32 vs 36

My America 250 by Plum Street Samplers is being stitched on 32-count linen.  I have been pleased with the stitch coverage of 1 over 2 until the letters began.  It had been put away for a week or so while I decided if the letters are to faint/thin or not.  Below are the letters above my sheep pin keep for size.

A squirrel came my way last week and arrived at my house yesterday.  Plum Street Samplers: Strength and Laughter.  This is being stitched on 36-count linen.  The sheep pin keep was placed on it for size evaluation.

I think I will be happy continuing on the 32-count linen for America 250.  It had been in my mind to start over on the 36-count.   

The hand quilting has continued on my runner.  It took me a bit to think of what to do in the background.

Just a little closer.

This is all that is left to do on the background and then the sides will be begin. A plan has already been thought of for that.

My slow stitching is set for the weekend.  May you enjoy your threads.  So hard to believe football season will be starting soon.  

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts. 

Light Bulb moment

I have been doing a little clean up in my cave.  (I was looking for something.)  A Christmas table runner kept getting in my way.  (Insistent thing.)

Wednesday the Tuna Quilters met (Kathy, cousin: Betty, friend, and I).  We meet once a month for lunch and sharing.  Kathy has begun a new quilt and was showing how she used stabilizer to make the leaves that she will applique on her quilt.

A light bulb went off in my mind.  (It is so dim in there at times.)

A while ago, long ago, I began the table runner.  It is a free pattern, Gather 'Round from McCall's Quilting Nov/Dec 2016.  

The stabilizer was used to make my circles and then they were machine stitched onto the placemats.  The sticky side was to the backside of the material.  Circles pinned to the runner material.  It did not stitch nicely, tiny wrinkles.  I was not happy and put it aside in frustration.  Since then, the circles were taken off and the runner has kept showing up. 

Here are the old circles.  The stabilizer will be taken off and then they will be cut down into 2.5-inch squares.

Well, after seeing what Kathy was doing the light bulb was brighter.  I understood what needed to be done.  

A lightweight fusible stabilizer was used, fusible side to the right side of the fabric.  Circle drawn and the two layers stitched together following the circle line.  Trimmed, turned right side out through a cut opening in the stabilizer, edges pushed out and then pressed on an applique pressing sheet.  The fusible side does not stick.

They were then ironed on the cleaned-up runner center and all but one has been hand stitched on.  (There was football last night.  It was the last of the pre-season.  New England's season starts on 7 September.)  This should be all put together as a flimsy this week and hopefully farther than that.

Thank you, Kathy, for sharing.  

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Enjoy your threads today.

 

Three

Table runners are one of my favorite things to make, give and use.  

Shabby Fabrics has several using a striped fabric.  The Halloween ones were the first that I made using the pattern, Easy Striped Table Runner by Karen Montgomery.  

There was a striped fabric for Christmas that I liked: Up on the Housetop by Teresa Kogut, Riley Blake.  My resistance button didn't work.

Here is the repeat.

The Easy Striped Table Runner, not quite finished.  The outer borders haven't had their machine quilting finished.  That will happen shortly.  Then it will be trimmed and facing applied. 

A cross hatch was done in the center, but I wasn't thinking.  I should have used the center line as my guide, but I used the point edge.  My cross hatching moved, wasn't centered.  Duh on my part but it is mine and it will be on my table, so it is fine.   

Two striped sections remained but they didn't have the same repeat.  How was I going to use them.  I found a free pattern from Shabby Fabrics: Table Runner Using a Border Stripe.  Perfect.  My runners ended up a bit wider therefore the end curve was adjusted.  Two were made and one has already left home for someone else's table.  Can you believe, a picture wasn't taken before it left.  Another Duh on my part.

Here is the one still at home.  The curve needs to be marked on both ends. trimmed and then facing applied.  I am liking facing these.  The edge border isn't lost.    

This morning these will be finished and facing applied.  When the Patriots are on this afternoon, completing the facing will be my slow stitching.

Enjoy your day and your threads.

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

Squirrel

Well, I am learning something new.  My desktop computer that I write my Blog entries from has gone for a spa treatment.  (Not sure if it has a virus or not.  Our antivirus program has changed.)   So, here I am on a laptop that I never have done a Blog entry on.  So far, so good.  We shall see if I make it to the end.

My Squirrel:  I saw this material, Meow-gical Night by Wilmington Prints and it had been stitched into a table runner.  The pattern is Easy Striped Table Runner by Karen Montgomery.  I am not a person who puts up decorations for Halloween, but I really liked this material.   Three runners have been made, two long, one short.  Two will be given away.

 

They were machine quilted with a cross hatch in the center and a wiggly piano key on the outside border.

You might be able to see the quilting on the backside better.

Sunday I will add the borders and hand stitch while football is on.  Shall see how New England does with a new quarterback.

Enjoy your threads this day.  I think that I have made it to the end. 

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

 

 

Closer

The Snowflake Tablerunner from Piecing the Past Quilts is done.  Here is the backside of the hand quilting of the snowflake and the machine quilting of the edges.  All the quilting is a spacing of four inches at the farthest distance.  A front picture should have been done but, here it is.  Done.

This week was another busy week for me, and not enough time was spent hand quilting.  There is only about two hours left but a picture needed to be taken to show you what is left.  

My stitching space was just not deep enough to stitch to the final edge of the border.  The last turn of the bars was done, and the final edge is getting finished.  It should be off the frame tomorrow.  Next, I need to plan how to draw, stitch and cut a scalloped edge.  Rulers I do have and will need to look at the video to refresh my mind (and give me courage).

Potato Chip came back from the long-armer this week.  The pattern is just wonderful.  The edges need to be trimmed and then this will have a facing stitched on the back.  A binding will not be stitched on this.  This will be the first time that I will have done a facing.

 

Here is the quilting on the backside.

I am so pleased to have two quilts closer to more hand stitching and a finish.  

May you enjoy your threads.

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

 

Finish, Almost

My Snowflake Tablerunner from Piecing the Past Quilts is almost done.  I have hand quilted around the snowflake parts and put on the binding.  The decision has been made to add quilting in the spaces between the snowflakes and also at the ends.  It will be set back into the hoop and be my slow stitching for Sunday (football).

3030 was only stitched on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday this week.  Just couldn't make it back due to other commitments.  You can see that the stitching, piano keys, is at the last border.  Only half the stitching line can be stitched due to distance (arm reach).  One more turn and then it will be all done.

Enjoy your threads today.

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.