4 New Quilt Projects
This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share a commission.Sometimes I’m not really sure what I want to work on, do you ever get like that? By the time the day was over, I had worked on 4 new quilt projects, took Rusty on a walk and had a messy studio at the end of the day. Nothing was finished but I really enjoyed my day.
Today I decided I didn’t feel like finishing a quilt project or tutorial, I wanted more of a “play” day and that is what I did!
First Quilt project
The first thing I did was a little applique on these flower blocks I have had sitting around for several months.
It has been awhile since I used my EverSewn Sparrow 25 sewing machine, I couldn’t even remember how to thread it! Good thing I had the book handy. I have my Daylight Slimline 3 LED table lamp clamped to my Singer cabinet but the light swivels so I was able to use it over this sewing machine.
Batik Applique Flowers
I appliqued the larger quilt block first, as you can see it has been a while since I did any applique. For the smaller quilt block I just stitched around the edges of the pieces. The fabrics are batiks and I used Heat n Bond Lite on the back of them. I can’t remember what I was planning on doing with the blocks. This project is done for now.
Second Quilt Project
I have quite a few quilt tops that need quilting. I pulled one of the quilt tops and put it on my longarm. This is my Hopscotch quilt pattern without any borders. The size of this one is 50″ x “62”. I had a 4 yard piece of batik that I used for the backing.
I quilted one pass on my longarm and then decided to move on to another quilt project!
Third Quilt Project
While I was quilting my mind started wandering and I remembered that I have been wanting to make a flying geese quilt with a black background. I took a break from quilting and started cutting out fabrics for the blocks using my AccuQuilt Go Big Electric Fabric Cutter. I used 2 dies from the 12-inch Qube set but AccuQuilt also has a die just for a 3″ x 6″ finished Flying Geese block.
I have accumulated a large stack of 10″ squares of batiks leftover from all kinds of quilt projects and a large piece of black batik. Most of the fabrics are from Island Batik.
Here is how I laid the 10-inch squares on the die that cuts 4 quarter square triangles at once. Notice the fabric is NOT even with the top of the die. It is lined up with the cut line on the die.
When I cut out the quarter square triangles, I had some scrap fabric left and instead of throwing it away, I cut out 2″ squares.
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Normally I would throw the 2″ squares into my scrap storage but I decided I would make some 4 square blocks.
It took no time at all to cut out the pieces for the blocks.
I recently purchased another 15-91 Singer sewing machine. This was manufactured in 1947 and was refurbished. Most of the Singer decal is gone but I was more interested in the fact that the machine was in good shape. This was the first time I actually sat down and did some sewing on it. I bought it on Ebay and talked about it in my Quilt Studio 2024 blog post.
Here is how the blocks go together.
When I iron my blocks I like to use hardwood tailors clappers to set the seams. I actually have 3 of them that are 9 1/2″ long.
Fourth Quilt Project
I just used my rotary cutter to cut the leftovers into 2″ squares and also cut 2″ squares from the black batik fabric. I am making little 4-patch quilt blocks.
Finished the Quilt on the Longarm
I spent the day switching between quilt projects and quilting on the longarm. By early afternoon I had the quilt done but I didn’t remove it from the longarm as I have about 14-inches of space on the right side that I could use to quilt a table runner.
I never would have thought of doing this but my friend Vicki from Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting makes a lot of table runners and I have seen her do something like this. I’m going to leave the quilt on the longarm and roll it back to the beginning and add a table runner. Hmmm, now I need to make a table runner!
Rusty and I needed a break so we went for a walk. I noticed that many of the neighbors were taking down their Christmas lights since the temperature was in the 30s so once we got back home I started taking ours down and hauled the lights and wreaths downstairs.
Tomorrow I’ll wind up the lights on reels after they have warmed up, take down our Christmas tree and hopefully get everything stored away. I can’t quilt with a mess like this!
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About Connie
Hi, I’m Connie Kresin Campbell, the quilter, writer, and photographer behind Freemotion By the River. I enjoy inspiring others with my quilt tutorials and patterns. You’ll also see my sweet adopted dogs from time to time.
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I’m jealous (ha,ha) such a BIG quilt studio. Mine is a bedroom and my longarm is in the basement, it works but oh those stairs.
In our “next” house I told Bob I want everything on the main floor and a zero entry home so no matter what I can always get to my studio. We actually have talked about it and the “house” part would be small with a larger quilt studio and man cave.
Lots of creativity happening in your studio. The mess or clutter will go away. I, too, put away the tree and decorations. The living room seems bigger now.
