Slow Sunday Stitching

With some measure of embarrassment, I share the project I've worked on the past few days. Many of you long-time followers will have been assuming that it was finished, as my last post (in 2018) about this little project indicated that I was super-close. Inevitable!

No, not inevitable. The smallest of stumbling blocks is sometimes all it takes for me to just stop. The stumbling block facing me with this was losing track of my quilt markings. The plan for large-stitched Baptist fans became a "suggestion" of fans the further I quilted toward the borders. 

This week, I decided that regardless of how messy my fans looked in this table topper, done is better perfect. So, I've free-handed some semblance of quilting lines around the entire border of this quilt. I remind myself that perfection is not the goal. Finished is the goal. 

Still recovering from the week-long sinus infection I've had, this type of stitching is all I've managed this week. So many near-finishes await me, but this one will have to do until my head clears up.

I'm linking up with Kathy and her Slow Sunday Stitchers.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Kim Diehl Mini Finished!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The Queen of Procrastination has finished a UFO!

Shouting from the rooftops and ramparts, this is a finish I am sooo happy to finally share.

Our Frankfort Girls group met for a pseudo "camp" last June at Terry's, and every day for that week, most of us worked on making the blocks for this little sew-along hosted by Kim Diehl on her IG feed. I am sure all the others had theirs finished ages ago while I was stuck in UFO land. On June 11, 2019, I posted my flimsy.

Over a year to finally finish this little gem. *smh*

The reason for my long, long delay? Well, numerous issues popped up after I marked the entire quilt with the Pounce marking tool - it just made a mess of chalk dust everywhere, and it faded off before I could get to the outer edges, and it smeared too much. A total fail, IMO.

So I put it aside for awhile (months) while I stewed on how to proceed. I finally determined that I could re-create the markings with a white pencil. I did that with decent success. I may have fudged a bit on the overall quilting design, but I didn't sweat it.

Then, daggone it, I ran out of the floss I was using to do the big-stitch quilting. The trouble there was that I had no clue as to what the color number was; it was a bit of floss without a color number; I miscalculated on having enough to do the job. Again, I set it aside for awhile (more months) deciding how to proceed.

Then one day in mid-June, I found myself in Hobby Lobby walking through the sewing section. Right there staring me in the face was all the embroidery floss. I pulled out 4 different browns figuring that I would get at least ONE of them to work well enough to finish this mini. And I did. It is really obvious in a side-by-side comparison that the original brown is different from the new one, but when you look at this mini in these pictures, I doubt very much if anyone would see the inconsistency.

I love a story with a happy ending. Even when the ending takes way too many months to unfold.

Hope you are having a great Sunday! We entertained a big bunch of extended family here today; our house was full  - as well as our hearts! I am linking with Slow Sunday Stitching over at Kathy's Quilts. Check out all the pretties when you have a moment.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Continued Slow Stitching

My goal of having this table topper done by Christmas is beginning to concern me! This slow stitching business is just that - slow! However, it continues to be a work in progress, and it is nearing completion.

It may have been ignored for too long back in the earlier fall.

Lately, I have been keeping it on my footstool so that whenever I sit down, I can easily access it and get to stitching.

For the most part, the center portion is quilted. I have a few small places to stitch - like when I ran out of thread and such. Then it's on to the borders. Since I don't have a plan, I guess I will continue with the Baptist Fan motif all the way out to the edge.

A couple of good long evenings - maybe with a movie queued up - and this can finally be done!

Linking up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching party. Is everyone facing deadlines?

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Slow Stitching

I am determined to finish quilting this little Roman Holiday table topper - before Christmas! I am doing big-stitch quilting on it, yet like I so often do, I get side-tracked by other projects, and it sits ignored in the quilting room. I have recently brought it back out and leave it on the footstool near my chair in the family room. While I watched both Buckeye basketball and football on Saturday - two wins!! - I worked on this topper.

Those big stitches are becoming rather haphazard. I think that comes with the infrequency of my work on it. If I were more focused, I would know where I was going with those markings made however long ago.

Maybe you can guess my attitude concerning the haphazard quilting - no big deal! Done is better than perfect, for sure. This attitude keeps me plugging away on this little beauty.

I am linking up with the friendly folks partying over at Kathy's Quilts for the Slow Sunday Stitching event. I wonder how many  more quilters are trying to finish things in time for Christmas??

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Multi-Tasking

I don't know about all seamstresses, but I sure do like to keep my hands busy as much as possible. In an effort to keep up with some of the reading I like to do, but not sacrifice sewing time, I have become a big fan of audio books.

While big-stitching yesterday on that Roman Holiday table topper, I listened to the final three chapters of The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth. The last name of the main character is Wild, and her family lives next door to the Brothers Grimm - as in the fairy tale Grimms. The backdrop of the years and years of war brought on by Napolean's aspirations were harrowing, as were the conditions in the Wild household. I began listening not thinking I'd care for it, but I soon found that I really wanted to finish it. Not having a very familiar knowledge of the lives of the Grimm Brothers, listening to this really was a total learning experience about a time and place where upheaval was constant.

Here is a picture of my stitching. It looks a lot like the pic I took the previous weekend. I have moved it in the frame, though, so progress is ongoing.

Not all my reading is done by listening. Our book club met on Thursday and I had to drop everything for about a day to read Educated, a memoir by Tara Westover.

It was a quick read - two sittings, and I was finished. We had a lively discussion about Educated and while it engaged me tremendously, I just have a really hard time believing that all she said happened really happened. I do recommend it, but my skepticism remains.  (How's that for a review?)

I need to get myself off to class! Have a great Monday!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Big-Stitching

It's been quite a long stretch since last posting, and several things await to be shared here. First, in order to participate in Slow Sunday Stitching, I want you to see the big stitching I've begun on the Roman Holiday throw I made last winter.

Earlier this month, I prepped this throw and backing for History Day with the intention of quilting it with big stitches in a Baptist Fan design.

For now, I am stitching only half of these lines. With big stitches, I wondered about density, so after I see how I like this, I will decide whether or not I need to go back through and do the remaining lines.

The thread I'm using is 12 wt. cotton by Aurifil. I like the thread and the big-stitch technique, as I am making relatively quick work of this throw.

The party is over at Kathy's. Hope you can take a moment to snoop around.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

August UFO

Here we are in the 8th month of our 12-month UFO challenge, and this month's task will be a pleasure to finish. After a few months of really big-deal UFOs, this one is gonna seem like a cakewalk. Yay!

Last summer, just on a whim and with no particular goal in mind, I began stitching large hexagons. I must have needed some hand-stitching to take to Friday morning sessions with the Frankfort Girls. Well, I finished this little table topper and then just stopped. I knew it would perfectly accessorize the screened porch table; instead it has hung out in the quilting room. I had the good sense to put it on the 2017 UFO list, and now it will finally be done. Above, you can see that I trimmed the edges. What I'm left with is a long, hexagon-shaped table topper.

I prepped the backing and the batting last night (used scraps, so I had to piece them!). The layers have been spray-basted, and the materials for big-stitch quilting have been gathered. I am ready for some Slow Sunday Stitching!

This work should go quickly; with all the baseball we've been watching lately, I need a project like this in my hands; otherwise, I idly play iPad games, which results in nothing worthwhile.

I will link up with Kathy and her Sunday Stitching link party; come on over an take a peek! I've just visited and discovered that my name was drawn in a give-away she had last week. How sweet is that!?!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Old Dogs DO Learn!

Even with a king-sized quilt finished off in big-stitch quilting, I attended a workshop Saturday on that very topic at Old Town Fabric Shop in Chillicothe. The guest speaker was Corey Yoder of Coriander Quilts, who designs fabric for Moda and creates pattern, as well.

When I did my quilting, I had no prior instruction, nor anyone giving me tips or advice. I just did what I thought made sense as a seasoned quilter. Attending this workshop/seminar would let me see things I ought to have considered, methods I might have tried, and simply dozens and dozens of examples.

The day began with a trunk show, and gosh, for a young woman, Corey sure has finished a LOT of quilts! At her age, I was still mostly just dreaming about making quilts (and buying fabric).

Here is Corey in the upstairs classroom at Old Town Quilt Shop. See the pile of quilts beside her? She has already shared all of those, and I didn't take a single picture. I thought I'd go back later and take a few, but we were just too focused on our mission to allow time for that. *grin*  Everyone in attendance created a circle - albeit loosely formed - and we showed the project we brought and shared ideas for possible big-stitch quilting. Corey was great in this segment of the day, as she has "an eye" for seeing what the resulting quilt will look like. All the sharing was really helpful, making it a wonderful give-and-take for everyone. Sometimes, we end up doing something we had never previously ever considered.

The many expressions of our speaker - what a sweet thing. She was so well-spoken, super supportive and most encouraging. She didn't rush us; she didn't come across as a know-it-all; in fact, I'd invite her over for our next sewing session without a moment's hesitation. Down to earth. Easy-going. Friendly. Personable. That's Corey.

After a 30-minute lunch break, we went to the next room to spread out our work and begin quilting! Corey roamed around, stopping when a quilter needed help or encouragement.  It was very informal and quite comfortable. We chatted as we stitched, and helped one another, too.

I mentioned the lunch break. I can't forget to show you the tremendous feast that Cindy and Kelly prepared for us! My goodness, look at the mountain of fresh fruit! This was truly fresh and delicious! The sandwiches came from an Amish/Mennonite store in the Frankfort area, Old Home Place. Delish!

I said in Saturday's post that I would share what I learned from this seminar. First, let me just say that now I can make the official "quilter's knot." I know! I've been quilting all these years, and never knew how to do this! I learned to make a knot from my mother or grandmother, and I've always continued to do it that way. I am now reformed!

Second, I used 505 Spray Baste. Oh my goodness. This will be life-changing. I dislike stretching a back and batting and layering on the top, and then keeping it taut without wrinkles and puckers. This will make all that so much easier. I can't believe I've come so late to this game.

Third, I generally use whatever needles and thread I have on hand, and since I have all of Grandma's stuff on hand, most is no longer labeled and pretty darned old. I bought 4 spools of Aurifil 12 wt. thread (recommended by Corey) along with a package of #7 embroidery needles. These made quilting very easy, and I finished fast because of it. It helps to use the tools that are designed for the task you are undertaking. I will try to keep the needles together and not let them get lost on a pincushion, never to be properly identified ever again.

I'm sure I learned more, but those are the big ones. Here's a cute, sweet anecdote Corey shared. She told about going back a long lane to her grandmother's house and playing under the quilt frame with her cousins. Her Grandma Lulu (thus the name of the new line of fabric) always quilted, and the children spent many hours there while their mothers all quilted at the frame with Grandma. She said they'd get scolded for flicking the scissors or thread from underneath, and making them hop unexpectedly on top, startling the quilters. I can so envision that orneriness!

Finally, as the day wound down, I shopped. Oh gosh, I just couldn't resist, and you don't get 10% off every day, now do you? The store had a sweet display of Corey's products - patterns and precuts - so I splurged. I only bought fabric; I will figure out my own patterns. If you click on her website, you can see some of what I passed up. Let me tell you, a couple patterns were really calling to me, however my rule of thumb: fabric always trumps patterns. So there.

I hope Old Town continues to do these fun seminars with nationally known designers. I've attended two (my first featured Laurie Simpson of Minick and Simpson) and both have been totally worth it.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Slow Sunday Stitching

I'm super-stoked to show you my Sunday stitching today because a week ago, I had no plan or intention of even touching it! Yes, this old UFO was destined to be a forever-UFO, until I had to produce a small project for the Corey Yoder workshop yesterday. This was the closest thing I could find to the suggestions she provided in her seminar details.

My little quilt measures 23" x 17.5" and is made of leftover HSTs from a previous project. I've had this little flimsy sewn together for a good while - over 4 years, I know, because I made it in the previous sewing room and that move happened in 2013. Anyway, it's been skirting my sewing table (attached with masking tape), just for aesthetics.

After hearing Corey's talk, I decided to use 4 colors of quilting thread on my quilt, so I bought what  you see above along with the needles: Aurifil 12 wt. thread and Tulip embroidery needles #7 size.

We marked our lines with water-soluble pens and began our work. The 40 or so women who attended the workshop were busy-busy-busy!

I did a bit more stitching last evening and then finished the quilting, trimmed the excess and attached the binding today. What a nice, unexpected completion for March! Yay! I will add, in hindsight, I think I should have just used the purple thread, as the other three colors are so light that they have very little impact. I will need to work on making stitches more consistent in their length and spacing. Actually, I have old habits to break, as I did my own version of big-stitching on Erin's Diamonds last October-December. I suppose it's a "quilt as desired" sort of thing.

I will link up with Kathy at her weekly Sunday Stitching party. I hope you'll take some time to stop in and peek around.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

A Symbolic Endeavor

I am taking over yet another room of the house for the next couple of months. After clearing out some tables and scooting back furniture, DH helped me erect Grandma's ancient quilt frame in the front room early last week.

What stories this old frame could tell! The very brown parts on each end are quite old. I am sure Grandma told me, but I do not remember; they may have originated with her own mother or perhaps they originated with her grandmother. This would be, then, either my great-grandmother or great-great-grandmother.

To my knowledge, this is the only picture I have of Grandma sitting at her quilt frame.

Having done some genealogy, these women have names that I know: Margaret Thomas Wood and Mary Angeline Smedley Thomas. Wouldn't it be interesting to know what they quilted on this frame? Years ago, Grandma gave me some very old quilts - could these have been quilted on it? Most likely my grandma learned to quilt at this frame. I can just see her and probably her sisters seated on chairs, boosted with pillows, taking up their needles and attempting their first stitches.

The lighter wood - the brace and the roller bars - are new, relatively speaking. They were made by my grandfather when Grandma wore out the originals. And, interestingly enough, he made a second shorter set. I am using the longer set because the quilt that will be going into this is quite large.

A long time ago I determined that the first quilt I loaded onto this frame would be a symbolic one. Erin's Diamonds has been hanging in the closet for a couple of years and needs to be finished. I love the idea that the first quilt I do on Grandma's old frame is one that will be given to my daughter. So many generations involved! My own mother is not a quilter, but maybe I could get her to sit with me for awhile to take a few stitches in Erin's quilt? Then there would be no break in the multi-generational endeavor. Cool.

Now, those ancient grannies would likely look at the riotous colors of Erin's Diamonds and turn up their noses with disdain. I know Grandma did! She saw no attraction to this "modern stuff" that both Erin and I like. Grandma thought I'd lost it when she'd see me buying KF fabrics on some of our outings.

But I digress. Besides the brightly colored, modern fabrics, I will be breaking other traditional notions of quilting when I begin Erin's Diamonds. I plan to quilt "big stitch." Instead of laboring over the tiniest of even stitches, I will be using thicker thread and taking big stitches, outlining each diamond. I am hoping that I can make quick work of it.

All of this must start ASAP. I have some finishing of other projects to accomplish first, though. The pressure mounts! The goal: to be done before Christmas decorating - this is the room where we put our tree!

I will be linking up to Slow Sunday Stitching which you can peek at over at Kathy's Quilts. 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

A Quilt Back

A couple of weeks ago when DD Erin was here for a visit, I had her come upstairs to the sewing room to select backing for her quilt, Erin's Diamonds. Imagine sifting through large tubs of Kaffe Fassett fabrics trying to make such a decision...what a chore! *grin*

Below are the winners. They are actually Phillip Jacobs designs for KF/Westminster Fibers.

The two fabrics are Tulip and Lilac Rose, both on pink backgrounds. The will work well in a pieced back. One is a 3-yard cut; the other is a 3.25-yard cut.

I have since measured the quilt and have found that I will need about a yard more fabric. My plan is to go to the fabrics Erin eliminated from consideration and pick one of those to make up that last bit. I think I will play around with an unusual arrangement, and not just sew straight lengths of fabric together. A sketch is in order.

I mentioned in this post, item #8 on the list, that I plan on putting Erin's Diamonds in Grandma's old quilting frame. I intend to set it up in the front room (which we rarely use), set my Ott Light near, and watch Netflix programs or listen to books on tape while I quilt.

Today we are off for a drive down to the Ohio River, and then head back for the opening game for the 2016-17 Buckeyes, a noon game against Bowling Green, which we will have on DVR. Go Bucks!

Happy Quilting, Friends!