At our last 3 weeks posting I made the decision for my next project. I decided on a kit I’ve had for some time. Arbor Lane
Once I got it out, read the directions, I knew I was going to tweak the design and go with a basic log cabin. Below is the material the kit came with.
Using the dimensions on this chart, I made my templates and pieced together my first trial block. As I began cutting out the rest of the material for the blocks, I quickly discovered there wouldn’t be enough green.
I had some green fabric on hand but it was flimsy and had a slight sheen. Another practice block told me ‘no’ right away. Trying to avoid in store shopping, I took a chance and purchased two additional greens from Joann’s. I was delighted I had one perfect match.
Lighting and space is always an issue but I love the colors and look of these blocks.
Here’s a shot showing the true colors and patterns better.
Now to do some blog hopping and visit the pages of the other hand quilters. Please join me 🙂
Hand Quilt Along Links
This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.
At my last posting I had almost finished adding the row of houses for trick or treaters to walk down. It looked like this below ~ houses in outer space 🙂
I have been working pretty consistently these past three weeks. Here is where I am today.
I am still planning on adding a bit more in the area above the kids. I am not sure what but it looks a bit bare. Perhaps another bat, a moon? Any ideas?
Time now to check in on the others participating in this SAL. Please join me by clicking their names below.
The idea is that this is a mystery and I have no idea what pattern I will be making. Who doesn’t love a great mystery? Twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. Carole will post a new direction for the construction of the quilt. No deviating or changing the directions 🙂
The first direction was the size choices and cutting directions. I was delighted to see the table topper option. Since this is my first mystery quilt along and I have 3 panel quilts and a log cabin quilt in progress I was worried about taking on to much. This will be perfect to test my wings in addition this will be hand pieced and quilted.
Saturday I cut out my pattern pieces and Sunday I picked out my material choices and cutout the required pattern pieces.
My first choice for the background was the light pink material but after rereading the directions and suggestions for fabric choices and what would work best, I went back to my fabric stash and chose this deep bright blue fabric for the background. Much brighter and more of a contrast.
Ready for the next step on the 4th Friday of this month 🙂
I am standing at the cross roads of decision making for our posting for the HQAL.
At our last posting I had completed The Dahlia Project. A cousin, who I am very fond of, fell in love with it and asked me to make him one – he’d pay. “Of course you won’t” and together over text’s and photos we found a panel he loved and the perfect backing material. I’ll be working on hand quilting that but its not my pick for my new project.
I purchased two beautiful panels off of the Zulily site in November. They are Riley Blake Designs – National Parks by Anderson Design Group. Denali for a daughter who lives in Alaska and Zion for another daughter ~ a special memory of summers spent at our Utah cabin situated between Zion and Bryce Canyon.
For the backing material I ordered off of Joanns online and found two fabrics I think will work nicely with them. I have used different batting over the years, with not all batting the same (as we know) but for these projects I am using Fairfields 80/20, also from Joanns. It works well for me. Both will be hand quilted projects.
BUT – I needed a new hand quilting project for the HQAL and both of these will be easy for me and I wanted something that would be challenging and a bit out of my comfort zone. I do have the tulip quilt which was a big contender, but haven’t purchased a backing material yet. I decided to leave her on the quilt rack for later.
Looking for inspiration for my next project I kept eyeing the precious table runner on my coffee table sent to me by Susan of https://desertskyquilts.com I love the log cabin pattern and have never pieced or quilted one.
My thoughts jumped to an old and I mean old Quilt Block of the Month kit I picked up at the Goodwill in 2011. Looking through my stash I found it. It wasn’t exactly what I remembered.
I like things simple and do better with visual directions rather than written and once I opened the kit and began to read through the directions, a cloud of doom and gloom descended over me. With just a few pages of the directions shown below, this in anything but simple. In fact, I am pretty sure I don’t have everything I need.
There is quite a bit of precut material – – – – I decided I am going to work on piecing 12″ basic log cabin blocks using this precut material.
I’ll make my own templates using these directions
It’s decided, I will be starting my first log cabin quilt. I made a practice block, adding a sweet brown/leaf material to the mix. Hopefully I will have enough material to make 16 blocks all the same. If not – well let’s cross that bridge when I get there.
Now I am off to visit the posts of the others in our group. Please join me in taking a look at their fabulous hand quilting projects in the works.
Hand Quilt Along Links
This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.
Piecing Life Together One Stitch At A Time 
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