Summer Sew Along: Quilting

After a rough start, I started quilting my 2024 Summer Sew Along quilt. This quilt top came out so much better than I thought it would. It was a free pattern by Karen Montgomery. Such a great teacher. Remember, finished is better than perfect!

My favorite tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle Fiskars Rotary Cutter

Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

Dritz Craft Pins, 1-3/4-Inch (250-Count)

Electric Quilt

Project box: IRIS 12" x 12" Portable Plastic Storage Cases with Built-in Handle, Clear (storage)

Letter Openers

Fiskars Rotating Cutting Mat 14 inch x 14 inch

Creative Grids Stripology XL Ruler

Summer Sew Along

I finally got around to sewing my summer sew along blocks together. 

I cut and made the binding. 

And added the borders. Now all it needs is some backing and quilting. 

My favorite tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle Fiskars Rotary Cutter

Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

Dritz Craft Pins, 1-3/4-Inch (250-Count)

Electric Quilt

Project box: IRIS 12" x 12" Portable Plastic Storage Cases with Built-in Handle, Clear (storage)

Letter Openers

Fiskars Rotating Cutting Mat 14 inch x 14 inch

Creative Grids Stripology XL Ruler

Summer Sew Along

I finally finished all of my Summer Sew Along blocks and put set them out so I could put them all on the design wall. 

I'm pretty pleased with this layout. 

I pulled them all down from the design wall in neat little stacks so I can start to sew the rows together. 

Want to join in with the Summer Sew Along? The group is on Facebook: Nine Patch a Day 

My favorite tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle Fiskars Rotary Cutter

Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

Dritz Craft Pins, 1-3/4-Inch (250-Count)

Electric Quilt

Project box: IRIS 12" x 12" Portable Plastic Storage Cases with Built-in Handle, Clear (storage)

Letter Openers

Fiskars Rotating Cutting Mat 14 inch x 14 inch

Creative Grids Stripology XL Ruler

Stamp Along

I joined the Stamp Quilt Sew Along by Alison Glass. I bought the above fabrics for my stamp quilt.

The video instructions for how to make the block are great. Here is my first block inprogress.

I've done mitered corners before, and these aren't perfect, but it is nice to challenge myself. Only 31 left to go!

My favorite tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle Fiskars Rotary Cutter

Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

Dritz Craft Pins, 1-3/4-Inch (250-Count)

Electric Quilt

Project box: IRIS 12" x 12" Portable Plastic Storage Cases with Built-in Handle, Clear (storage)

Letter Openers

Fiskars Rotating Cutting Mat 14 inch x 14 inch

Creative Grids Stripology XL Ruler

Summer Sew Along

I'm still working through the weekly blocks for the Summer Sew Along. Here we have block 7.

Here are is block 8. 

This is block 9. So much left to do on this summer sew along. I'm loving the slow and steady progress.

Want to join in with the Summer Sew Along? The group is on Facebook: Nine Patch a Day 

My favorite tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle Fiskars Rotary Cutter

Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

Dritz Craft Pins, 1-3/4-Inch (250-Count)

Electric Quilt

Project box: IRIS 12" x 12" Portable Plastic Storage Cases with Built-in Handle, Clear (storage)

Letter Openers

Fiskars Rotating Cutting Mat 14 inch x 14 inch

Creative Grids Stripology XL Ruler

Summer Sew Along

When the Summer Sew Along was just getting started, I decided I really liked the quilt. I also wanted to use fabrics I already had in my collection. I grabbed this multi-color print a friend gave me, and started pulling fabrics. The pattern calls for half-yard cuts and that isn't a size I usually buy. I did find a couple extra fabrics that I think will work into this quilt and had to narrow down the stack. I think it will be a great quilt. The background fabric is just Kona (I think it is the color Snow). 

Each week we make a block, or a couple different blocks. I'm working through the clues as they come out. Here is where I am right now. I may have to make another nine-patch quilt because this is coming out great. This is the perfect quilt to make the most out of the Creative Grids Stripology XL ruler.

Want to join in with the Summer Sew Along? The group is on Facebook: Nine Patch a Day 

My favorite tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle Fiskars Rotary Cutter

Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

Dritz Craft Pins, 1-3/4-Inch (250-Count)

Electric Quilt

Project box: IRIS 12" x 12" Portable Plastic Storage Cases with Built-in Handle, Clear (storage)

Letter Openers

Fiskars Rotating Cutting Mat 14 inch x 14 inch

Creative Grids Stripology XL Ruler

Walking in the Wilds

Don't let that title fool you, or the photos. These may look like I live in a wilderness and that is pretty far from the truth. Each of these was taken within 100 yards of a suburban neighborhood. Suburban neighborhoods within 30 miles of the nation's capital.

From young bucks...

to tiny does...

swimming turtles...

and flying things. Each of these can be found in the suburban areas where I live and work. Sometimes you can find Pokemon, too. The wild things are much harder to capture, even on film.

Summer Adventures and Photos

I recently had the opportunity to travel for work. I took some photos while going for a walk or two during my time.

Sometimes I just found a pretty flower.

One time I almost got caught in a thunderstorm that included hail that was scary.

At home I wandered over to a nearby meadow.

Which is also a Monarch Waystation.

After work, I came across this pretty young buck on my afternoon walk. Most of these first appeared on my Instagram.

It's great to get out and get moving. With the weather as hot as it has been mornings are better than afternoon but getting out is great.

Knitting Along

I picked up some yarn at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival in the spring.  I picked up two skeins of this lovely yarn from Avalon Spring Farms.  I love the blues and greens.  They remind me of the ocean.  The colors range from a shifting turquoise like in the Caribbean to the greens of New England waters, and the deep dark blue of the North Atlantic deeps.

I borrowed my friend's ball winder and swift for this.  Usually I don't mind hand-winding the ball, but I wanted to take this with me on business travel so I didn't have the time.  What am I knitting you ask?

I can't show you the details of what I have knit since this is a Mystery Knit Along.  The pattern is from Curious Handmade and written by Helen Stewart.  I saw a post on Instagram for the Summertide Shawl Mystery Knit Along and was intrigued.  So intrigued I shared it with my friend who joined.  I couldn't leave her without moral support, so I joined in, too.  

I'm still poking along on clue number two.  The KAL is only four clues so I might still catch up before the end of the KAL.  Have you found any fun knit along or sew along projects to jump into now that the kids are back at school?