Finished - Ohio Star and Pillows

 Catching up on my finishes for 2020, I must include this one.  I started this quilt a few years ago with the goal of making a dent in my collection of peach and light orange scraps.  It is a traditional Ohio Star pattern inspired by the beautiful work of Red Pepper Quilts.

After completing the quilt top I stepped back and, really for the first time in my quilting journey, I was disappointed.  The color contrasts just didn't work as I had envisioned and some of the scraps jumped out more than I liked.  It got tucked away until earlier this year when I went on a campaign to finish everything I had started.

As is always the case, quilting helped quite a lot as did the wrinkles acquired from being washed.

I made three pillows using the City Pillow series by Kate Colleran included with the 2020 Quilters Planner.  Together the quilt and pillows lighten up this guest bedroom and I'm moving on.

Head on over to Michelle's page for her weekly blog link up post!

Finished - Christmas Quilt for Karen

 I've made A LOT of quilts in my nine years of quilt making.  Incredibly, this is the first one I've made for my one and only and very special sister! 

I've made this pattern one time before in muted tones and I love the adaptation for Christmas with the addition of a few trees and bright holiday fabrics. The pattern is Suburbs Quilt by Cluck Cluck Sew, a pattern I highly recommend for how well it works with a wide variety of fabrics and efficient use of fabric layer cakes (10"squares).

I might have gotten a bit carried away with the quilting but it had been months since I finished a quilt and, well, all those swirls were therapeutic!

My sister is a medical professional and she has had quite the year.  I thought a happy quilt might be in order and based on her exuberant response she loves it!  Linking this one up with Michelle at From Bolt to Beauty's weekly finished project event!

Merry Christmas Karen!  I love you!

Finished - Milo's Christmas Stocking

My 2020 hand sewing project was a Christmas stocking for our precious new grandson.  His parents selected the pattern and I'm thrilled to report that it was finished before Santa's arrival. I have made cross stitched stockings for everyone in my family, my nieces and nephew and now both grandsons.  

As you can see, there is much to look at on this stocking.  

The pattern is Twas the Night Before Christmas, a Sandy Orton design by Kooler Design Studios.  The pattern instructions include half and quarter stitches, mixed flosses (and various thread counts), metallic threads and oodles of outlining.  

A fun dog Christmas fabric for the backing seemed necessary for this animal loving family.

Nana loves you Milo!

Finished - Two Low Volume Bright Hope Quilts

 Catching up here on quilts finished this year.  I started collecting low volume fabrics a few years ago needing a break from all the bright fabrics and the calm was welcome.  Turns out I had A LOT of low volume fabric as I finished this queen size quilt and still had plenty to make at least two more quilts.  Earlier this year when I was looking for meditative quarantine sewing, I started making these partial seam blocks using Red Pepper Quilts Bright Hope block tutorial.  

I ended up with over 250 5 inch blocks, plenty for two good sized lap quilts.  

Finished with my favorite backing fabric, all over stipple quilting and hand sewn binding.  These washed up beautifully soft and crinkly.

Gifted to two important women in our family and a gift of quilt making therapy for me.

Keep smiling,

Kathy

Finished - My First Meadowland Quilt

 Who hasn't seen the Meadowland Quilt pattern by Then Came June?  Here's my first quilt using this pattern as I am sure there will be more.

The colors are based on that Kate Spain aria floral fabric and another quarantine quilt made exclusively from on-hand materials.

I pieced the quilt top differently from the pattern so that the squares of that lovely floral did not have to be cut up.

Just a simple stipple for quilting.

This is a great pattern, looks wonderful in just about any fabric combination and comes together quickly.  

Keep smiling,

Kathy

 

Finished - Snuggly Christmas Sampler Quilt

I have made many quilts in the eight years I've been quilting (a list I have decided to compile this winter) but remarkably few Christmas quilts.  Quite shocking considering my love of the holiday.  Fear not, I am on a corrective path with much support and inspiration from Michelle From Bolt to Beauty.  

A few years ago I started to make Christmas themed blocks with no plan in mind.  Those of you who have been hanging around here for a while will remember our family's love of all things Peanuts and won't be surprised that I had Charlie Brown Christmas fleece in my fabric collection. 

One silver lining of our isolated Thanksgiving week was time for sewing.  It seemed like the perfect time to put those miscellaneous quilt blocks to work.  The result: a super soft snuggly quilt for my grandson Levi.

With the fleece, cotton batting and minimal quilting this is a very soft quilt.  

