Petit Four Baskets

A small project that had been on my list for several months was to make more Petit Four Baskets from a Fat Quarter Shop tutorial: it's a video only tutorial, but short and easy to write down the instructions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MMs2Tv4Eag

I liked the first basket that I made last summer, but found that a fabric lined thread catcher is difficult to empty, as the thread sticks to the fabric lining.

Petit Four Baskets, 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" x 2 1/2"

These are two different versions: one using marine vinyl as the lining, and the others with oilcloth as the lining. They were very difficult to turn – could have used a much larger opening, and one of the oilcloth versions tore right through the stitching near the opening. Then the next problem – how to stitch them closed? Solution – double stick tape. So far they are holding up well, and easy to empty.

Catch Up

I'm using Word to keep an ongoing list of my projects in progress, and it is working very well. Each project has the individual steps listed after it - i.e. piece, cut, sew blocks, etc., and I cross them off with strike-through. When a project is finished, it goes to the bottom of the list under the "Finished" heading. There is a separate section for "Not Yet Started" so things don't disappear into the back of the cupboard. Ideas for new projects are in a separate document.

The Wedding Kaleidoscope quilt has been gifted; it was well-received, and I was thanked again multiple times on Christmas Eve.

Turquoise Strippy, twin

Turquoise Strippy has been finished and gifted. I so enjoyed using up scraps, and especially that it was given to neighbors who love quilts and love the scrappiness.

Birds Column, lap

Birds Column quilt – a quick “stash challenge” quilt is finished (photo). Several quilters who saw it in the studio were surprised and delighted by it, saying they never would have thought of it. The subtle color sparks pulled it together (citron yellow and deep red.) I gifted it to a quilting friend and she was delighted (she had given me the grey birds fabric.)

Batik Improv Logs, 44.5" x 38.5"

Batik Quarter Log Cabin came together quickly. It was surprising how close in size the improv blocks ended up before trimming, as nothing was measured – some fabric was randomly cut into strips while the main part was from scraps used as is.
 
Flannel Rail Fence just needs binding, as does the twin charity Double Square Star from reproductions.

My Quilt Inventory Project has been enlightening. I’ve inventoried all quilts in the house, including small wall hangings, and have listed where they are, what the intended use is, etc.  There are a couple of quilts that I don’t remember making, but do recognize my fabric. It’s helping me repurpose some of them as gifts or donations to charity. Within a week of completing the list, 8 quilts wen to new homes (4 as gifts, 4 to charity.) Several more have found new homes with quilt lovers. I don't have any un-quilted tops.

Charity knitting – mitts and cowls were my November/December projects. Currently I’m knitting a fingering scarf for my SIL in my new favorite, designed by me garter and slip stitch reversible pattern.

Charity burp cloths are ongoing. Several were donated and since then over a dozen new ones finished. I’m treating them as mini quilts, using leftovers and some larger pieces of fabric that work together. Cotton batting scraps were pieced – double stash buster. I’m quilting them on a domestic machine and serging the edges.