Keep the Home Fires Burning - A Finish

I reached my goal for March!

(I'm late in posting my finishes)

'Keep the Home Fires Burning' is FINISHED! 

This quilt was started when I had a squirrel moment in February 2024, and also a result of the RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2024. 

In December 2024 I made a pieced backing, using up more bits & pieces of fabrics I know I'd never use for anything else. I got two leftover blocks I added to the back.

Deciding on a quilting design is always a challenge. I do all quilting on my domestic sewing machine; Bernina 440 QE. The throat size is 7.5", not a big space for big quilts. It involves quite some wrestling (arms exercise!) and usually a bucket of swear words! Does it sound familiar?! 

This quilt wasn't the worst to quilt. I did straight lines and there were not much wrestling! 

Straight lines on and around the Heart, half inches between the seams. 

(Click on the photos to enlarge)

Pinwheels, 9-patches and an interesting border

Friendship Star blocks, Bowties, 4- and 9-patches

9-patches, Friendship Stars and Bowties

4-patches, Bowties, Friendship blocks and border

Size: 72 x 72 inches / 183 x 183 cm

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Fabric Requirements (Pattern):

 

Top: Approximately 9-1/4 yards 

Back: 4-7/8 yards - pieced back requires more

Total: Approximately 15 yards (all from my stash)

Progress: 

First blocks made: February 2024

All blocks (except the border block): August 2024

Pieced backing: December 2024

Quilted: March 2024

Thread: King Tut 961 and 997 front, Masterpiece 152 back

Total hours to quilt & hand sew binding to the back: 46 hours

Finished: March 12, 2025

RSC Week 10 - Not Much to Show

As the title says; I don't have much to show today.

I haven't made more yellow blocks (RSC for March), as I intended to.

I got busy quilting 'Keep the Home Fires Burning' and I'm happy to say about 3/4 of the quilt is done! I'm quilting it in straight seams only, rather tedious, but I like how it looks. 

And there are some yellows too! I have quilted a few yellow blocks, which should count?! lol

Can you spot Mini-Bug? He fell asleep after helping me choosing the right area to quilt and to be sure the seams are straight!  

My goal is to finish it by next weekend. 

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

  

 

New York Beauty Quilt is Finished!

When the weather calls for 'no venture out', what do you do?!

SEW! EAT! Drink COFFEE! SLEEP! REPEAT! 

Well, this apply to all rainy days, not only last week when 'Garance' passed close by. 

My February goal was to finish the NYB quilt, and I did! 

It has 48 blocks + 4 corner blocks.

It measures 74 x 58 inches / 188 x 147 cm

All batik from my stash, except the backing (batik too) I had to purchase. 

Once again thank you to those of you who suggested thread color and design!  (here). Much appreciated!

You may remember I'm on SSD (Strict Stash Diet) this year. I didn't want to purchase thread and pay a fortune in shipping! I went through my Aurifil, King Tut and MasterPiece. I kept in mind some of the suggestions were 'light lime green'. 

The only suitable thread I had, and enough for the quilt (except grey), were two light green Aurifil. I used Aurifil 2902 Light Laurel Green for the top and Aurifil 2912 Platinum for the back. It blends in perfectly. I forgot to take photo of the back, but you can see it here. I'm not a big fan of pastels, but I think this one suits the quilt.  

Closeup of the quilting. Click on the photos to enlarge.

It took me 'forever', but I'm so glad I decided to custom quilt each block. It took me about 60-65 hours to quilt the blocks only. 

This is the corner block. Isn't it cute?! 

It measures 4.25" / 10.5 cm

It was a cloudy day, not the best light for photos. 

First block made 2020 (no records, maybe during Covid lockdown and no I-net connection) 

All blocks done March 2021

Thread basted January 2023

Finished February 18, 2025

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Next up to quilt: 

'Keep the Home Fires Burning'

It's a big quilt, but should be relatively easy to quilt, depending how I decide to do it. 

This is my goal for March. 

Updates to follow. 

Flimsies, Pieced Backing and Frankenbatting

 I'm happy to say I have two RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) flimsies!

Keep the Home Fires Burning

I had sew much fun adding all these blocks together! 

...and Sherri McConnell A Quilting Life BOM 2024

Finding the 'right' fabric for the border and sashing for a scrappy quilt can sometimes be a challenge. Since it has 'all' colors, any of these colors could be used, I guess. My DH suggested black for the sashing. Hm.... What do I have in my stash? Definitely not a big choice. A few strips left of Moda Marbles, one yard black Grunge is hiding somewhere... I ended up with a fabric I've had 'forever'; white pindots on black, that was just enough, only a few strips left! For the border I've chosen a gorgeous batik in dark blue, purple and turquoise.

The last days I've worked on pieced backings for both flimsies.

I've pulled out fabrics from my stash, some been there 'forever'. You know those fabrics that are pulled in and out of the shelf until you get damn tired of them, leave them and forget about them. That's the case for these pieced backings.

'Keep the Home Fires Burning' is square, approximately 73"x73" (185 cm square). I have to get the quilt (all three layers) on the table to see if the backing fits. The sides are only an inch bigger than the quilt! YIKES! (Don't ask me where the math went! ...or my brain?!!) I may not get it straight on the table, I may have to get it on the floor getting it straight. I shall see... My poor old knees won't be happy!

