Pink, white, and gray

Tonight, I made more progress on the baby quilt.  I'm using a 2.5 inch dark gray square for the center, and then 1.5 inch strips around the center square.  For now, I'm working on four blocks at a time.

It is growing, but slowly:

Change in Direction

Before I started the 2016 charity quilt, I should have made sure that the fundraiser was going to be held at the national convention again.  I plan to finish the quilt, but for now it is on hold.

Instead, I'm using that fabric that I bought during the Hancock Fabric close out sale to make a baby quilt.  The theme that the parents-to-be are going for is "pink, white, and gray."  I think this quilt will turn out okay, but right now, it doesn't look much like a baby quilt:

An incomplete square in the quilt

Making progress on the 2016 charity quilt

There are times when I wish that I used patterns for quilts so that I would know ahead of time how the quilt will look when I'm finished.  This is one of those times.

I am definitely making progress, through.  I finished the four squares with the green centers.

An almost complete block with a green center

Unfortunately, as I was putting the last strip on this block, I ran out of bobbin.  After I finished winding the new bobbin, I oiled the machine.  Normally, I wait a few hours after oiling the machine.  This time, I started sewing immediately--and am paying for my impatience.  Oil transferred to the fabric from the bobbin thread.  While I'm trying to figure out how to fix this one, I've started the next set of squares.

The next set of four squares

Already back sliding

Part of the reason that I decided to pick up the threads of the blog was to hold myself more accountable to finishing more projects than I begin.  Today, I needed to pick up more dog food from our veterinarian in a town where we used to live.  The store closing signs for Hancock Fabrics at the edge of town were irresistible.  After picking up the dog food, I headed straight for the fabric store.  And, yes, I bought fabric for a new quilt, along with several other items that I just couldn't resist at 25-30% off prices.

Couldn't resist buying at close-out prices!

What does this mean?  It means I had better get working on the 2016 charity quilt.

The start of the 2016 charity quilt

Picking up the threads

Between getting busy at work and getting busy at home, it has been well over a year since my last post.  However, it is time to pick up the threads of where I left off and begin again.

I did get the butterfly quilt finished and shipped off to my college roommate:

Butterfly Quilt

I also made a 2015 charity quilt: the dragonfly quilt:

2015 Charity Quilt - the Dragonfly Quilt

Now, it is time to start the 2016 charity quilt.

The Top of the Butterfly Quilt Is Complete

Tonight, I finished the top of the butterfly quilt:

I already purchased and pre-washed a cream-colored backing fabric, so tomorrow, it will be time to sandwich the quilt so that I can start quilting it.

Progress on the Butterfly Quilt

Fortunately, I am making good progress on the butterfly quilt.  I have completed 18 of the 20 squares that I had planned to make:

Time to finish up the last two squares...