Spring Cleaning

I've spent the past moth going through years of accumulated patterns, fabric and ufos.  My first goal was to use up all the odds and ends of fabric on hand.  This has resulted in 11 quilt tops, including three ufs finished.  I did manage to quilt 3/4s of one top.

Now I'm moving on to all the blocks I have.  What to do with them.  I came up with a few things.

 

 

For some of the larger blocks, shopping bags seemed like a good idea.  You can use two blocks for these bags, front and back.  I sewed a border around each block and quilted them.  Then I quilted a strip to form the sides and bottom of the bag and sewed it around.  I made a lining for the bag to hide the seams.  After inserting the lining, I finished the top edge by inserting a handle on both sides of the bag and finishing it off with  matching strip of fabric.  It's a pretty easy project.

 

Pillows are also a great project for using up odd blocks.  Again, you can use two blocks making the pillow reversible.  Quilt two blocks and sew them together.  Insert a pillow form or fill with batting.  Close the opening.

 

 

 

I used a different technique for this pillow.  Reverse applique.  For this method select fabric for the top of the pillow and cut to size desired.  Trace your design onto the square.  Select fabrics in your choice of color and stack them under the top in the order of use.  Cut the fabric to roughly the shape of the pattern area. Number the layers as you add them.  My first  layer was turquoise for the upper wing area.  Layer 2 was the turquoise for the bottom area.  3 was the center turquoise color.  Then I add yellow as 4, orange as 5 and red as 6.   When you have placed all the fabrics. satin stitch around all the lines of the pattern using a matching or contrasting thread.  When the stitching is finished. using a very sharp pair of scissors, cut through the top to layer 1, cutting close to the stitching but not through it.  Now cut through the top layer and layer 1 to layer 2.  Cut around layer 2 as before.  Continue in this manner, cutting each layer to the deeper layer below it.  When all the layers have been cut out, your design emerges.  Finish as you would any pillow.



 

March Garden To Dos

Date of Last Frost:  May 15
Weeks to Last Frost:  10

Things to Do This Month

     Prepare ground when possible
     Continue pruning and pest control applications
     Remove mulches from early bulbs
     Clean up winter debris
     Plant or divide rhubarb
     Plant asparagus, strawberries, fruit trees and berry bushes
     Sow seeds of plants requiring 8 weeks to transplant size
     If not planted in the fall, plant garlic as soon as you can work the soil.

My Spring Planting Guide tells  me that I can set out boccoli, brusels sprouts, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, onion seeda, gaarden peas, shallots and turnips, 4 to 6 weeks before last frost date.  This means that I want to plant them indoors 4-6 weeks before their set out date to have plants large enough for transplant. 

I use jiffy pellets to sow the seeds, then place them inside a lidded plastic container.  These containers are used to package produce, cheese, meals, and my favorite is the one my supermarket uses for rotissorie chicken.  Once planted, I place them on top of the refrigerator, I get germination within five days.