Wyoming Breezes

yardage and fat quarters donated by Anne D from Minnesota to make Quilts of Valor February 2023 Anne D. sent beautiful fabric that I can use in making more QOV. Some of the pieces will make wonderful frames and borders for the quilts.  Thank you, Anne for your generous donation. 

Stars & Bars 60 x 74 inches Quilt of Valor #232 Stars & Bars is another quilt made with the Town Square pattern - also made with backing scraps. A couple of the large blocks are pieced, but again, it's difficult to tell because the fabric is so busy.  I usually purchase patriotic fabrics for backings that are busy because they tend to go on sale more frequently than the other quilting fabrics.

 backing fabric (56 yards) for fourteen QOV January 2023 Every Quilt of Valor I make requires at least four yards of backing fabric. I try to keep the QOV that I make about the same size, so I don't need to make a special purchase when a backing is needed.  Near the end of January my backing stash was depleted which required restocking. I found a fabulous online sale at JoAnn Fabrics. The twenty-eight yards of the fabric I purchased there was $3 a yard: it was previously marked $12 a yard. The other lengths of fabric and the two panels were purchased at Quilted Twins for $5.99 a yard. Overall, I now have enough fabric to back fourteen Quilts of Valor, and I paid an average of $4.50 a yard.  I'm thrilled to have found such a great deal.

Even with all the sewing that's been happening recently, I'm making progress on another scrappy Silver Lining hat. Most of the knitting is being done at night while watching movies on the tubi app. I've used six different sock yarn scraps so far on this hat, and I like the results. 

This photo from Simply Sock Yarn 's Facebook page made me laugh out loud. 

Last week I posted about playing binding chicken on a Quilt of Valor and thought the 12 inches was close, but when adding the final borders to Liberty & Justice (yesterday's post) I had a REAL squeaker!  I was using the final pieces of the blue backing scraps to make Liberty & Justice, and when I trimmed off the excess fabric on the top and bottom borders, I had exactly a half inch of fabric on each strip -- much too close! The last two QOV have literally utilized the last bits of some fabrics, and I couldn't be happier. 

Liberty and Justice 60 x 74 inches Quilt of Valor #231 Liberty & Justice is another QOV made using the Town Square pattern and backing scraps. The lighter fabric was a donation from Judy J in Texas. I appreciate the fabric donations I receive from quilters who are culling their stash. Judy's fabric was just the right fabric to complement the other fabrics in this quilt. No doubt you'll see several QOV posts in the near future: I'm taking advantage of my recharged quilting mojo.  

Breezy 60 x 74 inches Quilt of Valor #230 Breezy was made using scraps from the backings (the focus fabric and the blue fabrics) of previous QOV. The Town Square pattern from Fabric Cafe requires a total of three yards and is ideal for large focus fabrics. My version requires more than three yards of fabric as I needed to alter the borders to meet QOV size requirements. The two smaller frames were cut at 2.5 inches, and the outer border at 5 inches.  The pattern came together quickly and was perfect for using the red, white, and blue fabric. The fabric is so busy that it is nearly impossible to see that several of the big blocks are pieced.  I'm trying to use the smaller cuts of fabric that I have in my stash, and you'll see in upcoming posts that the Town Square pattern is helping me do that.  Breezy was awarded in Laramie, Wyoming November 10, 2023

adding binding to a Quilt of Valor As I neared the starting point, I was worried I wouldn’t have enough binding to finish the quilt, and I knew I didn’t have anymore of the blue fabric. I’ve played “yarn chicken” on some knitting projects, but this is the first time I played “binding chicken.” In the end, I had 12” of remaining binding, but even that was much closer than I like. 

