Anyone else feel like they are on a race to complete goals before the end of the year? One of my big goals for 2015 was to work down my WIP list. Unfortunately, I added quite a few projects to the list this year, but I am doing my best to knock many of my projects into the finished column before the end of the year. Here's the binding for my next four quilt finishes. Okay, one is actually for my son's finish, but since I help him, then I get half credit, right?
Two of those are for Christmas gifts, so I'm just about down to the wire on those deadlines. I'm about 40% done quilting this 60" X 72" lap quilt. I was inspired by Jessica's woodgrain pattern that I saw on her Top 10 Tips: Quilting Large Quilts on Your Home Machine post. See her Stripey quilt in #9 of her post for my inspiration. Tons of great ideas in her 10 tips, too!
I'm quilting mine with aurifil #2915 (very light brass). I don't even know how I ended up with this spool. (Was it maybe in the sampler of aurifil that I got from you an eternity ago, Sarah N?) I like the rich color and the great contrast on my dark fabrics. It blends in somewhat with the backing fabric, which I'll show off when it's done.
We're nearing the end of this year's The Bee Hive quilting bee, I need to make the December block and then January is my month to be queen bee. So I worked a bit on both of those tasks. I'm making a couple Houndstooth blocks this month, so I printed my paper piecing patterns and cut fabric for those:
And I also pulled fabrics to make a couple sample blocks for my month so I can get that email out to my hive just after Christmas:
Perhaps I'll be sewing my sample blocks on Christmas Day?
Yesterday I didn't manage to spend any time sewing (oops), so this afternoon will be spent quilting and binding the Christmas gifts.
Thanks for visiting.
Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
Getting to the point of making binding is always a satisfying stage in a project. It sounds like you (and your son) will have some finishes soon! Jessica's woodgrain quilting has inspired me, too, and your interpretation of the motif looks great.
I am definitely also feeling a pinch of the end of the year and goals nebulously floating in my mind. I'm going to start today by re-writing my near term quilting goals so that I can at least visually understand where I am at (I bet it's not as bad as I think.... I hope...).
sarah
Post authorI'm hoping for three finishes in the next two days. Two are minis that are already quilted, so maybe that isn't such a nutty short term goal. Good luck with your list. It definitely helps to have an accurate list.
Robin Rosenberg
Do you put on your binding by machine or by hand? I sew one side on by machine and then fold it over and hand stitch. Weirdly enough I LOVE this part of the process. Probably more than the rest of the process!
sarah
Post authorI machine bind. It's nice and fast. :-) I usually stitch onto the back, wrap around to the front and then stitch on by machine. I have a binding tutorial in the works, so you'll be able to see exactly how I do it. :-) Thanks for visiting, Robin.
Brianna Robertson
You definitely get half credit. The other day I was helping my Mom learn her new machine, letting my cousin use mine to sew a bag for a gift and cutting fabric for my grandma so she can make 3 throws for Christmas too. It was like sewing school at our house, so I'm counting all their projects towards my finishes too! ha. I had a Christmas sewing list, but I'm choosing not to write down the WIP list or it'll make me stressed. I'm trying to slow down and enjoy it, when I really just want to finish these all up quick so I can try new ideas!
sarah
Post authorThat's a lot of helping. Great job assisting your family in their projects! The WIP is a little stressful. If I had fewer projects int he works, maybe I could slow down and enjoy more. :-) Thanks for visiting, Brianna.
Anja @ Anja Quilts
Congrats on getting more projects done. Your woodgrain quilting is awesome.
sarah
Post authorThanks, Anja... working on the last few rows of stitching now. With any luck I'll get it bound tonight.