Christmas in July Sewing / Going Through Stash

 Well, not much 'Christmas in July' sewing has happened since this post. However, some already prepped dog and cat mug rugs have been quilted, that's all. 

I got sucked into decluttering accumulated fabrics and other crafts.

Some of the jeans will be donated and some are cut into useable pieces. I'm not going to use the most worn areas, and I see there are some spots too that won't be used. I will get to that eventually.

My goodness, jeans take up a lot of space!  

Flannel shirts from a DF are also cut into pieces

The small heap with quilting cotton is sorted and some small pieces cut into squares. 

(I forgot to take a photo before I put it away)

I rediscovered this beautiful bullfinch Christmas fabric. Originally Christmas kitchen curtains (cotton). Too beautiful to be donated, right? 

I'm going to make some placemats and two table runners.

It looks like there is a color difference, actually it's shades.

I'm also doing 'secret sewing' that can't be revealed until it's delivered. 

We discovered this guy in the garden the other day

If not mistaken, this caterpillar (about 4.7 inches / 12 cm) is the Death's Head Hawkmoth. 

It's an impressive moth and we don't see them often. We saw one closeup some years ago - here.

Take a look at this YouTube video if you would like to see them hatch. An amazing process. 

Linking up with:

Angela at So Scrappy

Melva at Melva Loves Scraps

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

 

Forgotten Treasure Boxes - Decluttering

The last week I've been going through my fabric/craft stash/wardrobe.

Particularly one big box mostly containing fabrics not suitable for quilting. The box once contained a 21" bulky television, was filled to the brim with stuff! I don't remember how many years it has taken up space at the bottom of the wardrobe. Every time it annoyed me, I postponed doing anything to it, until beginning this week! 

(forgot to take photo of that box)

Most of the fabrics were cotton mix, pieces from curtains and other things I've made, old jeans, flannel etc. 

Most of it will be donated. I still have three heaps to go through; jeans, flannel and fabrics suitable for grocery bags. 

My intention was to make a denim quilt from old jeans... Well, not anymore! I may make a floor rug, or grocery bags.... I shall see...

Some of the flannel I can use for donation quilts 

and we always need grocery bags. 

Not the most interesting fabrics, but suitable for bags.

A small heap with cotton quilting fabrics I can use.

The greenish/white fabric to the right is furniture fabric, I may use on a chair where the seat badly needs a new cover. 

To my surprise, I discovered these two boxes!

I had totally forgotten about them! 

They date back to 2006!! I had many pen pals and I got the idea to ask each of them to send me two 5-1/2" fabric squares. Some were very generous and sent me even more. As you can see from the labels on top of the boxes, there are fabric pieces from Brunei, Germany, Sweden, New Zealand as well as from my DF Kari in Norway. Most pals have stopped writing, but Waltraud in Germany is still a very dear pen friend to me. 

I have yet to go through these boxes. I even have the envelopes! What a treasure! 

After all the years stored away, I notice some pins have rusted (always high humidity here), I hope the fabrics are not too damaged. I will definitely make a quilt using these treasured squares! 

Linking up with: 

Angela at So Scrappy

Melva at MelvaLovesScraps

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 

Christmas in July

Have you ever thought from where Christmas in July originates?

To be honest, I have always thought it came from the Southern Hemisphere. Recently, I did a search and according to this link, it originates from France! Did you know? I didn't!

The month of July is usually the time I start making Christmas items for gifts etc. 

Last year, I prepped some dogs and cats themed mug rugs, using scraps from my stash. (I forgot to add them to my UFO list). I have finished quite some big quilts (so far) this year, it feels good working on something small, like quilting the mug rugs (even if that can be a bit tedious).

I have three Christmas UFOs I hope to finish / make progress.

The first two, I hope to finish before Christmas so that I can display them on the wall.

  Kris Kringle Kit - Teresa Kogut (UFO #19)

Christmas Card holder (UFO #4)

The pattern is in French - UGH! I'll get it done, eventually! 

