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