Silvery Moon (PIGS)

This quilt was made for Miff's friend who is going to foster children. The friend is having a "shower" and requests a "gently used" book and a blanket for gifts. I had a gently used "Goodnight Moon" book and the fabric for a companion quilt in one of my PIGS. The fabric is mostly leftover from the twins' rocket ship quilts that I made a couple years ago. The backing was actually a "Goodnight Moon" print showing the cow jumping over the moon (the picture that hangs in the room) that I picked up on an internet sale several years ago. The green fabric for the great green room also came from an internet sale. Thanks to Miff's friend for providing the excuse to empty a PIGS and help me meet one of my yearly goals!

 

After I planned this present, I read on the internet that "Goodnight Moon" is an "abiding horror." I was shocked as I thought it was a "classic." I felt like I'd just read that "Pride and Prejudice" is really pornography or something equally traumatizing to my fantasy world. Apparently, the old lady is creepy, the mice frightening, the mush disgusting, and the rhymes terrible! Well, barren old women who make quilts for little kids need to climb out of their fantasies and have a dose of reality. I hope Miff's friend doesn't hold the same opinion of the book.

 

• Size: 48 1/2" x 57" Crib size
• Quilting: Quilted in a free-form pattern. Quilted free form circles ("moons") in the border. Quilted free form, meandering spirals in the night sky. Quilted my signature  rabbit jumping over the moon. Did not quilt the red window sashing, stars, or moon. 5 bobbins. Used variegated silver to gray thread, Omni-V 100% polyester thread #9138, named "Silver Mist".  Quilting by Patty.
• Backing: "Goodnight Moon" cow jumping over the moon fabric from fabric.com. I pre-shrunk the backing because it was an organic cotton and I wasn't too sure about the dyes and quality of the fabric. It washed beautifully, the dyes are color fast, and it didn't require ironing after drying in the dryer.
• Batting: 80%/20% cotton/polyester batting From Winline
• Binding:  Plain green fabric from internet sale. Same fabric that was used for the border.
• Pattern: "Goodnight Moon" inspired by pictures in the book. Piecing by Patty.
• Pinned and basted into frame May 26, 2017. Full float. Quilting on long arm quilter May 29, 2017. (Patty).
• Binding by Patty. 
• QC by Spencer.

   

Where the Dinosaurs Roam

 

This is the first quilt made after my father's death May 4, 2017. It was made for the 3-year old grandson of one of my father's caregivers. The caregiver was Brenda and her grandson is Xavier. Needless to say, Xavier is into dinosaurs! This quilt was made from fabrics specially purchased from fabric.com. The fabrics were selected to use the pattern from the Koala Party quilt that I made earlier this year. This quilt turned out bright and cute. 

• Size: 56" x 74" Youth bed size
• Quilting: Quilted in a meandering free-form pattern. Quilted some of the designs in the border and center panel. Quilted circles in outer border.  7 bobbins. Used variegated light blue to medium blue thread, King Tut 100% cotton thread, named "Aswan".  The quilter loved the cotton thread. Quilting by Patty.
• Backing: Matching fabric from fabric.com
• Batting: 80%/20% cotton/polyester batting From Winline
• Binding:  Blue print fabric from fabric.com. Fabric coordinates with the geometric blue print in the panel and borders.
• Pattern: "Koala Party" from a quilt made earlier. Piecing by Patty.
• Pinned and basted into frame May 19, 2017. Full float. Quilting on long arm quilter May 22-24, 2017. (Patty).
• Binding by Patty. 
• QC by Spencer.

 

 

P.L.'s 2017

A quilt made for Baby K, using a pattern I saw on the Accu-Quilt web site. I call mine "P.L.'s 2017" because as a toddler I had a set of plastic ABC's that I called "my P.L.'s", my initials and what I was often called. This is my modern version of my childhood toy. The quilt went together very quickly.

