Things Got a Little Wild Around Here. Allegedly.
I went completely off the rails one evening this week. Threw caution to the wind, abandoned my responsibilities, and engaged in some truly reckless behavior.
I made a jelly roll run quilt top and two holiday sweatshirts.
All in one evening. Just a few hours, start to finish.
I know. Scandalous.
Apparently, when I decide to get a little wild in the sewing department, I end up making seasonal clothing and another quilt top. I suppose there are worse ways to spend an evening.
I also made some progress on the projects I was actually supposed to be working on. The last two birthday rag quilts are assembled, I've started Moda's Friends & Neighbors sew-along, and I've got a few packages on their way.
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An Evening of Questionable Behavior
I've had Sherri and Chelsi's Laguna Sunrise jelly roll waiting for a project, and apparently this was the week it was going to happen.
I decided on a jelly roll run. Nothing fancy. Sew the strips together, fold them in half, sew again, and keep going until you've got a quilt top. It's quick, it uses the entire jelly roll, and there's very little cutting involved.
The top is finished. Quilting and binding will come later.
Then I decided to make holiday sweatshirts. Both Thanksgiving and Christmas, because why stop at one?
For the Christmas sweatshirt, I used Missouri Star Quilt Company templates for the tree and bow. I chose a Christmas print for the tree, a bright red for the bow, and stitched them onto a green sweatshirt.
The turkey was a little more interesting. I didn't have a template, so I searched Google for a free turkey coloring page. I printed one, cut the body away from the feathers, and used the pieces as my pattern. I paper-pieced the feathers using different colors of Woolies flannel, then put the whole turkey back together on the sweatshirt.
I backed the appliqués with plain flannel and straight-stitched around the edges. I like the frayed look, so I left the edges exposed rather than finishing them with a satin stitch.
That's it. Two sweatshirts, no complicated techniques, and no special equipment beyond what I already had.
I'd love to tell you that you can buy the templates in my shop, but I don't have a shop. I also don't have templates to sell.
I do have affiliate shops where you can find many of the fabrics and supplies I use, provided they're still available. Some of my stash has been around long enough that finding the same print might require a minor archaeological expedition.
So that was my wild evening. I made a quilt top, put a turkey on a sweatshirt, and gave myself something festive to wear for Christmas.
I'm sure my reputation will recover eventually.
Birthday Rag Quilts
I decided to make each of my grandchildren a rag quilt for their birthday this year. Five have already received theirs, and the last two have birthdays next week.
Both remaining quilts are assembled. All I have left to do is clip the seams and run them through the washer and dryer.
I actually enjoy clipping rag quilts. It also helps to have a good pair of snips. Mine are from Missouri Star Quilt Company, and I love them.
I'll share photographs of the last two quilts, along with the fabrics I used, in the next Stitch Report. By then, they'll have been given to their birthday recipients.
Moda's Friends & Neighbors Sew-Along
I've finally gotten started on Moda's Friends & Neighbors sew-along and finished my first two blocks.
I'm using reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and light background fabrics. I like how the colors are coming together, and the two blocks have been fun to make.
I'm a few weeks behind the sew-along schedule. I'd like to catch up, although I haven't been terribly successful at sticking to the projects already on my list.
I suppose making three entirely unplanned projects in one evening didn't help matters.
Anyway, two blocks done. Twenty-eight to go.
Patterns, Packages, and Other Things I Apparently Need to Do
The November pattern for A Quilting Life Block of the Month is out. I've printed it, and it's in the queue.
I'm making this quilt in two colorways, so I have two November blocks to complete. I've enjoyed comparing the blocks each month, particularly when the fabric choices make the same pattern look completely different.
I'm also waiting for the next installment of Fat Quarter Shop's Designer Mystery Block of the Month.
My Holiday Sew Sampler box from Fat Quarter Shop has shipped, and so has my Jenny Box from Missouri Star Quilt Company.
Now, about that Jenny Box.
It's an Advent box, which means you're supposed to open one surprise each day. That's the whole idea.
Last year, I opened the entire thing the day it arrived.
This year, I've decided to exercise a little restraint and open one per day, as intended. I have every intention of sticking to that plan.
Of course, I also had every intention of doing other things the evening I made a jelly roll quilt and two sweatshirts, so we'll see.
I'll share more about both boxes once they arrive. Whether I can keep my hands off the Jenny Box until December remains to be seen.
What's Next?
The first order of business is finishing those last two birthday rag quilts. A little clipping, a trip through the washer and dryer, and they'll be ready for next week's birthdays.
Then I'd like to get caught up on Friends & Neighbors, finish the November A Quilting Life blocks in both colorways, and work on the next Designer Mystery block when it arrives.
There's also the rest of my holiday sewing, and the Laguna Sunrise quilt top has now joined the others waiting to be quilted. I'm not counting how many are in that pile. I don't need that information right now.
I should probably add restraint to my to-do list, too. Specifically, learning how to open an Advent box one day at a time.
One more thing before I go. Missouri Star Quilt Company really should contact me. Between the appliqué templates, my favorite snips, and the Jenny Box, I've mentioned them enough this week that I ought to be on the payroll.
I'm not, of course. But I'm open to discussing it.
Until next week,
Chris
Chris Cross Quilts & More
