Monday, January 30, 2023

HRT BOM Final Blocks


I finally caught up with the last two blocks in the Modern HST BOM - November and December.

All my HST were made ahead of time.  The HRT were paper pieced and where it made sense, I created a paper pieced pattern in the shape of 2 HRT sewn together to avoid a seam!

I enjoyed the QAL quite a bit and appreciated knowing at the start how many HST and HRT were required for the whole quilt.  I decided my blocks would finish at 8" which means my HST are 2".  


This is my tentative layout.  I like how new shapes are created when blocks are laid with each other. With a 3 x 4 block layout, the quilt top would be 24" x 32". I'd like to turn it into a 36" x 36" layout so that I can donate it to a local hospital - they use quilts 36" x 36" to cover incubators in the NICU. Work to be done on the final layout since I don't really want to make new blocks. 

Check out all the blocks at #modernhstBOM2022.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

January One Monthly Goal Finish

Ready to link up your finishes?
Don't panic - this link-up is open until January 31 at 11:55 pm ET.


Want to see everyone's goals for the month - check out the January goal post.

My goal for January was to work on my Harmony quilt.  I'm pleased to say it is all quilted, bound and ready to be gifted - read more!  And don't forget, there is a pattern for Harmony quilt!


Now it's your turn to link up!  Please add a link to this OMG post so others can follow where you are linking.   Let's make that easy -  just paste this into your post:  
Thanks for linking up!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Monday, January 23, 2023

My New Oliso Iron


Isn't it pretty?

I've had a Mini Project Iron from Oliso iron for several years now.  It sits on a wool pressing mat next to my sewing machine.  It heats up fast and is perfect for pressing blocks as I sew.  And its pink!  (You can read my review.)


I was thrilled when Oliso sent me their TG1600 Pro Plus Smart Iron along with the Oliso iron board cover.


I've had them for 2 months and wanted to report on my experience.  

The iron heats up fast and stays hot which means pressing out folds and wrinkles as well as pressing seams all works well.  It has a nice side fill water tank and comes with a narrow cup to help pour in the water.  Another nice feature is a really long cord which helps me out tremendously.

But, by far, the best feature is the magical soleplate.  The iron never needs to be set upright - you let go and it raises up by itself.  You touch the handle again and it lowers itself ready to press.  (Look carefully at my first picture - that iron was hot and I was able to leave the iron on top of my quilt block while I snapped a photo!)


While an ironing board cover isn't as exciting as a new iron, this one is really nice.  I like the dark gray color and it has a lot of padding which helps in the pressing process.

These two irons are great tools to have in my studio.  

P.S. I'm running a quilt-along and one of the lucky grand prize winners will get one of each of these irons!!!  Thanks Oliso!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Friday, January 20, 2023

Harmony Finish - the Red version!


My Harmony quilt was such a pleasure to sew!  Originally written as a hand pieced pattern -  pattern for Harmony quilt - I decided to machine piece this one.   For the two blocks that weren't simple to rotary cut, I made a FPP pattern and whipped them together quickly.

I love a good spiral quilt motif so I went around in circles and had a great time.  Did a couple of things different that worked really well.  First, I pin basted very, very densely to keep things from shifting.  Second, I moved my needle position to 6.3 so the distance between quilted lines was wider than I usually end up with.

The black prints are from Art Gallery fabric, the gold is from my stash, and the red was cut from a wide-back fabric which I used both on the back and as the binding.


This quilt will be a gift to a family member who really likes the color cranberry.  I'm happy to get it in the mail.  It is also my 4th finish for 2023.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Tilted Tiles Finish


Back in early December, Charles @feltlikesweets led a workshop on his Tilted Tiles pattern - see my post about the class and my blocks.

The pattern for the full quilt is available for MQG members.  For the class, we made blocks for a wall hanging.  I downsized mine so it finishes at 18" x 18".  (The class is awesome - Charles is such a great teacher.)


