Category: Project Linus

Project Linus, Ta Da Done

2018 in review – volume 3

ghrn

Today I wrap up a summary of all the crafty things I did in 2018.  I am hoping this blog can be more of a journal in 2019, not just an annual report.

Lots of baby quilts in 2018… here we go…

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A bit of improv and a lot of my favorite colors.  This quilt was donated to Project Linus.

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An orphaned block that I turned into a quilt for Project Linus.  Tying quilts is always more work then I think it will be.

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A quick Project Linus quilt using strips and fun Carolyn Friedlander fabric.  Not happy with the quilting on this one.  But living is learning.

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A yellow-and-blue beauty for project linus when I was serious about using up my scraps.

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More serious scrap usage for Project Linus.

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Probaby my favorite quilt of the year.  Used up so many wonderful scraps and I love the effect of the improv on 1/2-square triangles.  This one will be delivered to a friend this week as a gift to a special little guy.

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I almost love this one.  Almost.  Made for a friend to give as a gift.  I so wish I had used a lighter grey for more impact.

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Some orphaned + new trip-around-the-world blocks made into a Project Linus quilts.

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One of my favorites from 2018.  Based on a class by Elizabeth Hartman on Craftsy.  Love the effect.  Gifted to a sweet woman at work for her brand new baby boy.

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This one was my most-loved quilts on Instragram.  Made for the granddaughter of a dear friend.  I do love it.  But oh so much work.  It will be well-loved for years though.

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A Project Linus quilt.  Blocks made in 2014.  Quilt top put together in 2016.  Finished in 2018.  #progress

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Made from lots and lots of scraps for Project Linus.  A cacophony.  But a cheerful cuddly cacophony.

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A quilt I made for a friends baby boy and then I wasn’t sure it was good enough to give to her.  Ended up finishing as a Project Linus quilt.

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My last project linus quilt to hit my goal for 2018.  The pinks and yellows are in the wrong places in some rows.  And that is ok.

I had lots of lovely backing fabric for baby quilts in 2018.  Here are some snippets.

That is 14 baby quilts in 2018.  14.  That is a lot.

I did some other quilt making…

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I made a thing to remind me to hustle.

I made a tiny teeny little miniature quilt for my aunt’s dollhouse.

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I finished a big quilt – a Colorado memories quilt.  I don’t have a picture of it with the binding.  It has blue binding.

I finished another big quilt – a queen size for our bed, using french-inspired fabrics and Denyse Schmidt’s big charming pattern.  Missouri Star quilted this one.  Putting on the binding was a big charming battle.  I wish I had used more fabrics and colors in the squares, but it still has a sweet french vibe.

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And I made some pillows for our living room.  I didn’t make the cat, but I help keep him alive.

2018 OUT!

 

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Project Linus, Ta Da Done

Another baby quilt recap…

ghrn

My destiny is baby quilts.  Which is ok – because I love them.  With a baby quilt, you can finish in a weekend, use fun colors, and try out some ideas.  Here is a recap of some baby quilts I have made in the last few months…

  1.  This is based on an Elizabeth Hartman class from Craftsy.  I love this quilt.  I love the blue and the grey and the composed, funky vibe.  This was made for a friend’s first baby.  The only thing I would have done differently is quilt on the diagonal.  My straight-line quilting always looks kind of meh.IMG_4846
  2. This quilt was started from around-the-world blocks I had from 2014.  I made some turquoise and low-volume blocks to finish out what I needed.  I love making these blocks – but they are decptively time consuming. This one will be donated to Project Linus.IMG_4867
  3. This is one of my favorite quilts I have ever made.  But it did need one of those labels that says “This took forever!”  This was made for a grandbaby of a coworker.  I love this quilt – love all of the fabrics that I picked that should have special meaning for them.  And I loved how much it was loved.  I quilt to make something that will be loved.  And this quilt will be loved.  I also used some precious backing for this quilt.  I love the birds and the roses.IMG_4881IMG_4882
  4. For a few weeks I was on a kick to get all of the quilts done for my 2018 Project Linus goal.  This one had been pieced forever.  I finally got it basted, quilted, and bound.  I just love this quilt.  So pink and pretty.IMG_4908
  5. Last, and probably least, is this acid trip.  I had all of these orphan blocks I wanted to use up.  So I threw them all in one quilt.  Included are some abandoned curves, a wonky trip-around-the-world block, and a stopped EPP hexagon project.  I know it is a lot.  My grandmother used to use the phrase “cheap and cheerful”.  I love that phrase.  This quilt wasn’t exactly “cheap” when you consider the fabrics used, but it is cheerful and it used lots of scraps. This will be another donation to Project Linus.IMG_4909

