Saturday - October 11, 2025

Sewing the Laurel Burch Cat Bag

Even though sewing the handbag had a hiccup, it was easy to fix...and this was a fun project to make. I love how the bag turned out. I did use both of the Laurel Burch cat prints, one on each side of the bag. I couldn't decide between the two, so decided to have it all!

(Pieces cut out and partially sewn.)

Last time I sewed this pattern (Tiffy Bag Size 2), I had trouble with the zipper tabs at the ends of the zipper. It was my first time sewing them, so it was a learning curve. This time, the zipper tabs were easy. Instead, trouble arrived when I tried to open/close the zipper. The lining kept wanting to catch in the zipper teeth. I solved that issue with some additional top stitching to anchor the lining in place.

I adjusted the length of the bag handles to 33" unfinished, then followed the sewing instructions. I really like that Tiffany uses interfacing in the handles. The interfacing makes the straps stiffer so they retain their shape. It's amazing how many bag patterns I've made over the years, and none of them suggested interfacing the handles. Now I interface all bag straps.

(Both sides of the handbag - lots of cats.)

I will definitely make this bag pattern again. It really helps to watch Tiffany's YouTube video where she makes the bag. The bag pattern dimensions and instructions are free on Tiffany's YouTube page.

Materials I used in this project:
Laurel Burch Cat Fabric (similar cat print)
Pellon Fusible Interfacing 931TD
Pellon Fusible Flex-Foam
Magic Flat Head Pins
Sewing Clips
Gutermann Thread

Enjoy a fantastic day!

Dawn

 

Saturday - October 4, 2025

Catching Up

Life does have a habit of getting in the way of quilty plans. I was side-lined but am gearing up to finally cut out the handbag I am eager to sew. Can't wait to play with the cat fabric.

In the meantime, I've been knitting more hats for a warm clothing drive. A friend also contributed several crochet scarves in a gorgeous burnt-orange color.

(A few of my latest knitted hat finishes.)

I've also been completing projects and updated my bingo card. I'm so close to a bingo blackout. What worries me is that pesky UFO finish. If you want to print a blank bingo card to use for this or next year, here is a link to the pdf file.

(Just one bingo square to fill.)

Here's a summary of checked off items:

Paper Piecing - Garden/nature quilt, house & gnome blocks
Striped Fabric - Halloween quilt
Applique - Gnome blocks, Halloween & Snugly Sweaters quilts
Try a New Technique - Applique application & quilt binding
Hand Sewing - Embroidery & hand sewn quilt bindings and labels
Orphan Block - Included in garden/nature quilt
Jelly Roll Project - Table Runner & Baby Quilts
Make Mug Rug - Several mug rug sets
Animal Fabric - Halloween, Garden & Snugly Sweaters quilts
Free Motion Quilting - Lots using Jazz II & Bernina sewing machines
Geometric Print - Fabric used in various quilt blocks/projects
Make Gift - Coaster Sets, Table Runners, Baby Quilts, Tote Bags
Your Choice - Sewed a new iPad Holder
Add Words - Fabric used in Table Runner
Make Bag - Four tote bags / next up a handbag for me
Share Tip/Technique - Yes, in person and through social media
Holiday Fabric - Halloween and Snugly Sweaters quilts
Sew Quilt Kit - Snugly Sweaters quilt (included template & fabric)
Organize One Area - Several sewing areas reorganized
Join Quilt Along - Finished nature QA & joined Dear Jane quilt along
Use New Sewing Tool - New scissors, sewing needles, binding tool
Scrap Quilt - Halloween quilt (used lots of scraps!)
Donate - Baby Quilts, quilt blocks for group projects (and knitted hats)
Purple Fabric - Added to several quilt blocks and projects

Have fun today!

Dawn

 

Saturday - September 20, 2025

Finishing and Starting

Completed! The sweater wall hanging is finished in time to enter it into a quilt show. I was sweating the deadline, so it helped that this quilt fits the parameters for a mini wall hanging. Being small, the quilt was quicker to bind. I used the June Tailor Quilt Binding Express tool for the first time and really like it. The binding was faster to fold and iron. Plus it kept my fingers away from the hot iron.

The sweaters are sewn in place using a 1.5 size zigzag stitch. I opted to use a pale blue-white print for the lattice. The cornerstones and border are a dark blue with small gold dots. It adds a bit of festivity to the sweaters. I chose a fun geometric print in blues for the quilt back.

(Snugly Sweater quilt finished 25" square.)

I keep thinking about the cat fabric I want to sew into a handbag, so that project is next on the list. Decisions on which cat print to use! I love the shape and size of the Tiffy Bag Size 2, so I'm revisiting the pattern.

(Cat fabrics designed by Laurel Burch.)

It's National Sew a Jelly Roll Day, so maybe you have a project in the works that uses a jelly roll. I still have one jelly roll baby quilt that needs free motion quilting, so I'll add that to my list.

Enjoy a terrific day!

Dawn

 

Saturday - September 13, 2025

Sweater Weather

Two years ago I purchased the Missouri Star holiday box filled with quilting goodies. One of the projects is a wall hanging that features "sn-ugly" sweaters. The project came with a charm pack of novelty prints, fusible, an acrylic sweater template, and sewing instructions.

(Sn-ugly sweater project start.)

The charm pack included some striped fabric, but I wanted to use all novelty prints. So I raided my stash for some additional fabrics, which you can glimpse in the top row of the above photo. I also enlarged the wall hanging from nine blocks (3x3 grid) to sixteen blocks (4x4 grid).

I appreciated the transparent template that allowed me to easily fussy cut the sweater shapes. The kit also provided enough fusible for all sixteen sweaters. I used every bit of it.

I debated whether to use the same solid as a backing for the sweaters. But I really liked alternating squares of red and green. I raided my stash and selected four different shades each of red and green fabric.

(Layout for the sweater blocks.)

If you are interested, here are links to the pattern and sweater template:

Sn-ugly Sweater Quilt Pattern by Missouri Star

Sn-ugly Sweater Templates (set of 2 sizes)

Next I need to decide whether to straight stitch or zigzag around the sweater edges. I pulled some fabric scraps and will play with both versions before making a final decision. I also auditioned sashing and border fabrics.

Hope you have something fun planned for the day!

Dawn

 

Saturday - September 6, 2025

Secret Project Reveal

Finally, I can show the secret project now that the challenge event is over and the projects have been shared. I had so much fun making this quilt. Thank you to Lisa the Awkward Quilter GA for hosting this challenge. My entry was a Halloween Dresden Neighborhood wall hanging using raw-edge applique. The challenge was to include a circle, triangle, rectangle, square and diamond shape; bonus shapes included a hexagon or rhombus. All the shapes are in the quilt. Can you also find the ghosts, bats, owls, spiders? I even included a few aliens and a dragon. Welcome to the neighborhood!

(Fun use of scrappy Halloween fabrics - 2025.)

I have been wanting to make a Halloween themed Dresden Neighborhood since 2016 when I made my first Dresden Neighborhood quilt. I debated also doing a Christmas themed quilt, but I didn't have enough small prints to make the design work.

(Dresden Neighborhood - 2016.)

If you are interested in tips to create a Dresden Neighborhood quilt, I created a photo journey and write-up of my process. Visit my Dresden Neighborhood page to view additional photos.

A "snuggly sweater" quilt is my next project. I must be in the raw-edge applique zone. The sweaters are appropriate with the weather cooling off. Good-bye summer and hello autumn.

Enjoy a beautiful day!

Dawn

 

Saturday - August 30, 2025

Finished Tote Bags

TaDa! I finished the four tote bags. Each bag will hold a baby quilt that I've made for the United Way. I sewed two identical bags in each color/pattern.

