My Quilting Journey...Year End Thoughts and Favorite Things I Use

I've been an infrequent Blogger of late.  I started blogging in 2006 (in another venue), and I felt like I had much to write about (and I did).  As the year closes, and I look at my infrequent entries, I remember my prior habit of getting up very early and writing.

Jose Ortega Y Gasset stated that writing is the policeman of the mind.....writing requires you to organize the jumble of concepts banging around in your head and get it into a communicable form.  Grant some communicate better than others....and I'll use 10 words at time when a little concision editing could pare it down to 5!  My quilting journey, is offering some content for my writing.  I write mainly for myself, and you'd be surprised how often I use the powerful indexing of Blogger to recall stuff.

In thse last 6 months, I've amassed much fabric  (I shop exclusively clearance fabrics) and many tools.  I wanted to highlight a few (not all)  tolls and such that I'm REALLY GLAD that I have. (Note I have no disclaimers as I'm not affilitiated with any links)

• Creative Grids Stripology Ruler XL--It was $60ish dollars, but it is a workhorse for creating accurate strip cutting.  It is high quality, smartly marked, easy to use, and it does not shift.  I would not part with it.
• Ruler Caddy--No, I didn't buy one!  But there are many dish racks that are perfect for storing your rulers.  I found a plastic slotted base with a microfiber drainer.  WEll, the slotted base perfectly holds my rulers and the microfiber trainer is a great block mat.  Lots of great repurposed items can be found at Thrift Stores to help with storage needs for fabric and tools.
• Havel's Seam Ripper:  This seam ripper is amazing.  It looks like a miniature scythe, and it quickly and easily undo's mistakes.  Use a regular seam ripper to pull out the back thread in a continuous piece.
• Add a Quarter rulers:  I have all 3 sizes (6, 12, 18").These tools make foundation piecing a breeze.
• Newsprint:  If you are foundation piecing, a 500 count of newsprint will allow you to print your foundations off.
• Freshly Pieced, Half Square Triangle Templates. This pdf is purchased, but once you download, you have forever. It makes HST's a breeze with great accuracy and convenience.  It's a huge timesaver--but it does require that you use larger pieces of fabric v. other methods that are more scrap friendly.  I print out on newsprint on my printer and it is wonderful.
• Spring loaded thread snips:  You can find these on Amazon.  They are inexpensive and effective.  I keep a pair around my neck.  Though be careful...they are very sharp so don't bend over around children or pets.  And if you are not careful you'll poke the top of your thighs when you are sitting with shorts on.
• Creative Grids Folded Corner clipping tool: I have found this to be a very effective tool for clipping corners PRIOR to sewing. I've linked the video.  You can use an existing triangle ruler, but these markings allow for more simply marked cutting which saves time.  I use this for binding strips and other blocks that use a sew and flip method. 
• Rulers in General:  I have several rulers, and I've had good luck buying used rulers.  Rulers are a preferential thing.  I still have my Olipfa ruler from 30 years ago (and my original rotary cutter).  I use the 2 ruler method for working with fabric.  I'm always working from the right.  I use one ruler to measure the right hand area of the fabric (the measure) and I cut against the ruler on the left.  I find it saves me time and improves my accuracy.  I recently purchased, but have not received, a 24" and 14" Quilter's Slidelock ruler.  My Olipfa ruler seems to want to shift (even with grips and a weight!).    There are many, many specialty rulers out there, the markings can make or break your intended use.  For example, triangle rulers!
• Cutting tools:  I had my original 45mm Olfa rotary cutter which is 30 years old and going strong.  I bought a 60mm rotary cutter that automatically retracts when the grip is released.  I cannot recommend highly enough.  I keep this at my cutting table and my 45mm by my sewing table.
• Pressing Surface:  The wool mats really are "all that".  I bought one inexpensively in a 48 x 24" dimension.  I upholstered it to a 5/8" plywood board using a Linen Cotton cover.  It works very very well.  I set it on top of a same sized bamboo 2 tiered bookcase and it is right by my sewing table. It is a huge time saver.

 Those are a few I most favorite (and oft-used things).  Now that I have all the tools that I needs, as 2020 unfolds, I want to systemmatically increase my skills to learn new techniques.   I will also post pics of my finished quilts here to give me a history of what I've done.

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Sparkle Magic Shine Quilt Panel

In this post I outlined a method for making the diamond windows used in the Daisy Baby Quilt.  That method allows you to use strip piecing of 2.5" strips.

I applied that method to some 2.5" strips that I had purchased from Tuesday Morning.  They have some great finds, but selection is limited. They have several coordinated fat quarter bundles, yardage (in 1 yd increments) and 5" squares and 2.5" strips as mentioned.

One package of strips coordinated with the 5" squares (though I did not use them in that project).  However, I wanted to used my strip piecing method to see how quickly I could make 30 pieces.  It was pretty quick using the strip sets combined with the continuous sashing method explained in that post.

I also mentioned in that post that I thought the diamond window blocks would worked well as borders.  As I made my vibrantly-colored diamond window block, I realized that it would go quite nicely with the Sparkle Maioc Shine Quilt panel that I had purchased from Hancock's of Paducah.  (I actually have MANY of these panels that I thought I would make for charity/other projects).

Sparkle Magic Shine Quilt Panel with diamond window border panels

I think that it looks quite cute.  I had planned to add another border but passed after piecing the quilt top.  I had to add a 1.75" coping strip to the top and bottom of the panel so that it would line up with the border panels.  I will piece the back from some of the companion fabrics.  I'll use the repeat in the fabric below for the middle of the back and use other fabrics in the collection as strips to make a complete back.  That methods will ensure that I capture the wonderful messaging.

The top and bottom strip will be white fabric so that I can oversize the back for quilting.

To make the diamond window side borders, I had to use 2 corner setting triangles for the top and bottom diamond window on each side.  The rest of the white triangles are side setting triangles. For the most part, it went together pretty well.  I glue-basted to keep my points where they needed to be.

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Daisy Baby Quilt-Revisited!

Daisy Baby Quilt by Piper Girls

My first quilt was the adorable Daisy Baby  pictured.  The pic is their quilt, and it is available in a free pattern by Piper Girls (click that text for link).  It consists of 30 featured fabric blocks (cut and pieced to make a criss cross diamond), set in alternating rows of background fabric.

Though touted as "beginner friendly", in my view it is not first time quilt friendly.  Why?  As a first quilt, there is so much cutting and piecing that without those precision skills acquired by trying one's hand at a more accessible quilt, there are a few places where things can go wrong.  The measurements, cutting and piecing produce what is needed--a 5" block with NO ability to trim down to perfect size.

Cutting:

• 5" squares are cut in half.  No big deal, right?  Big deal.  As a beginner, you may not know (I took it for granted!) that those 5" squares are sometimes NOT 5". Measure first.  Trim as needed.  Avoid tears.
• Assuming your squares are 5", any wibble-wobble in either measuring or cutting the squares in half (30 times) will get noticed.
• Bias:  Each of the corner setting triangles and the side setting triangles have lots of bias.  Without any of the typical forewarnings on handling bias, you might get some stretch (= error)

Sewing & Piecing:

• Each cut square is joined by a 1" piece of fabric.  Precision cutting + precision piecing + precision ironing are required.  My first-time skills in each were lacking.
• The 2 halves are yet again joined by another 1" piece of fabric which creates the cross. All of the above apply.
• Each of those squares are set on point, and must be precisely pieced. To get the perfect join. 
• This piecing greatly benefits from a scant (v. true) 1/4" seam.

On my first quilt, my successive joining of rows compounded all of my errors in ways that required me to take in seam allowances of the next rows of blocks to have a chance of something "reasonable".  (This was NOT fun). And on the final row, I was 1/2 inch short on a side setting triangle.  After much hand wringing, I elected that the only way to fix it was to cover the error with a pocket on the quilt.  Yup.  It worked.

