Tu-Na Quilts: A Finished Table Topper

34 Replies

I’ve completed this table topper. It was done in time to be entered into the quilt show sponsored by my village’s quilting group earlier this month. It is also one of my goals for the 2018 Finish-A-Long and was listed on my goal post here.

tunaquilts 1a

This was a class offered by my AZ sewing group. It was fun to make and included my first ever yo-yo. (Update: The pattern is Less Than Traditional, Flowers and More Flowers Book #3, Fun Projects by Charlie, from Quilters Haven. You can find the info here. Be sure to order the Starter Set, too).

tunaquilts 2a

I spent much time changing thread to match the different colors. It probably was totally unnecessary to do that.

My friend, Colleen, offered me a private yo-yo class. She was a great teacher. The wonderful glass of wine helped, too.

tunaquilts 3a

See that little white label on the top. This piece was displayed earlier in my group’s quilt show as a finished class project. All items had to be labeled with our names. This was my “Oh, no, I forgot to make a label” last minute rush job. It probably will stay as a “rushed label” as is better than no label.

I sewed this topper with my Little Red Bernina. The fabric came from my stash and I used Aurifil thread to quilt it.

What I Learned Today:

  1. 4:30 AM comes early. We’ve had company and she needed to get to the airport early to head back to the land of ice and snow. It was fun and we enjoyed all the hikes.
  2. One doesn’t work up too much of a sweat from hiking by sitting in the recliner looking at pictures of a hike.
  3. A hiker was rescued on a local trail and evacuated by helicopter. She started the hike wearing flip flops (or what I knew as thongs when I was young and wrote about on my purple thang story here) but was found barefoot; she had hid her flip flops and her purse under a bush somewhere on the trail so she could climb the rocks easier. She was also alone and didn’t have water. Hmmm! Even I know better than that.
  4. I did not know that hiker. Just thought I should clarify.
  5. My Little Red Bernina feels too small of a machine. 
  6. I want to sew faster than it can.
  7. I just might be shopping for a larger machine to take to class but then it might not fit into the amazing rolling tote I found at Goodwill.

Question: Have you hiked and where? Tu-Na Helper and I have done a lot of hiking but some might only call them walks.

Thanks for stopping by and do come again.

Karen, Tu-Na Quilts

Linking to:

Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilt

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

TGIFF at Cheeky Cognoscenti

Show off Saturday at Sew Can She

34 thoughts on “Tu-Na Quilts: A Finished Table Topper”

  2. Karen

    some people do not use common sense when hiking – I have seen people on very rough trails in flip flops and believe it or not heels! we were on a trail in Mesa Verda where you climb ladders and trudge along on steep skinny trails with a guide and I suppose someone thought she was just getting out at the visitors center or maybe a few overlooks and somehow ended up on a trail in high heels – could not believe it and why the ranger guide didn’t turn her away from the group hike is beyond me – in the same park on another trail were people in flip flops – but then again we have taken gondola rides to the top of mountain peaks in the summer where it states that the temperature at the top well be near freezing to take a jacket and dress appropriately and you will see people in flip flops tank tops and shorts freezing their butts off but what really bothers me is they take their toddlers up with them dressed the same way — sorry for going off rambling like this – it is a pet peeve of mine 🙂 as you can tell

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  3. Emily R

    Oh I love hiking! My husband and I will be going on a hike this weekend for Easter. Not sure where yet though but I’m sure we can find an interesting one nearby. We have hiked in 7 different countries so far: up volcanoes and down valleys.

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  4. tierneycreates

    Wow, what a beautiful table topper! Hiking wearing flip flops? Oh my – what was that person thinking?!?! You could keep your little red Bernina for classes and then get a bigger machine for home. 🙂

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  6. Barbara Mitchell

    I love the table topper. I have made many yo yos…..but none as perfect as yours…my husband and I always hiked over by the Superstition Mountains…..it is always safer to stay on marked trails.

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  7. allisonreidnem

    Hiking? Sewing? Always more fun with the right equipment! 🙂 Your table topper is lovely – so many different skills in one small project.

