▼

Monday, August 25, 2014

A Totally Useless August

So I've been busy this past moon cycle, have you? It's the New Moon and time to show off the ORTs you collected! I haven't cross stitched but I have been stitching...with the sewing machine. Quilting creates tons of ORTs, doesn't it? 


About this quilt:  I started this project on July 26th. Before this, I could sew a pillow and maybe follow a basic, very simple pattern. My sewing skills are minimal at best. When I decided to learn to quilt I took the free online quilting course offered by Google and YouTube. Just kidding a little but hey, it's free and there are awesome teachers out there willing to share their knowledge if you want to learn!

I found photos online of quilts I liked, followed the sources and discovered what they were called. The one I liked best was the Disappearing Nine Patch. It looked really hard but wonder of wonders it was considered a beginners quilt!

I Googled to find out how much fabric to buy, how to cut the squares, how to sew them together, how to cut them again and sew them back together.



I learned how to square up my blocks. 
Then I stitched them together.



I ended up with a finished top.
Used an entire spool of thread.



Well, not quite finished, it needed a border!



So I Googled to learn how to miter corners.



I think the hardest part now is managing this big wad of quilt!



But all this "learning" is worth it. As of yesterday, I have a completely finished quilt top! In ONE month!!! I am taking "lessons" now on sandwiching so I can actually start quilting this into a finished quilt. Keep in mind, I work full-time (40 hours) and we are often on the go with other things that need doing. Every bit of this was done in what little spare time I can squeeze in.


Oh just what I needed...another stash accumulating hobby!

I guess the awesome ORTs it creates evens things out.

=^..^=

We want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your August TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!
xox
at

34 comments:

  1. ShellyAugust 25, 2014 at 6:28:00 PM CDT

    Here's my rubbish post! Your quilt is looking good!
    http://shelly-anarizonastitcher.blogspot.com/2014/08/august-tusal.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. SaraAugust 25, 2014 at 7:33:00 PM CDT

    Your quilt looks great so far!

    Here's my ort post for the month.

    http://www.justanotherflamingo.blogspot.com/2014/08/august-tusal.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. gracieAugust 25, 2014 at 8:26:00 PM CDT

    I think it looks wonderful. I have wanted to try the same quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  4. JusieAugust 25, 2014 at 8:43:00 PM CDT

    My TUSAL http://jusiecreation.blogspot.com/2014/08/tusal-2014-8.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. IreneAugust 25, 2014 at 10:33:00 PM CDT

    Awesome quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  6. BluAugust 25, 2014 at 11:29:00 PM CDT

    I am in awe of your quilting skills!

    My TUSAL: http://therapy-by-thread.blogspot.ca/2014/08/august-tusal.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. ThoeriaAugust 26, 2014 at 1:31:00 AM CDT

    OH oh oh!!!! WOW!! Love the quilt!!! I'm doing the same at the moment (online googling etc to learn) but I've only ventured to a small baby doll quilt at this stage - nothing as impressive as this! Great going!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. RikeAugust 26, 2014 at 2:54:00 AM CDT

    Hi,
    Wow, your quilt looks very good!
    Here's my ort-Report:
    http://blog.handarbeitskorb.de/2014/08/25/tusal-25-08/

    Looking Forward to your next quilting Projects!
    Rike

    ReplyDelete
  9. JulieAugust 26, 2014 at 5:22:00 AM CDT

    Love the little bowl your quilty ORT's are in.
    WELL DONE... such a fabulous project and you've done such a wonderful job, its spectacular.

    ReplyDelete
  10. SueAugust 26, 2014 at 5:57:00 AM CDT

    You are doing an awesome job on your first quilt. It looks greaat!

    ReplyDelete
  11. CarolAugust 26, 2014 at 7:39:00 AM CDT

    Great looking quilt top, Sharon--I'm so impressed that you taught yourself AND did it while working full-time :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dani - tkdchickAugust 26, 2014 at 8:53:00 AM CDT

    Wow your quilt is lovely!!! I keep thinking I MIGHT try quilting but then my stitching keeps me busy enough!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. KaliAugust 26, 2014 at 9:29:00 AM CDT

    My scraps are up. Love your quilt, looking forward to the finished piece

    ReplyDelete
  14. BrendaAugust 26, 2014 at 9:39:00 AM CDT

    Here is mine ..... all together in the big jar. I will try to take a picture of what I just use up this next month in my little tin.

    http://time2xstitch.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  15. BeaAugust 26, 2014 at 12:25:00 PM CDT

    What a beautiful quilt top!

