Slow progress

There hasn't really been much sewing going on here recently.  I know there's been Christmas, which always slows things down, but before Christmas I had a very nasty cold which knocked me off my feet for two weeks!  I've never had a cold like that, and I ended up with earache so bad, I had to get up and take painkillers in the night!  Luckily (apart from a hopefully temporary) deafness in one ear, I'm back on form.  But my sewing is well behind. 

I usually do the latest Bonnie Hunter mystery, and while she has released six clues, I'm only just working on number four!  I only do half the units too!  Not to worry.  She doesn't send the Quilt Police round to check up on you, so it's all fine.  Cutting more chocolate triangles now and I'll catch up eventually. 

Coming clean

I have been making some kiss clasp bags recently, but they were for a Christmas surprise workshop, so I couldn't share them.  I don't remember ever seeing anyone make one of these, although there are plenty of instruction videos on YouTube. 

Here is bag number one.  It's a glue in frame and it's about 4" wide. 

Here is the inside (made from scraps, well, it is just a prototype!) .  Makes a good bag. 

And here is the final product.  This one is 4" as well, but since the top is curved, it makes it less roomy inside.  It's a sew in frame.  I like both methods, although they're both rather fiddly.  On balance, if you can handle glue, the stick in one was easier I think. I was aided by the talented Di, and she thought the sew in frame was best, so that's what we went with. 

It certainly seemed to absorb the attendees!  I'll look forward to seeing some finished bags in the new year. 

Difficulty with UFOs

I decided to list my UFO list for the American Patchwork and Quilting 2018 challenge.  All went well for a while, but I was so successful last year, that I struggled to find twelve UFOs!  Unbelievable but true!  So some are UFOs and some are what you might call possibilities!  

Number 1 is En Provence. 

This is a completed top, so shouldn't take too long to finish. 

Number 2 is Talking Turkey. 

This one is more of a possibility.  Two blocks completed and some more components in a bag.  We'll see about this one. 

Number 3 is my Pat Sloan Garden Quilt. This was her mystery for 2016. 

The blocks are together and I've purchased the border fabric.  This is definitely a UFO! 

Number 4 is a Scrappy Pineapple. 

One or two blocks made plus some bits. 

Number 5 is a few dollies I made one day when I was bored.  

I'm sure I could make some more and big it up somehow. 

Number 6 is a batik drunkard's path. 

Such a shame not to make something of these. 

Number 7 is a Mile A Minute. 

I always have a few sets of these blocks.  I pin them together in tens so I know how many there are. At least 50 here, which will be great for a Linus quilt in a 7x7 arrangement. 

Number 8 is Boxy Squares. 

This is a great Bonnie Hunter pattern for using up scraps.  

Number 9 is my bag of orphan blocks.

  I'm so mean, I can't bear to waste fabric, so any leftover blocks live in here, waiting to find some friends they can play nicely with.  I'm sure I can make something awesome from some of this! 

Number 10 is log cabin. 

I follow Bonnie's scrap user system, and cut leftover strips into useable sizes.  I like the 1.5" strips for log cabin.  It uses up lots of stuff and looks good too! 

Number 11 is Down the Rabbithole. 

Here is this Sarah Fielke design at an earlier stage.  It's a BOM for 2017, and while it hasn't actually finished yet, I'm quite behind.  I haven't finished September's border yet - although strangely, I've nearly done October's.  Keep going! 

Number 12 is granny squares. 

I did quite a lot of these at one time, but obviously stopped working on this green and purple one.  Interesting combination of colours!  

This is a very ambitious list, but I don't need to worry about the quilt police coming round to check on me!  I like ambitions, and love finishes too! 

Challenge finished!

Last year I decided to take the American Patchwork and Quilting UFO Challenge.  You had to find twelve UFOs, put them on a list and aim to finish one every month during 2017.  Some of the UFOs were tops, or well on the way to completion, but some were only a bag of bits.  I like having a new year resolution, because it is a positive way to approach the future.  I don't often succeed in keeping my resolution for the whole year, but even a few weeks of self improvement is better than nothing!  Anyway, I have just finished the last quilt on my list! 

It's Bonnie Hunter's Tulip Fields, and I think it's come out well.  It's a great way to use up strings and scraps and will give a needy child a well deserved hug!  The challenge is running for 2018: want to join it? 

Progress

Ive been doing various secret things which I can't share recently, but here is a bit of progress.

I have assembled and bordered my Tulip Fields quilt, and only need to layer and quilt it before the end of the month.  Should be possible, at least theoretically!  

I've also made up this half a jelly roll quilt.  We were fortunate to have a parcel of fabrics arrive from the lovely Katy Jones of 'Quilt Now' magazine, and amongst the goodies was a fat eighth bundle of 20 different fabrics.  I cut each fat eighth into four 2.5" strips, and separated the strips into two sets.  Two of the strips of the same fabric joined together to make a wof strip, so they went together beautifully.  This top measures about 38", so will benefit from a border.  Light blue, I think.  I'm keen to join up the second set of strips to see how the same fabrics join together in a different arrangement.  Watch this space!