Happy Dance Time

It is time for a little happy dance as I have finished another project of this year list. It is my Quiltmaker Mystery Auld Lang Stitches quilt from 2015 finally done. There is still a lots more projects to finish but this one is on my 2016 Finish Along Q4 list and on my Project Uninterrupted list. So it can be crossed off and I can move on to the next one. I am sure there is one ready for pinning and quilting. I can see an opportunity to do some more FMQ with the rulers in my quilting future. I am enjoying the exploring the possibilities with these rulers and I have a new one to try.

 Back to this finish and I used the 6" spiral ruler only on this quilt which is in the sampler set. Now you can purchase the Westalee Design Ruler foot and ruler from my shop if you are interested to move into the world of FMQ with rulers.

 Have you used rulers when you FMQ? I would love to hear your thoughts on them. Do you love them?  Do you have any issues using them?Do you want to have a go at using them and not sure where to start?  Any thought would be appreciated.

I have this one in my sight next. I can see all those squares with a design in each one. I just need to decide on which ruler/template I want to use.  It will be on top of my 2016 list.
I have linked up with the rest of the 2016 Finish Along Gang so pop over and check out what they have finished.

Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

A 2016 Finish Along Finish

This quilt was a play with half square triangles and the blocks come together really quickly as they are large. Only four blocks were made so to make a larger quilt would be easy.

The only thing that has held me back finishing this quilt was my machine broke down about halfway through quilting it. Then it took 8 weeks before it was returned repaired and I just didn't have time to sit down and finish quilting.

A couple weeks back I did finish the quilting and did the first part of the binding. There was a lot of ends to tie off and bury in the quilt, so it has taken me a little while to finish it completely. Now finally can say it is finished.

This will make the second finish off my 2016 Finish Along Q4 which means I have double my finishes for this quarter. I only finished 1 quilt last quarter, which I was very disappointed in myself.
I have link this up with the rest of the 2016 Finish Along gang so pop over and see what they have finished.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

2016 Finish Along Q4 List

Last quarter was a total disaster. I added a couple extra projects to my list and only completed one project on the list. With that said I did get one quilt quilted ready for binding and I made some progress on another one. So this quarter's list looks like this.
1. To quilt and bind my 2015 Quiltmaker Mystery quilt. Auld Lang Stitches Quilt.

 2.  This one is quilted ready for the binding to go on.

3. My Victorian Fling is now ready for quilting, so I got all the blocks together last quarter with borders.That is good. I need to select the backing still and pin it..

4. My Forget Me Not quilt has seen progress in the last quarter but as I am English paper piecing it is taking time. 12 blue blocks to go around in this step after I fix my mistake. 3 on 9 more to go and then it is the last step to do.

5. My Crazy Cat  Panel Quilt just need it's border added and it will be ready for quilting.

6. Lastly my Allietare quilt no progress in the last quarter but the blocks are all made ready to be sewn together.

Let's see if I can make some real progress on this list this quarter. Pop over to She Can Quilt  and check out what everyone else has on their list. You may be inspired to finish some of your  own projects off with us.

Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Under the Pressure Foot #23

I found myself with a free day to do what I like. It has been a long time since I felt this free. There has always some other jobs that have been getting in the way.
After attending a Westalee Ruler work shop I have been itching to get back to some quilting. Plus this one is on my 2016 Finish Along for this quarter.

This is the quilt that I need to finish. I am halfway through quilting it, so I am eager to finish it. I am playing with 2 circle templates.

The key to using these rulers is play with them and practice. I like to keep the key closest to me so I can see it easily and take a little extra care as I go pass it.

This quilt only has four large blocks. So I started in the centre of each block working my way out. Then I used the 2" circle template to fill the centre of the quilt and around the outside edges of the blocks. Lastly I filled the outer border with circles, plus four extra circle that fits in the corners over the inner border.

By 4 pm I finally finished the quilting. A number of ends to tie in and then the binding. The plan is to finish this quilt this week. 

Then I can look at the next quilt that is ready for quilting. Another chance to play with the rulers.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Getting Closer to a Finish.

On my Project Uninterrupted list and my 2016 Finish Along list is my Scrap Dance Quilt. I pinned and started quilting it last weekend but ran out of weekend to finish it.

So it was at the top of my list to finish this weekend, with only 30 minutes of quilting left to do on it.
Just some simple diagonal quilting using the quilt top pattern for guidance was all I did for this one.

