Monthly color challenge - 2021- January

 

Welcome to a new year of monthly color challenge hosted by Jen at http://patternsbyjen.blogspot.com. 

Every year when Jen does this monthly color challenge, her inspiration comes from many things. This year it came from fruits and vegetables. This months vegetable is eggplant, so the color is purple.

This is my third year blogging for Jen for color of the month. My name is Kathy. I have been sewing and quilting for 46 years. I started sewing in 4-h, learned hand quilting from my mother, and when I wanted to learn machine quilting I read books and found videos on youtube.

The blocks this year are in two sizes 6 1/2" and 12 1/2". So just think, if you follow along all year and make all the blocks, by the end of the year you will have a quilt! Won't that be awesome!

Here are a couple of tips I would like to share with you on making the blocks.

FABRIC PREPPING: I would highly suggest using starch on your fabric, whether it is best press, niagra, or faultless, or making your own. The reason for this is your bias edges don't stretch and the fabric holds together nicer.

SEWING: I chain piece whenever I can. This might mean that I work on a couple different steps at once but then I can press more pieces at a time. It means that if you have 15 minutes to sew, you can get more done in that time frame.

Be sure to visit these other bloggers and see how they did their blocks.

1. Jen: https://patternsbyjen.blogspot.com/

2. Anja: https://anjaquilts.blogspot.com/

3. Wendy: https://www.piecefulthoughts.com/

4. Joanne: http://joanne-everyonedeservesaquilt.blogspot.com/

5. Jen: https://faithandfabricdesign.com

6. Ashli: https://quilt2endalz.org

7. Kathy: https://kathyskwiltsandmore.blogspot.com

8. Crystal: www.daybrookdesigns.com

9. Raylee: http://www.sunflowerstitcheries.com/sunflower-quilting-blog/

10. Andi: https://truebluequilts.com/blog

We have had some wonderful sponsors who are giving away quarterly prizes this year. In order to be entered for the prizes you need to do the monthly color challenge and link up at the end of the month. Make sure you get your pattern during the month it is offered because then it will be free. You can get your free pattern at http://patternsbyjen.blogspot.com.

Goodie Bag: https://www.dragonflysquiltshop.com/

$10 Gift Certificate: https://www.appliquesquiltsandmore.com/

PDF Pattern: https://www.beaquilter.com/

Fat Quarter Bundle: https://benartex.com/

Fabric Bundle and Book: https://www.designsbysarahj.com/

Mini Monty (Fabric Bundle): https://cherrywoodfabrics.bigcartel.com/

PDF Pattern: https://patternsbyjen.blogspot.com/

60 x 46 Dream Angel 100% Flame Retardant Fibers, 60 x 46 Dream Wool: http://www.quiltersdreambatting.com/

PDF Pattern: http://lovetocolormyworld.blogspot.com/

2 PDF Patterns: https://daybrookdesigns.com/

55 x 60 batting 80/20: https://warmcompany.com/

My quilting resolution 2021

 

Welcome to a day of fun and learning what the resolutions for some quilters are for 2021.

Thank you Carla @ https://createinthesticks.blogspot.com for hosting this hop and letting me join. 

There are 4 words that I am going to focus on for 2021.

FINISH

If I can learn to do this, I will have a very happy hubby.   I will also have quilts made for all my kids (4) and grandkids (9), if I set realistic goals.   

LEARN

Continue learning new things about quilting. Learn new techniques.   There are some things I want to try.     One of them is to play with quilting designs in variegated thread.    I think on this quilt, using variegated thread in my petals in the border would be fun.    

I also want to try wool batting.    I like the look it gives a quilt.    I currently have a comforter on my bed that has poly batting in, and I just cannot sleep with that on me.   I get too dang hot.    I usually use cotton.   Just working on getting this quilt done for my bed. 

