MR5 - Letters, Words, and Monograms Mug Rug Swap

I'm at it again.  Being a moderator on Ravelry's Quilters Knitting Group gets me in ALL kinds of trouble!  The beginning of the year marked the start of another Mug Rug Swap.

It's "sew" much fun, even though the number of participants has diminished.  We may (or may not) do another swap, but either way, I couldn't resist offering this one.  It was suggested during a member poll for the theme of the MR4 Swap and didn't win out for that particular swap.

Today, I decided that I had to develop a design for my swap partner.  I trudged up to the studio to put on my thinking cap.  It worked!  I came up with not ONE design, but TWO!!!

So excited was I that once work began...

It ended with a completed mug rug!!!

(All that remains to be done is the binding,.)

Photos will follow after my swap partner receives the completed piece.  Wait for them.  Wait for them...

Here they are!

MR5.1 for MichelleInSeattle:

FRONT



BACK



MR5.2 for Joeyune:

FRONT



BACK



I hope the enjoy using them because I enjoyed making them!

Up next:

Receipt of MR5!

Winter Progress

Hey!  Guess what?

I worked on a UFO this past weekend!

Not only that...  I finished my Purple and Green Coin quilt top!!!

My friends and I got together for quilting on Sunday afternoon.  It's such a WONDERFUL way to spend a day!  Anyway, I brought scraps to cut, squares to sew, and a top that needed borders.

I pulled out the quilt top to do a round or two.  I was satisfied with applying the inner border.  My friends encouraged me to do a bit more, so I decided on an outer border.  They kept pushing me to continue working on it and, at the end of the night, the quilt top was done.

(Thanks, NeedleB and HKM!!!)

Photos to follow post.

Until next time...
Just keep quilting!

Winter 2012 (Ravelry) UFO Club - The List

I didn't get very much done during the last session.  Sooooo... the list hasn't really changed.


The List:

1. Purple/Green Coin Quilt
2. The Margaret Mystery

The first two items on the list can be viewed in the following blog post:  http://thejoyfulquilter.blogspot.com/2010/07/ufo-club-summer-2010-list.html

3. Crumb Quilt
4. Patriotic Improv Jacket
5. QE2 Goodbye Quilt.

Items 3 - 5 can be viewed at:  http://thejoyfulquilter.blogspot.com/2010/10/ufo-club-fall-2010-list.html

6. Frog Legs & Caviar   http://www.flickr.com/photos/29726502@N04/5129432939/in/set-72157607969536568
7. "Inspired by..."  The Series  http://thejoyfulquilter.blogspot.com/2011/03/by-set-quilted.html
8. Snow Star Swap  http://thejoyfulquilter.blogspot.com/2011/03/by-set-quilted.html

And two new-ish UFOs:

9. Where's Jackson?
10. Quilt for a Baby  (Completed 3/28/12)

Fall 2011 (Ravelry) UFO Club - The Results

The Fall 2011 UFO Club session has just come to a close.  We broke our record for the largest group, but we were unable to break the record for the most projects completed.


Here are the results:

Members (19):

teacherspet
basketcase9702: 1 completed project
loisbemis: 2 completed projects
thepoch
JanetMc
Bonnyknits
joeyune: 1 completed project
fabriholic
dancergrrlliz: 1 completed project
fishandstitch: 6 completed projects
rollacameron: 2 completed projects
jmoorecrafts
pdtink: 3 completed projects
Lucky13: 1 completed project
needleb: 1completed project
allikat: 1 completed project
StephanieMN: 1 completed project
KK454
fidissimus: 3 completed projects

Session Totals: 12 members completed 23 projects.

We ran of time, but there’s always next session to finish more. Good work, Quilters!

It's a Shame!

I basted my Patriotic Jacket together earlier this week.  What did I find???

It doesn't FIT!!!

I've requested input on possible alterations, but have yet to attempt any of the offered solutions.  I was SO hoping to have this project finished by the end of the year!  We'll see...

Wish me luck!

1st 100 - Patch Block

1st 100 - Patch Block, a photo by basketcasejoy on Flickr.

It's December and I owe you a quilting update:

I've been working on a Leader/Ender project. (Thanks to Bonnie Hunter of quiltville.com for coining the phrase and to my favorite quilt buddy for finding the pattern at weddingdressblue.wordpress.com)

You'll be pleased to hear that I got so excited about this project that it kept my machine humming for MANY stolen moments. I was having so much fun that my Leader/Ender turned into a full-fledged project! I have now completed 10 out of the 12 blocks called for. (The ONLY reason I stopped was that I ran out of cut squares to sew - and I wasn't in the mood to cut more!)

So, the question remains, why is this called a 100-Patch Quilt?

Well, the reason is this:

There are 100 cut squares in each quilt block. You then add a narrow sashing strip and a row of 44 patches around each of the blocks. Once that's done you add wider sashing strips and a border to assemble the quilt top.

The directions for the quilt call for using 2" squares. However, when using that size, the resulting quilt turns out 75" x 99". That's a pretty BIG quilt! Having recently worked on another large quilt, I just didn't want to go there again. (At least, not while the memories are so fresh!)

What could I do?

I pulled out my 1" drawer (filled with squares and strips that measure anywhere from 1" to 1 7/8".) I had 2 choices...

I could either use the stack of 1" squares or I could be reasonable and choose the stack of 1.5" squares.

What did I do???

The voice of reason won out and I am using 1.5" squares for this jewel of a quilt. 1.5" squares from my 1" drawer, 1.5" squares that I am cutting from my scrap stash, and 1.5" squares that I am cutting from "gift" scraps.

I absolutely LOVE "gift" scraps!!!

In fact, I just got another bag of them at the last quilt guild meeting. "Gift Scraps" make my quilts that much more interesting. (Plus, it really makes the previous owner of those scraps feel good to know that someone is using the smallest bits of their cast-offs!)

Thank you, quilting friends!

SAFF 2011 Haul

SAFF 2011 Haul, a photo by basketcasejoy on Flickr.

The Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair was held October 21 - 23, 2011 at the Western NC Agricultural Center in Fanning, NC. That's right outside of Asheville, in case you didn't know.

I went with the Mebane Knit Guild and had a great time. I meant to blog about it sooner, but never seemed to get around to it. Sorry!

Here's what happened... I went a little crazy in the vendor booths! This is the picture proof.

Until next time...
Enjoy the yarn-y goodness.