Leftovers, a New Start and Classes

About the time I am half way through a quilt project, I'm starting to think about what's next. Halo Star Medallion was no different. My top has been done since mid-August. As soon as I saw the plan for the 2018 Block of the Month in October, I've been thinking about what colors/fabrics I want to use and if I want to make any design changes.

I think this will be the center block and these are definitely the colors/fabrics I'll be using. BUT--this 24" block is too challenging to do quickly so I'm looking for an alternative for a class I'll be starting at a local quilt shop in January 2018. For those who want an alternative center.

Here is the design we will be working with from The Quilt Show., beginning January 1, 2018:

The Patchwork Barn by Edyta Sitar

A Kit is available or, of course, you can make this wonderful quilt using your own fabrics in your choice of colors. I love scrappy quilts and will be using lots of red, green, yellow, and cheddar, with a solid, Snow, for the background.

With my Halo Star Medallion top done, I folded up and put away the leftover fabric--and there was a LOT left--I always pull way more fabric from my closet than I'll need.  TIP:  I decide on the binding fabric as soon as the top is done and I make the binding right then. I have a basket to store the binding in with a note as to which quilt it is for. So when the quilt is quilted, now or years from now, I'll have the binding done and ready.

There were a bunch of small blocks and parts leftover too--from the demos I did each month for the Halo Sunday Sew and Sews group. They became this:

Halo Sunday Bits and Pieces, 24" x 27"

Recently, someone in the Humble Quilts Facebook group showed a photo of four-patches she made for the mystery we were doing. She didn't like them and offered them to anyone who wanted them. I just happened to see her post right then and said I'd take them. Many people tried to convince her to keep them, they were "fine", she should keep using them, they would "grow" on her, etc. But she knew her mind and really didn't want them--so she sent them to me. They became this:

Trash to Treasure, 27" x 27"

These small quilts don't take long to piece together and my wonderful Bernina Q20 sit-down long arm machine makes it a snap to quilt them. The Halo one took about an hour and the four-patches took 45 minutes to quilt. With bindings added, they are now done.

Now I've got some quilt business to attend to, booking airfare for 2018 teaching trips, ordering patterns/templates for those classes, keeping on top of contracts. I spend a few hours a week at the computer on these types of chores, including planning local classes. 

Here are the classes I'll be teaching at Patches & Stitches, Huntsville, AL: Sign ups start soon.

Color in Black and White:   Saturday February 3, 2018 9:00 am--4 pm  

Shiloh: Saturday February 10, 2018 9:00 am-4 pm

The X Block:  Saturday March 17, 2018 9:00-3 pm

The Quilt Show 2018 Block of the Month Sunday Sew and Sews Lecture/Demo class

                Sunday January 7, February 4, March 11, April 8, 2018 1-3 pm

There is also the usual beginning class: Quiltmaking 101, 5 classes in each session, two sessions offered.  

              Tuesday  Jan 23, 30, Feb 6, 13, 20, 2018 5:30-8:00 pm

                              Feb 27, Mar 6, 13, 20, 27, 2018 5:30--8:00 pm

There will be more classes to mention soon, at two more local shops. I hope you'll find a class that interests you.

Let's Quilt.

Barbara

Cleaning Up Leftovers and a Sneak Peek

After finishing Rajah Revisited:

Rajah Revisited

and Circa 2016:

Circa 2016 

 I have a big pile of leftover pieces, not really yardage, but chunks of many different fabrics, which were used or considered for both of those quilts:

To tame the chaos I decided to cut up all the chunks, the stuff not big enough to be folded and returned to bins in the closet, cutting into sizes I need for two or three ongoing projects.

First, I need more triangles cut for my Lifetime Quilt:

These require strips 1.75" wide and I use a Half-Square Triangle ruler to cut the pairs which finish as 1.25" squares.  More info on my process is here.  Some of the strips cut so far:

Then I decided to cut 1.25" strips for an eventual Log Cabin quilt, with blocks that finish at 5.25":

 AND, I decided to create a quilt for an upcoming Sew-A-Long that will begin in January 2017.  It will be a Teaching Tutorial, with 5 weekly posts that will take you from start to finish and teach things like:

How to Select Scrappy Fabrics OR Not So Scrappy
How to Perfect  Your Piecing
How to Make Two Different Blocks
How to Make an On-Point Setting
How to Float Your Blocks at the Border
How to Accurately Cut and Sew on Borders
How to Apply Binding for Hand or Machine Finishing

Here is your Sneak Peek:

Mine is 33" x 42",  but you can make yours smaller or larger, adjusting borders as you choose.  I guess it's the time of year that this one looks so Christmas-y.  I'll make another for step-by-step photos that will be completely different.  I hope you like it and will plan to join us in January 2017.

Having fabrics cut and ready for various projects is one of the ways I manage to get things done.  If I had to stop and prepare fabrics before I could sew, each time I wanted to sew, it would take a lot longer.  Because the fabrics are ready NOW, I can make use of even short amounts of time, sewing, not cutting or planning.  We'll talk more about those kind of tricks in 2017 too.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara