Little bit more done

I am using recycled fabrics. The colored part of the blocks is men's shirts I have bought at yard sales or thrift stores. The sashing and cornerstones are fabric I have used in other quilts and they have been hanging around for a long period. 

The colored part is 9.5 inch block. The sashing strips are made from 1.5 inch strings. And the cornerstones are cut offs from the strip sets at 1.5 inches and made into 9-patches. It is a simple quilt, but a utility quilt for a couch or recliner. 

The longest part of time is in making the strip sets. Lot of pressing going on doing them. I cut them the length of the fabric instead of the width for added stability. 

This ideas can make up in large floral prints, geometric designs, polka dots, fussy cut sport themed fabric. The choices are endless. 

The idea for this quilt top came from Becky Quilts in the Old Country. She has a Facebook page with free patterns. Her Twin also has fabric at a reasonable price and $5 shipping at quiltedtwins.com Becky Tillman Petersen has many quilt patterns available all free of charge. Visit and sign up to join the fun. quiltedtwins.com is the link. 

 

Sewing at 4:30am

Yesterday I showed you that I was cutting whites and off whites up. They are smaller pieces that have been hanging around and need to be used up.

I cut them up and sewed them into strip sets for sashings for some men's shirt plaids I had cut into 9.5 inch squares. Then the cut off sections are used for the corner stones for the sashing.

I couldn't sleep this morning so I was up at 4:30 am sewing strip sets together. Tomorrow I will have a better picture of how they look. It is going to be a couch throw. 

The shirtings have been hanging around cut into the squares for months. As I cut off more from the fabric from the men's shirts I cut two of the larger squares and saved them. 

I had thought about buy new fabric  for the sashing and thought I am using men's shirts I might as well use up some of this fabric that has been here. 

I had to go to the store today and that about wears me out. I buy the necessities for the mont all at once. Maybe will have to rethink doing so much at a time. Hope you are enjoying your day. It is 60 degrees here today. Chris 

Cutting up old pieces.

I have a couple stacks of odds and ends of whites and off whites to tea dyed muslins laying around. I set up a cutting table in the living room. 

I know you should stand to cut, but my back isn't going to go there so I sat to cut. The bucket under the table is full of 2 inch strips. The pile on the white table is 2.5 inch strips and the pile with tan and off white on the tray table is 1.5 inches. 

My theory is if it isn't cut it can't become a creation..... These had been on the shelf for 2-6 year and just need to be used up. I have about three different projects to use them up. 

I think now that the first of the Holidays are over I can get back into some sewing. I have fabric coming this next week to finish up a couple started projects. 

The leftover ham is getting cut up today for ham and bean soup. The beans are soaking now and the rest will come into play over the afternoon. Then the cornbread will be made to serve with it. I do like leftovers for soups. 

Off to do some more cutting. Chris

Happy Belated Thanksgiving

WE had family here for a big dinner. Charleigh is 10 1/2 months old now and wants to keep up with the older girls. She started walking last night before they went home. She was so exited because she did it. She was holding onto her mother's hand and was like running just  minutes before. Nothing is going to hold her back.  

We had turkey ham and also all the sides. I made 4 pies. this is two pumpkins fresh out of the oven. Everything was delicious and we are eating some of the leftovers today. Not much was left. 

Hope you had a nice Holiday Chris

Still not 100%

It has been almost 8 days and still not the greatest. I have been binge watching videos on You Tube.

Angela Walters has a channel called Midnight Quilter. It is fun to watch. Donna Jordan from Jordan Fabrics has a channel and shows many fabric cutting skills. Their skill is iron first and use a weight on the ruler to hold in place for long cuts.

There is also Missouri Star Quilt Company. They have many tutorials with Jenny Doan showing us quick quilts.

There are hours and hours of good sewing tips and ideas. Never to old to learn a new tip. Hope you find something to watch.

I have done a lot of this since I have been sick. Chris

I have been sick all week.

Started out with a scratchy throat and then ear ache now coughing till my ribs hurt. I have used so much tissue. I know to much info. I hate it.

Got a phone call yesterday afternoon could the three year old come and spend the night. The other two were going to the other Grandma's and she begged to come to my house. This isn't the first time she has done this.

We let her be a little girl and she loves the alone time. She is a good child when she is alone. I have taken the other ones individually also. I think it is good they have one on one with their grandparents. They also have learned how to do some cooking while they are here. Katie's specialty is cupcakes and Autumn likes to make soup.

Katie like to play with dolls. So she brought Barbies with her. She has conversations with them and it is cute to watch her play by herself. At least she knows how to entertain herself which a lot of kids her age do 't do.

I will give my son and his wife credit. The girls have electronic devices, but they do play most of the time with their toys. Kids today get stuck with their heads in the device or a video game.

Well I am sitting up waiting for meds to work. Sick with a bad cold isn't good for sleeping. Hope you are well and don't catch this. Chris

Been knitting instead of quilting

I have been knitting and using up odds and ends of yarn. I have plenty and I acquired the yarn stash my neighbor had and not used before she passed away. It wasn't a lot, but enough to do some scarves and hats. 

The brown/gray was a wool from Ireland. She was a travel agent and took people on tours all over the World. She had started a sweater and not finished it. She had all sizes of knitting needles and a fair amount of yarn.

I learned to knot when I was 8 years old. I had every childhood illness and kid could get and missed 40 days of school that year. I learned to knit and embroider that year. I enjoy doing both.

So these will go in a tub and when my family needs some they will come out. The rest will be donated for the needy. I think the next time I go to the thrift store I will look for some more yarn to make charity pieces.

Sick with the start of the a cold. Chris

Halloween 2017

Happy Halloween 2017. The girls came here to Trick or Treating. It is a quiet neighborhood and lots less traffic.

The girls went out with their mother and we kept the baby here. After her being n the hospital it was just to cold lout for her. She was a ladybug. The older two were Elsa and Anna.

The baby got a hold of a Tootsie Pop and ate it clear down to the chocolate center. We stood right there and watched her. She loves lollipops.

Fall is here. the cold mornings and warmer days are upon us. The leaves are falling everywhere.

Hope you are enjoying the Fall. Chris