    ReplyDelete
  16. ceratoAugust 26, 2014 at 3:53:00 PM CDT

    Beautiful quilt. Muy august ORT report:
    http://cerato.wordpress.com/2014/08/25/tusal-agosto-4/

    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sandy In MontanaAugust 26, 2014 at 5:18:00 PM CDT

    What a beautiful quilt top. I posted my TUSAL today, just click on my name and it will take you there.

    Take Care & Happy Stitchin'
    Hugs, Sandy

    ReplyDelete
  18. SuzAugust 27, 2014 at 8:16:00 AM CDT

    I love your quilt top! It makes me want to get to a quilt that's been percolating in my head!

    Here's my TUSAL update: http://suzemo.blogspot.com/2014/08/august-tusal.html

    ReplyDelete
  19. SherylAugust 27, 2014 at 12:12:00 PM CDT

    Your quilt top is really lovely. My ORT report is at:
    http:/sewingafterseven.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Caitlin @ Naughts Cross StitchesAugust 27, 2014 at 9:08:00 PM CDT

    gorgeous looking quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Puzzled PickleAugust 27, 2014 at 10:15:00 PM CDT

    It's a good thing dearest Taco lives with me now, that bowl would be irresistible to a cat!

    ReplyDelete
  22. findingflapjackAugust 28, 2014 at 2:21:00 PM CDT

    Hey! I'm a bit late but here is my first ever TUSAL contribution: http://findingflapjack.blogspot.com/2014/08/totally-useless.html

    ReplyDelete
  23. LindsayAugust 28, 2014 at 5:16:00 PM CDT

    Love the quilt top

    My rubbish post is up http://purplepds.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/tusal-time.html

    ReplyDelete
  24. Jo who can't think of a clever nicknameAugust 29, 2014 at 1:51:00 PM CDT

    Nice quilt! It's good to have a different hobby.

    Here's my TUSAL
    http://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/tusal-of-folly.html

    ReplyDelete
  25. LindaAugust 29, 2014 at 7:06:00 PM CDT

    Lovely quilt Sharon. Here is my late ORT post.
    http://www.bengalcatlover10.blogspot.com/2014/08/august-smalls-sal-and-tusal.html

    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  26. UnknownAugust 30, 2014 at 3:45:00 AM CDT

    Well done on completing your first quilt Yes they use a huge amount of thread. Quite a shock if you've been used to embroidery skeins. Have just joined this so am a few days late with my first update but here it is
    http://stitchwitchhazel.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/blog-post.html
    Love reading all the posts and comments and seeing the photos. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousAugust 30, 2014 at 6:02:00 AM CDT

    Your quilt looks wonderful! I really need to finish my top. I'm such a procrastinator. Here is my TUSAL post for the month :)
    http://whitepicketfence.typepad.com/whitepicketfence/2014/08/tusal-august.html

    ReplyDelete
  28. ZhemchugAugust 30, 2014 at 8:31:00 AM CDT

    Hi! This is my ORTs! I forgot to leave the link, but I have posted my report in time )))
    http://zhemchuzhiny.blogspot.ru/2014/08/tusal-report_25.html

    ReplyDelete
  29. AnonymousAugust 30, 2014 at 10:28:00 PM CDT

    Your quilt looks great, are you going to hand quit it?? My mom quilts everything by hand I love my quilts so much!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. lekaeSeptember 1, 2014 at 4:43:00 AM CDT

    My little late TUSAL post http://otnoroktushkana.blogspot.ru/2014/09/tusal.html

    ReplyDelete
  31. Pam in ILSeptember 1, 2014 at 3:07:00 PM CDT

    No orts to show, but I wanted to congratulate you on finishing the quilt top and taking the time to learn how to sew a quilt. Can't wait to see the finished quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  32. MarieSeptember 9, 2014 at 4:21:00 PM CDT

    As a long time quilter I want to say, I am impressed! You did an amazing job on your first quilt top...love the design.
    If you are going to machine quilt it you will want to use a walking foot. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Lija BrokaSeptember 13, 2014 at 2:11:00 PM CDT

    Your quilt looks lovely! We can never have enough stash accumulating hobbies.

    http://stitchingincrossesandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/tusal-august-update.html

    ReplyDelete
  34. PatSeptember 21, 2014 at 6:04:00 AM CDT

    Looks great!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for purring on my blog.

Your comment will appear here after I have read it!