Betty's (dudes22) 2024 Quilt Fest

Garden Sampler, Copyright 2018 Fat Quarter Shop, This and That Pattern Company

Welcome to my 2024 thread! I’m Betty and I live in Rhode Island. I’ve made a bunch of plans for this year’s quilting but I’m not sure how many I’ll accomplish.

I’m working on a sampler quilt which is my theme this year over in the Category Challenge thread. I used quilting as a theme in 2014 and I thought I’d work on another one since it’s been 10 years. I’ll be posting pictures of that project here also and will probably post the newest one each month in this post.

My big plan for this year is to finish the Christmas quilts I started in 2023 so I have 15 quilts for my great-nieces/nephews at Christmas. It has recently dawned on me that I will have to finish (quilted and bound) 2 quilts each month to accomplish this. Finding a quilting design is not something I feel I’m very good at so I might take some to my long-arm quilter. (especially if I’m running behind). I’m also thinking that the green chickadee top I finished might be a little too small, so I’m thinking of taking off the borders and seeing what I can do to make it larger. Maybe a series of borders with some kind of piecing.

I’m sure I’ll be working on more pillowcases and I have some tops I’d like to get quilted and finished. I also should really work on my hand-sewing quilt blocks project at night instead of playing games on my computer while I watch TV. I’ll keep a list here to help me see how I’m doing:

Other:
Table mat for Jane
Yellow Stripe Baby Quilt (UFO)
Baby Quilt (UFO) 42"x42"

Pillowcases: 6 (church)

Sampler Blocks:



Christmas Tops -
Green Chickadee (2022) - 46x64
Diamond Strip (2022) - 49x64
Snowflake (2023) - 70 x 84
Scrap Charm (2023) - 56x66
Jelly Weave (2023) - 57x73
Plaid (2023) - (2023)51x64
Half-Step (2024) - 60x60
Large blocks (2024) - 52x65

1st Five:


2nd Five:


Christmas Tops Done:

1Happy New Year, Betty. I like that sampler

I've finished another rosette for my hand sewing quilt project. I went back and looked and the first time I showed the center of a rosette way back in Oct, 2018 when I was trying one out for a take along project when we went to Florida in 2019. I got a bunch of centers done and then sort-if lost interest. I'm not that good at hand sewing and get frustrated easil so I tend to ignore this usually. I have one large rosette and this makes the third small one done. I still need 5 or 6 more small ones and I'm going to try and work on it more this year.

I picked out another center and cut the pieces for the triangles (blue in this picture) and the pieces that are yellow in this picture. Onward!

Happy New Year! More power to you for coming back to the rosettes!

That’s a fun idea to use the quilt as a theme for the category challenge. I look forward to seeing the different blocks as you make them.

And I’m forever impressed that you’re making that quilts for all the great-nieces and nephews. It’s so many! I have vague some-day-in-the-future plans for two quilts and one table topper/wall hanger.

>4 lesmel: - We'll see how long my ambition lasts.

>5 PawsforThought: - I was thinking the other day that maybe I should consider making a Christmas quilt for the "grands" too. But one grandson and our granddaughter got quilts when they went to college and the other grandson is graduating high school this year and I'll probably make him one for college so I think I can hold off a couple of years.

This morning I decided I should pin together a table mat for my sister's birthday the end of the month so I could get it quilted and bound. As I was pinning, I realized that I had used one of the fabrics in a table mat I made for my niece when she was getting married (I did 12 - one for each month). Her oldest daughter will be turning 20 in Feb so that fabric has been in my stash for over 20 years! Yikes! I'll point it out when I post the picture of the mat and tell you why I realized this.

>7 dudes22: Are you on Instagram? There's user -- Quiltdoc16 -- that just posted about having a fabric in his stash for 27 years.

>8 lesmel: - No I don't do Instagram. But realizing that, I'm sure there are older fabrics.

I've realized that I need to keep better track of projects I want to do especially if I buy the fabric. I came across a jelly roll and some yardage that I obviously bought for a project but I never made a note of what it was. And I have SOOOO many ideas pinned on Pinterest, it would take me a while to figure out (if that's where it was).

>10 dudes22: I have the same problem but with yarn. I’ve tried to make inventory, but there always seems to be more skeins popping up that I don’t know what they’re for. I’ll have to update the inventory list (and projects planned-list) once I move house.

The rosette is lovely. I've begun kitting my cross stitch things if I've purchased either the fibers or fabric for them (along with the pattern). Hopefully that pile will decrease a little so I can add more to it!

>10 dudes22: This is part of why I have a project list! If I didn't have my list, I would forget why I bought the fabric or the pattern. There are some really nice planners on the market for tracking projects; but I like my blank dot grid journal just fine!

