One UFO Down (who knows how many more left)

I finally finished the Cobblestones and Pinwheels quilt. This quilt is 80" x 80", so it actually fits my bed. As much as I love this quilt, it will most likely will not reside on my bed. It is a very bright and busy quilt.  I am not sure my husband could sleep under it and frankly I don't need the stimulation right before bed time.  This quilt has been put in the linen cupboard until it is needed. I think I need to get some quilt ladders or quilt racks so I can have these quilts out. It seems such a waste to put them in the cupboard.  

This quilt took forever to get done. I got the backing made for it and I even put it on the long arm. Then it sat for 2 weeks. I finally got the batting cut and the quilting design figured out. I even got it quilted and off the machine and trimmed 2 weeks ago. I even made the binding 2 weeks ago. But the quilt hung over the long arm and waited for me to get the energy to stitch it on. Last Sunday I stitched the binding on and turned it. Then in the evenings this week,  I sat and stitched down the binding. I finished binding it last night. 

The label was made so I started stitching the label on before stopping to work on my talk for church. This morning before church, I worked on finishing the label. I was 2/3 of the way in getting the label stitched down, when I happened to turn the corner of the quilt over. That was when I discovered this tiny blue dot in the yellow square. That little dot is where I had stitched all the way through the quilt when adding the label. I had to take out almost all of the stitching that I had just put in. Just goes to show, you should never be in a hurry when working on a project. Especially when you are coming up to the finish line. That is when you will make mistakes. I did finish sewing the label on after church. and I am very pleased to have this project done.

Now I am down to 3 quilts that need borders and backings before I can put the next one on the long arm. Hopefully this week will not be so busy at work and I will be able to work on those quilts. I also have one quilt that needs reworked. And 3 more that need started. I have the done the fabric pull and have the pattern all figured out. I just haven't started cutting them yet. Actually I have a whole bunch more than 3 quilts that have the fabric has been pulled for. But let's not go down that rabbit hole today.

In the meantime, I think I will start on Emerson's quilt. I've finally decided to just do a piano key border around the center fabric of his quilt. I think I am going to need some more of the solid color fabrics I bought for the borders though. I will try and get some more tomorrow after work.

What are you working on?

 

Forward Momentum

This week has been another stressful one at work. My morning routine was interrupted more than once. Although I still managed to get some EPP done. Eight more flowers to add to the stash. To do the quilt I have in mind I will need about 250 flowers. I am currently at 55. I am a little over 20% there. There's no hurry because I still need to find the fabric I want to use for the other blocks.

I had been putting off stitching the binding on the Pinwheel and Cobblestones quilt because my shoulder hurt. Wrangling any quilt through the domestic machine can put stress on person's shoulders. This is why I am grateful that I have a long arm. I have quilted a few quilts using my domestic machine and I wasn't completely happy with them. My machine doesn't have a stitch regulator, and I couldn't get my stitches even. Also the machine has a rather small throat making it difficult to maneuver a medium size quilt through. I couldn't get the results that I really wanted. With the long arm I guide the machine instead of the quilt. Much easier to get I the look I want. And it has a stitch regulator, so the stitches are even. If I use the computer, I don't have to guide it at all. Plus I can get it done in a day or two instead of weeks and months.

Anyway, my shoulders have been achy (most likely from stress) and I kept putting off sewing the binding on the quilt.  Today I got the binding on and I got it turned to it the back. I even started stitching it back down. But I my hands and shoulders started hurting too much so I decided to take a break. I will work on it a little each night until it is done. 

In the meantime there are scraps to process and two more quilts to work on. As well as get Emerson's quilt pass the planning stage. Not sure which I am going to work on first. I am itching to start another project. But Emerson is getting pretty anxious for his quilt. And I need to make some room in the Studio. So working on WIP is the better choice.

Decisions, Decisions, I just can't make up my mind. Oh well, time for a break. I need to let my hands rest.

 

Progress and a Successful Save

I finally got the Cobblestones and Pinwheels quilt quilted. I am loving it. Since the top was so busy and colorful I went with a neutral thread color and a curvy meander.  It was the right choice. I am sitting here looking at it hanging on my long arm and I can't tell you how pleased I am with how it is turning out.  

I am especially pleased as I had a major scare.  I had finished quilting it and had taken it off the backing bar. I was rolling it up on the take up bar and realized that the last row and a quarter was messed up. The tension was all wrong. It was all eye-lashed to death. Not one good stitch. My daughter and I realized it started at the last bobbin change. Together we picked out the stitches. Then I unrolled it and reattached the backing to the backing bar. I called up the pattern went to the last zone. I changed my bobbin again and tested the stitches and they were fine. I then positioned my needle where the last bobbin ended. I hit closest stitch and the machine moved up about an inch. I then undid the break and moved the quilt to the position the needle was. I had to do a little tracing to get it to the exact place. I crossed my fingers and said a little prayer. The quilting angels were with me. It stitched out the rest of the quilt perfectly. 

This was a first for me and I am really grateful that I could get it figured out. While I have not had tension issues like this before. i have had to try and reset the pattern. Usually I end up with things off and I end up leaving it rather than picking out all the stitches again. I am sure Heavenly Father knew I needed a win.

I have the quilt off the long arm and trimmed up. I was going to bind it in brown but my daughters and I agreed that the brown dulled down the quilt. I didn't have any black that wasn't set aside for another quilt. But I did find some navy blue fabric that pulls it all together and makes it pop.  The binding is made. I just need to get it sewn on. But that will be tomorrow's project. The day is slipping away and I have scripture study to do.

Have you had a successful save recently?