 

• Size: 41" x 50" Crib size
• Quilting: Quilted in a meandering loop-de-loop in the borders and a meandering stipple around the letters. Free form quilting. 5 bobbins. Used soft yellow Omni 100% polyester thread, named "Butter". Quilting by Patty.
• Backing: White nursery print from a JoAnn's red tag sale. This piece has been in my inventory for some time.
• Batting: 100% cotton batting "Warm and Natural"
• Binding:  Blue print fabric from my inventory. I made the binding bias because strips had been cut from the long sides of the fabric (probably for borders) and so I wouldn't have to make so many short straight pieces from the remaining fabric, I cut longer pieces on the bias.
• Pattern: "Alphabet Soup" from Accu-Quilt by Connie Kauffman. I made mine more pastel in color and not so primary colored, but it would be pretty in primary colors also.
• Piecing and appliqué by Patty.
• Pinned and basted into frame April 4, 2017. Full float.
• Quilting on long arm quilter April 5, 2017. (Patty). 
• Binding by Patty. 
• QC by Spencer who tried to teach Uncle Keith how to QC quilts
• For the blocks I used a Layer Cake from MSQC called "Chloe's Closet". Cut the 10" squares into 5" squares.

Thomas Everett Kuhagen was born May 21, 2017.

     

Blanket in the Time of Covid. October, 2020.

Koala Party (Kit)

This quilt was made for the neighbors' second baby. It was made from a kit from Superior Threads. The kit contained the center panel, borders, and binding. The back was built using a leftover piece from the kit and fabric from my inventory, including fabric left over from Sara's baby quilt. 

• Size: 47" x 53" Crib size
• Quilting: Quilted in a meandering free-form loop-de-loop. Free form quilting. 5 bobbins. Used light turquoise Omni 100% polyester thread, named "Light Turquoise". Quilting by Patty.
• Backing: Built the back using fabric from my inventory and a piece left over from the kit.
• Batting: 100% cotton batting Warm and White
• Binding:  Blue print fabric from the kit. 
• Pattern: "Koala Party" from a kit sold by Superior Threads. Piecing by Patty.
• Pinned into frame February 26, 2017. Quilting on long arm quilter February 27-28, 2017. (Patty).
• Binding by Patty. 
• QC by Spencer.

 

 

 

 

 

GOALS FOR 2017 and 2016 YEAR-END REPORT

2017 Goals

• Complete 6 long-armed quilts, including baby quilts for neighbors' expected baby  and one for niece's expected baby. Some of the quilts to be completed are described in following goals, but the total should be 6. This is a pace of 0.5 quilts per month.
• Make a quilt to learn a new technique, such as curved seams or scalloped borders
• Make 1 neonatal quilt for guild
• Make one "kit" quilt
• Make  zippered pouches for Rosalee out of her candy bags.
• Make 1 quilt from the To Do list of 14 Projects in bags as listed here:

1. Dog Park (Quilting Bee--"Community Garden") in Cal-Asia bag
2. Whole cloth star quilt in box
3. Sea Star (Binding Tool Star) in clear plastic orange bag
4. Sock Monkey #1 (my own) in pink N-M bag
5. Sock Monkey #2 (my own) in pink N-M bag
6. Rose Water hour glass quilt
7. Good Night Moon (Joy of Quilting--similar to "The Incredibly Cool Cosmic Rocket Ship") in Aunt Janet Bag. 
8. Garden Gate in leopard print bag
9. Marbles (Modern Baby) in UNICEF bag
10. Jumping Jacks (quilts from sweet Jane) in MSQC red bag to be named Tomato Soup
11. 3 half square triangle quilts in red reptile N-M bag, one red, one blue, one pink.
12. Crosswalk in blue clear bag. See MSQC video.
13. Prairie Flowers with Halloween fabric. MSQC book.
14. Alaska fabric from Ann in UNICEF bag. No pattern as of January 2017.

2017 Outlook

2017 will be a year focused on family and not quilting. Quilting goals are modest.

