Starlit Pathways finished!

This is a UFO (unfinished object) from a no-mail round robin. The directions were given in 6 installations, the first being a 6" square of fabric. Each succeeding installation gave instructions for the next round or border. This was a lesson in color as we were to select colors that would go with those in our center. I was using fabric from what I had on hand (stash) rather than purchasing the yardage I'd need for the whole quilt so I found that I had to use different yellows, different greens and 2 different florals plus an additional floral for the backing and binding. I think that the color variations add interest to this quilt.




Oh, this is the first quilt that I've made that has lots of yellow in it. That was also a new venture into color for me.



This was a UFO because I put off quilting it. I didn't want to mess it up! I did some straight row quilting but lots of free motion quilting in this quilt. On this page there is a close-up photo to show the quilting. Now that I've finished this quilt (approx. 46 x 58") I hope to complete several more UFO's.

It Comes From Within

"It Comes From Within " is a quilt which was offerered in 2008 as a no mail round robin on the quiltsbykos yahoo group. I was quick to get the top finished but then it sat on a shelf in my sewing room. I decided to get it finished so that it would no longer be a UFO (unfinished object). Having a day off work this week due to a snowstorm (we got nearly 13 inches of snow!) gave me some extra time to work on it. I was able to finish it today. This wallhanging is 34" square and will be one of several that I can alternately put above my fireplace. The center square was a block that I had, made by my paternal grandmother. She was a quilter and probably the reason I'm a quilter today. Quilting is part of my heritage. That makes the title of this little quilt especially meaningful.

No Mail Round Robin Border 6

Border 6 is complete and so this is the completed quilt top which is 45 x 60". I'll plan to get it quilted this summer. I still need to choose and decide what to use for backing. I have made a decision regarding the binding. I'll use the lighter yellow that I used in this quilt. I have enough fabric and I think it will add interest to the quilt.

No Mail Round Robin Border 5

This little quilt is getting more interesting with each added border. I had used a couple fat quarters for my center and another border and there wasn't enough length for this border yet I wanted something similar. So I went through my fabric cabinet and at first thought that I had nothing to use but then found a stripe with lovely little rose and purple flowers on it. I could easily cut the strips that I needed from this and the stem of flowers would be centered on each strip. I'm trying really hard to use fabrics that I have rather than going out to buy more. I like the result.

NMRR 2

Here's my No Mail Round Robin with border 4 added. Sorry that it is tilted a bit. Guess I need more practice with placement on the wall and photography. It was nice to find that the next set of directions had been posted when I got home after being out of town for about a week. Once again, this was a quick border to put on.

No Mail Round Robin Border 3

I completed border 3 on the no mail round robin that I'm doing with Tara Kos. What an interesting pattern. This border was a surprise and not what I thought it might be. That's so very common in a mystery quilt and what keeps quilters not only interested but it challenges the quilter to try new colors, designs and techniques. This border makes the project a 24.5" square.

No Mail Round Robin

This is my No Mail Round Robin with the second border on. I chose the green and yellow to better highlight those colors in the center. I hope that it works out as each additional border is added. The installments for this round robin will come approx. every 2 weeks. I'm guessing that the next border will have the yellow continuing out to make points but we shall see. There may be and usually are surprises. That's the fun - watching the colors and design come together.

NMRR2

I started the no mail round robin 2 by Tara Kos this evening. I'd already selected a couple squares of fabric for the center and was trying to decide which I wanted to use. I made a decision this evening then I became aware that the directions for the first border were posted so I cut, pieced and added border 1. There will be 6 borders on this quilt with all the instruction installments coming in April and May.

Table Runner

There were some small pieced squares left over after doing round 3 of the No Mail Round Robin. Tara put together a bonus pattern to use these pieces. The result is this small tablerunner.

No Mail Round Robin

Here's border 3 of the no mail round robin that I've been doing
using instructions from Tara Kos. What a fun project! I still have to put a backing on this and get it quilted. It is approx. 30" square - a nice size for a wallhanging.

Round Robin - Border 2

This is my No Mail Round Robin with border 2 completed. This little quilt is now approx. 20 “ square. Now to await the next border directions . I like the way this is turning out. Without the fan center to guide my fabric choices, I probably wouldn’t have selected the orange-red/yellow/royal blue combination. I’m still giving some thought to embellishing the center.

Border 1, No Mail Round Robin

I put the first border on my center block today. I found a orange-red that was similar in color to the red in the fan. I chose a blue accent to pick up the colors in the fan. The florals in the fan also have lots of yellow so yellow went into this border as well. The light yellow is some muslin-like fabric that had been my grandmother's. I remember that Grandma's quilts were always bound with yellow. I don't know why and I never thought to ask her why. I just thought all quilts were made that way. Today I know different - bindings can be anything the quilter chooses to make them. I appreciate the fabric quality and selection and all the tools that I have available to me today.

I think that I've never made a block containing this much yellow so this project has challenged me to expand my color choices. This piece is now 14 1/2" and ready for the next border. I'll wonder what the next border will be and work on something else while I'm waiting for the border 2 directions to be posted.

No mail round robin center

I am participating in a quilting round robin. For those who don't know about round robins, usually one starts with a center, then mails or gives it to someone else to add to. It is then passed to others to add to and then back to the person who did the center.

This is a No Mail round robin which means that I'll do all the choosing of fabrics and sewing. I'll post more photos as borders are added.

This little fan block was in with my grandmother's fabrics and quilting things which I inherited. I thought that it would be a great center for this little quilt project.

quiltsbykos, a yahoo group is the group that I'm in for this round robin. Tara does some nice mystery quilts and posts them on this group.