WIP: Basket Quilt and Mini-Dwellings

We've had some nice cooler days, but the last couple of days the weather has been sultry! Wind from North (Equator), means hot! I had to do a couple of errands Wednesday morning, and I have to say I was glad when it was done and I was home again!

Today is Equinox (March 20). The beginning of the 'cold season' for us living on the Southern Hemisphere, although we won't feel any difference until beginning April. Can't wait for cooler days! 

Since my previous post, there has been some progress on the Basket Quilt. 

All the small triangles were cut and pieced together with the 4-patches,  for the second border. 

The corner blocks are done too

As I have mentioned earlier; what I have left of the basket weave fabrics as well as the first (gremlin) blocks I made (and didn't like that much), go into the pieced backing

There's no more I can do on this one until I get the ordered background fabric for the basket blocks.  

A little progress on the Mini-Dwellings stitchery

The tree is done.

Trunk & branches are backstitches, leaves are lazy daisy stitches. 

It has been years since I did lazy daisy stitches, it took me some stitches getting into it

Thread Update: The parcel has arrived and is at the Customs! I should get it by next week. 

Even if I haven't worked with red fabrics, at least there are a few red squares in the blocks for the Basket Quilt that should count. 

Linking up with Angela and the RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2026) 

 

Basket Quilt and Mini-Dwellings WIP

I'm still waiting for the quilting thread! SIGH! 

The 'problem order' made it through US Customs and has made it to France! Scheduled to arrive next week. 

Meanwhile; progress on the Basket quilt

The 4 scrappy 16-patches corner blocks are done

The small 4-patches - measure 2.5" square - for the second border is done; 72 out of 72!

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Mini-Dwellings is UFO #25 on my UFO/WIP list

The small house block has been sitting on my sewing table for weeks. The idea is to make a small wall hanging, but I wanted to add that little extra to make it more interesting. I wanted to add some embroidery, but haven't found the 'right' design.

This block is leftover from 'Dwellings' I finished last year. 

During the weekend, I flipped through several issues of Australian 'Creating Country Threads Stitchery' magazines to see if I could find something I like. 

I did! 

I chose three stitchery patterns, and this is a combination of the three. 

I don't have a lightbox, I had to tape the pattern and fabric to the window to get the design transferred. The shades on the fabric make it look dirty.

I dived into my DMC floss to see if I have the recommended colors. 

I have 9 colors out of 5. That meant going to the neighbor town for shopping! 

I got what I needed, and it was a nice long walk. 

These are the colors + black. 

I may swap the purple with another color, I shall see when I'm there...

 

Basket Quilt UFO - WIP

It took me some days deciding on how to do the basket blocks, since I was not that eager to do the original block design. Then I saw Melva's beautiful Basket block and knew right away my blocks need a 'flower pot'! 

I think the left one looks much better and I decided on that design. 

I also get to use up my basket weave fabrics that have been sitting on the shelf for some years! What I don't use for the blocks, will be used for a pieced backing. I made 5 of the design to the right, those blocks will be used for the backing too.

The pattern calls for 16 Basket blocks and I'm happy to say they are all done! 

I went through ALL my stash looking for suitable background fabric for the blocks. The one I intended is not enough! Of course! It's a beautiful Crab Apple Hill Studio called 'Tea Rose'. IMO; it would have been perfect. I need about 2 yards, I have only 1 yard. I have a few in neutrals cream, but I didn't like any of them, they look a bit dull. So, I went hunting online and did order one with tiny flowers in muted colors that should fit. 

I love making this quilt (so far! lol), but there's something with the block I don't like, but I can't pinpoint or explain exactly what it is. Hm.... they look like the Gremlins?! LOL

What do you think? 

Next step is to make 72 4-patch units for the second border, using 1.5" squares! That means I need 288 1.5" squares! Good thing I have quite some cut already, for this ongoing project I haven't worked on for a very long time. I forgot to add this one when I did my UFO/WIP list for this year.

I haven't done anything red this week. 

I have A Quilting Life's BOM for March to do. It includes red. It should be done by next week. 

Update on the delayed quilting thread order: The company has re-shipped my order, hopefully with the right custom papers this time. 

...and I'm still waiting for other quilting thread too. SIGH! I have 5-6 quilts thread basted and ready to be quilted. Oh well, I have more than enough other WIPs to work on, while waiting... 

Linking up with Angela and the RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2026)