Star Cross--A Finish

Star Cross Mini Quilt, oh how I love thee.  From the moment I first laid eyes on Geraldine at Living Waters Quilter's post on Instagram of her finished quilt, I knew I had to make it.  She must have read my mind because just a few days later she announced she would be hosting a QAL for this mini quilt.

This was not a typical QAL per say.  She directed us to the pattern for the block over at the Juki website (you can find it here) so that we could make our blocks.  Then each week she posted a different video and tutorial on quilting the quilt using straight edge rulers.

You can find links to Geraldine's tutorials below.

Week one: making the quilt and gathering supplies
Week two: Straight Line Designs
Week three: Quilting Channels
Week four: Simple Echo and Radiating Designs
Week five: Bordered Crosshatch

If you are new to ruler work, her breakdown videos are an excellent way to start learning.  Rulers are a tool I think every quilter should have in their tool box.  I want all of them!  For this quilt I used my Handi Quilter Straight Edge ruler and quilted on my Handi Quilter Sweet Sixteen.  I could have very easily quilted it on my Husqvarna Sapphire using my Westalee ruler foot or marked lines and used a walking foot.

For my quilting threads, typically I go very matchy matchy so everything blends completely in.  This time I decided to liven things up at bit and use a thread that would slightly contrast.

I chose to use Aurfil #2310 Light Beige in the white and tan sections and Aurfil #2605 Grey in the blue sections.  The colors provided just enough contrast to make sure my quilting stood out, but didn't completely overshadow my fabrics.  I love that the 50 wt thread will allow me to travel stitch around my lines several times without looking bulky or thick, just nice clean lines.

This little mini will be headed to my daughter's school for a fundraiser for the arts, so I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to make another one for myself or at least incorporate these designs into future quilts.

Star Cross is my second QAL finish this year.  You can read about my Quilter's Laundry Day mini here.  So for now it's back to work piecing on the other QAL projects and I'm happy to report I've starting quilting on one of my Meadow Mystery Quilts.  Hopefully, I will have another finish to share with you very soon.

Today I'm linking up with Linky Tuesday, Let's Bee Social and Midweek Makers.

QAL's--Where Do I Stand

This past weekend was mostly a stay at home sew weekend for both me and Dave the Quilt Engineer.  I promise he is still alive and well and most importantly sewing.  He's just been (to quote Dave) "busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest."  Work has kept him quite busy and sometimes not even home.  So, hopefully, he will be back to writing about his adventures soon, until then you are all just stuck with me.

I think we have established I have a QAL problem.  I'm okay with that and I'm not looking to recover any time soon.  So how about an update on my progress and a reminder of two up coming QAL's this month.  I apologize in advance for repeating some of the information.  Just in case someone is new to my attempt to overdose with QAL's and might want to join in as well.

1) Pat Sloan's The Children's Library

     The patterns for this BOM are based on the titles of our beloved children's stories and are released on the first of the month.  I've decided I will create my color palette for each block based on each book's cover.  This month's block was The Pokey Little Puppy, one of my favorites as a child.  Maybe that's why I have three puppies who would definitely steal my deserts from me in a heart beat.

2) Pat Sloan's Aurifil Designer BOM

     So far I'm up to date on this one.  The new block will be released around the 15th of the month and will be a 12 block sampler quilt when it is finished.

3)  Sew Fresh Quilt's Jolly Christmas Quilt

     Lorna's festive Christmas QAL  is going on for the next couple months.  Every two weeks on a Saturday she releases a new holiday block for us to make.  So far there have been stockings, mittens and bows.  Last week she released the Poinsettia Block, it may be my favorite so far.

4)  Living Water Quilter's Star Cross QAL

     This QAL is actually a bit different because it is a real quilt along.  We are actually quilting together, not piecing.  Each Monday, Geraldine posts both written instructions and a video to show us how to quilt our Star Cross mini quilt.  This is my quilt with the first two weeks completed.  Hopefully, I will complete this week's instructions tonight.

5) Jen and Jan's Quilter's Laundry Day Mini Quilt

     Jen from A Dream and A Stitch and Jan from Color, Creating and Quilting are hosting this QAL/blog hop for this super cute block designed by Jen.  The block reveal hop will be March 10th and 11th.  I am almost completely finished with my version of this mini.  I'd love to show you the whole thing, but how about a teaser shot from the back instead?  You can see the block and find the instructions to make one of your very own here.

6) Stitchin At Home's Medallion Quilt  

     Cindy's releases the instructions for this QAL on the third Saturday of every month.  So far we have been working on the center block.  I need to add one more border strip to the bottom of mine, but other wise I'm all caught up.

7)  Pat Sloan's 182 Solstice Challenge

     I tried as hard as I could to resist these blocks.  I am human.  I am weak.  I finally Instagramed and blog read too much and caved.  Last week I showed you the first three blocks.  Today, I will show you the rest to date...Warning: Picture Overload Ahead.

Cobble Stone Block

The Crosswalk Block

Tidy Rows Block

Never Ending Love Block

Amoung The Stars Block

The Coffee Shop Block

Quilt Math Block

I actually have one more block to make.  I can alter the Grandma Anna's Basket block (I'm not in love with it's applique) or substitute in my single Aurifil block from last year.  Decisions...decisions.

8)  mmm!quilts Windfall

     Mark your calendars for this one.  It is hosted by my QBFF, Sandra, and starts on the Spring Equinox, March 20th.  It is for a smaller version of her Windfall Quilt.

I am all ready to go!  I'm not quite ready to step back into a fall color palette so I'm going with more of a spring look.  I'll be pulling from my stash as well.

9)  Sewcial Bee Sampler

This little gem is going on right now (they are 5 blocks in) and is being hosted by Maureen Cracknell and Sharon Holland.  I just found out about it last night (thanks Sandra).  If you go to the link above and check it out...you'll know I'm gonna do it.  I can't say no, it's a sampler block quilt and I have a FQ Bundle of  Paradiso and I can hear it calling to me.  Like right now, I can hear it...I'm not crazy!  I'm going to wait till the weekend and see if I'm still feeling the same, but you know I'll do it, right?

10) Cora's Quilt's Gathering Mystery QAL

     This one will start toward the end of March.  I love Shelly's designs and I really want to participate, but with so much going on already, we shall see if I start this one.  I made her Gypsy Queen Mystery Quilt two years ago and started last years.  She is a wonderful mystery quilt writer, I hope you will consider checking it out.  I might have to live this quilty dream through one of you.  

So have I completely went off the deep end?  Maybe a little.  But, not all the blocks come out at the same time and their finishes will be spaced out as well.  If I fall behind, that's okay, catching up shouldn't be that tricky.  As long as I'm having fun, that's all that matters.  Plus, I'm slowly seeing a dent in my stash and that feels good.  So are you joining me in any of the QAL madness?

Today I'm liking up with Fished or Not Friday.