The 34 days of Christmas...

This weekend is theoretically meant to be focused on the quilt, but I have two other updates for today:

1. I cleaned/ironed the herb garden cross-stitch and took it to be framed! My first time doing the prep work, and it was very straightforward. Actually, the hardest part was finding a container that could (almost) let the fabric lie flat. And, the frame shop had this perfect little blue frame - I can't wait to see it!!

2. As I was looking through my list of Christmas presents, I was reminded that I wanted to make some cloth napkins for a college friend, who had been admiring those of my other college friend. I had a brief hallucination that I could make those today and get them to the post office before it closed, so I started working on them. So far I have chosen fabrics (which were already washed, yay), ironed them, and started cutting. Nairo is helping so much, see? 

I got most of my errands out of the way today, so tomorrow should be good sewing time! Will report back.

- Catherine

Fsh

So, quilt #1 for the year:

Many years ago, I made a quilt for a friend's new baby. Then she had another baby. I am less prompt with this quilt, as I think the baby is now ~5. However, still a child, so that's promising...

The child has expressed a preference for purple + sea creatures, so I found some fun paper piecing templates of fish. I have never done paper piecing before, and it was simultaneously very easy and very frustrating, as I didn't want to make the pieces of fabric SO BIG that it would be too wasteful but also kept forgetting to make the mirror image of the weird shapes. Sigh. 

Anyway, I finished the fish back in December - see?

There were 9 different patterns in the template, but I wanted a slightly bigger quilt, so did 2x8 of them. I already regret how busy the fabrics are, but not enough to stop/redo it. Hopefully it will be a fun cacophony for the child and not just weird. :P

This weekend and yesterday I sewed them together and removed all the paper from the back, which was easier than expected - the instructions had made me think that I was likely to tear out some stitches, yikes! Here is the school:

I am planning to sew buttons on a few to make their faces clearer, which prompted the title of this post (what do you call a fish with no eyes, ha ha). Then I need to make decisions about the border, assemble, quilt and finish off! Exciting.

- Catherine

2023: the year of quilts

Hello blog!! I have been so delinquent. 

In 2022, I finished several projects that Mom had started - this one pictured was the most fun and is due to become a (belated) Christmas present once I get it framed. It's about 2 feet tall.

For 2023, my main goal is to get some of the fabric out of my house. I have two quilts that are in progress, one completed quilt that needs extensive repairs, and fabric for several others. I have a few side projects as well. I’ll keep you posted!

- Catherine