April Progress

I decided to forgo setting goals for April and instead just work on whatever grabbed me at any given time during the month. Initially when all of the pandemic-inspired sew-alongs and projects started coming out I wanted to do them all, but soon reality set in and I decided that other than jumping into the Village project (too cute & fun to resist), the little bit of extra time I have gained from all of my travels being cancelled would be better spent focusing on existing UFOs. 

I decided that I would dust off an old hooking project that has always been one of my favorites. I planned this one in a workshop with Sally Kallin in 2012.  Here's where it was when I pulled it out of the project bag.  I've made decent progress on it over the last few weeks and plan to continue to work on it even if I am able to go anywhere and start anything new in the coming months.  I still really love this pattern! 

Down in the sewing room, I decided I needed to make myself assemble my Frolic! pieces and parts. I finished assembling all of the blocks:



And then pieced the sashings and started assembling the top:



I have to say that this is not my favorite of the mysteries I have participated in.  There were so many leftovers after piecing the blocks - dozens of flying geese and HSTs that weren't needed.  I understand why it was set up how it was, but can't help but find it highly frustrating that I spent so much time sewing and trimming flying geese (which are not my favorite to make) that won't even be used!  And then there's the assembly - so many seams don't nest that it is a challenge to get everything lined up. I'm about half way done with the top and then will be forced to make a decision on the border. 

I also decided it was time to get the 2018 mystery quilted. I reverse-sewed the block in the inner corner and was able to turn it the right direction and piece it back in with surprisingly little difficulty.  I loaded it up on the longarm with a backing I pieced from a batik I happened to have a lot of.  I knew it was a bad idea - Bonnie Hunter quilts do not work well with batik backs - but thought I could run the machine slow enough for it not to be a problem.  Wrong!  I had five thread breaks on the very first pass. I slowed it down even more and have had a little better luck with the next three rows.



I have two rows left to quilt and this one will be ready for binding.  I've decided that my next quilting project will be custom.  I have a couple of tops purchased on ebay that I plan to practice on. If all goes well I may even get my Starlite Skies (2017 Primitive Gatherings pieced SBOW) finished this year...G