My binding was pitiful...but that has nothing to do with the quilt pattern...but was a skill absence level. Sharon Schamber's excellent video cured me of poor binding.  Now, my bindings look quite good!  Even with all of the abominations I experienced in making my first quilt, I gifted the quilt, and the receipient loved it.

The GOOD NEWS:

Yesterday, I decided to pull the pattern out again and make a quilt.  It turned out mostly PERFECT (except I miss pieced a pair unit backwards and did not unpick the mistake). Using this quilt as a first time entree into the quilting world, (and my failures along the way), I was able to fashion an approach to fix my cutting, piecing and pressing errors.   This second time around, I had some insights that I wanted to share (and memorialize for myself) to make this pattern easier and quicker.

The most important thing to understand about this pattern is that each finished block (and you have several components) measures 5".  There is no ROOM for error--no squaring up...nada.  With the cuts and seams, it is nearly impossible to have a perfectly square block measuring 5".  Therein lies the rub with this quilt, and why I don't recommend for a beginner. Cutting, piecing and sewing need to be done perfectly, not just good.

Here are some strategies that I employed for my second making of this delightful quilt.

1.  5" charm packs are not always 5".  My 5" charm pack squares were slight rectangles by about 1/8".  They had to be trimmed to a perfect 5" square. 
2. Side setting and corner setting triangles are on bias...handle with care...and cut a wee bit larger. Because of the problems that I had with my first quilt, I cut the corner and setting triangle squares slightly larger so that I could trim my block down.
3. Easing.  Get comfortable with taking gentle command of your fabric. It will comply...but if you are too forceful...you will lose.  Find right balance.
4. Seam allowance.  If you have a sporadic 1/4" seam, you'll not be happy.  I had a couple of lazy 1/4 inch seams (tapered at end), and I immediately picked them to the waivering point and resewed. 
5. Press mindfully! (If you hate ironing, treat it as a lesson in mindfulness and call it your ironing meditation.) I had a couple of blocks with initially imperceivable pressing errors--until I tried to piece to the next block.  Once noticed, (and corrected), it righted the block's attachment to its next partner.

Below is my more confidently and ably made Daisy Baby Quilt--in the form of a top only...it's not finished yet.  I added a border to each side to make a more squarish quilt. Even with care (and notwithstanding my mispiecing in a spot), I have a couple of 'goofy' things.  But nothing that any would really notice.  This quilt was made using 5" charm packs (featured fabric (FF)) that I purchased at Tuesday Morning. I chose white as my background fabric (BF). Though they have a limited selection, you can find some very good deals on godd (and some high-quality) fabrics.  This collection all came in 2.5" strip packs.  Previously, I had used those strip packs to make lovely strip-pieced snack mats as gifts....but they are 2.5" inches....Hmmmm....

My 2nd Whack at Daisy Baby Quilt

I really love this pattern--most particularly because as I made it a second time, I had some insights to save time and frustration.  I will make many quilts from it.  Because this pattern uses 5" squares--with as much or little variability in fabric as you like--as I was putting this quilt together, I noted that  2.5" strips can easily be used.  Using 2.5" precuts adds a great deal of opportunities! I used 5 fabrics, but you could use as many as you like--to include changing up the criss crosses!. at the end of this post I have a nice method for providing for sequencing using 5 feature fabrics.Though I must admit that I had a piecing error, that violated the sequence.  I still need to work on a better way to do continuous piecing and not get discombobulated by the order of things.

For strip piecing using 2.5" strips to create a 5" finished block use at least 5 different feature fabrics (FF), do the following for each of your FF:

• Create a strip set of 2.5" FF, 1" BF, 2.5" FF as follows: 
• Take one strip of 30" x 2.5" FF and sew to 1 strip of 30" x 1" background fabric (BF).  Set seam and press to  (BF) (even if lighter).  
• Sew second strip of 30"x 2.5" to the BF side of your unit. Press to BF.
• Carefully press the entire unit. Get that entire seam pressed flat, flat, flat. 
• You now have a strip unit with the 1" background BF (now .5" finished)  nestled between two FF strips.
• Straighten the 30" finished unit out on your rotary mat. Time spent here means less frustration later.  Carefully measure and cut 2.5" segments. Line your ruler with the top of the strip and a seam line. This will give you 12 units from each of your 5 FF strip units (for a total of 60 units that will be joined via sashing to create 30 blocks). Separate your FF units into two piles of six. (I used my Creative Grids Stripology Ruler...one of the single most important tools on my cutting table).
• Time to stitch!  Using the continuous sashing method, take 1 unit from pile 1 and sew to the continuous BF until you are finished with pile 1.  Trim the sashing even with the blocks using scissors or a ruler and rotatry cutter.  Set and press seam toward BF.  For each of the 6 blocks, sew its mate from the second pile.  Take some care to get your block square.  You can line up the middle of the top block with the bottom block to ensure that your criss cross is not crooked.   In no time you will have completed your block.
• Squaring up....there is so little room in these measurements, that you will have little to no excess to trim off.  If you take care on your seam allowance and your pressing. you'll be fine.

The pattern gives all of the other needful directions.

I used 5 fabrics which created 5 columns of 6 rows. To disperse 5 FF block units without making your head hurt or your eyes go all googly, I used a scheme that takes consideration of placement of the first row of squares (give some thought to this layout row).  To get successive row sequencing, take the middle FF block (F#3)  of the first row, and it becomes the first block of the 2nd row.  Use sequential sequencing of blocks starting at F1-F5 and loop back to F1 to complete the sequence for the number of feature fabric blocks that you need to completed the row. (If you look at my quilt pic, you will note that I pieced something out of sequence!)

Row 1:  F1, F2, F3, F4, F5   (F3 is middle block, it goes to head of R2)

Row 2:  F3, F4, F5, F1, F2  (F5 is middle block, it goes to head of R3)

Row 3:  F5, F1, F2, F3, F4  (F2 is middle block, it goes to head of R4)

Row 4:  F2, F3, F4, F5, F1  (F4 is middle block, it goes to head of R5)

Row 5:  F4, F5, F1, F2, F3 (F1 is middle block, it goes to head of R6)

Row 6:  F1, F2, F3, F4, F5


This systematized randomization (if there is such a thing!)  Worked really well.  I will use this scheme in future quilts to help with dispersal in using patterns such as this.

As you look at the quilt, you can see that you can do a number of things to personalize this pattern.

• You need 30 squares, and you can use as many fabrics as you like. 
• Each criss-cross could have 2 pairs of fabrics--you would need to plan your strip units accordingly and have your preferred pairing in each strip unit.  when you join, your units, you will need to rotate the mate so that you have opposing fabrics Top/Bottom and Bottom/Top when you sew them togther.
• You could use consider alternate uses of BF.
• You could consider some applique on your background.
• To re-size the quilt you could
• Add more rows and columns
• You could create sashed clusters of smaller variations.  The pattern gives you the corner and side setting triangle sizes; accordingly, you can configure any number of lovely schemas using fewer rows or columns. 
• You could use a SINGLE row of these diamonds in the sashing to create a lovely border on any of  your larger quilts using leftover strips of 2.5" fabrics. You would simply use 2 corners at the top and bottom and side triangels in between....Also using these as sashed columns in a quilt would be quite lovely.

I hope that gives you some inspiration. 

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Finished Project | Baby Quilt

I completed this baby quilt last evening.  I took a picture before it was laundered. I had finished the top and basted (using homemade basting spray) it to the batting some time ago, but did not get around to putting on the backing and quilting it.  My skills have improved, but yes, you can see that wavy, wonky line in the right border.

