Slow Stitching Sunday and lots of projects

I do most of my slow stitching on weekdays, not on the weekends.  Today I did some slow stitching on my Vintage Miniature Sewing Machine block.  This is block #10 of 12 blocks.  I've moved the  hoop since this photo was taken.

block #10

I finished block #9 earlier in July, but haven't shown it before now.

block #9

I've been working hard on the Hobbit/Lord of the Rings blocks.  I've finished 4 different block sets since the end of June.  These are all paper pieced.  The first block is Sting, Bilbo's (then Frodo's) sword.  I'm making 2 of each of these blocks.

Sting

both blocks together

Next I worked on Smaug the dragon.

Smaug

both blocks together

After Smaug, I stitched up Arwen's jewel.

Arwen's jewel

both blocks together

I finished Gimli's Axe on Saturday.  If this block was my first experience paper piecing, I'd never paper piece again.  The pattern doesn't work properly.   Some of the pieces are too small to fit with the other pieces.  If you look closely at the parts next to the red Clover clips, you can see that they just won't fit properly with the rows of pieces between. 

top and bottom pieces are  supposed to finish at the same size as the 3 pieces in the middle

same problem on both sides of the axe

I didn't notice the problem until I was finished with all of the paper piecing and started to try to put all the pieces together.  Thank goodness that I could just add more of the background fabric to make everything fit.  You can see where I had to add fabric on these photos, since there is fabric and no paper.

fabric added along the seam to make it all fit together

fabric added along the seam to make it all fit together

When all the pieces were finally stitched together, it is supposed to be a 12.5" square block.  You can see below that it was much larger than 12.5" square (the ruler on the block is 12.5" square).

block finished the wrong size

Thank goodness I could save the blocks.  I've done lots of difficult paper piecing in the past, but this pattern receives an 'F' from me.

Gimli's Axe

both blocks together

I have four more of these Hobbit/LOTR blocks to make for these quilts.  Thank goodness none of the other blocks were designed by the person who designed Gimli's Axe. 

I've been doing lots of Leaders & Enders while I've been working on these Hobbit/LOTR blocks.  First I stitched the pink HST's for July's RSC19 blocks.  I use Triangulations papers to make my HST's. 

stitching HST's using Trianglulations paper

I have the Purple and Light Blue colors waiting to be stitched up. 

I have my HST's cut and the papers pulled, but I haven't finished making the finished blocks since I'm not using a 1/4" foot while I'm paper piecing.  I also have my stitches set on 30 stitches per inch, while paper piecing, so, I don't really need my stitches that close together on the finished blocks.   I now have a bucket of HST's waiting to be turned in to finished blocks.

pink & white HST's for RSC19 blocks

I've also been doing other Leaders & Enders while I've been paper piecing.  Last December, I was given the striped charm squares from my little quilt guilds Left-Right-Center game at our Holiday party.  The lady who won them didn't want to have to make something with them.  That means that I have to have a completed quilt top by this December.  I have an idea for a cool modern quilt, using circles, so these charm squares are being stitched to interfacing and turned into circles.

striped charm squares

23 finished striped circles (the puffy ones on the right haven't been pressed yet)

I have lots more circles to prep and stitch.

My last Leaders & Enders project is for something that is due August 1st.  Of course, I can't make just one of anything, so I'm making 4 blocks.  The center squares are fussy cut vintage sewing machines.  I'm using strings left over from other projects, that I've collected since the end of May (baby quilts and RSC blocks). 

pineapple blocks (started)

Now to head back to my sewing room and start on the next Hobbit/LOTR blocks and some more Leaders & Enders.  I'm supposed to be basting and quilting those 3 baby quilts, but I just haven't felt like working on them.  Thank goodness none of those babies are here yet. 

Slow Stitching Sunday

I'm slow stitching today.  This is my Be Attitudes quilt, that I've been (very) slowly working on for almost 3 years now.  I won this set of blocks from another quilter.  All that was needed was to do the applique on them.  I decided that I wanted to hand stitch them, not machine stitch these blocks. 

I started these blocks with December, and I'm working backwards on them.  This is the 7th block (June) that I'm working on now.

7th block

I had to take some stitching out earlier today.  I started stitching around his arm in dark olive green, but, it wasn't showing up, so, I ripped it out.  The photo below shows the green thread that I had been using.

red shows up, the green above didn't show up

What's an 'Oops!' now and then. 

Speaking of 'Oops!', I mailed the pink Churn Dash baby quilt off on Friday morning.  The mother went into labor on Thursday evening.  Well.....I got a call from the daddy not long after I'd mailed the package.  'Oops!'.  The doctor was wrong!  Instead of a baby girl, it was a baby BOY!  The baby shower was for a girl, all pinks and grays.  Baby Weston is healthy, so, that is all that matters.

I was at the thrift store when I got the call.  The thrift store was having a 40% off sale, so, I quickly headed to the baby clothes, and picked up lots of BOY things.  They will get there the day after the pink baby quilt ;).

Well, after chatting with the new mother, I have some ideas for a new, baby boy quilt. 

I'm thinking that this might be incorporated in the new quilt

I'll be off to the quilt store tomorrow, to see what fabrics I can find to go with the picture above, and to the copy store to get that blown up. 