Fabric requirements for this quilt is approximately 8-1/2 yards for the top and 5 yards for the backing (total 13-1/2 yards) 

It was easier to do the pieced backing for the BOM. I found some half yards and FQ's hidden at the bottom on a shelf, under a lot of Christmas fabrics!!! I know why they were 'hidden' there; I had no clue what to do with them and not sure I liked them that much either. A few were a challenge win years back. 

Fabric requirements: Approximately 11 yards for the top and 4-1/2 yards backing (total 15-1/2 yards) 

For these two quilts: All fabrics from my stash, a total of 29 yards. This is according to the fabric requirements. 

Even if not visible (as I can see!), it sure has made a dent in my stash. 

Some time ago I learnt a new word; frankenbatting. 

If that is new to you, you can learn more here. 

I have done frankenbatting for years without knowing it's a word for it. lol 

Do you do frankenbatting?

A couple of days ago I had to go into the city again. On my way home I stopped at Bagatelle Mall to get a few groceries and have a look at the Christmas decor. I'm not a big fan of malls, I find them rather boring. Malls have popped up everywhere on the island the last years. 

One of the entrances

...and even a decorated Banyan tree

 I enjoyed admiring their Christmas display

Have you decorated the tree? That's what I'm going to do this weekend!

RSC Week #33 - ORANGE

Hello!

It's already past middle August! How did that happen?! 

I've been busy with this, that and everything. Finally this week I have the time to dive into the RSC color for August; ORANGE!

As said, I've been busy sewing the last days and here's the result.

First up is the August block from Sherri McConnel 'A Quilting Life'

182 Day Solstice Challenge - Pat Sloan

Block #2 - Day Into Night

Block #10 - The Coffee Shop

Don't you just love that black cat?! 

Keep the Home Fires Burning

5 Four-patches

1 Friendship block

1 Bowtie block

1 Pinwheel block

2 different Nine-patches

...and if my math is right, ALL blocks - except one - are done for this quilt! 

I'm sooo looking forward to get the top done, but that won't happen now. First priority are fall and Christmas items for my Etsy Shop

Linking up with Angela and RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge

(I'll do that as soon as her today's post is up).

RSC Week #29 - AQUA

HAPPY END OF JULY!

How come it's second half of July already?! 

I haven't posted anything this month. July is the start of prepping Christmas items for my Etsy shop and is always a busy month. I've worked mostly on Advent Calendars, mug rugs and trivets. 

Angela at SuperScrappy has chosen AQUA for this month's RSC  (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) scrappy color, shades of blue leaning towards green. 

Hmmm.... That's a tricky color for me, as I don't have many prints in that color. I've done a mix of aqua, turquoise and teal. It's scrappy, after all! 

Let's see what has been done so far this month.

 

First up is July's block from Sherri McConnel 'A quilting Life'

182 Day Solstice Challenge - Pat Sloan

Block #11 - Quilt Math

Block #21 - Tile Time

Keep the Home Fires Burning

'Friendship' block

6 'Four-patches' 

Only a few blocks since I'm almost done, waiting for RSC Orange to complete the last blocks. 

4 Split-9 blocks

I have two aqua/turquoise approximately half yards, I may turn them into a couple of table toppers. 

Linking up with Angela and RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge

 

RSC Week #22 - BLUE for June

Welcome June! 

Goodbye PINK - Welcome BLUE

Angela at Super Scrappy has chosen BLUE for June's  RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  

Since the last Saturday in April was on 25th, we got an early start on blue! 

All the blocks for 'Keep the Home Fires Burning' are done:

4 Bowties

4 Nine-patches

1 Pinwheel

3 Friendships

6 Four-patches

...and then over to other blocks: 

8 Split-Nine blocks

182 Day Solstice Challenge

Block #4 - Cobble Stones

Block #7 - Tidy Rows

Some of you may remember I worked on 'Star Streams' last year? 

Today (Wednesday), I dug deep in the box containing UFOs and pulled out the already made blocks. I have a few more blocks to make before I move on to the 'Step blocks'. 

These are the six different Star blocks

Update Friday; all 28 star blocks done! 

I've also made 5 'Step blocks', I was curious how they would turn out.

I have to make 23 more, total 28. 

I still have a few blocks to do; zippers and scrap jars. 

This month my goal is to get the 'Star Streams' into a flimsy. 

Linking up with Angela and RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge

RSC Week 18 - PINK for May

 Welcome May! 

May already! How did that happen?! 

Angela at Super Scrappy has chosen PINK for May's RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

This year, I'm making different blocks in the RSC colors. 

As I have mentioned earlier, I like to do all the blocks at the beginning of each month so that I can concentrate on other things when the blocks are done.

Since the last Saturday in April was on 27th, we got a head start on Pink! 

All the blocks for 'Keep the Home Fires Burning' are done 

6 four-patches

3 Friendship blocks

Different 9-patches

2 Pinwheel blocks

5 Bowties blocks
(note that I did get the bowties right this time! lol)

8 Split 9s

4 Scrap Jars

Zipper blocks

Since I used up most pink yardage for Arreli's quilt (last year), I had only three pink fabrics to cut the long strips and squares for these blocks. 

May's BOM block - Sherri McConnel, 'A Quilting Life', will be published Monday, May 6th.

Linking up with Angela and the RSC - Rainbow Scrap Challenge

HAPPY SCRAPPY WEEKEND!