Charity Quilting

I had a bunch of stuff going on last week so I only have one charity quilt to share this week.

If you want to contribute but don't have the time or skills, you can support the national Quilts for Kids by shopping through Amazon Smile. I don't earn anything from this link. This link lets your purchases support Quilts for Kids through Amazon. I don't add affiliate links to my charity quit posts on purpose. I donate my time, my machine, my thread, and my skill to the cause. 

Here is the EpochConverter for 2020.  

2020 Charity Quilt Count: 11

Sometimes You Rip

I was looking for a new crochet pattern and discovered a fun cowl design on Ravelry call Kruska. I caked up some yarn and grabbed my hooks.

This won't be a small project, so I also grabbed my big project back to hold it all.

I was having some difficulty with the new stitches, so I did something I almost never do: I worked a swatch. It took some practice to get the stitches right, but this looks like the pattern, so I'm going to assume it's right.

This pattern taught me a new cast on, which was fun. This is how far I got after a few days. It's slow going with new stitches to get the mechanics down. I really like the squishy fabric. The yarn is Knit Picks Swish Worsted in a color they no longer carry. If you like new yarns, Knit Picks (or their sister We Crochet) is a good bet. They regularly rotate their stock, often putting older colorways on deep discount to make room for new yarns and colors.

I didn't make it to the second row of increases before I gave up.

That's right. I gave up and ripped the whole thing back and wound the yarn back into a ball. I think a cowl or shawlette is in my future, but not using this stitch. I crochet because I like the speed of crochet. I just wasn't fast enough to fall in love with the project. Life is too short to work on projects you don't like.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Crochet Crazy

I've been enjoying simple crochet projects for quite a while. I had a single cake of Lion Brand Mandala yarn and needed a quick to work project. I grabbed my hook and got stitching.

The goal is for a semicircular shawl shape. I didn't have a pattern, so I am kind of winging it with this one. The stitch is the linen (or moss) stitch. Nothing more complicated than a single crochet and a chain one.

The magic of the shape is increases concentrated every fourth row. I think the shape is working out better than I had hoped. I'll have to do this with more care and notes when I try it again. The increases aren't stacked, so they spread out the increases to give the rounded shape.

The stitch looks the same on the front or back, which is great. I may experiment with some other shapes.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)
Lion Brand Mandala is available on Amazon, though you might be able to find it cheaper locally.

Charity Quilting

I've been slowing cutting and piecing 6.5" squares for Annapolis Quilts for Kids. I came to the realization that I would never be able to make all those squares into quilts so I packed them up and dropped them off with the coordinator. I'm sure she will bundle them up with other blocks, borders, and send them to her piecers to construct tops. I'm sure I'll see some of these blocks in finished tops at some point. I'm looking forward to it.

Panel with pieced border constructed by another member of Annapolis Quilts for Kids.

I would like to take a moment to point out the quality of the piecing and pressing on this charity quilt. I love it when quilters are precise. It makes my job as a long arm quilter so much easier.

Quilted and square and ready for binding!

If you want to contribute but don't have the time or skills, you can support the national Quilts for Kids by shopping through Amazon Smile. I don't earn anything from this link. This link lets your purchases support Quilts for Kids through Amazon. I don't add affiliate links to my charity quit posts on purpose. I donate my time, my machine, my thread, and my skill to the cause. 

Here is the EpochConverter for 2020. 

2020 Charity Quilt Count: 10

Frolic Mystery Quilt

Part 1
Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville hosts a mystery quilt that begins the day after Thanksgiving in the United States.

Frolic began on Black Friday in 2019. I wasn't excited about the mystery quilt this time. I did buy some fabric, but I didn't have the interest to actually play along with the mystery. This isn't the fault of the designer, just a general feeling of not wanting to make a quilt without knowing where I was going. I waited until after the reveal to settle on my colors.

I picked up the black and the gray during the Black Friday sale at Spring Water Designs in Columbia, Maryland. 

