Sand and suntan lotion and a trip far from home do not lend themselves to hand quilting on a big unwieldy project.
And that is why hand quilters always need a portable project to tote along!
While my women’s rights quilt languishes at home, cold and alone, my fusion squares are enjoying a vacay.
And they are proliferating. At last report, I had finished 54 of these 5-inch squares. I have now finished 97, plus I have 12 more on this trip with me.
I have woven in all the crocheted ends and blocked the crochet trim on all the squares.
I am feeling like this project might be reaching its logical next step—the crocheting together of all ochocino-neuve-jillions of squares into one big square, to be known as THE Fusion Quilt.
I have so many gorgeous bits–some are subtle, some are sophisticated, some are splashy, some are very “loving hands at home.” I love them all.
Does this mean I have used up all the scraps of vintage prettiness that spawned the project?
Not, it does not.
I have dozens more 5-inch squares that may, one day, be incorporated into another quilt.
But, for now, I’m going to wash the suntan lotion off my hands, stick my feet in the white sand, and sew in the sun. And get ready to finish this project!
This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.
Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan, Nanette, Edith, Sharon, Karrin, and Gretchen
Love Those "Hands at Home" 
Sun and sand? Sounds like you have escaped Winter for a little while. What a perfect project to take with you…..although many people would have just settled for a book!
We did escape winter . . . and now we’re back to it. 😦 I had plenty of time for sewing *and* reading–it was a very relaxing week!
I so love this project of yours – it is the epitome of Kerrycan-dom I think. How exciting that a) you are vacationing in the sun and b) coming towards the final stages. I can’t wait to see it completed – it will be a masterpiece and family heirloom for ages to come.
Pauline, I couldn’t say it better. I adore this project.
Thanks, my dear! Pauline does have a way with words, doesn’t she?!
I agree, I couldn’t have said it better. I LOVE this!
“Kerrycan-dom” –I LIKE that!! Makes it sound like a special place, for sure. I do love this project and finishing it will be bittersweet but I feel the time is now . . .
Sun? Sand? Blue ocean? Sounds heavenly! And the squares are lovely, too!
It was heavenly–Siesta Key, FL. It was a very good time for a break from endless winter . . .
Oh, I envy you with the freedom to leave the endless cold gray, even for a short time! Sadly, this is my busy work season. Ugh!
Clever of you to take a sand colored project to the beach. I hope you have fun arranging and rearranging your squares before you join them.
I have people telling me I’m crazy, not to have been crocheting the squares together as I’ve gone along. But I definitely want that fun of arranging them!
This is very interesting. My wife has Alzheimer’s. Last year she and I made a 68 block quilt. She embroidered each block and since our home is small we did quilt-as-we went. She’s past being able to participate, but I’m still interested. Your post has encouraged me to give it a shot with thread and needle. Thanks for such a fine post.
Oh, I do hope you finish what the two of you started! It sounds like a beautiful project, on every level, and I would hope it would give you comfort every time you touched the quilt.
Lovely, lovely! Have fun in the sun!
Oh, we did! But, jeez, it’s hard to come back . . .
I bet!
Gorgeous gorgeous!! We hand quilters really know how to relax in the sun:). I can’t think of a better way to relax. Lucky you😊❤️
We felt very lucky, to have this break away from the snow and cold. I’d be frantic, though, if I didn’t have a little something along to work on!
These are so charming. Each one is so precious! I absolutely love this project along with the sun, sand and surf getaway! Enjoy!
That’s how I feel about the squares–they all seem like little gems to me. I hope they play well together, when it comes time to crochet them into one big throw.
Good for you…you are missing some more miserable weather up here.
Of all of your projects, I think I like this fusion quilt the most. Using all those bits of beautiful vintage fabric and creating one lovely and useful quilt really appeals to me. I know your finished project will be lovely.
I have to admit, it was hard to come back to this northern weather. We were lucky to have that time away. I really, really like this project, too–it just seems right to me.
I love all those squares. I love the sun on the sea in that picture even more. Enjoy your sand, sea and sewing!
It was a beautiful week in Florida–lots of sun and our condo was right on the beach. Lucky us . . . but I’m home now, in the snow . . .
The squares are so refreshing and calming to look at, and I really love the effect of the crochet framing them. I hope you have a lovely vacation!
I like the crochet a lot, even though I don’t much enjoy crocheting! It seems just right for this project. And we did have a lovely time away–back in the real world now, though. Sigh.
This is going to be so gorgeous. Have fun in the sun…it sounds heavenly! We were -13 this morning…😬
It was really nice to have that warm break. We did it mostly for my mom, who misses Florida terrible, now that she has to live up north again. But we all benefitted from the trip!
Sounds like a wonderful time! We got above freezing yesterday and it was WONDERFUL!
Sun, sand AND these gorgeous squares – you go girl! I hope you are having a wonderful break from the cold. But, mostly, I want you to know I am in awe of this project. Each one of these squares expresses its unique beauty and history. It is going to be an amazing finished project. Thank you for allowing us to see some of the finished squares which are basically small examples of our history. Wonderful, absolutely wonderful.
You express, so well, the reason I’ve been loving this project! Just think how many women’s hands it took to make it! We’ve all worked together well . . . Thanks, Judy.
