Quilting and Stuff by Knitnoid

4th Saturday BOM – Just Takes 2

I pulled out my Just Takes Two Block of the Month from 2011 to work on this 1st 4th Saturday of 2026. My goal is progress, and I accomplished that.  The lower left quadrant was easily turned 90 degrees.  Then I had to decide what block to do next. Although applique is NOT my favorite, I opted for block # 35. It’s the bottom left block of the top right section. If I continue to do them in order Block # 38 is up next — a Hawaiian applique – which I will also do by machine. But that’s next month’s decision.

 

 

Quilting After Surgery

I can’t sit too long, can’t stand too long, can’t lift over 10 pounds, can’t drive, sweep, mop, or vacuum. I’m finding it hard to take it easy, but I did take a 2 hour nap this morning after I got up at my usual time.  I’m staying off the long arm – my sister is using it. So far she’s quilted a very large quilt and 2 table runners in between running me around and dealing with her car and bank.

Windmill Weave is progressing. I need to make 6 more blocks. The strips and squares are cut and I have just enough of the print for a 4 1/2″ (cut) border and binding. But those blocks will be for next week, as January 24th is Block of the Month Saturday.

Of the 3 quilts I plan on working on this year, the one that is easiest to get around my restrictions is Just Takes 2. It’s in 2 small project boxes. The other 2 require me to dig in my FQ Boxes and those are way over 10 pounds.

Tonight I pulled out what I have done to see where I need to start. I sewed a few loose blocks together and stuck it up on the design wall.

Then I started marking blocks off on the assembly sheet.

Then I started marking blocks off on the assembly sheet.

The first thing I’m going to do is turn that lower left section around correctly. Then I guess I’ll work the applique block in the top right section. Have I mentioned I’m not a big fan of applique?  I suspect that is all I’ll get done tomorrow.

As for the winter weather we are expecting, we’ve charged all of our power banks, and have found candles, matches, flashlights and have a plan on building a fire in the fireplace if needed.  Although it is a wood burning fireplace, I’ve been planning on getting a gas insert and haven’t gotten around to it yet. I love the smell of a wood fire, but don’t want to deal with cleaning ash with the chimney in the Quilt Studio.  I have however had it cleaned and otherwise repaired.  I’m hopeful we won’t need any of these preparations.

What I’m Working on Wednesday – 1/21

Yesterday I was feeling good enough after my surgery the previous day to sew a bit. While working on the block on the bottom right I realized it was “Handwork Tuesday”, but decided to finish the block since my shows didn’t come on until 8 PM  that’s when I discovered I sewed the block turning the wrong way. As for the handwork, I picked up the red work, looked at it and put it back down. I’ll try again next week.

It’s time for a nap, but afterwards, I’ll be ripping out the block to make it rotate the other way.

Quilt #2 of 2026 – Chain of Blossoms in Green & Orange

Yesterday a couple of friends came over to see my quilts and hear their stories as even if it is winter, my sister doesn’t need that many quilts on the bed. I told stories, we folded the quilts and stacked them in the other bedroom.  If I had a matching pillowcase, it went into it. I didn’t think to get a picture before I dropped the sheet over them.  This stack also includes most of my vintage quilts. One day I’ll have a proper way to store and showcase them, but for now, this will do.  Now to the finish.

This is the 2nd Chain of Blossom quilt. I used purple binding with an orange flange simply because that’s all the matching fabric I had left. This is quilt is on my Brandon Quilters UFO list.

Chain of Blossom 2

  • Started 12/25/24
  • Finished 1/17/26
  • 47 x 47
  • Nectar B2B
  • Glide Thread – Kiwi

Up next is Windmill Weave.

Chain of Blossom 2 – Quilted

Although I should have been folding laundry, I chose to work on my 2nd Chain of Blossom quilt. I added a narrow white stop border before the outer border.  Finding fabric was a challenge. I though I had enough but came up about 20″ short, so found another FQ with a similar background and low volume print. The outer border used up the rest of that piece of fabric.

I dug in my box of backing scraps – the ones that are too big to chop up — then I loaded the backing backwards. At this point the rest of the backing will go into the strip bins. I still need to cut those, but I ran out of time.

The batting is even pieced together from 3 pieces I measured and prepped earlier this week.

The binding is cut, tonight I hope to get the binding on. It will be purple with an orange flange — the same fabrics in the quilt. I only have a strip of each left.

Meanwhile, my Quilt Studio is still clean – of course it’s only been a day. After the binding is attached to the quilt I’ll process that little pile of fabric next to the cutting mat.

