Friday, September 16, 2022

A Simple Donation Top and Panel Progress

 Our quilt ministry bin(s) of completed quilts is empty, and it was time to make up a couple more tops.  Here is the first one, made up of smallish pieces recently donated by one of our group who is downsizing her stash.  I'm calling it Autumn Squares for now.  At 52x70 inches, it will make a nice throw or single bed size quilt.  


Yesterday dawned crisp and clear and this photo was taken shortly after the sun rose over the mountain.  We've had quite cool nights of late, this morning's temp was a chilly 39 degrees.  We're seeing more and more color in the leaves and the morning dew keeps the lawn wet until well into the afternoon.  My favorite season of the year is just getting underway!  The canning kettle is put away and I'm ready to get back to some serious sewing again.

What has consumed much of my stitching time over the past month is the historic panel challenge by Lori of Humble Quilts earlier this summer.  From strips to four-patch squares, to 36 patch blocks, here's what 732 one-inch finished squares look like surrounding my panel.


The original panel before adding any borders.


While I could just add a small outer border and call it finished, it isn't currently a very useable size at 38x39 inches.  A wall hanging except we don't have any more wall space large enough without taking something else down, and not really suitable as a table topper either.  So yesterday the fabric bins all came out of the closet for a good rummage through.  Aside from practically no blue of an appropriate shade or pattern, I did find some reds and tans that may help finish this off nicely.  I'd like to see the finished size at least 50x65 or so.  We'll just have to see what happens, and no promise to have a completed quilt by November - a finished top is probably the best I can hope for.  

Hand quilting is chugging along at a slower pace on the log cabin quilt.  I try to quilt during the evening on days when my eyes are still able to focus on the work at that time of day.  It's slow work but still my very favorite finish for any quilt.

Til next time, wishing you a beautiful and peaceful weekend.



10 comments:

Chantal said...

I love your Autumn Squares. It is so inviting to just snuggle up with a good book and a cup of tea. It has an Amish flair, wouldn't you say? I love it! Hard to believe there are so many squares surrounding the panel. WOW! I'm sure inspiration will hit you and you'll come up with a great way to finish this off. I love autumn weather too, so I try to stay outside as much as I can. Enjoy! ;^)

Sherrill said...

I love the donation quilt..I've made one in the past and this makes me want to do one for donation. The colors are beautiful! The panel quilt is gorgeous!

Lizzy D said...

I love Autumn Squares, the colors and classic pieced work are so perfectly Autumn. Your panel quilt is amazing too, so many squares. I have recently been interested in Australian quilts on IG, where the borders are pieced blocks, as in, you wider border now could be 8" [any large size] Log Cabins, or Churn Dashed or whatever.

Your autumn sound delightful I hope he mi istry's quilt auction was a big success.

lizzy

Robin said...

Wish I could put my canning stuff away. My dear husband just keeps bringing things in from the garden. I'm not complaining, just anxious for the autumnal start of more sewing time. Your panel looks great, so much cutting and sewing.

Nancy said...

It's fun to see the simplicity of one quilt next to the complexity of the other. I love your Autumn Squares with their beautiful glowing autumn colors. And I think your historic panel quilt is fabulous. All those tiny squares add so much interest. I'm looking forward to seeing what you decide to do next.
Our temperatures are cooling but not as low at 39 degrees yet. That will probably come next month.

Needled Mom said...

Your fall quilt is just gorgeous. Those colors are fabulous! Hard to believe it will officially be fall this week.

FlourishingPalms said...

I have sure missed reading your blog posts (oversight on my part), and it's good to see you heading into autumn with its pretty colors and cooler nights. Goodness though. Nighttime 30s already? We're happy to be in the 70s at night. Ha! :-) How wonderful that your ministries bin of quilt tops has been depleted! It's a definite sign of productivity and generosity. Love the Autumn Squares - a perfect size for practical use. And your panel with one-inch patches is amazing! Looks really great! I'll look forward to seeing how you make it larger. Appliqué perhaps? I'm glad to know you're hand quilting too. You're doing things with your hands that make you happy and that's the way it should be.

Barbara said...

Autumn Squares is SO autumn! Fall colors and a simple pattern are perfect together. Love what you are doing with the historic panel. That's a lot of 1" squares! I can't wait to see what you add next :) So glad to hear you are hand quilting again.

Barb said...

what a nice donation quilt. I love the fall colors and contrast.
your panel is wonderful! I love the postage stamps around the medallion center. Looking forward to seeing your top finished!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Autumn Squares is lovely. How generous to donate it! That panel is amazing and that's a lot of little squares. Happy stitching from me!