I volunteered to teach a class at the library about EPP. I’ve never taught a class before. 😱 We’re going to make hexagon flowers into coasters but using Halloween-like fabrics since it’ll be during October. It will be for ages 10 and up.
Share something to pump me up. Especially if you’ve taught a library class before!
Does the layout work or what would you move where? Just a coffee table coaster made from old unused placemats (100% cotton).
Update #8
It’s been a while since I have posted an update on my hand-pieced Irish chain progress. Mainly it’s been because it’s summer and with the kids home from school my free time is non-existent. Also, I’m in a very repetitive and slow stage. I have almost all my rows complete. I’ll complete two rows and then sew them together. I have to do this 12 times with an additional row to the bottom. If I get up early before everyone else I’ll put on some YouTube, have some tea, and stitch for about an hour. I baked some banana bread the other day so I have some I’m snacking on. Such a treat!
My 9yr old (almost 10) is obsessed with space and has been wanting a space themed quilt. She saw this fabric at Michaels today and jumped up and down in excitement... https://www.michaels.com/product/fabric-traditions-out-of-this-world-galaxy-glitter-novelty-cotton-fabric-10607667?michaelsStore=2005&inv=6
If you've made a space-themed quilt I could use some inspiration.
Update #7: Finally finished all 98 9-patches. Cut 97 squares of the light background fabric. And moving on to assembling the rows. I am getting into a rhythm now and I hope it will progress quickly. My index finger is fully healed from the chunk I sliced off a couple weeks ago. I’ve procured safety gloves for use when I’m cutting fabric. I do have a couple client leads to do some quilt mending which may slow down my progress.
Update #6: A lot of the same. Just making tons of 9-patches. They’re finishing just about 6.25” square and I need 98. Working on the last batch of 14 then I’ll be on to the solid squares. When I think through what each step is in detail I’m happy to know I still have so much left to do. When I first started making quilts and sewing I was racing to the finish because I felt that was the reward. But now that I’ve been doing this for 14yrs I have come to value the process and the finished product becomes an afterthought.
Anyway, we’re going on vacation soon and I’ll have to set this project aside for a short time. But I look forward to returning to it.
Cheers!
Update #5: Slicing a chunk off my finger slowed me down but I’ve still managed to make progress. Hubby found a pair of cut resistant gloves for me to use while cutting fabric. Definitely feel more confident and safe with them on. I need a total of 98 9-patch blocks and I am up to 70 now.
If you have made an Irish chain quilt please share a photo and maybe some words about it. I am making my first one (hand piecing it) and would love some real-life examples!
Update #4: cutting more strips this morning and happened to slice a piece of my finger in the process.
😭🩸
Downside is it’s my index finger and it’s hard to use now. Upside: rotary blades are super sharp so it was a clean slice and it’s now nicely bandaged.
Is this a right of passage? Do I get a medal? Or just a fun little scar.
Finished another #TheScrappyCornersQuilt (pattern by Emily Dennis of @quiltylove). This is a gift for my special needs daughter’s PreK teacher after 2.5yrs in her class. She is on to Kindergarten SPED next year. Mrs. C. has helped so much and become a big part of our daughter’s life. And yes, those are my husband’s feet holding it up after we did some fishing with the kiddos for Mother’s Day.
(Special extra credit if you can spot the oops!)
Update #2: I have poked my fingers countless times now. It’s a slow process to hand stitch each piece but it’s a bit faster than I originally expected. I’m finding my points are more accurate than when I chain piece on the machine. It’s an incredibly enjoyable process. Lots of seam marking and pinning but they’re necessary steps. I have almost 14 of 98-something blocks sewn so far.
Here are a bunch of progress photos.
1st Update: I have decided to torture myself or indulge myself (I’ll decide at the end which one I’ve accomplished) and hand sew an Irish chain quilt for our bed. The plan is it will end up being 78”x90” with 6”x6” finished units. I am only going to use 100% cotton materials. The fabric I am using is thrifted from Ollie’s (both quilting weight cotton and a 100% cotton flannel queen bed sheet set for the backing) and a daily-deal from MSQC of 108” 3yd cut. The batting is from one of the three giant rolls I bought from Joann’s over a year and a half ago when they were on sale for $80-something. I have cut a few strips and pinned one pair out so far. Planning to start with a backstitch for a reinforced seam and this could very well be the last update if I end up absolutely miserable. I’ll try and stay optimistic. Wish me luck and I’ll provide an update when I’ve made some progress!
April added to the embroidered temperature tree for 2026. The “leaves” are X’s of the high/low from that day. The trunk of the tree is the average for the month. The ground cover is the high/low for each month and at the end I’ll do the average for the year and stitch “2026”. Not my design (gardengirlstudio.com) but it’s the closest pattern I was going for. I like the more natural flow of the design.
It’s been fun so far.
(I have been using DMC floss from Michael’s and came up with my own temperature-color assignments).
Could use some gentle critiquing. I’m hand sewing 2.5” squares together by hand to make a couple coasters. I can already see a teeny tiny stitch compared to the others. Any critiques or advice so far? I also hand pressed.