*** UFO BUSTING ***
My word of the Year is to 'Be Intentional'
While mulling over our calendar for July, I decided that the focus will be on UFOs (UnFinished Objects). One thing I need to really focus on is how many of these projects that are started do I want to finish. And then I have to 'Intentionally' make that happen. July is the month!
I know a few of you do not have UFOs (what???) and I know a few of you would rather sew something new during the month. Luckily there are several sew along going on for July AND I'll be finishing my Scrappy Stars quilt. So if you want to sew a new scrap quilt you can make star blocks. I have you covered my friend!
In this article:
- UFO Busting
- Grandma's Kitchen last section is done
- Video of the Day
- Cross Stitch
- FREE Flag Patterns
** see all my Word of the year posts at https://blog.patsloan.com/word-of-the-year/
This is my first stack to tackle.
After these I will evaluate ones that need binding, and then ones that are tops. If by some chance I make decisions on ALL those in July, I will then look at projects in progress and make some decisions.
*** Grandma Kitchen Last section Photos***
And.. the last row of Grandma's Kitchen is DONE! This sat WAY too long on the pile
I have been showing you this during my June Videos (watch at https://www.youtube.com/user/PatSloan?sub_confirmation=1 ) I'll talk about it again as I sew the last row on and then have the hand work to cover the seam on the back.
Some up close pieces
I used my walking foot for all of this.
See all my posts about quilting this in a 'Quilt as You Go' method at this link
https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/quilt-your-own-quilt/
*** Cross Stitch Love ***
how in the world do you store your cross stitch?
I got tired of the folds so clipped them to my rolling assistants.This is my new page for all the cross stitch projects I'm doing https://patsloanquilts.com/cross-stitch-sew-alongs/
My Favorite Rolling Assistant https://amzn.to/3eknhI0
*** Video of the day ***
- Get your Morning mugs kit at https://shrsl.com/2ag9c
- coffee mug https://shrsl.com/2aikc
- here is a similar coffee mug wall hanging if you just want to buy a pattern at https://shrsl.com/2ak5j
DID YOU ENTER YET?
*** Make a Flag! ***
I have a 3 FREE Flag patterns today!
The quilt on the left is my Grand Ole Flag, The one on the right is Stars Stripes and Dots. It is free pattern and there is a kit available.
- DOWNLOAD Stars Stripes Dots Pattern https://shrsl.com/2brdz
- Stars Stripes Dots Kit, click for closeups https://shrsl.com/2brdx
The Wave Your Flag Table runner from the Fat Quarter shop
Download below
I made up one block of my Grand Ole Flag with my up coming Morrison Park Fabric.
Would you ask your favorite shop if they ordered my next fabric line? It is with Benartex and available for them to order. More details at https://www.benartex.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=sloan
Article continues below this Ad
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Download Pat Sloan Grand Ole Flag pattern
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Download Wave Your Flag table runner Pattern
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33 Responses
I think my favorite tip was what caused eye lashes when free motion quilting.
The best tip I learned was to practice practice and practice some more.
One thing I do to check and see if my foot and machine can handle the width of my stitch choice is to HAND turn the wheel to move the needle through the stitch and not let the machine do it. That way if it is too wide I can stop it and not break my needle.
Now, I roll my in progress cross stitch projects. Keeps them from getting fold lines.
And I agree with multiple comments, doing some kind of edging around the project, be it zig zag or serging helps immensely!
I also like to work with stiffer fabric, love Lori Holt’s 10 count, but find it too floppy for me to work with.
Different strokes for different folks, right???
When will I learn? I was looking for your daily video, only to realize AGAIN that it’s Fireside Monday night. See you tonight!
With so much yard work and spring cleaning I must have missed the walking foot and free motion quilting for the past nineteen days. I thought it was going to start with the new quilt along on June 24th. Is there any way for me to go back and see those lessons?
I serge my edges.
Pat, what is the name of the quilt that you are posed in front of? It is beautiful! I was just wondering if there is a pattern available.
Thank you.
I have been away from my machine for three weeks now and I am having major withdrawal symptoms!
Hope July gets me back to my sewing room!
I love the UFO’S for July. I have plenty to do! Thanks for all your inspiration.
I think next month should be joyous July! Fun days ahead Thanks for all you do to make us productive and happy.
Molly
I was thinking I should work on UFOs in July too. I enjoy your daily videos. Thank you so much!
I have been sewing on the Out West quilt this week and finally caught up today. I love this pattern and the challenge it is giving me. I appreciate the encouragement to grow my skills. I made a Happy Dance with the intention of FM and Walking Foot. The WF part is finished and am ready to add FM on the petals. Thanks for all of the free patterns as well.