Scrappy Christmas Stars (UFO #3)

Or should I say ongoing project? I have done 3 blocks only. I shall see if more can be done this month.

It's raining this a.m., showers with gusts up to 56 miles/h (90 km/h) is predicted today. I hope there will be some dry spells so I can do some grocery shopping later. 

 

A Squirrel popped in and... / BOM June 2026

...decided what I should do with some of my accumulated 2" squares:

SCRAPPY IRISH CHAIN!

I've been looking for the 'perfect' pattern to use 2" squares. I've always loved Irish Chain quilts and when I came across this pattern, I knew this is the one I want to make!

The pattern uses 2.5" squares and the finished size is 90" (2.28 meters). Since I'm using 2" squares, it will be smaller, approximately 68" (1.73 meters). That is IF my math is right! 

Block A

81-patches block! 

I didn't like the negative space in block B, and not the big rectangle in the center (pattern). Of course, that is an easy way to make the block, especially if pretty quilting is involved. 

I prefer to make it scrappy, using a variation of white / neutrals and a PLUS block in the center. 

(I'm running out of white / neutrals, more is on the way).  

Here is the box with 2" squares from swaps only 

Do you see the '6600 dated April 8, 2017' (blue sticker)?

That is how many squares that box (laptop box) contained at that date! 

Each zipper bag has 100 squares. Some squares are already used and there are quite some left (not sure how many).

I prefer to sort the squares on colors before I start sewing scrappy blocks

Layout for one block A; 81-patches

These two boxes contain my own cut 2" squares

They do not include 2" Christmas prints, which I have a lot of as well! 

...and 13 16-patches happened too (all from swaps)

A Quilting Life's BOM 2026 - June

I'm not that happy with this one, but may let it go as it is. I shall see when all blocks are done. Had it looked better if the background for the star had been white, and the white had been the red?? Maybe not??

I'm happy to say 'Got the Blues' is quilted! It went faster than I anticipated. 

I went through all my blue stash (not much left). I didn't find anything suitable for binding; either not enough, or not dark enough. I did a big SIGH and ordered dark blue for the binding! I also ordered a few more of the Parlor fabrics I didn't have. 

 

RSC Week #23 Orange for June / Last of Green for May / Not Getting Rid of the Squirrel

How come it's June already?! Before we know it's Fall and Christmas again!

Been busy quilting, I know I have missed a lot in blog-land. Hope you all are doing well and enjoying summer, or 'winter' on the Southern hemisphere. 

Over the last days, I'm caught up on RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) for May, which was Green. Orange is chosen for June and all blocks done! I have mentioned earlier I prefer to do the RSC blocks beginning of the month. By doing it that way, I can work on anything I fancy the rest of the month. 

In my previous post, it was about that famous mischievous squirrel. I thought it would leave after getting me to pull out those panels and UFO, but nope! It was still hanging around some days ago and got me to do this!!! 

Last year (2024), I did Sherri McConnel's BOM. She's doing a BOM this year too, which I decided not to do due to all the other projects I have. 

It lasted almost 5 months! LOL. I've been following her monthly blocks and I think they are really cute. 

Squirrel asked; 'why haven't you put away the green fabrics?'

Me: Hmmm, not sure, I was thinking I make 1-2 green blocks for 'Eclipse'

Squirrel: 'Just admit you won't do it'! 

Me: 'Hmmm... I think you are right'

Squirrel: 'You like Sherry McConnel's BOM 2025, don't you?!'

Me: 'Yes'

Squirrel: 'Go ahead! Make it!!!'

...and so she did! LOL

Since the RSC for May was green, I decided to make the block for April in green. It was an easy choice, since the pattern is printed in green! 

The centre block is 6-1/2 inches (6.5 cm) unfinished / block is 18-1/2 inches (47 cm) unfinished. 

As I've mentioned earlier, I'm almost out of green. Then I remembered I have that teapot fabric somewhere.... and found it! 