Five baby quilts recapped!

Project Linus, Ta Da Done

Improv

ghrn

Hi – I had a lot of fun making two improv baby quilts.

This goal for the first one was to use about a bunch of 1/2-square triangle blocks.  I learned the trick from Jenny to sew an extra seam when making 1/2-square triangle blocks so you have a whole other block, rather than a bunch of triangles that are harder to use.

I have made several quilts using this method, so I had A LOT of 1/2-square triangles.  I was able to use them all and added some other improv piecing to make this adorable quilt to donate to Project Linus.

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I love the outcome so much.  The palette and piecing make me so happy.  And I made a boy’s quilt!

When I posted this quilt on instagram, a friend asked me to make a quilt for her niece in purple and grey.  I got about 1/2-way through making a giantized swoon block and then decided I hated it.  The grey was too muddy for the block to have impact.  So I started chopping and adding in some more improv.  You can see remnants of the swoon block shape in the quilt.  It took 2x longer to make than I expected, but I love the results.  Again, I think the restrained (at least restrained for me) color palette makes all the difference.

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I loved making these quilts.  Improv always takes longer than I think it will though – so it may be a bit before I take on any more of these.

In Progress, Project Linus, Ta Da Done

WIP update

ghrn

I had lots of goals in April and got taken away by some new projects.  I only got 3 things done, but I did reduce my backlog to 22 (from 23 at the end of March).

Here is what I got done:

Blue and purple project Linus quilt completed.  I am not completely in love with this one, but it is done.

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And I completed this embroidery project.  Probably the toughest one I have done to date. I am absolutely in love with it.  Pattern is by Namaste Embroidery.

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And I also finished this embroidery project.  The wreath pattern also is by Namaste Embroidery.  I took the phrase from The Secret Garden.  This one was fast and fun, compared to the succulent embroidery project.  I love all of the vines in all of the different greens.  I used some silk floss in this project – what a dream to work with.  I think it could be very addicting.

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This one really is a message I need right now.  I need to make myself stronger in so many ways.  Work and perseverance and my own two feet.

I started one new project in April… that I should have gotten done in April.  Oh well.  May needs to be the month of baby quilts – 2 for friends and 2 for Project Linus.  I just need to not completely get sucked into my Long Time Gone quilt.

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Project Linus, scrappy, Ta Da Done

Charity baby quilt breather

ghrn

I want to get 24 baby quilts donated to Project Linus this year – to make up for the last couple of years when I didn’t get any made or donated.  I have been having a lot of fun.  I have finished 2 more in February, bringing my total up to 6 for the year.

This first quilt had been lingering as a failed attempt to piece a back.  And so it became a front.  I am very unhappy with the goody quilting that happened when I went in two different directions.  I know better.

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But I am very happy with the back of this quilt.  This Tula Pink camping fabric is so beyond adorable.  So maybe when this quilt gets to its owner the front will be the back.IMG_4598

I am much happier with my next finish.  This quilt was set on point using blue and yellow scrap blocks.  IMG_4618

I love everything about this quilt – the colors, the quilting, the binding the cheerful patchwork of it all.

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I need to make more improv scrap blocks.  The are a lot of work but they are oh-so-pretty.

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I got the quilts done that I needed to until April 1.  I am going to pause and make some headway on my own selfish sewing projects.

