Friday Night Sew-In: November

This month's sew-in was really quite successful! Yesterday my daughter and I went to pick up Dad's Sawblades from the long-arm quilter, so last night's task was to prep the binding and sew it on the front. Thank goodness for the big sewing table my dad made for me--it really helped me manage all that fabric!

Now it's ready for the handsewing, which I'll do on the long holiday car trip:



And a close-up of the quilting, which may disappear a little into the flannel once the quilt is washed:



It is so soft, and will be very warm, I think. I think Dad will have to be careful that my mom doesn't swipe it!

EDITED TO ADD: I'm so excited to have something to link on Fabric Tuesday!!

November: Friday Night Sew-In!

Joining late again, but:



Yesterday I got notice that the long-arm quilter was finished with Dad's Sawblades quilt, so tonight the plan is getting the binding ready and (maybe) machine-sewn, so it's ready for the hand-sewing that I can do while on our long Thanksgiving car trip.

Layer Cake Quilt-Along: Block 1

Last weekend I took advantage of the extra hour in my Saturday and got the chance to do just a little sewing (which proved to be very good for my mental health!): so I did the first block in the Layer Cake Quilt Along.

And here's my version of the Alabama Spinner block, designed by Gene Black:



I'm using Dream On by Urban Chiks, and I was a little dismayed by the fact that there's not a lot of contrast in this particular layer cake (compared to some of the other gorgeous blocks in the flickr pool). BUT! I still adore the fabric, and it will be a lovely, springtimey quilt when I'm done. And I am really quite pleased with how this block turned out. *g*

Ho-Ho Holiday Preview and Signal-Boosting a Giveaway

One of the very first blogs I found to love was Gen X Quilters, so it's fitting that I'm taking part in my very first online swap there, too. Right?



And I find that I keep collecting fat quarters to potentially send--I only need to send three, but I'm up to NINE:



...at least I'll have plenty of fabrics to use in the ornament I'm making for my swap partner? I don't have a stash, but this is dangerous.

I'd also like to signal-boost an EXCELLENT giveaway (although I must confess I initially didn't want to, because I want to win it!). Lee at Freshly Pieced is offering two amazing prizes: A custom-designed blog header and some tasty modern fat quarters. Do go check it out!

Friday Night Sew-In: Results!

OK, so the results of my first Friday Night Sew-In aren't exactly overwhelming, but I conquered some blocks for my hand-pieced spring sampler wallhanging that have been intimidating me: Flying geese.



[Also, a note: Piecing by hand can be impeded by A) having Hugh Jackman on the TV, doing distracting things like leaping onto helicopters, being half-naked, and blowing things up, and B) two cats, who insist upon sitting directly in one's lap, which is also one's workspace.]

And here's the progress on the spring wallhanging, 20 of the 25 blocks are finished:



It's slow going, but I find that I thoroughly enjoy the process of hand-piecing, especially when I can do it while watching movies or talking with my husband or while we're traveling to places where I can't pack along my sewing machine. For the fall wallhanging I have a flying-geese all-batik quilt planned, and I'm tempted to hand-piece that one, too.

I imagine the next FNSI will involve the sewing machine--I really need to get going on my daughter's Tweetygigs, because she's going to be growing out of her toddler bed soon...

Friday Night Sew-In

I'm joining really, really late, but: FRIDAY NIGHT SEW-IN!!



My plan? I'm hoping to tackle flying geese. I've never made flying geese, ever.

*GASP*

The spring sampler quilt--the one I'm using to learn hand-piecing--has flying geese blocks. I don't know why I've been so reluctant to try to tackle them, but I have: I've got 20 of my 25 blocks finished, and haven't touched the flying geese yet. Here's hoping!

Pictures coming soon...

WIP: Dad's Sawblades

I haven't been doing much sewing in the past week or so, but I thought I'd post what pics I have of my long-in-process flannel Sawblades quilt. This was begun in 2004, and was put away for several years with half the blocks squared up. I finally finished the top this summer:



Lots of firsts in this quilt--this is my fourth quilt, overall, and was my first time working with flannel, my first pieced borders, my first mitered corners. I don't think I did too badly with the miters:



I should get it back from the long-arm quilter sometime soon, and I'm looking forward to seeing the quilting and doing the binding. It's going to my father, who is a fabulous woodworker, as partial payment for the custom sewing cabinet he made for me.

...apparently my mom already has plans for this quilt. ;)