The quilting was done with my walking foot, changing thread color as I went along to add interest.

Since I downsized the quilt blocks, there weren't many useable scraps left but what there were went on the back.  


This was so much fun to make - may need to make another in a different colorway!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Loves Me, Loves Me Not


I'm so excited to share my latest two finishes - Loves Me, Loves Me Not!.  

And even more exciting, the pattern for the quilt will be available on January 16 and I'll be hosting a quilt along on the Quilt Fiction website.

Have you heard about Quilt Fiction?  Frances @offkilterquilt has been sharing quilt stories for a several years and has a two brand new quilt novels she will be reading.  Loves me, Loves Me Not was designed to coordinate with Friendship Album: Forget-Me-Not.


This quilt was so much fun to make.   This throw size finishes at 60"x60".  It was quilted with a edge to edge pattern called Marmalade. 

Moda Fabrics supplied the fabric - a fun modern line called Filigree by Zen Chic which will be available in your favorite fabric stores very soon.

There are six unique blocks in the pattern - make one of each block for a sweet baby quilt which finishes 42" x 42".  The baby-sized quilt was made with prints from Filigree as well as another Zen Chic line called Dance in Paris.  It was quilted on my domestic machine in a overall loopy meander. 


A fabulous group of companies are sponsoring the QAL - Aurifil, Famoré Cutlery, Fat Quarter Shop, Moda Fabrics, Oliso, Quiltfolk, and String & Story - and there will be multiple giveaways along the way plus some grand prizes.

The fun starts soon with new posts - sign up here to be notified when the pattern is available and to learn more about the QAL!

And while you're there, make sure you explore all the wonderful story telling Frances is doing!




Have a wonderful day! Patty

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Lace Shawl

In a search for knitting needles to cast on a new project, I opened a bag with some knitting WIPs. 

While I didn't find my straight needles - where did they go? - I did find a shawl project that was one row away from being complete.

ONE row - and a knit row at that!


I don't know when I last worked on it but I do know (thanks blog!) that it was cast on in June 2013.  

Yes, 2013.  

Back in June 2014 I had made considerable progress on it although it was - according to the post - about 12" away from being done.  (See the June 2014 post.)


My long unfinished knitting UFO is finished   Started June 2013 and finished January 2023. Go me!


The pattern is from Purl Soho - the wedding shawl.  The yarn I used was Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo.  It is a beautiful yarn to knit with and now that I'm happy to see it is still available, I'm thinking of buying some more and casting on something new!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Knitting Bag


My guild had a member destash sale and I picked up a couple yards of this Doctor Who fabric.  My youngest has taken up knitting and needed a bag to store those projects.  Given they are an avid Doctor Who fan, this was a perfect fit.


It was their obsession with knitting that got me starting knitting once again.  I've made two afghan's so far and now have a hat on the needle.

P.S.  I like Doctor Who as well - #10 is my favorite doctor.  :-)




Have a wonderful day! Patty

Sunday, January 1, 2023

January One Monthly Goal

Happy New Year!


New to One Monthly Goal?  Welcome!  To join, share a photo of your project plus, some words about what you want to accomplish in a blog post or  and add that photo to the link-up.  Return at the end of the month and share your results.  (Results link-up opens for the last 7 days of the month.)

I've decided to host OMG again for 2023 assuming there continues to be enough interest.  That said, I'd love to transition the link-up to a new host or a co-host.   Interested?

I'm making another version of the Harmony quilt - this one is machine pieced and will be a gift.  My goal for the month is to get the blocks all assembled.




Now it is your turn to link up - what is your goal for this month?   The One Monthly Goal accomplishment linkup will be available on January 25.  Make sure you add a link to this OMG post so others can find the OMG link-up from your blog.  Let's make that easy -  just paste this into your post:  

Take a few minutes to visit others and make new friends!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Have a wonderful day! Patty