Finish-A-Long list 2Q2018

Although I was able to finish four of my fourteen proposed finishes for Q1 (and make some good progress on some others) I'm going to make a short list for Q2.  That's because the quarter will really only work out to about a month and a half of sewing time for me.  Right now, my sewing room is all packed up in boxes since we close on our new house on April 30 and move on May 4!

I figure it will take me about a week or two to unpack to the point that I can get anything done, so I'm only proposing the easiest and fastest of finishes.  Here goes!

1.  Cape Ann.  This top is at the longarmer now and binding is already made and ready to sew on.

This was a photo taken before the borders were added.  The design is one of Pat Speth's Nickel Quilts - I just love the fabric line by Oliver & S for Moda even though it's pretty old!

2.  Small Quilt #2 from previous lists.

This is partially quilted in the white areas and I need to finish with black and then turn it into a pillow.  This is a priority because it's for my son (to go with the extra long twin quilt I made him for his first summer college session, shown below) and he starts as a college freshman in August.

3.  The infinity scarf in my school colors.  It should be fast when I get around to sewing it so I'm keeping it on this list.

I made lots of progress on the other items on my 1Q list but I don't think I can realistically finish anything else before the end of June.  Look for me to go all out in 3Q though!!  Linking up to Dizzy Quilts for anyone else who wants to join this quarter! 

Finish-A-Long Finish 4

My last finish was one of the small quilts that I machine quilted myself.  This pattern was in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks volume 16 and is called Diamond Wreath.  I added jingle bells to the yoyos and will use it as a door hanger next Christmas.

My list of proposed finishes from January:  http://tenquilts.blogspot.com/2018/01/first-quarter-2018-fal.html

Finish-A-Long Finish 3

The biggest finish of the quarter was this quilt I made for my supervisor at Jo-Ann Fabrics.  She's been great to work with and gave me a recommendation for the job I got last year and I wanted to say thank you as she has always wanted one of my quilts.  This was made from a Moda Layer Cake Mix and Layer Cake from Jen Kingwell's "Behind the Scenes" line for Moda.  The solid is Robert Kauffman's Celestial.  I did the border from more of the solid and a charm pack.  It has an allover longarm pattern.

The label on the back was made from an extra four blocks that didn't fit on the front.

She loved it and I like the modern layout I went with!

My list of proposed finishes from January:  http://tenquilts.blogspot.com/2018/01/first-quarter-2018-fal.html

Finish-A-Long Finish 2

My second finish - my winter hat.  The fleece and fur had been sitting on my shelf for a year or two and the hat pattern was pretty easy. 

Not the bet picture of me, but effective enough.  And done in time for the winter weather!

My list of proposed finishes from January:  http://tenquilts.blogspot.com/2018/01/first-quarter-2018-fal.html

Finish-A-Long Finish 1

I managed to finish FOUR things on my FAL list this quarter!  I posted them all on Instagram but here are my formal FAL posts.

First, my hexie jeans.  I patched the second hole with similar but different 1/2" hexies.  They were finished in time for the quilt retreat in Lancaster, PA.

I patched the hole with fusible interfacing, put together the hexies by hand, appliqued them onto the jeans, and the quilted them.

My list of proposed finishes from January:  http://tenquilts.blogspot.com/2018/01/first-quarter-2018-fal.html

First Quarter 2018 FAL

I’m feeling so good that I actually finished three projects on the 4Q2017 Finish-A-Long that I’m preparing for the first quarter of 2018.  This is becoming a little easier since I got the Quilter’s Planner 2018 and can actually list all my projects!

First quarter ends at the end of March, and Quilt Retreat is the first four days of March so I'm excited to think about what I can get finished by then.  Especially if I send some tops to my longarmer because that's where the current backup is.

So ... let's start with last quarter's list and make some revisions.  I want to focus on smaller quilts and tops that I can finish, and larger things that I will send out for quilting.