SHARE

Share what I have learned and know.   I will do this by teaching classes at a local quilt shop and also with my granddaughters.   I have been doing virtual classes with my granddaughters during 2020.    Can't wait until I can do in person with them.   I will also continue to blog and share on social media. 

IMPROVE

Improve on my quilting skills.    Practice new designs.   I have been saving ideas on Pinterest as well as following some quilters who have done some free virtual classes.  

SHARING MY GOALS AND UPDATES

Because I am not always great at planning and follow through, I want to try something new to me.    Each week, on Monday I will share my Make a List, which are things I am going to work on.    I will share a goal of something new I want to learn or try.    Then the following Monday I will share how I did with that goal or over the weekend I will do a post on what I learned.   I would like to ask you to be willing to encourage me throughout the week. 

I would love to hear what your goals are for the new year.   

Here are the other bloggers:

Wednesday, December 30th

Just Let Me Quilt
MooseStashQuilting
Words & Stitches
 Sew Many Yarns
Websterquilt
Cocoa Quilts
QuiltFabrication
Stitchin At Home
Ms P Designs USA
Life in the Scrapatch
Kathy Kwilts and More
Karen's Korner
Quilt Schmilt
selina quilts
The Joyful Quilter
Becky’s adventures in quilting and travel 
Karrin's Crazy World
Quilting and Learning: What a Combo
VroomansQuilts
Cynthia's Creating Ark
PamelaQuilts
Quilting Patchwork & Appliqué
Kathleen McMusing
Quilting Gail
Homespun Hannah's Blog
appliqueand...
Songbird Designs

Linking up with Yvonne @https://quiltingjetgirl.com for #2021planningparty

Make a List Monday - December 28 2020

 

 I am going to try to really start things off right with 2021.   One of those things is to be more organized.  I am not a planner kind of person  but I find if I have lists I do better.   So I am going to start making lists and goals for the year. 

I did not get as much done this year as I had hoped.   I tend to procrastinate, and sometimes put more on my plate than I should then feel overwhelmed and procrastinate.

I am doing something different this year, which I need to really be organized for, and that is teaching classes at my local quilt shop.

Onto my list of things to do this week:

1.   Finish a nightgown for my granddaughters 3rd Birthday.  It is started and almost done.   She love unicorns.   I was glad to find this fabric. 

2.  Doll clothes for some of the 3 year old  baby dolls.  She has 5.  She loves to undress them as soon as mommy dresses them.  Her babies take lots of baths.  

3.   Doll clothes wardrobe for 18" dolls for the SWAP (sewing with a plan) I am doing with Avery Lane Designs, due by January 1st.

4.  2 Yellow Brick Road quilts to use for samples for my class.  1 has straight line quilting and 1 free motion. - do this with granddaughters to give practice in teaching.   This is the fabric for the 1st one.   

5.  Lesson plans for class:   accurate cutting, piecing, pressing, color selection, walking foot quilting. 

6.  Block ready for post on Janury 1 for 2021 monthly color challenge. 

7.   Work on project for Hearts on Fire blog hop. 

8.   Finish quilting this quilt and then choose another one to work on. 

Christmas Ornaments - reverse applique

Today I want to share with you some fun Christmas ornaments I am making.   This is a new to me technique called reverse applique.    It is fun to do and really easy to learn.   

The pattern for these are by Margaret at Eye of the Beholder Quilt Design and to get them you can go to her website at https://www.eobquiltdesign.com.

These are the scissors that I like to use for the intricate work.

Want to learn to do this?   You are in luck as Margaret is holding 2 virtual classes in the coming week.   They make great last minute gifts.   One class is Sunday, December 20th 1:00 - 4:30 pm. Mountain time and Tuesday, December 22nd 9:00 - 4:30 pm Mountain time, and this one includes paper piecing these ornaments.    That is next for me to try.  

I changed mine just a bit.   Instead of doing the back just like the front, I just let the back be quilting. 

I hope you will try these ornaments and try this technique of reverse applique.   It really is fun.