 

Batting Scraps

I’m a longarm quilter and purchase batting by the 96″ wide roll. Most of the quilts I made do not have a dimension of 90″. As a result I end up with batting scraps.  The pile got to be quite large.  Last night I cleaned up the pile.  If the piece was less than 10″ wide, I cut it into 2 1/2″ strips for  jelly roll rugs. I think I have enough for now.  The big stack to the right have all been measured. This will allow me to easily grab a pieced for smaller quilts or even to make frankenbatts. Now I need to remember I’ve put them in a tub under my longarm.

After dealing with the batting I added the sashing and cornerstones to my second Chain of Blossoms.  Now I need to figure out the border. I’m not sure what my plan was for the border, but I don’t have much fabric left.  I have 1/2 a yard of 2 different greens, the purple and the orange. My scrappy neutrals I just have what is left from a FQ of some of the fabrics. No telling what I’ll figure out tonight.

 

 

Handwork Tuesday

Handwork Tuesday actually started on Monday evening after Bunco.  I prepped these blue hexies for the next row — just as soon as I get the neutral row stitched onto the section I’m working.

Tuesday, I stitched this section of my redwork. Time to move the hoop. Since I’ve worked on these two projects, I suppose next week I need to make a star.

On the Studio cleaning front I found my flat surfaces!  The box on the sewing table is a bookshelf I need to assemble for the Sunroom, but I need to get the paint cans moved so I have a place for it.  But since the flat surfaces are cleared, I can now start working on the Green and Orange Chain of Blossoms. I would love to get it quilted this week.

Quilt Studio Cleaning

It’s an ongoing battle to keep the mountains of fabric beat back. Between multiple on-going projects and the desire or need to move to the next project, stuff gets piled on my tables. Honestly, I’m not sure when I last saw the surface of that far table.  It’s supposed to be be my cutting table.  But instead of speeding ahead into my next project I started working on the tables. I have a deadline — Sunday.  My sister will be here for 2 week sharing the space with me.

On the near left corner is fabric which needs to make it into one of my FQ bins. I’m stacking it because I’m sure there is more and my fabric bins are stuffed.  I may need to shuffle fabric to get it all put away. On the stool in front of the far table is yardage. Honestly I’m not sure there’s room in the cabinet, but I can’t put it in there without more comic book boards, so I gave in and ordered them. They should be here sometime today.

As I’ve been cleaning up the scraps I’ve added them to my strips bins — selvedges, strings, 1 1/2″, 2″ and 2 1/2″ strips. Only the very top layer is new and there is more on the table.  In fact I counted 5 bags and bins of scrap fabric. There’s one on the floor by the table, a bag on the table and 3 bins under my longarm. Maybe after I get through a couple more of my UFOs I’ll do a scrap quilt.

This is the next quilt I plan to finish.  It is the 2nd version of the 2025 Brandon Quilters Mystery Quilt. I want to put in sashing and cornerstones. But first I have to finish the cleaning.

 

First Finish of 2026

My first version of the 2025 Brandon Quilters Mystery, Chain of Blossom, is finished. This quilt is on my Brandon Quilters UFO Challenge for 2026.  All the fabric came from my stash, thus the design decision on the binding. I think I have a 1 1/2″ wide strip of the gold and maybe a 7″ strip of the blue left.

Chain of Blossoms

  • Started 12/1/2024
  • Finished 1/10/2026
  • 43″ x 43″
  • E2E – Nightlight
  • Sand thread

Additionally, I finished my Twirling Leaves top and made the backing for it.  I am sending this one out to Shelly Pagliai at Prairie Moon Quilts. I’m a head of schedule since my slot is in March.

My sister is visiting for 2 weeks to use the longarm. I think she has a dozen tops ready to quilt.  So I plan on spending this week cleaning the quilt studio and cutting hexies. I have hexies cut for yellow and neutral, but I need to cut and prep blues and oranges since I’ve changed how I’m putting the quilt together.  Once I’ve got the tables clean, then I’ll work on the my next UFO – the 2nd version of the mystery quilt.

 

A Very Good Quilty Day

Friday was a very good quilty day.  First I was paid for quilting I did that I expected no payment for. Then I recounted the stars.  That bottom right star is #113, the next to the last star journaled.  This means I have all the stars that I’ve made. Star # 114 is in my Star-A-Day box along with Star #115 which I had not journaled.  I suspect it’s because I lost 2 of the swatches.  I pressed that star, did my journaling and glued in the one piece of fabric I did find.  Only 250 stars to go.

Then I quilted this cute Crayon quilt.  Back in August, Brandon Quilters had a program on Crayon quilts and everyone made a block during the meeting.  One of our members took the blocks home and she brought 2 quilt tops to the meeting on Monday.  I found some pink floral fabric in my stash for the backing.  When I get the other one quilted I’ll give them back for her to bind. Ultimately they will be Community Quilt.  I have the backing made for the 2nd quilt, I just need to figure out how I’m going to quilt it.

While this was quilting, I continued working on Twirling Leaves. Just one more block to finish!