Under the Needle: October

These monthly posts help me keep track of projects, but they seem to roll around awfully fast. This month I cut and pieced this Arcade quilt top for a friend's son. It's a 3-yard quilt that I made bigger 

I took it, and the 16-patch top I made for his sister last month, to Jackie last week.

I made the bindings for both quilts, plus another for a scrappy quilt I made a few months ago

I worked on potholders this month as I've had a few requests and I like to keep a few on hand. I got 8 sets pieced and quilted, 10 sets pieced and 2 sets completed.

I stitched up this little toddler pillowcase for our granddaughter

                                  

I also cut out this quilt I'm calling Into the Woods. It's a 5-yard quilt called Jitterbug and I just made a few blocks to test out the pressing and to see if I liked the colors. The green is darker than I'd like, but it's the best fit out of what I have in my stash and in person, it looks lighter

 I finished the I Spy Quilt for our grandson this month

And I am currently binding a Christmas quilt

It was a good month and as we're getting ready to settle in for winter (We had our first freeze Tuesday night), I'm looking forward to sneaking in a few stitches between busy holiday preparations. 

Quilt Project Added

When I was working on potholders earlier this month, I pulled this fabric to use to bind the western sets

I cut what I needed and tossed the remainder of the folded yardage to the side, into my put-these-away basket, where it landed next to this

Oh, wait...I like that!

 What else can I add? 

And so it begins. 😂

I always need masculine quilts and bought the deer fabric with the idea that it would make a good future project...I guess it just moved up to present project.

Something simple. I saw that Fabric Cafe (of 3-yard quilt fame) just released a new 5-yard quilt book. I don't have any of their books, but I do have a few patterns and just recently made my first one although I made it bigger. But I bought this one and I thought this pattern called Jitterbug, might work. They almost always use a white or cream in their designs, but I'm going a little rouge for this one

I eliminated the light fabric in the initial pull and switched out the green for a different green, more subdued, that I think I like better. The change is subtle, but the other green was too loud and I want the fabrics to be a little muted for this project. I hope it works.

I have other things I ought to be working on, but apparently this one needs to be made first. 😉

I Spy Quilt for L

I started a tradition of giving the grandchildren an I Spy Quilt on their 2nd birthday and in a few weeks, it'll be time to celebrate this little one's special day.

I've always liked the idea of I Spy quilts and I started collecting novelty fabrics about 5 years ago. 

I have more than I'll EVER use, but I had so much fun choosing which ones to include in this one

I used a pattern from Missouri Star for these little mason jar blocks although I made the jar tops and sashing narrower than the pattern suggested.

I used a blue grunge for the background, a gray from my stash for the jar lids, and the same gray for the binding.

I was tickled to find this wide back plaid to put on the back

Jackie's and Sandy's quilting always brings the flimsy to life.

There are 81 different jars filled with fun things to discover and it finishes at 58" x 67"

I stitched love and prayers into every seam

One sweet finish for our precious grandson

What Do You Do With All the Quilts You Make?

 Quilters don't ask quilters that question, but I get it on occasion from others. Àlthough my MIL asks it a lot and she used to make quilts. 😀And yes, there are A LOT of quilts in our home. And we use them, but it's also nice to have some on hand for when a need arises. Just this month alone I have: 

Finished this one for our grandson's 2nd birthday next month

Donated this one to a breast cancer fundraiser

Gave this one to the wife of a friend who day-worked for us on the ranch for nearly 20 years of brandings and weaning and shipping. She is battling cancer.

Sent this one to a friend who neighbored us when we managed that same ranch. They just welcomed their 1st grandchild

Gave this one to one of the kids' friends who just welcomed their 1st child. Her dad owns the local vet supply store.

This one is at Jackie's and will be in the mail next month to friends' daughter who started college this fall. Her family lived and worked for us on the ranch for 3 years

This one is at Jackie's too and is for the college girl's brother.

That's 7 quilts made with love and headed to their forever homes where I hope they will bring joy and comfort and be loved. I think those of you who make quilts can relate. 😉