This is my own pattern that is simply a 4 patch with pink, gray, red and white colors, set in a simple sashing (1.5" cut) with red corner stones (1.5" squares).   The 4 patch was from 5 inch squares that I cut from fabric.  This would be a lovely charm-square friendly quilt, too. I found this fabric at Tuesday Morning which had this little girl with bees on leash and colorful red and pink toadstools.  I had other complimentary fabrics (also from TM)  to complete.  I put a border on 2 sides and used a red-checked gingham for the back.  I made another quilt with similar palette/fabrics.  This gave me a chance to use up the balance of the fabric.  (Hmmm....as I'm looking at this quilt, I think that I had made binding strips, too, from the border...last evening I simply cut 2.5" strips of gingham...oh well...)

This quilt will be gifted to one of my daugher's friends who is expecting a baby girl in late December. I think it fun and fresh.

One thing that I was bound (pun intended!) and determined to do was join the terminal connections of the binding on a 45 degree angle.  For the spatially challenged, this is a tough thing to do. If you are not careful, you'll end up with an unwelcomed twist.  Once your brain gets it right, it will always be right, but until then.....

I sew my binding to the back and bring it to the front and use a reverse blanket stitch.  I'm not making show quilts--I only started this year learning this craft-- but rather utility quilts for parents and babies to use and abuse. I'm not going to handstitch.  This method allows for the binding to lay very flat on the front.  It works for me.

I no longer fear binding.  Sharon Schamber's quilt binding video set all fears aside.  From that video on, I became a serial glue baster.  Starching wrong side of fabric and then pressing creates a stable product.  Glue basting one side at a time to each corner (to include folding the corner) creates a sta-put no-pins-to-stick-you sewing line with a CLEAR visual on where to stop sewing as you approach you corner (the ironed crease!) as you approach the mitered corner. No more "guestimating"

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My Feathered Friends

Within the last couple of weeks, there has been a palpaple changing of the guard.  Summer bird friends have moved out after a busy season of mating and rearing their families. The industry of bird parents is a wonder to see.  For a few weeks after the last families had been fully fledged, there was a distinctive lull in activity--the last of which was a pair of cardinal parents teaching its fledgling to eat at the meal worm feeder on its own. 

How is this act of separation accomplished?  Simply.  For the first couple of weeks, the fledgling which begs by being all a-flutter from head to toe, gets as many mealworms as it begs for.  Fledglings actually beg from any adult bird that is proximate to them.  Some of those adult birds tolerate it more than others, and I've never seen a non-parent feed a beggar!  But gradually, the parents will eat at the mealworm feeder (which is on my deck so I get an (ahem) bird's-eye view of all of this activity), and ignore (first mostly, and then totally) beggar behavior. 

An empty stomach is a powerful motivator.  It doesn't take long for the little ones to get with the program with an occassional assist from mom or dad.


But after that last bird family transitioned from fledling mom/pop to parents of adult, self-sufficient children, there were very few visitors to the meal worm feeder.  One replenishment of about 50 wiggling larvae was more than enough to last a day.

Not so now.

The winter guard has roused itself. The downey woodpecker, a year round resident, was conspicuously absent.  I guess their summer/fall bugs were plentiful.  They love suet, but I did not put much out much this summer as the squirrels raid it.  With such paucity, I did not see them or the chipping sparrows.

But now, the weather has turned, and even my beloved bluebirds are back--having abandoned the yard after a rat snake raided two nests even though they had predator baffles on them. It was heart breaking.  The suet and the mealworms are consumed with gusto.  I see my hermit thrush down from his/her summer breeding grounds.  S/he lingers by the mealworm feeder (a simple heavy glass candy bowl) and eats nearby suet that I place on slate tiles on the deck rail.

It's wonderful to see the renewed activity given a lengthy lull.  I'm waiting to see my yellow bellied sapsucker (woodpecker) and the brown creeper who also reside in our patch of of the woods over the winter.


Regrettably there are no acorns this year, so our squirrel frenemies are scrambling.  We buy cheap bags of deer corn and disperse it out back along with sunflower seeds.  It helps lessent their raiding of the feeders.  And if the sunflower feeds are dispersed, they have to scavenge a bit more v. sit and eat.  And at night, the deer who have had to hide during the day from the hunters, have been spied eating the corn as well.  They, too, will suffer from an acornless winter.

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Foundation Paper Piecing | !!#$^!#%$^$&$^

My sewing and cursing phase when I began teaching myself how to quilt was blissfully short--largely due to the high quality content on the internet to instruct newcomers such as myself to this useful art form.

I've only purchased one quilt kit-Walkabout-- which was on sale for a ridiculously low price at Hancock's ($29.99).  I'll note that not all instructions (regardless of what you are trying to make) are good.  This quilt pattern, as well as another, Daisy Baby Quilt, which I regrettably tried to make as my first foray into quilting.  My sad little product gifted to someone who so appreciated it--flaws and all.  Our quilts say much about how to practice patience, compassion and gratitude!

The Walkabout had 6 blocks of paper pieced triangles.  Now paper piecing ought to be an easy thing--but it requires training your brain, your eyes and your hands to work differently.  It's worth having a go at it and get that training in.

My bots of cursing arose when I (1)  put the first piece of fabric right side to wrong side of template; (2) sliced off as "seam allowance" something that I had already sewn; (3) put the first piece of fabric wrong side of fabric to right side of template; (4) affixing second piece of fabric in some unmentionally stupid way so that when pressed out did not quite cover what was needed.

Yeah...all of these things seem subtly right but are stupendously wrong.  If you wish to try your hand and develop your work process skills and brain, hand and eye training, head on over to Generations Quilt Patterns  (a dtreasure trove of STUFF!!) where you can find FREE paper piecing patterns.  I might suggest that you try the 6" economy block (square in square in square) You can see a picture of it below.

This project offers a great way to build your skills.  If   you visit the page, you will get a pdf download as well as great instructions on what size fabric to cut so that you don't have any !@#$^%#%$^ moments where (a) things don't fit and/or (b) you are wasting alot of fabric.  I used this pattern to make 30 blocks of perfect square in squares with very little to no waste.  I did have a few cursing moments, and I'd like to share a few tips with you on how to avoid that.

First, have the right tools.

1. Ruler:  It will save you LOTS of frustration and increase you speed if you spring for a 6&12" "Add a Quarter" ruler combo.  You will not look back.  Sure, you can use your 1/4' rulers, but it will slip and slide...don't cause yourself more frustration than necessary.
2. Thin Straight Edge:  I've seen folks use card stock, etc.  I had my Dritz Easy Hem from way back when (30 years).  It is a thin stainless steel tool used for marking straight and rounded hems.  It works beautifully on your foundation template for folding back the foundation. to trim your seams to a perfect quarter inch when used with the Add a Quarter ruler.  Stron, then and makes for a sharp crease....what's not to love?  It is also inexpensive.
3. Template Paper:  There are lots of expensive templates out there.  I bought 500 sheets of 8.5 x 11" newsprint on Amazon for $6.09.  It will run through your printer for downloaded designs, is easy to sew on and tear away...as well as being oh-so-economical.

Second, practice.  What I love about the Generations guide, is that it created a perfect block with minimium wastage.  No special templates, just cut the squares in the prescribed size, cut on diagonals to make the two layers of surrounding triangles.

I used glue to affix the first piece.  While many advocate using a glue stick, I used my Elmer's washable liquid.  I affixed and pressed into place.  I'd rather glue than pin.  Accordingly, I glued each piece on the the straight edges.  It takes only a second, and nothing is going to shift.  It also makes it easy to production piece.  Everything stays put, and you will not prick yourself on errant pins.

While I see that most demonstrations are for finger pressing--I press with my iron. It's a preference, which is what is developed by practicing techiniques and utilizing tools that make sense for each of us to increase the utility and enjoyment of your time spent doing anything.