I zigzag my cross stitch as tape deterioates over time and has acid that is not good for cotton cloth.
I love the way I can quilt straight stitches wit a walking foot. I also love the crunching or fan folding for quilting instead of rolling.
Love all your chats
WooHoo for UFOs in July. I have more than I thought, so this will be perfect. Back when I did cross-stitch, I kept my projects in progress rolled. No folds to deal with, and I put a pin in to hold it together, and kept them upright in a small basket. Like quilting I always had more than one going at a time. Also used this storage method for my embroidery projects. Thanks so much for keeping all of us challenged, connected, and creative.
July – UFO wonderful. I enjoy your daily chats so much! Thank you for FM June, looking forward to July with you.
You are the BEST.
Hi All,
Regarding crushing the stitching in your cross stitch,
when need to iron you iron on top of a “fat ” towel
Cross stitch from reverse side. You might want to lightly
mist.
Hope this helps
Antje
You have encouraged my confidence level. You are right. With planning and practice, i am improving. I was unable to sew along on chlldhood games. I have selected fabrics from my stash. I am planning to give qayg another chance. I am ready fot the Jolly bar project. I rec’d my book found my jolly bars (farmhouse) from moda in the inspiration you kept giving to slowly clean up, refold, give away, etc.
until we begin tha sew along later this month i will work on the childhood games. Thank you, Pat Sloan. And Happy belated Birthday to Gregg.
I am a “No” on Free Motion Quilting. I never even got the FM Foot attached. Then when I read in the posts the one that broke her needle, I stopped–no FMQ. I only have one eye.
I am doing walking foot quilting. Still working on the bringing up the thread and locking a stitch at the end. If it is just moving from the beginning and ending, I am good. I can now do serpentine stitch and vary the length and width. I don’t like the visibility of my walking foot. I hate the plastic and am trying not to watch the needle.
I don’t know how wide I can move in a walking foot without breaking a needle. I keep wondering if my machine and foot know and won’t let me mess this important width up if I experiment such as doing zig zag with a walking foot and the width of the serpentine.
I have done orange peel with the walking foot this month and it looks pretty good.
So I guess it is a yes and no. I still hope to master FMQ.
And I love the QAYG you linked us to and want to try this. I have bookmarked to go back and slowly read the process. Your Kitchen Quilt looks great.
The quilting on Grandmas Kitchen is beautiful! Way to go! I was practicing fmq today but have one VIP project I want to straight line quilt. You inspired me to get going!!!!
Sew excited for July. Too many UFOs.
Roll up your finished cross stitch projects and they will stay nice until you frame them.
I zig zag around the edges as tapes leave a sticky residue. I roll my work with the working side inside when I’m not sewing it as this helps to keep it a bit cleaner.
I zig zag around the edges as tapes leave a sticky residue. I roll my work with the working side inside when I’m not sewing it as this helps to keep it a bit cleaner.
Suggestion; as I look at your metal 3 tier cart with projects hanging, you could hold your cross stitch project with a couple of strong magnets. Then you don’t use the clips or have to roll the edge. Make sure magnet metal is clean. Or use syran wrap over metal piece.
What a great storage idea, Lois. Thanks for sharing.
Don’t use masking tape on the edge of your cross stitch unless you have a lot of extra fabric, bc you have to cut the tape off to lace the piece. Instead, serge all around the fabric.
Love the idea of UFO July, a month dedicated to finishing projects. Watching your video on quilting Grandmas Kitchen has given me the confidence to complete the solstice quilt that i decided to devide and quilt in sections. The only sad part is I go back to work on the 9th to my seasonal job. Thank you Pat
To store in-progress or completed-but-not-yet-framed cross-stitch pieces, use a piece of a pool noodle and roll them around. That way, you don’t have those creases that are so difficult to iron out without crushing the stitching.
I never realized how creative you could be with a walking foot. Beautiful quilting
i store the ones that im working in paper towel rolls. this keeps them clean and crease free. i print what is in them so i can differentate. i have collecting sal, blooming in one and feels like home in one and a dragon that is blended needle cross stitch in another. they can stay near my chair in the living room with their floss in separate containers just handy to work on while watching tv en the evening.
I’m happy to have just found you on FB and now emails. I learned a lot about free motion quilting and how to determine thread tension problems. Also I like your tip to “fan” large quilts, rather than roll them when quilting.
A suggestion for your cross stitch project. Place a strip of masking tape all around the edges to keep the fabric from unraveling. Apply the tape the way you would binding to a quilt. Then the threads on the edges won’t be pulled or unraveled by accident as you handle your work. Lovely work you’ve done!