Tag Archives: quilt

2011 UFOs and WIPs

With the finish of the TTMT UFO Deadline Challenge, my mind is filled with the projects that I am not only working on, but the ones that have been on the back burner.

Before we start, some definitions:

UFO = UnFinished Object – a project that has been set aside and allowed to collect dust. Chances are it’s existence has been forgotten until it’s pulled out of whatever dark hole it was stuffed into. While there, it probably multiplied like Tribbles, leaving many more UFOs than you remember putting there in the first place.

WIP = Work In Progress  – Always in danger of becoming a UFO, a WIP is a project that is currently being worked on, and will hopefully become a…

FO = Finished Object – What all projects dream of being. The object of much blog activity and excitement and a good source of personal pride. The Ultimate Destination of a UFO and WIP.

This year, in addition to my list of UFOs, I’m including my WIPs and some DYI. This is by no means a complete list because I’m very much a Do It Right now kind of  person. That is to say, when I get an idea, I often have to stop everything and do it now!

See my 2010 UFO list and the follow-up post.

Quilting Projects

Brown Bear, sadly no change since 2009

Bear Paw Pass Around

STATUS – UFO

Started as a pass around project with my bee in 2008, I sadly have not touched these blocks for over a year. I did go through the box and make a plan…

Brown Bear, sadly no change since 2009

I plan to use the gold fabric for sashing and was playing with the idea of using brown for the cornerstones. The more I look at the fabric, the more I think I want brick red cornerstones. The brown just sort of disappears against the gold.

1/2 square triangles from exchanges

Half-square triangle exchange blocks

STATUS – UFO-ish

These are the results of two half-square triangle exchanged I participated in last year. I have not yet decided what I’m going to do with them, which is what gives them their “ish” status. They’re just waiting for the right project to crop up!

The InuYasha quilt - I still need t-shirts

InuYasha Quilt

STATUS – Still Collecting

I started collecting shirts for an InuYasha quilt for my daughter last year. The plan is to use the Shoji Screen pattern and place the t-shirt fronts where the large panels would be. Unfortunately, I only have one t-shirt so far, courtesy of ladyoflosttimes. If you have an InuYasha shirt you’d be willing to part with, please let me know and we can work out a trade. InuYasha is her fandom of choice and the least a good fandom mommy can do is make a fandom quilt for her daughter!

10" HP swap blocks that need to be a quilt

Harry Potter/Magical Swap blocks

STATUS – UFO

These quilt blocks are the results of several swaps. Sadly, I’ve had them several years now. I am one step closer to doing something with them now that I realize I  need to break them into sets. The top set are all the 10″ blocks with images on them that say “Harry Potter” to me. The bottom set are more traditional blocks, blocks that are bigger (or smaller!) than 10″ or magical blocks that aren’t as HP-ish. I still love all the blocks, but I definitely need to make two, possibly three, quilts out of these!

Misc Blocks from Swaps

Christmas Quilt needs borders

Christmas Quilt

STATUS – UFO…leaning towards WIP

Started two years ago from a swap I participated in on All About Paper Piecing (a currently defunct ning network), this quilt is getting a piano key border out of Christmas fabric. I’ve already got it sorted out and plan to start cutting in the next month so it’ll be ready to go to quilt retreat in March.

New York Beauty UFO

New York Beauty Quilt

STATUS – UFO

I started this NYB for a class I taught last year. I had lots of models for the class, all in different stages of done-ness. The class was a blast…and then I lost my steam. I will be optimistic and take this one to retreat in March. I have all the pieces cut and just need to get them together. Will I? Who knows!

Beginning applique class lesson UFO

Beginning Hand Appliquéd block

STATUS -UFO…leaning toward WIP

I took a beginning hand appliqué class last year and learned lots! I even almost finished my class project. Can you see there are two leaves that need to have buds added and to be stitched in place? That’s it…all I have left to do to finish this block. I’m putting it in my car so I can work on it in the carpool line. Maybe I’ll actually finish it then!