I had some layer cake fabric that I liked when I bought it but not so much in trying to use it.  I had made some hour glass units.  I elected to use ths fabric in making my practice blocks.  I then had a new appreciation for how the fabrics could work together.

I have 30 of these in various configurations that I'll find some use for.  But in the meantime, I was able to sharpen my skills and tackle this technique.  Thank you Generations Quilt Patterns for being such a great resource.

P. S.  If you have 5" charm packs you can use these to make this block which is also the perfect size for a snack mat--just add batting and backing.  I put batting on the bottom and the backing face down on the top.  Sew 1/4" and leave opening to turn inside out.  Clip corners and turn.  Top stitch 1/8" from each side.  I find a walking foot helpfult.  Quilt using your preferred design, or simply stitch in the ditch.

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Creative Grids Stripology XL

Though I have purchased several quilting rulers, I've generally only purchased them at a discount. So my investment in rulers is pretty small.  Creative Grids recently came out with the Stripology XL.  I do not own any Creative Grid rulers; however, I felt that this one was a must have.

It combines two rulers...a square up ruler that squares up blocks as large as 12.5" and the strip ruler with markings that allow you to cut at 2.5 or 1.5 increments.  And with some minor adjustment, you can cut on the fourths.  You can read more about it here.

Linda McGibbon's Safari Nights

After much consideration after working on a current project, it occurred to me that though this ruler is expense at $67 ish, it will save a ton  of time while ensuring that accuracy is optimized.  I bought my ruler from Keepsake Quilting.  To get free shipping ($75), I added a couple of quilt patterns.  I don't typically buy patterns, but purchased a couple.  Sometimes I make my head hurt trying to come up with "stuff" on my own.  I'm really looking forward to making the Safari Nights quilt pictured.  I have Paper Art Safari by Wyndham fabrics.  I bought it as it was on sale, though I had no specfic project.  I think that I have that project now.

Paper Art Safari

In the quilt that I'm making now, I wanted to use up the fabric that I had.  I had a melange of fat quarters, a jelly roll and a layer cake that had this magnificent fabric that was just beautiful  I had purple, greens blacks, yellow and blues...and I just fell in love with the fabric line.  I don't know who the designer is as none of the fat quarters have a selvage that identifies. I made the purchase at Tuesday Morning.

I made the front guestimating a pattern called "French Vanilla" that I saw that Pat Sloan was making with Christmas fabrics.  I thought that pattern would showcase the fabrics...basically the layer cake is cut at 6.5" and 3.5" so you get a 6.5" square, a 3.5" square and a 6.5 x 3.5 rectangle. Each unit gets sashing and each block is sashed.  So a nice use of white space with the fabrics.

I had purchased another fabric to go on the back.  However, I had so much of the original fabric left, I decided to do a medley of "stuff" on the back to include strip triangles, snowballs and nine patches...fussy cutting some of the lovely motifs of roosters inside the snowball.

Those 9 patches I made from strip sets....let me tell you, it is alot of cutting even when using the strip sets.  Having undertaken (an mostly finishing) that endeavor, when I saw the Stripology XL ruler pop up on You Tube, I knew that I had to have it.

The right tools--cleaning, cooking, quilting, carpentry, painting etc make all of the difference.  They are an investment in a good outcome and greater enjoyment of the process.

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An Ugly Patch

I had some fat quarters with interesting designs. I elected to make some flying geese using the 4 at a time method.  You can read about this method by many sources.  There are many great tutorials.  Frankly it is an ingenious method!

So I made my flying geese.  While the fabrics matched, I just didn't like them. I mastered a technique, but my resulting blocks left me underwhelmed.  I stabbed them through with a pin and put them on my design board so they would taunt me to giving them a purpose.

I have a wonderful bamboo bed cover that I bought several years ago at Tuesday Morning.  It is much used.  It is the perfect summer weight that gives you a cover, but does not make you hot.  Over the years, there have been some worn spots in it.  I had bought some linen/cotton fabric to make a large patch to cover up several, but ended up using this to cover my ironing surface.

As I was at my sewing machine looking at my board, it occurred to me that these 3x6 ugly geese were in a complementary color scheme to my holey-coverlet.   So I affixed the patches with wonderful results.  My orphaned patches found a home, and I really like how they look on my comforter.  I affixed them with a blanket stitch, and frankly did not exercise all that much care given the high utility of the coverlet, and its generally shabbiness!

I can see that more undesirables will make it to this coverlet.  I also had some ugly fabric in a 2.5" strip.  While ugly on its own, I used it to fix a raveling edge of a towel.

So for ugly fabrics, strips, blocks, etc....consider them as a means to upgrade 'stuff' around your house that is shabby but with a little repair, can keep their utility with possibly an improved aesthetic you didn't think possible.

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Bladder Cancer in Dogs

My English Setter, Ella, has been experiencing urgency and frequency in her urination patterns.  It was noticeable, then tapered, to somewhat normal, then back to noticeable.  I took her to the vet.  They took urine samples.  Lots of red/white blood cells; no bacteria.  It is possible that the abundance of the red/white blood cells occulted the bacteria, so she was placed on a course of antibiotics for 14 days.

The antibiotics have not helped the urgency/frequency.  She went back yesterday to see if they can grow a culture in her urine sample.  If not, then this means that she likely has bladder cancer.  While the incidence rate is reportedly low (2% of all cancers), this will mark my second English Setter with the disease.  English Setters are not a high risk breed, and I don't engage in any of the high risk environmental factors (herbicide/insecticide use) in my home. Further, I limit the use of insecticides (flea/tick control) on my dogs. 

While there are treatments for bladder cancer (surgery/drugs), none with much efficacy that gives a dog much more than 6 months to live.  Ella is 13-14 years old.  She is still active and happy, but f/u of urination a problem.  It is also hard to know how much discomfort a dog is in given their high tolerances for pain. 

Greta, a prior English Setter, had inoperable bladder cancer.  Her pain level could not be effectively controlled, and I made the decision to euthanize her, sparing her further discomfort.  That decision is likely in my future with my beloved Ella.  She has been one of the sweetest dogs I have ever owned.

As Ella's med treatment did not abate her symptoms, I'm not hopeful.  I've been lucky that my dogs have been able to lead a full and happy life. But the end times are hard to part with a devoted friend.

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Baby Quilt with Baby!

I received a lovely pic with one of my recipients enjoying the quilt that I made for her!

My girlfriend (the grandmother) sent this along.  It made my day

I found the fabrics in a fat quarter bundle at Tuesday Morning.  I supplemented with other fabrics that matched.  I really like the pink, red, gray and white melange of colors.  The white fabric is a dot on white that I got from Hancock's of Paducah (my fav place to buy fabric). Their discounted fabrics cannot be beat.  Big difference in the looser woven 'stuff' than the tightly woven "stuff".  

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Charm Pack "Squares"

I had purchased at Tuesday Morning some 5" charm pack "squares".  I was making a simple baby quilt, that sashed each block in a row on the right and left sides. See note below on Jenny Doan's method.   What I found with my "squares," which you can guess already as they are presented in quotes, is that they were not quite square.  In fact, they were out of square somewhere between 1/4 and 1/8 inch.  Uncool.

I realized this after I had sewn my blocks to sashing and then sewed all of the blocks in the row together.  I attached top and bottom sashing strips.  When adding additional row units, and matching the right/left seams of the next sewn row to the one above, I was horrified to find that I was pretty off more than a reasonable amount.This of course happened because I had changed the orientation of  the squares from the original packaging.  Otherwise, I would have not noticed, as all would have been out of square but perfectly oriented.  But when turning one that is a wee bit longer than the heighth, it shows up.

Bill the Cat exemplifies my reaction.

