My Stitchy March

 We still have lots of snow but we have also been having a lot of sunny weather and finally temperatures are above freezing during the day. Looks like break-up is here!!! 

March started with a three-day quilt retreat. My retreat project was a panel project. I mentioned in a recent post I designed my own pattern around a patriotic panel in my stash. My design features 50 small stars for the 50 states. 

My design, "Flying Colors," features a Northcott fabric line, "Patriot," from a couple of years ago. It's a very simple design that lets the fabric do all the work. The quilt top is 55 x 73-inches.

I don't know why I am so compelled to work with panels lately...I think it's the color saturation.

 I loved a polar bear panel so much...I made a second quilt with it.

This was made from the pattern, "Awesome Sky," by Bound to be Quilting. A great pattern...very easy steps to create the framing around the panel.

And I stitched up a third quilt top made with a panel...actually two panels. These Robert Kaufman Fabrics' panels are part of their, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," fabric line that has been around for a few years and is still in production. The companion fabrics change a little every year. The pattern for combining these two panels is a free one on the Robert Kaufman Fabrics' website, "Christmas Mischief." I put this together in a couple of afternoons. 

I also decided to start a quilt project I have been collecting colorful wool fabrics for over a few years, "Cottontail Cottage," from Bunny Hill Designs.

I made a Bunny Hill Design many years ago and did the appliques in wool, "Henrietta Whiskers."

I love the look of these wool appliques and it was so much easier to stitch than needle turn applique or fusible web applique.

I made all the basic blocks out of batik fabrics in my stash.

I am hopeful I will stay on task with this quilt top and get the wool appliques started soon. I am planning to glue them in place and probably stitch down by machine.

I didn't do any quilting in  March...because I went longarm shopping and bought one that will be delivered this week. My aging body is calling to me so I am entering a new phase of computerized digital quilting. I'm looking forward to learning a new skill and hopefully getting all of my beautiful tops quilted instead of stacked on a shelf.