Finished UFO's and New Project

It's not often I have two posts in one week, but I'm excited to share some (quilting) news with you!

First, I have some finished UFO's! 

The Scrappy Christmas Quilt was finished in April, but never got around taking photos

I've used red, green, grey, white and gold scraps (I almost ran out of greens!)

For the back I've chosen a beautiful poinsettia fabric

The stocking kit was given to me a couple of years ago (I never buy kits). This UFO was also one of the 'laying on the bench next to the table'.

 I rarely make stockings, so it took me an unpick to get the lining inside and not outside! lol

This photo shows what was meant to be the back of the stockings.  Aren't these too cute to be hidden on the back?! Instead of two, I made four! 

Those of you who read my blog regularly, know I love making scrappy quilts. I'm a member of the Quiltsy Team on Etsy. The team has monthly challenges and for July/August: Scraps! Make anything from table runner to twin size quilt. 

I have cut squares from leftover fabrics for years, separated Christmas from all other themes. 

Big shoe box full of 2.5' squares! 

Not so much sorted on colors,

that's what I did last night; sorted on colors! Phew! Here are only a few. 

Sorted on colors, and one of each. I'm thinking a lap quilt, but it won't be a unique one (meaning: no duplicates!). I have several of most fabric, it has to be duplicates. 

Fun seeing some of these fabrics again, and some I can't even remember what I made. So this is what will keep my fingers warm the coming days. 

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Update: 'What's-on-the-table/chair/bench' list:

- 3 Tea Cozies - quilted - fix loop on each

- PSQ blocks 36 patches - ongoing project - no new blocks

- Pineapple Quilt (UFO) - make a pieced backing - not done

- Double Wedding ring quilt (2021) - arcs done

- NYB - 48 blocks done (2021) - layout

- Christmas Stockings (kit / UFO) - DONE!

- Coffee menu - cross stitching - no progress

Updated APQ UFO list, July 2, 2021

#1 -Blue & White Irish Chain

#2 - Black/White Poppies Wall Haning - FEBRUARY

#3 - Got the Blues

#4 - Christmas Lap Quilt - APRIL - DONE!

#5 - Pineapple Quilt - JUNE

#6 - Christmas Stockings Kit - DONE!

#7 - Log Cabin Blocks (Nancy Halvorsen) - JANUARY - DONE!

#8 - Scrappy Quilt / Migration to Africa - DONE!

#9 - PSQuilt - MAY - DONE!

#10 - Basket Quilt

#11 - Kitchen Wall Hanging (Vegetables) - MARCH

#12 - PSQuilt Blocks - JULY - DONE! 

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#13 - Crumb Quilt

#14 - Scrappy Flannel Quilt 

#15 - Scrappy 4' Squares

HAPPY QUILTING / WEEKEND!

 

Time to Count UFO's - Again!

 It's that time of the (new) year again; counting UFO's! I'm not cheating, I did count my UFO's at the end of 2020 and I have not added more! lol I must admit I was a bit surprised after I counted 15 UFO's! I thought I had less! After all, we are not real quilters if we don't have UFO's, isn't it?! 

I have signed up for the APQ and Quiltsy Team's UFO Challenge 2021. If you would like to join the UFO Challenge at APQ, click here for more info. I signed up for the first time in 2020 and I had sew much fun! I finished 11 out of 12 UFO's, but the greatest part was to see all the gorgeous finished quilts! Some quilts are stunning and takes your breathe away!

How could I not sign up for this year too?! There are some easy to finish and some where I have to make the entire quilt except a couple of blocks already made. 

OK, so here's my UFO list 2021: 

#1 – Blue & white Irish Chain 

#2 – Black/White/Poppies WH  

#3 – Got the Blues 

#4 – Christmas quilt 

#5 – Pineapple quilt 

#6 – Christmas Stockings Kit 

#7 – Log Cabin blocks (Nancy Halvorsen) - JANUARY 

#8 – Scrappy quilt 

#9 – PS Quilt 

#10 – Basket quilt  

#11 – Kitchen WH 

#12 – PSQ Blocks 

#13 – Crumb Quilt 

#14 – Scrappy Flannel quilt 

#15 –Scrappy 4” squares 

These UFO's should keep me out of trouble this year! 

HAPPY QUILTING AND GOOD LUCK ON FINISHING YOUR UFO'S! 

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. 

  

Quiltsy Team Scrappy Spring Challenge and more

'Winter' is definitely here to stay. Cooler days and nights, which I love, but still.... BRRRR! The change in weather has caused my sinus infection to flare up again; blocked nose, sinus headache and not feeling well enough to do much. I'm one of those who can't sit still, I have kept myself busy sewing, which include rests on the couch and hot chocolate to drink. Good thing I'm feeling better today.

The best way to keep my fingers warm is to get busy and sew. A couple of items make me sew excited and I wish there were more hours in a day and I didn't have to sleep. 

