My Bear Quarry Tote

Noodlehead's latest pattern is called the Quarry Tote. I've made many of her patterns and couldn't wait to get started on this one! The pattern has 2 sizes - this is the larger of the two and finishes at 11" tall.

The outer fabric is a linen print that I picked up at QuiltCon and the inside is quilting cotton. I clearly love, love the bear print from Ruby Star Society. The pattern had instructions for the mesh pocket and I added the inset pocket.

For the inset pocket, the fabric was placed 1" from the top of the lining and the drew the rectangle 1" from the top of the wrong side of the pocket fabric, 1" from each edge. Rectangle drawn for stitching  was 1/2" tall.

The bag is turned through the front outside pocket so I was able to configure the lining in a way that the bears were right side up when you peak in.

I very much enjoyed the entire construction process - perhaps because the bears were staring at me the whole time and they make me smile! This bag will be perfect for events like QuiltCon where I need to carry more stuff. Next up is to make the smaller sized one as an everyday bag.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Granny Square Blanket is Done!

Ta da! My granny square blanket is done and I am in love. (Temps need to cool a bit before it will be put in use!) (This photo was taken at Dix Park in Raleigh.)

When I was a kid, my grandmother taught me to knit. You might consider it my 'gateway craft' that got me into handwork of all kinds - cross-stitch, embroidery - and then quilting. I like the portability of knitting and made many hats, scarfs and even the occasional blanket like this one for my Mom and this one for me! 

This fall, I wanted to attempt to crochet and, thanks to YouTube videos, started making granny squares using a beautiful 32 color pack of Cotton Chirps from Purl Soho. Working with all this color was exciting. One of the best things about granny squares for a new learner? If you mess up, it is easy to pull back a few stitches and then just restart.

the 'wrong side'

The afghan finished at 52" x 52" using 169 granny squares set in a 13 x 13 grid. A slip stitch was used to join the squares. The border was a row of single crochet followed by a row of double crochet.

This actually was my second crochet project. The first was a blanket made way back in the late 70s. (I was only a toddler of course!) While I found a photo, I am not certain where the actual afghan is! There are a few boxes in the attic that perhaps on a non-summer day I will open up and peek inside.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Double Wedding Ring is Done!!

My double wedding ring quilt enjoyed some time at the spa and is now home and on the bed! I am just thrilled with how this quilt came out.

I used these templates and overcut the blocks to allow for better accuracy after trimming. Before I started on these blocks, I practiced with my Pantone challenge entry - Orange Overload! For the orange quilt, I didn't like all the bulk that came together at the seam so decided on adding 1" sashing between the blocks.

The quilt is 92" x 92". The FMQ pantograph is called geometric diamonds. The background fabric is a Painter's Palette solid called Colonial Blue. The pints are primarily from either Ruby Star or Zen Chic.

The new quilt completely changed the look of the room. The prior quilt which I called Pure & Simple was made in 2012. As you can see from the photo below, after 13 years of use and who knows how many wash cycles, it was ready for retirement! 

2012                                                                           2025

Have a wonderful day! Patty

The UFO Challenge

I spent some time tidying up my sewing room recently and gathered all my UFOs and WIPs in one place. For me, a UFO - unfinished object - is a project I've packed away with intentions of finishing someday. A WIP - work in progress - is a project that while I may not be actively working on it, the intention is to get back to it soon.

My guild has a UFO challenge! We've started Quiltchievement badges and if you finish 5 quilting projects started before 2025 you earn a cute little patch... like a Scout badge. I love this so much that I started my list of what my UFO goal will be.

First up is my Ruby Star based Economy block quilt pictured above. Quilt top assembly is underway and I hope to get it quilted this summer. I posted about this first in fall 2024.

Ever since finishing my Rainbows applique started in a class with Jo Avery, I've wanting to do another in a very different colorway. This will soon become my primary handwork project with a goal to finish this summer.

All I need is a binding on my 3rd UFO - this hand quilted orange peel quilt  started in 2023. Should be able to make that happen.

My 4th UFO is this Seattle MQG's free BOM quilt top, pictured on the right. I've already made the backing and the quilting will likely be a fun mindless spiral. I hope to get this one done likely in November, post any QuiltCon sewing.

I've got a few contenders for my 5th UFO and not sure which of these I will pick but each is small and likely to become a pillow.

The contenders are:

• (2017) Rin is all assembled into a quilt top and I need to decide on quilting
• (2019) faux needle-turn applique project 
• (2024) my Local house blocks, a qal done with friends
• (2020)There are twenty Pebble Pop blocks  done which is not quite enough for a quilt top. I need to locate this project in my sewing room and then consider turning it into a quilt back.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Checkerboard Bee Blocks

I am a new member of the @unscriptedquiltsbee. 

This block for July was requested by Jenn @jenngeorgeburt. Jenn asked for two black & white checkerboard blocks that finished about 12.5" square. The block could be made by as few or as many pieces as you wanted. My first block was ruler cut (on left) - I had fun reducing the size each time. The second block did not use a ruler to cut the strips and used scraps from the first one.

Each month has been a really fun challenge. The blocks for May block are in the upper right, the April block is in the lower left and the March is bottom right. 

Isn't it fun how different they are?

There are a total of eleven members of the bee. My month was June and my prompt was Balance. I've receive 5 blocks so far - 3 of them are pictured below - and can't wait to have them all to play with! 

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Mid-Year Quilty Check-In

The Square Up quilt - free pattern from FQS

Happy July! The year is halfway done which is a perfect time to take a look at my creative goals for the year and possibly make some changes. I'll be linking up with Yvonne @quiltingjetgirl.

At the start of the year, I posted my intentions for 2025 (see that post) as well as summarized how I did against my goals for 2024. 

Halfway through 2025, here is how I'm doing:

• Enter at least one new quilt into QuiltCon 2026 (Raleigh!) - I have plans (at this point) to enter at least 2 quilts. I've started the quilt for the fabric challenge and have the fabric for my second project. No photos to share though.
• Finish at least one scrap quilt to be donated to my guild's community giving project. - Done! I donated the Square Up quilt and have two others in progress! The first is ready for basting and quilting - (Read more.) and the second is at the block stage. Enjoying making these pineapple blocks at this point using blue scraps.

• Make time to play and always have at least 2 different kinds of handwork WIPs - Much of my handwork time has been spent on my granny square afghan which has been so much fun to work on. I've also got a Snoopy cross-stitch, a star map embroidery, and a rainbow applique. 
• Continue blogging at least once weekly and post finishes on IG - I want my grid to be filled with all the good stuff! I try to blog at least once weekly but there have been a few weeks that were missed. I've been reasonably absent from posting on IG too. Not sure if I'll make any changes moving forward 
• Focus on my personal well being by making time to exercise, to read, to rest, to relax with friends, and - most importantly - recognize joy in every day. This continues to be an important intention. I do fine with daily exercise and rest but not as good as I would like on the recognizing joy part.

My guild has started a UFO challenge to finish 5 of them this year. I love a good challenge so will see what I can do with this one! I posted about my UFO and WIPs earlier this year - time to inventory exactly where each project stands.

I'll be linking up here.  

Have a wonderful day! Patty