(Two out of four tote bags to hold quilted gifts.)

The McCall's pattern called for an optional outer pocket, which I did not include. I also added lining to these bags, which the pattern does not call for. The lining was an easy addition. It adds more body to the bag, as well as extra strength in case someone decides to carry something heavy. I appreciate the finished look of the bag, and if turned inside-out, it is reversible.

Love how easy these bags are to sew. Now to select my next project. There are several options to choose from. I want to sew another purse from some Laurel Burch designed cat fabric. But beginning a new quilt is very appealing.

It's a beautiful day here. Hope you have some sunshine your way (unless you need the rain!).

Dawn

 

Sunday - August 24, 2025

Tote Bag Fun

I've made four baby quilts for our local United Way. Instead of just handing them the quilts, I thought it would be fun to sew some tote bags to hold them, one for each quilt. That way the recipient receives two useful items.

I'm a pattern saver, so I dug through some of my pattern stash and selected a favorite older bag pattern. It's a McCall's pattern. There is no pattern number; it just says "sample". The bag measures 15 1/2" x 16" x 4 1/2". Fabric requirements are 1 1/8 yards.

I've made this bag pattern a lot over the years for gifts. A few years ago I made this tote bag with a matching apron in a lovely winter-scene fabric as a secret Santa gift for a quilting friend who enjoys baking. I thought the bag would be great for shopping, but she said it was too pretty and uses it for her book club meetings.

(Another tote bag under construction.)

I'm not sure where this fabric came from, but it is a tighter weave than regular quilting cotton. The bag does not call for lining, but I'm adding one.

These tote bags are super quick to sew, too. I cut the fabric the other day, and sewed two out of four bags this morning.

Enjoy a wonderful day!

Dawn

 

Sunday - August 17, 2025

Quilt Alongs & Books

Recovering from a virus means more YouTube, internet and book time. Here are a few fun things I discovered.

Cole's Quilts has just started a new free quilt along with a modern vibe. This one is Christmas themed. The quilt is paper pieced, the blocks measuring 7 1/2" square. The finished quilt is 60" square. I'm saving the steps as they are released for a later project.

(Christmas Tree Quilt from Cole's Quilts.)

If you enjoy mystery quilts, The Siberian Wind on YouTube has a mystery quilt project beginning in October (it ends September 2026, so plenty of sewing time). The quilt is titled "Reflections". Tammy says to plan for a quilt about 74" square. You can use your stash, or quilt kits are available. She had some audio issues on her premiere live broadcast, so there are two mystery quilt intros to watch (Program 1 and Program 2) - note: the Program 2 video opens with an ad. The description box in the first program includes helpful planning links.

There is a new quilter on YouTube...The Boy Stitcher. He is easy to listen to, and presents his quilting in clear, easy-to-follow steps. His current project is a paper pieced quilt designed by Jacqueline de Jonge called "Catch Me".

(Catch Me quilt by Jacqueline de Jonge.)

I've been plowing through books, too. I love to read! Here are some of my next reads in no particular order:

Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh (new book in the psy-changeling series)
Infinite Archive by Mur Lafferty (next book in her sci-fi Midsolar Murders series)
It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle (next in her Harmony series)
Aurora's End by Amie Kauffman & Jay Kristoff (3rd book in a sci-fi series...book 2 ended with a huge cliffhanger)
Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas (first book in a new fantasy series)
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst (rereading in anticipation of the the newly released second book in this fantasy series The Enchanted Greenhouse)

Now that I'm on the other side of this virus, I'm getting my energy back. So I'm hand sewing binding onto the garden quilt. Also filling out paperwork to enter three quilts into quilt shows.

Hope you are feeling great!

Dawn

 

Saturday - August 9, 2025

Home Stretch

My projects are in completion phases. So happy to be adding finishing stitches. And I'm already looking ahead to what is next.

First...it's time to finish some projects:
1. Finish binding the secret project quilt. Almost done!
2. Quilt the nature quilt, now titled "In the Garden".
3. Unassemble the "key" for my temperature quilt; make it smaller.
4. Layer, baste and quilt the fourth comfort quilt.

(Hand sewing binding to the secret project.)

I know it's a teaser, but you can see a portion of the quilt backing above as I hand sew the quilt binding onto the secret project. I'll be able to share full photos in September.

I did have one headache. This morning I was ready to bind the third corner or the quilt when I encountered a nasty surprise. Where I mitered two pieces of binding together...the mitered seam hit at the corner. Too much bulk for the fabric to nicely fold and lay flat. Usually I check to make sure the binding won't do that. And it wasn't a red flag as I sewed the binding onto the quilt since at that point the binding was laying flat and behaving. So early this morning I performed a quilt operation to remove that troublesome binding section. I resewed the binding strip and am now back to hand stitching the binding.

Meanwhile, I'm also cleaning up all the fabric piles I've left like breadcrumbs throughout the house. Time to tidy up before the next round of projects begins.

Hope you have something fun to work on!

Dawn

 

Saturday - August 2, 2025

Quilt Top Reveal

I am so happy with this quilt! This morning I added the sashing, cornerstones and borders. Next step is basting the layers and quilting.

It's not visible in the photo, but the green sashing fabric has a faint sparkle effect. It reminds me of early morning dew on the lawn as the sun catches it to shimmer. The corner stones feature a fern design. (I originally thought to use lightning bug fabric, but I didn't have anything suitable. Ultimately, I think the fern fabric a better choice.)

(Quilt top is finished ... Next up is basting and quilting.)

I've selected the backing fabric. It's a fun garden print featuring images of topiaries, watering cans, bees, butterflies, flowers and a fun phrase: "Bloom where you're planted".

I've also been hard at work on my secret quilt project. The challenge was to include a circle, triangle, rectangle, square and diamond shape...for a bonus add a hexagon or rhombus. I used all the shapes including a few others such as arches. I have the wall hanging about halfway quilted.

My indoor veggie garden is doing great! Lots of sweet peppers are growing, some almost ready to harvest. The lettuce provided a bounty of healthy greens. Lettuce is not a long-lived plant, so I emptied the planter and now have a new crop sprouting. I'm using the Vego Garden Plant Box and the Vego Garden Mini Planter with the AeroGarden LED Grow Light. My indoor garden is producing much better than the garden outside. Those critters had a munch fest in the squash bed. Yep, the squash is squashed.

Enjoy a fabulous day!

Dawn

 

Saturday - July 26, 2025

Another Garden Critter

The last block for the Nature Quilt is finished. I kept looking at the blocks on my design board, wondering what the last garden critter should be. I wanted to add a butterfly, but I already had a few winged wildlife: hummingbird, bee, ladybug. And the one spot left in the layout would mean the butterfly would be in a head-on collision with the hummingbird or ladybug...not a pretty sight!

When a friend popped over for a visit, she suggested a spider. I liked it...every garden has spiders. I also envisioned the spider spooling down from the top of the block on a thread. But the spider had to be cute (or as cute as possible for a spider, without looking like a cartoon or something monstrous). The bright yellow background lends the block a light vibe.

(Such a cute garden spider - paper pieced and embroidered.)

But, boy, was this a painful block to construct. The block finishes at 6 inches. The spider body is about 2 inches wide by 1 1/2 inches high. I tried paper piecing the entire spider: eyes, legs, body. The size spider was too small. I ended up with so many overlapping layers of fabric that I shattered a sewing needle. That needle didn't just break...it died in spectacular fashion. Thankfully none of the bits hit me. I had to clean the machine though to make sure no metal shards had lodged in the bobbin area.

