Monday Meanderings 7 - 15 - 2024

It's been a hot, busy week. And it's going to continue this week. Two days are expected to go above 100 degrees.  Yikes.  And that doesn't include the humidity.  Air conditioning is working well and I plan to stay in it!  I did a good job last week getting my goals worked on. Look at all those check ✅ marks!

7/9/24

✅Keep working on seaside top — 10 more little pieces were sewn down.

✅Finish small bag — finished and ready to use. 

✅Cut another kit for retreat — at least 1 more done. 

✅Organize and pack up retreat supplies — mostly done. 

✅Make backing for a quilt top — ironed and 2 sections sewn together. 

I'd like to show you the Strippy Zipper Pouch Kit I used to make, yes, a pouch.  I picked up the kit for free last October at the Country Piecemaker's retreat.  I decided to give it a try.  You can buy your own version of it through AccuQuilt. Or look at the other kits that June Tailor has at the AccuQuilt site. (This kit contained the "Sew on the Line"stabilizer, a Zippity-Do-Done pre-sewn zipper, and a video link and instructions. I never looked at the video link.) 

I found the process a bit strange and it created excess bulk. On the other hand, it wasn't hard to do and the zipper was a breeze.  I'm not sure I would have bought this kit, but I'm happy to have this little pouch to use. 

One lining section done. 

Above is the front and back sections done.  The zipper is sewn to each piece. (The zipper would be down the middle if I had thought to take that picture.) Once that is done, the bottoms of each side are aligned, right sides together, and then sewn together.  Yep, through the two linings, the front and back and 4 pieces of stabilizer. The weird sides are aligned and sewn to make the corners. My machine was working really hard to get through all of the layers. Even though I used a jeans needle it broke just before I finished the last seam. It took me a couple of days to do the whole thing although I didn't spend that much time each day.  This measures about 8" x 3" x 3". 

I plan to use it this week.  Doesn't the tab look funny sticking out?  The patterns available now have the tab as a handle, parallel to the bottom.  No worries... this is going to work well for how I want to use it. 

Here's what I did off list.  Ok, honestly -- I probably only made 4 or 5 of these this week. 

These blocks are for Nancy, one of the FCQ Equilters. I have been putzing along with these; it's time to finish them. I've picked one more bright fabric to make the last one to send.  I'll get them sent out next week. 

Here's what I hope to do this week, mostly at retreat. 

7/14/24

Retreat! Make —

Forest Animals Easy Attic Windows

Baby Buggies -- Boxes and Bow (3 yd quilt, except I'll make it smaller.) 

Benny’s Quilt 2.5” squares 

Sew a Happy Block Quilt Together 

Work on a new needlework project

The top two are kits I've cut out. Benny's Quilt has the units ready to sew into blocks. The Happy Blocks have already been placed in order so I'll only have to sew them into rows and then into the quilt top.  I might get some stitching done on the new needlework project too. But I'm going to focus on the quilting projects. 

Once again, I was able to spend at least 15 minutes stitching.  Here's where I stand now. 

W/ending 7/14 — 196 days in to 2024. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/July = 14/14days
• 15 minute days/2024 = 189/196 days
• Success rate = 96.4%

I'm linking up with the following parties: Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Design Wall Monday, and Monday Musings. 

That's it for now.  I hope everyone has a quilty week. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie