Welcome to finish it up Friday! This week didn’t feel very productive, but it sure felt FULL! Anyone else in the same boat?
I did manage to round up a few finishes for this week, though! My major finish was quilting Nancy’s charity quilt. I brought it home as a flimsy just last week and I returned it to her yesterday, ready for binding. That was fun! I tried out
a new-to-me machine, which is always a little challenging, but it was also a very good experience. (I'll be sure to blog about the machine again after I use it a little bit more.) The quilt is about 64" x 83" or so.
The other little finish I have for this week is turning an orphan block into a pot holder. It's what
Lynn calls "cleaning up the slow way". Isn't that a great way to describe it???
I used a few scraps of Insul-Brite and stitched them together (by hand) before using it as the "batting." If you are not familiar with Insul-Brite, it's a great product that has a layer of heat resistant material in it, making it a perfect choice for projects like hot pads, oven mitts, etc. This is the first time that I tried piecing it together (a machine zig zag stitch would also work, I'm sure) and it felt good to eliminate wasted product. Just the trimmings went into the trash!
The backing is a cute pear print (it's cotton lawn, so it's super soft) by Robert Kaufman. I LOVE it!
I quilted it with a concentric square and bound it with a spring green gingham print. It's ALMOST too cute to use, but I WILL use it! It's going to replace one of my super gunky old ones. It's a good way to put the scraps to use, don't you think? It measures about 8.25" square and it is scrap project #195.
That's it for me today! Now it's your turn. Please link up your finishes for the week. Thank you, as always, for joining me for finish it up Friday! Have a great and safe weekend!
Cleaning Up the Slow Way, that is classic!!!! Such a cute little pot holder and so glad you had a good time on the Tiara :) Can't wait to hear all about it!!
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great use for an orphan block! And who can't use a new potholder?! I sure can . . . and I believe I might have an orphan block or two around if I were to do a search and rescue. The quilting really makes it pop and I'll bet it was a quickie finish too. Great way to end the week! ~smile~ Roseanne
What a cute potholder! I was doing the same thing with batting last night while I was working on some placemats -- it was great to take a few minutes and reorganize my scrap batting and realize I have actually made a little dent in the pile lately!
ReplyDeleteThat stippled charity quilt came out looking fantastic! It looks like you and the Tiara are well suited to one another! :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a chic potholder! Love it! And way to go on the quilting!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pot holders. I wouldn't want to use it and get food all over it (which happens so often when I cook!)
ReplyDeleteI never thought I would say this about a potholder, but I really love it! The colors, design and especially the quilting are great, but if I put that much work into it, I wouldn't want to use it and get it messed up.
ReplyDeletelol at cleaning up the slow way - that is exactly how I do it!
ReplyDeleteI've used a machine to sew pieces of insul-brite together and it works like a charm - done in no time. Great pot holder.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful orphan block - now it's something special!
ReplyDeleteI love the way Lynn uses such little pieces. The pot holder is very pretty and the green gingham is perfect!
ReplyDeleteAll my potholders are "gunky" and making some new ones is on my 2018 to-do list. I LOVE yours!!
ReplyDelete"Cleaning up the slow way!" Ha, is there any other way? I need to get some insulbright and get to cleaning a few left-over blocks, too.
ReplyDeleteCleaning up the slow way produces lasting results! Nice. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteYou have lovely finishes! I have basted batting together before. There is no point in wasting those extra pieces.
ReplyDeleteThe potholder is so lovely, and I had a hard time finding the join in the binding. Wow! That’s a finish worth aiming for. Love the quilt. Simple are my favourite.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute quilt. The potholder is adorable also. 'Will have to try Insul-Brite. I have wondered what to "fill" potholders and oven mitts with.
ReplyDeleteYes, I DO think that is a great way to use up scraps! Your sewing even on a simple hot pad is sew precise! Love that quilting!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to use orphan blocks! I sometimes make little table toppers or mug rugs for my café of those. With regards to the batting, I frequently use "franken batting", meaning that I stich little leftovers together by machine (big zick-zack stich). It is fast and easy and suits my "no waste policy"!
ReplyDeleteCleaning Up the Slow Way. I love it. I am on my way upstairs to try this out. It will make the task of organizing my sewing room so much more fun. Just the motivation I need. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThe quilt came out great! And I’m motivated now to replace my potholders! I have a few of those rogue blocks kicking around and some insulbrite scraps I could bear to toss.
ReplyDeleteIs one piece of ultrabrite all you need for the batting? Or do you supplement with some regular batting in addition to the ultrabrite?
ReplyDeleteOops.. I mean Insul-Brite.
ReplyDelete