 Did I unpick seam.  NO.  I simply 'eased' them  in.  It will still make a lovely baby quilt, and none will notice once quilted and laundered.  And, it was a valuable lesson--one I think that I'm on my second iteration of learning.  I'd like not to have a third.

 I so miss Bloom County. 





(1) Jenny Doan of Missouri Quilt demonstrated (forget which vid but will update when I find it) an easy sashing technique in one of her many high quality videos. Rather than cut the sashing strips individually and sew to EACH block, sew the blocks to a continuous sashing strip of your desired width (length = WOF).  When doing so, it is important to not turn your piece so that the orientation of the bottom or top now becomes either right or left.  It's surprising how easy that is!  You can nestle your blocks together on the sash to have one cut line in between, or you can leave more space, but you'll need to make two cut lines for.   AFter you chain piece the blocks to your strip, simply cut the sashing strip flush to your block.  A huge timesaver.   As I've become a serial gluer, I glue my blocks to the strip and then sew away with no risk of shifting.

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Palladio Field Trip

My old KPMG pals and I did our annual jaunt to Palladio Restaurant (14 years now).  It was a beautiful Indian Summer day, and the humidity was low--a welcome relief from Richmond's humid pall. We continue to be amazed that they have not placed us on a do not serve list...we manage a few laughing jags (replete with tears and aching throats and stomachs) from our irreverant senses of humor.  We do try not to rise to the level of irritant as a crying baby, but stop just short.  We've not notice any leaving on our account.  Though there have been a few askance, disapproving glances in the past.

I was designated driver, allowing companions to enjoy the 4 course lunch with wine pairings.  It is a lunch to give some time and money toward...a three hour lunch with a price tag north of $100 with tip and tax.  Nevertheless, it is a splurge not done often, and to be friends known for so long, it was cheap fare indeed.

I took each of my friends a snack mat and my Haiku (with caveat) creation.  Oh, I'm not good, but that does not deter my trying!  Here's my verse.  If you like it, use it, but do use the attribution.

Friendship is like gold.

Lustrous, durable, priceless.

Sharing it brings joy.

Enjoy using this (insert your gift name here) and remember that Haiku, like friendship, is an art form that gets better with practice.   tidingsfromtheuniverse@gmail.com

Feel free to use it if you like it, but please include the email address.  Do something nice for your friends...they tolerate more from us than anyone else, including our family members.

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Pinwheels Baby Quilt

I still continue to work on my quilting skills.  Free motion quilting is definitely something that needs improvement.  But, I'm being intrepid and forging ahead anyway.  Less than perfect results, but practice...well, I need I lot more!

I started this quilt with a fat quarter bundle that I purchased at either Walmart or Tuesday Morning.  I added in some other fabrics to get the size that I needed.  My goal was simply to practice making pinwheels.  So I made as many pinwheels as I could with the fabrick that I had.  I'm a sucker for gray, and I loved the gray and turquoise fabric.   

I used a 5 x 4 block arrangement with sashing and cornerstones. I made all of this up as I went along muttering frequently that having a design intention would have been a good strategy.  But I liked how it came together with what was on hand. But, in hindsight, I should have made my borders a scoush (sp?) thinner--but in fairness, I did audition a bit on sizes, and felt that this would be okay.

Though I have a design board, alot of good it did me.  My mind wandered, and I ended up having sashing upside down.  How did I know?  The cornerstones are directional.  (!#$^@$%&^$^&).  The idea was to have a print and solid every other block.  That is how I had it laid out on the design wall.  After ripping out two rows of seams I said #uck it!, and accepted that I had a new interpretation of the original design.  Just when I thought I had conquered my newbie mistakes, I made two collosal ones.

After having the quilt top made, I found out that a family friend had a new son.  This goes to newly-arrived Cameron.

Though I have many bumps and jiggles in my free motion quilting, once a quilt is laundered it looks less noticeable.  This marks my 7th baby quilt that I've made.  Now that I've improved (but am far from proficient), I have labeled my last two quilts.

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A Rad Iron

My son needed to be outfitted with a coat and tie. As he is in his late twenties, his need for such attire has been limited.  I suggested to him that it is time for him to get a suit.  He decided that he did not want to spend money on a suit (though he can well-afford it).  Rather, we would look at the thrift store.

I did not know what size jacket that he needed.  I found a video on line (fully expecting that we would have to BUY from retail outlet a suit).   We determined that he was a 44R.  I grabbed my box of stuff to go to the thrift store (I keep an empty box, purposely fill it and shuttle out the door).  Our first destination was CHKD (Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters).  I suggested to him that we would be looking for a non-suit jacket (sport coat) that he could mix and match with navy, gray or khaki pants.  That would give him a classic look that would never go out of style.

He pulled out the first 44R that fit and said, "We're done; let's go."  I said, "You have a suit jacket that looks like a suit jacket, and it will not go with any other pants without looking goofy."  So we went through the racks.  He walked out with 3 sport coats and spent a total of $16:  One Calvin Klein, 100% Wool, one  Pronto Uomo Navy Worsted Wool Jacket, and one Ralph Lauren Chaps Polyster/Rayon.  All three can be serve our purpose.  The first two did not even have the pocket interiors clipped.

Of course, I needed to make my rounds.  I did my sweep, and I found a vintage iron ("as is") for $8.98.  It was made by the RADIRON Corp of Miamisburg OH.  Patent Pending.  It was classic old iron that had the middle dial (like a sun dial that would take you through the fabric types stamped on aluminum dial), it was compact and HEAVY.  I brought it home, and it works just fine. I cleaned it up with some metal polish.  The sole of the iron is in perfect condition.  There were a couple of rust spots on the top of the iron, but they cleaned away though the finish is pocked. It is 1lb heavier at 4.9 lbs than  heavier than my Rowenta which is almost 2x as large.

I proceeded to see what I could find out about this iron.  I couldn't find anything but a listing of the company's patent listing (2,496,746, Feb 7) in the 1950 catalog of US patents for that year. It was filed by Ray Opperman.  (I downloaded the patent application!)  Not a one for sale anywhere that I could see.  Not one in the 963 listings on Ebay...or anywhere else.

In addition to not finding any irons, I did not find anything on RADIRON Corp (aside from the patent listing).  So I have an iron made by a company both of which have escaped the indexing of Google.

So, I'll create my own listing with this post--

It really is a RAD-iron!

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Free Spirit Fat Quarters | Amazon

Amazon is offering Free Spirit Fat Quarters for $22.47 for 20 fat quarters.  I'm a "never-pay-retail" person, so I like to scour for high quality, low priced items.  At $1.12 for a fat quarter, this bundle delivers out-sized savings...for fabric that is priced in the $10 range.  Though, to be fair, these are discontinued or soon to be. 

I've bought three of these, and I have ended up with some beautiful fabrics...one such collection be that of Anna Maria Horner's Skipping Stones that appeared in all three of my purchases in varying density.  This collection offered a beautiful assortment of desaturated colors.

I wasn'' sure what to do with it, and I hunted around for inspiration.  I found it at Karen Brown's, Just Get it Done Quilts.  She exampled a quilt by Susan Gray in desaturated colors, and I knew that it was the perfect way to showcase these luxurious fabrics.

I've used all of my Skipping Stones collection, and I was able to pull some other fabrics out to work with what I had. I've not made it big enough for a bed--and it is certainly an ample throw at this point.

Block Construction.  The block construction was very simple--and uses 2 light/dark contrasting fabrics for each block and a simple 3 row block (6.5", (3) 3.5", 6.5").    I alternated the blocks.  A few blocks could go either way!

Karen Brown's instructions called for cutting fabric into 2.5" strips (WOF).  Each strip was then cut into (2) 6.5" lengths and (3) 3.5" lengths.  I married a light and a dark fat quarter, and cut my strips from the two that I was planning to use in the same block.

