Another quilting day

 I really planned on getting some tatting done today, but I got distracted with sorting fabrics and working on quilt blocks.

I had fun playing with fabrics for this block.

I really enjoying checking out the back of each block as I finish quilting it.

I had one block left from my Hidden Wells project, so I decided to bind it in purple. I'm not sure what I'll do with it. I may be able to incorporate it in another quilt.

I like the idea of having a decorative fabric on the reverse side, but I also like the solid. Which do you like?

Unexpected

 

I really didn't expect to get much done today. This afternoon, Dave asked if I was going to be working on my quilt, meaning the one to go over the window. I really wasn't in the mood, but I decided get started anyway.

Now that I have the strips completed, I can connect the rows. After that, I will bind the outside edge of the quilt. I guess I'd better start looking for the shelf/quilt hanger that I'd like to have!

The unexpected part was what I completed of round 9 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026. Mom had an eye procedure done this morning, and while I was waiting for her, I managed to nearly complete round 9.

Mom is doing great, and I achieved more than I expected!

Another research day

 It took a while, but I finally found the video I was looking for!

This is the back-to-back technique, which is what I needed to use because of the mistake I made the other day. My blocks have been joined into rows, and I'm ready to add the sashing to the front side. I thought I wanted to use gray, but it looks too bland. So, I need to shop for some purple fabric, which I think will do the trick.

Since I spent so much time searching for the video, I didn't accomplish anything else today. That's okay. Tomorrow is Tollway Tatters, and I think I will get a lot of tatting done!

All quilted!

 

It pays to get up early. Before breakfast, I had my first doodad ornament of the day tatted.

I also managed to quilt three blocks.

I'm feeling really comfortable with my walking foot.

Plus, I now have the quilting sequence memorized.

This afternoon, I got back to quilting.

The batting I needed to finish my blocks, arrived yesterday, so I was able to keep my pace.

I like the way the different colored borders change the look of the Hidden Wells blocks.

I can't decide if I like the purple or the yellow better.

My next step will be to trim the blocks to a uniform size.

After that, I will lay them out to decide on the final look. Then, I will be able to sew the blocks together.

Naturally, I finished my day of crafting the same way I started it, with a doodad ornament!

Wow!

I can't believe how much I accomplished today!

I managed to tat four doodad ornaments while thinking about how I was going to approach my quilting for the day.

I'm almost out of this style doodad, so I'll be looking through my stash to see which doodads I'll use to finish out the month.

The big advantage to tatting several in one day is that I get to use more of my shuttles!

Before starting to quilt, I needed to figure out how to use my new walking foot. Thank goodness for YouTube! I learned so much more from watching a video than I did from reading the instructions.

Once I figured out the walking foot, I needed to find my sewing machine bobbins. 

That took a while, but the good news is that I reorganized and decluttered five boxes from upstairs in the process.

I really had anticipated quilting these blocks differently.

Once I was sitting at my machine, I completely changed what I had planned to do.

This quilt will become a wall hanging to hang over a window in our new room addition.

I think I need 20 blocks to cover the window, but I'm not sure. I'll be able to tell more once I've joined the blocks.

I'm pleased with the number of blocks I quilted today. I could have quilted more if my back hadn't gotten tired. Now it's time to rest!

By request

 

I was asked to post a picture of one of my cowls being worn. It just so happened that I was wearing a sweater that goes well with the cowl!

Once again, I managed to tat more than one doodad ornament.

I'm using shuttles that I haven't seen in a while, which is great fun for me.

Today I cut batting and backing for my quilt squares. I could have started quilting today, but I chose to watch the Olympics instead. Tomorrow is another day!

Beyond expectations

I really didn't think I'd accomplish much today, but I surprised myself!

I woke up early and managed to finish my Hidden Well squares before church. After church, I framed all of the blocks.

Where I really surprised myself, was in the number of doodad ornaments I tatted today.

I tatted two before our  Tollway Tatters meeting this afternoon. Nine were in attendance, which I think is a pretty good number for a Sunday afternoon.

During our meeting, I tatted two more doodad ornaments.

I left the meeting after two hours so that I could start a pot of soup for dinner.

After I put the soup together, I tatted a fifth doodad ornament. I think this might be a record for me!

 

Lots of pieces

 

I spent the whole morning working on quilt pieces. First, I sewed jelly roll strips together.

Then, I cut those strips into squares. Next, I sewed two squares together. After that I cut the squares diagonally tinto four triangles.

The next step was to open up those triangles and press them into squares. I'm not sure if I'll have time to sew tomorrow, so I'm happy that I was able to achieve so much today.

This afternoon I turned on the Olympics and tatted my doodad ornament of the day.

I also managed to tat another 2026 Christmas button ornament before dinner time. I think I might just sit and do nothing tonight!

Tuesday progress

Boy, did I have fun today! I framed my quilt blocks. The frames are shades of grey, black, and white. My next step is to cut batting and backing squares. Then, I will be ready to quilt!

I'm making quite a dent in my supply of key rings, and my yarn stash is getting smaller. I have 75 Chapstick holders made. I want to make sure I have enough for all of the middle school students who want one. I've already passed them out to high school students.

Another doodad ornament is finished. I didn't have enough thread on either of these shuttles to tat the ornament, but I was able to complete it using one as the shuttle thread and one as the ball thread. Part of the fun in this project is using shuttles that I haven't seen in a while. Luckily, Dave enjoys seeing me use my shuttles and he gets a kick out of seeing how many I have. I may have too many, but I'm not going to complain!

Productive day

 

Last night I crocheted five Chapstick holders while Dave and I watched t.v.

Today I was sorting through some of my craft supplies and found two bags of findings from when I was tatting with doodads. That was years ago! So, I think my goal for February will be to tat with findings that have been sitting in bags for way too long.

I also crocheted five more Chapstick holders today.

My big project of the day was finishing a stack of Hidden Wells quilt squares. Now I have to decide if I will sew the blocks directly to each other or frame them with solid strips. Right now I'm leaning toward framing them.

My last project of the day was to work some more on my red, white, and blue tree. There's not a whole lot more I can do until my patriotic pins arrive. For now, I'm happy to make a little progress each day!