Over the River and Through the Woods - It's a FINISH!

 FINALLY! ...after 16 years...!!!!

Over the River and Through the Woods is completed! 

My goal was to finish it by the end of this year (2025), and here it is: 

It took me some time deciding how to quilt it. I had a look at several quilts on Pinterest and it looks like many of them are longarm quilted, which is not an option for me. 

I decided on crosshatch design on the stitcheries. I was worried I'd mess it up if I tried something else! (I did not press it before taking photos).

Did you notice? I did fix the sides of the stitcheries. You can see 'before' here. 

The sashing is quilted in straight lines one quarter inch from the seam

Star blocks are quilted in a star design. 

To avoid bulk, all seams in the blocks are pressed open. 

The Flying Geese border;

I have outlined the 'geese' and the background is free-motion-quilted

Pieced backing

I decided on browns. 

Happy to say most of these fabrics are used up.

I've had that faux floral border piece for years. An old lady in Norway (known through a friend) got a box with lots of goodies at a quilt shop. Sadly the shop had to close down and there were lots of bargains. Oh what fun to open that box! I didn't know what to do with that piece of floral border, I don't know how many times it has been in and out of the shelf! I think it was waiting to be used on this quilt! 

The block contains 'Flying geese' blocks I found too dark (not enough contrast) and one too red, for the border. Several other brown pieces are used up. 

Size: Approximately 51.5 x 57.5 inches / 131 x 146 cm

Fabric used: Approximately 10 yards (all from my stash) 

Floss / thread used:

- Floss: ThreadWorx #10351 Rustic Brown Cherry (overdyed floss)

- MasterPiece 180, 136, 167, 153

- King Tut: 997, 900, 983

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Pattern bought: June 2009

Fabric purchased: 2010 (Norway)

Stitchery preparation: January 2023

Completed: December 14, 2025 

Over the River / Two Finishes / Pieced Backing

After long last, 'Over the River and Through the Woods' is ready for quilting! 

I ran into a little problem when I assembled the stitchery and blocks

The stitcheries should have matched the two rows of blocks to 36.5", but did not. It was about 1/2 - 3/4 inches shorter on each side (see photo above). I couldn't do anything about the row of blocks; they were the right size; 6.5" by 36.5". I had to extend each side of the stitcheries by stitching the trees to fit the exact size. 

Well, I can't draw, but at least I managed to stitch something that looks like trees! lol

I'm not sure how this happened. My hand stitch tension may have been too tight, or the backing fabric for the stitcheries made the top fabric shrink? The lady at the quilt store in Norway (where I bought the fabrics) recommended some sort of loose woven material with glue on one side, to be used as stabilizer. I've used Moda Marbles and that stabilizer was ironed on to it before stitching. I used a hoop too.

Oh well, not a big deal really. It was an easy fix. 

Pieced backing for this one too. 

The blocks were meant for the Flying Geese border, but the contrast between the 'geese' and background was too dark. Other fabrics from my stash.

Not easy to get the right colors, photographed on a cloudy day.

I'm pondering how to quilt it on my domestic machine. I've seen one (Pinterest, I think it was), the middle stitchery (verse) was quilted cross-hatched design. I really like it, I think I'll copy that design. I have an idea how to quilt the 'Flying Geese'. How to quilt the blocks between the stitcheries as well as the stitcheries at the top and bottom? 

Your ideas / suggestions are very much appreciated. 

I'd been wondering when I purchased the pattern, I found it here. It was a birthday gift to myself in 2009! Visiting Norway in 2010, I purchased fabrics for the quilt. Time to get it done! 

Earlier this year, I purchased this pattern from Coriander Quilts

When I first saw it, the reindeer put a smile on my face. I knew I had to make one! 

I've made two; one for us and one for my DF in Norway. 

'Rudolph' #1

This is my friend's quilt. His favorite color is green, hence the green border.

Pieced backing. The center rectangle shows cute red foxes and I also added two orphan bauble blocks. They were originally meant for my quilt, but I decided on red baubles instead. 

'Rudolph' #2. 

I've had this red, green and gold plaid fabric for some time. It has been in and out of the shelf I don't know how many times. When I purchased it, I had in mind to use it for a Santa's pants, but it didn't work out. I like how it turned out as border on this quilt. It was half a yard and after straightening it up it was just enough! 

It's not easy to see the quilted details on the photos. I chose to do outlined straight lines. I used gold metallic fabric for the stars and baubles, and these I quilted with gold metallic thread. The faces are free-motion-quilted, I used a variegated brown thread. For the rest I used an ecru colored cotton thread to match the background snowflakes fabric. 

Rudolph's face (both quilts) could have been a bit darker, maybe? 

Maybe not. These are winter reindeer, meaning their coat turns from brown (summer camouflage) to a greyer camouflage against the snow, makes them blend into the snowy landscape.

Pieced backing #2. Got to use up most of the Skaters fabric and other bits and pieces. 

Fabric requirement for 'Deerly Loved': 

Approximately 7 yards. And since I made two; approximately 14 yards fabric, all from my stash. 