Row (1), (3)  light/dark fabric in 6.5" length.
Row 2 , 1 light, 1 dark, 1 light if top row is light; or 1 dark, 1 light, 1 dark if top row is dark.

It was easy to chain piece.  Design wall very helpful to distribute the blocks in a visually pleasing fashion.

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September's Quilting Progress

I had to get a new seam ripper.  I opted for the Havel Ultra pro. It is a precision item.

I made a pinwheel baby blanket.  To my surprise (and my hard work in improving my skills/techniques), all of my pinwheels were perfect.  My sashing, perfect...oh except when I did....

The pinwheel quilt had sashing cornerstones, and somehow I managed to get my rows goofed up which made rows 1 and 3 of the 4 I had sewn together have the cornerstones upside down.  Geez...it is TOO EASY to make those mistakes.

Mind you, I have  design board.  Such a boon for keeping things organized and stepping back to see, "what is what".  But the time between going to the board and sitting down...one twist the wrong way and you have a date with a seam ripper.

I also saw a youtube video on a seam ripper that looked like a man's beard trimmer.  I decided to conscript my husband's into quilting servicing.  It really does an amazing job, but it is awkward.  And, I did 'eat' a small piece of fabric.  Nevertheless, once you develop your technique, it works faster than anything. 

I am reminded of all of the muscle memory involved in undertaking a new task....using rotary cutters and rulers, the sewing machine, and the ironing.  My sewing set up (my family calls it my sewing lair) is spacious.  I'm so glad I did a design wall...it really is a necessity to stay organized. 

I'm officially a gluer.  I love the stability that glue-basting seams gives. My work is precise, and there is no shifting during sewing.  I broke down and bought the Bernina piecing foot.  While I received one in multi-foot kit, it does not have the quality needed.  Plus it has a small hole for the needle which does not allow the needle to move right for my perfect scant 1/4 inch.  Also, over bulky seams it bended such that my needle broke as it hit to foot.  I found a good deal on a Bernina foot, and it was well worth the money.  I can move my needle position over one right of center, and it gives me my perfect scant quarter inch seam. The seam guide rides beautifully over fabric and is not bendy like the cheap foot.  The cheap foot guide does NOT ride beautifully.  You really do get what you pay for. 

BTW, No one talks about this...and being older, I need my reading glasses to do close up work. But I have had several needles break where a shard has hit me in my face.  I can imagine that a broken needle tip could easily hit one's eye.  I feel that my glasses protect my eyes. 

I'm so happy that I'm making such good progress.  The only way to improve is to do.  It builds skills and techniques. I'm finding it very pleasurable.

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My Quilting Progress

I've been sewing through my fabric acquisitions.  I see that I need to be careful, as there is more fabric out there that I find "cute" than I have time to process!

So far, I have made 2 baby girl quilts and 4 baby boy quilts... the fecundity of my daughter's contemporaries is astounding.  My quilts look much cuter now...cuter meaning the seams all line up and the binding doesn't look like a blind drunk undertook the task.

I've not tried to make any fancy blocks. Rather, I'm concentrating on getting the start to finish steps honed.  The quilts that I have made were either stripped panels with sashing in the middle, tops and sides (which looked very clean and beautiful), or 5" squares attached with sashing.  Oh...and that Daisy Baby quilt...5 inch blocks chopped and reattached to 1" strips and cut and sewed and %#%!#^^.  I shudder.

It is THAT quilt that sent me to remedial quilting.  Nevertheless, simple block and sash concoctions are a lovely showcase for cute fabric.  And there is lots of cute fabric.

I've also been making snack mats.  I'm not embarrassed in the least by them.  They look beautiful, and they are ever so useful.

I currently have a quilt top finished, and I think that it is my favorite so far.  I had leftover fabric from another project....lovely grays, reds, pinks and white.  I made a 4 patch simple block with 5" squares, and sashed it with a 1.5" strip and a 1.5" cornerstone.  I have about 7 fabrics, and they look lovely together.

My current endeavor is to get my free motion quilting more finessed.  My "Sew Steady" table came.  And it made a HUGE difference in what I could do.  I've repurposed my quilt sandwiches to practice on as snack mats for the house.  I'm addicted to these quilted coasters.  They are flat, and absorb condensation and are washable.

 So, I'm all set with stuff.  I want to make some quilts to donate.  Surprisingly, I have contacted two charities that do that sort of thing, and I've not heard nary a peep.

Now that I'm less frustrated because my end product is more competently completed (e.g. I've built considerable muscle memory and don't have to think so much), I'm really finding this quilting relaxing.

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Quilting Ruler First Aid | More Cross Pollination Tips

Yeah, they make those fancy and expensive quilting rulers that don't slide.  You can make your own, simply. 

Just order some 3M Transpore tape--Clear.  It is cheap: You can get QTY (2)  10Yd, 1" wide rolls at Amaxon for  4.99.  Adhere them to the BACK side of any rule that you wish to transform into a non-slip surface and Presto-Chango...you have a non slip ruler.

I stumbled upon this given my slipping rulers and the price delta between regular rulers and the non-slip.  I was thinking about adhesion "stuff", seeing that some were using grit tape.  I didn't want to use that against delicate fabrics.  I remembered that I had some of this tape from my Dad's medical arsenal that I tossed into a bag after he passed away.  I thought I would try it out. 

I tried it on one ruler.  I wanted to ensure the following:

1. It was easy to apply
2. It was easy to remove
3. It allowed the ruler to still slide easily into place
4. It stayed put when reasonable pressure applied.
5. And, it did not obscure the markings on the ruler.

All items were thumbs up.  It works beautifully.  Why don't you try it? Now I have a way to use this stuff before my kids go through my medical stuff at my demise!

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Quilting Basics Imperfectly Mastered | And Kitchen/Garage Cross Pollination

As I mentioned in another post, I'm a novice when it comes to quilting.  My first baby quilt was a disaster, but I gave it as a gift anyway (with all of the qualifiers).  The recipient was delighted (so my daughter says, and her note to me says), and it did not seem to be feigned delight.  I showed it to my daughter to ensure that she would not be embarrassed.She has a great eye, and she approved.

With all my trials and tribulations on that quilt, I learned that I needed to learn more.  Being able to sew and being adept at basic quilting is not the same thing. I read everything that I could, and with my next attempt, I had very good results.  To wit:

1. Cutting:  I've employed the double-ruler method to cut. I use one ruler on the right to ensure that my long Olfa lipped ruler is perfectly straight.  Even though it has a lip, it is a wee-bit wonky at times.  This method gives me perfect confidence that my cuts are straight and sure. No cutting and turning fabric for me.  I'm just moving both rulers right to left.  And Donna Jordan's trick of putting a 5lb weight at the end of the ruler to stabilize is golden advice. Just get a weight with a hexagonish end.  Otherwise the weight will roll places you don't want it to. Yes, there are other ways that very excellent teachers espouse--I found my way, and it works perfectly for me.
2. Piecing:  If you've cut it right and pressed your blocks  right, then it ought to go together right.  In theory.  Donna Poster has great video series.  The greatest tip (to my eye) was easing seams.  Specifically, holding the each point of your piecing firmly and letting the machine ease the difference.  Now, too much easing will cause puckers, etc, but a little will ensure that things align as they 'should.'  In 'regular' sewing, easing is an important skill...and it takes pracice.  But the machine should work for you.  But if you have your walking foot on...nope.
3. Pressing:  I used 2' x 4' rug pad on top of a 2'x4' piece of plywood.  I upholstered a linen/cotton fabric to it, and it serves as my pressing board.  I had a squishy over the door ironing board fashioned as a tabletop.  It was distoring my pieces (which were all bias cuts!!!).  I love this board.  It sits on top of a low wicker bookcase of the same size

While it is "just that easy," it takes practice...practice builds muscle memory so you are not thinking very minute about what to do right and what wrong to avoid.