I can hardly wait to see this even part way done. It’s going to be stunning.
Thanks, Marlene! I have no idea how long it’s going to take me, to crochet all those squares together. I sure wish I enjoyed crocheting more . . . 😉
Enjoy your holiday, and the sun. I’d have said enjoy your break, but seemingly, you’re not having one…..
Oh, I had a good break! A little sewing only broke up long stretches of doing nothing but sitting in the sun and staring into space . . .
D > Sun, sea and sewing up squares!
That pretty much covers it! It was a fine combination . . .
The lovely thing about handwork you take along on a sunshine trip is that no-one is expecting a tremendous amount of progress (except you yourself, perhaps). A small snooze, a break to enjoy a drink or a book, and then back to busy hands away from home. It’s a pretty summery project, perfect for a winter holiday in the sun.
The way you described that, it’s as if you were there, watching me! I didn’t make that much progress but “many drops will turn the mill.” And I’m in no hurry to finish this project really. I like it so much.
The squares are beautiful. I like how you have small projects to do when traveling.
Thanks, Sheryl. The small, easy projects really work for me–I hate having too much “down time.”
These are gorgeous! And nicely portable. Have a great holiday and soak up that sun!
Thanks, Sandra! It was a wonderful holiday–I wish I could’ve brought the sun home with me!
What an amazing feat! Congrats, dear Kerry. And enjoy the vacay!
It’s been an excellent project for me. And the vacay was super!
What a neat project to work on! Pretty!
Thanks–it’s a project perfectly suited to my interests!
Oh I love this project, and remember loving it the last time you wrote about it, when it inspired me then, as it does now, to think about doing something similar with my wedding dress. Thanks so much for the reminder and for sharing such great pictures of your beautiful work. 🙂
Yes, yes! It would be such a great approach for wedding fabric, or fabric from many special occasions and outfits.
You made me feel sorry for your women’s rights quilt, all lonely and sad!
I am so pleased you have got away from the cold and snow and instead of working on your tan you are working on your fusion quilt! It is going to be so lovely when it’s finished. I can imagine visitors to your home not being able to peel themselves away from it, admiring each and every square and telling themselves stories about them!
I will spend time with the women’s rights quilt today–I hope it will forgive me! (My cats are still punishing me for going away and leaving them.) It’s the stories behind each of those little squares that I’ve enjoyed about this project. Lots of room for interesting imaginings!
Cats have long memories and seem to enjoy punishing their owners!
how wonderful that you are enjoying the sun – away from the winter that doesn’t want to end. Your squares are absolutely wonderful, the quilt is going to be priceless.
Thanks, Jean! I’m back home now and we’re having this really icky wintry mix of precipitation . . . I need to go look at some photos from the trip, I think.
Happy tanning and… wow, can’t wait to see all those different, unique squares crocheted together!
I’m more of a burner than a tanner, I’m afraid, but I managed to get a little color! I have to admit, the crocheting together of all those squares is kind of daunting . . .
Hands away from home! This quilt project is just brilliant. Imagine the many hands that made and held those squares. Soak up the sun and water to bring home with you.
I wish I could’ve brought the sun home with me–it’s nasty here right now, although I think the weather is supposed to get a little better this week–maybe the sap will start to run! I love thinking about the women who worked on this project before I got to it, by making all those little bits of prettiness.
Glorious! I think you may be a genius. Do you mind if I reblog this post?
I’d be honored!
The quilt will be very beautiful, Kerry!
I think it’ll be very pretty–and have a lot of meaning for me, too!
Kerry, as all have said before, this is a wonderfully-creative, beautifully crafted and stunning piece of work. I’m excited to see you bring all the squares together. What a treasure.
I’m sort of nervous about crocheting them all together–what if it doesn’t really work?! What if it looks like a big old hodgepodge? Need to take a deep, cleansing breath . . .
It’s going to look great. You might have to experiment with the stitch you use (tight, loose, in between), but if anyone is up for the challenge it’s you.
PS I’m glad you got a bit of respite from the bitter winter temps. Spring is surely on the way…any day now.
It was lovely to get away. We’re home now, and it’s cold . . .
It’s April 1st now. Are you finally in a thaw, Kerry?
Yes, sort of. Most of the snow is gone but our bay is still completely frozen and the ice fishermen are out there, testing their luck. Spring comes slowly here . . . but come, it will.
A little get-away refreshes and inspires one I think. Although, the completion of your women’s rights quilt is anticipated; this fusion quilt has caught my heart. Every bit and piece has a story. Thanks for sharing the boardwalk photo – I feel the sunny warmth! 🙂
The fusion quilt is close to my heart, too–all those women who contributed to it! In fact, I think it’s kind of cool that both quilts I’m working on celebrate women’s words and work!
Those blocks are gorgeous,looking forward to seeing them all together! So glad you got to enjoy some sun and sand, hoping the cold doesn’t last so long this spring for y’all up north.
It was really nice to go to the beach for a week! Hard to come home, though–I think spring is coming very late this year. The maple syrup producers are waiting and waiting for the sap to flow . . .
This looks amazing! Can’t wait to see it all come together!
Thank you! It’s been a long process–I, too, would like to see it done! 😉