Drunkard's Path Quilt Top

So, I finished this top last December. Yep, I am so terribly behind in sharing the projects I have been working on and have a huge pile of others to come.


This quilt was started as a part of a QAL last year (I think?). I wanted to create something to celebrate my favorite season: fall. I used an old charm pack in typical fall colors and paired it with a bold purple, which is another color present in fall where I live.




Chad also loves this top but doesn't like the backing fabric I bought for it. I picked it out a year ago and don't feel as strongly about using it, so I've been looking for another option. In addition to that, I'm still not sure how I want to quilt it, so finishing this will wait until I decide on that. I am content just being a 'topper' this year and will hit it hard quilting the tops I'm accumulating in the new year.


I'm linking up with Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday and will be back soon with more projects to share.

WIP Wednesday

I'm halfway through my 10 day vacation and feel so relaxed. Now, don't think I haven't been working around the house. I have been tackling some deep cleaning each day so far and have also been reorganizing my creative spaces. I think my new set up will make it easier for me to work on projects once I start my new job. And it's good for me to get a start on the new year coming up.

Yes, I am already thinking about next year. I start doing that as my birthday approaches (it's in December) and use this time to come up with my personal goals. I will go into that more later as 2012 comes to an end but I will say now that I already have a basket full of knitting projects lined up for 2013.

Aside from cleaning and organizing, I have also been making progress on some projects so let's get on with that. I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced for her WIP Wednesday link up.

One of my goals this week is to finish my Drunkard's Path quilt top. I made progress on the blocks but still have a ways to go.


Three of my knit projects got some love. These are the Loverly Shawl, Sundry Shawl, and Five by Five Cowl. The cowl is coming with me tomorrow because it will make excellent traveling and conversation knitting.

   
I also started a crochet project. This is the base for a basket. The colors are not what I would have paired if I bought these new but they work. I found these in my stash and instead of donating them, like some of the other acrylic yarn I have, I wanted to use them up. This will be a quick project and useful to boot.


We are expecting a mix of snow and rain tomorrow, which will be interesting as we travel. Chad and I are leaving very early in the morning to drive to the farm he grew up on to visit his father's grave before heading back east to spend time with his family. To my fellow Americans, I hope your Thanksgiving is spent with those you love.

WIP Wednesday

Yesterday I signed the papers to accept my promotion at work. Who knew that leaving school would open this door? I will be losing some free time but will adjust once everything is settled. The trade off is an increased income to help Chad and I make our dreams a reality.

I hope you bear with me a little while as I find the right balance here. I decided to set small goals each week on what I want to accomplish. It can be finishing an item or just working on it. One goal this week is to get some blocks finished for my Drunkard's Path quilt.

I do start my new position and schedule today and have to be off to work shortly. I'm linking up at Freshly Pieced and will be working on checking in on your progress as well.

Finished:

Piper's Journey Shawl - more details here.

Progress Made:

Drunkard's Path Quilt - trimmed pieces are slowly becoming blocks. I decided to get them this far because I did feel like turning on my iron the day I worked on them. Anyone else do that?

Camp Loopy Project 2 - I nearing the finish line and would love to have this come of the needles by the end of the weekend.

No Progress:

Hand Quilting Challenge

Cachou Cowl

Garden Tote

Garter Stitch Scarf

Hand Pieced QAL

Sewing Machine Cover

Quilt Challenge of the Month: February/Cathedral Windows Apron

(Late) Wedding Present

Dessert of the Month: Jan-July

Zig Zag QAL

Kaleidoscope QAL

Embroidered Ornaments

Zakka Style projects

Curves Class projects

Ranrike Shawl

Dogwood Blossum Medallion Quilt

Reverse Applique Shirt

More Handstitched Class projects

2-in-1 Challenge

Modernista Swap

RATZ Swap: July

Camp Loopy Project 3

New:

Nothing is coming to mind.

Success!

I did it. I completed my challenge for the One Thing, One Week Challenge over at Amy's Creative Side. Nary a long thread to be found hanging off of these blocks.

Aside from being happy I only have this to say: I HATE TRIMMING! Especially 200ish blocks of it.

However, despite my hand still aching today, my biggest hurdle on finishing this quilt is conquered. Now I just have to work on sewing up the individual blocks into their bigger blocks, and then sew together the top. I'm not sure yet how I will quilt it but I have time to think that over as I work on getting there.

Out with the Old, In with the New: Week 4

This is my weekly kick in the butt to get pending projects done by the end of the year. To see previous links, click here.

I'm going to start off with two projects that are not on my list. One is long term and I'm going to enjoy slowly working on it. The other I really didn't intend to start and will probably finish it by the end of the year.

I did most of the crocheting on this while waiting for tires to be put on my car. I forgot how quick crochet is!

Original List:

1. Ornament swap. Sent and received! I really am excited to show you what I came up with. My partner gave photos of an owl ornament and a folded ornament as inspiration. I remember seeing this tutorial on the Moda Bake Shop blog and thought I could turn it into an owl.

Before cutting the fabrics I was going to use for my partner, I made a mock up ornament. I am glad I did because I made some errors and tweaked a few things. The mock up isn't too owl-like, but he is still cute.

My changes for the final version were to make the scarf out of felt instead of knitting one, and to embroider the year on it. I also made the head shaped like one of an owl. I also dropped the felt wings. I still love my prototype one though. He's special.

The points didn't quite meet up, I know.

Anyone interested in a tutorial? I am planning on making more, including other animals, so I could easily document the process. Just let me know in the comments.