You can just make out the quilting lines if you look closely. 

For the binding I pulled out my binding bag full of leftovers from other projects. I selected the shortest piece under 50 cm in length and joined them together. I did notice there seem to be a lot of green in the mix so I did try to space the greens out.

 It has made a noticeable dent in the left over binding but my scrap bins are still full. I will have to start a couple scrap projects to use some up. I don't measure my binding so I was taking a chance that I may not have made enough but I could alway add another strip if I was short as there was more strips to use. As it turned out I made the right amount. No leftovers to go back in the bag. I don't think I will be doing that again soon. Normally I have too much hence the leftover binding collection.

Now to finish it off in front of the tv one night this week. I did start it in our Project Uninterrupted session but I was busy so only one side was completed but at least that means I am a quarter of my way through it.

In the meantime it is time for me to finish my row for The Road Home Row Along which starts in September I have written the pattern and started on my blocks but I need to finish sewing them and get them together. I hope you will join us in September for this event. There will be rows created by lots of talented people around the world. It will be a great event and would love you to join in.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

2016 Q3 Finish Along To Complete List

It is time to make our third quarter finishing list. Now I only finished 2 projects on my list last time. I keep the list short last time but I am thinking maybe I should have a slightly longer list with a few more projects to choose from.
My list this time.

My Quiltmaker 2015  Auld Lang Stitches mystery quilt is ready for pinning and quilting.

My Scrap Dance Mystery quilt ready for pinning and quilting.

My Forget Me Not Sew Along project. This is a EPP project so I don't know how far I will get.

All the blocks are done. I must of forgotten to snap a picture once I finished the block. These are from my Allietare quilt.

My Victorian Hope Chest blocks need to be sewed together.

Lastly this one which is half way through being quilted when my machine broke down. Hopefully I can finish it.

That will do I think for this quarter. Six projects for me to complete this quarter.

Here is the link if you want to see what others are setting themselves to complete.

http://www.shecanquilt.ca/2016/07/q3-2016-fal-proposed-finishes-link-is.html

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

2016 Finish Along #2 Grand Illusion Report

The second Finish Along has just finished and it is time to report in. There was 5 projects on my list and I know you want to know if I finished them all. The answer to that is no I didn't finish them all. I may of been a little ambitious to think I could finish all five. I can tell you  2 projects were finished that were on my list. Here is Grand Illusions quilt my first finish of the two.

Have a look at some of the other completed projects by others plus my other finish for this quarter.

http://www.shecanquilt.ca/2016/06/fal-q2-finishes-link-is-open.html

Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

A Project Uninterrupted Finish- Cat Quilts

In our last Project Uninterrupted section in the shop I finished quilting the last 2 cat quilts and adding the binding ready for me to finish them off in front of the television in the evenings. With lots of other stuff happens it has taken me a little while to complete them but they are now done and my cat have 3 new quilts to snuggle in. Just don't tell them there is only 3 quilts as there is four cats.

These were my 12 blocks from the 2014 Aurifil block of the month. At least they now have a home and they are completed.

 The other projects I hoped to finish by the end of June will not get there but at least I can say they are closer to being finished. This is a finish for the 2016 Finish Along #2. The second finish of this quarter.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching 

Cynthia

2016 Finish Along #2

I found She Can Quilt post on their 2016 Finish Along too late to join in the first finish along for the year. So I promised myself when the second one started I would join in.

So I had a look at what was on my Project Uninterrupted list for 2016 and I have selected a few that I hope I can finish by the 30th June.
 1 - My Grand Illusion  quilt  tops the list as I just picked it up from being quilted. It just needs binding.

2 - Scrap Dance Mystery Quilt - it is in rows ready to be sewn together.

3 - Forget Me Not Sew Along - which is an English paper piecing project which is 3/4 together.

4 - My Allietare Mystery Quilt has it blocks made and I have started sewing them into rows.
This is the last photo I took but it gives you some idea what is going on.

5 - Lastly my trio of cat quilts that have been created from 2014 Aurifil Block of the Month. They just didn't work together for my liking. The top one pictured is quilted ready for binding. The second is pinned ready for quilting and the third one is ready for pinning. I couldn't find a picture.

This is all I am putting on my list for this one as I know I have a lot on my plate in the next few months.
 Here is the link to She Can Quilt blog if you want some more details.  You can see my progress here on my blog and on my Instagram account @cynthiasark

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia