Friday, August 3, 2012

Nine Patches Done

The nine patch blocks I need for my raffle quilt are finished. I pulled the colors for these blocks from the border print, shown next to the blocks. I didn't think I'd like them at first, but I almost always do once I get the blocks sewn. Maybe it's just the excitement of having blocks done.

I wanted to use more of a pinkish red instead of the red for the two blocks in the lower right corner, but hubby preferred the red, and besides I didn't want to have to buy more fabric. I only bought a yard of border fabric, and everything else came from the stash.

I'm using up four plus yards of muslin in this quilt, which makes me happy. Nearly all of it has been given to me, and I have a kitchen-sized trash bag full of it. To look at the bag, you wouldn't know I dug four yards out of it. If I ever use it all up, I won't be taking any more muslin!

I also stitched 116 of these 2-patch units for a checkerboard border.









I'm trying to make a couple of passes with the longarm each day to keep my skill level where it is and hopefully improve. In the past, there have been long lapses in between my quilting sessions, and my skills suffer because of it. Quilting a little every day or every other day seems to work better.

Last night I took another bug strippy off the frame--same focus fabric, same dragonfly pantograph. It will be bound in the yellow fabric, and I hope to get this done in the next couple days. 

Holidays at Home is the next quilt to get loaded on the frame. This was a kit that came out last year, I think. The top has been done for a while, just haven't got around to quilting it.








This little red squirrel thinks he is so smart to figure out how to get up onto the bird feeder. And he is, darnit! I've had an awful time trying to keep the gray squirrels off the feeder this summer, and now this little guy. We've tried so many different things to dissuade them; and we finally resorted to, uh, relocating them. It's maddening to be outsmarted by a squirrel!

Today, instead of sewing, I have to pretend like I want to do some serious housework,  because the dust bunnies are threatening to take over. If I get the binding attached to the strippy tonight, I'll be happy. Have a good day, all.

6 comments:

Apple Avenue Quilts said...

Your nine patches look great. I love the color you used. Can't wait to see it all together. That Christmas quilt is stunning! When we lived in the forest my husband had a running battle with the squirrels. I think mostly the squirrels won.

Julie Fukuda said...

I love all your projects. I can't imagine my husband having any opinion on any quilt I am making other than what I might be able to raise should I sell it.

Lynette said...

Everything is so nice - Holidays at Home is going to be absolutely gorgeous. :)

Margo in Maine said...

It has been so long since I have been to your site...shame on me...you have really accomplished a lot...everything is beautiful as usual...I always love what you do...your class sounded great....

Purple Pam said...

Love all your nine patch blocks. Your Holidays at Home quilt is great, too.

Judy S. said...

What a great pattern! I've not seen nine patch used that way. Love the Christmas quilt also. I'll trade you a squirrel for a few rabbits....lol