Completion

There was a problem back around June 24th.  Little Block #243 was made wrong.  The purple on the outside row was stitched in the wrong place.  There wasn't any more of the purple to remake the outside row.  I tried to take it apart, but the pieces are too small.  It did not work, and I was frustrated.  Little #243 sat until this morning.  There is an agreement with myself that I had to finish a Little if anything else was going to get started.  

Here is where I messed up the last rows, top and bottom.

Here is the new Little #243 finished.  The material was picked out this morning and made.  Two 9 patch blocks were also stitched as leader/enders while making this.  

A pincushion was also finished.  The project bag for this had been stitched long ago.  The scissor fobs were complete and in use.  The pincushion was just waiting.  It took 45 minutes.  That included the filling and stitching it closed.  

The 4th of July Trio runners by Laundry Basket Quilts are complete.  The hand stitching of the binding was done in the evenings. 

When I make my bindings, I work with 2-inch strips on the bias.  The pattern directions mentioned 1 3/4-inch strips, not on the bias.  I decided to try to see how it would work (hadn't done it that way in forever).  I prefer the bias and the 2-inch strip.  It is just a bit wider and easier for me to turn over the edge.  Always good to reconfirm why you do something the way that you do.  

My Tea and Cookie mats from Shabby Fabrics for February and June.  February was shown before, but I wanted to show the heart stitching that I will be doing on all of the Tea and Cookie mats that I will make.

Glad to be able to show completions.  Now I can get back to the little Chip blocks, more of the Littles and set up my next slow stitching.    

Enjoy your threads today.

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

Dirty Dozen

Mary Etherington at Country Threads Chicken Scratch has a Dirty Dozen gathering that begins in July and runs for 12 months (projects that need to be finished).  I have watched what fellow Blog followers do and found it interesting.  They complete things.  I decided to join this year and made up my list.  I don't have 12 quilts to finish but I do have knitting and embroidery that also needs to cross the finish line.  I added them to my list.  Today the Dirty Dozen begins, and she called number 7.  OH NO!!!

Back about 1999, I saw this blanket in the Family Circle Easy Knitting magazine.  I sent for the kit and then my sister in Texas sent me a kit for my Birthday.  So, two kits, two blankets.  

All the blocks and the borders have been knitted.  I just never put it together.  It has stayed in this box and basket: just waiting.  I added it to my list thinking its number would come up in the future.  That future was today!  It is on my list as number 7!!  The fiber world is telling me something.  

So, this week I will block blocks, hopefully all of them.  I only have maybe six blocks blocked of about 30 blocks for the two blankets.  

More information in a week.

There is some slow stitching for the evenings.  This is the scissor fob that goes with my sheep bag.  Two of these will be stitched, finished and NOT added to the list.

Here is the pincushion that goes with the set.  A hoop was used for this.  Usually, I use a frame as I don't like to move the hoop and see the hoop marks.  Crazy, I know.  It also will not be added to the list.

You all have a wonderful week.  Thank you for the visit.  Linking up to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

 

Smalls

Tuna Quilters met for lunch last Wednesday and we had our show and tell.  We had all met our goal.  (Me.  Kinda.  Darn squirrels.)  

I did find my list and was only halfway done.  Maybe I was too ambitious, Nah, never.  

My 2023 and Tuna Quilter projects are: 

• Civil War Bride/Bountiful Life Quilt.  I did meet that goal with block #6 half done.  Will finish the applique this month.  
• Heartfelt Quilt.  I did nothing.  Need to have two blocks finished for March gathering.  
• 365 Quilt:  blocks that have been done were either added to the quilt or sashed.  This week all currently sashed blocks will be added to the quilt, and I will get back to making more.  204 blocks will have been joined!
• Ella Maria Deacon Quilt: Hasn't been touched since 2021!!!!  What was I thinking.  What is left are applique blocks for the most part.  I have a list.  (Laugh soundtrack here that lasts 5 minutes)

Squirrels, or should I call them smalls.  These pin keeps are shades of grey (photo faded and too lazy to fix).  These were to be given to Kathy and Betty in December, but we didn't meet due to weather.  January they were not stuffed.  So, they had to be ready for last week.  I stuffed them two nights before we met.  Talk about procrastination.

I did make a promise last week.  Promise to me.  To you, I said I would finish the pin keep.  And I did.  

I am just amazed with myself.  Not about the pin keep but about the photo.  I took it with my phone camera and was able to send it to myself and save it for here.  Talk about slow to technology, that is me.   