Project Linus, scrappy, Ta Da Done

Baby quilts

ghrn

As long time readers know, I make a lot of baby quilts. Lots and lots. Since 2014, I have a yearly goal of how many charity quilts I want to make. I love making baby charity quilts. There is no prescribed palette or style – I can use all the colors and prints I want and eventually the quilt will provide comfort to a child who is sick. Not much better equation for sewing happiness.

I also have the pleasure of working with a lot of young men and women who become parents and need baby quilts. Last year I made 6 baby quilts – and only one of them was a charity quilt. And I didn’t even mean to make it as a charity quilt. I made Fancy Forest by Elizabeth Hartmann. IMG_4042.JPG

A gorgeous pattern – but at the end of making it and basting it, I was tired of the project and didn’t pay close enough attention. Heavy quilting to the rescue!! It ended up being a just fine adorable baby quilt, but too punctuated by error to be the fall festive wall hanging I was going for.

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I want to do 12 charity baby quilts a year.  I haven’t come close the last two years.  Couple that with the baskets and boxes and stacks of orphan blocks and scraps, I set an aggressive goal this year – 26 project charity baby quilts.

I have (had) a backlog of 5 tops ready to go.  So far I have been able to get 2 done and one almost done.

This quilt was originally made for a friend’s baby and then I decided it wasn’t quite right with her colors and style.  It sat for a year+ just waiting for the binding.

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The next one I finished, I couldn’t face doing binding.  I hate binding.  So I finished without binding and then did free-motion quilting on it until my eyes swam.  I know this breaks all the rules of quilt finishing, but I like it.  Cheerful and soft – that is about all you can ask of a baby quilt.

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I have more tops in the hopper.  I have had this finished giant block for 2+ years and am almost done with it.  I quilted with just the batting, and now am tying it onto the back with embroidery floss.  I have now remembered that takes more time than binding!!  Binding isn’t looking so bad now.

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and I also have been setting (and mostly meeting) scrap usage goals.  This quilt top is done entirely from a scrap basket, that still is overflowing.  I love the cheeriness of the blue and yellow.  Total pure fun.

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I also played with interspersing some yellow in the blue blocks and some blue in the yellow blocks, which adds some interest.

 

 

Project Linus, scrappy, Ta Da Done

A Baby Quilt Update

ghrn

I currently am working on the most dope baby quilt I have ever made.  Not kidding – truly the greatest.  But because that baby quilt is secret sewing, here are some pictures of some other baby quilts I have wrapped up quickly.  They are pretty ok…

img_3434This was made based on a pattern in wanderlust quilts.  I modified and simplified it a bit so there weren’t any Y-seams.  I used V and Co. Ombre.  Something about the ombres, especially the yellow and turquoise make it look light the quilt is lit from within.  I used Kona Medium Gray… and my favorite baby boy quilt back fabric of the season, this Zoology print..

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I loved giving this quilt.  The mom recipient is one of my favorite people.  And she really loved the quilt.

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Next up is a quilt made for a friend who was going to be surprised by the gender.  When I ask what colors a nursery is going to be decorated, the trend is going to get very specific answers.  Which I would be the EXACT SAME if I was decorating a nursery.  But as a quiltmaker, I yearn for free color  and artistic control.  So when this mom said, “um, I don’t know, green?” I was thrilled.  And wowzer did I get crazy with the green.  I had a lot of fun with this quilt.

 

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How sweet is that?  Love all of those greens – and I do think it will be equally cheerful for a boy and girl.  This has become my favorite baby quilt pattern.  It is on-point 5-in squares and tied.  The tieing and no binding make the quilts lay flatter and look cleaner.

I backed this quilt with a fun all-over numbers green print.

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I have made 4 boy quilts in a row, so I was ready for a girl quilt.  So I used the same pattern and went crazy with the girly flowery prints.

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Oh my gosh, that quilt is my jam !!  I still have to tie it, but then it will go to Project Linus.  I think it will make a small girl and a family happy.  With all those beautiful blooms, how couldn’t it?