Week 4 (1/19-25/2020)

Used this Period: 1.58 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  26.14 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  18 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   9.86 yards

Finished embroidering the Ripple Sunbonnet Sue designs on lavender (34 inches).  I wish the designers would package designs in a series of 12, rather than 10; then it would be easier to incorporate them into a quilt design.  These designs averaged 10,000 stitches each so they went much faster.

After finishing the Sunbonnet Sue blocks, I loaded the 2 January quilts (Scrappy Sawtooth Star String quilts) on the longarm and quilted them with a medium meander.  I need to ease back into the quilting as my skills are rusty.  I used a cream Glide thread on top and cream Magna-Glide bobbins.  I was able to count 23 inches for the binding (not made prior to quilting) on one of the quilts.  The binding is sewn onto the backs of each quilt; now they are awaiting hand-sewing on the front.  

That was my accomplishments for the week.  I did receive my order of stabilizer--finally ran out of the one I use the most!  Also made a serious dent in my Sulky and Metro threads.

Week 3 (1/12-18/2020)

Used this Period: 3.89 yards

Added this Period: 3 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  24.56 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  18 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   6.56 yards

What a week!  Looking at my goals for 2020 revealed several quilts (about 12!) that will incorporate machine embroidery designs--none of which are completed!  Knowing that the machine embroidery takes a lot of time to complete and having finished my January quilt (2 not 1!), I decided to get some of the embroidery done so I will just have to piece the quilts when their month is drawn.  It has been several months since I did any machine embroidery so the first morning was spent relearning how to use the PC computer (I normally use an Apple) and relearning the software.  Then I started embroidering shoes for the 5th shoe quilt.  Most of the shoes have 22,000-25,000 stitches but a few had almost 33,000 stitches.  After the initial underlay, I slow my machine down to a medium speed--just feel it is better for it.  Anyway, I could get 3 or 4 designs finished per day--so it took me all week to complete the 20 designs. Then yesterday I started embroidering the BFC cupcakes for another quilt; there will only be 12 designs on it.  I would like to get one more set of designs done before I start quilting quilts on the longarm.

While I was watching the machine work and changing thread colors, I remembered that I had some purple fabric for a backing in one of the tubs so I went to explore.  Sure enough, there were 2 different fabrics large enough for a backing for the shoe quilt which is embroidered on a lavender color.  Not sure which one I will use yet.  Since I will be incorporating the shoe designs into a Triple Irish Chain, I need 3 purples--light, medium, and dark.  I have big enough pieces in the stash for all but the dark.

The best thing was that when I looked for fabric in that tub, I found some that I absolutely love and had forgotten about!  The fabrics in that tub were grouped for quilts, some of which are on my goal list and some I don't remember what pattern I was planning to use.  Guess I need to make notes to include when I group fabrics for a quilt.  I wish there were more hours in the day!!  So many quilts in my mind, so little time!

Week 2 (1/5-11/2020)

Used this Period: 20 2/3 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  20 2/3 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  15 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   5 2/3 yards

Done (1/8/20)!!  Yay--2 scrappy string quilts with a Sawtooth Star in the center, each 74x74.  Even better--I dug into my stash and found backings for both.  One was purchased about 12 years ago, on sale for $1/yd.; the second was purchased on sale 4 years ago at $1.75/yard!  Since I used a light tan for the background around the sawtooth star on both quilts, the backing fabrics matched quite well, both being in the brown family.

I intended to get downstairs and load a quilt on the longarm, but spent Friday doing the AARP Driver Safety Course (on-line) instead.  In Wyoming, insurance gives a discount for completing this course--and the course itself is good.  Most of the stuff we know, but they update the course to include new things (highway stuff, vehicle safety, etc.). It takes 6 hours, but I feel it is worth the time it takes to complete.  So, now the week is coming to a close.  We have had snow most days this past week; it was snowing lightly when I let the CA pup (who is now 16.5 years old!!) out at 5:30.  Beginning to look a lot like winter!

     

Week 1 (1/1-4/2020)

Used this Period: 0 yards 

Added this Period: 15 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  0 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  15 yards

Net Stash Increase for 2020:   +15 yards

What a week!  After not accomplishing much for 2018 and 2019 (2 knee replacements slowed me down!), I have started 2020 out right!  There are 3 of us working on UFO/NewFO lists--and maybe 1 more if she gets her machine repaired.  The number for January is No. 1 (how appropriate!).  It is one of only 2 UFOs on my list--a scrappy string quilt.  Even though I usually lose interest when I'm ready to assemble a quilt, I almost always make myself finish before starting another project (probably because I know that if I don't, I won't finish it ever)--therefore, most of my list is comprised of NewFOs.  I had 4-5 blocks of a scrappy string quilt started and have lots of "strings" saved.  When I had all the blocks made for the quilt, I couldn't find any fabric in my stash to use as the background fabric behind the Sawtooth Star--so, what would any enterprising person do--start a second quilt!  So now I will have 2 scrappy string quilts made for January--and a real reduction in the "strings" that have been saved (but still too many!).  

This necessitated a visit to the nearby hardware store (which has a fabric department) in the next little incorporated town.  (Not all of the villages in the Valley are incorporated.)  Not knowing just how much fabric I would need since this was a spur of the moment trip, I decided to get 3 yards of 2 different solid colors of cotton for the 2 quilts.  Mistake--I will have enough of 1 color for both quilts since I don't think I will be putting borders on either quilt.  At the same time, I got 3 yards of lavender for my next Sally King shoe quilt (BFC Creations).  It will be either a double or triple Irish Chain.  I have 19 shoes to embroider and have told myself I will not be tempted if she digitizes any more shoes--will not!  This will be either my 4th or 5th "shoe" quilt.  If you look at the embroidered shoe designs on the BFC site, you will see why I am always tempted beyond my self control!  She has such unique ideas and exquisite detail!  Then as I was browsing the sale fabric, I found a gold fabric with feathers--only $4.99/yard.  I couldn't resist!  You can see what that little trip did to my stash numbers--they're going the wrong way!!

I'm going to estimate yardage for the string quilts--low estimate but it will make the stash numbers look better.  I will be able to count yardage used next week since both quilts should be finished (pieced) by then.  I have half of the first quilt assembled now, so it should be an easy finish.  So, until next week...