Quilting in February

February is a great month to just sit and sew.  I have been finishing up some UFO's but still making new projects.  My goal this year is not to feel guilty about my UFO's but to just finish up as much as I can.  With our wonderful fabric stashes, we should be looking forward to new projects too so make some plans to use up those stashes!  These bargello quilts are really pretty and seem very doable. Kona Bay is featuring this pattern in two colorways so you can see how it could be done.  I like that they represent summer and spring, trying to keep those seasons in mind.  These really are nice.

Ok, this is fun, Chinese Zodiac quilts based on the year you were born.  I am a sheep and should be making Count Your Blessings Mini Quilts.  What are you and what is your quilt?

Pocketful of Pinwheels, Too has a pdf for a super cute pillow with a pocket.  Anyone looking for a grand kid project might consider this pillow.  The Quilted Fish has a sweet little purse pattern which would be great for a smart phone or game player or just for shopping at the quilt shows.

Happy Quilting has a lot of great patterns.  Her Braided Irish Chain is very interesting and a different version of the old favorite.  Her Nature's Gems quilt is so cute and would be a great baby quilt. Check out all her patterns.

Leigh Laurels Studios has a lot of tutorials, many quilting, sewing and craft projects. I love her Flowering Snowball Mini, looks challenging but fun.  Hope these patterns get you motivated and keep sewing.  Diana

Contemplating the Stash (Fabric)

We all have tops waiting to be finished.  Melissa from Happy Quilting has some great videos to help you finish up those tops, runners, etc.  She has tips for getting the quilt ready to put under the machine, some applique and then some techniques for you to try.  Can 2014 be the year to finish up UFOs?  Can you believe we are facing a New Year?  Melissa also has a whole bunch of tutorials here .  Everything from ornaments to quilts to blocks.  I love the paper pieced tree, wouldn't it be great for Christmas and make them into pillows.
My list of "wanna makes" continues to grow.  I have started to make my "kits" again in an attempt to use up some fabric in my stash.  The kit is really a pattern or pattern from a magazine that I like, I round up the fabric from my stash and Zip lock it into the bag for future sewing.  When I get a chance to sew, I pull these kits out and start to cut, I might put it away for a while but keep it organized.  Then sew again when I get a chance.  It's helped in the past to get some tops done in this manner.
What are your tips to help get your UFO's done or to make use of our stashes?  Post them in the comments area please!  We could all use some help with our stashes.  Diana

We're Back

It's been a long time but it's time for new posts.  The gardens and canning are almost over, fall clean up is in full swing and winterizing is happening.  It was a great summer but went by in a flash.

New hours for the sewing sessions on the first Mondays of the month.  We now start sewing at 9:00 am so you can make it an all day event if you want.  Pack a snack, pack a lunch, get out those UFO's and join the group in sewing on those days.

I found a blog with a truly gifted hand quilter, he's Tim Latimer and you must look at his exquisite quilting. Just scroll down and see some of the beautiful quilts that he's working on and he does trapunto the old fashioned way.

Kitchen Table Quilting has some nice tutorials and quilt patterns.  I love the Simply Style Stacked Squares (say that three times!).

QuarterInch Mark is a blog with some great hand sewing and quilting projects.  She has a tutorial for a triangle pouch that is so cute and she hand quilts it!  Very nice.

I've seen Disappearing 9 Patch but not Disappearing 16 Patch until I visited Happy Quilting .  Melissa has Tutorials and then More Tutorials and also videos, many of which feature some quilting techniques for your home machine.

Happy Quilting and enjoy the great fall weather.