2 last finishes for 2023

 Happy New Year! Very best wishes for a healthy 2024, full of great sewing projects.

I finished two Maternity Unit quilts last night, hand sewing the binding down. Really pleased with them both. 

The first one used up more of the RSC Wonky stars. I have very few left, mainly red ones, so I think I will start making more as an RSC project this year. Whilst I was cutting binding for this quilt I also cut some 2” squares, ready for three yellow Wonky Stars kits.

It measures 25” square and I machine quilted it with a sort of spiky wave stitch across the block seams. On my machine it’s called G.

A couple of years ago I stocked up on backing when one of the quilt companies I favour had a sale. I decided to cut into it for the backing of this quilt.

I looked through my stash of novelty fabrics for the alternate blocks and managed to cut two squares from the last of my Winnie the Pooh fabric. I bought this fabric to make a Baby quilt for a friend’s newly born grandson Ben. He is now in his 3rd year at university! Time for that fabric to be completely used up I think! 

The second finished quilt was the second String Maternity Unit quilt. When I made the first I used a piece of leftover binding and added to it, using up all that particular blue solid. Enough for this quilt and also I think for another one.

Both quilts, side by side, don’t they look cute?

The trimmings from both of these quilts went into my String Basket along with some smaller chunks of scrap fabrics I cut into strings. I also cut the telephone directory papers for the foundations and also the central 1.5” white strips so I’m ready for another sewing session today.

I love making these small quilts, using up so many small scraps and strings as I make them.

Last year I made 16 quilts, many of them small Maternity Unit or Doll quilts. I gifted some straight away but others I have kept in my stash. I know a former pupil of mine is expecting a baby this month and I would love to gift her one of my quilts- I know baby will be a little girl and I have several to choose from! The rest will go to Project Linus.

Joining up with Angela’s SoScrappy RSC blog.

Penguin Parade and a fnish

 I’ve been working on my Penguin Parade top this week and this is as far as I have got:

It measures 31.5” wide and 36” long. I’m going to add a narrow yellow border to each side and then another turquoise polka dot strip all around. That will finish at a reasonable size for a Project Linus quilt.

I now only have small leftovers of batting in my stash so I will have to buy some new batting this week so I can baste it.

I also finished the star Maternity Unit quilt:

And used a piece of fabric I have had in my stash for several years:

My sister Pat bought me a couple of metres of this many years ago when we went to the huge Festival of Quilts together in Birmingham. Happy memories for me, Pat loved picking this out for me and I have enjoyed remembering the happy times we had together studying the quilts.

Linking up with Angela’s SoScrappy blog. I think my Penguin Parade top qualifies as the Wonky Stars are part of my RSC blocks stash.