After many attempts, I decided to paper piece the spider body into the block. Embroidery finished the legs, the vertical spider thread, and French knots for the eyes. I used three strands of floss for the legs and eyes, and two strands for a thinner vertical line.

Next step for the quilt is to add sashing and cornerstones. I'm thinking a medium-dark green sashing. I want something fun for the corner stones, perhaps add a cute insect print (lightning bugs...aka fireflies...would be fun if I have the fabric).

And...more work done on my secret project. I soooo badly want to share a photo. I will say that I broke out the fusible and am having way too much fun. Looking forward to seeing more of the project done this weekend.

Hope your day is filled with creative energy!

Dawn

 

Saturday - July 19, 2025

Cute Little Turtle

Another block finished in the Back to Nature quilt. Introducing the turtle. I debated whether to paper piece various fabrics together for a crazy-quilt style shell, but I fell in love with this geometric-style fabric. This perfect fabric for the turtle shell was in my stash, too. I think it was part of a fat quarter bundle I received as a gift years ago. I embroidered the turtle's mouth and added a French knot for the eye.

(Fun turtle block that I paper pieced.)

The next block will definitely be fiddly. It's a paper pieced spider hanging from a thread. I've already decided to embroider the thread since I think paper piecing will produce a too-thick line.

Progress on my secret project, too. I'm enjoying how it is coming together. The reveal will be in September. I know some of the group participants read my blog...so shhhhh. I must keep the secret even though I want to share.

And another group sew-along is beginning in September. I'm loving the activity in all these groups with great people to chat and share ideas with. The suggested quilt being made is called Songsparrow by Beverly McCullough. The pdf pattern is available at The Fat Quarter Shop if you want a look. I say "suggested quilt" because participants don't have to make this particular pattern, though several of them are. The goal is to create a quilt with similar style birds. I have an idea of what I want to make. Still pondering the design.

Time to do some quick weeding before the temperature rises. I also need to finish filling in a hole an enterprising animal dug under the deck during the winter. Time to fill it in before another critter thinks it wants to move in!

Enjoy a beautiful day!

Dawn

 

Sunday - July 13, 2025

A Hive of Activity

I'm enjoying this Back to Nature wall hanging. I had the greatest fabric for the beehive block. The small yellow bees on the red background worked perfectly. I was even able to fussy cut one of the bees to fit in the entrance of the hive.

(Beehive paper-pieced quilt block.)

Today, I am embroidering the black antennae on the ladybug block. I also am embroidering a thin line of black to outline the wings on the larger bee block.

Also moving forward on my mystery project. I've had a pile of bits and pieces of holiday fabric that are working well. It's a wall hanging, and I think I can scrounge a large enough piece of holiday fabric for the backing. If not, I can always piece some of the smaller pieces into a fun quilt back.

So many fun projects are tempting me. But I need to finish the mystery project by the end of August. I also want to finish the Nature quilt by then as I want to enter it in a quilt show.

One of the projects tempting me is a quilt-as-you-go pattern I won as a prize -- a tote bag. The prize-giver also included a 5-inch charm pack. The pattern is printed on the interfacing, which is new to me. Has me curious to see how it goes together. If you want a peek, Quilt in a Day sells the pattern. But before I can play with this project, I need to finish the other two quilts. Must sew faster!

Enjoy a fantastic day!

Dawn

 

Saturday - July 5, 2025

No Snail's Pace Here

It's been a roller coaster of quilting activity. Loving the creative time!

My latest finish is this cute snail block from the Back to Nature sew along from last year. The block took me about two hours to sew. When I first discovered the sew along, it was this snail block that convinced me to download the patterns for later assembly.

Of course, I had to put my own spin on the quilt. I decided I wanted more critters (and less plant life) in the nine-block grid. Each block finishes at six inches. So far I've finished the snail, frog, bee, hummingbird and hibiscus blocks. The snail and frog blocks are the only original blocks from the project.

(Snail paper-pieced quilt block.)

I've made progress on my mystery project too. I had some challenges finding a background fabric that offered enough contrast to the block fabrics while giving the correct vibe. I've settled on a light smoky gray that will work.

The table runner is also done. I finished sewing the "made by" label on the back of it last night. And everything is ready to baste the last of the four comfort quilts so that I can quilt.

My garden is doing great too. Indoors, the pepper plants are thriving. I've also been picking lettuce and enjoying fresh salads. Outdoors, so far (crossing fingers!) the critters have left the bean and squash plants alone. I hand-watered the garden and did some weeding early this morning before writing this. There are always more weeds to pull...but it's time to grab some breakfast and sew.

Hope you find some time in the sun!

Dawn

 

Sunday - June 29, 2025

Secret Project

Sssshhhh...this is a secret project. But I can't resist a teaser, showing part of the fabric pull. Hint: I made a similar quilt a long time ago, and I've wanted to make another one with a different color vibe. Then a group I belong to offered a quilt challenge with fun rules. The quilt must be at least 24 inches square. Any colors, design, technique or theme...but the quilt must contain a circle, triangle, rectangle, square and diamond shape...for a bonus add a hexagon or rhombus (applique or pieced).

(Partial fabric pull for secret project.)

I've also been working on the temperature key for my 2024 temperature quilt. And I pulled the fabrics for the paper-pieced snail block that is part of my Back to Nature quilt. I'll start sewing the snail block this afternoon. Plus, I am almost done hand sewing the binding onto the table runner.

Meanwhile, my plants in the Vego Garden Plant Box, and the Vego Garden Mini Planter are noticeably larger in just one week. I've been harvesting lots of leaf lettuce. Since I'm growing the lettuce indoors, it is weed- and bug-free. Clean too. Delicious!

(The sweet peppers and leaf lettuce are growing.)

Outdoors, the bean seed I planted in raised beds is doing well. I've done my best to fence it in to keep the critters away. As an experiment, this year I also planted some zucchini seed directly in the ground (not in the raised beds). The plants have flowers. My cousin told me about a peppermint mixture he's been using to discourage animals, so I mixed some and sprayed it around the planters and garden beds (not on the plants). So far, this is the best outdoor garden in years.

In case you are interested, I mixed 15 drops of peppermint essential oil in one cup of water with two drops of dishwashing liquid soap. I mixed a few batches of the solution and used a Nerf Super Soaker Water Blaster as my delivery system. It has a 30-ounce tank and is easy to fill. If there's a rain storm, I reapply when it is dry again.

Enjoy a beautiful day!

Dawn

 

Saturday - June 21, 2025

Blue, Yellow & Green

I've been having fun working on a table runner. This is the Interlocking Squares design. Easy to sew. It is mostly made from half-square triangles, with the squares measuring 5-inches. I just had to pay attention to color placement and square orientation. Next step is basting the layers together and quilting.

(Interlocking Squares table runner.)

I also finished the third out of four baby quilts for donation to my local United Way. Yesterday, I finished hand sewing the binding and added a label to the back. The fourth quilt top is sewn and ready for the layers to be basted together.

And I've been enjoying gardening time. Family gave me two Vego Garden planters, which I am using indoors. The planters have a water resevoir that helps to regulate self-watering. This has been an interesting experiment!

The larger rectangular planter in the photo is the Vego Garden Plant Box, and the square container is the Vego Garden Mini Planter.

(Growing sweet peppers and leaf lettuce indoors.)

So far these planters are working well. Assembly was easy. There is a larger outer planter that a smaller inner planter sits inside. A refillable water reservoir has a gauge that monitors the water level. Refilling the water reservoir is simple. Plus, each planter came with a trellis that I haven't had to use yet. The larger planter also has legs that can be attached, but I opted not to install them. I'm including Amazon links in case you want to check out the items.

