Elizabeth Hartman All the Animals Sew Along - Progress Update

I have been slowly working on my Lepidoptera quilt for the Elizabeth Hartman All the Animals Sew-Along and am excited to report a little progress. 

This weekend I finished the four Beatrix blocks! There is a lot of work involved but the outcome is worth it. Will get some better pictures when I have better light but for now here they are.

I'm really excited about a new tool I discovered last week when I was scrolling through the the #elizabethhartmanalltheanimalssal hashtag on Instagram. I found a video @burbankquilts posted about using the Simple Folded Corners Ruler ruler by Antler Quilt Design. I was able to get it at my LQS and started using it this weekend. I'm not sure if it made the process faster, but I do think it was easier. So that is a huge win. Here are a few photos of how it works: 

This method is especially useful when using the Essex Metallic Linen. The pencils I was using to draw lines make the corners fray sometimes and this removes that issue. I think I will definitely keep using it!

This week I will start cutting for Carmen. 

Linking up with Cooking Up Quilts Main Crush Monday

One Monthly Goal January 2018 Finish

It is the end of January and I'm happy to report that I was successful in achieving my One Monthly Goal -- I have finished my Wayward Transparency Quilt Top!!! You can see my full post here. 

I was nervous to complete the final step because I had never made a quilt using this construction. I was worried about cutting the large squares of fabric, then subcutting them into triangles, and then sewing such large triangles onto the quilt. Thankfully there was nothing to worry about!!!! The instructions were very clear and I was able to manage the sewing with no problems. Excited to get this basted and work on quilting it soon. 

Thank you Elm Street Quilts for hosting One Monthly Goal, it was just the extra motivation I needed to get this done. Now to think about next months goal....

Linking up with: Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal - January Finish Link-up

Up North Quilt

When I saw the Up North Quilt Pattern by Pen and Paper Patterns it was instant love. How can you go wrong with a vintage camper and trees? I knew I wanted to make it someday but had no immediate plans. Then one day inspiration hit and I started! Two weeks I have a finished top, and am contemplating working on a second. 

Since my "inspiration" partly came from the fact that I wanted to gift this to someone I was concerned the grey background I used on my initial camper might be a little dreary to gift. So I made a second camper with a more neutral background. Not sure if I'll end up making that into a full quilt yet or a mini. We'll see!

I also wanted to say that when I had this in pieces on the design wall I was really unhappy with the Kona Iron. It has such a blue/purple hue to it. Maybe I have so much in my stash because I never use it! But now that it is done I'm not seeing that as much and I'm happy with the outcome. 

Background: Kona Iron

Camper: Kona Solids + Riley Blake Dots + Vintage Picnic

Trees: Cotton & Steel + Kona Solids + True Colors 

Thread: Aurifil 2615 for piecing 

Backing: Cotton & Steel Yours Truly Strawberries Navy? Still deciding...

2018 Finish A Long: Q1 Proposed Finishes

I love the Finish-A-Long because it allows you to set goals but there is no penalty if you don't finish your full list. Motivation with a little flexibility. So I might as well hop on for the first quart of 2018. 

"A finish is defined as a completely finished project, e.g. a quilt, quilted and bound, a bag that's fully lined and functional, or a jumper that one could wear out in public."

So I will list A BUNCH of my UFOs that have some significant level of progress or that I want to finish (someday). I KNOW that I won't get these all done in Q1 but it gives me some flexibility to shift focus based on my ever changing interests and gives me a jump start on my Q2 list! 

Obviously I'm good at starting things but not finish them. I will make it my goal to have at least one full finish from this list in Q1!

100 Days 100 Blocks 2017: Need to finish quilting/binding. It is a lot of lines on a big quilt on my small machine. Time consuming for sure!

Garden Snail: Top in progress. I think I need three more snails then I will be able to finish the top, quilt and bind.

Lepidoptera: Top in progress. Only one block of 19 done. Lots of work left to do. 

Wayward Transparency: Top done. Need to back, quilt and bind.

Up North: Working on two versions. First top almost done. 

Missouri Star: Quilting partially done. 

Long Time Gone: Need to back, quilt, and bind.

Sew all the Curves: Need to finish top, back, quilt, and bind.

Alpine: Need to finish top, back, quilt, and bind.

