Slow Stitching Sunday

In all that tidying I was doing these last couple of months, I came across a table runner that needed quilting. I created this out of some orphan blocks and though it would look nice to incorporate into fall decor. The stars were made when I was just playing around with fabrics on a random day when I was probably procrastinating about something. Check out this post.

You can see from the date on that post that these stars have taken up space in my quilting room since 2018 - good grief! It needs finishing! At some point since then, I made and added the setting block, and I put the quilt sandwich together. Finally, it is nearly done.The hand quilting is nothing fancy or precise. I was not too concerned about marking lines; I eyeballed it. Just getting the job done. It's the most basic quilting ever. It will soon be time to trim it down and apply the binding. Perfect project for when I'm watching baseball on television.

 

For awhile this spring - in the past two months since we've been back from Florida - I have had an overwhelming feeling of too many unfinished little projects that, if finished, would be stored somewhere else besides stacked in my quilting room. I needed to deal with these little projects. And several have been dealt with, I can happily report. I share a few of them in this post. Since then, I've done another one, which I will share in an upcoming post. Now this table topper. What a satisfying feeling to be finishing off more little projects.

 Don't inspect the stitching too closely! Remember, done is better than perfect, right? I am going to have this one out of my view and another finish to check off my list. Hooray.

I will add my table topper to the slow stitching project party over at Kathy's Quilts.  She has a fun, yet incredibly telling graphic to begin today's post. The flow chart of project completions (!) is spot on. I love starting projects; finishing is another matter.

Oh well. Today, I am one step closer to finishing this table topper.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

 

 

 

Slow Sunday Stitching

It's been awhile since I last checked in on the weekly slow stitching party. Since I've done a little bit of that sort of stitching recently, it seems as good a time as any to see what all the talented ladies have been working on. Kathy's Quilts hosts this party every week on her blog; I've enjoyed visiting with these seamstresses and seeing the oh-so-inspiring projects they create.

I've taken time to reacquaint myself with an embroidery project I unearthed recently while sorting and organizing in my quilting room. I was going great guns on this back a few years ago when I started. I bought the book and the fabric with every intention of diligently stitching it up in time to use for fall decorating.

The book, by Kathy Schmitz, is full of wonderful patterns both large and small, many of which I could definitely see myself making. I just lost steam on it for whatever reason, and now am trying to regain my enthusiasm and finish it. It will become a pillow when completed.

In the time I've worked on it this last week, I can tell you one reason I probably stopped stitching  - lighting! I have very poor lighting in the room I generally sit in the evening (TV room), and the effort it takes to both follow the pattern and thread the needle makes me very slow about things. 

I have several good lights that I could bring downstairs - one that wraps around my neck for focusing light toward my hands. I owe it to myself to make use of the tools at my disposal.

I hope you'll stop over at Kathy's for her little party. It will inspire you, for sure!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne  

Slow Sunday Stitching

Most of my slow stitching this winter has occurred on Thursdays rather than Sundays. That's because I go with my Florida quilting friend Charlaine to the Nobleton Group who meet a few miles south of here. I finished the Grandmother's Flower Garden with them, and now I am attempting to finish lake Effect.

Yes, I will have you take a quick look at a familiar old friend - Lake Effect. Gosh, it feels like an anvil around my neck trying to get this thing finished. It's getting heavier and heavier (figuratively speaking). But, I said from the very beginning that it would be a 10-year-project. This is year 9; the end is in sight.

Bottom border; adjusting for proper sizing.

You'll find dozens of prior posts that will show more complete pictures of this quilt coming together. I will direct you to this one, my last post (all the way back to June '25!) about this quilt, and this post which details the major mistake I made (discovering after 2 years into construction). Do a search if you desire more info. 

It is my fervent hope that I will finish this quilt top this year. Gotta' keep my focus on that completion!

