February's "One Monthly Goal" and Stash/Sewing Reports

It's time to set my OMG for February.  What I'm going to work on is actually a UFO, something I started last summer.  I only have three more nieces to make new quilts for, and this is one of them.  "Lazy Eyes" is a pattern in "Strip Therapy 2" by Brenda Henning.   I finished one block just to see what it will look like in batiks .....

 

..... and the rest of the 143 blocks are partially made.

The goal is to have the top completed by the end of this (short!) month.  I'm determined to do it.

2022 is also the year I'm going to do some serious stash busting.  The last time I did that (in 2015) I used about 150 yards net.  Matching that will be quite a challenge, especially considering that January's stash report is, well... not so great.

January

Fabric Added in January - 10.9 yards

Fabric Used in January -  13.5 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date - 10.9 yards

Fabric Used Year to Date - 13.5 yards

Net used in 2022 - 2.6 yards

After all the isolation of the last two years getting to shop for fabric in a real quilt shop did me in!  It could be worse, though, for sure.

Another of my goals for this year is to sew every day.  So far so good.

January

Days I sewed in January - 31/31

Days I sewed this year - 31/31

Percentage - 100%

So I'm looking forward to a fantastic February.  I'll keep you posted!

Linking up with One Monthly Goal

Hypnotic

May seems to be going much better than last month as far as goals go.  I'm "this close" to completing the batik quilt I started at the beginning of the month.  

These two blocks make up the design.  The pattern is "Hypnotic" from the Book Strip Therapy 2 by Brenda Henning.   

I tried to lay out the blocks in a different way than the pattern dictated, but I couldn't come up with anything I liked better.  I do like the original design.   

I knew I needed to make 32 blocks, but after they were made and I started laying them out on the design wall I realized I actually needed 36.  I got a big stack of batiks out (again), cut out all the strips for four more blocks, and sewed them up.  Once it was all laid out on the design wall, guess what?  I had four blocks left over.  What??  How in the world??  You know what?  I don't want to talk about it!

Next I found a yard of yellow ombre batik in my stash that I just had to use on the back.  Might as well work in those extra blocks, right?

   






















I usually baste quilts on my king size bed.  It's a little unorthodox, but it works for me.  I just can't crawl around and baste quilts on the floor like I used to!

First, I stretch out the backing.  This one barely fit!

Then, batting (of course) .....

..... and the top (naturally).

Lots of pins!

Throughout the process, I stop about every two or three rows of pins, roll it up,  reach under and stretch the backing at the sides and the opposite end, smooth out the top, and start pinning again.

All basted!

Even though I basted it this morning (which totally wore out my back!) I was ready to start quilting it this evening.  Of course, a lovely one hour massage this afternoon might have made it easier for me to get back to it! 

It's about one-third quilted now, so there's every reason to hope it will be done and ready to gift by next weekend.  

Linking up this scrappy quit with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun than Housework 
Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  I do believe I deserve a Whoop Whoop for that!

Stir Crazy!

When we moved to our new home I decided to make bedspreads for our guest room.  I don't remember the last time I made something especially for our home.  Like a lot of quilters I give away almost everything I make!  I decided to use the "Stir Crazy" pattern from the booklet "Strip Therapy 2,"  and I bought some batik strips and background fabric so I could get started.   Just as a side note here -- whenever you purchase pre-cut quilt pieces make sure you measure them.  I learned the hard way, they are hardly precise.







The fabric I chose for the background actually ended up being in the package of strips.....

....so I had to replace it with something else.  That wasn't too difficult.  There are zillions of beautiful batiks out there from which to choose!

I began working on this project at a retreat I went to in November, where I only ended up making four blocks!  I guess I needed to visit with friends more than I needed to get something done!

Sewing strip sets together is one of the most boring parts of sewing.

After getting the strip sets finished and sub-cutting them I finally got to sew actual blocks together!

I am an "iron the seams open" kind of girl.

Blocks!!!

The bedspreads were finished and mailed off to my friend Angela for quilting less than 2 months after I started.  I must be feeling motivated.  

I am so happy with the way these spreads are turning out that I am thinking about making something else just for us.  Maybe a throw for the living room or a king-size spread for our room.  The question is........stash?? or shopping??