The June block in orange 

Squirrel update: The squirrel is kicked out!!! I've sent it to someone else! lol

I ran into a problem quilting the UFO (more about that in another post). I needed a break from it and instead I've done most of the RSC blocks in orange and caught up on green (RSC May).

Last month, I made only one block for 'Eclipse', in green and red (here). I wasn't really motivated to do circles and left it there. Now that I needed a break from that UFO, I got to it again and made these

A mix of green and orange

...and of course the cups! 

Coffee with Dad

Don't you love that black cat?! I do! 

6 Scrappy blocks

I dived into my 5" squares box and found a cute pumpkin and oak leaf in orange. 

Not a big variety of orange, 

just enough 3.5" squares for 2 Hollow 9-patches blocks

I have 6 blocks left to do on Pat Sloan's "182 Day Solstice Challenge". I have the finished blocks in RSC colors (2 of each color). I've run out of colors! I'll make another one in orange, yet to decide which one. There are 2 blocks having applique. I'm not so eager on those. I shall see...

Update: Block #20/25 - Hugs & Kisses in orange

I made a mistake on this one! I had just finished the six scrappy blocks where I used up 120 2-1/2" squares. I was still programmed on that square size when I started working on this block; I didn't read the cutting instruction properly. The squares (white) should have been 2" instead of 2-1/2"! I discovered the error after I sewn together one block! I didn't bother to change it, who will notice? I'm happy with the block as it turned out. Do you see the error?

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

RSC Week #18 - GREEN for May

Happy May!

It's the first Saturday in May and new RSC color (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)

Angela at SuperScrappy has chosen GREEN as the color for May. 

I spent last weekend catching up on red by making 

one half circle 

and one quarter circle for 'Eclipse'. Here I have used red and green.

The pattern (layout) is still a bit confusing, but I should not bother or overthink about that at this point! I'll make the blocks and 'worry' about the layout when the time comes! lol 

I had sew much fun making two green blocks for Pat Sloan's 182 Day Solstice Challenge!

Block 12/25 - Jacob's Ladder 

Measures 18.5" x 18.5"

It even has a red butterfly!

 

Block 6/25 - The Crosswalk

Measures 12.5" x 12.5"

It was a challenge to make these two blocks in green, because I'm running out of green! How is that possible, you may ask? Because of this quilt! Lots of green fabrics were used up. What I have left of green (today's date) are a few pieces of yardage (less than half yard each) and same with a few green Moda Marbles. 

I have quite some green squares though, in different sizes. Enough to make some blocks.

4 Scrappy blocks

Finally I was able to use those green squares I do not like at all! To me they are ugly! You may see that some of the squares are blue-yellow-greenish, it's those! I had a couple left I cut into 1.5" squares, and still I found them ugly! LOL I have to admit they don't look that ugly together with the other lighter and brighter squares.

Note that I didn't buy these fabrics, they were given to me!

 

7 Hollow 9-patches

My favorites; Coffee with Dad

4 coffee cups

All green blocks are done, except 1-2 blocks for 'Eclipse'.

Now I can concentrate on other projects, like UFOs.

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)

 

RSC Week #16 - RED for April

 It's the end of the third week in April and finally last week I did some blocks for the RSC. Angela at SuperScrappy has chosen RED as the color for April.

First up is Pat Sloan's 182 Day Solstice Challenge

Block 22/25 - Weather Vane

Measures 24.5" x 24.5" / 62 x 62 cm

Block 25/25 - Summer Rose

Measures 12.5" x 12.5" / 32 x 32 cm

Out of 25 blocks, I have 8 blocks left to make in RSC colors.

Coffee with Dad

4 blocks

I didn't have any red fabric to fussy cut in this size (3-1/2"). I thought the red chilies is a fun one, for chili lovers! 😀

5 Scrappy blocks

...and I had a RED cat! (Top right) Isn't it cute?! I wanted to use it for a coffee cup, but it was too big.

Hollow 9-patches - 5 blocks

You may notice 'Eclipse' blocks are missing? 

I have yet to make one or two. 

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

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter Weekend!