APQ 2016 December UFO

I can hardly believe the APQ 2016 UFO Challenge has come to an end.  I am pretty pleased that I did as well as I did with completing 10 of 12 projects.  The twelve projects spanned everything from table runners to large quilts all in various stages of completion.  My September project was coming along nicely until my sewing machine died.  Taking the time to get the problem diagnosed and a solution created used up the majority of my quilting time.  I needed to put this one down and step away from the sewing room!  This is on my list for early 2017.  It may be late, but at least it will be finished, and finished well. 

My December project was probably the one that took the most time and labor, neither of which I had in a month where holidays required shopping, baking, decorating and attending family gatherings. 

This project was started during my "I love Civil War fabrics" period of the late 1990s.  My husband has always been intrigued by the Civil War period and reads anything he can find on this period in history, including this book.  The pattern I used was one of nine presented in Barbara Brackman's book "Quilts from the Civil War".  In addition to containing nine patterns for quilts made during this timeframe, it was also a wonderful resource describing the textiles of the period as well as why certain fabrics were used and how they were used.  The book also contains many pictures of quilts made and stories and excerpt from diaries, newspapers, magazines and letters. 

The pattern for the nine patch quilt presented in the book would have made a quilt finishing at 44.5" x 66.5" but I decided to add an additional column to make it a bit wider. 

Many of my other UFO projects were started during a class.  This one was one I chose to make since I was really enjoying the range of fabrics available for this period and, as a new-ish quilter, I was confident I could handle a quilt of 9 patch blocks and sashing.  The 9 patches were made by cutting individual 2.5" squares.  In today's world there are techniques that use strips and the "sew then cut" method.  I got a very small taste of what the women experienced when they made their blocks in the 1860s. 

As you may have guessed, this UFO remains a UFO.  Time was just not on my side for this one.  I did get 10 blocks completed and the 342 squares for the other 38 blocks are cut and assembled in sets ready to sew.  The fabrics for my sashing, backing and binding are prewashed and pressed.  So I have every confidence that this one will be finished and ready for quilting by the end of the first quarter of the new year.  I think this will make a fine twin size quilt for my guest room.  This room is most used by our 11 year old grandson when he visits and is very appropriate for him.  He, like his Grandfather, is also entranced by the history of the Civil War.   

So, it's time to come up with some projects for the new year!  Stay tuned.......

APQ 2016 November UFO

Eleven down, one to go! This is my November UFO challenge project. It was started in February 2000 as a class project.  This is probably one of my more "vintage" unfinished objects!  I had only been quilting for a short time then. I think I have improved quite a bit since then. I like having a reminder! This was made with Civil War fabrics for my DH. He thinks it's perfect! I truly love that man!

I think it was just the luck of the draw that the two UFOs left for 2016 were the ones that required the most time and labor during the months that have the most events and/or holidays!  In addition to trying to complete this challenge, I had a two week vacation, a birthday, an anniversary, Thanksgiving, Christmas and all the activities associated with them!  But I think working on these projects grounded me during that very hectic time.  

Lots of HSTs to cut and sew!  I don't make them this way anymore thanks to all the tutorials on the MSQC website.  I did do  a lot of chain piecing though! 

The top is completed and the backing is cut to size.  When the weather warms up, I will spray baste the sandwich in our garage so I have good ventilation and then machine quilt this puppy. 

This will make a nice couch quilt in our New Jersey dwelling!