2021: Week 22 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

 

We are in the heat of peak season here at work, so quilting time is severely limited. But since I am working from home, I realized I could take my 15 minute breaks and use one of them for quilting!  The 15 minutes is less than 15 minutes because it includes a bathroom break and commute time back and forth to my desk, but it is only fair, since the time we count for work also includes breaks. Normally, 15 minutes of quilting winds up being more than 15 minutes when I am on a roll, but then, work does go over sometimes too as it takes time to close up everything.

2021:  Week 22 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

I added the two rows of sashing to the Amalfi quilt, formerly known as Seaglass Rooftops. I also measured and cut the inner border strips.  I sewed a side of the inner border, but it was too small (did I stretch the fabric when I was measuring?), so one of my breaks was used for ripping.

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 140 out of 150 days

Success rate  = 93%

 

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2021: Week 21 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

 

We have suddenly reached summer, heat-wise, and Zeus is ready to take off his winter coat. I bought a trimmer and have been playing amateur groomer. I weaved that rug from strips cut out of jeans a few years ago and when I brought it down, Zeus has claimed it for his own.

I planted a couple of tomato plants and a flower. My lawn mower stopped working last week so I hired the job out to someone who was cutting the neighbor's lawn. I thought that would help free some time this weekend. They whipped around my yard so quickly, but didn't use the mulching function. With all the rain we have been having, there were glass clippings everywhere and I had to spend the time I normally spend mowing to rake the clippings.

2021:  Week 21 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

I didn't take a lot of photos this week, so here is an old quilt I made for my daughter. It's called Kanji Wishes. Fabric from this quilt is also in the quote quilt, and other quilts. 

I worked six days this week, so quilting had to take a backseat. I can again take credit for two days.  I spent one day cutting inner border strips and cornerstones, and another day sewing the sashing rectangles to the cornerstone squares. All this for the Amalfi quilt, formerly known as Seaglass Rooftops.

15 minute days this week --2 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 133 out of 143 days

Success rate  = 93%

 

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Week 20 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 I want to thank everyone on their input for the border fabric for the Amalfi quilt. It is so nice that there is consensus about the solid inner border and the floral fabric for the outer border. I can now move forward with confidence without any second guessing. I really liked that combination too, but I was thinking that the criteria I was trying to give the eye a place to rest and the floral fabric does not fit that criteria.  I now realize that a fabric that is too calm would not fit with the overall mood of the quilt.

2021:  Weeks 20 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

I had a 100% success rate in quilting for 15 minutes a day this year, until this week.  I knew there was no way I would be able to keep it up, but I managed until now. This week, I can take credit for two days.  I spent one day auditioning the border fabrics for the Amalfi quilt, formerly known as Seaglass Rooftops. On another day, I fussy cut the fabric for the remaining sashing.

15 minute days this week --2 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 131 out of 136 days

Success rate  = 96%

 

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Decisions, Decisions

 I haven't cut or sewn the remaining sashing on the Amalfi quilt yet, but my thoughts have already moved on to figuring out what I will use for the border. I will need to add an inner border to separate the busy sashing from the outer border.

 As a reminder, here is what the blocks look like, although they are now put together and pressed and don't look as chaotic.

What say you?

 

Solid inner border, floral outer border.

Dark inner border with polka dot outer border.

Lighter inner border, polka dot outer border.

Dark inner border, lighter outer border.

 

Here are the same photos, smaller, so you can see them side by side to compare.

Or some other combination thereof?

What about the binding? What I don't use in the border can be used for binding.

Robin wanted to see the dark border with the floral.  It is taken in different lighting conditions, but hopefully it still gives you a good idea about how it will look.

2021: Weeks 19 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

2021:  Weeks 19 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

This week, I put together the rooftop blocks to make the Almafi Coast quilt top. The top is put together, but I still need to add sashing to two of the sides. 

I bought some pool noodles because I have heard good things about using them to layer quilts and I want to layer and baste the Quote quilt.

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 129 out of 129 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

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Week 18 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

These Amalfi Coast blocks are so much fun - I really like the blues I am using - that I am extra motivated to work on them. 

2021:  Weeks 17 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 122 out of 122 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

I was at 95% at this time last year. I am ahead of last year, but I will be working overtime this spring and hope to have more work this year, so I have a feeling that I will eventually fall behind. If I wind up at the same place as last year, I will be happy.

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Quilt Reveal: Blue Shirts Quilt

 

I put the last stitches on the shirts quilt this week. It is strange to give you a quilt reveal without showing it all to you, but it is a very large quilt and  I will need help to show the whole thing to you. For good lighting, the photo has to be taken outside, and I don't want to get it dirty by laying it on the ground.

Maybe we will take the quilt for a walk so you can get a complete picture.

The quilt is made out of shirts that my brother-in-law wore until they were declared unsuitable for wear. We both like the idea of extending their life by turning them into a quilt. He isn't a lounge under a lap quilt guy, so I had to make a bed quilt. It has a 8 x 8 block layout, so it is approximately 80 x 80 inches.

Did you notice the row of one inch squares on the bottom left?

I made the quilt by cutting different size squares that would become ten inch blocks. There are a few rectangles in there too. I quilted it with an all over simple pattern meant to disguise the blocks.

I even used a shirt to make the label. I used shirts that had stains on them and I was looking for something to explain why. Mostly, I just wanted to tell the history of the shirts and show how well-loved they were.  This was the best I could find:

 

We leave a stain. 

We leave a trail. 

We leave an imprint.

 

2021:  Weeks 17 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

This week, using only 15 minutes at a day, I stitched the rest of the binding and label of the shirts quilt.

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 115 out of 115 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

I was at 95% at this time last year, because I slipped this week last year. I haven't made a small quilt this month, but am trying to think of a quick one I can finish before the end of the month.

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