Dash - Number 198

Dash is done.  The hardest part of this project was selecting the fabric, but that's almost always true for me and my projects.  But in this case not only did I need to decide on my fabric, where the fabric was placed in the pattern was also important.  I found the the style of this pattern very appealing,  but how Heather used different volumes of fabric also added to its great look, so that was something else for me to consider when choosing my fabric.

I was rolling right along until I finished the outer three rows in the picture below, and noticed I had three green fabrics touching.

It was a pretty easy fix since I was using V and Co fabric, giving me plenty of choices that were not green.  But it's funny that I didn't even notice until I had the blocks up on my design wall.

The pattern has directions for two different size Dashes, the pattern is the same but the blocks are different sizes.  You can make a 78" x 78" or a 39"x 39".  I made my blocks in the middle.  I also made my large corner block larger and added two extra blocks to each row, for a quilt top that finished at 59" x 59".

This pattern is currently in the magazine Simply Moderne, Issue Number 8.  I just spied it at Barnes and Noble.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 198

It finished at 59" x 59"

It has approximately 351 pieces

The fabric is by V and Co for Moda.  Not one family, just an assortment from all of Vanessa's lines.

The pattern is Dash by Heather Jones Studio and available here. 

One more finish then I'l be starting on Due South.  Kristen has already started the sew along, she's making Cracked Pots using Kimberbell basics.  I've linked to Kristen's blog Meadowbrook in my Favorites list so you can follow her progress, or click here.  I've not heard from anyone else, I think Kristen is the first to start the sew along and has such a great start may be the first entry in our parade.  Be sure to let me know when you start your Miss Rosie's Quilt Co project.

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Long Time Gone - Gone, for now

So my original goal was to work on my Long Time Gone project a little bit at a time.  Maybe a block a week, a section a month, something along those lines.  But once I got started I figured out that this wasn't really the type of project I could easily work on every now and then.  A lot of the blocks need strips and squares that are not efficient to just cut for one block at a time.  So once I got started and was on a roll I figured I would break this project down into 3 projects.  The projects  consist of two piecing projects and one assembly project.  The first piecing project is done.  Here are all  the blocks for Sections 1 - 4.

Section 1

 Sections 1 and 2

Sections 1, 2 and  3

and Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4

I enjoyed piecing every block, a couple of blocks were first timers for me, like the Trip Around the World block and the Crosses of UK blocks.  I changed up the Jacobs Ladder blocks but other than that it's pretty much just like the pattern.

I've now packed everything up into a couple of projects boxes and plan to finish piecing Sections 5 and 6 this summer.  Then I'll assemble it all this fall, easily making my Year of Thelma deadline.

And speaking of The Year of Thelma, are you still planning to join my Miss Rosie Quilt Co sew along?  I happened to notice that I am getting very close to Lifetime Quilt Number 200, and thought my Due South sew along quilt would be a perfect 200th quilt, so I'm going to finish a couple projects before I start my Due South, but don't let that stop you from starting, and be sure to send me your progress updates.

So next up is this project, which has been on my To Do List for over a year.  A perfect project for spring I think.

The pattern Dash is by Heather Jones and available here.

I'm thinking these nice prints by V and Co for Moda would look great in that pattern and fit my need to work with spring colors.  Since spring visited us shortly in February but has now disappeared I guess I need to get my spring fix inside instead of outside.

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Long Time Gone Start

I was initially suffering from a case of analysis paralysis on my Long Time Gone project.  Once I decided to go with my Cotton + Steel fabric I thought how best to proceed would get easier, it did not.

I just kept trying to figure out what was the best way to start.

So I finally jumped in and started with these 3 inch Churn Dash blocks from Section 2.

I enjoyed piecing them and all I needed to do was pick 9 different pieces of fabric from my Cotton and Steel stash. That I could manage.

Then I moved on to these Flying Gees blocks, which only required 3 different pieces of fabric.

This block is also for Section 2.

This is a very scrappy project, and initially I thought I could cut extra strips and squares from the fabric that I was using as I went along, but I've now figured out that I need a lot of strips and squares for the checkerboard blocks, the courthouse steps blocks, pineapple blocks, log cabin blocks and the over 150 required half square triangle units.

So I picked out my 60 favorite fat quarters and just started cutting strips and squares.  It's been slow going, but they're all cut up now, so hopefully things will start to move along at a quicker pace.