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The Project of Doom

STATUS – WIP

All the blocks for the PoD are designed and I am several weeks ahead of everyone else in piecing them. I plan to have my quilt top finished by the end of March.  This is my pet project for 2011 and my gift to my friends in the Harry Potter crafty fandom. Want to play along and make your own Harry Potter mystery quilt? Click the banner above!

Below – Tackett protects the PoD blocks.

Tackett protects the Project of Doom.

Five at the Hive January Fall 5 at the Hive January Extra

5 @ The Hive Fall Colorway 2011

STATUS – WIP

5 @ The Hive is Honey Bee Quilt Store ‘s Block of the Month. I’m participating for the first time this year. The two blocks above are my January blocks. I’m doing the fall colorway with the extra block. By the end of the year, there will be enough blocks for a completed quilt top. I’m super excited about this one because 1)I’m not designing it and 2) it comes with fabric and 3)I love the blocks and the layout.

Crocheting

Brown Ghan UFO

Variegated and Browns

STATUS – UFO

I completely forgot about this until I cleaned out my stash. I will get back to working on it after I finish the next project on the list. This will probably be a blanket for The Linus Connection.

black and red project

Black/Red Knit or Crochet Swap

STATUS – WIP

After doing absolutely nothing with these fabulous black and red knit and crochet blocks from a Twilight Crafts swap in 2009, I have created enough white blocks to make a chess/checkerboard out of the set. The next step is to crochet them all together and then add a red, white and black border.

Crafts

A bowl I started

Rope Bowl – “It’s A Wrap” style

STATUS – UFO

This is the only unfinished craft project I found, and it can really be classified as a sewing project…so, go figure. This was the bowl I started when I taught the It’s A Wrap class last fall. I brought it home from class and promptly forgot all about it. I would like to get back to it and finish it up because the technique is just so darn fun!

DIY

Stairs - Before

Staircase makeover

STATUS – WIP

Just last week, I pulled the carpet off of our stairs. It had horrible, gross carpet that the builders installed 20 years ago. I’ve steamed cleaned them so many times, the thought of doing it again made me feel like weeping. The stairs are now de-carpeted, de-carpet-tacked, scrubbed and primed. The next step is a faux finish to turn the stairwell and stairs into a stone passageway. Yeah, you heard that, I actually said it out loud!

Projects In Mind

I have about a million and one other projects that I’d like to tackle this year. These are some ideas that have crossed my mind that are on the high end of happening.

  • A Twi-Wizard She-Shirt in Ravenclaw colors with “ofenjen” on the back. Because I can. And for DH, part 2.
  • A new Monk’s Bag 2.0
  • A granny ripple afghan for Linus. Someone made several in December and they were really neat. I want to make one.
  • A multitude of fun layout patterns for the Sewhooked Shop, like Classic Film, intended specifically for 5″ (finished) blocks.
  • A werewolf wall hanging or cushion for my daughter. Not found in all my stuff today were the blocks designed by Cat Magraith that I started making for Miss E last year (definite UFO status). Hopefully they’ll turn up before March!
  • Miscellaneous gifts for people I love. I do have some things in mind, but hey, spoilers!
What are you working on this year? Do you have any UFOs or WIPs? Blog about them and leave me a link so I can see what you’re up to or tell me in comments!

Tuesday Teaser

Grannie's 9 Patch

Here’s a quick sneak peek at what I’ll be showing off in tomorrow’s Talk To Me Tuesday! There’s nothing in the world quite like the feeling of finishing a quilt!

More photos and Show & Tell tomorrow, so be sure to stop back by. 🙂

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SEWHOOKED SHOP |SCHEDULESEWHOOKED FB
JEN FACEBOOK | TWITTER | FLICKR GROUP

A Year of Blankets

The Linus Connection‘s 2010 A Year of Blankets. Enjoy the gorgeous handmade goodness and consider helping out a blanket making charity in your area in 2011.

