Welcome to Gramma's Quilting Room.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Design Wall Monday


I started laying out my Split 9 Windmill on Tuesday. And this is where I left it~other than the blocks that fell off the wall already.  My flannel backed table cloth is no where near large enough to put this on the wall. I have to start over and lay it out on the bed, stack and label rows before bedtime. That's why it's still on the wall, I've been doing so many other things besides quilting. So every time I walk by, I check the floor and then admire the wall. I don't think I've turned my sewing machine on all week. I have worked with the long arm a bit but nothing is finished yet.


This is my Goodwill find this week. If you want, you can read about it here. I love this quilt!

See fabulous design walls shared today at Patchwork Times.

Friday, April 25, 2014

On The Needles


Lady Kina is off the needles!
I need to block her, bury the tails and sew on the button.


I worked a little on my Plain Jane Sock.
This is my in the passenger seat project but 
I think it's time to get these done 
so something new can be started.


I have lots of dish cloth yarn so I've created
an At My Desk (watching You Tube) Project.
Yes, I've been watching LOTS You Tube. 

Quilting with Bonnie Hunter
Canning, Dehydrating, Stockpiling, Gardening, Prepping with

I plan to finish my dishcloth this morning,
right after I visit Patchwork Times and
see what others have on their needles


Thursday, April 24, 2014

My Goodwill Find


Today was grocery shopping day. On the way home, I was going to drop of box of stuff off at Goodwill only I forgot it at home. So I went inside just to look around-I always have a Goodwill list. I found nothing that needed to come home with me until the very last isle and there it was.

This fabulous old scrappy quilt. It's been well loved and it shows. To me that makes it more special. I'm always sad when I see handmade quilts at Goodwill. Please people, call me, I'll come and get them!

I took it off the hanger to search for the price tag.... $60! (Our Goodwill is quite high priced.)  BUT it had a red tag on it and red tags are half price today! Score for me.  I didn't even unfold it all the way until I got home and ready to take a picture.

I was so excited by this quilt that I didn't even look at the other 2 that were there. Maybe they came from the same person. Regret!


Just look at that scrappiness. 
It is completely hand sewn. 
Are these fabric flour sacks?
Or are they yardage scraps?


I love the scrappy border.
The binding is wrapped around from the back.
The purple and white fabric are patches.
It's quite fragile.


The back is very yellow.....is it from age or were the bags yellow?
They are inside out.
This says ECONOMY
25 LBS NET.
Enlarge the photo and you can see the seaming and quilting.

Oh yeah, I also found a vintage sewing machine but 
didn't buy it because it didn't have a bobbin case. 
Still thinking about that too.


My cherry tree blooms aren't going to last much longer.
We have had some pounding rain the last couple days.
It sure is pretty.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Design Wall Monday


You all know what happens when you make plans. (That's a statement, not a question.) That's what happened to me this past week. I made plans to quilt and quilt and quilt. Then I got sidetracked with some spring cleaning, some shopping, some knitting, a day with grand-kiddos and a long Saturday away from home.  Some progress was made on my Oldest UFO Sampler (Isn't it odd how the names stick with the project? I wonder if I will always call it that.) and I've planned quilting for today. I told Ernie that I think we are back on our normal routine-him going to work, me trying to do what's on my list-quilting is on my list. We'll see how long that works.


Only 3 more blocks to sew before the Split 9 Patch blocks can go up on the wall. I sure love these little design boards. I lay out the block, complete with 4 new leader and ender 2 patches that are needed to complete each block and stack up 5 boards. Sew them all, repeat.  After the blocks are on the wall, moved around a bunch of times and finally in their proper spot, I'll stack the rows and work on it at the upcoming retreat.

See other design walls at Patchwork Times. I plan to visit around Blogland for a little while this morning. I need to write that on my list. ;-)

Friday, April 18, 2014

On The Needles


Pardon the washed out picture of Lady Kina . I think this is the last week I will be showing her progress. Next week I hope to show her being worn by her owner.  One more inch of stockinette stitch and then the final garter stitch rows.

I'm pretty excited about this cardigan. I need to decide what big project I want to work on next. I think it will be something for me.

What's on your needles? See great projects at Patchwork Times.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Design Wall Monday



My friend Julie made a comment on Facebook yesterday stating that she had quilted 27 of her tops since August. She said most of them were throw size but to me that doesn't matter. What matters is that she is finishing her quilts. Way to go Julie!!!

