I got a lot of sewing time in this week. It was mostly done in small spurts of squeezed in time but I’ll take anything I get. I’m really on a push to finish up a few of these projects.
When I left you last Monday, this was the progress on my Bitcoin quilt.
Then on Tuesday, I told you that I put in a big push and got the quilt top this far.
The plan was to just add a row per day but then Tuesday night I said, “Heck with that plan, I’m finishing it.” So after work, I went to the sewing room and an hour later, it was completely done.
Here it is…
It’s done but for now, just in a pile waiting for the time for me to iron it!
This is something I will save until one of my kids call or nap time for my childcare kids rolls around.
From there as long as I was on a roll I forged ahead with my Show Off quilt. This is a free Quilted Twins pattern made with 100% cotton recycled shirts.  Here is a link to the free pattern. I started sewing everything into rows.
The next morning I got up early and sewed on this then too. By the time I was ready to start childcare I had everything sewn into strips.
Over nap time, I started pinning.
I was on a roll with this and REALLY wanted to get the top together and push for a finish. I was so wanting to check a UFO off the list.
Here it is all into a top…but is it?? Do you want to chime in with opinions on this?
Below is the original pattern.  I am making this as a wedding present for a gal that did a lot of decorating that is Vintage Farmhouse style.
I got the center together. I went to add the borders and then stopped. I love the scrappy borders…but, the quilt tops kind of goes from looking pretty good as a Vintage Farmhouse quilt to looking more like a utility quilt by adding the borders…don’t you think??
I really think I am going to leave the quilt alone and not add the borders. Without them, the top looks more clean and crisp…more Vintage Farmhouse like…right?? Chime in and let me know what you think.
I didn’t work a lot on Garlic Knots. All of my energy went into getting Bitcoin and Show Off to completion. That didn’t mean I completely ignored Garlic Knots. I started sewing border pieces as a leader and enders. It’s not a lot of progress but that’s totally okay.
I got all of one of the border units sewn and then one night while supper was cooking I ironed them all.
Here they are ready to go into the quilt.
My goal is always to simply add a little progress…and I did that.
Somehow in the mix, I pulled this out. This was a project Kelli started when she first started sewing. The pieces aren’t the same sizes. She did some newbie errors long ago when she first started quilting. Rather than tossing it, I decided it was the perfect nap time project for me. The hourglass blocks need to be taken apart. Then ironed. Then they need to be trimmed and put back together.
Ripping these apart over naptime is the PERFECT project. No concentration is required. I did get a start on taking them apart. These have no deadline or hurry…at least not yet.
The other project I worked on was machine quilting my batik charm square quilt. I worked on it on Saturday…
I used my hook and point motif.
I did a video about it. You can watch it if you’d like.
My sewing room is on the second floor but I have a window that looks out over the river. I had told you that there was flooding in our town. Read HERE if you missed that.
I think I was a little anxious about it all and then had trouble concentrating on the quilt. It was more work than fun. I plugged along anyway. I was so relieved when Karl came and took me out for supper so I had a reason to quit.
Sunday I got up and finished the quilt. It still needs binding before it’s an official finish.
I’m pretty happy with all I accomplished this week. As I said, I didn’t have a lot of uninterrupted time so I was really amazed by how much I got done.
A flooding update. Everything is good now. There are damaged trees, lawns and roads all over but gradually everything will get better. My garden is okay. Some of my tomatoes ended up with a little rot as they sat in water but it’s part of gardening. Thank you for the kind thoughts and prayers that were sent our way. It’s much appreciated.
Wow, you’ve certainly been busy. I like your Show-Off quilt very much. What a great use for shirting fabric. I personally love scrappy borders and don’t think it would lose its farmhouse appeal with a border. However, I would agree that it already looks finished without the border and it does have a clean and crisp look to it. Either way, the recipient of that gift is going to be blessed with a fantastic quilt and labor of love.
I love the quilt as is. For me the scrappy border is too busy for the simplicity of the quilt. What a super wedding gift. Truly a gift from the heart.
I would love to see what a solid border would look like on the show-off quilt. I have several pieces of shirting yardage and picture that as a frame for your beautiful top. It is striking as is though! The pieced border looks too busy to me. Looking forward to seeing what you decide. Another lovely problem to have, right?
I think a solid border would frame the quilt, and be unobtrusive at the same time. Trust your eye and your instincts!
For me it would need a border to really look “finished.” The outside edge sashing units are too narrow in relation to the “blocks” to serve as a border–going to look like you just got bored and quit. Even a solid rather than a pieced border would finish it nicely. Also once you put the binding on, it will make the outside/sashing border look even smaller.
You have been extremely busy! I am jealous. The “Show Off” quilt is beautiful the way it is. I think the original, scrappy, binding takes beauty away from the quilt. Either leave it like it is or try a solid for a border.