I am linking up (after several weeks away) with Kathy and her Slow Sunday Stitching party. I always see such gorgeous projects taking shape over there. These needle artists are such an inspiration.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Slow Stitching Hexie Flowers

Slow stitching, indeed. I have not been stitching very faithfully, but when I do take the time to sit with needle and thread, I am appliqueing hexie flowers to 6.5-inch neutral fabric. Eventually these will be used as setting blocks alongside 9-patches. The resulting quilt will be wall-hanging sized or perhaps, table topper. I am definitely not going for a full quilt. Small and sweet, just like these darling hexie flowers. 

Recall this mock up from awhile back. I've mostly left this on the design wall, and as I've pondered things while stitching, I do think something just a bit bigger will be nice. I have plenty of 9-patches already prepped. I've likely made more flowers than I'll use. It's the appliqueing part that will force me to keep it small. (Never have been a fan of applique; even though I've learned and can do it, I avoid when possible.)

And it's likely that very avoidance which explains my reluctance with finishing these hexie flowers. No matter how badly I want this little project finished, I seem to find a gazillion other things to do besides stitch. Inexplicable....

Here are some completed appliques. Several more are waiting in the basket. This little project is of the wildly impromptu variety, and it meets all the objectives of making darling, sweet little flowery quilts. The simplicity of it appeals in every way. All these hexies were made with Tilda scraps that remained after finishing my Wensleydale blocks. 

I'm linking up with Kathy and her weekly slow stitching meet-up. Take a peek at some of the awesome projects these stitchers are working on. These gals seem to have a lot more "stick-to-it" powers than I have. I'm gonna' glean some motivational inspiration from them.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Slow Sunday Stitching

I've not been doing all that much handwork lately - finishing off corners and edges on my Grandmother's Flower Garden, mostly, and also putzing around with random bits and no plan. However, a couple of my friends in the Frankfort Girls quilting group have been creating some gorgeous pieces and I've got a little project parade from them to share here. 

Inspiration at your fingertips.

My group of quilting friends has so much talent in all areas of needle arts. Sharon O. has stitched so many fantastic embroidery and cross-stitch creations. Here is a sampling of her recent work.

Another prolific seamstress in the group is Sheryll who specializes in wool crafts. I am happy to have been the recipient of a few of her wool gifts over the years. Here are some of her recent finishes.

 

As for my own work, the finishing and fussing over the edges and corners of my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt might at last be set. I've dithered over this stuff for long enough. I'm gonna go with the idea that finished is better than perfect.

 

 

This last picture shows the curvy sides and a straight side. I will applique a straight yellow border onto all four sides. I may or may not do a small inner border along with a wider border. 

From the very first hexie in the very first flower, this quilt has been a "let's see how this looks" project, so why would I do anything different with the borders?

For additional inspiration, click on over to Kathy's Quilts and check out her weekly Slow Sunday Stitching party. It never fails to inspire and delight.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Filling In Border Garden

Gardeners are often found pruning and perfecting their gardens. I have been no different with my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. A few months ago I was telling folks I'd finished it. Then while I was pondering borders options that appealed to me, I decided that this flower garden still needed some more attention. I needed to fuss just a little bit more with the quilt. I wrote about all of this here.

With the half-hexie flowers prepared, I stitched them into the quilt over the course of a couple of evenings. Now, I am adding the outer path hexies to complete my garden.

Five path hexies are all that I need to close the gap on this path. It takes very little time to complete. And just like that, my goal of softening the curves on my GFG has been achieved. *smile*

In the spaces that I have completely enclosed with paths, I am removing the last of the foundation papers. Then I've begun pressing the edges for a crisp, sharp edge preparing for the next step - appliqueing to a border. 

I'm linking up with Kathy and her Slow Sunday Stitching party. Let's hop over there to see what beauties these sewists are creating.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Welcome June!

Gosh! June is here already! I do love a reason - like the start of a brand new month - to make a list and begin attacking projects both old and new. So let's make the most of June!

Have you tried using any of the apps for AI? I dipped my toe into it a little bit in the last month, and this welcome June image is the result of one of my experiments. I could never create an image like that by myself, and I often "borrow" pretty ones from other sources. Well, finally, I can offer one that is legitimately mine along with help from ChatGPT. 

I got to spend the first day of this new month with two of my favorite little people! Cate and Reagan! This business of being a Grandma is really awesome; I rarely miss an opportunity to spend time with them. 

