APQ's UFO Challenge 2020 - June Finish

 It's already Tuesday afternoon and a week since my previous post where I posted a sneak peek of a UFO I worked on during the lock-down. 

This is Quiltsy Team's and APQ's UFO Challenge 2020; #11 - June challenge. (My UFO list #16) Twin size quilt. Finished August 6, 2020. 

To create this quilt, I have pieced together 1.5 inch squares to 36-patch and 9-patch blocks. Each block measuring 6 inch square.

 I don't remember exactly when I started cutting and piecing these blocks, it may be back in 2018 or earlier. Madness? Maybe! LOL One suggested 'Covid Madness Quilt', perhaps that's what I'll call it?! 😊 

The idea was to free-motion-quilt it in an allover meandering pattern. After several tries, skipped stitches and lots of swear words, I gave up! I even tried different size needles; from 75/11 (as I usually use) to 90/14, nothing worked! Second attempt was 'stitch-in-the-ditch'. Not a problem, but after two seams on the long side I gave up because I didn't like what I was doing. It did not look nice! (Fun to unpick! NOT!) Third and final attempt was diagonal seams, which made me satisfied! 

This is the back. I didn't have any wide backing and purchasing fabric from the US during the lock-down was out of the question. I put on the thinking cap and after some days I came up with this idea. I had more of the 36-patch blocks and I pulled out some fabrics that have been sitting there 'forever' and I didn't think I was going to use them for anything else. 

Closeup of the back. The pieced blocks on the front and back are the reason why the FMQ didn't work out; it became too thick. It may have worked on a longarm, but not on dear 'Nina'. 

It feels good to have finished this UFO and that I have used scraps and fabric from my stash. I didn't use all the 36-patch blocks I had for this quilt; I have 16 blocks I didn't use. Madness is I'm still making more and can add 8 to the 16; 24 blocks. I have a few ideas, but that has to wait!  

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APQ & QUILTSY TEAM UFO CHALLENGE LIST per August 11, 2020

#1 - Log Cabin #1 (my list #13) - April

#2 - PSQ / Pinwheel Lap Quilt (my list #10) January FINISHED!

#3 - Scrappy 2" strips (my list #15)

#4 - Black / White Wall Hanging (my list #7)

#5 - Deer Log Cabin TT (my list #17) July

#6 - Nifty Nurses Wall Hanging (my list #3)

#7 - Log Cabin #3 (my list #18) March FINISHED! 

#8 - Snowman Village Wall Hanging (my list #9) August

#9 - Log Cabin #2 (my list #14) February FINISHED!

#10 - Snowman Village WH Attic Window (my list #8)

#11 - Scrappy 1" squares (my list #16) June FINISHED!

#12 - Star Batik Quilt (my list #12) May

My UFO's for April, May and July are FINISHED as well, I've yet to take photos. 

  

Another UFO on the table

I hope you all had a great weekend. 

Yesterday (Sunday) was cloudy and gloomy (not better today!), rain in the morning. I didn't go outside the house, except on the porch. Last week came and went. I spent a couple of days cleaning the bedroom. Went through the wardrobe and removed clothes I haven't worn for years. Most of it goes to charity. 

Yesterday morning I finished hand sewing binding on a small table topper/candle mat and two Christmas card holders. (No photos yet). I was pondering what to do next and decided to work on a UFO. Lock-down, no I-net and computer issues, I must admit I've lost a bit track of which UFO's I have finished, since I have yet to take photos.  What I know for sure; the one I'm going to finish, is APQ's UFO Challenge #11 - June challenge! (And this is my original UFO 2020 list, #16).

During the lock-down, I decided to work on UFO's as much as possible. For some years now (can't remember when I started) I have cut 1.5 inch squares from leftover fabric and when I had enough, sew the tiny squares into 36-patch blocks. I also made some 9-patches. Yep, I know; insanity! LOL 

I have this part left to thread baste. 

You may wonder why I prefer to thread baste? I have had too many oopsies (puckers on the back) with pins only that I prefer to take the time it takes to thread baste. Actually it doesn't take much time! :) 

Here's a sneak peek of the back. I didn't have any wide backs so after putting the 'thinking cap' on for awhile, I decided to use more of the 36-patch blocks and fabric from my stash that have been there forever! Not sure how I'm going to quilt it; either straight seams or just meandering FMQ. 

I'm back!

Hello everyone! 

I'm back!  

You may wonder where on earth I've been?! A couple of days after my previous blog post (April 1, 2020), the I-net connection went down and later on the computer (windows-7) crashed! Very 'good' timing during the lock-down! NOT! To make a long story short; our dear friend and tech-guru got the computer up running again, now on Windows-10 and most files from W-7 are saved! For the I-net connection, we had to give up the ISP we have had for some years (worst customer service ever!) and hook up to another one. We are online again since about 2 weeks, so far so good!

I'm so thankful quilting made me busy during the 2.5 months lock-down! At the beginning of the year I joined the '2020 APQ UFO Challenge', and I'm proud to say I have finished some BIG UFO's! I have yet to take photos. 

During the lock-down, I also decided to work on some Christmas items. The challenge was to use fabric from my stash, since most of the online fabric stores in the US (where I usually purchase from) have suspended International shipping due to the pandemic and closed borders. I have finished some Advent Calendars and other items that is ready to be quilted. 

I've had this fabric stripes for some years and figured out the best way to display the whimsy snowmen is to turn them into place mats. That's what I'm working on these days. 

Happiness came with Fedex the other day! Horrible expensive shipping and fees, but what to do when there's no other options?! Yeah me did purchase ONLY what I need to finish some items! (Except the magazine! LOL) Quilt batting, backing, thread and fusible stabilizer for Advent Calendar ornaments. 

Yesterday was an extremely difficult and sad day; we had to say goodbye to our beloved Sasha. She came into our life 13.5 years ago as an abandoned puppy. We have loved her as much as she loved us and she will be deeply missed. RIP dear love. You are free from pain and we can imagine you running happily on the eternal hunting grounds. 

This is a rare photo of her (my favorite), she's looking straight into the camera lens. She never liked us taking photos of her. 

STAY SAFE & HEALTHY!