I agree with Bonnie, I’d kind of like to see the quilt with a simple border for comparison. Such lovely projects in your queue! I was away from the blog for a few days so I just caught up on the rain post. Wow! That was some crazy rainfall you had. I had no idea you can see the river from your house, and I don’t think you’ve shown your basement lol. Glad you got through okay. Your townsfolk seem fabulous!
I like your quilt as is, very crisp looking. I’m definitely not a shirt quilt or Farmhouse person when it comes to quilting, but I’ve always liked your quilts. Use your own judgement, it always seems to be on target.
I vote no border. I love the look without a border.
My 2 cents – I like the Show Off quilt without a border on it. The sashing creates the border and adding anything else takes away from the simplicity of the design. Sometimes as quilters we need to stop trying to put everything in a box. lol
I agree with you…the piano key border works against the quilt. How about a triple border of muslin, strips of plaid, another muslin, and a binding of one darker fabric reminiscent of a color that reads dominant in the top? Food for thought! Glad water situation is improving!
I agree- no border on Show Off. It shines without the border!
Wow, as usual you have gotten much done, in spite of the flooding and all. I like your Show-off Quilt and I like it better without the border. If you want to add a border, I would think just a small plain one would look okay. Very pretty as it.
Looking at your show off quilt I saw 4 or 5 squares together mostly the same color lower left hand corner. It might be my phone doesn’t show the variations of color. All over though that is a really cool quilt. Your borders look pretty on the ironing board. It will be Interesting to see the hindered quilt. So glad things are clearing up after your unexpected flood.
I think your instincts are correct. It’s a great quilt.
Looks finished to me. I love the quilt without the border. The scrappy border changes the feel of the quilt as you said Jo.
I think the quilt looks best without the border. I think a solid border would look great; however, it would be impossible to get enough shirting of one color to do a border.
A medium tone solid-ish border maybe?
Lovely either way!
I like the quilt as is, with no borders. And I’m so glad the flooding was minimal there. Praying for the folks in Louisiana and in the path of Ida!
Love the scrappy quilts.to me they are the true quilts. Enjoy .
What a wonderfully bus!lessing to youy week! B
I would vote no border – it’s perfect the way it is.
What a lot of work you got done last week, Jo! Glad to hear the flood waters are receding and you all were safe.
No border! Perfect as is.
These are beautiful quilts. I would like the Show Off quilt with or without borders. I don’t think the scrappy border makes it look like a utility quilt. My thinking is that when a quilt is on the bed, you don’t see it the same way you do when the whole quilt is laid out flat because you don’t see all four borders and the center at the same time. At most, you see one border and the center. That Bitcoin is gorgeous!! So glad your town is recovering from the influx of all the water.
Love your quilts. My goodness you have been a very busy lady. You make me feel like I have done nothing all week. I’m just wishing I had a tiny bit of your energy.
The quilt in question is pretty as it is, however I do agree with some of the others that a solid border would frame the quilt.
Have a pleasant week.
I would not do a border–it looks great just the way it is. I think any border would take away from the clean design.
I always rec’d at least one email per day and for the last week, none any idea why. I find that I have to search on line for Kramer family news.
If you get the blog posts through email you might have to unsubscribe and then resubscribe.
I agree with you, I think it looks lovely without the added pieced border. I do, however, think it looks kind of small at it’s current stage, so if it was mine, I’d probably have to add to it some other way-more blocks or plain borders. It is certainly a pretty quilt at the moment, so anything you do will enhance it for the lucky newlyweds! Hugs,
I will be cutting some of dad’s shirts to make this one. Pretty sure I downloaded it awhile ago, but now I have the shirts to do it. Thanks for the inspiration!
That would be a great way to honor him.
I think a scrappy, dark-colored binding will finish this off perfectly. Very nice!
Have to go with no border. Really like the quilt.
I really like this quilt. I’m going to have to see if I have enough shirts to make one.
I agree with you. I think leaving off the pieced border for a farmhouse chic look would suit it best. Whether you add other borders or not, the quilt will make a great gift!
I think you are correct, that particular border is for a quilt in the future. This lovely quilt needs either no border or a different kind of border. It certainly is a motivating quilt to make!
also – good job on the bitcoin! Like seeing all the bitcoins that are completed, but matching that many seams is terrifying!
Jo, I no longer see your post. THis is the last day that we are able to see your blog. What can I do to correct this?
Hi Jane. I am wondering- Do you see the blog through email or Blog Lovin. Sometimes you need to unsubscribe and then resubscribe. If that doesn’t work, you can always find it directly at http://www.joscountryjunction.com. I’ve had new posts up every day…morning and night since then so I’m not sure. You can follow Jo’s Country Junction on Facebook too. That will put the posts into your feed.