>13 lesmel: - Yes - I need to do better.

I do have project lists but some projects have managed to stay off them, which has caused quite a bit of chaos.

This is a table mat I made for my sister for her birthday at the end of the month. She loves to decorate for the holidays, and I thought she could even use this for Valentine's Day. Up above the big white square in the center is a square with calla lily fabric. As I mentioned above, it's actually left over from some fabric I used for a table mat for my niece when she got married over 20 years ago. Her flower for her wedding was calla lilies. I bought it in pink and in white. It's about 18" square.

>16 dudes22: Beautiful! I'm a little partial to the pinks!

While sewing with my charity sewing group at church today, I managed to break a needle so badly that when I replaced it, it didn't line up with the middle. And there might still be a piece somewhere inside the bobbin. I was planning to take it in next month while we were on vacation anyway, so I dropped it off today instead. I still have another machine I can use so I think I'll see if I can get a couple of quilt backs done and maybe put together.

>18 dudes22: Oh. I hate when I break a needle specifically for this reason. I always worry I'm going to damage the machine...or put my eye out.

>19 lesmel: - Yes - When I replaced the needle and it didn't line up in the center, I knew it wasn't good. I'm hoping "Bob" (guy at the sewing machine place) will be able to fix it.

Meanwhile - I got an invitation today to a baby shower for my husband's god-daughter's son. It's going to be a three-hour drive away but I kind-of feel I should go. Luckily lots of notice. I have a baby quilt already pinned and waiting to be quilted so I guess that will be my project this week.

>20 dudes22: She'll be blessed to receive a baby quilt.

Thanks, Lori.

Sorry about the needle slowing you down. Hope you have a nice time at the shower and that she LOVES the quilt.

>20 dudes22: That is a treasure. How nice.

Popping by to say hello, Betty! 😁😁

>23 avaland: - More about the quilt in a minute.

>24 mnleona: - Thanks. My sister loved the mat, and we had a little laugh that I still had the calla lily fabric.

>25 PlatinumWarlock: - Hi, Lavinia - nice of you to pop by.

I got halfway through quilting the baby quilt when it dawned on me to look at the invitation and make sure that new baby was going to be a girl. I'm not sure where I got that idea because it doesn't say one way or the other. So, I went out to the registry and most of the clothing items are gray, tan, green, etc, so I'm pretty sure the baby will be a boy. Also, there's a card attached to the invitation that will be used for a raffle and it's edged in blue. SO, after I finished quilting the "girl" quilt, I went through my unquilted tops and found a top in primary colors that could be for wither gender. I've got the back made and I'll probably pin it together later today.

>26 dudes22: nice catch on the colours. I don't make anything for a child until its born, I can't cope with the idea that it is, in some way, tempting fate.

Of course you still have the left over fabric. I made a quilt that included any number of scraps of my childhood dress fabrics, Mum had kept all the left over bits. Is that not what happens?

>27 Helenliz: - I suppose so.

Here's a picture of the February block for my garden sampler quilt. I also have a couple of projects almost finished that I hope to have pictures of later this week.

>29 dudes22: Ooh, that's nice. Looks like a lots of pieces - how big are the blocks in your quilt?

That's very pretty, Betty. I like the way that red/orange square in the center complements the red flowers in the "garden">

>30 PawsforThought: - Thanks, Paws. The blocks are 10.5 right now and, yes, there are a lot of little pieces. It's the pressing of seams that's the real pain.

>31 lauralkeet: - Thanks, Laura. I spent some time and searched out the fabrics that were used in the picture on the pattern so they're made to co-ordinate.

>29 dudes22: Lovely, Betty! I like that particular shade of red/orange... sort of "coral", maybe?

>33 PlatinumWarlock: - thanks, Lavinia. I think you could call it coral.

Here's the next Christmas quilt top that I've finished. That makes seven. Size will be 60"x60". I made it from a jelly roll so the fabrics co-ordinate. I also managed to buy the same jellyroll 2 more times by forgetting I already had it. I've got a new plan for these Christmas quilts. Instead of trying to complete 2+ each month, I think I'm going to try and finish all the tops and then decide which ones I'll have my long-arm quilter quilt and which ones I think I can do. I'm not a confident finisher because I can't decide on a quilting design and I'm not confident in the color thread I choose for the quilting.

In other news, I picked up my machine which was at the "spa" being fixed. One of the quilts that was on display had me wishing I were a more confident "free motion" quilter. (i.e. I don't do it at all) I know it would be faster sometimes, but I'm such a linear thinker.

