It’s nearly a finished quilt top…

  It’s been a busy day around here so far.   I now have all my rows stitched and sashing added between all the rows so now it’s just on to the borders.  Can I just say how much I hate adding thin sashing strips between rows and blocks – who designed this top anyway??? LOL

Now my dilemma is whether or not I add a skinny background border all around before I add my final border.  It really should have one to float the design however as I said – I hate adding those.  But actually the deciding factor will be my fabric since I’m not sure I have enough of the background to  add another strip all the way around.  Will have to do some measuring and figuring and then do some more with the border fabric I got to figure out how wide a border I will add.

I do like the way this one has come together – especially considering it has all come from the stash with the exception of the final border fabric I got from Hoffman California Fabrics which will go so well.

And as I was sewing I remembered where I had put the flash drive that had the last major backup of all EQ files on it — I knew that’s where I’d find Santa Paws and I was right.

So for all you Dog Pound Pal BOM participants, I’ll be loading this pattern up to the DPPAS page as a bonus pattern.  You could place him on the back of your quilt, make a pillow or little holiday wall hanging – whatever you like.   I’ll do another blog post the day I make it available  so you know to go collect it.  It will be available for download until the DPPAS project is completed.

I was also working with an old EQ design that I may turn into a tree skirt for my new Christmas tree — tho I don’t think it will be done for this year.  The tree is still in the box but one night this week or next weekend I’ll pull it out.  I’ve got some other sewing projects I want to concentrate on so the treeskirt will probably wait  and I’m not sure this is the final design I want to use — still mulling over some other ideas for different shapes.

 I actually do have the fabrics shown in this EQ image in my stash but not sure that I have enough since I think they are mostly FQs – the finished size of this is about 30″” square if I remember right so I might be able to eek out enough if I decide to use it.

In addition to that – just stuck a little pan of apple crisp in the oven to bake – last of the apples from my Aunt’s apple trees.  And also started a loaf of krusty quickie rise bread so hopefully there will be some krusty bread to go with my spaghetti tonight.

But time to start some mushrooms sautéing so I can get my sauce simmering and toss in a load of laundry before I go back to contemplating quilt borders.

Shawl Collared Cowl Progress

I made great progress last night on my shawl collared cowl  once I found the right size needles.  I finally quit for the night (or wee hours of the morning) when I used up the whole first hank of yarn.   I’m more than half way done and now that I just wound the other hank, I’ll be moving on to starting the decreases in the shawl collar.  If you’re looking for a quick project or last minute gift – with the bulky yarn this one knits up in no time and is easy to make.

But think I’ll set this aside for the morning and sew together some quilt rows.