2016 Year-End Report

• Completed 19 long-armed quilts, including one for a new cousin, Everly Joy. The 2016 goal was met and exceeded by one. Six of the quilts were whole cloth quilts, the dorm series, made for Narinder's nieces and nephew, so the goal was met by  a series of easier quilts, kinda sorta cheating. Nevertheless, it was a feat to make the goal, even with 6 easier quilts,  because Mother had a heart attack and pacemaker in February and Daddy's health decline accelerated beginning in October. A lot of quilting time was pre-emptied by doctor appointments and hospital visits. 
• I improved my long arm quilting techniques, including feathers. I started using a full float technique for mounting the top and that turns out to produce better results for me. The feathers on Cerritos Strip were much better than my first attempts. Goal met.
• Did not make a quilt to learn a new technique, such as curved seams or scalloped borders. Goal not met. Goal will be retained for next year.
• Did not make 3 neonatal quilts for guild. Goal not met. I will try to make 1 neonatal quilt in 2017.
• Did not make one "kit" quilt. Goal not met. Goal will be retained for next year.
• Patty did buy more fabric before 6 quilts were finished from her stash. So, the goal was not met. However, 5 quilts were completed from Patty's stash.
• Made 31 zippered pouches as gifts or donations. Goal of 3 zippered pouches was greatly exceeded!
• Did not make 1 bag using used denim. However, 9 bags were made from various materials, including oil cloth and plastic mesh. One bag was made for my brother's traveling ukulele from pre-quilted material and I appliquéd a fly on it. Therefore, the goal can be marked as "met".
• Made 3 table runners and one yoga mat. The 2016 goal of  4 table runners can be considered met.
• Did not make a quilt out of the saved Peace Corps dresses. Goal not met.
• Did not watch quilting courses on the Internet and practice what is presented. Goal not met.
• Made only 1 quilt, not 3 quilts,  from the To Do list of 10 Projects in bags. Goal only partially met. Will try to pare down the list in 2017. Quilt made was "Construction Site", called "Road Work" on the list. In addition, 5 quilts were added to the list, one to replace the completed quilt and 4 more! Total on the list is now 14!

  Overall, most of the goals were not met due to the health situations at my parents' home. I will have to be very realistic about my goals for 2017 and take into account the needs of my parents.  

My Lone Star Quilt

   After I quilted Donna's Lone Star quilt she sent me the book and templates from Nancy Zieman's internet store. The center was from the book and the design around the edges I made up as I went along guided by some pictures of medallion quilts that I found on the internet. I know what to do better next time. The fabric came from my inventory. It was fun to piece this quilt and I am looking forward to the next one. Caruso broke sewing the border. He's fixed now! The repairman said he's good for another 100 years! Quilt to be donated to guild for their charity work. Donated to quilt guild July 2017.

• Size: 65" x 91" Twin size
• Quilting: Quilted in a meandering stipple. Free form quilting. 8 bobbins. Used light brown Omni 100% polyester thread, named "Canyon". Quilting by Patty.
• Backing: Gray, pink, and red print fabric from my inventory. It's probably the most perfectly matched back for a top that i have ever paired up, at least when the quilt is made from inventory and not from 
• purchased fabric with coordinating back.
• Batting: 80/20 cotton/polyester batting from Winline
• Binding:  Red print fabric from my inventory. The same fabric used in some of the blocks.
• Pattern: "Lone Star" from Sew Speedy Lone Star Quilts by Nancy Zieman.  
• Piecing by Patty.
• Pinned into frame December 28, 2016. Quilting on long arm quilter December 30, 2016. (Patty). 
• Binding by Patty. 
• QC by Spencer.

 

 

Construction Site

 This is a quilt from the To Do list and one I've wanted to make for a long time since I bought the book little bits QUILTING BEE. It turned out bright and cute. I had to trim the half-square triangle blocks down to 9" because they skewed a bit in the sewing. The quilt is still big enough. I used a layer cake (10" pre-cut squares) purchased from MSQC to make the top. Quilt to be donated to guild for their charity work. Donated to quilt guild July 2017.

 

• Size: 69" x 85.5" Twin size
• Quilting: Quilted in a meandering elongated stipple. Free form quilting. 8 bobbins. Used Omni-V #9121 100% polyester thread. Variegated medium to dark blue. Named "Tempest Blue". Quilting by Patty.
• Backing: Blue print fabric from The Laurel Leaf's going out of business sale.
• Batting: 80/20 cotton/polyester batting from Winline
• Binding:  Gray tan print fabric from my inventory. The same fabric used for the background in the blocks.
• Pattern: "Prismatic" from little bits QUILTING BEE by Kathreen Ricketson.  
• Piecing by Patty.
• Pinned into frame December 19, 2016. Quilting on long arm quilter December 19-23, 2016. (Patty). 
• Binding by Patty. 
• QC by Spencer.