Hatch and Windows...

Like most years, I worked on a couple of projects for Christmas.  Although to be honest, my list was much shorter than usual.  The biggest one is a quilt for my parents called Hatch and Windows.  (The lump in the picture is actually my cat Jack hiding underneath.)

Hatch and Windows Quilt

I actually finished this top back in August and it was supposed to by a QOV donation quilt.  (The pattern was Mystery 26 from the Yahoo Group Mystery Quilts 4 Military.)   However, my mom fell in love with it and kept petitioning me to give it to them.  After all, my father is a veteran and was injured while serving.

So I decided to give this one to them for Christmas and make a replacement one for QOV to donate.  I quilted this version using the Square Spirals pantograph by Keryn Emmerson.

Square Spiral Pantograph

I also used a bunch of the extra 4-patches from the quilt to make a label for the back...

Label for the back of the quilt

I managed to finish the binding just two days before Christmas!  They were pretty surprised when they opened it and I know they'll enjoy it and get good use out of it.  It will actually be the quit my Dad uses while watching TV.

I've also made good progress on the replacement quilt and have all the components units made.  Hopefully I'll have the top completed in another day or two.  I'm doing this one in blues and browns...

Block Units for Replacement Quilt

So the stats for this quilt are:

• Size: 63" x 75"
• Fabrics: Batiks from my stash
• Batting: Warm & White
• Thread: Aurifil (piecing), Superior Thread So Fine (quilting)
• Pattern: Mystery 26 (Hatch and Windows) from the Yahoo Group Mystery Quilts 4 Military
• Quilting: Square Spiral pantograph by Keryn Emmerson (32 passes and 5 bobbins)
• Started: January 2012
• Completed: December 2012
• Recipient: Dad and Mom

Here's someone who thoroughly enjoyed Christmas -particularly the Christmas Tree!  She slept under it, played under it and ate a great deal of it.  As Mr. Quilting Bug put it, we had a very festive litter box in December.  Unfortunately, she also threw up a great deal of it.  She wasn't smart enough to figure out that eating it made her sick and she kept going back for more...

Sam under the Christmas Tree (aka dinner)

Until later...

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

Hatch and Windows...

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've posted anything here.  That has to be the longest I've gone since I started this blog!  But I'm back now and I even have a finish.  I've been working on a mystery quilt with my quilt bee for the last 6 months and have finally finished the top.  The pattern is called Hatch and Windows and is a mystery from the Yahoo group Mystery Quilts 4 Military.  Once I've quilted it, it will be donated to someone serving in the military.

Hatch and Windows Mystery Quilt

Although not in the traditional red, white and blue, I'm really pleased with how this quilt turned out and hope someone in the service will enjoy it too.  It's also a stash buster - made entirely from batiks and hand-dyed fabrics I had in my stash.  I'm just hoping I have enough left over to complete the backing as well!

This was a mystery quilt that most of my quilt bee participated in.  We started off with a cutting party and then clues were handed out once a month.  There were a total of 7 clues, so we've been working on it for quite a while.  In fact, everyone else just received their final clue today, but considering I was the one who passed out the clues and pre-tested them, I had a bit of an advantage.

So here's a quick look back on my journey through this quilt...

Clue 1 - Fabric Selection and cutting

Clue 2 - Tons of Half Square Triangles

Clue 3 - Lots of these Chevron Units

Clue 4 - 4 Patches

Clue 5 - Starting to put things together

Clue 6 - All the blocks pieced

The final clue involved putting all the blocks together in the quilt and an optional pieced border (which I included). When some of the other ladies have finished their versions, I'll share pictures of them all so you can see what a difference fabric selection makes in the overall look of the quilt.

I'm hoping to get this quilted rather quickly, but I have a couple of other projects that need to see some work first.  One's already on the frame and the other is almost ready for it.  Hopefully, I'll be back in short order to share some more of the happenings around here!

Until later...

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 

Matthew 5:7 (NLT)