RSC-Blue Goals and OMG Goals Met, And Then Some!

What a month!  You would think I was trying to make up for the last two months, or something.  

I got all my blue Pinwheel, Sawtooth Star, and "brick" blocks made for the RSC-2022 scrap challenge. 

Then, I focused on the quilts I had started for my daughter-in-law's friend's twin grand babies.  I wanted them to be similar but not identical, so I made Pinwheel blocks for one and Broken Dishes blocks for the other.  

Huh.  The Broken Dishes blocks made a secondary pattern that looks like - guess what?  Pinwheels!  

They're pretty easy to tell apart, though.  The cornerstones and the backings are different.  More "Seashore Drive" from Moda.  Such a sweet collection.

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My quilting friend and neighbor, Denise, made labels for me with the girls' names on them.  If that doesn't make them different, I don't know what would!

Back to the June goals.  The applique' stars baby quilt is finished.  I made it in time to call it a June finish.  Barely.  This will be a donation quilt for our local St. Jude affiliate hospital.

All that AND a good stash report!

JUNE

Fabric Added in June -  7 yards

Fabric Used in June -  31.2 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date - 36.3

Fabric Used Year to Date - 109.1 yards

Net Used in 2022 - 72.8 yards

Days I sewed in June - 29/30

Days I sewed this year - 173/181

Percentage - 95%

Linking up with So Scrappy! and One Monthly Goal 

70273 Project Update and a Stash Report

In this post I told you about The 70273 Project and that I was putting together quilt tops from bundles of blocks I had volunteered to sew together.   There was a bit of a learning curve figuring out how to get the blocks to all fit into one top, but I enjoyed it.   I learned on the second top that I had made it harder than it needed to be, and it went a lot faster.

Each block is numbered and records are kept of who made which block.  The challenging part for me was drawing a map of how I had laid it out.  I'm so glad Hubby helped me double check my work, because I did transpose a few of the numbers.  (Yes.  In both tops!)  I guess it's not just "the dreaded math" that gets me, it's anything involving numbers.  Oh, wait.  I think that IS math.  Never mind.

The most difficult piece to work with was this really thick block using neckties.   The fact that the base fabric was vintage damask didn't help.  I made it work, though! Instead of sewing a regular seam I folded the adjacent block edge over and stitched it down from the top.  I don't know why, but that seemed to work better. Whew!

Piecing the second top went much faster, but there were some fun blocks in this one, too.

It's really intriguing to see such a variety in the materials used to create the Red X's.  There were velveteen ribbons ......

..... hand stitched X's, grosgrain ribbons .....

..... printed ribbons, satin ribbons, rick rack .....

..... even felt.  (The blue painters' tape on the back is part of the numbering system and will be removed before quilting.)

As with the neckties some blocks are very creative, using netting, lace, and braided ribbon, among other assorted textiles.

These tops are ready to go to the post office, then off to the volunteer quilters.  

It didn't actually take a lot of time so if you are inclined to help check out these websites.  There are many ways to volunteer.  http://thebarefootheart.com/introducing-the-70273-project/  or www.the70273project.org

Another stash-busting year is off to a good start. My goal is to use 100 yards this year.  After all, I did that in 2015 when I was laid up with a broken arm for 6 weeks or so, which means I have no excuse.  Right?

Fabric Added in January  -   3 yards

Fabric Used in January  -  13.78 yards 

Fabric Added Year to Date  -  3 yards

Fabric Used Year to Date  -  13.78 yards

Net Fabric Used in 2018  -  10.78 yards 

Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict   

The Rest of the Retreat Story

I prepped all my projects ahead of time for retreat so I could just sit and sew and talk and not have to cut or think too hard or do any "dreaded math."  Each project was cut and put into a ziploc bag along with the pattern or instructions. The first thing I worked on was this "Cross Weave" pattern by Sweet & Simple Quilts from Martingale.

In case you haven't noticed by now, lately I've really been into using a complementary color in the sashing or border. I think it makes it more interesting.  (And different -- you must know I like my quilts to be different!)  I had a really cute backing fabric I had bought when I was in Paducah in April for the AQS Show.  

Except for the backing this quilt was made from stash and scraps.  In fact, this is my entire supply of oranges now. I've been doing some serious stash-busting!

The second thing I worked on was this pattern, "Easy Starburst", by Missouri Star Quilt Company's Jenny Doan.  

I had never made Half-Square Triangles using the method in her tutorial.  Starting with two squares, one print and one white-on-white, right sides together, I sewed a quarter-inch seam around the edges then cut from corner to corner to make four HST's.  It worked well and went together fast, but I ended up having to work with all bias edges which is not my favorite thing.  

(Note:  I used 7" squares instead of 10" squares in order to end up with a smaller quilt.) The HST's were then stitched into four large blocks, using the same layout .....

..... then, starting at the top right, each block was turned clockwise in order to create the star.  

I added a border and used fabrics from my stash for the back and binding. 

How about that?  Two finishes in one week!  Not only that, but two more quilts for Choose Life of North Alabama.  

See what happens when you get to go on a retreat?  

I'm linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.  Check them out and read about the projects others are working on.

Also linking up with Sew Some Love at Kat & Cat Quilts.

February Stash Report

This stash busting thing is going great!  I have been so motivated since the New Year that all I want to do these days is sew.  (Ask Hubby.  He's feeling a little neglected in the area of clean shirts and home cooked meals.)

I'm also excited and looking forward to my first Project Linus Sew Day at the end of this month, so I'm getting kids' quilts ready to quilt and bind that day.  Since I made a blue kids' quilt last month,  I decided to make a pink/red one for February.  I kept it simple .....

..... and pieced the backing.

I even made the binding.

Pillowcases, quilt backs, applique, charity quilts, and working on UFO's made February a really good stash busting month.  Here's my report:

February

Fabric Added in February - 0

Fabric Used in February - 22.56 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date - 0

Fabric Used Year to Date - 35.81 yards

Net used in 2015 - 35.81 yards