Rose Colored Basketweave in Progress

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Something positive, rose colored or with glasses was the directive for this Rose Colored Glasses blog hop. I honestly struggled with this a bit and then found a pathway just when….BAM!!. Life got in the way of my completing my project.

Last week, one of my boys ended up in an ambulance with severe pain. My hubby took him and after a few hours with the pain subsiding, the ER doc sent them home. Naturally, 3am the same night, another ambulance had to bring him back. This time I drove along in my car and “tried” driving behind the ambulance on the completely empty and eerie streets. After finally running a CTscan, my son with agonizing pain was diagnosed with a kidney stone. He was so incredibly sick (I’ll spare you the details) and was thankfully admitted to the hospital. A day later, the stone had passed and he was a bit more stable. When discharged, my hubby went to bring him home only to discover that the Volvo getaway car wouldn’t start! Finally back to work, I had to leave to bring them both home. Two days later, after things settled a bit, I waited 2.5 hrs at the hospital for AAA to come and tow the stalled car to the dealer. Luckily my son is feeling a bit better each day. He has slowly been resuming activity. Sunday night our family went out to a fancy Mother’s Day dinner, which was just what I needed! (My son who is healing even came out with us and ate his first real meal.)

You know the saying, “Mama said they’ll be days like this,” and she was right!!!

Now I had begun making something “rose colored” for my Mom, but time got away from me. My Mom plays a game twice a week called Mahjong and it necessitates a stack of quarters plus a game card. She has been asking me for a bag to replace the old one I customized for her a few years ago. This new bag is a spiffed up replica…but it’s not quite done yet. Here are the plans I can show you.

For a little fun on her bag, I wanted a paper pieced design. I spent $1.99 on Etsy for a Basketweave Foundation Paper Piecing Template from middenmadeinmichllc. It is probably meant for quilt borders but I love it for this application. The inexpensive pattern comes with 17 sizes in differing widths. I found the 2.5″ width to be perfect. (Heads up though, this pattern isn’t for you if you’ve never done FPP before. I recommend this ONLY if you are experienced in FPP.) I admit that this looked like a braid or herringbone pattern to me, but I’m not great at naming these things. Whatever they call it, this pattern is easy, fun and will add a nice little touch.

I jumped into trying the pattern using one of the larger basketweave sizes. I used lots of pink scraps but didn’t like the look or the size. Look at the picture below, and you can see for yourself that that all-scrappy pinkness was nothing special.

I tried a smaller weave but really wanted something to tone down the busyness of all those pink designs. This next one did the trick. The basketweave below has an alternating solid maroon strip and that was just perfect. I pulled out the pink Tula fabric below for the bottom of the bag and that’s the design I’m going with. This was so much better than the first attempt. I’ll add a side zipper and turn this baby into something I can gift.

Sorry I don’t have a finished project to show but better something than nothing.

Please visit the other bloggers who should have fully finished projects to show you. Sometimes life slows us down in getting to the finish line. I’ll update this post when I have made more progress. Thanks so much for stopping by.


MAY 15TH

Just Let Me Quilt

Selina Quilts

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

That Fabric Feeling YOU ARE HERE!!!!!

Days Filled With Joy

Words & Stitches

MAY 16TH

Sew Many Yarns

Quilt Schmilt

Podunk Pretties

Quilted Snail

Quilting Gail

Texas Quilt Gal

MAY 17TH

Inflorescence

Scrapdash

Karrin’s Crazy World

Beaquilter

Crazy’boutquilts

The Crafty Grammie

MAY 18TH

MooseStashQuilting

Just Because Quilts

Quilted Delights

Vroomans Quilts

Karen’s Korner

Ms P Designs USA

44 responses to “Rose Colored Basketweave in Progress”

    • Thank you. It’s going to be a zippered bag but yes, this for a quilt border would be incredible!!

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  2. Glad your son is doing well. Kidney stones are no fun! Your progress on your mom’s bag is looking good!

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    • Leah, thank you so much. I’m hoping to get my mom’s bag finished this weekend. I’m still just in a bit of a catch-up with life mode. I’m happy to report that my son is taking his last remaining make-up finals now. He’s back on track and feeling so much better.

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    • You are so right and some things can’t wait…like severe pain. It is sometimes sad that life gets in the way of sewing fun but this was a deal breaker for sure.

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  4. I’m glad the kiddo is doing better. And good for you getting as far as you did on your project in the midst of the turmoil.

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    • Thank you. The kiddo is taking a final exam tomorrow so he’s back on track. I’m itching to sew but it will wait til my day off.

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  5. Oh shoot Elana!! Kidney stones are a horrible thing to experience. My husband has had this happen a couple of times and it is just a horrible time for him. I hope his doctor has talked to him about how to work on preventing the formation of the stones.
    Hoping your life is back to normal now. 🙂

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    • Bernie, He hasn’t gotten to a doctor for followup just yet. My husband and I are trying to convey the urgency, but we’re just background noise. We will let him get through final exams and then gently nudge again. Yeah, it’s awful to experience that pain but it’s not likely to be his last bout. (-:

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  7. Wow, you’ve had a lot going on! I like the start of your braid project…adding the solid color was a great idea, it will be beautiful once finished.

