progress report

 First up: the baby quilt.  After I finished blogging last week, I figured out a plan to quilt the baby quilt, loaded it, and off I went.  It took a lot less time than I expected, but I managed to figure out how to do a custom design from one edge to the other, eliminating a LOT of stops and starts and burying of threads.

(Except that one spot where I forgot which direction I should be going and had to go back.)

Even with a small stretch that needed to be ripped out and a decision to remove the quilt and turn it 90 degrees to do another few passes going that direction, I was done quickly!

As I was trying to trim it on the table behind the machine, Finn decided it needed to be tested RIGHT NOW!  So there is a somewhat obvious lump there - that is Finn.  (That cat cracks me up.)

I proceeded upstairs to sew the binding on, but have yet to hand-sew the other side down.  Time is counting down now, so I need to get it done soon.  Perhaps after I'm done blogging?

With that done, I was free to work on something else.  How about that Snow Day holiday quilt?  I last left you with a few snowmen hats.  Well...Love wondered if I'd have this done by Christmas and I laughed at her.  Let's see how that's gone this week!

Each section takes quite a while, with a LOT of pieces in each, but it also lends itself well to chain-piecing, so once you figure out a rhythm, it goes quickly.  Before I knew it I had these three sections made and, shortly after this photo was taken, had these two sections sewn together.

Then it was on to trees.  Lots and lots of trees!

These were less fun.  I've made what feels like too many trees this year (remember the Sasquatch quilt? and the Team Colors quilt from Project Quilting? and the cars and trees quilt?) and was glad to have these together last night.  They are sewn into two sections here and will go in different parts of the quilt this way.

Today, after a trip to the grocery store, I dug into houses!

These took a bit more focus, as half are going in opposite directions from the other half.  They are also two sections that will join the two sections of trees in different places.

Last up are some snowflakes, but the box of pieces is getting very empty!  It feels good to be that close, but I'm also amazed at myself for getting so much done so quickly.  I never imagined it would go together this fast.

I had plenty of help.  Yesterday I turned around to see Gabby laying on these sections, looking very cute and asleep.  Do not be fooled.  This still-pretty-feral cat is NOT sleeping.  She is not quite waiting to pounce, but she was not asleep.  But she IS very cute!

Between these quilty tasks, I made more masks.

Remember last week how I told you I took a batch to work to share?  Well, there are two coworkers I have seen wearing the same mask from me since that day.  That cannot be good - they need to be washed frequently!  But I know not everyone has easy access to a free (well, not coin-operated, not in their back room) washing machine, so I approached the gal first.  She mentioned she liked the fit of this style, so I told her I would make her more!  (At which point, she admitted she had almost gone out and bought me some fabric to ask me to use to make her masks.  I laughed so hard.  If she only knew how much fabric I have - I do NOT need any more!)

So, since I have her phone number, I decided to let her be a part of the fabric auditions.

I chose these six, knowing that having enough to go a whole week between needing to do laundry is how I operated when I didn't have my own washing machine.  She asked how many she got to pick and I told her all of them!  She was excited, but nixed the butterflies and foxes.  While my tastes tend to be a little bolder, I respected her and picked two new ones!

Tamer fabrics for sure, but she liked these, so I got to work.

I did need to run out for a few spools of thread to match (that mauve-y pink and burgundy were not colors I had on hand or could fudge a good enough match), but I know I'll use them for something eventually.

The offer was made on Wednesday and before her shift was over on Thursday, I had these to drop off!

She was busy with nonsense at work (always with the nonsense), but was happy to get them so quickly.  And I heard from a coworker later that she was going through them, excited about her options.  (And when she came in Saturday to shop, she was wearing the blue one!)

Encouraged by my success, I offered on Saturday to the other coworker.  He is newer and rather quiet, but I decided it was the right thing to do.  He said he would take any Christmas ones, but when I told him I had only one other Christmas fabric and would be happy to to choose some more neutral, guy-ish fabrics, he agreed.

And you know I came right home and raided my stash again, right?  This time it was a bit harder, knowing things like florals and louder prints were out, but I do tend towards fabrics that read as solids, so it was just a matter of wrapping my head around the inability to choose funky stuff.

That floral is actually poinsettias, but my hubby said it looks Hawaiian.  If he doesn't like it (or any others), I won't be offended, but I think I did okay to keep these fairly calm.  The insides are also quite boring, but the insides often are where I put less interesting fabrics.  I will see him tomorrow and hand them over when we work together then.

This may be the end of large amounts of sewing for a few days, though.  I've been picking up a few extra shifts, as needed, for coworkers out sick in the coming week.  My skill set is not as wide as some (I've driven the fork lift a whole one time and I cannot lift the heavy, heavy things the boys can do easily), but I can fill in some holes and, so long as I stay healthy, I will do so.  It's a little scary, but I wear my mask, am mindful of touching my face (and food) with unwashed hands, and am happy to spend some time at my sewing machine making masks that have the double function of keeping my coworkers safer and me too!

Well, the hubby is taking a nap (readjusting his oddball work schedule back to nights tonight), so I'd better take advantage of full use of the TV for some Gilmore Girls and quilt binding!

Happy quilting!

Katie