The rectangular planter is growing Burpee Sweet Pepper Carnival plants. I planted eight seeds not thinking they would all germinate. (I had previously planted peppers in peat pots with horrible results, and the pepper plants I started in yogurt cups had a good germination rate, but not as good as this planter.) Seven out of the eight plants are thriving. The eighth plant germinated but is struggling. Once the plants gain more height, I'll add the trellis that came with the planter.

The square planter is growing leaf lettuce. I started the plants from seed. It helped germination to use a water spray bottle and to cover the plants loosely with a piece of plastic wrap to create a greenhouse atmosphere. I grew the Burpee Black Seeded Simpson variety, and it is doing great! I've already harvested the lettuce several times.

In case you are wondering, the plants are growing under a 45-watt AeroGarden LED Grow Light. I love this bright light. It has adjustable legs that lift the light higher as the plants grow. I've been using it a few years now. I have the light plugged into a KASA Smart Plug that I voice activate through Alexa (it also works through Google Assistant).

Enjoy some garden time!

Dawn

 

Sunday - June 15, 2025

Two Projects

A quilt guild I belong to offered a block challenge to use purple fabric and stars. I did two versions. The block on the left will finish at twelve inches. I call it Inverted Star. It has a dark purple fabric sprinkled with gold stars as part of the nine-patch section, and a lighter purple at the corners. The block at the right is a Friendship Star block that uses the same purple fabric as the background.

I'm adding these blocks to my orphan quilt block pile. On my project list is to combine all the orphan blocks into a quilt.

(Two quilt blocks featuring stars and purple fabrics.)

I've also been cutting fabric and sewing blocks for an Interlocking Squares table runner. I chose three fabrics: yellow and a navy to form the interlocking squares, and a lighter blue for the background. I particularly enjoy the yellow fabric, which has a dragonfly print in white.

(Blocks assembled for the Interlocking Squares table runner.)

Two tools really helped with the cutting and trimming of these blocks. I have an Olfa Rotating Cutting Mat. It was easy to set the blocks on the mat, and spin the mat to the correct orientation for trimming. I didn't have to lift and reposition each block. So the rotating mat saved time.

The other helpful tool was the Block Loc Ruler. The ruler is designed to easily align and square up quilt blocks.

Next step for the table runner is to lay out all the blocks prior to sewing.

Have fun creating!

Dawn

 

Saturday - June 7, 2025

A Fun, Easy Project

I needed a second iPad holder. I watch YouTube quilting channels, listen to audiobooks and podcasts while working...and an iPad holder keeps the tablet upright and out of the way while I'm involved with projects.

A few years ago, I sewed three iPad holders. I kept one and gave the other two as gifts. They were a huge hit.

(Excellent iPad holders that are a quick sew.)

I followed the same YouTube tutorial by Scrappy Patch and quickly sewed a new iPad holder. You just need a 12"x9" piece of fabric, a 4" ribbon or folded and sewn fabric strip for the loop, a 1 1/4" x 5 3/4" piece of cardboard, and 2 cups of filling material and a bit of Poly-Fil. The only difference between then and now was the filling material I used.

The instructions call for 2 cups of dried rice, but I didn't have dried rice on hand this time. I did have Poly-Pellets. I've used Poly-Pellets with great success in pincushions and other projects. What I didn't consider is that rice is a weightier material than the PolyPellets. I should have used the rice.

(First iPad holder I made on the left - new one on the right.)

In the photo above, you can see that the blue iPad holder stands firmer and bit more upright. The blue holder is filled with rice. The pink holder is slouchier. It's filled with Poly-Pellets. It is very noticeable when my iPad is resting in the holder. The pink holder leans farther back when the iPad is on it. Both holders are fine when holding a lighter weight cell phone.

(Easy to sew iPad holder.)

I may open up the pink holder and replace the Poly-Pellets with dried rice. It could be personal preference, but I like the weight and extra body that the rice gives the holder. Or I could just make another one. Quick and easy project!

Enjoy a fantastic day!

Dawn

 

Sunday - June 1, 2025

Donations & Updates

Lots of projects on my list, and I keep adding more! The good news is that I've finished two of four donation quilts. The third quilt is ready for basting and then quilting. The fourth quilt needs borders added.

(Two Jelly Roll Race Baby Quilts.)

Next up for the Back to Nature quilt is a snail block. The snail is what drew me to this quilt. The snail shell is such a happy celebration of color. Need to raid my stash for fabrics.

And I'm potentially joining two more quilt alongs. Both are in discussion and being announced in the fall. Something fun to look forward to.

With almost half the year passing, it's a good time to check my Quilting Bingo Card to see what I've accomplished. I've certainly done lots of sewing! To date, I've managed to check off 15 boxes.

(No Bingo yet...but almost!)

Paper Piecing - Bee, Hummingbird, Frog, Gnome blocks
Applique - On the gnome blocks
Hand Sewing - Lots of hand sewn quilt bindings and labels
Jelly Roll Project - Table Runner & Baby Quilts
Make Mug Rug - Several mug rug sets
Free Motion Quilting - Lots using Jazz II sewing machine
Geometric Print - Fabric used in various quilt blocks/projects
Make Gift - Coaster Sets, Table Runner (and a surprise gift)
Your Choice - New iPad Holder (need to post a photo)
Add Words - Fabric used in Table Runner
Share Tip/Technique - Yes, in person and through social media
Organize One Area - Several sewing areas reorganized
Use New Sewing Tool - New scissors style and sewing needles
Donate - Baby Quilts, quilt blocks for group projects (and knitted hats)
Use Purple Fabric - Added to several quilt blocks

I'm confident I can cross off more of those bingo boxes in the future. The one that has me the most nervous is the UFO. I have an unfinished batik quilt dating back about 10 years. Made from half-square triangles, it needs a border. I recently chose the fabric. And I have the Jazz II machine with the larger throat area for easier quilting. No excuses, right?

Forging ahead...even baby steps will get us to our destination!

Dawn

 

Wednesday - May 28, 2025

Froggie Goes Quilting

I have fun sewing online with quilting friends. Over the weekend, a group of us gathered, and I pieced together the sections of a paper-pieced quilt block for my Back to Nature quilt. Then later, a different group of quilty friends and I met online for a few hours of sewing, and I completed this cute frog block. Despite the many pieces in this 6 1/2" quilt block, it was easy to sew.

(Frog paper-pieced quilt block.)

This pattern was part of the Back to Nature sew along. At the time, I downloaded the free patterns and am now in the process of putting together the blocks. I'm using some of the blocks that were offered as part of the sew along, and am also introducing some different paper-pieced patterns into my quilt. So far I've sewn a hummingbird, bee, hibiscus and now the frog block.

I'm using fabrics from my stash. Each quilt block will feature a different background fabric, and sashing will separate the blocks.

After so much rain, it's nice to see the sun. The birds are singing, and I hear the garden calling my name. There is always weeding to do before the day fills with other activities.

Enjoy a wonderful day!

Dawn

 

Wednesday - May 18, 2025

A House for Leana

Leana (the Pastry Queen's Farm Adventures on YouTube) is putting together a quilt made from house blocks that are donated from her YouTube community. The finished community quilt will be hung on the wall behind her sewing area. So yesterday I sewed a house block for the quilt project.

(My village quilt house block.)

Leana is using the Village Quilt pattern, which features 132 house blocks. The pattern is currently free as a pdf download from the Fat Quarter Shop. Amazon also offers the Village Quilt pattern. The quilt is designed to use Charm Squares.