I used more than a couple specialty rulers to cut the pieces for this quilt. I'm not done cutting, yet. I expect this project to take a while. The 4.5" Easy Angle Ruler would be fine for this quilt, but I like the added stability of the 6.5" Easy Angle Ruler to cut the half-square triangles. Paired with the Companion Angle Ruler made quick work of cutting the flying geese units. 

To square up those geese units, I love this Wing Clipper.

I spent some time Monday cutting some of the units for this block. Stacks and stacks of pieces. I didn't cut everything as I'm sure this will keep me busy. You'll notice that I decided not to use the gray diagonal print. Once I looked at my cutting instructions I was pretty sure it wouldn't be the best for those flying geese so I grabbed a gray solid from my collection instead. I'll likely use the print for the binding because a diagonal print is perfect for binding. 

I didn't have all the pieces cut, so this is as far as I got. Just some units on the design wall. I've changed all the colors and this will look nothing like the quilt Bonnie designed, but I love that I will be using fabrics from my collection. I've made some other changes that will become clear as I update the blog with my progress. I'm glad I waited to get started.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
6.5" Easy Angle Ruler
4.5" Easy Angle Ruler
Companion Angle Ruler
Wing Clipper
Creative Grids 6.5" Square Ruler
Cheryl Ann's Quilting Design Wall - 72" White

Crochet Crazy

I've been working with the moss stitch, or linen stitch, depending on where you learn it, for several months now. I've made more than a few Cakes Two to Tango shawls. I've even modified the pattern a little to make a stole shape with the same design. This time, I wanted to make a poncho. I started with the single crochet cast on, worked a few rows, then switched from one cake to the other every row. 

The result was this fun striping effect. I liked it enough to work to the end of my first cake. I used two cakes of Lion Brand Mandala to create this poncho.

At the end, this is the poncho I had. Overall, I'm calling this a success. Every time I try this, I think I should have started with the brighter colors, but by then I've gone too far to turn back. I'm going to play with this effect a little more. I like how it looks an awful lot like brioche knitting. I'm sure it will be striking in two colors.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)
Lion Brand Mandala is available on Amazon, though you might be able to find it cheaper locally.

Charity Quilting

More fun charity quilts for Annapolis Quilts for Kids. 

The border fabrics really pull this fun, one-block quilt together. 

I think this may have been a carpenter's star quilt that went somewhat sideways. I added the border fabric and quilted it as it is. A finished quilt is always better than a perfect quilt. I'm sure it will be loved.

If you want to contribute but don't have the time or skills, you can support the national Quilts for Kids by shopping through Amazon Smile. I don't earn anything from this link. This link lets your purchases support Quilts for Kids through Amazon. I don't add affiliate links to my charity quit posts on purpose. I donate my time, my machine, my thread, and my skill to the cause. 

Here is the EpochConverter for 2020. I'm off to a good start this year. Let's see if I can beat 2019's 70 charity quilts. 

2020 Charity Quilt Count: 8

Odds and Ends

I'm almost done with the Squiggle and Stripe by Stephen West. Yarn is Knit Picks Hawthorne.

This is my carry-along knit project. A simple asymmetrical shawl made with big yarn and big needles. I didn't use a pattern as this is a simple shawl design. Basically, increase one at the beginning of every right-side row, decrease one at end of right-side row, increase one at the end of every wrong-side row, slipping the last stitch with yarn in back at end of every row.

I ordered and received my new labels from Dutch Label Shop. These are perfect for finished bags and quilts when I want a label but don't want to work too hard. 

The new one (bottom) is a little bigger than the older labels. I thought they were really reasonably priced (about $0.50 each before shipping). Since it has taken me years to almost work through the other labels I'm pleased with the value. Here's to many more years of putting my mark on my makes. Someday I will design a quilt label to have printed on Spoonflower. I have yet to narrow down what I want something like that to look like.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Addi Turbo circular knitting needle size 15
Knitter's Pride circular knitting needle size 4
Knit Picks Hawthorne

The Mermaid

Part 5, the finale.