As I was picking out my favorite fat quarters I ran across this dot print, which was a panel with 6 different dot prints, and thought it would make a great Bow Tie Block, for Section 3, because I think bowties should be polkadot.  The dots matching up, just a happy coincidence.

So my plan is to piece all the blocks for Sections 1 and 2, then move on to a new project, but I've already jumped ahead to Setcion 3.  Maybe I'll just designate next week Long Time Gone week then put it up until April.  Stay tuned for updates.

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Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah I'm Done

Zipper's all pieced, hurray.  I started this quilt in 2015.  I've been known to say "quilts take a long time, when you don't work on them".  I can now add, "or when they sit in a project box".

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 196

It finished has 66" x 78"

The pattern is Zipper by Camille Roskelly for Thimble Blossoms. (available here)

The fabric is an assortment of Little Black Dress, Little Black Dress 2 and Black Tie Affair by Basic Grey for Moda.

It has approximately 570 pieces.

Even though this project spanned several years, I enjoyed piecing it together.

The pattern has several interesting looks and is a great stash buster.

Are you working on selecting your Miss Rosie pattern and fabric for the sew along?  I'm going to spend a couple of weeks working on my Long Time Gone project and don't expect I'll be starting my Due South until the middle of March, but don't wait for me, get started whenever you like.

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What's been happening in my world

There's not been much sewing going on at my house.

I tagged along with my husband on a business trip, which I would do more often if his business destinations were in great places, like this trip, on the beach.   Most of the time his travels are less scenic, and the weather not much better than where I am.

While sitting on the beach I studied this book,  Long Time Gone by Jen Kingwell.

I studied this book so hard the staples came out and all the pages came loose.  There's a whole lot of sewing going on in this quilt.

So much sewing that I've decided to spread the fun out over this entire year, making this my special Year of Thelma quilt.

The pattern is broken down into 6 sections.  I think I'm going to start with Section 2, it looks the easiest and least time consuming.  Section 5 will probably take me all summer.

Now I just need to decide on some fabric and get going.

Another task that I completed that was quilty related but not sewing related was my quarterly quilt refold.  If the quilt is folded outside I switch it to inside, folded lengthwise becomes widthwise, and so on.  I enjoy looking at all my quilts, organizing them again, usually by season, and putting them neatly back on my quilt racks and shelves.  They were a mess after my Pride of Prairie Trunk Show.  It normally doesn't take all that long, but my arms sure are tired when I'm done.

And finally, this is back out on my design wall, Zipper by Camille Roskelley for Thimbleblossoms.  When I blogged about losing my loving feeling for this top I got some great comments.  One quilter suggested making it a table runner, which I thought was a good idea, but making a bed runner an even better idea, and initially my plan.  Someone else pointed out that this quilt top was too pretty not to finish.  Well when I got this project back out I discovered I had more completed than I remembered, and it was too long and too narrow for a bed runner for my kingsize bed.

So now I've decided it is too pretty not to finish, I only need to add around 15 more rows.  I also now remember why I put this project in a project box.  I started the project using Little Black Dress, then decided to jazz it up by adding  Black Tie Affair,  both by Basic Grey for Moda.  To get the two fabrics to blend together I needed to un-sew a few rows, add some Black Tie Affair, then sew them back together.  That's where I am right now, separating what's already combined, then I'll sew some new rows.  The pieces are  all cut and ready, they just need to be sewn together, easy peasy.  And I'm not stopping until it's done!

And finally, thanks so much for the great response on Miss Rosie's Quilt Co's new book, Farmhouse Favorites, and joining me on a sew along.  There was such an enthusiastic response Carrie donated two books and I'm donating one.   The winners are Peggy in NJ, Debra from MD and Nancy Lewis from PA.  Nancy and Peggy, I sent you an email, I need your mailing address please. 

As far as the sew along goes, it's going to be very simple. Start when you want, do any Miss Rosie's Quilt Co pattern and finish by the end of 2017.  A nice way to wrap up the Year of Thelma.  I plan to start Due South the end of March.  Send me updates and pictures as you progress, I'll blog about any updates on Fridays throughout the year.  If you have a blog send a link and I'll add you to my blog roll call list.  And at the end of the year we'll have a parade of all the finishes.  I can hardly wait to see what you make, Due South so far seems to be the most popular pattern choice, I love nothing better than seeing the same pattern made with different fabric.  

Whew, I think that's it! Just one blog post this week, but a long one, I hope you made it to the end!

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