Other than a bit of sewing at the quilt shop on Tuesday, I haven't sewn at all this week.  Things kept happening, that kept me out of my sewing room.  I'm enjoying my 'slow stitching' today.  I think it was just what I needed.

Let's Book It, July

Sharon, over at Vrooman's Quilt's, has a Let's Book It link up each month.  I'm not usually working on projects from old books or patterns, so, I've seldom entered.  I'm entering this month, with a project that I won from another blogger, last fall.  I finally started working on this project. 

Be Attitudes book

I started with the last block, and I've been working backwards on this.  So far, these are the blocks I've hand embroidered.

November and December blocks

October block

Of course, all the blocks still need buttons or beads for eyes and other embellishments.  I'll put those on last, after it is quilted.

I'm working on the September block.  This is how far I've gotten, so far.

September block

Of course, this won't be done any time soon.  I've been working on it when I need a break from machine stitching.  This may be my 'Lets Book It' project for a while.

I'm also entering this in Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday link up.  I'll be stitching on it again this afternoon. 

Slow Stitching Sunday

I'm getting lots of stitching done today.  I stitched the binding down on 2 sewing caddies.

one of the sewing caddies, finished

showing hexie pin holder, and pockets on sewing caddy

pin cushion on sewing caddy

both sewing caddies, showing backing

you can tie the caddy shut, when not in use

I got the free pattern from Jenny of Elephantz.  I changed mine up a bit.  I still need to finish 2 more in this colorway, and 4 in another colorway.  You can see the other colorways in this blog post.

When I head back to my sewing room, I'll finish the last bit of stitching on the binding for the Frog Churn Dash quilt.  You can see what little I have left in this picture.

last bit of binding, left to stitch down

All of these are gifts.  All my Christmas presents are almost done.  Now to wrap and ship most of them.

Slow Stitching Sunday

I am slow stitching today.  I'm not hand quilting, but, I am hand stitching the binding down on this quilt.

hand stitching the binding down

This is the front of the quilt.

twin churn dash quilt

This quilt will be going to Illinois tornado victims, thru Quilts of Compassion.

I'm linking up at Kathy's Quilts.  Check out her post today, and, go read the great story about finding the 'owner' of a thrift shop quilt.  Great story!

Slow Stitching Sunday

I was contacted a couple of days ago, and asked if I could repair a quilt.  Her puppy had chewed a hole thru the quilt.  This quilt was made in the late 1980's.

Quilt I was asked to repair

Here is the hole the dog made.

dog chewed thru quilt

This is a pretty quilt, but, both solid colors are not 100% cotton.  I finally found a white that matches pretty closely.  The backing is a bleached muslin, and the batting is poly batting. 

After I finish repairing the hole on both sides, I'll try to match the quilting pattern.  This entire quilt was made by hand.  Look closely, and you can see the stitches holding the 2 red pieces together.  Both the red and the white are poly cotton blends. 

all hand stitched and hand quilted

Thank goodness this hole isn't very big.  Unfortunately, no matter what I do, it will show the repair.  This is a special quilt, as a family member made it for her. 

I'm linking up with Kathy's Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday.

Slow Stitching Sunday

Does getting a stitchery ready for stitching count towards slow stitching???  I spend part of the afternoon getting 4 of these marked and ready to stitch. 

4 of these, drawn, on my Light Tracer

stitchery from Jenny of Elefantz

I'm headed in now to work on the binding on 2 mini quilts, while watching a movie. 

stitching the binding on a mini quilt

Hope your Sunday was full of stitching (or at least preparation for stitching).

Slow Stitching Sunday

I usually don't do any slow stitching on Sunday's, but, this week I did.  I have a block due for my quilt guild meeting tonight, and I had to finish it.  I'm linking up to Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday post.

Bunny block

Everyone in the guild was challenged to make a Bunny block (however they wanted to) and bring it to our April meeting.  These blocks will be put together and turned into a charity quilt for a kid.  The blocks all have to be 12.5" square, and be on a pastel background.  The light is off in this picture, so the background looks green, not pale aqua.

Here is a better picture of the block, before I stitched on it.

Bunny block, before stitching

I took this bunny from this pattern.

Bunny table runner pattern

I'm making lots more of these Bunny blocks, but, only this one for the challenge.  I'll finish the rest of the bunny blocks later.

Since I had to pull out my Janome for the blanket stitching for the bunny, I also did some stitching for another project.  It's not hand stitching, but, I'm very slow when I blanket stitch on the Janome.

center square for signature quilt

I've been busy this past week, cutting out fabrics and sewing them on, for a signature quilt for my son's wedding.  I don't know if my son knows about this project, but, his fiance thought is was a great idea, when I showed her a picture of my inspiration from Carla's blog.  (I wasn't going to make a signature quilt unless the bride to be wanted it) I changed up the colors, to match my son's wedding colors, and drew up a pattern, so I'd know how many of each block to make.

signature quilt mock-up pattern

Carla helped me with the sizes to cut the fabrics (yes, I asked if I could copy her quilt).

Here is a stack of the blocks, ready to be sewn together.  I still have lots of blocks left to sew.  You get bonus HST's with this pattern.  I'm not sure when I'll use the bonus half square triangles.  I'm also making extra blocks, just in case, that can be put on the back of the quilt.

blocks for the signature quilt, along with bonus HST's