I used scraps from my stash. My house is cheerful in pink, with a whimsical floral/butterfly print. Leana asked that the background fabric be in either cream or white. I can't wait to see how the community quilt comes together.

(The Village Quilt from Moda Fabrics & Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.)

The pattern offers cutting instructions for two styles of roof. One roof has a chimney, and the other roof doesn't have one. Each block measures 5 1/2" x 7" unfinished.

If you have the opportunity, please check out Leana's YouTube page. She is live most weekdays at 7:00 am Eastern time. Leana sews a lot of scrap quilts, works on donation projects, entertains with trivia questions, and also takes us on her travels.

Now it's time to visit the garden for a bit. I planted beans, squash, radish and sweet peppers in the garden yesterday. Today I'm concentrating on flowers to brighten the yard.

Enjoy a terrific day!

Dawn

 

Wednesday - May 14, 2025

Yarn Revisited

Remember last year when my friend challenged me to make a temperature quilt as she crocheted a temperature afghan? Well ... drum roll please ... she finished crocheting the afghan. The size is big enough to cover the top of a queen size bed. She opted not to add additional borders. Since last year was a Leap Year, there are 366 blocks representing each day, plus the blocks for the temperature key. She assembled the afghan, sewing from corner to corner.

(Crocheted temperature afghan; temps from 2024.)

During the making of this afghan, my friend fractured her arm in three places. She is still undergoing physical therapy, but refused to surrender this project.

One of the last steps was adding a temperature key so that viewers would know which color yarn represented which temperature. After experimenting with a few options, she chose to use alphabet and numerical beads. In the photo below, she sewed the beads in place. But she was not happy that the beads twisted, refusing to stay straight. So she is now in the process of threading wire through the sewn beads to keep the beads aligned, and she is adding additional tacking between the beads to better anchor them.

(Close-up showing the temperature key at the bottom.)

Once the wiring is complete, she will make sure all the loose yarn ends are woven in. This afghan is spectacular when seen in person. The colors really pop.

Have fun creating!

Dawn

 

Saturday - May 10, 2025

This and That

I finished one of the four donation quilts I've been working on. This project began with a jelly roll race event I participated in last year. Once the quilt top was finished, I didn't care for the color combo as a large quilt. So I did some dismantling and reassembly to create four baby quilts. They are turning out great...so pretty!

(The first finished jelly roll race baby quilt.)

All four baby quilts use the same fabrics for the center, but each has a different border, backing and binding. The baby quilt pictured above features an airy floral in blue and white for the border with a darker blue binding. The second quilt, which is ready to have the layers basted together, has a pink border with a deeper pink swirl design, I'm donating the quilts to my local United Way.

A YouTube friend is trying to reach 500 subscribers. If you are interested in company while you sew, please check out Deb S the Pug Mama Quilter. She often teams with Mona Did What and Lisa the Awkward Quilter GA for live chat sessions while quilting. All three of them have recently invested in either a Cutie quilting frame or longarm machine and are sharing their progress as they learn. A current sew-along project they and YouTube friends are working on is the Singing in the Rain quilt pattern. It's fun seeing the different creative twists everyone is taking on this project.

Do you enjoy gardening? I started some of my vegetable seeds indoors (sweet peppers and zucchini). When the weather warms more, I'll plant green and yellow bean seed outside in my raised garden beds. Hopefully the deer won't think it a buffet table. I'm also starting a lettuce basket this weekend. I love growing lettuce in a basket. It's decorative and weed free. If you are interested, I wrote a how-to about putting a lettuce basket together.

Enjoy the warming weather!

Dawn

 

Saturday - May 3, 2025

This Quilt is Humming

It's back to the "Back to Nature" quilt for me. I decided to switch up some of the blocks in the design. I browsed online and found a cute hummingbird paper-pieced pattern. I modified it a bit and really like the way it turned out.

(One of 9 blocks in a nature-inspired wall hanging.)

I found the free pattern at lillyella.com. The pattern is in several sections that are pieced before sewing the sections together.

Today I'll pull out the next nature quilt block, a frog, and select fabrics. Between working on these blocks, I'm also adding borders to baby quilts, which will be donated. I finished knitting the purple hat and have begun another hat in cheerful red, green and white variegated yarn.

I also splurged on a second pair of Fiskars RazorEdge Spring-Action Offset Scissors. I really like the way these cut fabric. I've been using the first pair near the sewing machine to trim as I sew. I'll keep the second set at my large cutting board.

Enjoy a fantastic day!

Dawn

 

Monday - April 21, 2025

Gnomes Everywhere

I thought you might like to see the finished gnome mug rugs (aka coasters). I had so much fun making them! I made several sets as holiday gifts. I'm also including a small acrylic easel to hold a block. That way they can be displayed as cute mini-art if desired.

(A full set of four gnome mug rugs.)

I found the free pattern at The Crafty Quilter. The clear 4-inch acrylic easels I bought are sturdy enough to hold one gnome block.

Lately I am seeing gnomes everywhere. Quilters are making pillows, bed quilts, wall hangings, and even adding gnomes to table runners and placemats. I've also seen creators working on gnome cross stitch projects.

In case you are interested in exploring patterns featuring gnomes, here are some resources:

Gnome with Pine Tree paper pieced - free
Made by Marney assorted gnome paper pieced blocks - for sale
Autumn Gnomes pattern - for sale
Gnome applique pattern - free
Birch Trees and Gnomes pattern - free with ads
Holly Jolly Gnome pattern - for sale
Christmas Gnome paper piecing pattern - free
Gnome for the Holidays quilt pattern - for sale
Whimsical Jolly Twister Gnome pattern - for sale

Gnome have some fun! (couldn't resist the pun)

Dawn

 

Wednesday - April 16, 2025

Tender Fingers ... But Finished

I was determined to finish this table runner for my aunt as soon as possible. She has a 90th birthday approaching, and I wanted to make sure she had it for any upcoming events.

The backing fabric is a cute print featuring homestyle images such as freshly baked pie, jarred honey, bee hives, berries, sunflowers and daisies. I bound the edges in a dark green.

(Hand sewing binding onto the jelly roll table runner.)

I find hand sewing binding very relaxing. It's easy to accomplish while listening to a podcast, audiobook or music. I've been hand sewing a lot of binding to projects lately: this table runner, donation quilts and mug rugs for gifts. My fingers are tender. Taking a break from hand sewing for a few days.

(Finished table runner.)

Time to revisit my paper piecing projects. Next up is the hummingbird block. I still need to select fabrics.

Hope your day is filled with sunshine!

Dawn

 

Friday - April 11, 2025

A Quick Table Runner

My aunt requested that I quilt her a custom sized table runner for her dining table. The runner needs to measure about 55" x 22". She also asked for a spring/summer vibe in a simple design. I had previously made her table runners for autumn and Christmas. Guess she liked them to request another one!

I browsed patterns and found a free simple table runner design on the All People Quilt website. Plus I had a jelly roll of Windham fabric in the Forget-Me-Not line. I won the jelly roll a while ago. I happened to be on Instagram when Windham posted a quick contest. They had miscut a few jelly rolls ( 2 3/8 inches wide instead of 2 1/2 inches). I entered and won one of the jelly rolls in a random drawing.

(Quick, easy jelly roll table runner. Auditioning border fabric.)

I adapted the table runner pattern to the size my aunt requested. The free pattern suggested using the jelly roll race sewing technique. I'm not a huge jelly roll race fan, so I opted to cut 16-inch length strips and sewed them together side by side.

(Table runner with border added.)

It took about an hour and a half to cut and sew the 24 fabric strips for the center panel. I played with possible border fabrics, and early this morning sewed the 3-inch border onto the runner. I should be able to quickly machine quilt the runner this weekend.

