Franken batting.

The baby panel was basted with pins and machine quilted this morning. Glad I got this done as this afternoon was busy with diy in the kitchen.

Created a piece of batting with pieces that was the same feel and weight for the baby quilt. Anytime an article needs lots of machine quilting, it is a great way to use the frankenbatting.

The back of the quilt, this fabric with maps was just the perfect fit for this baby boy quilt.

Cut and pinned the strips of fabric for the magic binding, will hopefully get to that part tomorrow. The baby quilt still needs trimming and while making binding for the baby one, decided to make the binding for the larger sailing quilt too.

Last week while Kate and I were chatting on Zoom, these pieces got prepped. Our weather is a wild ride at the moment, with high winds, blowing snow and thunderstorms with hail, rain and lightning. Going from warm to arctic in a span of a few hours.

Baby quilts.

My niece asked last year to make a baby quilt with a nautical theme for her new baby boy. So I looked online and found a kit for one, at the time it was one of the few which was available. Towards the end of last week, it was pulled out and the top made. It is huge, so it will not work in a baby size crib. Plan B is this panel which I found on saturday at The Hobby Horse Quilt Shoppe.

This will work for a baby. As luck would have it, when I went looking for nautical fabric last year the aqua anchor fabric was all I could find at the time. This is perfect for the binding for the baby quilt. The other one will get done and sent to her in due course as well.

Sometimes we have to change direction when life happens. First the fin on the fan on the light broke when making a bed, while shaking out a duvet with down inside it. It can happen to very tall people. Next the microwave decided to pack it in, so off we went to get a new one. Last but not least, we drove over a nail at Home Depot.

Long story short we got a flat, had to change a tire and get the tire fixed almost immediately. The saying things happen in threes.

The lovely lady helping us with the tire had nails painted a vibrant purple.

Found this beautiful fabric for a blouse for summer online, it arrived this morning.

Added the diamonds to the mariner's compass block and the green border fabric.

February reds.

The red roses have all been appliqued on the first round of borders that surround the centerpiece.

It is different on two sides.

Two sides have lots of roses and the othere two only two each.

The little diamonds are all done for the center in all the colours.

The mariners compass blocks are all made to be added inbetween all the triangle squares, once all those are made and assembled into larger triangles. This is an ongoing project from last years colour challenge.

Red triangle squares for February.

Light at the end of the tunnel.

Sometimes we decide on a course of action and set a goal or a deadline by when something must be done, when that does not happen it places stress on us. Last year in November the mariner's compass blocks was going to be worked on and be done before the end of the year. None of that went according to what was suppose to happen then. Life is a journey that follow a path we do not always expect. Fast forward to February this year and those blocks are now done.

Next up is the frame and the center block with the diamond border blocks. They need to be added to the center mariner's compass block.

The pumpkin house is growing, the stems and leaves for the flowerpot is done.

Mariner’s compass using parchment paper.

A quick photo tutorial for using parchment paper to turn the edges over for a large circle.

Place the pieced disc on top of the parchment paper with the right side facing the paper.

Next stitch on the edge of the disc.

Cut a hole in the paper.

Next cut slits in the paper almost too the edge.

The push the paper over the edge and pop the fabric to the edge where the paper has been folded back and finger pressed.

Now the disc can be pressed with the iron and the paper can be removed. It is ready to be applique on to the background fabric.

Relaxing day.

Today these mariner's compass blocks will get the blue circles appliqued and then added to the background squares. It may take longer than normal, as we will be playing boardgames and it is not going anywhere.

The pumkin house got another squirrel and the stems to the flowers in the flowerpot. It is a long weekend and we are celebrating Family Day tomorrow.

Finding the way.

Finding the way is now well on its way. The little diamond blocks which makes up the frame around the center mariners compass need fifty two of these little blocks.

Next is the mariners compass blocks, all foundation/paper pieced. Decided to draft the pattern for this one. This happen in November last year and then everything just stalled. It was on the cutting table since then, the red triangle squares for February is done for RSC24.

So onto all the segments for the five mariner compass blocks. They have been worked on this past week. Decided to try sewing the circles onto parchment paper to turn the edges ofthe circles under.

Was not sure if it will work. After ripping the paper back to almost on the edge and fingerpressing it on the edge, it worked.

Took it to the ironingboard and gently pressed it flat, before ripping the parchment paper off.

Now for the part which will take time and a pair of tweezers, pulling out all the paper. Yes, I know the paper could have been ripped of first. However this did not happen, so it will happen over the course of the next week or two.

Some more progress on a few things.

Serengeti Chatelaine has a little bit more stitching added to it. It is a beautiful piece.

Indigo way has all the parts sewn, next they will need some trimming. Did not use any red in this, just the fabrics which came from one quilter. Dived into my stash for a little bit of extra fabric that was leftovers from a bargello.

All the red roses have been appliqued on Love Entwined.

Also managed to do some more paper piecing of the diamonds and the mariners compass blocks.

Will continue to work on these blocks for the remainder of February.

The pumkin house has all the cream bricks filled in and the start of the squirrel and it is growing slowly.

Reds.

February reds are growing, the applique is slower and the process is always the time to relax, reflect and just be. Woolgathering while sewing on each piece.

These roses is being appliqued in place. Ten in total on each of these side borders.

Reds from 2023 for Finding the Way.

Pulled the prepped squares from the box for 2024.

These have been sewn and ironed. All the reds are now sewn for this quilt.

Also carried on sewing bits for Indigo way Mystery. Ran out of the very dark teal colour, will check in the leftover pile from an old bargello quilt that had similar colours if there is anything in those fabrics which will work.