In quilting news, I continue working on Lake Effect. I am very near the point at which I will begin attaching the two final borders to the quilt.

In the poorly-lit early morning, I snapped these pics. Still quite wrinkly, this portion is all attached. I have been mostly working on the border for the left side, and it appears I need to add one more row of hexies.

 For the bottom border, it looks like 3 or 4 more vertical rows will close the gap. I will be so glad to reach this point! It feels as though I've stitched hexies for forever. 

As you examine these photos, I wonder if you can detect a problem? It isn't readily evident, but I know the issue and I surely must fix it.

The left border is 7 hexies wide; the right border is 8 hexies wide. Don't ask me how I made such a mistake. I will blame it on the many weeks of NOT working on this quilt. I forget what I'm doing during those weeks of inactivity. Yes, I will remove the outer-most column of hexies on the right. Maybe they will be needed in finishing these last two borders; I am getting rather low on my options at this point.

What new plans are in store for this month? I have a few ideas; let me share those in a future post. I will also need to do a round-up collage for May, so that will be coming soon, too.

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts and her Slow Sunday Stitching party.  

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Slow Sunday Stitching

Grandmother's Flower Garden continues to be one of my main sewing endeavors, as I make my way through the last of the flowers. I calculate that I need just 7 more flowers to complete my top, then I must stitch the remaining top together with the paths.

In order to avoid having a cluster of flowers too similar in the same spot, I am waiting to attach the last several I've made until all are done. Then I can sprinkle around the colors in random fashion. Honestly, I've tried not to be too fussy about placement up to this point. So I don't plan to be overly concerned about where these last flowers 'grow.' If my goal is to have the look of a frothy, English cottage garden, then I won't try to control things too, too much.

Here are a few more flowers yet to be sewn in.

And I will rerun the latest picture I've taken of the completed top of GFG so far. I've not added to it since before we left Florida - at least a month - but I've made lots more hexies for the paths and these remaining flowers.

Soon, I will need to have a decision about borders. I hope my tub of solid fabrics will have enough of a green to use. My possible plan is to applique this center to a green border. Then perhaps add more borders. 

All border considerations are conjecture at this point. Ideas are constantly swirling, and until I am actually DOING a border, only then will I know my definite plan. *smile*

Have you checked in lately with Kathy's Quilts? I've not participated in her Slow Sunday Stitching party for awhile, so I invite you to check out what other like-minded hand-stitchers are working on. 

I hope you have a pleasant Sunday and a productive week ahead. We've got a beautiful day here, but it's also a chilly one. 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Slow Stitching Into the New Year

Every single bit of the sewing I have done so far in 2025 has been in my lap with a needle and thread. I am not sad about this. The time will come when I set up the machine and busy myself with piecing, but for now I am entirely content making yo-yos and hexies.

 Having everything I need tucked into this handy, portable tin bucket suits my current needs and keeps the clutter contained.

You saw all the red yo-yos I made on our trip south. Under these I stacked the smaller circles discovered during my summer of purging.

I now have all circles stitched into yo-yos, and all - big and small - are ready to be stitched end-to-end. They will become garlands on next year's Christmas trees. I like the look of a primitive-style tree; these will be perfect. The red ones measure 1.75"; the multi-color ones measure 1.25".

Before making garlands, though, I was in the mood to make some hexies for my plan (as yet to be shared here) to complete a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.

In the bottom of my little tin are about 'leventy-hundred' hexies cut from shirting remnants. These and a baggie full of hexi templates will give me ample 'paths' for my flower garden. Stay tuned to see a more complete explanation of this plan.

I have a solid start on these, as you see in the photo above. I stitched the ones them throughout the November and December.

Below, see the ones I've made since being in Florida. Not many as yet, but lots more cut and waiting.

 Hey, did y'all hear that the OSU Buckeyes are going to the National Championship game? We have been cheering our team on to victory! Hopefully, they have one more WIN in them! It's been so fun to watch them as they charge through these post-season games.