I want to finish my quilts. I was so inspired by her statement that I went in and loaded my oldest UFO onto the frame and started quilting. I haven't quilted anything for so long that I want to do some practice. So I started right out with feathers in the outer border!--You can't get better without practice!! Then it's small loops in the inner border and ribbon candy in the sashing with curves in the cornerstones. I put flannel on the back because this is will be my new cuddle quilt.

The blocks in this quilt are from an internet swap years ago. My color choice was blue. There were lots of beginners in the group so lots of the blocks are simple but I don't care, I love them all. Then the top was made and put away. This has been a UFO for far too long!

My sewing time this week has been dedicated to finishing up my Split 9 Patch blocks and making backings and bindings. See, I did plan to get quilting.  I have 4 tops pressed, backings ready, bindings ready and battings are cut.  Bobbins are even wound for 3 of them--I was at a good part in my book and didn't want to stop listening.

So my design wall is empty. Taylor will help lay out her quilt blocks next time she is here. When I need to sit and sew, I will finish up my Split 9 Patches and then pull out some Pineapple Crazy blocks. Until then, let the quilting mojo stay strong!!! Mt. ToBeQuilted needs to be taken down a few notches.

See fabulous design walls at Patchwork Times.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Leaders & Enders for My Leaders & Enders


I am having a Quiltville Saturday! I am almost to the end of my Split 9 Patch leader and ender blocks. When I finally decided on a setting, I needed to make 30 more blocks. I am down to the final 20 so I am changing this over to my main project.

I lay out my blocks on mini design boards. (Learn about them here at Bee In My Bonnet-mine are not as fancy as Lori's.) I am using my new leader and ender project as I sew these blocks together. I lay out 5 blocks and sew them together, then lay out 5 more. It's nice to have them stacked right by the machine ready to pick up and sew.


Each 9 patch block needs 4 L/Es--2 patches from a bin full of 1 1/2" squares from one of Subee's swaps. As soon as I browsed Bonnie Hunter's new book, More Adventures with Leaders and Enders, I knew which quilt would be my new L/E project. I'm making Narragansett Blues only my quilt will be made with 1 1/2" squares and use up a whole bunch of 2 1/2" strips also from a Subee swap.

I love a good Saturday sew day!







Friday, April 11, 2014

On The Needles



Lady Kina is growing.
Last night I added another skein
and measured how long each skein knits now that the sleeves are finished.
Three inches.
I have 4 skeins left so no worries about running out.
I'll have Crystal try it on next time she is here.
She is going to love it!

I am having to put a whoa onto myself because
I have other things that have to be done instead of just knitting. 
Darn!!


I treated my self to this fabulous yarn. 
This links to her inspiration picture with a link to her yarn.
It is so gorgeous.
It will hang out with Judy L's Loopy Legend yarn 
while I decide what I want to make. 

See what my friends have On The Needles at Patchwork Times.


Monday, April 07, 2014

Design Wall Monday


Taylor finally saw some of her blocks on the wall.
I wish I would have recorded her.
It was awesome!
All the blocks are finished.
Now it's time to lay it out.


Last week Gari asked what I meant when I said I had to cut the centers out.
This is what I meant.
I trimmed the fabric from behind the hexies to reduce bulk.


Major progress happened this week,
the first border is on Mae's Flower Garden.
Careful measuring, marking, pinning and blanket stitching happened.
Last night I cut the second border
and will get that on this week.

But the weather has turned nice and
there is so much work to be done outside before the rain comes back.
So sewing will be put on hold.

I'll be checking other design walls linked up at Patchwork Times
as soon as the linky is working. 

Friday, April 04, 2014

On The Needles


There hasn't been much knitting going on around here.
A couple more rows on Lady Kina
(one of these days it will look like a cardigan)
and a couple more rows on the sock.
That's it.
But...


Off the hook and gifted is Artfully Simple Infinity Scarf.
I forgot to take a picture of it finished and
have just sent a text begging for selfies with the 3 scarves.
Dee loved it and
Taylor said if mom can't find it, 
she has it on.
Made me feel pretty good! 

See other on the needle projects at Patchwork Times.
I am sooooo loving Judy L's sweaters.