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  8. rl2b2017

    Hi Karen,
    What a great finish for the fabulous Friday. It is a very cute table topper and so worthy of the label. I hope you are displaying it proudly on your table. Since I live in the land of the ice and snow (none present now, thankfully), I do my hiking a.k.a. walking in the slightly warmer months. Happy Friday! ~smile~ Roseanne

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  11. farmquilter

    Cute table topper! You did a great yo-yo! I have hiked in the Sierra Nevada Mountains from Yosemite and north, The Ruby Mountains in north-eastern Nevada, Mt. Rainier, Glacier National Park, Brice, Zion and that area of Utah. As a kid I thought the only kind of camping was backpacking…didn’t realize most people went to campgrounds and had all the amenities!! Love living in the west with all the opportunities to get into the mountains!

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  13. piecefulwendy

    4:30 is a bit too early for me. I used to hike more than I do now. My last actual hike was quite awhile ago. I stick to walks now. I’m glad the hiker was ok, and I hope she has better knowledge for her next hike! Your little quilt is very cute!

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  14. Paige @Quilted Blooms

    What a pretty table topper! Great job on the yoyo’s too! Actually I have done a little hiking…my most challenging was hiking from the south rim to the bottom of the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch with a few side hikes totaling 50 miles in 5 days. I don’t know if if was more physically demanding or mental!

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  15. Jean McKinstry

    lovely table topper, super colours. Hiking, not lately, but Hugh and I have done several, usually a one day trip, the most memorable to a place in the North island called Bog Inn Hut. You do have to rtamp through a very boggy bog ( hence the name) to get to the hut. Short version, I got bogged, he had to pull me out, I thought I might have to take one boot off and pull it out by hand!!! We always took extra supplies, a thermal blanket, and even in summer, some warm clothes. Now days, I am content to look at photos or a video.I like your idea of reclining. Machines, they have a unique way of getting heavier as we age. Hope you find one that is portable but as sturdy and heavy as you can manage. My Bernina Aurora 440QE put on weight over 3 years!!! That was when I stopped going to classes or groups.Have a happy Easter.

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  17. Rebecca Grace

    Your topper is adorable and I love the yo yo center! You will NOT find me hiking alone, in flip flops, but you MIGHT see me being dragged up a mountain by my husband, unhappily wearing sensible footwear that was purchased for me against my will at REI… 🙂 Thanks for linking up with TGIFF!

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  19. thedarlingdogwood

    Cute table topper! I love the colors! I love hiking and I’m about 2 hours from the mountains in North Carolina.

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  21. Lynette Caulkins

    That’s a nice topper, and it looks fun – wait – those red petals are actually the backing, folded over, aren’t they? Cool. 🙂 I don’t get out and hike as often as I used to, since we started training in Taekwondo 4 years ago. My Lupus makes it challenging to husband my limited energy supply. The last time was during Christmas break, on The Incline near Colorado Springs – a full mile STRAIGHT up the mountain – literally straight up it. It gets quite gruelling! But I did really want to say I’d done that once. 🙂 And what a gorgeous view at the top. . .

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  22. Preeti

    Bright and beautiful table topper. I really like the use of the yo-yo to conceal the seams in the center. I have seen buttons instead. I do get up early because I am a morning person. But not sure I want to be hiking at 4:30AM. Hiking barefoot??? Oh no. Glad she lived to tell the tale.

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  23. Kathleen

    Love your table topper. I was going to make some of those for gifts this past Christmas. I got as far as pulling the fabric and printing the pattern and that’s where the idea ended. So I guess i’m ahead of the game for this coming Christmas now!

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  28. Sheila Herman

    I really appreciated the ride to the airport at Oh dark 30 on Friday. It was very sad to leave but I knew that duty called when I landed in the frozen tundra. I too will miss the hikes from the comfy couch. Hope to share the photos with some folks this weekend. You are so talented and I am glad that I have the opportunity to see some of your amazing work in person.

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