Three days and two nights of quilting! I always bring more with me than I can possibly do while I am at a retreat but I like to have options in case I feel like changing projects. However, by the time I left today, I only had one project that I did not touch. Much was accomplished! I started out slowly with a warm up projects. I am making nine patch blocks for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge project this year. March's colour is yellow. They are a bit brighter than they appear in this picture. The lighting in the room washed them out a bit.
Next up...my shadowbox quilt. I finished the quilting at home this past week and put the binding on by machine at the retreat. It is ready for hand stitching this week. I call the quilting pattern "waffle quilting" and did it with my DSM walking foot.
Then I worked on a quilt which will be a gift so no pictures yet. I completed most of the blocks and then ran out of fabric that I needed to complete the last three blocks. I will work on this at home to finish the blocks soon.
This I Spy Potato Chip block quilt top was quilted and I put the binding on by machine. More hand stitching to do this week. I found the backing at my local quilt store on the sale rack. This was my first purchase in 2025 and I only have a small strip of it left after trimming the quilt. It's perfect! The binding was in my stash.
I have had an idea floating around in my head for a few months now for a wall hanging made with nine blocks. This morning, I made the first couple of blocks...yes, there are partial seams in these blocks. The background is Essex linen. I plan on making each block a different colour. The next block is underway.
I also did some hand quilting on my Arizona quilt after marking some more circles on my quilt. One of the other quilters had a nifty circle marking tool which she let me use. Here is a picture of the back of the quilt which shows how much is done so far. Those squares to the left and right of the centre may need circles in them too.
The church sewing group that I belong to is making 1200 inserts for reusable hygiene kits for girls in Malawi. They cannot go to school when they are menstruating unless they have these kits. We have already made 120 bags to hold the kits and other sewing groups at other churches are making some of the other parts of the kits. I have dragged out my serger from hibernation to work on these. I am getting really fast at my part of the process! We have 600 made and 600 more to go. The deadline is the end of the month. We only have 6 people sewing for a few hours a week.
My daughter is still working on the borders on her Christmas blanket. It's a big blanket and it takes a while to work her way all the way around it.
I will link up with Kathy and the slow Sunday stitchers as well as Frederique. Take care and have a great week.
Happy Sunday. Finn is looking awful handsome today. He always brings a warm smile. I think 9 patches are my favorite blocks. You are working with such pretty yellows. Your Shadowbox quilt is gorgeous- love the waffle quilting. I wish you a lovely evening as you work on the binding. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteWonderful progress made!! My last retreat I got nothing accomplished, but as the coordinator I was busy keeping things going.
ReplyDeleteI somehow missed your post yesterday, Gail! Looks like you got a lot done at your retreat. Two quilts ready to hand stitch the binding - yay! Love your new blocks with the Drunkard's Path blocks, too. Have fun with Finn visiting!
ReplyDeleteThat Finn is so stinkin' cute! I love partial seams and those blocks are stunning! I love the colors with that background. I think every quilter needs to go to a retreat at least once in their lives. Bet once they do, they'll do it again. I can hear the joy of your retreat in this post. So fun.
ReplyDeleteYou have magical stitching fingers, Gail. You achieved so much at the retreat. I must say those blocks on the Essex linen are fabulous. Such a wonderful initiative for the girls in Malawi. How very kind of you. There are so many things we take for granted in first world countries, aren't there??
ReplyDeleteSeeing your very interesting blocks with that gorgeous background linen reminded me I purchased acrylic Drunkards Path templates some time (long time) ago. I love that block. How wonderful to help out girls in another country. Lovely hand stitching, Gail. Well everything you stitch is lovely!
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing all your projects from your retreat. I especially like the shadow box quilt with the crumb blocks. I’m filing that idea away. I have a plethora of crumb blocks. Do you have information you could share regarding the charity in Malawi. Directions, or sizes, or the organizations info?
ReplyDeleteRetreat looks like it was very productive for you! Enjoy your time with Finn.
ReplyDeleteGoodness you did get lots done at retreat! Very satisfying! Your two new blocks look interesting. Sarah quiltingbythesea
ReplyDeleteI think you always need to pack more projects to take to retreat than you think you will accomplish...... just in case. You were very busy indeed. How nice for Finn to come and have a holiday with you.
ReplyDeleteA very productive retreat! I love your waffle quilting, it goes very well with the blocks. Have fun working on your projects, I love them all, especially the new one ;) Thank you for sharing and linking up!
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