Learn more about The Linus Connection, my favorite charity:

My December Donations:

Modly Layer 'Em Up
The Ugly Quilt, a quilting experiment gone wrong. I just could not make myself like this. I tried. Eventually, I just gave up and stitched the blocks together. Several people told me it was very striking. The two redeeming qualities of this quilt – it lay perfectly flat for quilting and it squared up exactly. I’m sure someone will love it, I was just very tired of looking at it.

Blue Granny
Blue Granny – I love this ‘ghan. It is made of leftovers from Blue Bricks and the last couple of skeins of blue yarn in my stash.

Blue Granny
Also? Picot edges make me happy.

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SEWHOOKED SHOP |SCHEDULESEWHOOKED FB
JEN FACEBOOK | TWITTER | FLICKR GROUP


Like A Grindylow Needs Water

*wipes tear*

I need to craft…and watch this trailer again. And again. And again…

Some of my Deathly Hallows offerings…

For free HP patterns, visit Harry Potter Paper Piecing and the Guest Designer page on Sewhooked.

Time to watch the trailer again!

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Name That Quilt!

The Project That Needs A Name

I love coming up with creative titles for my projects, but even my name bank runs out from time to time. The above quilt is 12 1/2″ x 15 1/2″ and is entirely paper pieced. It’s the latest design in my wall hanging series for the Sewhooked shop. The pattern itself tested, edited and ready to go. As soon as I have a name, it will be ready to sell!

This is where you come in! For the next week, add your title idea in comments. I’ll put up a poll including all the suggestions* and the one with the most votes is what I’ll use for the new pattern! The person that suggests the winning name will receive the very first hardcopy version of this pattern and a Sewhooked button!

*I reserve the right to not include names that are 1)inappropriate 2)obviously copyrighted by someone else. Please ask me first if you’re not sure! You’re always welcome to email me with questions.

ETA: The poll will go up on Friday, September 24!

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SEWHOOKED SHOP |SCHEDULESEWHOOKED FB
JEN FACEBOOK | TWITTER | FLICKR GROUP

It’s Bigger On The Inside

Free TARDIS paper pieced pattern, designed by me
and tested (as shown) by the ever awesome Shae.

Oh, fandom quilting, how do I love thee?

Bigger on the inside, that’s how!

In a fit of I Am A Fan, I made this a highly detailed TARDIS. I designed this pattern to be a 6″ block, but I would recommend enlarging it even bigger to work on, just for sanity’s sake. Shae made her’s 6″ and it worked out beautifully.

TARDIS Pattern

Why is the pattern purple? No idea. I drafted it back in May of 2009 and then it got lost amongst my files. When I unearthed it a couple of weeks ago, I realized it just needed numbering and separating. My guess is I had some really good wine and thought the purple was blue…

Need more Doctor Who?

dalek pieced by stephanie t

How about a Dalek quilt block?

Sample pieced by Stephanie T

Or a fandom tee?

More hardcore fan, you say?

Tardis Door Mural

Need even more DW? Check out crafty_tardis on Livejournal and the Doctor Who crafts flickr group.

Happy crafting!

Add your Sewhooked-related photos to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post.

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Birthdays and BFFs

Birthday 2010 - My gift from Jewells!

Just over a week ago, I got to do something that I look forward to all year around – see my best friend, Jewells.  We live hundreds of miles apart and with our kids still in school, we’re lucky to get one visit a year.

I’ve talked about Jewells here before, when I shared the quilt I made for her 2008 birthday.

Jewells always shares amazingly thoughtful handmade gifts.  She’s knitted socks for me, made “snowballs” for my kids (who rarely see snow here in Texas) and just generally shared her talent, creativity and thoughtfulness with my family.

Due to a variety of circumstances beyond her control, my birthday gift for this year was belated.  Parts on back-order and such created one delay after another for her.  Due to the delays, she was able to do something that I can’t remember happening in many years – hand deliver my birthday gift!

I’m so excited to share this truly wonderful gift here.  This gorgeous perpetual calendar was an idea from a craft store flier than ended up morphing into a whole new design that Jewells made especially for me.