 I've been purchasing some fabric.  My 'never-pay-retail' mentality has led me to two places:  Hancocks of Paducah, and you guessed it, Walmart...oh, and Tuesday Morning.  First, the former.  Hancocks has lots of fabric on sale.  Lots.  So if you are new to quilting, why not practice on $4/yd fabric rather than $12?  I have bought some really lovely fabric from them at the $3.99 price point.  (I also bought some more expensive yardage....).  Walmart has love Waverly Inspiration Fat Quarters at .97.  That's about $4 a yard too!  They are in single packs and include many cute prints.  I'm typically dismissive of Walmart...for no good reason.  I've also found some really cool fabric at Tuesday Morning.  I'm a regular shopper there...but I never noticed they sold fabric until......

I bought a strip set of Ann Rowan's "Sing your Song".  I wasn't sure what to make with it.  I didn't feel like trying to figure out how to make a quilt with it.  When making a sandwhich, I considered my interfolded deli paper.  Hmmm...I think that will make an interesting stitching base.

Testing my hypothosis, I took the deli paper (10" x 10.75") which is folded exactly in half. There is a 'slightly waxed' side...and a duller side.  It is no where near as waxy as wax paper. So, no concerns for a mess when you get your iron to it.

Cutting along the fold yields two lovely rectangles, the perfect size for a snack mat.  Using this method, you are treating the deli paper substrate as your 'foundation'.  You can lay your pieces lengthwise, widthwise or on the diagonal.  I chose the latter.  Stitching to paper means that you can cut  your strips any way you please. laying your first strip (however you wish) on the dull side of the paper with the right side of the fabric up.  Start anywhere you like on the paper, just ensure that all pieces overlap the paper and your seams extend beyond the edges.  Yeah, it is a little bit of fabric waste, but with careful cutting, you have just bits for your leaders/enders in your machine.  Also, if you mess up and don't use the dull side, nothing terrible will happen to either your iron or your fabric.  It's foolproof and cheap--

 With a narrower stich width, this stuff tears off like a charm. What is really great, is that when you are finished your stitching, you already have a square base from which to cut.  Just flip over the project, and use your ruler to cut off the excess...lining up your ruler against the paper. It has square corners...just like your ruler--though the edge is a wee bit hard to see given that it is transluscent.

I was SO HAPPY with my results.    With the top completed, just cut a backing and some batting the size of your top.  Layer
                                               batting
                                                               project back with wrong side to batting
                                                                                              project front with right side to back

Stitch (1/4" min) along the outside leaving a space of 4".  Mark where you are going to turn...the hum of the machine makes the mind wander and before you know it, your project is completely tucked inside of your perfectly sewn perimeter. Before turning, trim each of your corners.

There are lots of ways to turn a project. I happened to have a screw driver handy, and I thought I would take it for a drive.  It works great.  Let me tell you why.  The glass handle (don't use any with a grip), slides easily over your fabric.  Unlike other 'methods' of turning, the wide end helps immensely in turning your side seam out.  Sometimes they get tucked in...this business end will push them out nicely.

Now, the second business end does a marvelous job of poking your corners out.  The picture is of a Phillips head, I have a flat head.  Though, I'd be interested to see if one is better than the other.  This tool has the added benefit of your not having to stuff your darn and in your project.  So use a long screw driver.

Ann Rowan's "Sing your Song"

After your project is turned, turn in your fabric where you turned your project.  Press.  Then stitch (bring bobbin thread up first) 1/8" around your project.  You can then "stitch in the ditch" along the seams on the face of your project....or machine quilt if you are good at that.  I'm still working on being a stitch in the ditch master.

My project turned out beautifully (to my standards).  The 1/2 10 x 10.75" deli sheet makes the perfect sized snack mat that is easy to make and will be delightful to  use.  These mats are a great way to let your friends know that you are thinking about them.  And they'll remember you each time they use their mat.

While this piece is backed, you could simply make quilting blocks by cutting in half, OR by using the entire sheet of deli paper it makes a 'squarish' block.

P. S.  I found some 

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Less Cursing; More Sewing

I have now achieved quilter's mecca:  my 1/4" seams are truly 1/4" seams.  Oh, until my mind wanders...

There is seldom anything new under the sun.  As I think of quilting, and my bumpy entree into this old craft, I make the instant leap that quilting is much like carpentry.  Working with your tools to measure, cut and fit is no different in carpentry than quilting (at least my smattering understanding of both--thought I probably know more about carpentry than quilting! and I'm a CPA by profession!).

There is a reason why these things are called a craft. When things go right, then all is to be as expected.  However, when things go wrong...poor tools, faulty substrates, faulty materials, faulty execution....that is when the craft badges start to shine.  Coping trim into a non-square corner is like..easing a seam into a non-square block. While best to avoid mistakes, and have good tools, sometimes 'stuff' happens.  And the real professionals know how to fix those things.  I've been surrounded by tradespeople most of my adult life, and I'm pretty handy myself. So I have been undaunted.

 I made the mistake of looking at Bernina machines online to see what has progressed in the line of sewing since I purchaseed by Bernina 910 more than 30 years ago.  It is still a workhorse.  But it has all of 7 stitches.  I also have a Bernette serger...it needs a visit for service.

I see that Bernina has a sewing machine that costs 1.6 times the cost of my first brand new ca in 1982.  Like PetFinder...best not to read the descriptors or you'll bring it home.  It likely could cook dinner.

What I did find was an exceptional deal on a Bernina 530B with the BSR combo.  I found it on Amazon.  The 530B is an entry level machine into the 5 series of Bernina machines.  It is being discontinued. But the machine with the Bernina Stitch Regulator for free motion quilting and the knee lift, and many other functions is far and away better than what I have.  I'm not interested in embroidery, so I'm not lusting after those machines.  But I will note, that there are some compelling deals on ebay for used 580 machines.  (Okay, maybe I would have been happy with a used machine).  But I didn't really look after feeling that I had done alright with my purchase. Many of the features on that machine, I likely would not use.

So I dithered for just a small amount of time.  I told my husband that while it was alot of money, the price was just too good to pass up.  I would have more heartburn letting the deal get away than spending the money.  As I later found (and had initially surmised), there was a typo that listed the machine $300 less than it should have been.  Further, 2 feet that were listed as being included were not what came with the machine.   I'm an auditor at heart, and I ticked off the feet...the most important one being the walking foot.  The embroidery foot being the other foot missing.  The retailer was great and honored the commitment.

I hope that this will give me many years of sewing pleasure.

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Good Will Rummaging | Thrift Shops

Yes, there are lots of video ride alongs that people post when shopping at Goodwill or the Dollar Stores, etc.  Why watch when you can go yourself and find some great deals on "stuff" you may or may not need?

I have a pretty finely trained magpie eye.  I simply walk through the aisles with an open mind about "stuff" that I see.  Two Sunday's agp was scorching hot.  I was out and about which always takes me by some thrift store.  Goodwill was in my crosshairs. It was a happening place, to be sure--though none were filming their activities.

I scored a couple of items that I was happy about.  I mentioned previously that I had dusted off my sewing equipment, and created a space for renewed my interest in sewing. I might add that this activity has been a welcome one to retreat from the stresses of life and focusing on creating something. As I was 'designing' my space (which meant I had to clear out old crap in the upstairs room above the garage and then clean, clean clean), I was happy to repurposed some furniture that I was dithering about donating to charity.  I dither, because too often I get rid of something only to later say, "I could have used ____".  Many items have fit in that blank.