2. Stocking for Stockings for Kids.

3. Monthly Challenge block. Block is done! Next up, a tutorial. I couldn't find the solids I wanted locally, so I need to order them. The tutorial will probably be up after Christmas due to wait time on packages.

4. Kaleidoscope quilt. Same as last week.

5. Drunkard's Path quilt. I have added two more blocks that are done.

6. Zig Zag quilt. Same as last week.

7. Market Tote. Embroidery has been started. I will finish it by the end of the week and hopefully get to assembling the tote too.

8. Halloween mini. Same as last week.

9. Surprise mini. Done!

10. Cowl to match hat and mitts. Done!

11. Pattern for hat. Same as last week.

12. Business logo/details. I have been doing some rough sketches and colorings of a logo.

Added Projects:

1. Mini X quilt.

I just realized that there are about two weeks left of the year. I'm starting to think my list was a little too ambitious. I do like having this weekly check in so I will probably continue it into the new year.

How are your projects going?

DPQAL Deadline Missed and Happy Mail Day

I completely underestimated how long it would take to finish my DP quilt top. I thought the trimming would go quickly, but it didn't. It wasn't a step I was going to skip either, so I will just stick with finishing this top by the end of the month.

Here are a couple of the blocks though. And I just noticed that I screwed up the top left and bottem left corners on the black one. Sigh.

I was bummed about not finishing in time for the linky party, but that was chased away once I got my mail. I bought a few things online on Black Friday and they finally got here. So did my charms from the Color Wheel Swap. Apparently mail from Salt Lake City takes a layover in eastern Wisconsin before coming to me in western Minnesota.

My pretty charms! I didn't sort them by color before taking this photo, but that is the next step so I can assess what I am going to do with them. After musing here about it, I still haven't decided on anything.

I picked up some more patterns from Colette.

And some things from Sunni's shop, A Fashionable Stitch. (Petersham ribbon, a belt kit, and a Sewaholic pattern.) Tasia is having a sew-a-long for the jacket in January and I may do it with her, or else use her posts as a guide in the spring. This jacket just won't cut it for winter.

I hope you're having a great Monday!

Cutting Progress

I thought I would be finished with my Dead Simple quilt by today so I could share that with you. But I decided to hand sew the binding and it's taking longer than I thought. It will be done and shared before Thanksgiving.

In addition to working on that piece, I decided to sit down with my rotary cutter and get as much done that I could handle. I don't have a table I can cut on so I sit on the floor. It gets old, as you can imagine. One day when I have a studio space I will have a table dedicated to only cutting.

One project that I haven't talked about before is for a sewing machine cover. I currently use the hard plastic top from the carrier I have. I hate using it because it's boring and bulky. My design for my first fabric cover is going to involve hexagons and embroidery. I haven't made any progress on it because I didn't have any fabric cut out. Now I do and can get working on it.

I also cut the prints for my Drunkard's Path quilt. I will have 20 mega blocks that are made up with 16 drunkard's path blocks. For the prints, if you remember, I am using pre-cut charms, so that reduced cutting time. My next step is cutting into my solid so I can get started. The fabric is pressed and hanging over my sewing chair so I will get to it sooner rather than later.

I have a short three day week at school and work and then Chad and I will be going out of town to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. I got a call from his sister last night asking if I would make a few things for dinner: the bread, a pie, and possibly a salad of some sort. I'm a vegetarian so I will probably make a pasta salad for myself and to share. The pie I am undecided on. I was going to make a chocolate one, because that is Chad's favorite and he has been asking for one recently, but his mom is already making that. Last year I did make a chocolate and a lemon meringue, but I'm leaning towards pecan this year. And the bread? Chad wants my cheddar beer bread (only made with Blue Moon though) and I'm not sure if that's a turkey friendly bread. I'm thinking of making a loaf of it and rolls as well. Good thing I love being in the kitchen.

I'm mostly excited for this long weekend because I will be able to spend it working on projects. I did a deep clean of the house this past weekend before it snows a lot. We did get a mini storm last Friday, but it has melted already.

Happy Monday to you all!

Drunkard's Path QAL

Yep, I'm joining another quilt-a-long. This one doesn't start for a couple weeks, so I am hoping to wrap up some WIPs before then. If you haven't heard of this one, it's being hosted by Needle and Spatula and OCD. They are each assembling the quilt different ways, one being with templates and the other by using a fabric cutter. I don't have one of those, so templates it is. Plus, Kate has written her instructions for 5" charms, so this is the perfect way for me to use some that I have sitting around.

When I first started sewing, I happened upon a seller on eBay who was selling charm packs for a steal. Of course, they were an auction, so you could end up paying retail price, but for the most part, I got mine for a couple dollars each. This seller doesn't seem to do this anymore, otherwise I would share the wealth here. :)

I happen to have four packs of Saltbox Harvest by Deb Strain. I got a little giddy when I found them in my stash because they are perfect for a fall sewing project.

I tossed around two different options for a solid. Taking cues from the colors of fall for my area, I wanted to include a deep purple. I wasn't sure how that would look with the other deep, rich colors, so I also sketched out the colors paired with a more neutral tan solid.

The winner?

It does lack a balanced contrast as far as value goes, but I feel it pulls together my vision of fall that I see around me. The tan was just boring to me in comparison. The purple I chose is Kona Berry.

I'm doing my best to stop myself from starting the cutting already. I'm a great starter of projects, ya know.