One of my other goals this year is to learn how to spray baste my quilts. I might go to the free-sew at my favorite quilt store and get some help. Maybe try it on something small.

>35 dudes22: That is a lovely top!

Spray basting...sigh. I use it a lot. I have never perfected my technique; there are a lot of methods out there!

Depending on technique, the biggest step is getting your backing taut to avoid wrinkles.

You don't need a lot of spray if you have a good quality basting spray.

Spray your batting, not your fabric unless you have "satiny" finish fabric. You will probably need to lightly spray the fabric & batting.

Don't. Pull. Any of your layers.

Add a light amount of tension to the backing with painters tape.

Layer the batting over the backing. Work in halves or quarters. Pull back the batting. Spray. Place batting back over backing & smooth with light pressure. You should be able to reposition if needed. Repeat per half/quarter. Repeat for top to batting.

Use drop cloths or scrap batting to combat overspray. I use the blank newsprint from HomeGoods that they wrap glass items in.

This is pretty much my technique: https://youtu.be/E6E-yd299Sk?si=Hbr-0O00a5CQDQYv

This technique can be used at a table.

There is a pool noodle technique I have never wrapped my brain around.

That quilt top is very nice, Betty. I had to laugh at you buying the same jelly roll 2 more times. I can totally see how that could happen. But I'm sure your Christmas quilts will be well-loved by their recipients.

Nice work on the quilt top.

And I complete understand you re-buying the same jelly roll twice - goodness knows I’ve (unintentionally) bought the same yarn more than once.

The great thing about buying something more than once is that you can make something that much bigger: place mats become table tops, baby quilts grow into single beds, on and on.

>35 dudes22: >36 lesmel: I know people who use a confined area for spray basting small pieces. One noted quilter puts the work in an open box and then sprays. I would find that difficult, but I understand why she does it.

One could try setting up a station of sorts -- like they do for paint. Three foam boards for the sides and one for the bottom. That's a little unwieldy to manage long-term.

>38 PawsforThought: - Thanks, Paws.

>39 SassyLassy: - Now that you mention it - I think I have seen that idea but thought it might be cumbersome.

>40 lesmel: - Yeah - I would think so.

One of the baby quilts I'm making for charity. Approximate size 41"x48". Sorry for the poor picture quality.

Always so cute!

I still have several charity lap quilts to finish...

>35 dudes22: I, uh, might know something about buying multiples of something because I forgot I had it... 😳

The quilt top is lovely!!

>44 PlatinumWarlock: - Thanks, Lavinia.

Baby quilt finished for baby shower in March. That new ruler I bought made it go so much faster than using painter's tape. Didn't realize til I put on the binding that it could be reversible. Size is 42"x42"

That is so cool - almost like geometric snakes and ladders!

very nice, Betty!

Beautiful work, Betty!

>47 SassyLassy: - >48 lauralkeet: ->49 MickyFine: - Thank you all.

>46 dudes22: Cute!! I love the bright colors.

>51 scaifea: - I frequently like to do baby quilts in primary colors.

>42 dudes22: >46 dudes22: I love the baby quilts, especially the brighter ones in the latter grouping.

Terrific, as usual, Betty!

>53 thornton37814: - >54 avaland: - Thanks, ladies.

I've got fabric hanging around that my mom bought before I was born (and I'm almost 39). Might as well keep what you like!

I especially like that baby quilt.

Thanks Meredith.

Back from vacation. Hope to get in the sewing room sometime this weekend, although I have that baby shower to go to. This is the March block from the Garden Sampler blocks that I'm making.

That's really pretty Betty. Spring is coming ...

>59 lauralkeet: - A tad bit later for us than for you but my husband has ordered some tomato plants, and I might look at some seeds later this week. We're going away the first 2 weeks of April, so we'll have to hold off starting any seed until we return.

>58 dudes22: That is very nice. It's definitely spring-like!

It's been a few days, so I thought I'd do a small update. Nothing else finished but progress on a number of projects. I cut all the pieces for the back and binding of one of the Christmas quilts. I think perhaps I need to do this for all the tops I have finished so I don't end up using fabric in another quilt by mistake. I also realized that I'll need labels for the back each quilt, so I might print some out and work on those sporadically.

I did finish a couple of pillowcases that I'll be using for a hostess gift when we go to visit friends next month and I had enough fabric left to make a small 12" pillow too.

Our charity sewing group at church is working on pillowcase dresses and we use double edge bias tape for the armholes and ties. I decided to take some fat quarter pieces of fabric and make some bias tape to give them a little more interest than the solid colors of bias tape that are available. I'm going to work on a couple of these today to see how that works so I might have some pictures soon.