 I will link up with Kathy's weekly Slow Sunday Stitching party. It's always inspiring to see the pretty creations these quilters and sewists are making. Kathys talking about quilting goals for '25, and as I alluded to in a post a couple of days ago, I have not made a goals list. However, ideas have been niggling their way into my brain. I suspect that before the week is out, I will have jotted down some semblance of a goals list; I gotta' have some way to keep me focused! Stay tuned.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Slow Sunday Stitching

The current timeline on my 10-year-project, Lake Effect, finds me nearing the end of year seven. Begun in the spring of 2017, I could conceivably finish early. Of course, if I don't work on it, nothing gets done. And I have spent way too much time NOT working on it.

Trying to force myself to remain diligent, I made a goal for this year to have all the outer borders attached. I have been doing exactly that stitching in the last month or so. The very bottom 10 inches of that right border need to be stitched, then I will be halfway done with that goal. 

The stitching goes rather quickly, actually. I dilly-dally too much fiddling with removing paper templates, but when I stay really focused, I whip right down that seam.

After the outer borders are attached, I will have the job of fine-tuning the corners of the appliqued borders. I really am such a newbie with applique, I know I am going to end up being rather, shall we say "creative," with finishing them. It has come to the point that the way my quilt looks in comparison to the pattern is all rather a "suggestion" of similarity.

Interestingly, I still like this quilt. I have not found myself growing weary of it, nor have I regretted starting it. I will be very pleased to have it finished. All good things, in my book. 

A few days ago, I shared that I dropped everything to make a Grandmother's Flower Garden flower, and pondered the possibilities of how I will sew my little flowers together. I don't dare even think about making any huge commitments to that quilt until this quilt is finished. I am notorious for allowing projects to overlap, but having two huge EPP projects overlap would be absolutely insane. I will not go there!

I've not linked up with Kathy's Quilts in awhile for her Slow Sunday Stitching, so let's hop on over there to see what all the gals are working on. I see one Grandmother's Flower Garden represented. I will definitely be checking that out. And that cross stitch project that says "Just Fudge It And Carry On" sure sounds like what I've been doing with Lake Effect! *ha!*

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Slow Hexie Stitching!

Let me re-introduce everyone - including myself - to Lake Effect. Yes, I have taken this little gem out of storage and have been making some progress on it this past weekend.

A few days ago I checked my 2024 goals and one was to have this quilt finished to the flimsy stage. Yikes! I need to get in gear!

From the very beginning, I knew this quilt would take me a long time to make, thus I frequently refer to it as 'my 10-year project.' Lake Effect is a Minick and Simpson pattern which I saw way back in 2017. I immediately began collecting suitable fabrics for making it. Thinking I could just "figure it out" (like I often do), I soon gave up that idea and bought the pattern. That is when I discovered that I'd prepared about 500 elongated hexies in the wrong size. *good grief*

Since then, it has spent more time in storage than being worked on. Compound the fact that it is all hand-stitched and it contained applique, with the newly discovered sizing error I made, I lost my verve for it.

So, back to what I've been doing to address my goal of completing this quilt top. First, I spread it out to see what still needed to be done. Last I recall is my dithering over how to turn the corners on the applique border. I will continue to think on this while I get down to the business of completing the hexie border.

My verve has returned. Thankfully! I spent several hours over the weekend finishing the right-side border. Overall, I am rather surprised to see how much more I need to add. I had estimated that the borders were closer to completion than they are. You can see below in my little box that I have plenty prepared for completing the border.

 

My next step is to give it all a good pressing and remove cardboard templates along the top and right. I will then lightly mark a stitching line and get down to the business of attaching the hexie section to the applique section. 

 

Once the top and right are finished, I'll move on to completing the bottom and left. By then, perhaps I will have had a brainstorm about handling the appliqued corners. (I'm thinking several artfully-placed leaves might just be the simplest approach. Or perhaps add another bird.)

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts and her weekly Slow Sunday Stitching party. She's been actively stitching while watching Olympic coverage. According to her awards system, I believe I have earned a Silver medal for working on two projects. You'll hear about the second project in an upcoming post.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne