Category Archive: quilts
Some days are challenging
Today was one of those days. After breakfast, feeding the bees, and some watering, I wanted to work on a project for the blog. I need a potholder for a gift so worked on that. . . . .until I was at the next to the last step and found that my walking foot no longer walks and tomorrow, I will go to JoAnn’s and purchase a new one.
After that stall, I decided I should quilt another one of the quilt flimsies. So I mounted it on the machine, realized that I want to do it manually and decided there wasn’t enough day left. Project abandoned for another day. I sandwiched the little Christmas quilt that I put together earlier this week and it is ready for the machine, which now has a different quilt on it. There are days like this when nothing seems to get done (oh, yes, laundry is done, except for sheets). Then there are the days where everything seems to come together, because there wasn’t much left to do on any one project. Those are the days I love most.
I want to thank you who made mattress suggestions. We are still at the debate between box springs and latex.
Little Joys table topper flimsy
Because I didn’t have to cook food while canning the (38 pints) garbanzos today, I was able to get a bit of sewing done.
Here is the finished “Little Joys Quilt Along” top from Fat Quarter Shop. I do wish I had used a light green with a bit less white, but I used what was here and since it will be a table topper, there will be things setting on it.
Tomorrow will be a shopping day – absolutely no cooking, except breakfast.
Christmas in July
One would think that by now, I would have thought to take a photo of absolutely everything throughout the day. And one would be so wrong. For instance I picked beets and cooked them, will pickle them tomorrow. But I do not have a photo of those pretty beets. Nor do I have a photo of the work we did down in the sheep area.
So knowing July is “Christmas” month and it is nearly over, I thought I should put together a small easy wall hanging that you might also be interested in. You can find the patterns here, but only until August 14 and then they vanish It is “Little Joys Quilt Along” and is a fairly easy small wall hanging or table topper measuring about 34″ square.
Quick n easy train
After spending 4 hours putting the binding on yesterday’s quilt, I wanted to make something fast.
This panel was purchased for a quick and easy thumb sucking, drag around project. It has fabric on both sides and is prequilted. Should be quick and easy, right?
Here is the “quick and easy story”. I went to the store and purchase a package of quilt binding, came home and opened it. Oops, a flaw that I could not work around. Back to the store – and on the way there was an auto accident that meant I would have to go the round about way home as it was rush hour and that traffic was backed up about 2 miles. Back home for the second time
and saw this shattered patio door. OK, nothing I can do about that except ask DH to handle that one.
Back to the “quick and easy” The thread kept breaking. So I went to the other machine and had no trouble. I’m not sure what that was all about. I had pinned the binding on all the way around. Now I unpinned all the binding, went to the other machine and had no problem at all. It really was fast.
This is nearly impossible to see, but it is the corner of the blanket. I sewed the corners closed with the zigzag so baby fingers wouldn’t get lost in them.
We are supposed to have rain for the weekend after nearly 2 months of dry. That would be good. I pray you enjoy your weekend as well.
A day out
Today. Mary and I decided to have a day out. We first went to Sew Fun at Quality Sewing and the photo above is of some of the items Lana Jones made to entice us to buy books and other items. She is truly an artist and we enjoyed her tips and hints. And to our surprise, we were each given a DVD of hints, embroidery patterns and other items for coming to the meeting.
Then it was off to Trader Joe’s for a very few items, followed by lunch at Panera’s. Our next stop was Costco where we stocked up on dog treats and off to the post office to turn in the orange slip and pick up a package. After that we went to Wal-Mart where I bought a pre-quilted panel for a baby boy and she purchased flannel for various projects for the 5 babies that will soon be entering her world. After that we were tired enough to come home and rest.
Space travel
This is the quilt right off the machine. It’s getting too late tonight to trim it and put a binding on it, but that will happen.
The last bear and pattern trouble
This is the last of the bear blocks. So I cut out and put together as directed all the connecting units. Here’s where the pattern is wrong. The kit has 6 fabrics which are to be cut into 2 x 2 squares, which I did.
As you can see, 5 – 2″ squares do not equal 10″ The squares are to be cut 10 x 10. So next sewing time I will have to find a coordinating fabric to add to each of these pieces. And just when I was so ready to put the top mostly together and sit it to the side until baby is born. One block will have her name, birthday, etc on it, so can’t finish until she arrives. However do you think they got the idea that if I cut 5 – 2 squares that I would end up with 10″ after 1/2″ seam on each piece. If I had figured it out to begin with, I could have cut the pieces 1.5″ and it would have come out perfect. Then again, if a mistake had to be made, at least this is one I can fix by just adding another piece. 6 x 2 = 12 – 3 for seams will be 9 and I need 10. I’ll have to think on this overnight.
Meanwhile the fleece that didn’t get clean Friday is in the washing machine soaking – I’ll take it out so it doesn’t get agitated. But I think it can soak overnight and see if it can get cleaner. Tomorrow is another good day for drying a fleece. I may have to card it to get the ends open and then rewash.
I did finish spinning some wool that I purchased in roving years ago. Now I’m not sure if I want to ply it on itself or with another color. I’m really leaning to another color.