Twinkle 62 x 74 inches Quilt of Valor #229   Twinkle was made with two charm packs and some backing scraps from previous QOV. The pattern was designed by Tricia Lynn Maloney - Orphan Quilt Designs for Villa Rosa Designs.  I added the blue top and bottom borders to meet the QOV size requirements.  The bottom right block was inadvertently turned when I sewed the row together. I noticed the error when I took the photo. I’m going to leave it as a “design element.” Update - November 2024 awarded to Rueben C. Eppson Center presentation 

String Orchestra Laramie High School students January 2023 Last Wednesday, one of the three orchestras at Laramie High School performed for a large group of seniors at the Eppson Center. Nearly all of the students have been playing string instruments since they were very young. It was a delight to hear them perform. 

close up of a Twinkle block shown with sashing February 2023 Here’s a sneak peek of the blocks I was sewing last week. The blocks are large (16.5 inches) and fun to make. 

working on a new QOV January 2023 After I finished binding the two Quilts of Valor the longarmer returned, I started working on a kit I prepared last year. This new QOV is being made from two charm packs donated by Judy J. in July 2022  and backing scraps from other QOV.  I using a pattern that is new to me for this quilt, and so far it’s been a pleasure to sew.  My sewing mojo seems to have returned after a long hiatus. 

Two Quilts of Valor were recently returned by a volunteer longarmer, and I set to work adding the bindings and labels. I sew the binding on the backside before flipping it to the front. I press the binding and secure it with clips so it’s easier to machine stitch the binding into place.  The final step is to launder the quilts with color catchers. Frequently, it’s the red dyes that are captured, but blue fabric can also release dye.  Once the quilts are removed from the dryer, I allow them to air dry for a couple of days before preparing them for shipping to the coordinator who awards the quilts to the veterans. 

Two empty 3000 yard spools amounted to the  thread used in 2022: full spool for comparison I emptied only two spools/cones of thread in 2022, but one of the spools was new and held 3,000 yards of thread and the other had about half or 1,500 yards. The empty spools/cones allowed me to make fourteen  Quilts of Valor  and some small projects for myself and friends as well as do some mending.  It’s interesting to compare my thread usage over the years.               2021 spools                          2020 spools                2019 spools                2018 spools              2017 spools On Wednesday, I cleaned and oiled the older sewing machine and swapped it with the one I normally take to retreats. I like to use each of them similar amounts of time...

Glory 59 x 74 inches Quilt of Valor #228 Glory started with a panel designed by Kathy Schmitz and donated by Karen M.  in July. I used the Bear Sees Colors pattern by Deborah Stanley and altered the borders to meet the QOV size requirements. The pattern works up quickly, but the center stalled on my design wall for over a month before I was motivated to add the borders. I’ve used this pattern a couple of times and have been pleased with the results each time. 

Our hostess, Sue welcomes everyone to the Noon Year’s Eve celebration  Sue discovered Noon Year’s Eve during the early days of the pandemic, and this year she and her husband hosted the celebration in their apartment for ten people. They provided party hats, noise makers, sparkling cider, and a light lunch of soup and sandwiches.  We sang Auld Lang Syne and toasted the new year and friendships. We even celebrated a special birthday - Marilyn, seated to Sue’s right and played a game once the dishes were washed.  Sue’s invitation  I’d never heard of Noon Year’s Eve, but a quick online search revealed it is popular, especially as a way for children to join in the holiday festivities. I’ll admit it was a fun way to usher in the new year. 

Black-Eyed peas for good luck January 2023

two bowl cozies  December 2022 Two friends came over on Monday, and we worked on a puzzle for a few hours. Pat commented on the bowl cozies I have next to the microwave and said she bought two at a recent holiday bazaar. Sue said, “I wish I had some.” I decided to make a set for Sue and her husband. It didn’t take long yesterday to sew the cozies, and I’ll give them to her this afternoon at dominoes.  Once in a while, wishes should come true! 

Every time a hand  reaches out  to help another -  that is Christmas every time someone  puts conflict aside and strives for understanding - that is Christmas every time people forget their differences and realize their love for each other - that is Christmas