August # 7 CHOOKSHED challenge - quilt my Dalmatian quilt

 My # 7 for this month’s challenge is to quilt my round robin Dalmatian quilt.

I finished this quite some time ago and started it in March 2020.We did a fun round robin where we worked on our own quilt but with monthly themes chosen. It was really fun to do. It has been basted since January 2023.

It’s time to get it quilted.

Linking up over at Deana’s https://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/

Dalmatian Round Robin

 Time to get this cutie out and do something with it.

Getting the backing and wadding ready to layer the top

I have just basted my Dalmatian Round Robin quilt ready for quilting.

I’m not sure how I will quilt it but I’ll give it a go. I’ll work it out as I sew along.

Another round on my Round Robin. 3d

 My thought process for this next border was it had to be a bit lighter too get away from the heavy braid. My choice was prairie points. I had seen on Pinterest a different way to do a 2 coloured prairie point. Now I had to make it fit. I did a practice piece but this was a bit small so I made it bigger. Drew out the measurements and plan.

And guessed 

Cut 2 different coloured strips 3” wide, and sewed them together lengthwise.

I marked the squares 3” apart. Alternating the top row with the bottom row and snipped up to the seam line. Then ironed all the points over.

Double prairie point tutorial.  Not in English but I followed the photos.

Now that the strips were made I had to get them to fit. I sewed plain white 3 1/2” borders all around then placed the points on top

I have taken over the dining room as an extra sewing space while my hubby has been away.

Positioned the points to match on all sides

 Now to work out the corners.

WOW, look at it now. I am so happy with

The next round on my Round Robin. Braids

 Omg, punishment plus. The next round was to do a braid.

I tried a practice block or two to decide on the size. Well it ended up being cut 1” strips. 

I made the strips and attached the 2 sides but forgot about planning the corners.

So now that was a challenge. I didn’t want to unpick the ends of the sides so I had a play.

The corners are different and are not completely correct or even but I made them work and the little one that ends up with this quilt won’t mind.

I am so happy this round is done. It has made the quilt heavy so let’s hope the next round is. Quick, light and easy one.

Progress on my Round Robin

 I have fallen behind with my round robin challenge. Yep, 2 months behind. Here is where I was up to.Mays border was to be a pieced border and the next round for June is a braid. Mmmmmmmm.

Ok. I am using scraps. Red, white & black and I have the idea for my pieced border.

I have decided on a rough size. Pulled some scraps and started to sew the strips together.

All the crosscuts are done. Do I have enough pieces.

Sewing the crosscut strips together. This is working.

Looks so much better trimmed.

Top and bottom borders are on. I’m liking this.

The borders are attached. Now to work out the corners. This is taking longer than expected. 

So I have worked out the corners. So far so good.

It was late at night when I took this photo. It is a bit dark but so far so good.

I’m not sure if I like the bottom right hand corner. I’ll think about it over night.

Next border is a braid. 

Happy birthday to my son ———- Some sewing, mending and retreat packing…..

Happy birthday to my son, JOHN. It was 10 years ago today we celebrated your last birthday together.  You would have been 28 today and a wonderful man. We are not allowed to let balloons go into the air any more. Please know we are sending these ones to you now.

 

I am slowly doing a little bit of sewing.

First up is some mending. Attaching a button, 

stitching the opening to close the gaping hole.

March over at Angela’s was YELLOW…. Soscrappy RSC challenge. April is PINK

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2022/04/scraphappy-saturday-digging-into-pink.html

Also TABLE SCRAP CHALLENGE at the Joyful Quilter. March was FLOWERS. April is WORDS

https://thejoyfulquilter.blogspot.com/2022/03/march-2022-table-scraps-challenge-link.html

I am on a mission to make more of these useful placemats. Out came all my yellow little scraps. Some strips & blocks leftover from a previous baby quilt and other bits.

And in goes the zip.

Now it is finished. Funny how this photo shows it as orange but it really is yellow.

Then on to my little doggy sew along.

This month we are to work a border with appliqué. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I bought this cheap fabric on clearance at Spotlight. I didn’t realise at the time it would fit this project perfectly. So, start with the borders. Careful of the directional design.

Isn’t he bordered so sweet.

Here are the appliqué designs I chose.

I spent a couple of days doing the hand stitching. Look at where it is now. 

I have a little bit of hand stitching packed for retreat

I’ll be on my way to Scrub Stitchin’ soon to meet up with some blogging friends.

It’s about time we met in person.

It has been a while and I have a few things to share

Thank you to all of you who have messaged concerned with my absence.

I have been flat out at work and come home mentally exhausted. So have not been in the mood for sewing or any crafting. I sit here of an evening watching rubbish on tv. At least I don’t have to concentrate. I think there has been a build up of many things which are being worked through. So this morning I felt up to doing a post. A long one too. 

Thank you all quilting friends for caring.

Are you ready. Maybe grab a cuppa first.

Work has begun on the repair of my ceiling. It only took about a month to get it started.

Anyway it has. We now have a nicely cut square in the ceiling ready to be patched.

No more hole and Watching plaster/paint dry

It has now all dried and is back to the way it should be..

Beautiful 

The local Arts Theatre was putting on a stage show ‘MAMA MIA’. We both have been to Melbourne and seen this live too. We thought how nice it would be to go out here to support the locals. It was a fun night and of course we enjoyed a bubbly together.

A few weeks ago my friends came over for a little bit of fun for my birthday. We had a cook up play around day with my new Thermomix. It was brilliant. While this was happening there was also a Chooky Zoom day. So I kept popping in for a laugh. We had a great day.

I have spent a week away on holidays catching up with friends but more importantly we finally got to see my MIL who we haven’t seen in over 2 years. She lives in a home in Paynesville so we thought we would surprise her and that we did.

We had not booked any accommodation because we did not exactly know when we would be there. When we arrived in Bairnsdale our usual motel was booked out, so was the next one. After driving for 4 hours we just wanted a room. We pulled up at this motel and there were 3 rooms let. 2 of which were at the front on the busy highway with trucks passing all night so we splurged and got this room at the back of the motel After-all it was my birthday.

When we got back home I have a few days to rest and I finally got up the enthusiasm to clean my sewing room and actually sew something. The first time in weeks. 

We have a round robin SAL happening at our group. As I have not been in the sewing mood I did not want to commit to something large so I have decided on a small kids quilt. This cute dog stitched block had been donated to me soi thought this was a great way to use it up. We are going to have about 6 rounds total and each month one will be drawn out. All I knew is that I needed to use red, black and white. 

The first month drawn out was STARS. Our round had to have something to do with stars. They could be embroidered, stitched, pieced or appliqué. 

I had in my head what I wanted to do but had to work out how. Start sewing small star points. 

Those red squares are cut at 1”. 

My border finishes at 2” wide. Scattered stars. I am happy with the way it frames the centre blog.

Our quilt group celebrated INTERNATIONAL QUILTERS DAY with all meeting in the park and having a wonderful sit’n’sew day.

 I hope you have enjoyed my catch up and I think I might actually sew another placemat today.