Sunday, January 6, 2008
Ready for quilting
Finally!
I decided to use muslin for the border. It's not fancy and it's not colorful, but it honestly looks really good. I'm going to use navy blue for the binding and tie it all together.
I spent most of yesterday sewing up the back, laying it out, trying to keep kids and cats off of it, and basting it. I'm a firm believer that more basting is better. This thing is so solid right now you could use it without it being quilted.
I tried out the walking foot on a muslin and batting sandwich and it works great. Now I just need to move the machine in the dining room, butt it up against the dining table, and get sewing.
Part of me really wants to hand quilt this, but the realistic part of me knows that I'd never get it done.
I decided to use muslin for the border. It's not fancy and it's not colorful, but it honestly looks really good. I'm going to use navy blue for the binding and tie it all together.
I spent most of yesterday sewing up the back, laying it out, trying to keep kids and cats off of it, and basting it. I'm a firm believer that more basting is better. This thing is so solid right now you could use it without it being quilted.
I tried out the walking foot on a muslin and batting sandwich and it works great. Now I just need to move the machine in the dining room, butt it up against the dining table, and get sewing.
Part of me really wants to hand quilt this, but the realistic part of me knows that I'd never get it done.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
A shopping we did go
On New Year's Eve, Mom, little sister, and myself went shopping.
I brought all kinds of good stuff home that I now need to find a place to stash.
I went in search of muslin. For some reason I use a ton of the stuff and I have a real aversion to paying more than $1 a yard for it. I found a 15 yard bolt for $13 and was tickled.
A new pair of scissors, several fat quarters, a rotary blade sharpener, stabilizer, and embroidery thread all followed me home. Funny how that happens. I'm sure there was other stuff, but can't recall what right now.
The embroidery thread was a great deal at Hobby Lobby on clearance. Regularly $3.49 a spool, I found this for $1.33 and $1.22 a spool and got one of each color.
Did I share that my dear husband bought me a small embroidery machine for Christmas? I think I forgot. He did and I love it.
I brought all kinds of good stuff home that I now need to find a place to stash.
I went in search of muslin. For some reason I use a ton of the stuff and I have a real aversion to paying more than $1 a yard for it. I found a 15 yard bolt for $13 and was tickled.
A new pair of scissors, several fat quarters, a rotary blade sharpener, stabilizer, and embroidery thread all followed me home. Funny how that happens. I'm sure there was other stuff, but can't recall what right now.
The embroidery thread was a great deal at Hobby Lobby on clearance. Regularly $3.49 a spool, I found this for $1.33 and $1.22 a spool and got one of each color.
Did I share that my dear husband bought me a small embroidery machine for Christmas? I think I forgot. He did and I love it.
One more thing
Lookie what I did!
A while back I bought a tatting shuttle and tried tatting for the first time. It was okay, but I just need another hand because I can't seem to keep it all together. The most I could do was a ring or two and it never looked right.
I found a couple of tatting needles at the thrift store for a dime and thought I'd give it another shot. I guess I'm more comfortable with a needle because this was a piece of cake.
This little bit is done with a #7 needle and size 30 thread. Not too shabby for 30 minutes worth of effort.
A while back I bought a tatting shuttle and tried tatting for the first time. It was okay, but I just need another hand because I can't seem to keep it all together. The most I could do was a ring or two and it never looked right.
I found a couple of tatting needles at the thrift store for a dime and thought I'd give it another shot. I guess I'm more comfortable with a needle because this was a piece of cake.
This little bit is done with a #7 needle and size 30 thread. Not too shabby for 30 minutes worth of effort.
Making a quilt top
I finally got all of the sashing done and now I'm joining rows. What a headache! Nothing is square since all of the muslin in the blocks was cut on bias. So when I try to join the sections together my little seams are missing a bit in places. Oh well. I'm keeping it for myself so it's not big deal.
At this point I'm not really looking forward to the outer border or the binding. I found a walking foot for my machine so I'm going to give that a shot.
Grumbling aside, I'm pretty tickled with it. I've only had to remake about 13 of the 15 blocks (LOL!) and I've had a good time working on it. That counts for a lot. In all of the years I've been crafting, I've never kept anything I made for myself. I think it's time.
At this point I'm not really looking forward to the outer border or the binding. I found a walking foot for my machine so I'm going to give that a shot.
Grumbling aside, I'm pretty tickled with it. I've only had to remake about 13 of the 15 blocks (LOL!) and I've had a good time working on it. That counts for a lot. In all of the years I've been crafting, I've never kept anything I made for myself. I think it's time.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Ringing in the New Year
Happy New Year to all of my blogging friends.
We celebrated at home with family last night. Good food, board games, and lots of laughs.
My sister sat her egg nog on the washer while she took clothes out of the dryer and Mr. Fuzz snuck a drink.
Doesn't he look satisfied with himself?
This morning I woke up bright and early (4:30) to a calf bawling outside my bedroom window. Huh? A calf? Yep, right in the middle of good old Weatherford. I jumped up, threw on my housecoat, and headed outside to see what was going on.
Poor baby! A little bitty black calf was standing out of the wind, bawling for his mama, and when I came around the corner he took off. So I did the neighborly thing and called the police. I didn't want him to get hit by a car.
We nearly had him, but then a sweet young police officer tripped on his own feet, scared the calf and he took off again.
By 7:30 the police still didn't have him caught and I was tired of flapping around in my housecoat in the cold North wind so I came in the house.
At one point we had four police cars, a sherriff's department car, and Fire & Rescue on the side and front streets by my house, all with lights flashing and at least one door standing open. It looked really bad.
The last time I saw the calf he was headed West at a dead run.
By noon all of the cars were gone. I wonder if they caught him?
We celebrated at home with family last night. Good food, board games, and lots of laughs.
My sister sat her egg nog on the washer while she took clothes out of the dryer and Mr. Fuzz snuck a drink.
Doesn't he look satisfied with himself?
This morning I woke up bright and early (4:30) to a calf bawling outside my bedroom window. Huh? A calf? Yep, right in the middle of good old Weatherford. I jumped up, threw on my housecoat, and headed outside to see what was going on.
Poor baby! A little bitty black calf was standing out of the wind, bawling for his mama, and when I came around the corner he took off. So I did the neighborly thing and called the police. I didn't want him to get hit by a car.
We nearly had him, but then a sweet young police officer tripped on his own feet, scared the calf and he took off again.
By 7:30 the police still didn't have him caught and I was tired of flapping around in my housecoat in the cold North wind so I came in the house.
At one point we had four police cars, a sherriff's department car, and Fire & Rescue on the side and front streets by my house, all with lights flashing and at least one door standing open. It looked really bad.
The last time I saw the calf he was headed West at a dead run.
By noon all of the cars were gone. I wonder if they caught him?
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