I used the trimmings from the backing to make the binding. I did have to add a short strip to make it work. 

I always accordion fold my binding. This makes it easy to store and easy to use without getting twisted like it does if it is coiled. 

Bound and hanging sleeve attached. It might be overly big as a wall hanging but that's what I intend on doing with it.

Read more about this quilt and the techniques used in these previous posts:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Cheryl Ann's Quilting Design Wall - 72" White
Reynolds Freezer Paper Plastic Coated 50 Sq Ft
Elmer's Liquid School Glue, Washable, 4 Ounces
Crayola Ultra-Washable Markers

Charity Quilting

I love all the different quilt tops I pick from Annapolis Quilts for Kids. So many different makers and techniques. This scrappy wonder is delightful!

Many are simple quilts, but some are more interesting like this triangle quilt.

This raw-edge applique butterfly quilt is pretty awesome, too. This one was a challenge to quilt but totally worth it.

If you want to contribute but don't have the time or skills, you can support the national Quilts for Kids by shopping through Amazon Smile. I don't earn anything from this link. This link lets your purchases support Quilts for Kids through Amazon. I don't add affiliate links to my charity quit posts on purpose. I donate my time, my machine, my thread, and my skill to the cause. 

Here is the EpochConverter for 2020. I'm off to a good start this year. Let's see if I can beat 2019's 70 charity quilts. 

2020 Charity Quilt Count: 5

The Mermaid

Part 4 - Quilting

It has been a while since I updated you on this fun quilt. This post will have loads of photos as I tried to capture the quilting as I went. I pieced the backing for this quilt. The backing doesn't even really matter since my plan is to hang this quilt once it is done.

I used a matching pale blue for the background quilting. I tried to capture shapes you might see underwater. Waves. 

Seaweed and underwater currents. 

Green to accentuate the tail fin. 

Echoes and echoes. 

Fish scales. 

I try to match my top and bobbin threads so you get an idea of the mermaid from the back. 

Trimmed and ready for binding and a hanging sleeve. 

I tried to use the thread to add details to the raw edge applique. This quilt has taken so long but is so worth it. I'm not sure all of the quilting choices were perfect but at least it is done.

Read more about this quilt and the techniques used in these previous posts:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Cheryl Ann's Quilting Design Wall - 72" White
Reynolds Freezer Paper Plastic Coated 50 Sq Ft
Elmer's Liquid School Glue, Washable, 4 Ounces
Crayola Ultra-Washable Markers

Fat Quarter Pile Up

Someone on Instagram mentioned how quick this the Fat Quarter Pile Up pattern went together. I was intrigued so I went to Knot and Thread Design to check it out. The pattern is indeed quick to cut and piece. I used the basic design but cut my bricks to suit the fabric I had on hand. 

This monkey fabric is so much fun!

It went together so quickly! I've got the backing and binding ready, so this one will be quick to finish once I get it loaded onto the frame. This is my first quilt top finish of the year and it will be made entirely with fabrics I have in my collection. If you're looking for a quick project that works well with fat quarters, I recommend you check out the Fat Quarter Pile Up pattern.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Cheryl Ann's Quilting Design Wall - 72" White

Charity Quilting

I picked up another stack of charity quilts from Annapolis Quilts for Kids and have been working on them. This fun scrappy quilt was pieced by Mary.

A panel is a quick and effective way to make a fun quilt.

If you want to contribute but don't have the time or skills, you can support the national Quilts for Kids by shopping through Amazon Smile. I don't earn anything from this link. This link lets your purchases support Quilts for Kids through Amazon. I don't add affiliate links to my charity quit posts on purpose. I donate my time, my machine, my thread, and my skill to the cause. 

2020 Charity Quilt Count: 2