Feels great to sew a gift I know my aunt will love.

Enjoy a terrific day!

Dawn

 

Saturday - April 5, 2025

The Bee is Buzzing

The block needs a better pressing and squaring, but the bee is done. I had to break out the seam ripper a few times, but I'm pleased with the results. The wings definitely show more contrast in person. Debating whether to lightly outline them for more "pop". Perhaps outlining the wings in black thread.

(Finished bee block for the "Back to Nature" quilt.)

It's a gloomy beginning to the day in Massachusetts with rain expected in a few hours. I snapped this photo of some of my daffodils before taking a walk this morning.

(A splash of sunshine in my yard.)

Next up is to sew another paper pieced nature block. I'm thinking of the hummingbird block.

Have fun today!

Dawn

 

Thursday - April 3, 2025

Cute Bee Block

I'm finally revisiting the Back to Nature foundation paper-piecing quilt along. The quilt along has ended, but I saved the paper piecing patterns. And, of course, I had to tweak the project. I'm keeping the nine-block format. However, I decided to exchange the plant-based images with wildlife blocks.

(The Original "Back to Nature" quilt.)

I'm in the process of sewing a bee for the garden. I found this free paper piecing pattern at sewhooked.com. The photo below isn't showing the contrast well between the wings and the floral background fabric; looks better in person.

(Bee quilt block partially constructed.)

I have an orphan paper pieced block that I finished years ago of a hibiscus flower. (I believe the design came from a library book.) I'm using the hibiscus block as the center image. I'm keeping the snail, owl and frog. Undecided about the parrot, and have a few ideas for other blocks.

The bee would enjoy the daffodils beginning to bloom in my yard.

Have a great day!

Dawn

 

Saturday - March 29, 2025

Craft Swap Goodness

One of our local libraries sponsored a giant craft swap. For four days (Monday through Thursday), people brought in their unused, orphaned, and extra craft supplies. People arrived with bags and boxes. I brought three bags. Volunteers sorted the crafts onto tables in a large room. There were tables of fabric, yarn, scrapbooking, jewelry making, general sewing, craft books and software, needlework, kid's crafts, painting supplies and more.

People who brought craft items were given an "early access" ticket. The golden ticket allowed those who donated items first entry into the room on Friday. And there were a lot of people diving into the crafty goodness to find treasure. Then the general public was invited into the fun later on Friday and Saturday. And the entire event was free.

(My craft swap treasures.)

I brought a reusable tote bag and filled it. So much fun browsing and chatting with fellow crafters. A friend and I went together and then had lunch out. Beautiful weather and we enjoyed the day.

So what did I bring home? Here's the list.

Cotton quilting fabrics including yardage of two batiks
A small roll of oil cloth
Three skeins of variegated yarn (for the hats I knit and donate)
Craft patterns for tote bags, purses, and an apron
Several new gift bags
A photo frame
An assortment of zippers
Two magnetic needle minders
Hand-sewing needles (unopened/unused)
Assorted safety pins for quilt basting
A few decorative buttons (so many to choose from)
A blank journal notebook
Bead assortment (including metal alphabet beads)
Heavy-duty cardboard cutting mat (I needed a new one)

This event was so much fun!

Enjoy a wonderful day!

Dawn

 

Sunday - March 23, 2025

Making Progress

I've been busy sewing gnome mug rugs as gifts. I made one for me, and there are two sets of four mug rugs for gifting. Each set has a gnome in purple, blue, green and orange. I used Warm & Natural Batting between the gnome block and the backing fabric. All of them have dark green binding applied to the edges. Now I am hand stitching the binding to the back of each mug rug. I enjoy the hand sewing...very relaxing. If you are interested, I found the free pattern at The Crafty Quilter.

(Two mug rugs. The one on the right is finished.)

Spring is here! Beautiful purple crocus are blooming along the side of the house. And my lawn is littered with species crocus in a lavender color; the flowers are so delicate that I call them fairy flowers.

(Beautiful purple crocus in my garden.)

The daffodils are forming buds but have not yet bloomed. Soon I'll be starting my pepper plant seeds indoors. They always take longer to germinate than other veggie seeds. A friend just told me that she bought me thyme seed to grow. She knew I wanted to grow thyme, and I'm happy to share the plants with her.

Enjoy the warmer weather and have fun creating!

Dawn

 

Thursday - March 13, 2025

And Yet Another Project

I stumbled across another quilting adventure, spread out over several months, ending September 3, 2025. The project is called "My Little Adventure Quilt ". It's a quilt-along event designed by Leslee Winchester of Stitch and Bear Designs.

This quilt reminds me of a row-by-row quilt, and I've always wanted to make one. It features a garden setting with flowers, rabbits and a dog in a dog house. Works great for me since this is not a "typical" row quilt design. (I've been looking for something different.) I like the playfulness in this quilt.

(My Little Adventure 2025 Quilt.)

Each month, a free block download is offered on the Stitch and Bear website. During a great fabric sale, I bought a bolt of white tone-on-tone fabric for various projects, and it will make a nice background. The other fabrics will come from my stash. Looking forward to seeing this quilt come together.

Meanwhile, I'm almost done sewing gnomes. One gnome has a purple outfit and hat, the other two are in blue and green. I decided to make the fourth gnome from orangey-rust fabric. It compliments the other colors. When finished, there will be a total of nine gnome blocks.

The weather is warming. The crocus are blooming with daffodil shoots breaching the ground. I enjoyed a lovely walk.

Hope you enjoy a beautiful day!

Dawn

 

Sunday - March 2, 2025

Paper-Piecing Quilt Alongs

Friends know I enjoy paper piecing. So when they mentioned a quilt-along featuring an owl pattern, I raced to the Cole's Quilts website. The owl design is the latest quilt along. The baby dragon quilt along is finished, but the pattern is currently still available for download. Best yet...the two patterns are free!

The owl quilt along recently began. The owl is listed as beginner friendly and uses kaleidoscope quilt blocks. The dragon is tagged as intermediate. I'm told that the dragon pattern will be removed at some point and offered for sale.

(Paper Pieced Owl and Baby Dragon from Cole's Quilts.)

Here are the links for the Cole's Quilt website, and for the Quilt Along page.

While I can't start the quilts right now, I am saving the projects for future quilting adventures. Looking forward to playing with fabric selection for the owl, which uses scrap fabrics.

Have fun discovering your next crafty project!

Dawn

 

Tuesday - February 25, 2025

The Nose Knows - Gnomes

Friends and I love gnomes. So I was on the hunt for a cute paper piece pattern that would translate well into a mug rug. I made myself one block, and am making two sets of four mug rugs as gifts. Each one will feature the gnome body and hat in different colors. I chose purple as my first mug rug. I just finished sewing blue gnomes and think the other colors will be green and perhaps either a red or brown for the last one.

(Finished mug rug on the left. The gnome on the right needs a nose.)

Amazing how the nose adds character to the block ... such a cute mug rug. I found the free pattern at The Crafty Quilter. The website gives instructions to cut out the individual pieces for the block, but I photocopied the block image, enlarging it to 120 percent, and used the image as a paper piecing pattern.

The white beard is piece #1. Then the dark purples are pieces #2 and #3. The small bottom triangles are pieces #4 and #5. The hat is piece #6. The two larger top triangles are pieces #7 and #8. Then I appliqued the nose onto the block. (I interfaced the nose fabric with a fusible interfacing for added stability, then I machine stitched it as raw edge applique. I used a straight stitch.)

