2019 ~ All in One Post

2019 has been a busy year.
So many times I've wanted to update the blog with information on projects I'm working on, completed quilts etc. yet, I never made it to the computer. Sorry.
Since the new year has started and I have every intention to keep updating here, I wanted to recap the past year in one post.

Quilt 15x20
A ELIQG Challenge "Animal Selfie"

Quilt 38x45
Baby Tumbler Quilt

Quilt 68x68
Pattern: Summerville by Thimble Blossoms
Fabric:  Miniature Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings
Wedding quilt for my daughter

Quilt 70x76
"A Village in Spain"
Pattern: Village
Fabric: Several Kate Spain fabric collections

Pillow 24x24
Pattern: Lisa the Unicorn by Elizabeth Hartman
Fabric: Ombre strips by V&Co
Birthday gift for a 4 year old

Quilt 52x60
"Fair Winds + Following Seas"
Pattern: Nautical Alphabet
Gift for a couple of sailors

Quilt 32x41
Pattern: Sailing for boat design
Baby Shower Gift

Quilt 59x64
Scrap Happy Weekend Retreat
Frost Valley YMCA

Quilt 57x66
Shannon's Squares
Fabric: Kate Spain
Gifted to Shannon~ Christmas

Pillow 18x18
Free pattern from Fandon in Stitches
Paper Pieced

{ Manly Log Cabin -is there any other kind? }

This was supposed to be a Christmas gift for my husband. 

Yeah, right.

As soon as the final stitch was in the binding, it was in the wash and dryer. 

While it was still warm, I presented him with an early Christmas gift. 

He seemed very pleased, which makes me happy.

Manly Log Cabin Quilt

64x64

Fabric: Miniature Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings for Moda

Batting: Warm and White 100% Cotton

Backing: Robert Kaufman Flannel

Quilting by Melissa @ Sew Shabby Quilting

Used the Log Cabin Trim Tool to make perfect  8 1/2" blocks

I may be using flannel backings more often. It really makes for a cozy quilt.

I just have to add the label and I'll 100% complete. 

Linking up to

Finish it Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts

Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
My Quilt Infatuation

{ Another first ~ An Envelope Back PIllow }

I had several left over blocks from the log cabin quilt and decided to try 

making a pillow.

I used THIS tutorial from Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts.

The process was really simple. For me, the hardest part was deciding what thread color to use for the quilting. Since the blocks have both dark and light areas, I wasn't sure whether to go dark or light with thread color. 

My first choice was to use a burgundy thread in a simple  X through the blocks. I didn't like how the dark thread looked in the light part of the block so I picked out the stitches and went with the cream thread. {Which I'm not really thrilled with either}

I'm wondering if I would like it better using dark thread and light thread. I'm not very confident machine quilting anything other than straight lines but I'd be willing to try on a small project like a pillow. 

I think I'm going to make another pillow to try it out. I'm also going to switch the dark/light placement on the next one.

I'm linking up with 

Finish it Up Friday
at
Crazy Mom Quilts

and
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop
at
Confessions of a Fabric Addict

{ Progress on the Cabin }

I've finally finished adding all the rounds to the remaining blocks and trimmed them all using the Log Cabin Trim Tool. I had a little delay when I ran out of light colored prints and needed to order more.

 This is a lot of trimmings.

Purchasing the Log Cabin Trim Tool was really worth it. All the blocks are a  perfect 8 1/2 inches even though some of the rounds are a little wonky. 

Now comes the fun part.....trying to figure out the pattern to sew all these perfect blocks together in.

I planned on a 8x8 grid for a square quilt, which gives me several choices. I'll be on hands and knees this evening trying out all the options.
Me thinks it may be time for a design wall.

I'm linking up to
Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story
and

Let's Bee Social

and
My Quilt Infatuation

{ First Time for a Log Cabin }

My husband complains that I'm always making things {socks, quilts} for other people and never for him.

I guess it's more of a statement than a complaint. So, I started knitting a pair of socks for him in October figuring I'd give them to him for Christmas. I got the first one done in record time for me and started the second sock. Then I had a finger injury which interrupted my knitting for two and a half months. Major bummer. Second sock is still being worked on ~  it should be done just in time for spring.

Anyway, I decided it was time to make make him a quilt too. So, his Log Cabin quilt jumped the line. I've never made a log cabin block before but I thought that it would work well ~  being a masculine block for a masculine guy ~ as long as the fabrics were masculine too, of course.

I love Primitive Gathering's fabrics so I chose to use Miniature Gatherings.

Just the right amount of MAN, with a little bit of woman thrown in. {After I took this photo I ordered several more 1/2 yard cuts of prints in the line for more variety.}  I love the colors. This quilt will match perfectly in our home.

I began cutting 2" strips of fabrics and sub-cutting them to the sizes specified in the Hope Blooms Log Cabin Block tutorial from Fat Quarter Shop. I was looking for a way to organized 8 sizes of strips. Walmart to the rescue. I picked up these drawer organizers. They work perfectly.

 

I splurged and ordered the 8" Log Cabin Trim Tool. Two thumbs up for this ruler. It's made the process so easy and accurate. The blocks finish up at a perfect 8 1/2 inches. Even if some of the interior rounds get a little wonky, the finished block will always be square. I'm all for being square.

I made the first six blocks one at a time, then decided to switch it up and work the remaining 62 blocks at the same time. Each stage of block construction happens on each of the remaining blocks. I'm liking it this way.

I've got 5 more pieces to add and all blocks, 64 for the quilt and 4 for a matching pillow, will be complete. Then the fun begins ~ choosing a pattern to assemble them in.

Linking up to 

Let's Be Social