I'm also thinking of rearranging my sewing room but that's a big project so I might need to keep thinking about that. I need to see if I can find a place to donate some of the fabric that I have and don't think I'll ever use. I'm going to check with a couple of quilt shops to see if they know of any.

A few photos :

First, a set of pillowcases and a pillow cover that I'm taking to Arizona as a hostess gift for our friends. (sorry the picture isn't too great)



Next are a few pillowcase dresses that my church sewing group is making. It's a little hard to see the shoulder ties in two of the pictures, but those are the ones where I made the bias tape from fabric that I had.

Wonderful! I love those dresses.

I know there is a group of ladies at our church that makes pillowcase dresses. They do it while I'm working so I have not been able to join them. Maybe something to do in retirement.

>63 dudes22: Very cute pillowcase dresses, and good work making the bias tape for the shoulder straps! I’ve been looking at some bias tape makers lately but haven’t bought them as I don’t have a project in the making that calls for bias tape.

>66 PawsforThought: - Thanks Paws! I think the only thing about bias tape I don't like is that I don't know what to do with what's left over. Quilting is my only "craft" so I wouldn't have any other projects to use it on.

I saw a lady at Easter sunrise service this morning who was wearing what I thought was a quilted jacket that was so cute. Turned out the fabric was a "cheater" cloth with a quilt pattern. It reminded me that at some point I'd like to make a quilted jacket, but I think it's relatively low on the list of projects I have. Laura's daughter made one from a quilt she bought, and that's another way I might go.

Here's the sampler block for April:



I've finished another Christmas quilt top and hope to have a picture to post before we go away the end of the week. We're off to Arizona to visit friends for a couple of weeks.

Here's a picture of the top of the newest Christmas quilt. Size 52"x65"

That's a nice quilt.

>70 dudes22: - Thanks, Lori. I was originally going to make it 4 blocks by 5 blocks but realized it was going to be too big so I think I'll use the extra eight blocks to make two wall hangings.

>72 dudes22: I did notice the block above it was not in the quilt.

>73 thornton37814: - That block is for a year-long sampler quilt that I'm making.

Wow. Just wow. That's beautiful, Betty. I admire the ability to put all those differently-patterned fabrics together in a way that works. Years ago my mom made twin-sized quilts for my two daughters and we went shopping for fabric together. The quilts have a unifying color palette, but I was just too matchy-matchy. She was able to see ways to put very different patterns together.

>75 lauralkeet: - Thanks, Laura - I've never really thought that I do a good job pf mixing fabrics for a quilt. In this case, I decided to pull out some of the prints with larger patterns.

We're out here in Az visiting friends and went to a couple of quilt shops yesterday where I made some modest purchases. (I was only looking for a couple of specific things which I didn't find.) We also went to a couple of thrift stores where I got some men's shirts in large sizes for a quilting project. Yellow tag shirts were 50% off and I got a 20% senior discount. I've been following a Youtuber (catbird quilts) who uses 100% cotton men's dress shirts to source fabric for quilts. I've been getting a few here and there back home, but I thought I might get something different here and I did. Now to see if they fit in my suitcase or if I have to mail them.

Here's May's block for my garden sampler quilt:

Very pretty! I scrolled up to review the previous months' blocks. The blocks will all look really nice together.

>79 lauralkeet: - Thanks, Laura. Although I'm keeping up with the monthly blocks, I don't think I'll have everything together with sashing and borders by the end of the year.

>78 dudes22: Nice!

That's such a sweet block, and I love the fabric choices.

>81 scaifea: - Thanks, Amber.

>82 mabith: - I tried to find the fabrics that were shown on the pattern, but, thanks.

>78 dudes22: The block is lovely. Very poppy vibes, which being Canadian, I always associate with November but I know May is much more accurate (for places that aren't the perpetual snowscape it feels like I live in).

>84 MickyFine: - Thanks, Mickey. The person who wrote the pattern calls it the "lemongrass" block, but I agree with you it looks like a poppy.

Thought I'd pop in with an update on my quilting although I don't have any pictures of finished projects. I finally have the first Christmas quilt pinned together and ready for quilting which I hope will get started this weekend. Picking a pattern to be quilted and thread color to use is where I'm not very confident so I tend to put it off. I have a few more tops in various stages of completion and I need to get organized as I'm already afraid I might not be able to complete all of them. I've been working on pillowcases for my charity group at church and I decided to make some doll quilts with some leftover fabrics. Side-tracked again!

>86 dudes22: It's easy to get sidetracked. I've been so busy this week that I've only stitched Sunday and yesterday. I have not had 4 days in a row of non-stitching in a long, long time.