You are something else! Way to go, and look what all you accomplished! Fun. Sandy
Connie,
Happy New Year! That sounds like a wonderful day in your sewing space. I’m finishing a queen size quilt I want to get to the quilter this weekend. I’m on the last row, so nearly there! Take care.
I’m exhausted just reading this. You were really on a roll!
I’ve been getting like that in my sewing room. A little bit of this and that. Really need to start a new and large project.
Thank you for your entertaining posts!
What an amazing day you had, Connie. A great start to 2024.
The black fabric mixes so well with the bright colours. I love the appliqued flowers and the ideas in this tutorial. Thanks for sharing.
I had a fabric buying spree yesterday – 5 x 1 metre lengths of bright batiks and
2 x 2 metre lengths of Liberty prints. I’m very good at buying patchwork fabrics. Now I must get working on some projects using your designs and the January calendar to track my progress.
Happy New Year !!
You were very productive yesterday! Like you, we have nearly finished our annual new year projects. The decorations & tree came down a few days ago, we’ve been purging our computers to get clean those up & clearing out old tax records. Then back into my quilt room to clean & organize. I’m cutting up scraps (into precut sizes) and as I do that I’m cutting for several quilts: 2.5 x 3.5 for a coin quilt & a Smores quilt; fussy cuts for kids/adults I Spy quilts; brick sizes of 4.5 x 8.5 & 2.5 x 5; cutting pieces for 6″ Maple leaves; and the crumbs go into white plastic jugs to be used a bit later. That’s on top of the 25 blocks I’ve nearly finished for another quilt and hand quilting the last block on an old hexie quilt started in the 60’s by my hubby’s aunt. I think we long-time quilters do far better with several projects going at once – we’re much more productive that way. Hope 2024 is a wonderful year for you – and thank you for such a lovely blog!
Where did you get the color wheel poster that is on the wall in your studio? I am not that great with combining colors in my projects. Perhaps this may help me. Thank you for sharing your lovely work!
You can find it at The Quilt Show
https://thequiltshow.com/shop/notions/quilting-helpers/essential-color-wheel
i could spend all day long looking at your beautiful pieces and the way you detail all the requirements for same love love your site maria lennon ireland
Sadly I completely missed the boat on decorating. Just a wreath on the door from the scout troop. But since it’s been in the 40’s most of the season, it looks okay! Grass is still green! But got another quilt “in the box” for charity and now I am really motivated to start the neck tie quilt. New Year resolution – get it done and out of here!
Happy New Year!!!!!!
What a wonderful start to 2024 – you are inspiring.
What a great day!! Sometimes you just an unscheduled play day. I have a 24-inch square table topper that needs quilting. I spent the morning trying to figure out how to quilt it. I never could come to a conclusion. In the afternoon, a friend dropped by, and we spent a good couple of hours chatting and laughing.
What a pretty start to 2024 Connie! A little off topic, how has your experience been with your Eversewn machine? I received an Eversewn Sparrow 30 for Christmas and after reading some of the reviews, I’m nervous to keep it since it is an electronic machine. I am more of a vintage, take it apart and fix it sewing machine gal. I do love sewing without the foot pedal though and all the stitches, although I will probably never use all the stitches, they are there…LOL Thanks in advance!
Connie,
I, too, had a messy-nothing accomplished sewing day. I had several placemat patterns and several fabrics, but not enough contrasting fabric for sashings. One of the patterns was a Wedge pattern by that famous designer, CKC! Plan on going today to get some Kona basics & be able to continue with the projects. Sometimes the “creative juices” won’t flow as planned. Maybe today will be better to get things going again.
I have the Slimline lights also. They are great over machines and take very little space.
Love the Hopscotch quilt.
Imagine my surprise when I read my name, thanks for the shout out 😁. Sounds like you had the perfect play day. I started sewing a bunch of maple leaf blocks that I had precut with my accuquilt.
How many cups of coffee did you start the day??? lol It sounds and looks like a very productive day. Those flower blocks are going to be so cute in a quilt. Great idea to make 4-patch blocks with the leftovers too. I need to get the outdoor lights down today before a series of storms roll through here. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Connie. May the year be filled with Health and Fulfillment
I did almost the same thing yesterday!! Do you think we are ADHD🤔
It’s fun to have 4/5 projects going at a time Isay,Sew there!!!!
Ruth
Wow, what a busy but productive day! It is a joy to be able to create multiple projects all on one day.
Wow – I do love your studio space. The batik/black flying geese will make a gorgeous quilt.