52 Weeks with the Quilters Planner (2017): Need to figure how sashing, finish top, back, quilt, and bind.

We are All Queen Bee Blocks: Need to figure out size/sashing, finish top, back, quilt, and bind.

She's A Fish - Mini Quilt:  Halfway done. Would love to finish this someday!  

I think that is more than enough for now!!!

Linking up with 2018 Finish A Long: Link up Your Q1 Proposed Finishes

Wayward Transparency QAL - Finished Top

When I saw that Quilting Jetgirl was hosting the Wayward Transparency Quilt Along I was very intrigued, I love how the pattern uses different fabrics to make a layered appearance. But there were so many different color options I loved, I couldn't decide which one to pick. So I hung out for awhile in her Facebook group and on Instagram to see what color options everyone else was using. 

It was also difficult to decide without seeing the fabrics in person. Unfortunately I don't have any great local shopping options. So I decided to pull out my very small solid fat quarter stash and "test" a few options before committing to the full quilt. I found a number of color combinations I liked, but not necessarily ones that gave the transparency effect. In the end, I tested the following color combo and liked it enough to buy more fabric to finish a quilt. 

The colors are Kona Garnet, Terracotta, and Persimmon. I realize it doesn't have the same transparency effect as some of the other combinations, but I love this colors and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. 

I will say that getting a picture of the full quilt that I liked was very difficult. So I am posting a few pictures that I don't love just so there is evidence that I did in fact complete the entire top! 

I plan to use Garnet for the backing and binding so I don't spent to much time debating that decision. I have some Aurifil thread that matches the Garnet. I'm not sure about how I will quilt yet. Straight lines for sure as this is what I love but I might try some triangles? Not sure yet. 

I have also purchased the fabric to make a purple version. Someday. And I may use this pattern to make a baby quilt. 

The quilt is fun to make! You can find the details about how to make your own Quilting Jetgirl website. I am really glad I joined this quilt along!

Linking up with Wayward Transparency Quilt Along Finish Link-Up

Eliszabeth Hartman All the Animals Sew Along - Week 1 Progress

I purchased a kit to make Elisabeth Hartman's Lepidoptera quilt over a year and a half ago and it has been siting in my closet ever since. When I saw that GnomeAngel would be sponsoring the Elizabeth Hartman All the Animals Sew-Along I knew it might just be time to get it out. 

I am not sure if this has more cutting than the Long Time Gone quilt I made but there is a lot of cutting to do. I am always terrible about cutting too much at one time and paying for it with a sore neck!!!

There are also many seams and angles and it definitely takes a lot of focus. I will admit that I'm still not doing a great job following the pattering word for word, I'm relying on the photos and diagrams.

This is my first time working with Essex Metallic linen. I have used the Essex Yarn Dyed Linen a few times but I have always prewashed. Because this was a kit I was worried that if I did a prewash of the linen I wouldn't have enough. I also did a little research and found a video of Elizabeth Hartman saying she does not prewash the linen. I'm hoping it will be fine but I'm a little worried about fraying and post washing shrinkage. I guess this will be a learning experience.

So here is my Week 1 progress: Alice is finished! Isn't she beautiful!!! The seams aren't lined up as well as I'd like but I'm calling it close enough, I don't want to seam rip the linen if I don't absolutely have to. 

When I went searching in my closet I also discovered I have a Francis Firefly kit too. Guess I have a lot of butterflies to sew!!!

One Monthly Goal - January 2018

A few days ago I stumbled upon an Instagram post by @quiltingjetgirl about the One Monthly Goal link up hosted by Elm Street Quilts. 

If you read my 2018 goals you know that I'd really like to be better at blogging. This link up seems like a great way to help myself stay focused on a specific goal each month AND give me an easy way to stay on track with blog posts.

I love the One Monthly Goal link up because it allows you to pick a goal that is manageable. "Any goal that involves a step in the process of making with thread, fabric or yarn is a valid goal." 

Another goal I had for 2018 was balance. So in the spirit of supporting balance and not overcommitting myself, I am going to pick a simple goal that I know I can achieve. It is against every fiber of my being to pick a goal that should be fairly easy to accomplish, but it meets the requirements so I might as well give myself an easy win to start the year!

Goal: Finish Wayward Transparency Quilt Top

This square has been on my design wall for a few weeks. All it needs is the corners, so I will complete the top January. This is my (simple) One Monthly Goal!

Linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal January Linkup.