OMG: A Real Challenge

My February OMG was to quilt the 3rd of the baby quilts made from Windham Brights precuts.  It proved to be the greatest challenge I have faced with Patience, my HandiQuilter 16.

February OMG

Mounting the back so it would roll straight was the issue.  I finally got it on satisfactorily and the design is straight but not exactly positioned where I wanted on the back of the quilt.  Adding a label at the center bottom should balance it better.  There is one spot that has some slight rippling but when the quilt is washed, it should be disguised by the crinkles in the cotton batting.

Maybe next time I won't plan such a challenging back to mount and roll straight and I will get my blog post linked on time.  I missed it but will try again.  

February OMG

This month for my Elm Street Quilts OMG, I am aiming at getting the 3rd of the quilts made from the Windham Brights on the HandiQuilter and quilted.  It should only take a part of a morning to quilt.  Also, there is a piece of batting left from the January OMG that should work for this top and a number of scraps for creating a unique back.  There is plenty for binding, too.  It's a short month but the goal should be accomplished.

Goal!

My OMG for Elm Street Quilts has been quilted and bound.  The quilting was completed on Tuesday morning and the binding was on by Wednesday night.

Stitch and Flip Baby Quilt: OMG Quilt for January

The Stitch and Flip Quilt is a fast and easy quilt for a baby shower.  It requires only 1/2 of a Jelly Roll.  The project is worth repeating.  One could make two at a time and switch the vertical strip between the two quilts.

Shannon is thinking about what her grandmas name will be so the label will have to wait until she decides.

It feels good to have completed one of the tops in my stack.  There is one more top I made with fabrics from this line.  It may be my OMG for February and gifted to a granddaughter arriving by adoption.

A Good Month for Projects

Record Snow Storm

We had an unusual snowstorm that left us with 13 inches of snow this month.  The snow caused havoc for a week and then left us quickly when our temperatures returned to normal.  Besides shoveling our driveway, I have some projects to show since Christmas and for being snowbound.

Decorative Napkins for the Kitchen Table

 I love the method for the napkins.  It works so slick!

Three Reversible Table Runners

This quickie table runner makes a great gift and is so easy.  I have more details on another blog entry:  WOF Table Runners  Sometimes I vary the strips a bit depending on the fabric available.  I had a kit for one 10 Minute Table Runner that I was making the most of by supplementing with some coordinating fabrics.  The kit fabrics were the orange and lime green Riley Blake fabrics and the additions were the black and the backing fabrics.

Two Aprons for Gifting

Much Needed Slippers for Me

 The free pattern for the slippers is a keeper.  I like the garter stitch sole.  It feels cushy.

Napkins & Mug Rugs or Candle Mats

 

Gift Apron

The pattern for the apron is in a booklet.  I collect apron patterns but this is my number one favorite.  The half apron version of the one above has been well liked among fans of that style, too.

Progressing Towards a Goal

Yesterday, I made good use of time before we did my mom's shopping and quilted my OMG project.  Now to get the binding ready along with putting the badges on my husband's new uniform.  It would be nice if the quilt were ready for tomorrow so my friend can see it and decide what she wants on the label.  She is a new grandma and I will probably use her grandma name in the sentiment.

One Monthly Goal

Elm Street Quilts is sponsoring a goal setting contest.  I am entering just to get my stack of quilt tops off the table, quilted, bound, and labelled so they can be gifted.  Last year only 2 tops made the finished list.  I was glad to have them leave but more should have disappeared with them.

Here is the quilt top that needs to be done first.  It was one of three from pre-cuts from the same colorway I made in 2015.  This one is going to my friend Shannon.  It's her rockin' grandbaby quilt.

My "One Monthly Goal" Quilt

I have two more aprons on the list for this month before the quilt is loaded on my machine for quilting.  The 2 aprons will join another completed in the last three days with two matching napkins and mug mats.

Quilted!

Snowflakes and Swirls

A finish!  Yes, just the quilting but it is remarkable because I challenged myself to learn a new quilting design.  Running a longarm doesn't come naturally to me and I don't have much experience in the art of free-motion quilting or embroidery on a standard sewing machine.  I have taken a class and tried a few projects but they just didn't turn out to my satisfaction so each new pattern I learn to quilt on the HandiQuilter 16 takes a few hours of practice on a white board with a pen and eraser in hand.

With this new pattern I am confident to try it on a quilt that is a must finish for Christmas project.  Since my DH is on duty for Thanksgiving, it will be my project for the day instead of dinner since our family members have commitments elsewhere.

Snowflake Baby Quilt Top