You all have a nice day with your threads.  I will be working at the machine to meet today's goal.  Then, time with 3030 hand quilting.  But I am chasing another squirrel.  You will meet that after it is caught.  Make that maybe two squirrels. Tuna Quilters are talking about a red and white quilt.  Blocks made up of half square triangles only, hmmmmmmm.

 

A Finish and a Roll

Our lunch day was delayed by a week, so my friend and I did not get together until yesterday.  She was very pleased to receive this pillow, pin cushion or whatever it may be.  

As you can see, I used a check material for the back, stuffed it with lizard litter (crushed walnut shells) and am pleased with how it finished.  

The other night I was going into my cave to close the window when I saw this.  They are not to be there.  I don't know why this is so comfortable (yes, I do).  When I am in there working, they are with me.  It is a nice space.  I just wish they'd sleep on the plant stand like usual.

I did my third roll of the quilt on the frame.  It took me 19 hours to get across this last time.  This section will be quicker as I will be finishing up the chain blocks and some stitch-in-the-ditch across the top of the applique blocks.  Then I will roll again.  Do you see one of my supervisors in the picture below? 

(Look to the right, just below the quilt.  The tip of Gibbs' tail is showing.  He is sitting on the floor.)

Have a wonderful week.  Enjoy your threads.  My slow stitching today will be working on the quilt.  I will be linking up with Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

 

13 Hours

I am excited to say that after 13 hours of hand quilting, I rolled the quilt for the first time.  I did the most outer border with piano keys 1 inch apart.  Then I turned the corner at both ends.  Piano keys will be done up the sides and across the top.

A wavey line was stitched across the second border.  This will also continue up the sides and across the top.  

I am enjoying my hand quilting.  It is good thread meditation; I am able to look at the quilt and think of what may be done next.  

The four corner blocks will have the same pattern.  Not sure which, I have two ideas.  The Irish Chain blocks will also be done the same.  My idea will connect them together.  A four-leaf shamrock may be stitched in all the pieced blocks.  Have thoughts on small sashing and applique.  But I also have time to change my mind.

The pincushion is now finished.  This is the one that goes with the bag from last week.  It is so cute, if I may say so myself.  It is about 2.5 X 4.5 inches is size. 

Here are the two scissor fobs that go with the bag and pincushion.  I need to get some acid free heavy paper for the inside support.  A bit of batting and ribbon will also be added.  The ribbon is so it can be attached to the scissors.  They are about one inch in size.

Enjoy your threads and day. 

Linking to Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy's Quilts.

 

Squirrel Update

The strawberry pincushion is done.  It is about 3.5 inches across.  It was first lined with a Pellon Fusible Interfacing. 

Then a long-legged cross stitch was used to join the sides.  It was a bit fiddly and a times I lost where I was.  But I am glad that I did it. When a 1/2-inch opening was left, the lizard litter (crushed almond shells, oops, it is crushed walnut shells) was poured in via a funnel.  It was then closed up and I am pleased.

The window was made and now the boots and leaves need to be attached.  There are also parts to make forsythia that will need to be put on.  But, part by part I will work.  Can't get too much in front of my eyes.

After about ten hours of stitching, I am at the end of the runner.  I am actually a bit faster than when I began, at least in two directions.  This has been an enjoyable learning experience.  When this comes off, which may be tomorrow, I will be putting on my first quilt.  

On the runner are three of the tools I use.  From left to right: a ceramic needleslide that is used under the quilt, my thimble when stitching toward me and a thumbthimble when I stitch away from me.  That is a great invention.

I will be linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  May you all have a wonderful week.

Squirrel

Three of them.  

First Squirrel:  I was going to show you this last week but, I didn't.  A friend of mine was given count work patterns that someone else was not using anymore.  I saw this and couldn't resist, a pin cushion.  You are seeing the front and the back.  The red square on point is the front.   This will be lined.  Then I will take the corners and sew the corners together in the back.  Then, before the final closing, I will fill it with lizard litter (otherwise known as ground walnut shells).  This will be my work for Sunday.

Second Squirrel:  The same friend as above found the Wooly Window Mystery Stitch-A-Long.  This is a wool applique series of 12 patterns, which come out weekly.  You can also send for a kit of each window.  She decided that we needed to do the month of April.  Neither of us have done wool applique.  Here is the beginning of our April window.  We had an applique gathering for a few hours on Friday.  We are both finding this enjoyable.

I have wanted to have a hand quilting frame for a long time.  I was looking at American made frames (Grace, Hinterberg) but by the time I decided to buy, they weren't being made anymore.  Procrastination, not good.  

