BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Quilting Summer Projects?

What is everyone working on or planning to work on this summer? Do you find that you do smaller (not so hot) projects during the summer? I know that I stay away from crocheting/knitting afghans because it is so hot here.

I don't have any specific projects planned other than working on my friend's wedding quilt, James' I Spy, and a paper pieced wall hanging. We are going to be living in a 2 BR apartment for awhile, so most of my sewing stuff will probably have to go into storage.

Tammy

I have a couple of baby quilts to make this summer, and some blocks for a swap. We're doing a Lord of the Rings swap over at the about.com forum. Mostly I am finding that I am turning out to be a seasonal quilter. Before I was always in the house sewing. At our new home I'm always outside with the kids, at the playground, hiking up our trail, working in the garden. So I may be one of the types that does most of the quilting in the cooler months.

Tammy, you know we went through the same thing you are now. Try your best to bring along as much of your sewing stuff as you can. I received the same advice when we moved into the apartment and I ignored it, then went crazy looking for things I had thought I wasn't going to need until I went and got my stash and scraps back out of storage. And after I got it out I never regretted the room it took up in the apartment. (Of course, we didn't have any of our furniture so there was quite a bit of room!)

Thanks for the tip Laura - I will have to print your post out to show my husband! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have to get going on packing up my sewing room..it looks like a hurricane hit it and I don't want to scare off any prospective buyers!

Tammy

Only virtual projects for me. I have a few good ideas, but haven't had the time to start them. Plus, I have three finished tops that I need to buy backing for and get those over to Julie's house. Then I'm waiting for a piece of fabric from my MIL to finish my son's quilt.

Like Laura, I think I too will be a seasonal quilter (once I get this curriculum ironed out). I know alot of people would say I'm doing way too much for Becca's age, but I guess it's just my degree kicking in...all education classes teach you that variety is the spice of life when it comes to teaching. Try to use all the senses. So...the search goes on. I have to admit, I've found some really great supplements for the curriculum and they'll work as she gets older too and we go into more detail of the themes.

Well, my summer projects are actually progressing. I finished one baby quilt that I knew had to be done soon. I don't have any pictures of it up yet, but you can see the pattern I kind of followed here. It turned out pretty cute. If I can get Todd to hook up the printer today I might be able to start on some blocks for my swap. I designed some foundation blocks for it. Our forecast says rain for the next five days so I might get some sewing done. I don't actually believe we'll get any rain as they say that all of the time, but I can hope can't I?

What a neat looking quilt, maybe I'll do something like that (but bigger)too. I've got to start using my stash!!!

I can hardly see beyond what I have going on now. This last couple of weeks have been busy. My sewing machine and I have made up for the time being.

My first Crayola quilt was delivered last Friday. It was a big hit with both the artists and their teacher. I was going to tie it, but thought I would try my hand a maching quilting. I quilted around each block. Then on each picture, I picked out someing like a belt and went over that. On the top was a big area without any pictures. I tried my hand at some geometric stitching and was pleased with the look. The look is so much nicer. And, it was fun. While my sewing machine is working again, the computer my scanner is hooked up to isn't. So, it might be a while before I can show it off.

The second Crayola quilt is due on Monday. I am working on the back now. I just realized that even with piecing, I am sort on fabric. So, I am going to have to introduce a third fabic. I sure hope it comes out ok.

During all of this, I sewed the windows part of a lap sized attic window quilt for my MIL. The kids picked out the fabic. It was sort of a stress outlet for the more frustrating time I had sewing Jarrett's quilt top together. I forget what the name of the block is, but it is a square in a square. The inside square is turned about 30 degrees. I had it all cut out when I realized I cut some of the material wrong. I did a search on the net to see how other people do it and found that it was only done by PP. I haven't learned PP yet and wasn't really wanting to learn it than night. So, I winged it and it actually worked. I am not sure if I like the colors though. I think it will end up being between a twin and a full size. Everything I make ends up bigger than planned. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I decided to put it on the back burner for a few weeks. I sewed the scraps together and am trying to decide how to include them as part of the border.

I also finished that brick rag quilt that I have been talking about. I really like it. I took pictures of it, but you know the story. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

This summer I want to finish Jarrett's quilt, learn something new and maybe make a couple of baby quilts for DH's neices that have had babies resently. Oh and I need to finish my MIL's quilt. On my list of other things is to finally make the fertility quilt that we talked about a long time ago (maybe that can be the something new), start collecting for a I Spy quilt and figure out what to do with the Y2K fabric I have collect for my baby's quilt.

I am trying not to burn myself out again. Christmas was so busy last year that it took me months to recover.

Michelle

The Crayola quilts were a hit. Thanks for your help. For the cafeteria staff and Jarrett's teachers, I decided to do Rooster Doorstops. I have read so much about how easy they are. So, I challenged the idiot proof theory and made 7. Let's just say that my seam ripper is starting to wear out. ;-) The margarita I had with diner might have had something to do with it. LOL I managed to put their heads on backwards on two of them. But, in the end, DH said that he was impressed. Seven of them are sitting here looking at me. Or they would be if I had sewn on their eyes already.

I am almost finished with the things on my short list. I have to give sight to my roosters and finish the quilting of my MIL's quilt and I will be finished. I have two more nights to do that. I have some felt left and some really cute baseball material, so I might throw one more together for Joshua's baseball coach. They are either really cute or ugly. I haven't decided. Has anyone else made one?

Michelle

I have seen a similar pattern for bean bag chickens like that. They were a little smaller, and used in a tic tac toe game like toss accross. (Does anyone else remember that one?) I haven't made any, but they sure look cute.

Those are really cute Michelle!! How long did each one take? I will have to print the pattern out and make some for holiday gifts.

Tammy