Unfortunately, I can't remember or find the source for the two blocks that look like gifts (please let me know if you recognize them and I will update this post) but here are the sources for the other blocks:

• The trees, deer, snowflake and bell are foundation paper pieced patterns from Sewing Under the Rainbow.
• The big Santa is a block by Sew Fresh Quilts. 
• The ornament is a pattern by Thimble Blossoms.
• The small sweater is a foundation paper pieced pattern by Kid Giddy.

This is a perfect example of a not-so-perfect quilt that is overstuffed with love.

Keep smiling,

Kathy 

Finished - Milo's Tummy Time Quilt

 I love making baby quilts.  There, I said it.  Bed size quilts may be more practical but little quilts are not only much quicker to get to the reward of completion but also experimenting with new techniques seems less risky.  And I especially love making baby quilts when the recipient is my adorable grandson.

The pattern is Glitter and Glow Quilt by SuzyQuilts and was a joy to sew.  My last visit to a fabric shop was in March when I picked up most of the fabrics for the quilt.  It was my first time visiting Quilted Threads here in New Hampshire and then COVID hit. I look forward to returning as I was impressed with the shops mix of quilting and garment sewing fabrics.  This quilt has a combination of quilting cottons and linens for extra textural interest.  

This is another instance of the backing fabric, a soft flannel from Joann Fabric, determining the quilt top colors.  

Keep smiling!

Kathy

Finished - Irish Chain from Scraps

One of the main reasons I started this little blog was to create a catalog of my finished quilts.  Although I am considering creating a paper notebook to document my quilts.  Has anyone done that?  

So, here's a quick quilt that I finished earlier this year from scraps remaining from the bunk bed quilts (posted here).  Another quilt completely made from materials on hand and added to the quilts to be donated collection!

 More finish posts to follow!

Keep smiling,

Kathy

Finished - Scrap Vortex Quilt

For several years I have been keeping a bag beside the sewing machine of little scraps.  Too small to be put into the respective color scrap bin (yes, I am THAT person that has multiple scrap storage tiers) but too special to be thrown out.  In the early stages of the quarantine I noted that the bag was overflowing.

Doing a little research I rediscovered Amanda Jean's scrap vortex quilt along.    First step was prying all the little pieces and strips out of the bag and organizing them in some order.  

Very, very little was thrown in the trash and every bit was used!

I followed her recommendations and started with small pieces making small slabs and then just kept adding on.  In the beginning I had my doubts as to whether this was ever going to build up into something cohesive.  I stepped back and went back to review some of the beautiful quilts made as part of Amanda Jean's QAL  (for example Linda's!) and that gave me the inspiration to carry on!

As the quilt blocks began to grow came the challenge of assembling some pretty random sized slabs.

To my delight that little bag of bits and pieces came together pretty nicely!  Perhaps I shouldn't have been too surprised under the theory that if I loved each of the little pieces then the odds would be good that I would like the compilation.

Quilted in a simple meander this one is staying with me.

In the end I enjoyed the process so much I have started two more bags including one just for Christmas bits and pieces!

Keep smiling,
Kathy

Finished - Two Quilts for My Sisters in Law!

A while back my very talented mother-in-law shared with me a bundle of fabric from her many years of sewing.  I decided to turn this fabric into quilts for her daughters. The first is Skipping Pinwheels Quilt by My Fabric Relish .

  

The second quilt is a log cabin quilt with probably my favorite block placement!

Hand sewn binding and my favorite backing.  Both are quilted in a meandering stipple that is simple and adds much to the texture.

I was so happy to put this fabric to work and my SIL's were both quite pleased!

Stay safe and keep smiling!
Kathy

Finished - Celtic Crossing Quilt

I started this quilt top in 2019 before my house was flooded.  In coronavirus time it's now finished. The pattern is Celtic Crossing from Lo & Behold Stitchery.  I love the diversity of Irish chain quilts and this one is a simple and clever version.

One of my sewing goals for 2019 was to not purchase any fabric but then I needed some retail therapy during the months I could not sew due to the aforementioned flood and oh well.  However, I did start several quilts with materials exclusively from my stash including this one.

The backing fabric came from a big bundle of fabric my mother in law gave me.  And just going to brag a moment about the pattern match on the back.  I'll never be this good again.

Even the batting was patched together from odds and ends pieces.  Straight line quilting and a hand sewn binding for the finish!

Keep smiling!
Kathy