm quilted and I have it. I just need to trim the edges, sew on the binding and hem. I will share a fully finished picture when the quilt is completely done.
This one is called Tumbles and Twirls by Little Louise Designs. I had a layer cake of polka a dot fabric and wanted to do something with it. I like sewing half square triangles (HSTs). Combining both the layer cake and a bit of polka dot fabric from a jelly roll to sew the pinwheels and stacked blocks, I was able to complete the quilt top. I sashed it with white fabric that has a flower design on it. Measuring the completed quilt matched the pattern. This quilt has been long arm quilted, trimmed, binding sewn on and hemmed. It's currently packed in a box in the sewing room. Once I find that box, I will share a picture of it completed.
Another quilt pattern by Little Louise Designs called Afternoon in the Park. I gifted this quilt to a very special person when I moved from a small farming community. She and I shared a love of books written by Christian authors. If I was sick and couldn't get to the library to get a book that came in for me, she would deliver it. She was wonderful to visit with and had a sweet sense of humor. I used a jelly roll of solid shaded fabric and sashed it with white. Measuring the completed quilt matched the pattern. As with all my quilts, my long arm quilter did a fabulous job with the quilting. I told her to, "use a design that was cheery, happy and fun." She didn't disappoint.
This was a second quilt kit and finish from Pastry Shop Quilts in Texas. The kit came with the pattern called Playtime Cartwheels and 30's fabric. I like working with civil war and 30's era fabrics. I struggled a bit as I found the placement for the squares to be somewhat difficult. I didn't want to sew like fabrics together but in the end I let go of the OCD part of my personality and just picked and chain pieced. Second hiccup for me was matching the blue intersections with the snowball blocks. There again, I let go of the "gotta be perfect" and did the best I could and moved on with sewing the top together. Measuring the completed quilt top matched the pattern. My log arm quilter did a fabulous job of quilting this for me.
Patriotic Stars from Pastry Shop Quilts in Texas. First time ordering from her and she didn't disappoint. Her service and quality of patterns and fabric is impressive. She's great to work with. This quilt was a first in many ways for me. I first saw a youtuber demonstrate how to sew the blocks together and found out it was a block of the month (BOM) quilt top. I had never done a BOM before. I subscribed and received the first two months with my first mailing. Up to this point with my quilting, most of my quilt tops were made using squares or rectangles. Each month I would receive the patterns and fabric for two quilt blocks. With this quilt, I perfected my skills and learned how to do some unique quilt blocks. With the Tumbles and Twirls and the Afternoon in the Park quilts I sewed HSTs and then sewed them into pinwheels. With this quilt, I learned different techniques and how to better sew together HSTs. I got frustrated. Did four blocks over as by the time I was 3/4ths done, my points looked better and the intersections were coming out better. When I gave the quilt top to my long armer to quilt it for me, I asked her for a design that had stars and sparklers and flags. She didn't disappoint. She did a fabulous job. I have the completed quilt top I just need to trim the edges, sew on the binding and hem. I hadn't done a red, white and blue quilt prior to this one. I chose this one because I am a veteran and don't qualify for a Quilt of Valor as I wasn't stationed outside the states nor was I in any conflicts or war. As a nurse in the army I did work in post hospitals and troop medical clinics, but I don't meet the criteria for a Quilt of Valor. So. I. Made. My. Own. With this quilt, the shipments started August 2022 and went through until May 2023. The May shipment had the sashing fabric, fabric for cornerstones and binding fabric. For the backing I chose fabric that was used in several of the blocks of the quilt. I liked how it turned out. Measuring the completed quilt matched the pattern. Once I have the edges trimmed, the binding sewn on and it hemmed, I will share the fully finished quilt.
This set of sewn finishes was gifted to a stitcher whose favorite color was pink and who liked butterflies. I made each of the items. The project bag was made from scrap fabric using a crumb quilt technique and machine quilted. It had a vinyl front. I realized my error with the zipper only after I had sewn the zipper in and attached the vinyl. I left it as is after seeing some like project bags shared on youtube with other stitchers. The little stitching accessory bag was lined (a first time lining a bag for me). The scissor fob and zipper pulls were made by me. The needlebook used cotton fabric and felt.
That was my machine sewn work for 2023. I did sew a few grime guards for my q-snap frame that I use with cross stitching. Moving forward, I would like to make some foundation paper pieced quilt blocks, complete my embroidered iris blocks quilt top, attempt some new to me quilt block patterns and sew some 18" doll clothes and baby garments.
