New and Old

Welcome to Treadlestitches!
Here's something new--Little Buddy is back!  We're babysitting three of our grandchildren while our daughter works.  This isn't really a new situation, since we've done this for years, but it's new since the virus and the birth of the new baby.  We're choosing to do this because our daughter and her family need us, but we are still being very careful of our health, only going out for essential items like groceries and wearing our masks when we go out to help protect others.

At the moment, our daughter is only working one day a week, but that may change soon.  In the meantime, it gives us a chance to get used to taking care of a new baby again.  I am so NOT used to it that I didn't even get any pictures of the littlest guy.  These two have school online when they're here, too (yes, even the three year old!) so that's been very new and "interesting".

Here's something old!  It's a UFO, finally turned into a top.  These blocks have been languishing in a basket for literally years.  Once it's quilted by our amazing quilt group volunteers, it will be donated to someone who needs it.

The pattern is Scrappy Mountain Majesties, one of the free patterns from Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville.  Click HERE to go directly to the instructions.  My blocks are larger than the ones in the pattern.  At one point I believe there were directions for using a bigger square and making this size, which finishes at 7.5" x 9.5".  (Unless I dreamed it, I don't know.)  At any rate, it's a fun block to make and a dramatic quilt.

I even included a few novelty prints--cats and bees!

There are 8 rows of 8 blocks each, but because they are rectangles, the quilt is rectangular as well.  I kind of regret a few of the fabric choices, especially where there is a lack of contrast, but I am not stressing out about it.

While making the top, I finished making my tumbler quilt rows as leaders and enders.  That's them in the basket, pinned into little sausage rolls.  It will be fun to lay them out and start putting them together.  But now what do I use for leaders and enders?

Maybe this UFO will work!  These vintage 4 patch blocks are what I call a Double UFO.  I bought the squares years ago, already cut.  I just love packets of scraps like that.  They were 1930s and 1940s prints, with stacks of solid colors.  Somebody got ready to make a quilt, and then never got around to it.  I can definitely relate!  I trimmed up what I had, added solids as necessary, and made the blocks above.  And then I let it sit.  So two of us had started this quilt, and stalled out (thus, Double UFO).  Now I've got a plan, and this time maybe I'll keep on through to finish it.  I will need to make more blocks, though.

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge color for the month is dark green, so I'm sewing these first.

They may not look very dark, but they are much darker than the light green row.

More stuff from the basement!  Over the years I have collected lots of unfinished block sets.  I had some sort of crazy idea of finishing ALL of them as their original makers intended. (Hilarious!)  I am finally forced to admit that this is not going to happen, even if I live to be as old as Methuselah.  I love the fabrics in these blocks, and I know they'll be more useful to me in a different form.

So I cut them into 5 in. squares.

Lots of the squares are made from scraps the original quilter sewed together to make a large enough piece.  I think this adds a little character.  Working class chic.  Waste not, want not.

I did the same thing to another set of blocks.  These huge squares were sewn together (badly!) by hand, and some of the fabrics were very poor quality.

So I sliced them up with the rotary cutter into another pile of 5 in. squares, and got rid of the bad ones.  Now they'll be easy to work with.  I'll be going through my charm square books to find some fun patterns.

The last new thing this week is this mask.  I'm trying out patterns for this style of face mask.  The first one I made was just too small (more of an A cup than a B cup).  This one fits better.  I found this yarn in my basement stash.  I remember buying it because it was on sale.  (Could that be how I ended up with so much stuff?)  It's 100 polyester, is very soft, and is similar to a cut up T shirt.  It makes good ties for a mask, but I only have it in green.
If you are local, and want some, I would be more than happy to share.

Yesterday the neighborhood elementary school had a parade of teacher's cars, which happened to come right down our street.  The teachers held signs and waved at the kids, who came out in their yards with signs thanking them.  It was a lovely celebration of the end of the school year.
We are all in this together.  We will figure it out.
Stay safe this week.  Thanks for reading.
Cheers,
Sylvia@Treadlestitches

Linking up with:
Sarah at Can I Get A Whoop Whoop
Alycia at Finished or Not Finished Friday
Angela at So Scrappy