2023 Week 6 Tuesday To Do: Two Finished Tops

Hello, motivated do'ers!

It's the Tuesday To Do party  at Quilt Schmilt.

I'd like to welcome you to check what I've been doing

and then head over to see everyone else's progress.

Last week I had an aggressive list:

1) Make backing, binding and label for Meadow;

come up with official name.

DONE!

Ohio Meadow (referring to the blocks) finished at a

whopping 92X104.  I don't have a picture yet because

 it's so big but imagine a thin rusty border and then

a wide green floral border (same fabric line) on this:

For the back, I made good use of remaining

fabric and pulled a little more from my stash.

Not a great photo; colors are prettier in person.

(I kinda failed in the photo dept this week, eh?)

The green star fabric is from the outer border, btw.

(Again, prettier in person.)

In all this beast took over 19 yards of fabric which

seems insane but I math'd and yeah, that's right.

2) Fix Jan Laundry Basket Quilts QAL houses;

make Feb blocks.  Not done.  Oops. 

I have told myself Sunday afternoon is the time for

this project but this past Sunday was gorgeous and with

the balls flying long and straight on the driving range,

I chose to play 9 holes instead.  The weather just doesn't

get that pretty in February (short sleeves!) and I have

all month to do this anyway, right?

3) Update fabric tracking; work on business side of

my business.  Some progress.

Fabric tracking is up to date; progress with hubs on

the business stuff.  (<---I'm real into technical terms)

On my fabric tracking I should probably start by

'fessing up on how I ended last year.  

Yards purchased in 2022:  306 

[That's nuts!]

Yards used in 2022:  231

[Not enough, but still respectable.]

Over/under:  +75 yards

[Oof.  Must. Make. More quilts!]

I call this a Fess-Up but the guilt is only because I didn't

use more.  Knowing exactly what I will get good use out

of and what would just be an impulse buy one day but

still sitting on my shelves years later is becoming a skill.

Fabric-buying can make for some great laughs for quilters

but from a business perspective, honing in on this can be

is a really necessary skill but I find it fun, and motivating.

When I chew quickly through a bolt, I pat myself on the

back and say,  "Wow, great buy!  Do that again!"

The obvious goal is to use more than I buy.  I failed pretty

miserably last year but as I mentioned in a recent post,

I had other things on my plate.  This year is looking much

more hopeful this year, even if I have started out in the

wrong direction.

Yards purchased this year to date:  46 

Yards used this year to date:  30

Over/Under:  16 yards

 I'm starting to go in the right direction, and my plans

(except for one) all include fabrics that I already have.

And I am highly motivated.

4) Start next quilt

DONE!  And I took this one all the way.

I have a somewhat-complicated red/ivory quilt on my

queue but first I wanted to use up a jelly roll.  And the

pattern that just kept coming around in my mind was

the one I used for my recent quilt "With This Ring."

This one is not for the faint of quilter's-heart but I

just loved how it turned out so I dove in again.

There are some notes I'd like to share on this

pattern if anyone is wanting to make it:

I was first annoyed with having to buy a special ruler and

even tried to make do without it.  But a few cuts into

With This Ring, I made the very-correct-decision to get the

Creative Grids Multi-Size 45/90 ruler.  It seems a tad "fiddly"

but you get HST's from jelly strips with NO waste, and you

only have to trim ears from one side (not both) so it makes

up for itself in other ways.  From someone who tries to keep

 her ruler collection down, I think this one is worth it if you

are into strips (ruler works for other sizes besides 2.5").

Now, that aside, if you find yourself wanting to make this

pattern, I think it would be much easier making HST's in

one of the methods that make multiple amounts at a

time rather than from jelly roll strips.

This isn't a matter of just making little star blocks.  The

stars overlap so you end up putting 2-3 together

at once, in horizontal strips.  HST's pointing this way

and that and your head can begin to swim but it's

all very doable in a quiet sewing room--I promise!

Don't be afraid of it, just don't take it to your

"sew with friends" sessions!

And lastly, one major tip that I have now discovered:

sizing cuts way down on fraying fabric.

When you're using deep red with a solid ivory, this is

huge especially from a longarmer's perspective.

I just started it last week and voila, completed top!

I wanted to get more creative in the borders but by

yesterday, I was out of steam and just copied my

previous version.  I think I will at least make

a pieced binding with the excess jelly roll strips.

Next week's goals

I have much less time for quilting this week so I'm

keeping it pretty simple.

1) Pick a name for the red star rings, make

 label and binding.

2) Choose next project and start

I really need to make a quilt for our new granddaughter

but I canNOT decide a fabric line.  As my daughter really

just wants something basic (like squares), I'd like to just

grab a layer cake or charm packs.  Where are all the

cute ones when I'm actually needing one?!?

And that's it for me, unless I decide to quilt.

I'm temporarily unsure about quilting these current projects.

Do I go ahead, using pantographs so that I can complete

them, or do I allow the tops (with backs and bindings made)

to accumulate for when I'm ready to dive in with my new

Quilt Path?  It has arrived by the way.  And it's just sitting

there until we get time to install it.  My class is in two

weeks so no need to push I guess but it seems a little

strange to finally have it...and just leave it in the box!

Happy quilting!