#1 - Small Quilt #1 (Diamond Wreath) - since Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 16 was released I can finally publish this photo.  The block itself is 12" square, with a 2.5" border.

#2 - Small Quilt #2 (I can't remember what this block is called but I think it's in Volume 14 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks).  The basic block is also 12" square, with a few narrow borders.

This will become a pillow to match my son's extra long twin bed quilt with his chosen colors of red, white, black and grey, so I'd like to finish it before he goes off to college in August (still not sure yet where that will be - could be our backyard or it could be another state).

#3 - Modern Vortex - this was a smallish quilt top, maybe 20" square, that I did in a class at the Blue Hen Quilt Shop a year or two ago and would like to finish into a wall hanging.

#4 - Soho Chic Cupcake Recipe Charm Top.

#5 - Patriotic Cats top

#6 - Keep it Sassy! Charm Square top

This is probably the largest of all the projects I plan to quilt myself and the one I'm least likely to finish this quarter.

#7 - Blue & Grey Cake Mix - I've actually made some progress on this one since it was on the last quarter list.  It is a top awaiting its last border and I plan to send it out to be longarmed.

I would like to finish this one as it is a gift for my manager at the store who gave me such a great recommendation that I was hired at my full-time employer after applying and interviewing there for three years!!

#8 - Fleece winter hat.  Yes, we're halfway through winter and I still hope to get this one done.  It's gold fleece with black faux fur trim.

There are some things I've taken off the list because they're larger quilts that I want to machine quilt myself and I just will not be working on anything large on the Tiara this quarter.  And then there are some new things:

#9 - Scrappy Blue & White Ocean Waves - this is going to be my Guild Retreat project, so if I have a pieced top once the retreat is over, I'll get it to my longarmer.  It will be tight, though.

#10 - Cape Ann star sashed quilt - this has been a pieced top sitting in a box for years, just waiting for a border and to go to a quilter.  So if I get a move on this one, it may also get longarmed and bound.

#11 - Spanish Stars - this is a collection of star blocks made with Kate Spain's Sunnyside, also sitting in a box waiting to be pieced into a top.  I finished the blocks in 2014, as I recall.

#12 - French Chain - that's this Moda Bake Shop project made with French General's Ville Fleurie jelly rolls.  It's a keeper; I hope to use it as the basis to redecorate our bedroom.  I just love the reds and tans and plums in this line.  Once the top is pieced it will also get longarmed.

#13 - the quickie non-quilt projects seem to be a hit when I want to just FINISH something already, so I've got two more besides my winter hat.  One is an infinity scarf made out of cotton quilting fabric in a blue and gold pattern (alma mater colors) I bought from Thousands of Bolts on sale last year, so we'll see how that turns out.

#14 - the other is a pair of jeans with a hole I want to patch with a 1/2" hexie quilt design.  I've already successfully done one area and worn them around fabric/quilty places like quilt guild and the fabric store, and then another hole wore through.  So I need to remember how I did the first one and repeat the success for the second.  Also preferably before the guild retreat!

So that's about it - thirteen projects was lucky for last quarter; maybe 14 will be as lucky for this one.  It's fun to have the motivation and see who's posting on Instagram with the hashtag when I need a little nudge to get to my sewing machine. 

Linking up to the global hosts for 2018 Finish-a-long.

Finish #3 - table runners

This is my third finish on my 4QFAL list - #13 on the list.  Two table runners that had been sitting in my stash for years, since I remember buying them when I lived in Virginia at a store that has moved and closed since then.

Did I get around to using them this year?  Of course not!  But they were easy to make and I saved the instructions for the next time.

Finish number two

Here I am playing catch up on my finishes list.  I finished and Instagrammed the pics of this tote bag, which was #11 on my 4QFAL list, on October 29.  Here it is for Blogger:

I've been using the tote bag since it was finished since it has such pretty fall colors in it and it's gotten many compliments from my office mates.