Monday, March 26, 2018

Weekend Stitching: Still Framing

The Scientist in Training is back at college after a week of spring break and we are back to adjusting to the empty nester stage of life.  The house always seems so quiet after she heads back.  So I found something on Netflix to binge watch while trying to get into the stitching groove yesterday afternoon. 

This month's OMG was to get all the Vintage Dress blocks sashed and sewn together.  I've been making steady progress on the sashing strips, but it's a time consuming process.  

 Vintage Dresses by Charise Randell


The bottom two rows are sewn together.  The framing strips for the third row are under construction.  I'll keep plugging away and just see where things are when we reach the end of March.  Even if I don't get it all together, I'm really happy with the progress so far. 

The colored framing strips for the dress blocks are cut at 1".  I've developed quite a pile of residual strips at the cutting table, plus a pile of left over white bits.  I don't usually have a problem throwing away small scraps, but these are such nicely cut strips that it seemed a shame to waste them.  So I stitched up a couple of strips and had a go at making a 4 patch. 


I'm usually not one for stitching mini blocks, but maybe I'll give this a go and just see where it ends up. A 16 patch block would finish at 2", so I'm thinking that may be my final block size.  Then I can either frame them or just stitch them together for a mini postage stamp quilt.

While the SIT was sleeping in on Sunday, I took the opportunity work through my pictures from spring break.  We visited a tulip farm just outside of Dallas and the flowers were just spectacular.  So for those of you who still have snow, just a reminder that spring is coming. 

The SIT picking tulips.  Amazing how her jacket matches the flowers. 
For some reason she's developed a fondness for orange





That's it for me this week on the stitching front.  I've a business trip tomorrow.  Thankfully it's just a down and back to Houston, but it will take all day.  I should be able to make up for that lost stitching time on Friday as we are off for Good Friday.  Hard to believe that Easter is next weekend!  

Linking up with the usual posts:
Monday Making
Main Crush Monday
Monday Design Wall  

22 comments:

Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts said...

I adore those dresses, and the way you are framing them is perfection. And those are some *tiny* four patches! Have fun sewing those tiny strips together. :) It's funny - I usually don't have any trouble ditching my scraps either, but the scraps from my current project are too pretty to throw away. It's looking like they will become a project too...

Libby in TN said...

Your sashing definitely requires attention to detail, but well worth the effort!

Julie in GA said...

The framing is the perfect addition to the vintage dress blocks.
Lovely tulip photos!

Barbara said...

The quilt is looking fantastic, and stitching together the mini is a great idea. When I partiicpated in a mini challenge last year, I ended up making a trivet from those little blocks and it lives in our camper now. Wasn’t really planning it, but I ended up really liking it. The tulips are gorgeous. Makes me miss the tulip festival I know is going on back home. Maybe we’ll get out there when we get home.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

The tulip farm looks like it was amazing to visit, and I love the photo of SIT with her orange jacket by the orange tulips! Glad progress is continuing on the dresses. That is a teeny 4 patch, but when you make them into 16s, they could become cornerstones for a project.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

The framing of the dresses just adds to the delightfulness of this quilt. Lovely photo of SIT with the tulips.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Your dresses is coming along so nicely! The frames are just perfect. Those tulips are amazing!!! What vibrant colors!!

Anonymous said...

I really like the dresses and the framing is perfect. Great pictures! /Liz

Marti said...

Those are gorgeous tulips. I found the tulip farm on google. Funny, I've never heard anyone talk about it before.

Now that the dress blocks are stitched together, it's easy to see what the quilt will look like and it is indeed going to be pretty. Lucky niece!

Val's Quilting Studio said...

DItto! The framing is worth the time being put forth. Glad you enjoyed a nice Spring Break and that you still have a few days off this week. ENJOY!!

Julie said...

The framing sets them apart just right. Quilters used to use a thinner border here and there more often. It's a great technique. I cannot imagine the time you have invested in this piece with all the pp, but it sure is a pretty piece. Congratulations!

Lynne Stucke said...

Like everyone else, I am bowled over by your sashing/framing. Is there a chance we can have a tutorial sometime in the future? It is just amazing and perfectly frames those lovely dresses!

Jennifer said...

Great job on the sashing- I am sure it will be done soon. Nice pictures of the tulips and your daughter. I am quite fine of orange flowers too - I had lovely dark orange roses in my wedding boquet.

Emily said...

What lovely tulips! Your mini block is so small! 2" is the smallest piece I will use willingly.

AnnieO said...

I happen to love orange, and SIT looks good in it! Your sashing looks even more striking when I view it on the PC versus my phone. Love the matching fabric surrounding each one.

Tulips are always such happy flowers.

Louise said...

What a lovely smile your daughter has! And I love the tiny four patch :)

Judy Hansen said...

Thanks for the pictures of the tulips! I keep telling myself that spring is coming, but it's coming very slowly here. Thanks for linking with Design Wall Mondays, Judy

dq said...

Wow Kate, 1" strips equals 1/2" squres. That is crazy. It is sort of like Dear Jane Crazy or Omigosh Crazy. I made a Dear Jane and a mini Omigosh so I know.

Your vintage dresses are adorable!

thea said...

I know I've said it before, but the dresses are beautiful! and it is all coming together so perfectly.

seabreezequilts said...

Those tulips are magnificent, we don't have many tulips here we can usually buy them for a short period of time and they don't look like those. Love love the vintage dress quilt it looks so cute. Have a lovely Easter.

Sandy Panagos said...

That quilt gets prettier and prettier every time I see it. Omg, those four patches, though. No way! What gorgeous tulips!

cocoya said...

Your dresses is coming along so nicely! The frames are just perfect. Those tulips are amazing!!! What vibrant colors!!

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