Somethings About Me

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Country Threads 2020/2021 Dirty Dozen Challenge-COMPLETED!

Since July of last year, I have been a participant of this Challenge and I am quite proud of myself for having completed my June UFO which is my Flights of Fancy Happy Lappy Quilt, another one of the tops finished in 2014.

The fabric used is a 2012 Michael Miller fabric line designed by Paula Prass and the pattern is what I call the Happy Lappy Quilt which is one of my favorite patterns for making a quilt with just six fat quarters.

 I was planning on quilting my usual horizontal straight line quilting but at the last moment was inspired to do big wavey crosshatch instead which sort of mimics the pink/green tile print along with horizontal and vertical straight line quilting along each rectangle. I’m not sure if I liked how puffy it made the quilt look but it is cuddly.  I would have expected to have looked this way had I used fleece for the batting but I used Warm and Bright.

I used a Baby Pink Essential threads for the quilting and the binding was the stripe print. I loved the fabric so much that I bought both colorways and yardage for backing which I don’t normally do unless it’s on sale. The quilt measures 40”x 54”, approximately.

It should be no surprise that this quilt was bequeathed to the darling Granddaughter who will be using this as her porch quilt at the Grandparents House. I am surprised though as to how much she likes this quilt and is very receptive when I cover her with it. I don’t mind her using it outside since I found a small tea-like stain on one of the prints, of course, it had to be on the light print and must have already been there when I purchased the fabric and didn’t notice it when I made the flimsie.

After the Flights of Fancy quilt was a Finally Finished and sort of unhappy then with the finish I thought I would end the Dirty Dozen Challenge by turning it into a Bakers Dozen Challenge by quilting my Road 15 flimsie which was made in 2017. I made this as an alternative to my Moda Chef Jelly Roll Charm Chase Quilt in case they turned down this pattern, but happily it wasn’t so the Road 15 never got quilted. I thought it would be apropos for it to be the final quilt for the Challenge since I purchased the fabric from Country Threads in 2013. It’s a good thing I waited to quilt it because I knew my quadrant quilting would be perfect using Smoke Grey Essential thread. The binding was the skinny burgundy red stripe which has been happily sitting in the binding drawer.

Funny story here; after I finished binding the Road 15 quilt and had leftover, I thought I would finally quilt a block which good quilt friend Dee sent me several years ago and bind it and have a cute mini quilt ready for the Christmas holiday. Now Dee has previously sent me a cute black crow mini quilt before and I thought she wanted me to finish this block myself. Of course, while I was quilting the block, I remember that she had sent me the pattern for a Gift Box quilt and this block was my starter block. It’s a shame for some reason I didn’t keep this pattern with the block and separated it by putting it in with my Christmas fabrics and double shame since I had more of the Road 15 fabric in my stash. Big Dang and sew sorry Dee but this is going to look cute hanging up at the Grandparents House.
Here is a collage of the quilts finished for the Dirty Dozen Challenge along with some stats. The oldest UFO was twenty years, Pipertown, and the newest UFO was two years old, Modern Puzzle; the average UFO age was 7 years.  Ten out of the twelve, were just tops waiting to be quilted,  one had the blocks sewn and one really wasn’t a real UFO but a Country Threads kit waiting to be made. I do feel very good with all of these finishes since I quilted them myself with my new machine quilting confidence of straight and wavey line quilting. Projects planned for the next Challenge is still being thought about but I know there will be more projects in the block stage and not as many waiting to be quilted. I may have another 20 year old quilt which is a log cabin quilt I started in maybe 1997 for my sister-in-law and all I can say is Calico is going to make a comeback. If you check out Country Threads details on the 2021/2022 Challenge, it’s not limited to quilts and could include gardening and household projects. Cleaning out my closet has been on my mind for the past several years but I have to give it a big No for adding this to my Challenge list. Like I’ve always said or thought before, I rather be quilting.

6 comments:

  1. You have really done well with your finishes. That link didn't work for me. I assume the dirty dozen means you finish 12 quilts in a year? Aren't you happy that there was a tea stain? LOL That changes everything when you decide to gift it or use it.

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  2. You did it! You have been one busy quilter finishing all of those quilts. That is a delightful dozen finished quilts, if you ask me! The porch quilt is perfect for M - I'm glad she likes it!

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  3. Hi Rose! Oh, that picture of Micah and her new quilt is priceless. That's just the best isn't it - seeing you finish being used and loved right away. I think that present block that Dee sent you look fab as a mini wall hanging. I don't think she'll be all that disappointed, do you? As long as you enjoy it - she might send you another starter block this way. Win/win, huh?! Great job on all of your finishes. Sweet! ~smile~ Roseanne

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  4. What a great accomplishment - all those quilts. I love the Happy Lappy quilt and I think the puffiness is just fine. Gonna go check out that website. I love the picture of the most adorable Micah!

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  5. So many wonderful finishes!! I love that DGD loves that new quilt--a very happy photo of her!!! And, Rose, I'm with you--I'd rather be quilting!!1

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  6. Wow! You are one inspiring and impressive quilter! Yay for so many finishes. I am hoping to complete my first PHD by the end of December with 12 finishes. I love the pic of Micah on the porch with her new quilt, and that she loves it so much. :-)

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I appreciate your comments but due to traveling and my ineptitude with typing on either my iPhone or iPad, my response may be somewhat delayed. Thank You for your understanding.