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    • Thank you so much. I was so glad to swap in the solid color. I usually love all things scrappy but all that pink together was making me think of pesto bismol!! LOL

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    • Karen, Thanks so much. He is doing much better and I am breathing a little easier. Knowing he will likely have this happen again makes me want to get him to a doctor soon. He will followup with someone who can hopefully answer questions and teach him some preventative steps, if there are any. As for me, I am long overdue for a day filled with just mindless sewing…and a little catch up!

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    • Sandie, thank you so much. He is much better and starting to feel like his prior self. What a difference a few days make!

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  10. very nice braid and I hope everyone and everything gets better soon! I know Mahjong the real 4player tile game from china with Pong and Kong and Chow….I’ve only played it on the computer and there’s mahjong match 2 game on computers too but that’s not the REAL game!

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    • Bea, yes my mom plays Mahj online too. She is quite the player and when we’re together, she tries to teach me strategies. I’m a bit hopeless with the game though. I am not such an expert player but she finds it entertaining to try and educate me! Thanks for the supportive comment. I love that you called it a braid. To me, that’s what it really looks like. These pattern names are always keeping me on my toes!!

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    • Karrin, Thanks so much. He’s feeling much better. We hope not to need anymore ambulances for a very, very long time. Two in one day is way past the limit!! Thanks for the project support as well. I need some therapeutic sewing for sure!

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    • Thank you. Hopefully this week will stay much calmer than last. The weather here is warm and breezy and I’m breathing a big sigh that things are more stable.

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  13. I am sorry for your son’s woes and your car issues. I love the looks of the weaving and the practice piece could even go inside a bags some interest. The maroon strip is interesting and it will be fun to see the project when it is done.

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    • Kathleen, Thank you so much. I figure you’re right about the practice piece. It will get used somewhere. I have to make some time and get this finished.

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  14. Oh my goodness, you definitely had a whirlwind of issues happening in your life! I’m glad your son and the car are back in working order. I hear that kidney stones are terribly painful. I love the basketweave look of your pinks. It will make a wonderful gift, I’m sure! Thank you for sharing what you had done.

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    • Thank you so much. My son and the car are both doing much better. I also have heard and now witnessed the pain of kidney stones. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Sewing will happen but medical needs obviously took precedence.

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  15. God laughs when we make plans. Life has a habit of disrupting our plans for sure! So glad your son is on the mend.

    Your basketweave project is gorgeous. I love the fabrics you’ve chosen. Your mom will love it!

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    • Charlene, thanks so much. You’re right about that first statement. There was a lot of laughing last week for sure. You’re so sweet. Thanks.

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  16. Oh, there’s nothing worse than seeing your kids in pain. Glad they were able to figure things out after the 2nd ambulance ride and that he is on the mend. I love your basketweave strips. What a fun way to jazz up so many things.

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  17. First, prayerful thoughts for your son. Glad things seem to be back on track for your family.
    Next, It doesn’t matter if you finished or not, we’re here to support each other when needed. I love the idea of this pattern for your mom and the how you came up with as much as you did. The maroon fabric was a great idea for calming down your rosey scraps.

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    • Selina, thank you for the kind comments. I do feel the support from this great group. My project for my Mom will get done eventually and yes, I am liking the solid fabric in between all the scrappy pinks. I’m planning another one too.

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    • Carol, Thank you so much. My son is much better and hopefully going to see a doctor before he has to deal with another episode. He’s drinking water like a fish and they say that helps. We don’t get to choose our stressors, they sure find us on their own. He will likely have another one some day, so he’s been told. We recommended that he meet with a doctor to ask questions and see if there’s anything preventative to do.

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  19. Wow your son has been through it! Glad he is getting better. I love your basketweave, the darker maroon really makes those pretty pinks pop.
    I get it – my project has been “almost” finished for a month and guess what – “life” happened over the weekend so today will be marathon sewing – lol!

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    • Thank you so much. That darker maroon solid was just the right touch. I tried a brighter pink solid but that blended too much. I am planning another one of these in purple and then, who knows. These basketweave border strips are so addictive. Plus, who can stop using up the pile of scraps lying around!? Good luck on your finish. If only we could just sew all day long, right!?

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    • Thanks Elizabeth. He is doing better and almost back to equilibrium. He missed two final exams so that’s still an issue this week but at least he’s in no more pain. I hope to finish my project this week and maybe even begin another one in purple.

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    • Danice, Thank you so much. He is doing much better. My father-in-law used to get kidney stones so I have heard the stories through the years. Sadly, my son is so much younger to be getting this but that’s life, huh!?

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    • Rachi, So happy to be seeing you soon. All is well again here but it was a rough ride for Leor.

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