Winding Ways

This past summer, I finally got around to trying out the Go! die for the Winding Ways pattern.  Out of the pieces of fabric I had from a 1/2 yard sampler, I was able to get a total of 12 blocks for the design (I still have lots of smaller strips left over from the 1/2 yard sampler). 

I pieced together 9 of the blocks to make a wall hanging, but I wasn't quite sure what to do with the top 3.



After letting the blocks sit there on the design wall for awhile, I finally decided to make a simple table runner out of it.  I put the 3 remaining blocks on point and then cut setting triangles to go between them.  Instead of doing a typical quilt "sandwich" and then binding the runner, I did something a little different.  I layered the batting on the bottom, then the backing (face up) and then the top fabric (face down) and top-stitched all around the edges while leaving a 6" opening on one side.  After trimming some of the excess batting and backing away, I turned it inside out to make the table runner.


I hand-stitched the opening closed and then did another round of top-stitching around the edge of the table runner.  I also did some stitch-in-the-ditch between the pieced blocks and the setting triangles to anchor things down.


I haven't decided whether I want to actually do any other stitching or just leave it very simple like it is.  I'm leaning more towards the simple!  :c)  The good thing is that if I change my mind, I can always add more stitching later and this counts as my first finish for 2014. LOL.

Its another cold week here in upstate NY.  I don't know what the low temperature was last night, but this morning coming into work it was -11F.  With the wind blowing, the "feel like" temperature was -21F! 

I don't typically mind the cold; after all, I live in the northeast and its winter!  :c)  The wind is a bit brutal these past few weeks and we're supposed to stay cold like this for another week or two.  Its a good thing we have lots of wood stockpiled so we can keep the fireplace running at night!

Happy Crafting!
~Sarah at upstateNYCreations

Stash Busting 2013 - Week 38

Progress has been made!!  :-)

The last week or two I've been slowly making progress on some Winding Ways blocks.  Here's where I was 2 weeks ago:



And now...  All 12 blocks are made.  Nine will stay as a small wall-hanging type quilt.  The other three (at the top) are destined to become a table runner.


From just those blocks, I was able to use just over 1.5 yards of fabric.

The downside over the past two weeks....I bought fabric... and lots of it.  To my defense, Connecting Threads had a sale and I had a gift certificate to the store AND I bought fabric for the next large wall hanging (a mariner's compass style quilt).  I also bought backing material for my Bento Box quilt top that is waiting to be quilted.

Here's the connecting threads fabric (pre-washing):


Here's the backing fabric...and a cameo by the kitty. :-)


And here's the fabric for the Mariner's compass quilt.  Its a lot of paper-piecing so I bought more than I needed, but what's a little stash building here and there. ;-)


I also spent some time yesterday organizing my fabric and bookshelf.  Looks nice and pretty all organized...I wonder how long it will stay that way.


So here are my stash numbers:

Added This Week:       41.80 yards
Added Year to Date:    47.65 yards
Used This Week:          1.59 yards
Used Year to Date:       16.44 yards
Net Year to Date:         31.22 yards

I'm definitely back in the red now with the backing and extra fabrics that I bought.  I doubt I'll hit neutral again by the end of the year, but maybe I will get lucky.

Go on over to Judy's blog to see how others are doing.

Happy Crafting!
~Sarah at upstateNYCreations

Friday the 13th

I woke up today and didn't think twice that it was Friday the 13th... until I got to work.  It seems like everything that can go wrong has gone wrong.

On the plus side, I have been doing some sewing....slowly.  Things at work have not been going well and unfortunately its going to be more stressful in the up-coming weeks/months.  We are in a high volume season right now and there are organization changes happening that aren't for the good.

As such, I have only been able to squeeze in a half hour of sewing here and there.  I have been making progress on my blocks for the Winding Ways quilt.  Once you get into the swing of things, its not bad sewing curves.  It just takes a lot more patience than if you're sewing straight lines.  No zipping through seams when doing sewing curves!

Its kind of like driving a car.... you need to slow down on the curves or else you're off the road! :-)

I'm hoping to show some pictures of my progress this weekend along with my...umm.... fabric purchases.  My stashbusting numbers will not be so great when I count the fabric I've added in the past week.  To my defense, Connecting Threads had a sale on and I had a gift certificate and I also ordered most of the fabric for the next big quilt (a mariner's compass quilt).  It does certainly add up though.

Anyway - hope everyone is having a great week and their Friday is going better than mine! ;-)

Happy Crafting!
~Sarah at upstateNYCreations

Stash Busting 2013 - Week 33

Another week and I'm able to actually bust some stash again.  I had some quick finishes this week as I finished up these placemats that I've been playing around week as a leader-ender project.



All four are done and I have one more item in the works as a sort of center piece.


I was also playing around with a die that I have for my GO! Cutter.  I won't count it as stash used yet since I don't have the pieces sewn into blocks yet.


But all those pieces will eventually end up like this:


The GO! cutter die for the Winding Ways pattern is definitely worth the expense.  It took me about 10-15 minutes total to cut out pieces for 24 blocks.

So here are my stash numbers:

Added This Week:       0.00 yards
Added Year to Date:    5.86 yards
Used This Week:          2.38 yards
Used Year to Date:       8.37 yards
Net Year to Date:         2.51 yards


I'm 2.5 yards in the black this week!  Maybe I can keep it up.  :-)

Check out how everyone else is doing over on Judy's blog.


Happy Crafting!
~Sarah at upstateNYCreations