Lock-down sewing: Pineapple scraps

 It's Saturday afternoon already and I haven't done half of what I intended to do today! Some days are like that and I don't think I'm alone?! I've been glued to the sewing machine almost every day this week. Some weeks ago I made a Christmas table runner and four place mats that needed to be quilted. That's done! Yesterday I added binding and have left to do two of the four place mats. But that was not what I was going to write about today. 

Isn't it amazing what can be done without I-net connection? I'm one of those who can't sit idle, I have to do something. I read, I always read a book, but that is limited to after I'm in bed. If you wonder what I'm currently reading? Hillary Jordan; Mudbound. During daytime, I do other things; housework, grocery shopping, yard work etc. Boring routines! Hahaha! 

During the lock-down and no I-net connection I did a lot of sewing. I had (still have) a lot of 1.5" strips that could be used for other blocks than log cabin. I decided to make some scrappy pineapple blocks. I had sew much fun, but all the strips got a bit tedious.

I printed the pattern from EQ7. The block is 11" (sewn into quilt) and it consists of 53 strips (corners included). The strips measure 0.75" (finished). 

Birre-Liten the cat is almost always eager to help! At least he did not try to 'kill' these blocks! 

I have 13 blocks. I'm not sure how many I'm going to make. I may make a couple more for a rectangle wall hanging, or four more for a square one. 

Did you know pineapple quilt blocks is believed to have emerged in the mid-1800's during Lincoln's presidential campaign? A symbol of opulence and hospitality. Read more here. 

HAPPY WEEKEND & HAPPY QUILTING! 

APQ's UFO Challenge 2020 - April Finish

As I have mentioned earlier, I focused on UFO's during the lock-down. No I-net, dead computer and stuck inside, quilting kept me sane. Thank goodness the sewing machine didn't act up! I didn't feel for taking photos after a quilt was finished and now I have lots to catch up. 

This is Quilty Team and APQ's UFO Challenge 2020; #1 - April challenge (my UFO list #13). 

Full / Double bed size quilt; 79.50 x 95.50 inches / 202 x 242.5 cm  (Pic taken on bed measuring 47 x 79 inches / 120 x 200 cm)

These are log cabin blocks I've been working on since March 2016. Already at that time I had lots of 1.5 inch strips just stored in boxes and no idea what to do with them. 

Log cabin quilts is and will always be my favorite. I had so much fun piecing together these strips. Some of the fabrics are from when I started quilting, in 2005!

No wide backing for this quilt either. I had to put on the thinking cap and came up with this design. I had just enough blocks to add to the back. The yardage is different floral fabrics from my stash that most probably had never been used for anything else. Yeah me using fabric from my stash! 👍

Closeup of the back. 

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APQ & QUILTSY TEAM UFO CHALLENGE LIST per August 17, 2020

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

#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 May and July are FINISHED as well, I've yet to take photos. 

 

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.