I chose backing fabric and a leftover piece of Warm & Natural cotton batting. I did simple quilting along the triangle corner pieces, near the gnome body. I used leftover binding to finish the block edges and hand stitched it in place. My finished mug rug is 5 3/4 inches square. (If you cut the pieces as the pattern states, the mug rug measures 6 1/2 inches square.)

Looking at the Bingo Card I started in January (scroll down to see the card with a link to print one) ... this project checks off multiple bingo squares: make a mug rug, make a gift, paper piecing, hand sewing, applique. And I checked off use a new sewing tool since I had fun using the new Fiskars RazorEdge Scissors I recently purchased from Amazon.

Items I used for this project (Amazon links):
Olfa Quick Change Rotary Cutter (blade so easy to change!)
Violet Craft Roller (to flatten seams)
Omnigrid Ruler Set
Fiskars RazorEdge Spring-Action Offset Scissors
Warm & Natural Batting

Enjoy a wonderful day!

Dawn

 

Friday - February 14, 2025

Yarn is Happening

A friend and I joined a knitting/crochet group, and we love it. It is so relaxing to sit and chat with everyone while working on our projects. My friend just finished a beautiful crocheted baby blanket in a star shape as a gift.

Originally, she was going to crochet the blanket using only the purple yarn. But the yarn didn't go as far as she thought it would, and she couldn't find another skein of it anywhere to buy. So she chose a white yarn as a border. I love this star blanket! I'm sure the baby's mother will too. Here is a link to the pattern she used.

(Crocheted baby blanket in a star shape.)

Meanwhile, I'm knitting more hats. Loom knitting is easy and relaxing. So far I've knitted over 200 hats, which I've donated to various causes such as the United Way and other organizations collecting warm clothing for those in need. Our knitting group also has a "clothes line" downtown where we clothespin our finished hats, scarves, gloves and mittens for adoption by anyone who needs warmth.

(My recent knitted hats. Ready to donate.)

This knitting odyssey began when I inherited my mother's vast yarn collection. She could not resist a sale! As a result, I ended up with plenty of yarn to keep me knitting for years. I'm determined to use it all, and with every stitch, I feel as though we are working on projects together. She crocheted and knitted the most beautiful afghans. I'm lucky to have a few of them.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Dawn

 

Saturday - February 8, 2025

The Stars are Quilted

Perseverance pays off. The star quilt is fully quilted. Next step is to trim the edges. I need to inspect the back to remove any long threads I overlooked.

(Finally ... the star quilt is quilted.)

I'm thinking of perhaps a narrow pink binding. I'll audition a few fabrics to see what looks best.

For a quilt where everything went wrong, it turned out okay. Nowhere near perfect, but as the saying goes: "Better done than perfect." And the Jazz II sewing machine worked great once I figured out the tension issue. Love that extra-wide throat space for machine quilting.

The things that went wrong:
* The pattern wasn't working for me (too many different blocks).
* Needed to convert the stars to paper-pieced blocks.
* Then had to reduce the quilt size due to stash fabric options.
* Misplaced a teal fabric I needed (found it after the quilt was done).
* Switched it to a scrap quilt when I realized I was low on fabric.
* Ran out of the background fabric and had to piece bits together.
* Fabric limitations necessitated a change of border.
* The new sewing machine had major tension issues; thread nests.

Snow is moving into New England tonight and will storm through tomorrow morning. Sounds like perfect weather to stay inside and sew quilt binding.

Stay cozy!

Dawn

 

Sunday - February 2, 2025

Bordering the Houses

I thought you'd like to see the house temperature quilt with the border attached.

(The house temperature quilt with border.)

I used the same fabric for the border that is in the background of each house block. The colors in the photo don't show the soft green mottled effect of the fabric very well. Looks so much nicer in person.

For the binding, I'm going to use the brown fabric that I used at the bottom of each house block. I'll quilt this one on my Bernina since it is a small quilt. The Jazz II is currently hosting the star quilt that I'm outline quilting.

Now to decide my next piecing project. So many fun quilt ideas to choose from.

Have fun creating!

Dawn

 

Thursday - January 30, 2025

Houses in A Row

Yay! I've been waking early and sewing. Feels good to make progress. All the rows are sewn together on the house quilt.

(Love this house temperature quilt.)

I've been thinking of what border to add. On my cutting board is the mottled green fabric that you can see above the house roofs. I'm going to cut the strips 3" wide and will sew to a 2 1'2" wide border.

I need to check other house quilts on the internet to see how people quilted them. Searching for inspiration. I'm currently quilting the star quilt, which has a lot of outline quilting. I need a change from all those straight lines!

Enjoy a fabulous day!

Dawn

 

Sunday - January 19, 2025

Neighborhood Trees

Today I arranged all the house and tree blocks in the temperature quilt. It's exciting to see it come together. I'm glad that I opted to do one house block to represent the average temperatures of the week. This quilt would have been huge if I had made a block for each day of the year. When sewn together, each block finishes at 4-inches.

I debated whether to add sashing. Ultimately, I chose to keep the quilt a smaller size.

(The four trees represent the seasonal divisions.)

Next, it is time to sew the blocks together. Since they are paper pieced, I need to remove the foundation paper before stitching. I also need to select border fabric.

In case you are wondering how my friend is progressing with her crocheted temperature afghan...she hit a snag. She fell, fracturing her arm in three places! No crocheting for obvious reasons. But physical therapy is gifting her with increased range of motion. She is determined to get back on track to finish the afghan.

Be well and have fun stitching!

Dawn

 

Tuesday - January 14, 2025

Happy Dance - Problem Solved

No more tension issues on the Jazz II sewing machine. I wasn't having problems until I used the walking foot to machine quilt. The machine worked okay for a bit, then no matter what I tried, huge thread nests appeared on the back of the quilt. I re-threaded the sewing machine, rewound the bobbin, changed the sewing needle, watched many YouTube videos about threading and tension.

I found a post where a Jazz II user said they solved the issue by purchasing a stand-alone thread holder. The thread holder sits behind the sewing machine and feeds the thread vertically. This device adds a bit more tension to the thread to feed it more smoothly through the machine.

I also found a dedicated Jazz II group on Facebook. Someone there posted that they had forgotten to tuck the thread under the top silver plate of the sewing machine, and it caused tension problems. So I re-threaded the machine again making sure the thread was passing under the plate. Between using the new thread holder and paying closer attention to the thread path ... Success!!

For those who use Facebook and are interested, here is the link to the Jazz II group. You will need to request membership. It was easy to do.

(Threading the Jazz II machine & stand-alone thread holder.)

In the photo above, the illustration shows a dotted line going from the #1 to #2 position. The dotted line means the thread is placed underneath the flat metal plate as shown in the photo.

I bought the Jazz II sewing machine from Sewing Machines Plus. In case you are interested, here is a link to the thread spool holder on Amazon.

Now that the Jazz II is behaving, I'm once again quilting the star quilt. Feels good to make progress.

Hope you are successfully problem solving today!

Dawn

Thursday - January 9, 2025

Houses and Trees

Just after the new year, I finished sewing the last house block on my temperature quilt. Since I averaged the temperatures for the week, and sewed one house each week, that gives me 52 house blocks. I'm going to arrange them in a 7x8 grid. That means I need four additional blocks to complete the grid. So I paper pieced four tree blocks, one tree to represent each season.

(Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter - trees.)

I'm going to insert each tree between the houses for the correct season. Next step is to lay out all the blocks. I'm leaving the paper backing on until I sew the rows together. (I numbered the blocks on the paper backing so that I didn't mix up the weeks!)

Hope you are somewhere cozy. I woke up to 19-degrees F. in Massachusetts. Brrr!

