Category Archives: Challenges

Well I’ve thought it over, and it seems silly to withhold pictures of my recently completed quilt.  This is “Whirlwind Romance” – my entry for the Project Modern Challenge 2 – Monochromatic Challenge.

In the spirit of romance, I designed a quilt filled with passion.  A crashing wave, created by inserting strips into rectangles of varying shades of red fabric.

I quilted using a free motion loop-de-loop following the curve of the wave.

A simple back.

Hope you enjoy! It was fun to make something completely different.   At times I’ve been deeply in love with this quilt, and other times completely ambivalent.  It’s been a “Whirlwind Romance!”  Regardless, I’m really happy I took the challenge.  I definitely learned a couple of new things, as I do with every quilt.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day.  I’ve really been enjoying the pillows I made for the holiday, (check ’em out HERE and HERE) but am looking forward to changing things up.  That’s why quilting pillow covers is so fantastic: I get to change the whole feel of my living room with just a couple of slip-covers!

So here is the start of my St. Patrick’s Day pillow project (wrinkly!):

These pillows are inspired by these Ferris Wheel pillows from twin fibers.  They are going to be two different pillows, turned-edge appliqued onto the faux linen background I’ve been using.  I’ll post how that goes when I figure it all out.

I’ve also been working on my strips for the 6th Times The Charm quilts my friend and I are collaborating on.

All the strips are assembled, waiting to be pressed and sewn together into a giant rectangle.  We’re using a different assembly method than described in Handmade Beginnings. After we assemble our quilt tops I’ll tell you all how we did it, just in case we come across any bugs.   Want to see what it will look like in the end?  Here and here and here are some pictures of similar quilts.

And finally I’ve made tremendous progress on my Project Modern Challenge 2 quilt. I machine quilted the blanket this weekend (read about that experience HERE), and am now working on the binding.   I guess I’m going to wait to post more about this quilt until after the contest submission deadline (end of March).  I feel sort of silly feeling like anyone would be tempted to copy my work, but that seems to be the popular precaution other bloggers are taking so maybe it’s the smart thing to do.

Thanks for stopping by, and don’t forget to check out all the other WIPs posted over at freshly pieced.

I haven’t been doing much blogging or sewing this week.  I think the sluggishness of third-trimester pregnancy is really settling in.

However, I was able to sew the block for three new pillows I’m making as a present.  They are inspired by Marca-Relli prints and I think they’re pretty neat:

I’m going to be bordering these in the homespun cotton (faux linen) that I used for my Valentine’s pillows.   I’m going to quilt them, do the backing with a canvas AND I’m going to install my first ever zipper.  w00t!

I also made big attempts at trying to assemble pillow covers from chunky cable-knit sweaters and it was just a disaster.  I was covered in little sweater pills, unable to cut anything evenly with the stretching nature of the knits, and I broke a needle.  So I called it quits on that project <sigh of relief>.

I also abandoned the idea I mentioned last week about making another Valentine’s pillow (inspired by a Better Homes and Gardens pic I posted in last week’s WIP blog).

I haven’t made any more progress on my Project Modern 2 quilt, but I need to get going on making some Franken-batting.

In new projects, my dear friend suggested we give making some scrappy quilts together.  I’m really excited about that project!  I think we’re going to end up with two really adorable blankets and have a lot of fun.

I’m also excited about giving Ferris Wheel blocks a go.  I think if I do them in green they could be super-cute for St. Patrick’s pillows (and nice enough to stay out all spring).

Check out more WIP’s at freshly pieced!

Thanks for stopping by!

Amy hosted another One Thing, One Week Challenge and I presented myself with a major task: complete the top of my monochromatic quilt for the Project Modern 2 Challenge.  Challenges upon challenges, and I’m so happy to report that I did it!

So here’s a glimpse at the top:  It’s not squared or pressed, and obviously it’s not quilted.   It’s just a glimpse because I don’t want to spoil the whole thing before I submit it to the judges (dun dun DUN!).

I bought some variegated red thread at the quilt store this weekend and I’m excited to see how the quilting will enhance the movement of this project.

This is my first ever Work in Progress Wednesday, but I’ve been on a hot blogging streak, so I thought I’d join in!  Check out the other WIP’s by hitting up the freshly pieced blog.

Here is my Project Modern 2 quilt pile: sea of reds ready to be pieced into blocks, squared, and sewn together.  I bought my reds for the backing and binding, but this week I’m only focused on assembling the top (that’s my One Thing, One Week, Challenge!). I’m really nervous I’m going to hate this quilt, but I’m excited all the same.  Here’s hoping it exceeds my expectations and even wins me some Kona Solids!

“But Jenna, this doesn’t look like anything!” … I know, right?!

As for any other projects I have going on…

1.  Alison’s Birthday Pillow covers have been visualized in my mind and fabrics are purchased.    They will be inspired by more Marca-Relli prints, like Grace’s Quilt I made for Christmas.

2. Sweater pillow covers for Christmas.  I have the torsos left over from my Sweater Sleeve Wine Bags and I think they’d look cute as throw pillow covers for the holidays.

3. Another belated Christmas craft – I have a bag full of wooden, decoupaged ornaments that need hanging strings and some other ornaments that need full assembly.  These are not really sewing crafts, but important to me all the same : )   I really want to get these done soon while I still remember where I hid the Christmas decorations!