Among the things that I was able to use were, a large, 2 leaf Queen Anne Pennsylvania house solid cherry dining table. Likely too nice to be used as a sewing table, but  I used it stage homes that were being refurbished.  I bought it and 5 chairs for $150 at the Children's Hospital of Kings Daughters. So, I don't have much money in it, and it doesn't make sense to buy something else.  It was an exceptional deal then, and I currently use the chairs when I'm entertaining. 

I also have a large rectangular mid-century modern solid cherry table.  It is unique in that it is a fat rectangle, and it is counter height.  It makes a great surface to cut fabric without having to bend over.  I also have an old solid walnut library table. I now have a great "U-shaped" work area where everything is convenient--to include an old wicker bookshelf that serves as the base for my pressing table.

I digressed...So all of the above is the context in which I'm on my Good Will Rummaging expeditions.  Having a specific utility yields much better results than having a specific object in mind.  To wit, as I was browsing, I found a magazine rack with a gate leg shelf.  Well, this was just perfect to put my sewing rulers in and the shelf was off my table surface and an easy place to put needful things.  It cost $8.25 less 50% off.  The second thing that I found was a large, rectangular,  thick cork trivet in an unopened Ikea package.  It was $3.25.  Well, that was just perfect to use as an iron rest.

So, I'm all set up to sew comfortably.

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Shooting Staples--Fun with Upholstery Gun

My cousin had a benc which she wanted some cushions for.  I said.."Oh, I can do that."  I had some fabric that I wanted to audition for her.  She chose a beautifully coppery-brown fabric with an embosssed floral motif that I had picked up in the remnant area of a home fabric store.  Given that the bench needed something low profile, I thought that a 1/4" piece of plywood, cut to size and then padded and upholstered would fit the bill. We purchased all that we needed.

Then, as bad luck would have it....my air compressor broke.  (Yes, I know that you can hand staple, but I'm not going to).  And then I got busy with other stuff, and just let life get ahead of me.  I finally circled back to it, and had one other small delay...I wanted to double check measurements, and my cousin was out of town.  Once measurements confirmed, the bench seat took all of 35 minutes to complete.  No cuss. No fuss.  I take that back, I almost shot myself with a staple--and something may have slipped.

One thing that I had remembered from a video long ago was to overlap the foam at the front.  It created a nice round profile.  And my fingers/hand remembered how much hand strenght you need to pull and keep things tight. I delivered the upholstered board on Sunday.  It fit perfectly, and it looked very professional and elegant.  The fabric was a perfect choice.

In order to get my sewing area in ship-shape, I ordered a 2'x4' woolrug pad (Nature's Cushion) from https://ecorugpads.com/shop-all-rug-pads.html.   This avenue seemed more cost effective than the other products that I saw (specifically sold as a presser mat).  In preparation for its arrival, I asked my husband to be on the lookout for a 2' x 4' piece of plywood.  Where he works there are castaways.  He found such a castaway....bowed terribly.  I figured I could get most of the bow out of it with some create problem solving.  I took it upstairs near the weight machine (gathers dust).  Over the course of several days, I placed weights on the board:  on the ends, in the middle, and on the ends with the middle supported in an attempt to flatten it.  I mostly succeeded.

On the internet I saw many videos on how to make your own pressing mat.  I simply did the following:

• Covered the scrap piece of plywood with Reynold's Wrap for moisture protection.  I could say 'heat protection', but I'm not quite sure that the heat is going to be a problem there.
• Placed my 3/8" felt pad on the foil-wrapped side.  
• Cut a piece of cotton/linen to cover top and about 3" around all three sized.
• Pulled out the upholstery gun, affixing the linen snugly.

I used the linen becaue it was pretty; I got it on sale; and the board is on top of a wicker 2 shelf bookcase which is exactly the dimensions.  So it looks nice.  Frankly, it may NOT hold up...but I'm in "so-what" mode.  I know that it will take the heat and keep my quilting squares snugly in place.

I'm very happy, and the ecorugpads.com has excellent service.  I ordered the wrong thing (thought I was ordering a wool blend mat).  Emailed them.  It had already shipped....they recalled it and gave me a full refund.  I was prepared to accept the shipment and use the product somehow.

My hands and fingers are a wee bit sore from those two back to back projects.  But I was glad to get some stuff put together that is useful to me and others.

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Baby Quilt Revisited & Fearproof, Foolproof binding

The baby quilt that I embarked upon as my maiden quilt was going to be relegated to some alternative purpose. The binding was so #$%^!$%& horrible. I put it on wonky, sewed it wonky.  Corners are secure but...welll...wonky.  And when I stitched around, I managed to miss a list one section of binding on the obverse side.  When turned over, giant yawns in my lazy seams attested to my being a quilt hack.

I folded it up.  Put it aside.  Lamented its fate.  I then picked it up.  No, I didn't pick up the seam ripper.  I simply restitched the yawning gaps closed.  Is it elegant?  No.  Is it pretty?  Mostly. Is it useful? #QE$^!$% Yeah!

So I washed it.  Starched it.  Pressed it.  It will live its new life as a companion piece to the changing pad this is elegant, pretty and oh-so-useful.  (I still remember the changing pad that I had from years ago....a plastic thing).

I didn't put any waterproofed fabric in or on my changing pad.  But mine can just go in the washer.


After much lamenting, audible (@#$^%^^& ) and otherwise, over binding my items, I ran across the Sharon Schamber's video.

Elmer's School Glue is my new best friend.  While Sharon is discussing binding, I was intrigued about glue in general in quilting.  Accordingly I deep dived on YouTube. Sharon's daughter is also a quilter Cristy Fincher is also a quilter and an advocate for glue basting. You can see an interview with her here.

While my first project (baby quilt) was a disaster in the cutting, piecing and binding departments, I was motivated to improve.  I set about working on binding.  I used Sharon's method, and it worked wondrously.  Here are a few of my key takeaways:

1. Size of your seam allowance. I've never seen any state this (but I'm still new), but the the seam allowance is dictated by your binding width:  1/3 of the width of your binding is your seam allowance.  Not a 1/2 inch.  Not a scant 1/4 inch.  1/3 the width.   Makes sense.   You need 3  parts: (1)  the seam allowance, (2) front binding and (3) back binding.  So using 1/3 for the seam allowance ensures equal distribution.  (Doh! that I would have not come up with on my own).
2. Starch!  I've always made my own starch (prior to @#%#%^% quilting).  You can search on your own for methods and amounts.  Most methods I see call for heating the starch in boiling water to distribute the starch.  I'm unclear as to why this is done. Heating starch makes it gelatinous (in cooking you dissolve starch in cold water and then heat to provide body to sauces).  I used this method, and I did not find that I had any less separation than other methods--but did have goop.  I digress.
• For quilting fabric, starching liberally gives stability.  It makes handling the fabric so much easier.  It does not flop.  
• For the binding, Sharon recommends starching the wrong side of the fabric, liberally, before you fold it.  It gives the binding great body and stuff does not move.  Immediately after doind so, I felt very confident that I might be able to bind the @#$#%^ project.
3. Glue!  I have a body of glue and no fancy glue tip.  I did manage to regulate the application of the product onto my project by moving the speed of the application.  I followed Sharon's glue method and my binding was perfectish.  The glue ensured no shifting.  The starch ensured no separating.  However, I didn't pick up on the 1/3 of binding width as seam allowance.  My distribution between front and back was a little offish.

Using this method took me from fearful to fearless on binding. I felt like I was in control--not the project substrates.  Further, when I was making the Daisy Baby Quilt, which was attaching 1" strips to 5" strips, had I known about glue basting, I would have had greater success.  My 1" strips had NO room for error in cutting, piecing or sewing.  My binding would have been perfectish, and there would be no curse words stuck to my walls.

I will never enter a quilt in a show. While I don't want to be competitive, I want to be competent.  Glue basting seems to be fairly low profile.  I'm glad that I found it.

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