First, Quiltsy Team on Etsy is having a challenge: 'Scrappy Spring Challenge'; make a table runner / topper or wall hanging using SCRAPS. We all have that scrap bin, don't we? Well, I can't say I have a scrap BIN, I have boxes with already cut squares (small leftovers from finished items) cut into different sizes; from 1.5 to 5 inches. I'm so organized! Haha! 

I decided to use batik squares for my challenge item...

and a sneak peek of the item. It's tread basted and ready for quilting. 

Click here to see finished items for the Quiltsy Team Scrappy Spring Challenge

The second item I'm sew excited about, is a table topper I have wanted to make for years. Don't remember exactly when I bought these fabrics. Yesterday I had in mind to make a Christmas/winter tea cozy. When I pulled out the fabric for the tea cozy along came these fabrics

I fuzzy cut all the deer blocks needed and made one log cabin block. Really, really love how it turned out! First priority is to finish the scrappy challenge and this one has to wait. 

I've made another Advent Calendar (four in all)

As you can see, I have left to hand sew the binding to the back, thread basted only. This calendar does not have pockets. For the complete calendar, I'm going to make 24 felt bags and add rings or buttons to the calendar to hang the bags. It will be listed in RedNeedleQuilts when completed.

I have a few finishes

These are to be listed in our shop one of the first days. The weather has not been on my side when it comes to photographing; rain showers and strong trade winds. Meteo predicts better weather the next days. 

Updates: Available in our shop: 
https://www.etsy.com/listing/700410988/quilted-table-topper-turquoise-daisies

https://www.etsy.com/listing/700411472/quilted-table-topper-daisies-pink-candle
https://www.etsy.com/listing/700411304/quilted-table-topper-daisies-turquoise

Yes, of course.... my insanity! LOL 

7 new blocks, 252 1.5 inch squares sewn together. I may have come up with a pattern for this one. What I have in mind is star blocks. I'll have to make one to see how it turns out, but that will be another post.

HAPPY WEEKEND! HAPPY QUILTING!  

Jelly Roll Race Quilt - Quiltsy Team Challenge

I'm back in blog land! 

My previous post was 6 months ago. I think I needed a break from blogging, it took me days to finish a blog post and I felt I didn't have anything to write about...

A break from blogging, but not from sewing. I have been busy with this, that and everything and now prepping Red Needle Quilts for the upcoming Holiday Season. 

This August, the Quiltsy Team on Etsy had a fun challenge for members to make a 'Jelly Roll Race' quilt. I must confess I had never heard of it, yep, had to google it! :) If you don't know what a JRR quilt is, click here .

I didn't have any 'jelly roll' so decided to cut 40  2-1/2 inch strips from some of the  batiks I have 'saved' - because they were too beautiful to be cut! (I know it's not only me! lol) I don't really like those precuts; jelly roll, charm packs etc, they are too 'linty'.

 

It was a fun quilt to make and I was rather surprised how fast it was done. So if you have a 'jelly roll' just sitting there and you don't know what to do with it, why not turn it into a 'JRR' quilt? It is said it can be done in one hour (or so). I didn't look at the clock when I started or finished, but I know it took me more than one hour! Important coffee breaks in between! :) 

Love how it turned out, bright and colorful.

I quilted it in an allover loopy swirls pattern.

Quilt size: 56-3/4 x 71 inches / 144 x 180 cm

This quilt is for sale in my Etsy shop

Want to see more? Take a look over at Quiltsy Team to see some of the other 'Jelly Roll Race' quilts .

Shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RedNeedleQuilts

http://en.dawanda.com/shop/redneedlequilts

Follow me on:

https://www.facebook.com/redneedlequilts/

https://www.pinterest.com/redneedlequilts/

https://twitter.com/redneedlequilts

Vote for Quiltsy Team Kaleidoscope Challenge - My UFO finishes for May #part 2

WELCOME JUNE - my birthday month! 

Again I should not ask 'where did May go' , because that seems to happen every time I do a new blog post. Even if the intention is there to blog more often, I get busy with other things and it fails every month.

Being an Etsy seller, a lot of time goes into making new items for my shop, different team activities and promoting. 

Recently, the Quiltsy Team on Etsy, decided to have a Kaleidoscope Challenge.  9 talented members participated and now it's time to vote. 

Go to the Quiltsy Team Blog and vote for your favorite. 

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I have been busy sewing and most important is I have finished all my UFO's for the 

Quilts Quilts Quilts Team Challenge!  Here are the UFO's I entered for the challenge. 

I have made PSQ's earlier, but this is the very first one where I have used charms from different swaps, hosted by Mary over at The Curious Quilter. If you want to participate, there will be a another swap in September.  

I'm pleased with how it turned out and especially I love the border. I also love the crinkled look after washing. 

Another big UFO I have finished, is my scrappy green log cabin quilt.

It was put on hold because I couldn't decide on how to quilt it. It ended up meandering.

I love log cabin quilts and I'm very pleased with this one. 

I had a lot of green 'old' fabrics in my stash and this is a great way to get use of it. 

Here's my other log cabin UFO! Haven't touched it this year. I think I should give it a go while the fabrics are still available, not sure I have enough.