I came across you tube videos of Esther Miller, her quilting and her frames.  She is Amish, raised in America, living in Germany.  (I am sad to say that she passed late 2021.  I would have liked to take a hand quilting class from her.)  I watched, I hemmed and hawed.  I finally placed my order, and the three boxes arrived this week.  Celebration!!  

Third Squirrel:  I now have a "Love" hand quilting frame from Miller's Quilting in Germany.  What you see is it at 40 inches and it can be lengthen to 120 inches.  

                                                                              

The first thing that I am stitching on is a table runner.  I have two of these as flimsies.  I will only hand stitch one.  I figure that a runner will be a good set of practice hours.  I have two quilts waiting that I want to hand quilt.

I am so excited.  Another way to meditate with the use of thread, slow stitching.  My favorite activity.  Here are my first stitches. 

I will be linking up to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Enjoy your day.

 

Slow Stitching

Hello all and a very Happy New Year, 12 days into 2020.  

I haven't done any posts as I have been slow stitching and it has been slow.  Just the one project I have been working on, my Grandmothers Flower Garden quilt.  Here is the first half hanging on my design wall next to one of my machines.  You can see at the very top that there is only one row left to sew the hexis between the flowers.  It will be the last row put together.  The end is getting nearer!!

This is the second half that I have been working on.  (Gibbs helping to make sure that it doesn't float off the floor.)  When sewing my first half I would make a row and then sew it to the last one.  Making a white row and then a colored flower row.  I was working with the whole half by the time that I finished the half.  This time I am sewing a white row and a flower row together.  You can see spaces  where it is not yet sewn.  When I get the sections done, then I will begin to put the sections together and eventually sew the two halves together.  I figure that I will not be handling the material as much.  There is a lot of holding when doing slow stitching.

My Grandmother's Flower Garden is a hybrid quilt.  I machine stitch the flower circles together and then hand stitch/slow stitch the yellow or blue center in them.  Then I machine stitch the hexi between the flowers to make long rows.  The rows are then hand stitched together. 

Yesterday I told myself that I needed to complete something, some kind of finish.  I made these two pincushions.  They are 4 1/2 inches square and filled with crushed walnut shells.  I don't know if I have ever made churn dash blocks this small.  It was fun and they were finished.  A great feeling to finish something.  I missed that.

Now back to my slow stitching.  I can hear the football game beginning in the other room. enjoy your day.  I will be back soon.

Pincushions

I was picking up yesterday and kept running across pincushions.  I love pincushions!  I decided to put them all in one place to see what I had, two of them are missing.  They are with some project and I will come across them eventually.  Here is the group.

These are my store bought tomato pincushions.  The pink holds little and fancy straight pins.  The yellow holds different size sewing machine needles that have not been used 10 times for embroidery projects or for 6 hours of machine sewing.  (After that I replace them.)  The little red one holds different size hand sewing needles.  I have tried to label it but I keep getting them mixed up.

The one on the left belonged to Mom.  When she was a nursing student, a nurse crocheted it for her.  She made me, my sisters and her sisters each one.  She used the pincushion for the pattern.  Hers is well worn and well loved.  I remember as a kid rearranging the straight pins into certain patterns or pin top color groupings.  I use mine to keep my nursing school pins, the first pin from my husband and the two pins that I would use on my neck stock when showing or fox hunting (oh so long ago).

My mother volunteered at Hancock Shaker Village in the gift shop.  She also made Shaker pincushions to sell there.  She did not accept any money for them, it was her gift to the village.  She made all three of these.  The grey velvet one is one of her first.  It is stuffed with sheep wool as that is what the Shakers originally used.  The one on the Shaker Pincushion stand was a gift to me from her.  She made the pincushion and put together the stand.  The blue one was hers and she put the pin on it.  I have left it there.  One that I don't have to show is one that she made as a rattle.  It has a bell deep in the center of it that makes a great noise.  Sweet Thing #3 has it, the first of her pincushion collection.

The little one on the left was embroidered for me by Sweet Thing #3, a Christmas gift two years ago.  The two log cabin block pincushions are from a bunch that I made two Christmas' ago and gave away.  These are the two that I kept.  They are filled with ground walnut shells.  The little blue one in the basket is another that came from my Mother.

 

These are my two magnetic ones.  I guess I have to call them a pin holder since I cannot push a pin into them.  They each hold a different size quilting/sewing straight pin.  The black one is wonderful to use to pick up dropped pins from the floor.  They just zip onto it so quickly.

 

I love pincushions, love using them and love making them.  Have a grand day and thanks for visiting.