She pieced, stitched, stamped, glued, stenciled, covered buttons, crocheted and oh my gosh, I don’t know what else!  Look and be amazed.  I am truly a lucky girl to have had such an amazing friend for almost half of my life.

Oh, and?  It was her FIRST QUILT ever!

Jewells talks about this project here and even more here!


The whole Kit And Kaboodle!  Why coffee?  Because it’s been one of our favorite past times since our time as college roommates and we still enjoy sitting over a cup o’ Joe and chatting the day away.



The months are stamped on felt which sticks right to the velcro.  Each month is customized with coordinating ribbon!



The months have their own nifty little pouch for storage.



Each date was stamped on fabric, which was then used to make custom velcro-back buttons.


The set includes the calendar and two pouches (one for the months, one for the days).  Even the back is coffee themed!

Perpetual Calendar...action shot!

I repurposed a cafe rod and hooks for hanging this beauty in my foyer.  The cafe rod and hooks were cream and brass and have been primed and spray painted black.

Thank you, Jewells, I can’t even express how much I love the time and thought that went into this gift.  Even better was getting to open it in front of you!

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charity: March Linus Mayhem

Today found me at yet another meeting for The Linus Connection.  I’ve mentioned in the past that our numbers were low and that the continued shortage was weighing on myself and the other volunteers.

Thanks to our very diligent volunteers and some serious recruiting, our numbers are back up again and we’ve even been able to set aside blankets for the camps we donate to each summer!

I’d like to say a huge heartfelt thanks to all of my online friends that have donated to my favorite charity and encourage every crafty person out there to make something for a charity in your location.  There are loads of organizations out there just like The Linus Connection that could use your crafty skills!  Whether you knit a cap, crochet a scarf or make a quilt, whether you do it once a year or once a week, use your crafty skills for good and help change your world.  Volunteering for a good cause pays in love and friendship.  It’s one of the best non-paying jobs you’ll ever have!

These blankets and quilts were donated through Go Get Granny & Log Cabins For Linus (aka, my online friends!).  Thanks a million times to each of you for your time, your talent and your general all-around awesomeness!



Quilt made by Shae, quilted by Marge.



Granny-ghan donated by caitirin



Quilt made with blocks donated by clumsy_chord, pieced by me (to be quilted).



Afghan made from blocks donated by Janina, joined and bordered by me.



Afghan made from blocks donated by craftylilthing in Starknuts colors.  Joined by me.


Afghan made with blocks donated by auntypsycho, joined by me.



Afghan made by Mary (Mary also donated loads more granny squares, which are being joined by my friend Linda!)



Afghan made by Mary



Afghan made by Mary



Afghan made by Mary


Fleece blanket with crochet edges, made by Jennifer Tanner.

See more great blankets from Show & Tell at today’s meeting!

I will continue to accept donations until the end of March, so just a couple more weeks now!  If you still have something you’d like to share with Linus, please contact me for my mailing address.

If you make a Sew Awesome Craft or any pattern, craft or recipe from sewhooked,  I’d love to see a photo.  Email me or add it to the sewhooked flickr group.

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vlog #49 – TTMT – Something Old

In which I wax about old things and show you some new ones, too!

If you make a Sew Awesome Craft or any pattern, craft or recipe from sewhooked,  I’d love to see a photo.  Email me or add it to the sewhooked flickr group.

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Holy Wow! Dianne’s Harry Potter Quilt Top

Dianne's Quilt

I really was going to make this my Wordless Wednesday, but I just can’t do it! I see photos all the time of quilts and quilt blocks that people around the world have made using my patterns and Guest Designer patterns from sewhooked. Seeing one in person? Absolutely priceless!

This quilt was made by Dianne Ferguson, owner of Honey Bee Quilt Store, for her teenage daughter. She’s hand embroidered quotes from the books all around the quilt, starting at the top left with the first sentence from book one and ending with the last sentence from book seven. She plans on quilting it soon, so I’ll definitely have to take another picture then!

Dianne is now my boss at Honey Bee Quilt Store…but she started this quilt well before I started working there.  How’s that for cool?!