I haven't done any sewing the last couple of weeks. I've been on slow motion after I caught a bad flu. It's still hanging, but I'll say I'm 95% OK. As if the flu is not enough; I stumbled in my own feet and fell head down on the street earlier this week. I hurt the right side of my head; cheek and a small cut (from the sunglasses) on the bone next to my eye. I'm fine now and I have a 'beautiful' green-yellowish eye and cheek! LOL  

I have finished a few cross stitching UFO's, but that will be for another post. 

Hope you all are doing well. Be careful on icy roads! 

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2025) 

Last Catch Up on RSC Monthly blocks 2025 / Potholders to a Friend

 As the title says; these are the last RSC blocks for 2025

'Coffee with Dad'

I love these blocks! They are so fun and fast to make

7 brown blocks

As you can see, two of them have more red than brown.

8 black blocks 

Corrected to 7 blocks

Hm... How did that happen? Do you see it? Cup #3 first row and #1 second row are the same! I made one only! Messed up when I took the photos. 

Eclipse

I'm a bit lost when it comes to it. How do I explain that? I have an idea how to assemble the blocks. With that idea, I don't think I can make all blocks beforehand. When the time comes, I will lay out the blocks I have already made, see what other colors fit in and make them. 

15 quarter circle blocks - purple / aqua / turquoise / brown

Half circles

1 aqua / turquoise

3 brown / teal

More of these blocks. I've lost count; a lot of 2.5" squares used up. There are 20 in each block. These blocks are going together with the 36-patches I've made earlier

8 brown blocks

6 black blocks

Hollow 9-patches

2 Light blue blocks 

4 Brown blocks

1 Black block

Do you have any plans for RSC 2026? 

It's so easy getting carried away making blocks, I have lost track of what I have made! I need to put all those blocks together, that would be my main goal for 2026. For RSC, maybe only one block, I'm thinking of the Friendship block. Still some months to go to decide. 

These are the potholders I made for a DF in Norway

I couldn't post photos earlier because he wanted them to be a surprise. The package is now delivered.

HAPPY QUILTING! 

 

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2025)

Back to Over the River and Through the Woods

Now that the sewing table is cleared for RSC blocks, fabrics and other stuff, I'm ready to work on one of my oldest UFO; Over the River & Through the Woods.

If you read this post, all the stitcheries are done. I decided to use all fabrics to make it scrappier. The fabrics where cut and set aside until I could sew again.

After dust cleaning and mopping floors, the weekend was spent making the star blocks that goes between the stitcheries. Each block measures 6" finished and there are six blocks in each row. They are small, but easy and fast to make.

 

Update: They are now sewn together and narrow borders between the stitcheries are added.

Photos taken inside on a cloudy day never work out very well. The colors in the first row look almost right, the second row and stitcheries look washed out. Sigh!

It's midweek and I have finished the 64 Flying Geese needed for the border.

I was looking for more matching scraps in my stash, but didn't really find much I could use together with the already chosen fabrics. There are a few to the right.

Next step is to trim the stitcheries, add the inner border and the outer Flying Geese border. It occurred to me I don't have backing fabric for this one. I have enough brown to make it scrappy, I think. I shall see...

 

    

Catching Up on RSC July / August / September continues

It has been a lot of catch up on RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) over the last couple of weeks. I have made a lot of blocks and I'm happy to say I'm all caught up (almost*!) on RSC 2025! Sewing table is cleared for squares and fabrics (for RSC), ready for something new (coming soon). 

 *There will be two more blocks from Sherry McConnell's BOM, that's it for this year.

 For not to make it too photo-heavy, I'll make it into two posts. 

 What took the most time, was four blocks for Pat Sloan's BOM '182 Day Solstice Challenge'  I'm happy to say, out of 25 blocks I have only one left to do. Yet to decide on color for that one. When it's done, I can start working on the settings. The blocks vary in size from 12.50 (smallest) to 24.50 inches (biggest). There will be squares and strips as 'fill-in's' between the blocks. I'm excited getting the top done, but that has to wait. It's already past middle October and I have a couple of Christmas quilts to do. 

182 Day Solstice Challenge

Block 19/25 Board Games - Purple

Measures 24.50 x 24.50 inches / 62 cm square

Block 14/25 Honey Bee - Purple

Measures 12.5 x 12.5 inches / 32 cm square

Block 15/25 - Precious Fabric - Light Blue

Measures 20.5 x 20.5 inches / 52 cm square

Block 5/25 - Gramma Anna's Basket - Light blue / Brown

Measures 12.5 x 12.5 inches / 32 cm square

Sherri McConnell's BOM 2025 for October is done

I love how this one turned out in brown

Over to 'Coffee with Dad'

I love these blocks! They are so fun and fast to make. 

7 purple blocks 

8 aqua / turquoise / teal

8 light blue

Hollow 9-patch

Isn't it amazing how many shades of purple there are?

5 purple blocks

2 aqua  / teal blocks

OF COURSE I got carried away with these blocks! 

8 blocks in light blue (centre)

These are going to be used together with 36-patches blocks I've made earlier

This is all for now

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND HAPPY QUILTING! 

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)