Pineapple Bellpull - Part 2 Complete

Pineapple Bellpull

Here is my progress on the Pineapple Bellpull.  Parts one and two are complete with minor variations.  I am not using the metallic and I stitched the verse in full cross stitch rather than tent.  Yes, it would have gone much faster --- but --- I didn't look at the specific instructions on the verse and by the time I realized that the stitch was supposed to be tent the section above the lady was almost done.  To keep it balanced, I continued with full crosses.  The next pineapple will be bargello -- love it!!

Chaos Continues with block 10 and Seasons Winter XS

Block 10 - Christmas Potpourri

Over the weekend I completed another block in the Christmas Chaos quilt.  The fabrics are waiting to be starched and pressed for blocks 11 and 12.

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During the week, I spent my stitching time with SK Seasons Winter.  This is a pretty slow go.... much threading and re-threading with the constant color changes.  I don't do well with cross country stitching but it might be a faster technique.   It sounds like I'm whining but not so -- I am enjoying the project.

Christmas Chaos aka Christmas Potpourri BOM Quilt

Yeah!!  Two more blocks -- 8 & 9 -- for the Christmas BOM are complete.

Block 8

 

Block 9

What a fun project this is -- but -- it is so unbelievably busy I have renamed it "Christmas Chaos".  Fabrics for block 10 are drying and I'm hoping to finish the quilt top before Easter.... maybe.

Another Xmas Quilt Block

I just finished block number seven of the Christmas Potpourri BOM!  The fabric for block 8 is drying and I hope to have it ready to go today.

The block would have been done sooner if I hadn't be sidetracked by my HAED project SK Seasons Winter.  It was stitch-a-long week and I got about 500 or so stitches in.  At this rate it will be finished ... yikes ... I don't want to think about it!

SK Seasons Winter at about 10%

I have been working on an order for a new floor stand and scroll frame set from Needle Needs in the UK.  I promised myself that I would place the order as soon as I finished block 7 --- off I went and the item I want went out of stock.  How sad is that??  I hope they have it available again soon.

The best laid plans....

ok, that might be a bit of a stretch.

Once again, I spent far too much time wandering the HAED website relentlessly -- this time,  trying to decide how best to take advantage of the leap year sale.  I had the six Cluny tapestry reproduction charts in my cart at least four times but decided against them ... for now.  This is one of my favorite HAED's  --

The photo is from the Heaven and Earth Designs website -- art by K. Craft

No idea when I will start stitching this but for now it's -- mine, mine, mine.

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Pineapple Bellpull design by B. Jackson for Fine Lines

I am enjoying stitching the Pineapple Bellpull.  I was expecting to have completed the great lady and more,  however -- see above.  The verse was the start of part 2 of 4 -- rather than using tent, I stitched the verse as complete cross stitches.

Block 6 of Christmas Potpourri

Another block for the Christmas Potpourri quilt!  This is block 6 and it went together beautifully.  I'm a happy camper and am off to get the fabrics ready for block 7.

Since the fabrics are mostly cut into rectangles that are 6" by 10", I don't pre-wash.  I pre-rinse in the sink, roll in a towel, dry and then use magic sizing when I press.  The debate about pre-washing continues and I will put in my opinion ---

This project is a perfect example of why I pre-treat my quilt fabric.  There are at least 12 fabrics that have been stacked and cut the same size for each block.  After a nice rinse, they are each a different size and / or shape.  Some shrink in wierd ways, some turn into parallelograms.  I prefer to have this happen before the quilt is constructed.  If you like to steam while piecing that can also cause a shift in the fabric if it has not been pre-treated.

I was once told by someone who had worked in the garment district in NYC that when you see how the fabrics are wound on the bolts it is no wonder that they become stretched and misshaped.  A prewash -- or even a quick spray with water -- helps them bounce back to their original shape.

Christmas Potpourri - Block 5

 
Christmas Potpourri - Complete Block 5

Block 5 was finished today -- this is a super busy quilt.  It's fun to make but it is really pushing me into uncharted territory.  Trying to make the variety of fabrics work together in a balanced way is not exactly working the way I had imagined.   I need to spend more time on this project -- with seven more blocks and borders I can not let it be a true "block of the month".  It needs to be done and off my design wall!!