Trusting the Process

 

The first Block B is done for my 

Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt

These are big 18.5" blocks unfinished. 

Your can see the lovely leafy details on my creamy white tone on tone background fabric in this photo. 

This free Scrappy Irish Chain pattern may be downloaded in the link below: 

Scrappy Irish Chain ~ Free Pattern by Jessie Fincham

I love the quilting design in Jessie's quilt.

NOTE:

If you are making this quilt, 

there are cutting errors in the original pattern.

Corey Yoder has posted important 

Corrections to the Cutting Instructions Here

Since the original free pattern is not hers, 

Corey cannot fix the errors in the pattern. 

Here are my first two blocks together.

As expected, the busy scrappyness of the Block A is calmed and tamed considerably by the juxtaposition of Block B with its restful white space.

The first block looked so chaotic that I was having

Second and Third Thoughts Here

Now I am thinking maybe not.

I decided to make this pattern after loving the very busy and scrappy sample quilt.

Maybe I should just trust the process.

I do love busy, scrappy quilts. 

I am also crocheting while I am thinking. 

The shawl that I am making for my daughter is nearing completion

and long enough to warm my lap as I stitch.

The kitties are enjoying having their kitty tree by the radiator in our living room. Nutmeg is in the gray hammock. Katniss is actually laying on a folded quilt on top of the radiator.  Cassian is not in the photo but he is on the furry blanket on bottom of the cat tree.  Maestro is curled up in a fuzzy cat bed on my bed, which her favorite place to sleep. All four cats have been sleeping on my bed most nights.  The kitties like to share body heat on cold winter nights.  Cassian has yet to be admitted to a kitty cuddle with the others, but he is now allowed to sleep on a quilted pillow at the head of the bed.  Trusting the process with the kitties means he may be allowed to curl up with the sister kitties someday. 

It is turning cold here and we are forecast to have

 -12 degrees F by Thursday night.

Brrrrrr! 

Second ~ and Third ~ Scrappy Thoughts

 This is my Second Thought.

I am thinking of limiting my palette and

 hoping to create a secondary design in the chain.

In this layout, I have only blue, yellow and white background colors in my squares.

I have taken out the green scraps and am limiting the green 

to the single fabric in the chain borders

My First Block for my Scrappy Irish Chain 

looks maybe a bit too busy even for my "all scraps are welcome" eyes.

My seam ripper has to find that lightest green square. 

Then this block may turn into a kitty quilt. 

This is my Third Thought. 

For this layout, I also pulled the white and used dark blue in the center and light blue to yellow for the center of the chains.

I would have to cut many more dark blue scraps.

Mr. Scrapatch has already added his thoughts while walking by my cutting table and said he likes the dark blue center in this layout. Mr. Scrapatch loves blue.

I am going to make one Block B and think some more.

Which layout would you choose?

Opinions always welcome.

:) 

Back to Sewing ~ Block 1

 

My first block is done for my

Scrappy Irish Chain Scrap Along Quilt

This scrappy goodness is being hosted by Corey Yoder.

This is Block A ~1 of 13

Here are her inctructions

Scrappy Irish Chain Scrap Along ~ Part 2 ~ Block Piecing

This is a very big and busy block made of 9 rows of 2.5" squares.

I need to make one of the Block B next so I can see how my fabrics and colors are working.  Right now I cannot see the pattern.  The large neutral background center in the alternate block is really needed as a place eyes to rest.

It was good to be back to sewing.  My lovely workhorse of a Janome MC6600p is getting old.  I have sewn so many seams with her that her tension mechanism is wearing out.  I have the tension set to the max to get an even stitch.  It is one of the reasons that I took a break from machine sewing. Buying a new machine is not an option for me now.  I need to find away to get my machine working.

Overall, I am pleased with my back-to-sewing efforts so far.

Looking forward to playing with the fabrics again tomorrow.

Happy Sewing!

Hope to get another block done tomorrow. 

Wishful Thinking ~ UFOs & Quilt Goals 2023

This Lonestar Quilt Block was made in 2011.

I had to wash a stain off one of the points and press it before I took this photo.

This is the center block that I made 

while sewing along with the ...

Lonestar Quilt Along 2011

@ 

Ridge Top Quilts

It was my first attempt at this start block. 

Dorian, my online quilty bestie, patiently helped me through the process. 

I admit that I am still not a fan of "Y" seams.

I have never actually finished a Lone Star Quilt. 

This quilt block is the end product of a previous Stash Busting effort...

...  while I was trying to use up fabrics from this

 Mystery Quilt in 2011

My Favorite Bed Quilt

The large blue floral fabric in this Lonestar Block

 is the last of the focus fabric for 

I think I had intended to complete the QAL and use this as a wallhanging in the bedroom.  The corner blocks and border were never sewn.  

Now this large block is a UFO that surfaced when I was pulling yellow, blue and green scraps for my Scrappy Irish Chain WIP.

Maybe I will add a scrappy border and finish it as a wallhanging

 when my Irish Chain Quilt is finished and on my bed.

"It could happen ..." ;)

This quote is one of our family sayings for wishful thinking.

It comes from an old family type movie that my daughter had on repeat on the VHS player on our old television in the 90's. She wore out the VHS tape.

Can anyone name the movie?

Anyone want a hint?

I am walking down memory lane and thinking wishfully 

about getting my UFOs and WIPs this Sunday afternoon.

Will 2023 be the year I complete a Lone Star Quilt?

It has long been on my quilty bucket list.

I saw this post on 

#quiltgoals2023 ~ The Jolly Jabber @ Fat Quarter Shop

It has me thinking wishfully about setting one goal this year.

I am thinking my goal should be to finish one UFO.

Will this Lone Star block be the one? 

Time will tell.  

Scrappy Saturday ~ Scrappy Irish Chain Fabrics

 

I have decided to restart my sewing skills by making the 

Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt

featured in my last post. 

I am making a yellow and blue and green quilt!

I have printed the pattern and Corey Yoder's background fabric cutting chart

Here are the fabrics that I have pulled from my stash. The jelly roll at the top is one of my oldest treasures. I have two charm packs of the prints and a charm pack of the wovens, too.  It is Sunshine by April Cornel for Moda fabrics.  The charms in the front are from a newer Corey Yoder line called Spring Brook.  The pieced fabrics are left from a project made with the scraps from my Favorite Bed Quilt reposted here on my I Like Thursday post. I will also be including other random blue, yellow and green scraps.

This cream background and green fabric is from 

Birdsong by Pat Sloan for Benartex

You may purchase these fabrics 

Birdsong by Pat Sloan @ Fat Quarter Shop

via my affiliate link where

I will receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra charge to you.

This fabric is from last summer and is still available in many shops.

I really like the soft green in this fabric line.

I bought a panel and some fat quarters and the lovely creamy neutral.

It is the last stash purchase I have made

 other than the bee fabrics for the baby quilt.

I am committed to sewing my stash this year

and keeping any fabric purchases to a minimum

 with only occasional visits to my local quilt shop.

Today is Local Quilt Shop Day

So I will be visiting my favorite local quilt shop ...

Bits n Pieces Quilt Shop in Pelham, NH

when I take my afternoon break.

This morning I hope to have at least one Scrappy Irish Chain Block done. 

May you have a happy Scrappy Saturday!