Dawn

 

Saturday - January 4, 2025

Quilting Channels on YouTube

I've discovered a wonderful community of quilting friends through YouTube.

My favorite events are the "live" meetings where we all get together in real time. The channel host is usually working on a quilt project while talking with everyone in the online chat room. People in the chat share their news and projects while working on their own sewing. For me, it's fun and relaxing while also socializing without leaving my sewing room. Something like a quilt retreat but without having to lug my sewing machine and supplies anywhere. (Though I do enjoy in-person quilting retreats when I can attend them!)

Here are some of my favorite YouTube channels in no particular order.

Tiffany's Quilting Life - I can't say enough positive things about Tiffany. She is an incredibly fast quilter at both the sewing machine and longarm. Tiffany loves scrap quilts and sews a variety of items: bed quilts of all sizes, wall hangings, table runners, bags. She also does incredible freestyle longarm quilting.

Off Kilter Crafter Ian - Ian is always entertaining. He embraces every moment, even when falling out of his sewing chair or tripping...which he often does. He enjoys the Cotton Cut Puzzle Mystery Quilt events (sewing the steps online) and loves making quilts and bags/pouches with Tula Pink fabrics.

Sew Becca - Becca works on a variety of quilts and has recently upgraded her longarm. She is often seen with Ian and her friend Mary, the Crafty Panda. Becca and Ian have also teamed up to produce a bi-weekly podcast called Sew Off Kilter that incorporates their humor and includes lots of quilting discussion.

Donnell's Stitchery - Donnell is warm-hearted and filled with passion for helping others. I don't know when she rests. She is always sewing, recently finishing a bargello quilt, pinwheel quilt and a scrappy project. She also organizes many charity quilt donations.

Mom and Pop Quilt Shop - Laura-Lynn has a joyful off-beat sense of humor and enjoys a variety of projects and quilting methods. She makes quilts, small projects, and does cross stitch. She also does longarm quilting and posts short reels of her quilting.

Pastry Queen's Farm Adventures - Leana dives into a variety of quilting projects, including sewing sample quilts for pattern designers. She also organizes many quilt donations. She travels between her home in New York to Massachusetts and Puerto Rico...and she takes viewers on her journeys.

Another online event I have fun with is The Fabric Shop Hop. Each event lasts all month. A list of online stores is provided. The goal is to visit the store websites and find the Fabric Shop Hop bunny. Each bunny found allows you to register for prize drawings. Winners are selected at the end of each month. I've won small prizes a few times. But for me, the real adventure is visiting the stores to check out new fabric lines and projects.

(The Fabric Shop Hop Logo.)

Maybe I'll see you on YouTube one of these days. I enjoy the quilting community. Inspiration galore!

Enjoy a wonderful day!

Dawn

 

Tuesday - December 31, 2024

A Creative Challenge for 2025

Another year successfully navigated despite a few serious challenges. I hope 2024 was good to you.

I'm ready to welcome 2025 and happily planning fun projects.

While browsing the internet, I discovered an artist who had devised a bingo card. The card featured an assortment of painting projects and art techniques. The object: Complete as many squares on the card as possible, crossing off the completed items. Just as in the game bingo, completing a row or column counts as a win. I wonder if the artist awards themselves a prize for each row/column completed?

I like the idea of the challenge. I created a bingo card, and am looking foward to crossing off as many squares as possible during 2025. My goal is to accomplish a "bingo blackout" where the whole card is completed.

(I created this Bingo Card for Quilters.)

There are definitely some things out of my comfort zone. Hexagons intimidate me. I've never sewn a quilt from a kit. I rarely sew with striped or geometric fabric. Applique is always a challenge too. I've only made a mug rug once before. And there is a UFO (unfinished object) that has been in my sewing room for more years than I care to admit. This is an opportunity to expand my quilting skills and explore.

If you'd like to join the bingo fun, here is a link to a pdf version of the bingo card for quilters. Feel free to share it with your friends.

Happy New Year!

Dawn

 

Saturday - December 28, 2024

Where I Am - Jelly Roll Race

Who knew that sewing straight lines could be exhausting ... of course, we are talking about a lot of straight lines! The Jelly Roll Race event was huge fun. So happy I participated.

The pattern variation I chose included sections of three 2 1/2 inch squares sewn together. I needed to sew a long jelly roll strip, then add one of the 3-pieced sections, then another long strip, then another 3-pieced section, repeating until the jelly roll strips were all used. By the time I finished that sewing, it was late, and I needed a break.

So today I continued the project. I ironed the long fabric section. Then I cut the long fabric strip into 68" lengths. This photo shows a portion of the quilt top without being completely sewn together.

(Jelly Roll Race - My progress so far.)

Tomorrow I will sew the strips together into a quilt top. I'm also planning to add borders. In case you're wondering, this jelly roll is an older one. The only identifying tag I see says "Boundless".

Hope you are working on a fun project!

Dawn

 

Monday - December 23, 2024

Jelly Roll Race - Live Event (on Dec. 27)

One of my favorite YouTube quilting channels is hosting a live Jelly Roll Race this Friday (December 27, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time). Sew Becca has invited two of her friends to join her live (Ian the Off Kilter Crafter and Mary the Crafty Panda). Their goal is to race each other and not stop until one of them finishes the quilt top. Typically, Becca's Friday live sessions go for about two hours. And Becca has invited all of us to join the fun! There is a live chat so that everyone can connect.

Link to Sew Becca's YouTube Channel - scroll down to "Upcoming Live Streams"

Link to Jordan Fabrics for their Jelly Roll Quilt Pattern

My quilt wish list has included making a Jelly Roll quilt. I have a Jelly Roll that I bought years ago. I'm breaking it out. I don't want to sew a traditional Jelly Roll Race quilt, so I'm doing a bit of advanced prep for a Jelly Roll Race quilt with a twist. I found this design at Jordan Fabrics, and there is a helpful YouTube video to explain this slightly different Jelly Roll quilt technique.

If you have time, perhaps we'll see each other online!

(Jelly Roll Race - Two colorways from Jordan Fabrics.)

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Dawn

 

Wednesday - December 18, 2024

Having Fun with Clipart

I enjoy creating clipart based on quilt block patterns. Most of the patterns are traditional quilt designs, but I sometimes can't resist creating my own blocks. I offer the clipart for free on my website if you are interested. https://dlstewart.com/clipart.htm

There are many ways to use clipart. Since the holidays are here, I plan to use the designs to create some unique gift tags.

Another fun treat I gave myself is a self-made advent box. I saved the numbered bags from last year's Jenny's Christmas box and filled them with small gifts. I bought the items throughout the year during sales. I aimed for items that are practical as well as a few fun things, and of course, some quilting and crafting goodies.

Here are some of the gifts I've opened so far:
Self-Healing Cutting Mat 8"x6" (Amazon)
Self-Threading Sewing Needles with Needle Case (Amazon)
Plastic Sewing Clips in Container (Amazon)
Ergonomic Loom Knitting Hooks (Amazon)
Wilton Ultra Bake Cookie Sheet Set (at Target)
Stainless Steel Pie Server (Amazon)
Laurel Burch Slipper Socks (Amazon)
Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Hand Cream (Amazon)
Burt Bees Vanilla Bean Lip Balm (Amazon)
Soft T-shirt with Butterfly Design (no longer available)
Silver Christmas Tree Earrings (no longer available)

And a friend surprised me by asking to fill one of the bags as a surprise treat. I was delighted to find she had gifted me a project pouch and a handmade credit card holder in cute cat fabric. A purr-fect present!

Wishing you joy!

Dawn

Looking for more blog posts? Visit my archive. Here is a link to last year 2024.